Principal Announcements
Newsletter 1 Term 4
Celebrating the Joy of Learning at St Mary’s
It has been wonderful to see our students embracing so many rich and engaging learning opportunities this term. Classrooms are alive with curiosity, enthusiasm, and a real joy for learning!
Students have eagerly explored their new Inquiry topics, discovering more about people and places around the world and developing a deeper understanding of how we are all connected. In Junior Mathematics, students have taken their learning beyond the classroom, collecting and analysing real-life data as part of their work on statistics.
Our new Classroom Mastery routine has encouraged greater student participation and ownership of learning, helping everyone to contribute and shine. In Ochre, students have enjoyed reading and discussing new texts, deepening their comprehension and critical thinking skills.
It’s inspiring to see our students engaging so positively in their learning and making the most of every opportunity to grow, wonder, and achieve together.
Crazy Sock Day – Supporting Catholic Mission Month
A big thank you to all our students and staff for getting involved in Crazy Sock Day last Friday! It was wonderful to see such a colourful display of creativity and fun across the school, with everyone proudly showing off their unique and wacky socks.
Beyond the laughter and bright colours, the day carried an important message — raising awareness and support for Catholic Mission Month. Your participation helps remind us of the importance of compassion, generosity, and taking action to make a difference in the lives of others.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support in living out our school’s mission through such a joyful and meaningful event!
School Colour Run – Friday November 14
Our students have done an amazing job fundraising for the upcoming School Colour Run! With over $5000 raised already last week, the excitement levels are sky high across St Mary’s.
To celebrate this fantastic effort, Mr Troy Watts bravely volunteered to be slimed and water gunned — much to the delight of our students! The classes with the highest number of registered participants have also enjoyed some well-deserved icy poles as a special reward.
A huge thank you to Mr Watts and our wonderful Parents and Friends team for creating such a fun and engaging lead-up to this event. Your efforts are helping to build community spirit and make this year’s Colour Run one to remember!
Celebrating World Teachers’ Day at St Mary’s
Last Friday, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day — a wonderful opportunity to recognise and thank all of our dedicated staff for the incredible work they do each and every day.
At St Mary’s, we are blessed with a team of teachers and support staff who go above and beyond to inspire, nurture, and guide our students in their learning and personal growth. Their care, creativity, and commitment make a real difference in the lives of our children and families.
We marked the occasion with special recognition and celebrations to show our appreciation for their fine efforts.
Thank you to all of our staff for the joy, professionalism, and passion you bring to St Mary’s — you truly make our school a special place to learn and grow.
Master Plan Progress Update
We are pleased to share that our Master Plan development with B3 Architects is progressing well. Together, we are thoughtfully exploring and refining draft design options that will best support the future growth and learning needs of our school.
At this stage, our focus is on carefully considering a range of possibilities to ensure that the final design provides modern, flexible, and engaging learning spaces for our students and staff. These plans will help us continue to create an environment that reflects our school’s values and supports the vibrant learning culture at St Mary’s.
We look forward to sharing more details as we move toward the final design stage and to realising our vision for outstanding facilities that will benefit our entire school community for years to come.
Animal on School Grounds Policy
St. Mary’s School values the positive impact animals can have on learning and wellbeing but must also ensure the safety and comfort of all students and staff. Our new Animals on School Property Policy outlines clear expectations for when and how animals may be brought onto school grounds.
In general, pets are not permitted on school property unless approved by the Principal. Registered assistance or therapy animals, and approved educational visits, are welcome under specific conditions.
You can read the full policy at the link below:
New Volleyball Court Installed
We’re excited to share that our new volleyball court has been installed on the playground! This addition came directly from our students, who voiced their interest in having volleyball as another fun and active option during break times.
A special thank you to Mr Phil Crowe for his time and effort in bringing this student wish to life. We can’t wait to see our students enjoying rallies and games together on the new court!
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
20th October – Orlayah Lines.
This week’s Principal’s Award goes to Orlayah Lines!
Orlayah is a caring and considerate student who regularly offers to help out in the classroom and shows kindness as a wonderful buddy to our Preps. She consistently demonstrates excellent behaviour, is warm and welcoming to others, and takes great pride in her learning. Orlayah also loves to use her artistic talents to enhance and present her work beautifully. Congratulations, Orlayah, on being such a positive role model and a valued member of our St Mary’s community!
27th October - Aria Hyland
This week’s Principal’s Award was awarded to Aria Hyland!
Aria is a kind and thoughtful student who always tries her best. She is organised, focused on her learning, and a wonderful role model for her peers — always polite, cooperative, and letting her light shine. Congratulations, Aria!
Assembly 20th October
Assembly 27th October
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. Long term, this can have an effect on students' future outcomes.
St. Mary’s Bingo
St Mary's Bingo has been able to support our school financially each year which helps with projects or initiatives across the school. This would not be possible without the support of volunteers from both the Parish & the school.
And once again we are seeking help for St. Mary's Bingo. This would generally involve helpers to attend on a Saturday evening once a term. With helper numbers being quite short at the moment, your help would be invaluable!
Please see attached flyer for more information regarding the tasks we need help with, if you are able to help out, fill in the slip and return to the school office.
Bingo is a fantastic way to engage with our school community whilst raising funds for various programs.
Please contact Maree Williams on 0438 084 364 if you need more information.
Thank you for your consideration, your support makes a big difference!
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
"You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."— A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
"Mistakes are proof that you are trying."— Jennifer Lim
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
