From the Principal...

Staffing News

At the beginning of Term 3, Dave Witchell will be taking some leave and will be away until Week 4. During this time, we are grateful that Pierce Rooney, the PE teacher from St Joseph’s, will be joining us to take the Physical Education classes at St Mary's.

Pierce will ensure our students continue to enjoy engaging and purposeful PE lessons throughout this period, supporting students to remain active, develop their skills and continue building confidence, teamwork and a positive attitude towards physical activity.

We wish Dave all the very best during his leave and look forward to welcoming him back later in the term.

Friday Market

Unfortunately, there will be no Friday Market held this term. We hope to reschedule our market to the beginning of Term 3, with our Middle Years team hosting the event.

We will advertise the date once it has been confirmed.

Our Friday Markets are a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and connect with one another.  We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another enjoyable community event in Term 3.

World Cup Excitement!!

As a bit of fun to celebrate the end of term, we will be holding a special World Cup viewing event today, giving students the opportunity to come together and enjoy some end-of-term fun while cheering on Australia.  The children will gather in the hall to watch the Aussie Socceroos.  Children have been encouraged to wear a splash of 'Green and Gold' to support our Aussie team.

We are mindful that a noisy environment may be problematic for some of our students.  Given this, we will use the Art Room as an alternate space where students can have a quieter time watching soccer with lower volume and some quiet activities e.g. drawing, word search etc as an alternative.

Semester One Reports

Semester One student reports were sent home yesterday. These reports provide families with an opportunity to reflect on their child’s learning journey, achievements and growth throughout the first half of the year.

Our teachers have taken great care in preparing reports that celebrate student strengths, acknowledge progress and identify areas for continued learning and development. Reports provide valuable insight into students’ academic, social and personal growth, and support the ongoing partnership between home and school.

We encourage families to take time to read through the report with their child, celebrate their successes and discuss the goals and opportunities for continued growth as we look ahead to Semester Two.

End of Financial Year Reminder – Building Fund

As we approach the end of the financial year, I would like to remind families of the opportunity to support our school through contributions to the St Mary’s Building Fund.

The Building Fund plays an important role in supporting the ongoing development, maintenance and improvement of our school facilities, helping us continue to provide a safe, welcoming and engaging learning environment for our students.

With the end of the financial year approaching, now is a timely opportunity for families who wish to make a contribution. Donations to the Building Fund are fully tax-deductible, and receipts will be provided for all contributions.

School Closure Day

Our Term 3 School Closure Day will be held on Monday July 13 - the first day of Term Three.  This day will provide staff with an opportunity to continue our collective work on the Vision for Instruction, strengthening our shared understanding and implementation of high-impact teaching and learning practices.

The day will be facilitated by members of our Leadership Team — Sharen, Riley, Claudia and Michelle — who will guide staff through further unpacking of the Vision for Instruction and its connection to our school priorities. Staff will engage in professional dialogue, reflection and collaborative planning to support consistent approaches across classrooms.

The focus will be on deepening our understanding of effective instruction, exploring how these practices translate into daily classroom experiences, and identifying opportunities to continue improving student learning outcomes at St Mary’s.

We look forward to a purposeful day of learning, collaboration and professional growth as we continue to build a shared approach to quality teaching and learning.

Small Job Opportunity

We are seeking an able and reliable person (perhaps a teenager who'd like a little cash) who may be interested in a small cleaning role at the Parish Centre.

The duties include:

• Cleaning the toilets and bathroom area each week
• Sweeping the bathroom area weekly
• Washing and mopping the hall floor once a fortnight

The work would take approximately one hour each week, with a little extra time on the fortnightly floor-washing week.

If you are interested, please email me and I will be happy to put you in touch with the Parish representative.

MACSEYE...Winter wonderland holiday fun is here! 

Looking for something fun these school holidays? 

MACSEYE’s Winter Wonderland Holiday Program, held at St Anthony's Alphington, is now open for bookings!

Children can enjoy:

 A movie excursion to see Minions & Monsters

 Creative winter crafts – making their own snow globes and penguin plushies

  Snow slime and bath bomb making

 Cookie decorating

 Sports and active play including a soccer World Cup challenge

 Dance parties and karaoke

Our holiday program is a great way for children to stay active, build confidence, make new friends and try something new in a safe and supportive environment.

Booking information

Below is the program outlining the full activity schedule and fees. 

End of Term

Today marks the end of Term, with students finishing at 1:00pm. 

It has been another wonderful term, filled with rich learning experiences and many opportunities for our students to grow, challenge themselves, and shine. I am proud of the enthusiasm, effort, and resilience they have shown across all areas of school life.

A sincere thank you to our brilliant teaching team for the dedication, creativity, and care they bring to their work each day. Their commitment ensures our students continue to enjoy engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

I also thank our students for their positive attitudes and willingness to give their best in all they do. It has been a pleasure to see their progress and achievements throughout the term.

I wish all families a safe and restful break and look forward to another exciting term ahead.

Term Three will commence on Tuesday July 14.