Taking Time to Reflect and Be Present

On Wednesday, 5th August, all staff attended the CESL Spirituality Day, a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect and reconnect with the purpose of our work in Catholic education. In the busyness of school life, it was important to intentionally make space to be present to God, to one another and to the students and families we serve each day. The day provided time for prayer, reflection and renewal, strengthening our shared commitment to nurturing faith, learning and wellbeing within our school community. We thank families for their support as our staff participated in this important formation experience.

Jared Cooney Horvath videos – The Science of Learning

We have just a few short months of access left for the videos that Jared prepared for Sandhurst schools. You may find these helpful!

Session 1– Sleep, Tech and Stress (50 mins) https://vimeo.com/1102066450/6f1c9d2218

Session 2– Surviving study (50 mins) https://vimeo.com/1102068293/eebb560b41

Session 3– A tour through your child’s brain (30mins) https://vimeo.com/1102069365/c7ab744186

Empowering Our Future Leaders – Student Leadership 2027

At St Mary’s, we are committed to nurturing leadership in all students. In 2026, we introduced a refreshed student leadership structure that provides meaningful opportunities for senior students to lead with confidence, compassion and responsibility.

Leadership positions include School Captains, Vice Captains, Faith and Justice Captains, and House Captains. These roles are designed to reflect our school values and give students a voice in shaping school life, from faith and service to house spirit and school representation. Our existing leadership groups will also continue to run.

All grade 5 students have been briefed on the new leadership opportunities and provided with a detailed information package for them to consider applying for these positions. We look forward to seeing our future leaders grow and shine in 2027!

All applications are due on Friday 11th September. Good luck to all!

Honouring Our Past, Inspiring Our Present and Building Our Future

Celebrating Our St. Mary’s Alumni

Our Alumni Visits have continued this term at each assembly, providing students with a wonderful opportunity to hear from former St. Mary’s students who have gone on to achieve success in a variety of fields.

In Week 3, we welcomed Ryan McNaught, one of the world’s leading LEGO® Certified Professionals. Ryan shared fond memories of his time at St. Mary’s, recalling how his passion for building and creating with LEGO began while he was a student here. He also spoke about helping to make and set up the school’s first computer when he was in Grade 5, demonstrating how curiosity, creativity and a willingness to try new things can lead to exciting opportunities.

In Week 4, we were delighted to welcome Sr Margaret Henderson who was the final Mercy Sister Principal from 1977 to 1982. It was inspiring to hear Sr Margaret reflect on her experiences at St. Mary’s, the strong sense of community that has always been part of our school, and the many students whose lives she touched during her time here. Remarkably, Sr Margaret also taught some of our current staff members, making her memories especially meaningful for our school community today.

These visits continue to inspire our students, reminding them that great achievements often begin with the opportunities, friendships and experiences formed right here at St. Mary’s. Thank you to Ryan and Sr Margaret for taking the time to reconnect with our school community and share their stories with our students.

We are truly blessed to have such wonderful alumni and community members willing to share their stories with us as we celebrate 90 years of faith, learning and community. Together, we continue to Honour Our Past, Inspire Our Present and Build Our Future.

Every Piece Tells a Story

As part of our 90th anniversary celebrations this term, students participated in a special whole-school project celebrating our theme: Honouring Our Past, Inspiring Our Present and Building Our Future.

Each student created a personalised puzzle piece representing their unique gifts, talents and connection to our St. Mary’s community. The creativity, care and pride shown by our students were truly wonderful to witness.

The display in the hallway near reception now looks absolutely magnificent and has become a powerful reminder that every student, past and present, is an important part of the St. Mary’s story. Seeing all of the pieces joined together beautifully reflects the strength, diversity and unity of our school community.

As we celebrate 90 years of faith, learning and community, we give thanks for the generations who have shaped St. Mary’s and for the students who continue to build upon those strong foundations each day.

At St. Mary’s, every student matters, every story is valued, and every piece truly belongs.

St. Mary’s School Advisory Council

Our St. Mary’s School Advisory Council provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to become actively involved in the life of our school and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of our community. The Council works in partnership with school leadership to support the vision, values and future direction of St. Mary’s.

Meetings are held once or twice each term, usually on a Tuesday evening at 7:30pm, and generally run for approximately one hour.

Our next Annual General Meeting (AGM) to vote in new Council members and roles will be held on Tuesday 8th December at 6:00pm. We warmly encourage any parents or carers who are interested in becoming involved to consider joining the Advisory Council.

If you would like more information, please speak with myself, Catherine Dyke, or our current Advisory Council President, Michael De Maria. We would be delighted to discuss what is involved and how you can contribute to supporting our wonderful St. Mary’s community.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)

Throughout Term 2, our staff have been actively engaged in moderation processes and Parent Support Group (PSG) meetings as part of our preparation for the annual Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) submission, which occurs in early August.

The NCCD is a nationwide process that assists schools in identifying and supporting students with disability by recognising the adjustments and support provided to enable them to access education on the same basis as their peers. The moderation process ensures that our staff consistently apply the NCCD guidelines and accurately document the adjustments being provided for students across the school.

