Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the midway point of Term 4. We are one week away from Fiesta and over half the way through the final term of the year. We are busily preparing for Fiesta, Graduation and St Mary’s Feast Day alongside the ongoing preparations for 2025.

This week I had the joy of attending my daughter Zadie’s prep orientation at her soon to be primary school. Jess and I can’t believe how quickly these last almost 6 years have gone but like the 56 families who have been attending Foundation Orientation at St Mary’s, we have thoroughly enjoyed and soaked in the experience of new beginnings for our daughter. It is a special time in our family's lives, and will be the second and final time we undertake this journey as a family. Zadie has been super excited and interested in starting school which we are very fortunate for. We can’t wait to continue her educational journey in partnership with her school and team of educators.

Building Update

I am very pleased to announce that we have been officially approved by MACS for Stage 1 of our Master Plan. The project is currently at tender with builders and we hope to be able to award the contract by the end of the month with construction earmarked to begin mid December around the time that school will conclude. On Tuesday one of the architects from Smith and Tracey and I met with five different builders and walked them through the site. I was able to be frank and upfront about timelines, strategising to minimise impact to our students and get a feel for them as operators.

The Christmas break will be a busy one for me and a hub of activity at school. With a bit of luck we will have a newly rebuilt and refurbished Roseberry St wing of St Mary’s upon our return in 2025.

Fiesta

Fiesta is only one week away, are you ready?

Please head over to the Parents and Friends section of the newsletter for a comprehensive update of all things Fiesta.

This year’s Fiesta will be fully cashless, making transactions quick and easy.. You have two ways to pay:

Fiesta Dollar Bucks: Fiesta Dollar Bucks can be used at all stalls. Purchase Fiesta Dollar Bucks in packs of 4 for $10.00 or 10 for $25.00. They can be pre-purchased or bought at the ticket booth on the day.
Credit/Debit Cards: Card payments will be accepted at most stalls.

Ride Passes

Experience a range of fun rides for all ages! Choose from our Ride Pass options:

Individual Unlimited Pass: $35.00 for unlimited rides.
Family Unlimited Pass: $90.00 for families of three, providing unlimited rides for everyone.
3 Rides Pack: $10.00, perfect if you’d like to try just a few rides.

This year’s attractions include the Rock-Climbing Wall, Chair O Plane, Giant Atomic Drop Slide, Eliminator, Jungle Adventure, and more!

And you might even get the chance to dunk some of your favourite teachers (and principal).....

Staffing 2025

Last newsletter I wrote welcoming Alaistair Ingham and Lauren Silvestro to our team of educators. We also welcome Brigid Murray and Rebecca Calleja to our team of classroom educators. Beginning as English Leader in 2025 is Laura Cardillo who comes to us after gaining invaluable experience in education and as an English Leader from St Mary’s in Greensborough.

With this new beginning, we officially announce the upcoming retirements of Dorothy Crowley: English Leader and Michael Dwyer Religious Education Leader who form the focus of my Be Ready entry for this week.

Be Ready

Two of our long serving and much loved staff members are coming to the end of their careers and preparing to Be Ready for that magical stage of life we all think about, retirement. Stepping away from work at the end of our careers is an exciting and welcomed stage of life for some and it is a daunting one for others. For some, it is both at the same time. One thing is certain, there is quite a lot of preparation that goes into Being Ready for retirement.

First the decision to take the step away must be made and then coming to terms with what that decision means. Ensuring loose ends, tasks, organisation and handover is prepared for the incumbent in your role so that a smooth transition can take place. Planning activities, trips and actions to undertake when retirement begins. This process cannot be underestimated as most people have lives so busy that ensuring there is a plan, albeit a loose one, for keeping active upon retirement is a necessity.

I know both Michael and Dot are looking forward to this next stage of life. I would like to thank them for their enormous contributions to the St Mary’s community over the many years they have been of service here. I would like to share a snapshot of their time as we wish them good health and joy as they embark on the adventure that is retirement.

