Where is the Year Going?

Believe it or not, we're already nearing the halfway point of Term 3, and it's certainly a busy time here at St. Mary's Primary! The school is buzzing with activity as students and staff are fully immersed in learning, exciting events, and various projects.

From academic pursuits to extracurricular commitments, there's a lot happening across all year levels. I encourage everyone to keep up the fantastic work and maintain that great energy as we head into the second half of the term. Let's continue to support each other and make the most of every learning opportunity!

Go Girls, Go NSW! Molly and Sophie Head to National Hockey Championships

I hope I will get some time to watch the livestream of both Molly and Sophie, who will be representing New South Wales at the upcoming Australian Under-12 Years Hockey Championships! The prestigious tournament kicks off next week in Bendigo, Victoria, and I couldn't be more excited for them.

On behalf of everyone in our learning community, I wish Molly and Sophie the very best of luck as they compete against the nation's top young hockey talent. Play hard, enjoy every moment, and make NSW proud! We'll be cheering you on from back home.

A Wonderful Celebration of Book Week, Grandparents Day & Open Classrooms!

Unfortunately, I couldn't take part due to myself attending the Principal's Meeting as I do love to dress up! From what I have heard today was a truly special day as we celebrated Book Week and Grandparents Day, and we extend a huge thank you to all the wonderful grandparents and special friends who joined us! We were blessed with perfect weather, making it an ideal day to acknowledge the significant roles grandparents and education play in our lives.

The beautiful sunshine set the scene for a delightful shared morning tea, where families connected and enjoyed browsing the fantastic Book Fair display, organised by Mrs Tafra. The highlight of the day, of course, was the highly anticipated Book Week Parade! Our students and staff looked absolutely fantastic in their creative costumes.

A massive thank you to Mrs Tafra and all the staff for their incredible efforts in making the day such a success. We'd also like to give a special shout-out to our families who helped with the amazing costumes, and to our students for their fantastic enthusiasm.

Finally, thank you to all our special visitors for coming to school for the morning – we loved having you here!

Don't forget to check out the Photo Gallery Page next fortnight for more photos from the day!

Big Bash Visitors

As a devoted cricket fan, I was looking forward to this incredible experience! We were very fortunate to host some men's and women's players from the Sydney Sixers Big Bash team. The players spoke to the students about the importance of teamwork, healthy living, and never giving up on their dreams, both in cricket and in life. They also shared some exciting stories from their careers and even answered questions from our enthusiastic students. A huge thank you to Mrs. Kate Kenny for making this fantastic visit possible.

Armidale Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival

What a fantastic day it was at the Armidale Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival! I must admit, I found myself in a unique position, acting as the team manager for St. Patrick's Primary, while also keeping a close eye on and cheering for all the students from St. Mary's. Regardless of their school, every student should be incredibly proud of their efforts and sportsmanship throughout the day.

A huge thank you to Mr. Lester and Mrs. Walters for supervising our squad, and to all the parents who joined us on the day. Your support made for a smooth and enjoyable event!

For a full wrap-up of all the results, including which students gained selection in the Armidale Catholic Schools squad to represent the diocese at the Polding Athletics Trials, be sure to check out the sports edition of the newsletter!

Brain Olympia Cluster Wrap Up

Last Monday, I was in Tamworth with our two school teams for the Brain Olympia Trials. Our teams faced off against several schools within the diocese, engaging in a variety of academic activities, including general knowledge, mathematical problem-solving, public speaking, and the planning and performance of a drama skit.

Both of our teams achieved outstanding results! Team No. 1 placed seventh in the Large Schools Section. Team No. 2 also did exceptionally well, placing third in the same division.

The day was thoroughly enjoyable. I would like to extend my gratitude to the numerous parents who assisted with transportation arrangements, enabling our teams to take part; your support is greatly appreciated.

I hope you have a great time Year 5!

Our Year 5 students are heading off to Coffs Harbour early next week for their yearly two night excursion, and I hope they have a fantastic time! It's sure to be an enjoyable and educational experience, full of new discoveries.

I encourage everyone to make the most of this opportunity, learn new things, and create some wonderful memories with your classmates and teachers.

Have a safe and fun trip, Year 5! We look forward to hearing about all your adventures when you get back.

Feast of the Assumption

Today, August 15th, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, where we honour Mary the mother of Jesus, who was assumed body and soul into heaven.

The Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation, and earlier today, all of our students and staff members acknowledged this feast day by celebrating Mass at the Cathedral

Year One Phonics Screener Assessment

Soon all Year 1 students throughout NSW will take part in the Year 1 Phonics Screener Assessment. This is a short assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonics. More information about this assessment is included below:

School Improvement Survey

Armidale Catholic Schools has partnered with Survey My School again this year to gather parent feedback about our school. You'll be happy to know that the survey's structure and questions have been updated to be more user-friendly. Families can expect to receive these surveys via email during the week of August 25th.

P & F Dates

FETE Save the Date Saturday 15 November - St Mary's Fete

FETE Meeting Term 3, Week 5, 19 August - 5:30 pm in the Staffroom

P&F Meeting, Term 3, Week 8, 10 September - 5.30pm in the Staffroom

Paint and Sip Fundraiser, Saturday 13th September

Kindergarten Enrolments for 2026

If you know anyone who has a son/daughter ready to start school next year, please let them know that enrolments are now open. Enrolment forms can be obtained from the School Office.

Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2026.

Please contact the school for an enrolment package - 6772 4441 or email

smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

Wearing our Uniform with Pride

Thank you parents for ensuring your children were wearing their full Winter uniform throughout the first two weeks of this term, it was very evident that we take pride in our presentation.

Maintaining a high uniform standards is an important part of our school's identity and plays a significant role in fostering a sense of pride and respect for our school.

Our uniform identifies St Mary's School within the community and develops a sense of school spirit and belonging within the student body. Some specific uniform requirements, such as shoes, hats, hair and jewellery, are directly related to student safety. The wearing of the correct school uniform is compulsory, and students are expected to arrive wearing it daily, ready to learn. Families are asked to ensure that each item of clothing is clearly labelled.

We thank you for your partnership in this important aspect of school life.

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