YEAR 7

 Starting Well

Narelle Brooke

Head of Year 7

nbrooke@cns.catholic.edu.au 

YEAR 7 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 5

Big Night Out

Excitement is building for the Year 7 social event of the term, the ’Country & Western’ themed Big Night Out! Please be sure to complete the EdSmart Slip by Monday 23 February to confirm your child's attendance. 

NAPLAN 2026

NAPLAN 2026 is scheduled for Week 7 and in the coming weeks, students in Year 7 will be undergoing technology and practice tests to ensure student readiness for the online tests.  Further information was communicated with you via EdSmart, however, kindly note the following: 

• All students require non-wireless headphones for the tests. Headphones used MUST be compatible with the laptop. 
• If your child is a diverse learner, you will be contacted via EdSmart Slip regarding specific exam adjustments for your child. Alternatively, please reach out to the Diverse Learning Team at mbezuidenh@cns.catholic.edu.au .
• If you have concerns about your child participating in NAPLAN, please reach out to Curriculum Logistics, John Cahill, jcahill@cns.catholic.edu.au or Head of Year 7, Narelle Brooke, nbrooke@cns.catholic.edu.au .

Laptop Charging, Checks and Care

Please ensure your child charges their laptop at home overnight. We have had a significant number of students arriving at Period 1 each day with laptops needing to be charged. 

Each term, student laptops will undergo regular checks by the Pastoral Mentors. As valuable learning tools, these devices must be maintained in good working order. In line with the Laptop Hire Agreement, please note the following: 

• Students must use the laptop bags provided when moving around the College.  
• When not in use, laptops should be secured inside locked lockers.  
• Laptop skins and name stickers must remain on the laptops and accessories. Significant damage to or removal of the laptop skin will result in the family ordering new skins as required, with the cost incurred by the family. 

• Accidental damage: students may access one repair per calendar year. Further damage in the next year will incur costs for the family. 

   

Please contact IT services or your Pastoral Mentor if you have any issues or concerns around your child's laptop.  

Subject Spotlight - English

Year 7 English students are focusing on the persuasive genre this term, and will perform a short persuasive speech for their assessment as part of their portfolio. For this unit, we recommend practising public speaking by encouraging conversations at home, with a focus on fluency and clarity.  

For any concerns or queries, please get in touch with our Head of English, Ashleigh Whitla, awhitla@cns.catholic.edu.au .

UNIFORM SCHEDULE: WEEK  A

WHOLE-OF-COLLEGE NOTICES

Shoe Guide

At the College, students are required to adhere to the uniform and personal grooming guide. We want to support families, students, and teachers in understanding specific requirements, particularly for sports shoes. We know students are currently wearing shoes in the 'not suitable' section of the graphic below.

To provide clarity, we have listed the main shoes worn by students with their sports uniforms that require fixing and shoes must meet expectations for the start of Term 2. This provides you and your family time to make changes to comply with the uniform guideline outlined in the College Diary under Uniforms: Sport shoes - Low cut, supportive, lace-up, all-purpose shoes for running with a suitable grip. Colour scheme should be discreet. Skate shoes and other flat-soled shoes are not acceptable.

The shoes shown in the graphic below are examples we frequently see; they are not the ONLY shoes not permitted. If you are unsure of the correct shoes, please send a picture or ask your child to speak with the Head of Year for clarification. Uniform infringement consequences will come into play at the commencement of Term 2. We appreciate your support in making it very clear what we expect regarding appropriate footwear at the College.

Day of Action against Bullying

Today, St Mary’s recognised the Day of Action against Bullying. Throughout the week, students were encouraged to take proactive approaches to combating bullying, with a strong focus on kindness. Pastoral Groups participated in ‘Kindness Bingo’, while today students pledged acts of kindness at our ‘Kindness Wall.' Each Pastoral Group’s morning prayer also focused on community and selflessness. 

Students in Years 7-10 spent their SEL lesson exploring topics on bullying, friendship, and cyberbullying. Across the College, there was a sea of orange accessories to show solidarity and commitment to standing against bullying. 

At St Mary’s, we are committed to a proactive approach to addressing bullying. We encourage all students and parents/carers to contact Pastoral Mentors or Heads of Year if there are any concerns.

Join the Choir!

The St Mary’s College Choir commenced on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. Choir rehearsals are held each Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 pm - 4:45 pm in M3/M4 in the HOB (enter the HOB via the laneway near the Nazareth Pavilion). We welcome and encourage new members to join or try it out. 

We will hold a Choir Camp in Term 2, from 8 - 10 May, during which we will travel to Genazzano Retreat on Friday and return on Sunday at lunchtime. Camp is always a highlight of the year. During the camp, we build our repertoire and prepare for performances at the Eisteddfod at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre. 

We would particularly like to have some more senior boys join us, as well as some keen Year 7 students. New students are asked to please complete the form below and return it to Mrs Wright, jwright@cns.catholic.edu.au, or Mrs Jepson, kjepson@cns.catholic.edu.au

The Tuckshop

Family Connect Meeting

Commemoration Mass and Morning Tea

Sunday, March 8 2026, 10:00 am 

We warmly invite you to join us for St Mary's Catholic College Commemoration Mass. This special occasion marks 40 years since the commemoration of the opening of the College. Following Mass, morning tea will be provided.

Please register via the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIYHJ

College Key Dates

Please note that all key dates are listed in the College Calendar. This can be accessed via the MyCE Parent App and synced with your personal calendar.

Parish Support  - Our Lady Help of Christians

Dear Parents and Carers, your children attend school within our parish boundaries, and we warmly welcome your support. You can be a volunteer and/or contribute to the parish financially (one-off or regular donations). 

Our banking details are provided below:

Earlville Parish Account

BSB: 084352 

Account number: 000004441

Reference: Surname and initials of first name(s).

Please contact the parish office if you have any questions. 

Thank you for your support, Fr. Nathan. 

COLLEGE WEBSITE - For the latest information and guidance relevant to both staff and families, please refer regularly to our St Mary's Catholic College Website.

 

Leah McBryde

Assistant Principal 

Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9) 

lmcbryde@cns.catholic.edu.au

On behalf of the College Leadership Team

College Leadership Team

College Pastoral Team