From the Director of Junior School 

At St Mary’s, we are proud to be a community that celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures, backgrounds and stories that make each of our students unique. As a Catholic school, we are called to live out the Gospel values of compassion, inclusion and justice, and this is reflected in how we welcome and support all families.

This week, we mark Refugee Week—a time to stand in solidarity with people seeking safety, to listen to their stories, and to recognise their strength and resilience. Through classroom activities, prayer, and reflection, our students are learning about the experiences of refugees and how they can help build a more welcoming and understanding world.

By celebrating diversity and embracing compassion, we are helping our students grow into respectful and empathetic young people who value the dignity of every person.

Helping Our Students Stay Safe Online – Upcoming ThinkUKnow Sessions

At St Mary’s, we believe that teaching our students how to use technology safely and responsibly is an essential part of their education and wellbeing.

This Friday, our Junior School students will be participating in ThinkUKnow sessions, delivered in partnership with the Australian Federal Police. These sessions are age-appropriate and designed to help students understand how to stay safe online, build respectful relationships in digital spaces, and make smart choices when using technology.

ThinkUKnow is an Australian, evidence-based program that addresses key online safety topics including:

• How to protect personal information online
• The importance of digital reputation
• How to respond to cyberbullying or unsafe contact
• Safe use of games, apps and social media
• Knowing when and how to seek help

These sessions are part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the digital safety and wellbeing of our students. You are encouraged to have conversations at home about your child’s online activity, and we will be sharing follow-up tips and resources to help continue these important discussions.

Together, with support from families and expert partners like the AFP, we can help equip our students to navigate the digital world with confidence and care.

Thank You for Participating in Our Learning Feedback Conferences

A sincere thank you to all our families and students who participated in last week’s Learning Feedback Conferences. These valuable meetings provided our teachers with the opportunity to share feedback on each child’s progress in core learning areas, and to strengthen the important partnership between home and school.

For our Year 3–6 students, the conferences also provided an opportunity to take greater ownership of their learning by leading their families through their achievements, learning successes, and future goals. It was a wonderful demonstration of student voice and autonomy in action.

These conferences are just one part of our broader approach to feedback and assessment. Families can also look forward to receiving Mid-Term Reports at the end of Term 2, providing a summary of each child’s academic growth across all learning areas.  

Thank you once again for your continued support and collaboration. Together, we are working to ensure every student is nurtured and challenged in their learning journey.

Presentation Values Certificates

We look forward to celebrating more of our students at our Junior School Assembly next Wednesday at 12.05pm in the Nagle Centre. All families welcome.