From the Acting Principal 

Dear Families,

Today was a truly memorable day for our school community as we welcomed acclaimed Catholic musician and songwriter Drew Lane for a series of workshops culminating in the launch of our new school song, “Finding the Light Within.” 

Throughout the day, students from every year level had the opportunity to work directly with Drew, learning and performing songs specially selected for their classes. Our Prep students sang God Loves Me, Year 1 performed I Like the Way God Made Me, Year 2 shared God Is Everywhere, Year 3 performed Rainbow Over Creation, Year 4 sang The Stone's Been Rolled Away, Year 5 performed F.A.I.T.H., and Year 6 shared Song of the Spirit. The concert also featured whole-school performances of Pilgrims of Hope and Go Out, creating a wonderful sense of unity and celebration.

A particular highlight was the role of our School Choir, who worked closely with Drew to premiere Finding the Light Within, a song inspired by the values, faith and spirit of St Mary’s. It was a proud moment for our students and staff to hear the song performed for the first time and to see the months of planning and creativity come together in such a meaningful way. The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was one of joy, participation and community. 

Drew has a wonderful ability to engage an audience, and it was fantastic to see students, staff and families singing, clapping and dancing along. A special mention must go to the many parents and family members who bravely joined in the fun and took to the floor when invited — your enthusiasm helped make the concert the celebration it was. Thank you to Drew Lane, our choir (and Gina), staff, students and families for helping create what will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the year.

There is always so much happening at St Mary's and I encourage you all to check out the "Around the School" page for more details about the events and movements of our fantastic students.

Movie Night

We are really looking forward to our Movie Night on the final Thursday of Term 2. As the winter weather settles in, it is the perfect opportunity for students to enjoy a cosy evening with friends, complete with pizza, popcorn and a special treat.

This year, students can choose between the popular family adventure GOAT and Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out. Students are encouraged to come dressed in comfortable warm clothes or pyjamas and may bring along a pillow, blanket or sleeping bag to create the ultimate movie-going experience. Doors open at 5:30pm, with the event running through until 7:30pm.

Movie Night is always a highlight of the school calendar and a wonderful opportunity for students to spend time together outside the classroom. A huge thank you to our P&F and staff volunteers who help make these community events possible. We look forward to seeing plenty of students there for what promises to be a fun and memorable evening. 

Tickets are just $10 and include pizza, popcorn and a treat. 🍿🎬✨

Bookings and permission at: https://st-marys-primary-school.square.site/

4-Square Competition 

This week, excitement is building across the school as we head into the grand finale of our End of Term Four-Square Competition! 

After weeks of friendly matches, skill-building, and lunchtime showdowns, students from all year levels are ready to battle it out in a fun and energetic display of sportsmanship and teamwork. 

Four-square has brought students together across Grades, promoting fair play, resilience and active participation. The finals promise fast footwork, quick thinking and lots of cheering from the sidelines. 

From 11.10am (Recess) on the final day of term!

Semester One reports & P/T Interviews

Semester One school reports will be available through the nForma Family Portal from tomorrow afternoon around 4pm. Instructions on how to access the reports are available on the School Administration page. Please be reminded (gently) if you still need to book in to speak to your child's teacher at next's weeks interview you still can using the booking link here

Winter Uniform Reminder

As the weather becomes cooler and students settle into their winter uniform, we ask families to please support us by ensuring shirts are tucked in before students arrive at school each morning. Taking pride in our appearance is an important part of belonging to the St Mary’s community, and wearing the uniform neatly and correctly reflects the values of respect and personal responsibility that we seek to foster in our students. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students wear their uniform with pride.

Trading Cards at St Mary's

With the renewed popularity of AFL trading cards (and other collectibles such as Pokemon), we have seen an increasing number of cards and albums being brought to school. While we understand the excitement and enjoyment they bring, experience has shown that trading cards can often become a source of disappointment and conflict. 

Cards are frequently damaged, misplaced or lost, trades can be disputed, and friendships can be strained when students feel a trade was unfair or a card has gone missing. Unfortunately, these situations often result in upset students and significant time spent resolving issues that have occurred outside of learning time.

For this reason, we ask that footy cards, trading cards and card albums remain at home. We appreciate families supporting us with this request so that students can focus on learning, play and positive friendships during the school day.

That said, I recognise the enthusiasm many students have for collecting and discussing footy cards. If there is a parent or family member who might be interested in volunteering some time to help establish a supervised Footy Card Club during a lunchtime, we would love to hear from you. With the right support and structure, this could provide a positive outlet for students to share their interest while avoiding some of the challenges that can arise during unsupervised trading. Please feel free to get in touch with me if you would like to explore this possibility.

Take care, and may God’s blessings and peace be with each of you as we journey through the year together.

James Millane