From the Deputy Principal 

Dear families,

Swimming program in Term 4

Our Year 4 to Year 6 students have thoroughly enjoyed their swimming lessons at Kingswim this week and many have made great progress during the intensive mode of instruction. Much like our teaching and learning approach at St Mary’s, students are taught at their point of need and are moved along a progression when ready.

As students walk as a class down to the pool, please keep an eye on the weather forecast and bring an umbrella or raincoat on wet days.

Puberty Family Education with Cath McCallig 7pm on Thursday 24th October

Cath McCallig returns this year to host our family education evening on puberty in Term 4. Bookings are now open for the online information evening which will take place over zoom, allowing parents and carers to watch and listen with Cath and also have private conversations with their children.

This information evening is highly recommended for families with children in Year 5 and Year 6, although the conversations may also be appropriate for Year 4. The cost is $20 per family and the topics include:

- The Who, What, When and Why of Puberty (including the pituitary gland and hormones).

- Body parts and their correct, anatomical names.

- The common physical, social and emotional changes of puberty are discussed, allowing time for students to talk with their attending adult(s) about management strategies.

- The specific changes according to a person’s body parts are covered (including wet dreams and periods) and again students have the opportunity to discuss management with their adults.

Please see attached for further information and book at https://www.trybooking.com/CVKLV ASAP, as a minimum number of families is required for the session to proceed.

Term 4 Extra-Curricular Clubs

A final reminder that registrations are open for a variety of extra-curriculuar clubs for Term 4. For full details see the community page:

Art Club (New!) - Mondays, 3:30pm to 4:45pm

Next Athletics - Tuesdays, Prep to Year 2 3:45pm to 4:45pm, Year 3+ 4:45pm to 5:45pm

Taekwondo - Wednesdays 3:30pm

Chess Club - Thursdays 11:10am

2025 Technology Program, 1-to-1 devices in Years 3 to Year 6

We are pleased to continue the 1-to-1 laptop program in Years 3 to 6, where every student in those years will have access to their own computing device for the purposes of education. 

Students enrolling into Year 3 in 2025 must order and purchase a new Chromebook through the school before Monday 18th November. The order portal is now open at https://smstkildaeast.orderportal.com.au/ 

Students enrolling into Year 4, Year 5 or Year 6 in 2025 and who have already purchased a Chromebook will continue to use this device for 2024.

If you have any questions regarding the program, please don’t hesitate to contact me.