Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
Help Us Enter the New Year
God, help us enter the New Year quietly,
thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others,
mindful that our steps make an impact
and our words carry power.
May we walk gently.
May we speak only after we have listened well.
Help us enter the New Year reverently,
aware that you have endowed
every creature and plant, every person and habitat
with beauty and purpose.
May we regard the world with tenderness.
May we honour rather than destroy.
Help us enter the New Year joyfully,
willing to laugh and dance and dream,
remembering our many gifts with thanks
and looking forward to blessings yet to come.
May we welcome your lavish love.
In this new year, may the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.
I warmly welcome you back as we settle into the 2026 school year. I hope all families feel relaxed and refreshed as we get back into the busy routines of work and school. It has been a smooth start to the school year and it has been a delight to observe the children return to school looking happy and eager to begin work in their new classroom settings.
A big welcome to our new Prep students and new families. All our Preps seem to be making a comfortable transition into school routines. I have visited the classrooms throughout the last week and have been delighted with how settled and happy they are in their new environment. Well done to Elissa, Emma, Ava, Liza and Hannah on making their first few days such a memorable experience. I also welcome students from other year levels who have joined our school community this year;
- Lenny Morgan Grade Gr 2 Matt
- Kaisser Abitona Grade 4 Paula/Mandy
- Kassandra Abitona Grade 6 Maegen/Jodie
- Billy Nestor Grade 1 Leah
- Chloe Nestor Grade 4 Bec
- Lexie D’Altera Grade 4 Paula/Mandy
- Patrick O’Donnell Grade 1 Abbey
We welcome our new teachers Bec Gallagher (Gr 4), Abbey Hayes (Gr 1) and Brydie Kilday (DDT specialist teacher). We are delighted to have these wonderful people on staff and wish them all the best as they begin their journey at St. Mary’s.
School Transitions/School TV
Please see the link below with some useful information from our School TV site in relation to assisting your child transition to school/new year level.
https://smcolac.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions
Uniform/Hats
It is timely at the beginning of the year to remind families about wearing correct school uniform. Runners are only to be worn on sports days. Our uniform is something we share in common as a school community and should be worn with pride. With the extreme heat we have been experiencing, the wearing of hats is very important. If children are not wearing a hat they will be asked to sit in the undercover veranda areas. Please ensure all uniform items are clearly named.
Beginning of Year Mass/BBQ
Our beginning of the year school Mass will be held on Thursday 5th March at 10am. This is a special occasion to celebrate the beginning of a new year and bless our Preps as they begin their school life. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Our beginning of the year BBQ will also be held on this day at 6pm. This will be a great opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the year and welcome new families to our school. The school will provide sausages and hamburgers and parents will be asked to bring a salad or dessert to be shared. Details will be posted on Class Dojo and we would appreciate a response of your attendance for catering purposes.
Meet the Teacher Conversations
Meet the teacher conversations will be held on 16th and 17th February. Please note that these are not our usual Learning Conversations. These meetings are a short 10-minute discussion to meet your child’s teacher and share any important information that will support the development of educational goals and expectations. It is also an opportunity to discuss transition into their new class. All parents wishing to meet with their child’s teacher are to book a time on the PAM.
Bus
The children who travel to school by bus have done a wonderful job getting themselves organised both at school and at the Trinity and CSC terminals this week. There were quite a few disruptions with the fires, so hopefully things settle down and get back to normal in the coming week. The older students have been very responsible in guiding and looking after the younger children and they are to be congratulated on their responsible behaviour. Please note that all bus enquiries and issues are to be referred to Judy Carr. Judy will refer more serious issues to me should the situation arise.
Calvert St. Crossing
We have noticed that there are a number of parents using Calvert St. to drop off and pick up their children, with many choosing not to use the school crossing. As there is now a high volume of traffic in this area, it is vital that parents and children use the school crossing when crossing Calvert St., no matter where you have parked. Those few extra steps will ensure the safety of everyone.
Pupil Free Day
Our pupil free day this term will be held on Thursday 19th March. The focus for the day will be Structured Literacy.
Events Calendar
First term is always a very busy one. On today’s newsletter are all the important dates and events in the coming weeks. Please be sure to read the calendar on the newsletter each fortnight to keep up to date and plan ahead. We also add dates onto the yearly calendar on PAM on a regular basis, so please keep up to date with this also.
Enjoy the rest of your week and best wishes for a great year ahead.
Michael Mahoney
(Principal)