From the Principal 

Dear Families 

National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week 2024 

This week we have focused on National Sorry Day, which was last Sunday followed by National Reconciliation Week. Please see some of the learning that the children have experienced this week in the Around the School.   Educating our community and deepening our understandings about our First Nations People today, in the past and for the future, continues to be embedded in our learning across the curriculum and practices at St Mary’s Primary School. 

National Simultaneous Story Time 

Please read Around the School to see how our students participated in this yearly national shared reading event. On my Prep 2025 tours it was great hearing from our pre school families that their children had also joined in. The children excitedly pointed to the displays along the corridor, recognising the picture story book 'Bowerbirds Blue' written and illustrated by Aura Parker.  Picture story books offer such rich and engaging experiences for all of us, young and less young! 

First Eucharist 

This Sunday we pray for and congratulate Vi, Mia, Maylissa, Lachlan, Bella, Violetta, Gabriela and Mavis for making their First Eucharist at the 10:30am Mass. We thank their families, Father Jerome, Ms Earle, Mrs McDonald and Mrs Perri for preparing them. This Sunday has been chosen as it is the feast of Corpus Christi. 

This special feast day is about the Eucharist celebrated as a sacrament of unity. When we break bread and share the one cup we remember the last supper before Jesus died for us on the cross. Like the disciples the Mass unites us in a loving  relationship with God. For this reason the Eucharist is a call to unity and community. 

Zen Zone 

When on duty it is great being called over to learn about constructions under way, witness a close game of Connect Four and admire amazing lego and transport creations. 

Our Junior Science Incursion 

It was exciting hearing the oohs and ahs from our junior students as they experienced their science incursion. Please read  Around the School to find out what our Prep students learnt. 

Senior and Middle Years AFL Clinics

What a spectacular kick!  During PE lessons in Week 6, 7 and 8 we were fortunate to have coaches from AFL Victoria run clinics with our Years 3 - 6 students. Handballing and kicking technique was the focus to ensure our students were holding the ball correctly, manipulating the ball to spin backwards and hitting the target. Drills and games included ship shark shore, scarecrow tiggy, speed handballing, ladder and the longest kick. It was fantastic to see all students get involved and enjoy learning more about AFL in the beautiful sunshine. Perhaps in years to come we will see some of our students become footy superstars playing on the MCG!

I liked learning more about kicking because I got to improve a lot!  Written by Max

I liked handballing because it was lots of fun. I got to discover more about AFL because it was quite new to me.  Written by Maylissa

We learned how to handball and kick better. We played AFL Volley which was my favourite part of the clinic.  Written by Jay 

It was really fun because the instructor was paying attention to everyone and seeing their strengths, and also what they can work on one personalised way.  Written by Hikaru

Jes’ Wedding 

Tomorrow our intrepid Pirates Past Noon Captain, Performing Arts teacher, Religious Education Leader and Choirmaster Ms Jes Earle gets married. Yesterday we gave her a send off that she will remember and the students created love hearts for her and a book of wedding advice. 

Our School Choir

Our choir, composed of students from Year 1 to Year 6 has been practising for weeks for an upcoming Eisteddfod in Hawthorn on Wednesday 12th June. This is the first time our choir has represented our school in a competition with other Catholic, Government and Independent Schools. We wish them well and know that they will give their best. 

Learning Celebrations 

This week  we celebrated the written texts of some of our Year One students.

Our New Plants

Mr Speranza ordered the plants for our landscape project and they have arrived. Our Year 5 and 6 students are watering them and looking after them before we plant them, for which we thank them. We will have one more Working Bee to add some more soil and then we can plant. We will advise you of dates in the next few weeks. 

Cake Stall 

We thank our Year 5/6M families for our delicious baked delights on Monday afternoon. Thank you to Louisa and Liz and several parents for setting this up. At our next P & F meeting we will outline where our funds will go this year. Last year our funds enabled the purchasing of our Zen Zone equipment and the staff have an exciting proposal for this year. As always our hard earned funds go directly towards benefiting the children’s learning experiences at school. 

Lost Property 

There are many lonely items of unnamed uniform bibs and bobs in the lost property tub. Could I please invite you to have a look through the tub, outside the office area. Our Second Hand Uniform Store is a great tradition, however could I implore you to cut off the label of the previous owner and put your child/children’s names on each item. I can guarantee you that named items in lost property find their owners!  

Could I also ask you to check your child’s clothing to ensure that clothing with names other than your family can be returned. They can be handed into the office or to the classroom teacher. It would be lovely to see an empty lost property tub by the end of the week. 

Stay Chat and Play

Now that winter is nearly upon us, please join other families and preschoolers for a coffee and a play on Wednesday mornings from 9 -10:00am. The heater will be on and there is some great play equipment in the Community Room. Everyone is very welcome. 

Looking ahead: 

Feast of the Sacred Heart 

Please join us for Mass at 9:15am on Friday 7th June to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Everyone is most welcome. 

Monday 10th June 

Please note that Monday 10th June is the King’s Birthday weekend and a public holiday. School resumes on Tuesday 11th June.

Take care and wishing God's blessings and peace upon each of you. 

Mrs Cathy Ferrari