From the Principal...

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Sacrament of Eucharist

Congratulations to the following children who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, 31 May.

This was a significant milestone in their faith journey as they received Holy Communion for the first time. May this special occasion deepen their relationship with Christ and strengthen their connection to our Church community as they continue to grow in hope, faith and love.

Thank you to Fr Toung for leading our community in this celebration, and thank you to Michelle and the classroom teachers, Cassandra and Michael, for preparing the students so well for this event.  Thank you also to the following staff who, together with the classroom teachers, attended to support our First Communion Candidates; Sharen Maguire, Tania Calabrese, Poppy Brennan, Loretta Marazzato, and Michelle Ray.

School Fees & School Building Fund

School Fees

Thank you to all the families who have met their fee commitment on time.  

A reminder for families who have not yet paid school fees that fees must be paid on time to ensure the smooth operation of our school.  

We ask that school fees not on scheduled payments must be paid immediately at the office via credit or debit cards or directly to our school bank account-:

BSB 083 347

Account 63912 8961

Name St Mary's Thornbury Primary School

Please see or call Loretta for any questions.

School Building Fund

As we approach the end of the financial year, I invite families to consider making a contribution to our School Building Fund. Every donation, regardless of size, plays an important role in supporting the ongoing development and improvement of our school facilities. 

Contributions to the Building Fund enable us to plan for future projects that enhance learning opportunities for our students and provide contemporary, engaging learning spaces for future generations. All donations to the School Building Fund are fully tax-deductible.

Funds raised through the Building Fund will support future school improvement projects, including a potential refurbishment program and the development of a dedicated STEM/DigiTech learning facility. These initiatives will help ensure that our students continue to learn in engaging, contemporary environments that foster innovation, creativity and future-focused learning.

Please see the attached letter outlining the important role of our School Building Fund and how your tax-deductible contribution can help support future facilities projects and enhance learning opportunities for current and future students.

Kindergarten Visits

Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted to welcome children from Raleigh Street Community Kindergarten to St Mary’s for two special visits. 

These visits are designed to strengthen connections with our local kindergarten community and provide opportunities for children to build positive relationships before commencing school. The program also gives our Year 4 students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills as they engage with and support younger learners.

Sharen has coordinated, planned, and implemented a range of engaging phonics-based activities, providing opportunities for kindergarten children to learn and interact with assistance from their grade four buddies. These experiences have been a wonderful way to help the children feel comfortable and excited about starting school, while also allowing our Year 4 students to develop their leadership and mentoring skills.

Building strong connections with our local kindergartens is an important part of supporting a positive transition to school. We value these partnerships and look forward to continuing to strengthen the relationships between our school and the wider community.

Reminder Regarding Class WhatsApp Groups

Our class WhatsApp groups are a wonderful way for families to connect, organise play dates, and share reminders about upcoming school and community events. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our Class Representatives in helping to foster a strong sense of community among families.

To ensure that all families receive accurate and consistent information, we kindly ask that any school-related questions, concerns, or requests for clarification regarding excursions, events, student wellbeing, or other school matters be directed to the school office in the first instance. The office is best placed to provide up-to-date information and can ensure that any enquiries are responded to appropriately.

Similarly, information relating to your child, including absences, wellbeing concerns, illnesses, or contagious conditions, should be communicated directly to the school office or our Wellbeing Leader rather than through class WhatsApp groups. In some instances, important information has been shared among families but has not been communicated to the school, making it difficult for us to respond effectively and fulfil our duty of care responsibilities.

We thank families for their support in helping us maintain clear and effective communication channels. By ensuring the school remains the first point of contact for important matters, we can work together to provide the best possible care and support for all students.

National Sorry Day

Last week, we acknowledged National Sorry Day and the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. These important events provide an opportunity for us to reflect, learn and recognise the shared histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our children participated respectfully in a special paraliturgy to mark the occasion. Students also wore a splash of yellow as a symbol of hope, respect and reconciliation within our community.

As a school, we value opportunities such as these to deepen understanding, foster compassion and continue walking together towards reconciliation.

Child Safety Reminders...

The safety and well-being of all children is our highest priority. 

Working with Children Checks

As part of our commitment to maintaining a child-safe environment and complying with Victorian Child Safe Standards, it is a legal requirement that all adults undertaking child-related work at the school, including volunteers, hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Whether you are assisting in classrooms, attending excursions, supporting school events, or volunteering in any capacity, you must have a valid WWCC before participating. To ensure we remain compliant with legislative requirements and our child safety obligations, it is important that the school office has a copy of your current WWCC card and that any renewals or changes are provided promptly.

We encourage all families to check the expiry date of their WWCC and ensure their details are up to date. Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and secure environment where all children can learn, grow and thrive.

Late Arrivals to School

We encourage all families to support their child/ren in arriving at school on time each day. A punctual start helps students settle into the day, participate fully in learning, and develop positive routines.

If your child arrives after the school gates have been locked, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to the school office and signed in. This is an important child safety and attendance requirement and ensures that our records remain accurate and that every child is accounted for throughout the school day.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and well-organised school environment for all students.

Cross Country News...

On Thursday 14th May, 20 children from St Mary’s represented our school in the Northcote District Cross Country Carnival. The children qualified for this event after participating in the St Mary’s School Cross Country Trials. 

Congratulations to the following students who represented our school: Liam M, Jensen B, Lewi H, Harvey T, Billy B, Athan A, Alessandro T, Lucy D, Florence R, Jemima W, Yel M, Leo L, Estelle B, Izayah B, Matthew B, Phoenix S, Fletcher M, Maxx B, Hugh W and Paige R. The students in the 9/10 Age group completed 2km while the rest of the students completed 3km. 

All children participated extremely well and did their best. Congratulations to Liam M, who finished in 6th place and will now represent our school at the Darebin Division Cross Country Carnival on June 4th .