From the Deputy 

Hello St Mary’s community! My name is Anthony Speranza, and I am the new Deputy Principal. 

A big thank you to all staff for helping me find my way around the school, the students for warmly greeting me in the classrooms, and the parents who have come up to me on the grounds to check in with me. I look forward to getting to know everyone, and of course in turn, remembering everyone’s name!

We have had a very busy but successful week, and I am very much looking forward to the year ahead.

COVID Updates

This week we have distributed an allocation of Rapid Antigen Tests to all students and staff. Twice weekly testing is strongly recommended by the Department of Health in order to keep schools open and as safe as possible. We understand that testing children at home can be unusual and potentially confronting. This week we circulated a helpful media article (“Low and Slow”) that includes some tips on making the experience more comfortable and less stressful. The article can be found on the page with the essential information that each family needs to know about the Rapid Antigen Testing, and can be found here. 

StartUp Week (Welcome and Wellbeing)

To kick off the 2022 year, across the school in each classroom we have been progressing through a “StartUp Week” - a week of setting up our learning spaces with a focus on Welcome and Wellbeing. The aim is to make each child feel safe, secure and confident in the classroom and playground, as well prioritise social and emotional connection with their peers and teachers. A few examples that I saw and heard about from students this week included:

    Discussing their hopes for 2022

    Completing daily gratitude journals

    Negotiating classroom procedures and systems

    Understanding school norms and values

    Explaining the importance of healthy learning dispositions, including patience,          

     communication, and problem-solving

It’s been great to watch the students settle into the school year and their new classrooms, and we hope that this week lays the foundation for a successful year ahead. I encourage families to discuss with their children this week what has been a highlight for them, as I am sure there will be many!