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Welcome to our first newsletter for this year!

It’s hard to believe we are already 15 days into the new year.  2026 is already off to a fantastic start.  The time has flown by, and it has been wonderful to see our school community come back together with such positivity and enthusiasm.

Our children have settled beautifully into their classes and routines.  There is a great buzz around the school and classrooms are alive with energy, curiosity and smiling faces.

I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Prep students and to the new children who have joined us across the other year levels.  We are so pleased to have you and your families as part of our school community.

We are looking forward to a year filled with inspired learning, exciting opportunities and plenty of fun along the way.  As always, the wellbeing of our children remains our highest priority.  We are committed to ensuring every child feels safe, supported and valued as they grow both academically and personally.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I am excited for all that 2026 has in store!

New Communication Platform – nPortal

As you would be aware, Operoo is no longer in use as our communication tool. Moving forward, nPortal, which is a component of nForma, will serve as our new platform for all communications.  Thank you to the parents who have accessed the nPortal and are currently receiving all school communications.

The new nPortal will now handle all communication-related tasks, including updates, notifications, and forms.  Please ensure that you are set up with an nPortal account to continue receiving important information and updates.

Please note that all first aid notifications will also be sent home via nForma.

A few reminders

1. Read  “nPortal General Guide for Parents.”
2. Log in to the new portal via https://portal.nforma.com.au/login or nForma for Parents APP.
3. Set up students' Medical Profile.” 
4. View any “Notices” and “Forms” that may have been shared on the portal.

Please feel free to contact our Louise Alonso (ICT leader) via email lalonso@smthornbury.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions or if you are having any issues.

New School Signage

Our new school signage is now in place, and it looks fantastic! It provides a professional and welcoming face for our school and helps raise the profile of the school within our local community.

A sincere thank you to Paul Harris (SAC parent rep.) for coordinating the entire process; from submitting the council application and securing approval, to liaising with the signage company to ensure we received the best possible value.

I would also like to thank Ryan Fort (SAC Chair) for organising sponsorship with Nelson Alexander, and to Nelson Alexander for generously sponsoring this project. Your support and commitment to our school are greatly appreciated.

Shrove Tuesday

Tomorrow we will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent.  THANK YOU to our parent volunteers for providing this special treat for our children.

School Photos

Our School Photo Day will take place this Thursday, February 19th. To ensure that your child looks their best, please note the following guidelines:

Full school uniform is required (no jewellery)

Long hair should be tied back using hair ties in school colours (white or blue)

School shoes must be worn—please refrain from wearing runners with the school academic uniform

We look forward to capturing beautiful memories of your child!

See uniform requirements below...

Student Engagement (Wellbeing)

Welcome back to St Mary’s for what we know will be a great year.

The Student Engagement Team is comprised of 

Tania Calabrese - Student wellbeing Leader & Learning Diversity Leader 

Louise Alonso- Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader & Learning Diversity team  

Tracey Bentin - School Psychologist 

We look forward to working with families to ensure the health, wellbeing and learning needs of all children in our care are met.  Please reach out if we can be any assistance throughout the year

Tania Calabrese

tcalabrese@smthornbury.catholic.edu.au 

Please see the Student Engagement section of this Newsletter for important information about medical issues and some tips on how to ensure your child has a smooth start to a new school year.

Beginning of Year School Mass

Yesterday, we celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary and our opening of a new school year Mass.  The morning proved to be a wonderful celebration that brought our community together in faith and gratitude. Thank you to our families and staff for your presence and prayerful support on this special occasion.

During the Mass, our staff were commissioned for the year ahead, affirming their shared commitment to the learning, wellbeing and faith formation of our students. We also proudly acknowledged and presented our 2026 School Leaders, entrusting them with their important leadership roles and wishing them every success as they guide and inspire our school community throughout the year.

Senior Student Leadership

Congratulations to our 2026 Senior Student Leaders. Together with Ms Cameron and all the staff, we look forward to working with you all in your Leadership Roles this year. I have every confidence that each and every one of you will embody our core values and demonstrate exemplary behaviour throughout the year.

School Captains

Daisy Harris

Hugh Wilson

House Captains

Polding - Paige Ralston & Yel Mayom

Medici - Abigail Whelan & Estelle Borg 

Lourdes - Fletcher Marson & Matthew Britten 

Vaughan - Sybilla (Billie) Wong & Tony Kairouz

SRC Leaders

Natalia Boctor 

Grace Charles 

Social Justice Team

Emilia Kantzavelos

Emily Donald

Beau Threader

Playground Leaders

Phoenix Shouman

Maxx Benedetti

Izayah Benedetti

Library Leaders

Milana Grilli

Oliver Brooks

SRC Representatives Grades 1-5

• From Year 5/6A : Joseph Risicato
• From Year 5/6B : Zoe Shaheen
• From Year 3/4A : Liam Milidoni 
• From Year 3/4B : Ruby Phu
• From Year 1/2 : Mia Fort

Working with Children Checks

We would like to remind all parents and carers who volunteer or assist at school activities that a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required.

The Working with Children Check is an important safeguard that helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students in our care. It involves a screening process to assess a person’s suitability to work or volunteer with children and is a key part of our commitment to maintaining a safe school environment.

If you are planning to volunteer in classrooms, attend excursions, assist with events, or support school programs, please ensure your WWCC is valid and that the school has a copy on file. If you do not yet have a WWCC, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our school community safe.

Smart watches and Mobile Phones

I would like to remind families that smart watches worn to school must be set to school mode during the day. If a device does not have a school mode, it should be handed in to the office each morning and collected at the end of the day.  Mobile phones must also be handed in to the office each morning and can be collected at the end of the school day.

This helps minimise distractions and supports students to stay focused on their learning and social interactions at school. 

Thank you for your support with this expectation.