Principal Message

Be Kind, Be safe, Be respectful, Be responsible, Be resilient, Be ready

Dear Families,

It was with great joy that we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with Ethan, Mason, Talia and William at St Mary's Church alongside Bishop Greg, Fr Siju, their families and our wider parish community.

Confirmation is a significant milestone in the faith journey of our young people, and it was wonderful to witness the reverence, pride and sense of belonging that surrounded the celebration. We congratulate Ethan, Mason, Talia and William on this special occasion and pray that the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to guide them as they grow in faith, kindness and service.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone at St Mary's Parish for the generous hospitality shared after the ceremony. It was a lovely opportunity to gather as a community, celebrate together, and acknowledge this important moment in our students' lives.

A special thank you also goes to the seven Our Lady Star of the Sea students who joined the St Mary's Choir for the Confirmation Mass. Sharing their gifts through music added another beautiful dimension to the celebration. My sincere thanks to Ruth and all of the choir members for so warmly welcoming our students into your choir family. Your encouragement and generosity helped make the liturgy even more meaningful and created a wonderful experience for our students.

This Friday, we have the privilege of gathering once again as a school community in our parish church to celebrate the feast of Australia's first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary MacKillop's life continues to inspire Catholic education across our nation. Her unwavering belief that every child deserves access to education, regardless of their circumstances, transformed the educational landscape of Australia and continues to influence the work we do in Catholic schools today. Her courage, resilience and deep trust in God remain a powerful example for us all. As we celebrate her feast day, may we be inspired by her simple yet profound words: "Never see a need without doing something about it."

Next week also marks Bullying No Way: National Week of Action. While our commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive school community is something we work on every day, this week provides an important opportunity to shine an even brighter light on respectful relationships and positive behaviour. We continue to remind our students that bullying is more than a disagreement or conflict—it is repeated, intentional behaviour that causes harm—and it has no place in our school community. Through classroom discussions, activities and shared experiences, we will continue to strengthen our culture of kindness, inclusion and respect. Families are encouraged to explore the resources available through the Bullying No Way website to support these important conversations at home.

https://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank all of our families who attended Parent-Teacher Interviews last week. The strong partnership between home and school is one of our greatest strengths, and taking the time to meet, share insights and celebrate each child's learning makes a real difference. Your support, encouragement and commitment to your child's education are deeply appreciated. Together, we continue to create the best possible environment for every student to flourish.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school and parish community. I wish all of our families a wonderful week ahead, and I look forward to celebrating with many of you at our St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Mass on Friday.

Warm regards,

Pamela McKillop