Principals Report
Dear Parents, Families and Friends,
Last Friday, we proudly celebrated our first student-led assembly for the year. Our students confidently led the entire assembly without relying on a script, speaking clearly and presenting their learning with pride. Their poise and preparation were evident, and they represented St Mary’s beautifully. We were honoured to welcome the Deputy Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Darta Hovey, along with many parents and family members, who joined us to celebrate our students’ success. Opportunities like this build leadership, strengthen student voice and show the richness of learning taking place in our classrooms each day. Thank you to our families for your continued support and encouragement.
This week, we held our first School Advisory Council Meeting for the year. The meeting focused on several important areas, including new additions in teaching and learning, our Cultural Covenant, and the need to reinstate our Parents and Friends group.
A strong Parents and Friends Committee plays a vital role in building community spirit and supporting school initiatives. Beyond fundraising, it provides connection, shared purpose and opportunities for families to actively contribute to school life. Whether it’s assisting with events, supporting community activities, or offering ideas and feedback, every contribution makes a difference. I warmly invite parents to consider volunteering as little or as much as you can. Your involvement strengthens our school and models community engagement for our children.
Next Friday marks our final swimming and gym sessions for the year. This year, we moved in a new direction with our swimming program, utilising a different pool provider to enhance both skill development and student confidence. The program has been highly successful, with students demonstrating noticeable growth in water safety awareness, stroke technique and overall confidence in the water. Our gym sessions have also supported coordination, strength and teamwork, complementing our Physical Education curriculum. Thank you to staff and families for ensuring students were prepared and ready to participate each week.
We wish our Year 3 and Year 5 students every success as they begin their NAPLAN assessments over the next fortnight. At St Mary’s, we encourage our students to approach NAPLAN with confidence and simply do their very best. We consistently remind them that NAPLAN is just one snapshot in time, one assessment on one set of days, and it does not define them or fully reflect the depth of their learning, growth, talents or potential. What matters most is the consistent effort they apply in class each day, their willingness to learn, and the progress they make over time. We are proud of the way our students have prepared and the positive mindset they are bringing to the experience.
As we begin our 2027 new enrolment campaign, you will soon see dates released for upcoming Principal-led tours for prospective families. Enrolment growth is vital to maintaining the rich learning opportunities and strong sense of community that we value at St Mary’s.
Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful ways families come to know our school. I warmly encourage you to share your positive experiences of St Mary’s with friends, neighbours and members of our wider community. Let them know what we do well, our commitment to strong teaching and learning, our nurturing environment, our faith life, and the many opportunities available to our students. Your voice and advocacy are incredibly important in helping other families discover what makes St Mary’s such a special place to learn and belong.
Kind Regards,
