Principal Announcements
Newsletter 3 Term 2
Grandparents' Day
Special thanks to all the parents, grandparents and special visitors who joined us for our Grandparents Day celebration. It was a joy to welcome you into our school and share in such a special occasion together.
Each grade delighted us with their wonderful songs and dances, showcasing not only their talents but also their enthusiasm and joy for performing. A special thank you goes to Mrs Hicks for her outstanding preparation of the students — your work behind the scenes ensured a smooth and vibrant performance from every class.
Congratulations also to our fantastic comperes, Alex Lastarria and Madelyn Pearce, who guided us through the event with confidence, clarity, humour and a touch of charm!
We hope you also enjoyed the opportunity to explore our open classrooms and gain a little insight into our students learning.
Acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day – 4th August
On Monday 4th August, St Mary’s recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day through special classroom prayers and activities. This important day celebrates the strength and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and highlights the vital role they play in the future of their communities and our shared country.
As a school community, we took time to reflect on the significance of this day and the importance of acknowledging and respecting the history, culture and contributions of First Nations Peoples.
ORIMA Survey - Student and Parent Involvement
The School Engagement Surveys comprise three separate surveys of senior school students, school staff, and families of students. Families will be selected at random. The surveys will be open to complete anytime between Monday 18th August and Monday 15th September.
If you receive notification with the opportunity to participate, we would appreciate your time and effort in the survey completion. This feedback from the school community will inform us of possible directions for the future ensuring we continue to provide the best possible learning settings and outcomes.
Young Picasso Art Competition – shortlisted students
We are very proud to announce that we have several students who have been shortlisted for the Young Picasso Art Competition. We encourage you to support our students by visiting the exhibition on the 20th and 21st of September at the Sacred Heart Hall on Knight Street in Shepparton. Winners will be announced on the 15th September.
Congratulations to:
Sophie Church, Theodore Howard, Jax Keep, Cristina La Gamba, Alex Lastarria, Julian Mandaradoni, Charlotte Ryan, Harper Turvey, Zara Vigliaturo and Bella Walsh.
Thanks to Mr Jerome De Guzman for supporting the students with their entries.
Grade 5/6 Winter Sports
Congratulations to our enthusiastic Grade 5/6 students for their fantastic involvement in the Winter Sports program! Whether it is netball, soccer, football, or handball, the students are representing our school with great sportsmanship, teamwork, and determination. It was wonderful to see such positive attitudes and participation across all activities – well done to everyone involved!
Shelter in Place Drill
A big thank you to all students and staff for your flexibility and calm participation during our recent Shelter in Place drill. Your cooperation and attentiveness ensured the drill ran smoothly and safely – well done, everyone!
Due to local road works, our planned evacuation to the nearby park has been postponed and will now take place in Term 4, when it is safe to proceed.
These emergency drills, held each term, are an essential part of our safety planning. They help ensure that everyone knows what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect!
Bullying No Way Week
This week at St Mary’s, all classes have been actively involved in celebrating Bullying No Way Week, embracing this year’s powerful theme: Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.
Across the school, students will take time to reflect on what it means to stand up against bullying and how we can all help create a safe and inclusive community. Each class will contribute by designing and decorating their own t-shirt with messages and images that reflect this year’s theme.
The t-shirts share bold statements, kind words and reminders that it takes courage to spark change. Students are learning that bullying is everyone’s responsibility – and that by speaking up, supporting others and choosing kindness, we can make a real difference both at school and beyond the school gate.
Let’s continue to work together – students, staff and families – to be brave and create a safe space for all.
St. Mary’s Master Plan
We would like to sincerely thank all parents and guardians who took the time to respond to the recent B3 Architects survey and/or participate in the community briefing on Tuesday 5th August.
Your contributions are an important part of our Master Planning process, helping us shape the future direction of our learning spaces here at St Mary’s. We greatly appreciate your insights, ideas, and engagement during this initial phase.
Community voice matters, and we look forward to sharing updates as the planning progresses.
Empowering Our Future Leaders – Student Leadership 2026
At St Mary’s, we are committed to nurturing leadership in all students. In 2026, we will introduce a refreshed student leadership structure that provides meaningful opportunities for senior students to lead with confidence, compassion and responsibility.
New leadership positions will include School Captains, Vice Captains, Faith and Justice Captains, and House Captains. These roles are designed to reflect our school values and give students a voice in shaping school life, from faith and service to house spirit and school representation. Our existing leadership groups will also continue to run.
To support this renewed focus, we will unveil a new whole-school leadership banner and formal House banners to celebrate our leadership culture and inspire students daily.
All grade 5 students were briefed on the new leadership opportunities last week and provided with a detailed information package for them to consider applying for these positions.
Reminder: applications close on Friday 22nd August.
We look forward to seeing our future leaders grow and shine in 2026!
Parking Safety Reminder
We kindly remind all families to please ensure you are parking safely and legally during school drop-off and pick-up times. A concerned community member has observed an increasing number of cars parking in non-designated areas and obstructing others who are doing the right thing.
This not only causes frustration but also creates significant safety risks for our students and families. Please:
- Use only designated parking bays
- Avoid parking in no-standing zones or driveways
- Be patient and respectful during busy times
Thank you for your continued cooperation in helping to keep St. Mary’s a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
Principal’s Awards
4th August – Joint Winners
Madelyn Pearce
Alex Lastarria
Congratulations to Madelyn and Alex for demonstrating outstanding leadership, confidence, and resilience as they compered the Grandparents’ Day Assembly. You both did a fantastic job — thank you for letting your light shine so brightly!
11th August –
Flyn Kearney-Hayes
Well done to Flyn Kearney-Hayes after showing exceptional Leadership skills this year by supporting two buddy students. He is respectful, responsible and organised. He has also shown greater resilience this year. Congratulations Flyn!
Assembly 4th August
Assembly 11th August
Attendance matters!
Every minute matters. This is a simple statement, but a true one. For every minute a child is at school they learn. For every minute they are absent they not only miss out on learning, but they also lose some previous learning. This is also true for social connections and interactions with teaching and support staff
End of 2025 School Dates
From Sandhurst Diocese advice, our last school days for 2025 for students and staff will be as follows:
- Friday 12th December – Last day for students
- Monday 15th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Tuesday 16th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Wednesday 17th December – Friday 19th December – School Closure Days
Before School Supervision
Please note that all students that arrive at school prior to 8:30am must fill out an application via the link below. For new and casual before school arrivals, please complete prior to 4:00pm each day to enable student lists to be updated for the following morning. Before school supervision is for early bus travellers and parents/guardians who must attend work earlier than 8:30am. A reminder that students are not to arrive or be at school before 8:00am as they are not actively supervised.
I appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation regarding this.
Ms V’s Inspirations
"Mistakes are proof that you are trying."– Jennifer Lim
"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think."– Margaret Mead
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
