Principals Report

As we reach the halfway mark of the term, I continue to be impressed with our Year 5/6 leaders, who have embraced their new responsibilities with pride and a strong sense of ownership. Their leadership within the school community is evident in the way they support younger students, take initiative in school events, and model our school values each day. It was wonderful to see our Year 5/6 students confidently leading our first assembly for the year. They spoke with enthusiasm, sharing insights into their classroom learning and discussing the significance of Caritas' Project Compassion. What made the assembly even more impressive was the way students spoke off the cuff, demonstrating their ability to think on their feet and communicate effectively with their peers and teachers.

Assemblies provide a great platform for students to develop their public speaking skills and showcase their learning, and our senior students set a fantastic example for the rest of the school. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow as leaders throughout the year. A big congratulations to all our award winners on the day. 

Thank you to all the parents and carers who took the time to attend our learning conversations last week. It was fantastic to see students taking ownership of their learning and confidently leading discussions about their achievements, challenges, and goals for the semester ahead. These conversations provide a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their progress, celebrate their successes, and identify areas for growth. We appreciate the partnership between home and school in supporting each child's learning journey, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of these goal setting discussions in the coming weeks.

Working Bee: CHANGE OF DATE - Friday, March 28

This is a friendly reminder that we are excited to invite our families and community members to join us for a Working Bee as we work together to shape our new Sensory Garden. As discussed in my last address, this special space will provide students with a calm and engaging environment designed to support their well-being, spark curiosity, and encourage hands-on learning through nature.

Our Sensory Garden will feature a variety of textures, scents, and colours to stimulate the senses, creating a peaceful retreat for students to explore and enjoy. It will be a place where children can take a moment to reset, engage in quiet reflection, or simply connect with nature during their school day. By involving our students, staff, parents, and the broader school community in its creation, we are fostering a sense of ownership, pride, and responsibility for this new space.

A Working Bee is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together, contribute our time and skills, and strengthen our school community. Whether you have a green thumb, enjoy a bit of hands on work, or simply want to be part of a great team effort, we would love to have your support! Tasks on the day will include filling garden beds with soil, assembling garden features, spreading mulch, and general pruning and landscaping. Due to a delay in delivery, we have a new date for our Working Bee on Friday, 28th March, from 8:30-10:30am. 

Next week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will begin their NAPLAN assessments, starting with Writing on Wednesday. These assessments provide valuable insights into student learning and help inform our teaching practices at St Mary’s.

While we encourage all students to do their best, we also reassure them that NAPLAN is just one of many ways we gather information to support their learning. It is not a test of who they are as learners but rather an opportunity for teachers to refine and enhance classroom teaching. We appreciate the support of our families in helping students approach these assessments with a positive mindset. If you would like to practice at home, you can go to the public site.

Once the results are available, we will carefully review them to inform our teaching practices. You will receive a report outlining your child’s achievements, highlighting both strengths and areas for further development. If you have any questions or concerns at any stage of the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We value open communication and are here to support both you and your child.

To conclude this address, I would like to highlight how this Saturday, March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a global occasion to recognise and honour the achievements, contributions, and resilience of women in our communities and beyond. 

At St Mary’s, we are fortunate to have a school community filled with inspiring female educators, staff, parents, and students who demonstrate strength, compassion, and dedication in all they do. Our teachers and educators nurture young minds, working tirelessly behind the scenes, as our students set an example of leadership, kindness, and determination.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelaetre Action', reminds us of the 

importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases women face, both personally and professionally. As educators, we have a vital role in ensuring that our students grow up understanding the importance of gender equality, respect, and opportunity. 

I encourage everyone in our school community to take a moment to express gratitude for the women who have influenced our lives. Whether it be a teacher, mentor, mother, sister, or friend, let us acknowledge their contributions.