Principal's News
Dear Parents/Carers,
As hard as it is to believe, we are past the halfway point of the first term. Indeed, the cooler weather and darker mornings remind us that we are finished with another summer.
School Athletics
Congratulations to Mercy House, who took out last Friday’s Athletic Sports - a quick follow-up to the Swimming Sports, where they also got the chocolates a couple of weeks ago. All participants and officials enjoyed almost perfect weather for the event. A big “Thank you” to Ms Lynch for organising the day, the many parent volunteers who helped us run the events, our staff for how they supported the kids, and the parents and grandparents who came along to encourage the kids. Finally, to the competitors from Grade 3 to 6 who did their best for their team all day—all had lots of fun.
Ash Wednesday - Beginning of Lent
Ash Wednesday, March 5th, marks the start of the 40 days of the Lenten Season in the Church and school. Children in Years 4 - 6 will attend the Ash Wednesday Mass at
10.00am at St. Mary’s Church. Years 1 - 3 will participate in an Ash Wednesday Liturgy in the Multi-purpose room. Everyone is most welcome. We’d love to see you there!
N.A.P.L.A.N.
Children in Grades 3 and 5 will participate in the National Assessment Program - Literacy And Numeracy from March 12th till March 24th. (n.b. This time frame allows time for some “catch-up” tests when children might be sick or away from school.)
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards.
Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are engaging for students. The tests are tailored (or adaptive), meaning each test presents questions that may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses. If you get a question right, the test will become slightly more complicated; if you get one wrong, it becomes somewhat easier.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.
Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best.
A NAPLAN individual student report will be provided to parents with a student in Grade 3 or 5 later in the year.
Foundation Enrolments for 2026 – Sibling Survey
It feels as though the year has only begun, and we are already starting to plan for next year. As of this morning, there is a survey available in PAM that I would bring to the attention of our families who have someone they would like to enrol for 2026.
This survey is open until the end of March. An application form will be sent out after this date for parents to complete. Applications close on 20th June 2025.
Public Holiday
The School will be closed on Monday, March 10th, for the Labour Day holiday.
Kind regards,
Karl Dwyer
Principal