YEAR 8
Building Strong Connections
Clare Robertson
Head of Year 8
YEAR 8 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 5
Year 8 Parent Information Evening
It was wonderful to meet Year 8 parents at the Information Evening in Week 4. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to connect with our Pastoral Mentors, Heads of Department, and teaching staff. The teacher-parent-student partnership is highly valued at our College to best support your child’s education and wellbeing. I look forward to working with the Year 8 families in 2026.
Assessment Preparation
Our students are entering the busy assessment period of the term. Organisational skills are crucial to successfully navigating this time. Students are encouraged to check the assessment planner (available on the Parent Portal and Student Portal), submit completed assessment drafts for feedback, and use their Diary to record key assessment dates and checkpoints. A reminder that parents are asked to please sign and date diaries each Monday night, to hold students accountable as they learn how to develop life-long organisational skills.
Year 8 Camp - Fitzroy Island
Save the Date - the Year 8 Camp will be held on Fitzroy Island in Week 7, Term 2.
- Female camp - Monday 1 June - Wednesday 3 June.
Male camp - Wednesday 3 June - Friday 5 June.
More information will follow about this two-night adventure camp.
Extracurricular Spotlight - Hoops Squad
‘Hoops Squad’ is held every Monday morning at 7:30am in the Nazareth Pavilion with Mr
Pacey, Mrs Selsby, and Mr Morzone. Keen basketballers of all skills and abilities are welcome to attend. Kick off the week with physical activity and social interaction.
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
On Friday of Week 4, 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’ and on Friday 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 have 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, parents, and 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 this year. 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 the Friday and return on the Sunday at lunchtime. Choir Camp is always a highlight of the year. During the camp, we build our repertoire and prepare for performances at the Eisteddfod held 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.
| Event | Date | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming Carnival | Tuesday, 3 March | Term 1 |
| Commemoration Mass & Morning Tea | Sunday, 8 March | Term 1 |
| Cross Country | Wednesday, 1 April | Term 1 |
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)
On behalf of the College Leadership Team
College Leadership Team
College Pastoral Team
