Mrs Ryan's Fortnightly Reflections
Community is much more than belonging to something; it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter.” Brian Solis
It's hard to believe that it is week three already. The term is well underway with very calm, settled, and engaged learning environments. This week, we celebrated our assembly, and I had to commend all of the learners on how far they have come this year in learning many new programmes, routines, and expectations. It has been exceptional.
Today, we celebrated Grandparents Day, which is one of our most popular events throughout the year. We had well over 500 grandparents and special people attend our liturgy, which then led into activities where our learners and grandparents spent quality time, engaged in conversation, and connected. Thank you to everyone in the community who came, as well as the staff and learners for their preparations. It is always a magical day for St Mary's.
Following my announcement last week, with Mr. Brent Anstee leaving to take up a deputy principal role in Bendigo, St. Mary’s underwent a recruitment process for a deputy principal for 2026. As a school, we are extremely blessed to have such a growing and impressive leadership team. Mrs. Liz Chapman was successful in being appointed as next year's Deputy Principal: Community Wellness. Liz has her Master's in Special Education, has worked in collaboration with the Community Wellness team, and supports our learners and families with specialised learning programs and strategies. Liz will do an exceptional job in supporting and leading the community in this area in 2026.
A safety reminder to our learners and families about the use of our crossings surrounding the school. Please be mindful of the need for parent support and supervision when crossing roads in the area. Recently, our back gate, which aligns with Wilkinson Drive, has become an area of concern. We have observed some parents encouraging children to cross in and behind cars. Staff are worried about the safety of our learners, and we hope parents will support us in chaperoning their children across the road or using the crossings where possible.
This week, the fete became very real for our school and our community. Now, and leading up until the fete, we will share an abundance of communication and information to keep you well informed and aware of what is happening. This week, show bags and tickets went on sale. We have also begun seeking small donations from our families to help make our stalls and activities possible. These will include our lucky dip bags, fairy gardens, chocolate toss, and cake stall. Please only donate what you can and if you can. We would love as many families as possible to attend our fete, so please make sure you purchase your tickets, tell your neighbours and friends, and come along to what will surely be another memorable occasion at St Mary's.
This coming week is our final Science of Learning session for our parents. This session is another great opportunity to explore the functions of the brain and how they impact our behaviours. These sessions have been wonderful in fostering conversation and strong attendance, and we hope to see a final, generous turnout once again this week. If you have not attended the previous sessions, you are still welcome to join us for this one.
What a wonderful week of community, I thank you all for your collective efforts in ensuring we are an inclusive and active community. I know I will see many of you over the following weeks as we lead up to the 2025 fete!
Take care, and God Bless.
Jasmine Ryan
Principal