Principal's Message

Dear Community,

It has been another big week of learning and growth at St Mary’s, with students continuing to engage enthusiastically in their classroom learning and school experiences. It has been wonderful to see the energy and excitement across the school as students embrace new challenges and opportunities each day.

A particularly exciting development this week has been the commencement of works for our new playground installation. Students have been eagerly watching the progress, and we are all looking forward to the wonderful opportunities this new space will provide for play, connection and active learning in the months ahead. The playground is due to be accessible next week on Monday!

I would also like to sincerely thank our families and community for the many kind messages, congratulations and understanding following the announcement of my pregnancy. Your support and warmth have been greatly appreciated by both myself and my family.

As shared at assembly by Regional General Manager Sarah Parry, we will welcome Gemma Goodyear as the Acting Principal for the remainder of the 2026 school year. I will be working closely with Gemma to ensure a smooth and positive handover. Together, we are committed to ensuring the important work we have begun continues strongly throughout the second half of the year.

Gemma is an experienced principal who is very familiar with the local community is who is keen to get to know the St Mary's community specifically, with a focus on our school improvement. She has 12 years of experience as Principal in a number of schools, and we are lucky to such a vibrant and experienced leader join the school. I know she is looking forward to meeting students, staff and families and becoming part of our welcoming school community.

Looking ahead to Week 5, we have several exciting community events coming up:

Open Mornings for prospective families will be held on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th at 9:00am. We encourage families to spread the word to anyone interested in joining our wonderful school community.
The opening of our new playground on Monday 18th - how exciting!
Our Parents and Friends Special Lunch will take place on Wednesday 20th, with a BBQ available for a gold coin donation. We thank our Parents and Friends group for their ongoing support and generosity.
School Photos will be held on Thursday 21st. Students are asked to wear their full winter uniform on the day.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing partnership and support of St Mary’s.

Warm regards,

Shannon Betham

Acting Principal