School News
Graduation Mass and Nativity Play
As the year draws to a close, we are thrilled to invite all parents, families, and friends to our Graduation Mass and Whole-School Nativity Play. This special evening is an opportunity to honour our graduating Year 6 class, celebrate their achievements, and welcome the Christmas season with the joy and wonder of our traditional Nativity Play. Our students have been hard at work rehearsing their roles, and their excitement is growing as they bring this beloved story to life.
Following the Mass, a BBQ dinner will be provided, offering the perfect opportunity for our school community to gather, share stories, and reflect on the year’s blessings.
We encourage everyone to join us for this memorable celebration—a time to congratulate our Year 6 students as they prepare for their next chapter and embrace the spirit of Christmas together. We can’t wait to see you there!
End of Year Mass Tuesday 17th December 5:45 pm (St Mary’s Church)
*Estimated times
6:30 Student Awards
6:40 Departures
6:45 Graduation Ceremony
7:00 Dinner
7:30 St Mary’s Nativity Play
8:00 Pack Up
End-of-Year Cleanout
We are participating in a big cleanout to prepare for the upcoming Sandhurst Magnify rollout in 2025. You are welcome to come and collect the following items by Monday 16th 6:00 pm.
Sports Equipment
Children's Books
Leveled Readers
Teacher Resources
Tables & Chairs
Art supplies and more.
2025 Fees
This week, you would have received a letter outlining the fee structure for 2025. St Mary's School wants to ensure that our fee structure remains as affordable as possible while continuing to provide high-quality education and support for all our students. After careful review, there will be a small increase in school fees for 2025 (3%), with a focus on keeping costs manageable for families.
We understand the financial pressures that many families face, and our goal is to keep tuition and other levies as low as possible, whilst still maintaining the excellent programs and services that make St Mary’s a great place for learning.
In welcoming news, St Mary's is pleased to announce Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd will significantly reduce school fees and levies for families with a valid Health Care Card (HCC) in the upcoming year. The total annual fee will be reduced to $520 per student, which amounts to just $10 per week.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to another great year ahead!
2025 Class Structures & Staff Roles
In order to cater to the needs of all individual students and deliver a high quality and evidence-based teaching & learning program, St Mary’s will continue to run a combined F-6 classroom in 2025. The combined classroom will have the benefit of three and four adults working with the students at any given time, creating a ratio of 1:4 for Literacy and Mathematics. All educators will continue to be involved in regular professional development to aid their ability to differentiate to each child’s learning needs.
2025 Classes:
- Miss Tayla Fenwick and Mrs Cath Williams (F-6)
2025 Staff:
- Mr Stephen O’Shannessy: Principal, Learner Diversity, Religious Education Leader and Curriculum Leader
- Ibu Cath Williams: Grade F-6 Classroom & Indonesian Teacher
- Miss Tayla Fenwick: Grade F-6 Classroom & Sports Coordinator
- Mrs Carly Bannan: Wellbeing, Behaviour and Mental Health Coordinator
- Mrs Franceen Innes: Learning Support Officer and Pastoral & Wellbeing Support (Chaplain)
- Ms Ruby McLean: Learning Support Officer
- Mrs Sandra Coffey: Office Administrator
Office Hours
Our Office will be open from Tuesday 28th January for any parents who would like to purchase any last minute uniform items before school commences for students on Thursday 30th January.
School Hours
Students can be dropped off at school after 8:30am, where they will be supervised. We kindly request that students refrain from arriving on the premises before this time.
Out of Hours School Care and Holiday Programs:
If you require out-of-hours school care, St Mary's will organise supervised transport to and from In2Schools, which conducts their business at Inglewood Primary School. The fees are heavily subsidised for families with a Health Care card. Contact inglewood@in2learning.com.au for further details or to sign up.
Student Reports & Learning Portfolios
Our student academic Semester Two reports will be sent home and released on PAM today, Friday, 13th December. Please take the time to read your child’s report.
The Learning Portfolio forms a part of St Mary’s overall reporting process, which also includes work samples directly linked to the Victorian Curriculum completed throughout the year. These should be viewed in conjunction with the academic reports. Each learning task in the portfolio is assessed using a rubric that indicates the achievement of your child.
Parents should be familiar with their child’s academic progress prior to receiving their reports. Teacher Learning Conversations occur each term and provide families with the opportunity to examine and discuss school-based testing and work samples. These meetings allow for the co-creation and monitoring of individual learning goals.
Kris Kringles
Dear Families,
Students will receive their K.K. on Monday 2nd December, this is an exercise to allow us to show acts of kindness to our K.K. and make them feel extra special for these last few weeks.
During this time, there will be a letterbox in the Office where students can post letters that will be delivered to their K.K.
By Friday 13thDecember, students will need to bring a wrapped gift to the value of $5 to school for their K.K. that will go under the Christmas tree.
Gifts will be given out on Wednesday 18th December.
On the gift it should read:
To: K.K.
From: (Your child’s name.)
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the office on 03 54 383 075.