Dear Families

Recently I have been participating in some professional development studies where I have had to reflect upon our Mission and Vision at St Mary’s Primary School. Our Mission Statement is who we are and why we do what we do and our Vision Statement is how we aspire to enact our mission. In a nutshell the who, why and how we operate as our school and our community. In my role leading our community, the Mission and Vision Statements drive my thoughts and actions. I do this when planning, when reflecting and especially when I am in relationship with all members of our community. At the end of most days, I often check in with myself and ask did I find the light within those I worked with today? Am I keeping my heart and mind open within education, especially as a leader within Catholic education in current times. Am I giving witness to our values of; respect, integrity, compassion and justice? Please see our Mission and Vision below. Next year our school will conduct a Review which occurs every four years. Our Mission and Vision will be looked at in depth by our community to plan our road may for the next four years. When I look back to 2021, a great deal has happened and every member of our community should feel very proud of all the we have achieved.

Our Mission

St Mary's is an inclusive community where children are respected, cared for and have a strong sense of belonging. They are enriched in their faith and learning by the relationships nurtured with the Parish of St Mary's, the Presentation Sisters and the neighbouring Catholic schools.

We continue the mission of living, loving and serving in the way of Christ, caring for God's creation, and keeping our hearts and minds open in education and service.

Our Values

Faithful to our mission, we hold the following values to be central to our identity, relationships and endeavours:

Respect

Integrity

Compassion

Justice

Our Vision

We aspire to being and building a community of faith and learning that honours and upholds our core commitments.

These are:

• The school's Catholic identity will be authentic and meaningful for all members of the school community.

• Children will be engaged in contemporary learning where they are assisted to become curious, creative, reflective and independent thinkers.

• Children will be supported by strong family, school and wider community relationships and collaboration.

• Staff will be highly attuned to each child's distinctive wellbeing and learning needs.

All members of our diverse school community will affirm,

challenge, support and learn from each other.

School Motto: Finding the Light Within.

Grandparents/Special Friends Day

Last Friday, our community was abound with our mission and vision, in action. We celebrated Mass together as a community and then our visitors came across to explore our classrooms, how we learn in 2024 and to share stories of the ‘olden days’. We had many thank you emails, cards and letters from family members who joined us and how much they loved being a member of the school family and the strong feelings of belonging their families have. Thank you to everyone for their work in making this happen. The P & F shared a delicious morning tea with our visitors, for which we are most appreciative. I enjoyed chatting with many of our visitors and learning from their stories.

Manners matter

As you all know manners really matter to me and I always feel so proud of our students and staff members in their daily interactions with each other and at times the wider public. Recently a member of the public commended one of our staff members for knowing all the children’s names, as they lined up to cross the road. Jo, Chris and Angela our crossing supervisor staff frequently comment on the delightful manners of our children and community in general. I share these insights with you to congratulate each of you for your manners and using them. I feel particularly proud of our students with their greetings each morning and check ins throughout the day.

Last week I was walking through the school with a colleague from another school. They commented on the fact that I said hello to a student and asked how they were and that the student replied with; “I am good Mrs Ferrari, how are you?” It took me a while to appreciate what they had witnessed as this just is our St Mary’s way. As I often (always) say, it will be at an interview for a job or new role, when you are older that your manners, eye contact and ability to speak confidently will make you stand out among others trying for the same job or role!

Sacrament of Confirmation

Our prayers are with our Year 6 Confirmation candidates as they prepare for this sacrament, the third of the initiation sacraments. Thank you to Father Jerome, Mrs Mensen, Ms Denise, Mrs Mason and Mr Speranza for working with and supporting the candidates and their families at the Family Faith Night last night. This year it is terrific to have some of our Parish students joining us for the sacrament. Our senior Mass is this Sunday 5:30pm for our Year 5 and 6 students and their families. Bishop Tony Ireland meets with the candidates on Tuesday 20th August and they will then participate in a Reflection Day on Thursday 22nd August, at school. The Sacrament of Confirmation is on Sunday 25th August at the 10:30 am Mass.

Another action packed fortnight ahead

Olympic Day - Green & Gold

Remember to break out your green and gold for tomorrow and a gold coin donation for Jump Rope for Heart. Mr Speranza together with the Year 6 Sport Leaders, Community Leaders and Curriculum Leaders have a fantastic day planned for us. Whilst we all have many different cultures and backgrounds we are all living in Australia and proudly cheering on athletes wearing the green and gold. We look forward to learning about some of the sports at the Olympics from our Year One students tomorrow at assembly. It is always challenging juggling watching the Olympics and work, especially with the time difference between Europe and ourselves. Many of us have Paris Olympics exhaustion!

Italian Day

Next Tuesday is a calendar highlight event, our Italian Day! Signora Vozzo has pulled out all stops this year and a day full of learning, fun and eating is promised. Please wear a white, red and/green on Tuesday to celebrate all things Italian. Mr Speranza has been helping in the background and we also have members of the P & F assisting. We can’t wait for Martedi!

Feast of the Assumption - Thursday 15th August

Please join our students and teachers at the 9:15am Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. Everyone is most welcome.

School Closure Day - Friday 9th August

Please note in accordance with the Catholic Education Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2022, that there will be a School Closure Day on Friday 9th August. This day allows us to give time in lieu to our teachers, as directed by the enterprise agreement which recognises the workload of teachers. TheirCare is available for child care, if required. Some of our senior students are representing our school at Hoop Time at MACS and we thank Mrs Mason, Ms Kat and some parents for coaching and umpiring and we wish the teams the best of luck.

Landscape Project

A late update. Our planter boxes have arrived and Steve is working hard to set them up for us. Our project is getting closer to completion. Please put Friday 13th December 3:00-3:30pm in your calendar for our blessing and celebration of our beautiful St Mary's Primary School community garden.

Take care and wishing God's blessings and peace upon each of you.

Mrs Cathy Ferrari

TheirCare Program