Dorothy Crowley

Dot has dedicated an amazing 30 years to the St Mary’s community. What a tremendous achievement! She came to us in 1994 as a grade 1 teacher from St Martin De Porres in Avondale Heights. Sadly, in the following year, Dot had some significant health scares with heart problems and surgery that led her to taking 1 term off; something we all know that Dot would have struggled to do, and leaving her with some lasting health impacts.

Upon recovery, Dot returned to St Mary’s where she continued her classroom teaching career including teaching grade 3 and an amazing and rewarding 9 years teaching Foundation (Prep at the time) in a building where our monkey bars are now located and one which no longer exists!

Throughout her years of service to our school community Dot has taken on the roles of Classroom Teacher, Religious Education Coordinator, School Community Leader, CLaSS Coordinator, Reading Recovery Teacher, Costume Maker (Dot led the creation of 10 years worth of School Performance costumes in a row, loving every minute of leading workshops for parents to create lasting memories at St Mary’s) and Acting Deputy Principal. It is in this last role that I will be forever grateful to Dot as she answered my call to step up into the role when I began my principalship, trusting me and doing what was best for the school when we had only met a couple of times before.

The highlights for Dot at St Mary’s have been working with the beautiful staff, with the beautiful children and being a part of the wonderful community that is St Mary’s. St Mary’s has been a huge part of Dot’s life over her 30 years here. She has had many huge life events occur during this time and is grateful for the community within St Mary’s for the support during tough times and sharing joy during the good ones over the years.

She has always loved the kids at St Mary’s and just being here, at our school. I speak for all of the St Mary’s community when I say we love you too Dot. Thank you for your service to St Mary’s, you have left an indelible mark on thousands of children over your time here. God Bless and enjoy a well deserved retirement.

Michael Dwyer

Michael has dedicated an amazing 24 years of service to the St Mary’s Community. He has worked tirelessly as classroom teacher and leader, holding both roles simultaneously for the majority of his time at St Mary’s. Only in his last year with us, as Michael stepped back was I able to give Michael solely Leadership responsibilities. Michael’s ability to juggle both leadership and classroom responsibilities speaks to his resilience, flexibility and hard working nature.

Michael arrived at St Mary’s in Term 3 2010 and promptly had 2 weeks to organise 2 First Communions and then followed up with helping backstage with props and lighting at the school production.

Over his time at St Mary’s he has worked with 4 principals: Dan Mogg, Graham Spence, Paul Hogan and he will retire with me. He has held the position of Religious Education Leader for around 10 years and I estimate this to be overseeing approximately 550 xs reconciliations, first Holy Communions and Confirmations. An amazing achievement in helping our students access the blessed Sacraments at our school. He also held the position of Learning and Teaching Leader, helping develop the curriculum offered to our students.

Michael has loved working with the St Mary’s community, staff and children and credits this for why he has had his longest stint at a school at St Mary’s. He has loved sharing his dad jokes and humour with the students (even if they fell flat with the staff!) and the great social interactions and friendships he has made with staff and families.

He credits his highlights as successfully organising the Sacramental celebrations, graduations, school masses, assisting with camps and the yearly highlights package at final assemblies.

On behalf of the St Mary’s community I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Michael on his many years of service to the St Mary’s community, particularly in the area of Faith. We wish Michael a healthy and blessed retirement as he transitions to being grandad and works on his golf swing.

IMPORTANT Pickups and Drop offs

Please do not double park near the drop off bays or que along the street outside of the pink pickup/drop off areas. If you do, you risk fines or further action from council authorities. These actions create blockages for traffic and dangerous situations for cars and pedestrians from our school community.

If there is no space in the pink waiting bays for pick ups or drop offs you will need to circle the block or park your car in a permitted spot in the surrounding streets and walk in for pick up/drop off.

Double parking and blocking the street remain an issue at pick up times so please play your role in helping be part of the solution. Blocking off traffic access to our adjoining streets is a potentially dangerous activity and one that risks further action from council authorities.

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay connected,

Denis Johnstone

Principal

G@S