Parent Support Group meetings play an important role in this process, providing families and school staff with an opportunity to discuss student progress, review existing supports, and collaboratively plan for future needs. These partnerships help ensure that every student receives the support necessary to achieve success at school.

Families wishing to learn more about the NCCD can access the parent information fact sheet here: https://www.nccd.edu.au/sites/default/files/nccd_parent_fact_sheet_english_0.pdf

Further information about the collection of data for the census is attached below.

We would like to sincerely thank Cherie Malnati and her team for the significant time, effort, and dedication they have invested in coordinating this important work. Their commitment ensures that our students receive the support they need to flourish both academically and socially.

New CSPV (Catholic School Parents Victoria) Newsletter

Following the establishment of the CSPV as communicated in previous newsletters in Term 2, they now have their own newsletter which we have been asked to share. Enjoy!

https://cspv.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CSPV-Newsletter-0726.pdf

A Pastoral Letter for the National Vocations Awareness Week 2026

St. Mary’s Bingo – THANK-YOU!

We are currently seeking support for St. Mary’s Bingo, which generally involves attending on a Saturday evening once a term. With numbers being quite short again at the moment, your help would be invaluable!

Bingo is a wonderful way to connect with our school community while raising funds that directly support student learning and school initiatives. We are incredibly grateful for the recent $2,600 donation from Bingo, which will make a significant contribution to the learning, opportunities and growth of our St. Mary’s community.

If you are able to volunteer your time and be part of this valued community group, we would love to hear from you. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Maree Williams on 0438 084 364.

Thank you for your consideration and ongoing support — every contribution makes a big difference!

Road Safety Reminder

Following recent observations by local Police, we would like to remind all members of our community to drive safely and follow the road rules when entering St. Mary's.

Police have observed some drivers approaching from the west along McLennan Street crossing the double centre lines to turn into the school entry near the front of the Church. This manoeuvre is illegal. Drivers travelling from this direction are required to continue to the Echuca Road traffic lights, complete a legal U-turn, and then enter the school safely.

Police have advised that crossing the double lines in this location may result in a $440 fine and the loss of 3 demerit points.

The safety of our students, families and the wider community is our highest priority. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep everyone safe during our busy drop-off and pick-up times.

Parent Code of Conduct and Social Media

Strong partnerships between home and school are essential in supporting the success and wellbeing of our students. By working together, building trust and maintaining open communication, we create the best possible environment for children to learn, grow and flourish.

In promoting & upholding this culture, we expect that Parents/Guardians will:

Treat staff, students and other parents with respect and courtesy
Support the school in its efforts to maintain a positive teaching and learning environment
In raising concerns on behalf of your child, or making a complaint about the school’s practices or treatment of your child, we expect that you will:
Observe the school’s stated procedures for raising and resolving a grievance/complaint
Follow specified protocol for communication with staff members.
The school places high value and priority on maintain a safe and respectful working environment. We regard certain behaviours as harmful and unacceptable if they compromise the safety and wellbeing of a member of our school community. These behaviours include, but are not limited to:
- verbal intimidation,
- Writing rude, defamatory, aggressive or abusive comments to/about a member of the school community or about the school.

At St. Mary’s, we expect that all members of our community abide by the Parent-School Relationships Code of Conduct for the benefit of our students and the whole St. Mary’s community.

2027 Prep Enrolments

📢 Enrolments for 2027 closed 31st May – please contact the office for further assistance.

School Parking and Safety Reminder

We kindly remind all members of our school community to observe all parking restrictions during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.

In particular, please do not park in the designated No Parking zones, including the area alongside the church. These restrictions are in place to ensure clear visibility for drivers, safe access for pedestrians, and the safety of all students, families and staff entering and exiting the school grounds.

While we understand that pick-up and drop-off times can be busy, adhering to parking regulations helps maintain a safe and orderly environment for everyone. We ask all families to allow a little extra time if needed and to use the designated parking areas available.

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

St. Mary’s 90 Years Production – From Humble Beginnings – Let Your Light Shine

PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE

This year we are having a School Production on Wednesday 25th November.

Seat bookings are now open and can be made at no cost via the link below. Families can book up to 3 tickets at one timeslot, any unallocated seats will be opened to all families 2 weeks prior to the production.

https://www.trybooking.com/DLWKO

Gold coin is encouraged upon entry at the event.

Please read the parent/guardian letter sent at the end of term 1 for all the exciting details to celebrate our 90 years.

Before School Supervision

Please note - all students who arrive at school prior to 8:30am must fill out an application via the link below.

Before School Supervision

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.

Principal’s Awards

27th July – Harmen Singh

This week’s Principal’s Award is presented to Harman Singh.

Harman has been working wonderfully in his classes, always showing a commitment to learning and striving to do his very best. His effort, enthusiasm and respectful approach are a wonderful example to others.

Well done Harman!

3rd August – Isaac Zausa

This week’s Principal’s Award is presented to a student who is truly letting his light shine. He has made a fantastic start to the term and continues to demonstrate our St. Mary’s values of love, understanding and respect through his actions, attitude and interactions with others.

Thank you for being such a positive role model and for being a shining light within our St. Mary’s community. Congratulations, Isaac!

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.

Ms V’s Inspirations

““We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”— John Dewey

“Be still and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10

“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16