From the Acting Principal 

Dear Families 

It has been another busy and enriching fortnight at St Mary’s, with many opportunities for our students and staff to learn, grow and connect as a community.

Students from Prep to Year 6 thoroughly enjoyed participating in the recent Hockey Roadshow Clinics. A sincere thank you to Mrs Braithwaite for organising this opportunity for students to try a new sport and build their skills.

We also warmly welcome Laureane Dehe, who has joined us on a study placement while completing her Education Support qualifications. We are pleased to have Laureane working alongside our staff and students during her time at St Mary’s.

Our Prep students celebrated an important milestone as they experienced their first Mass at St Mary’s. Well done to Mrs Perri for preparing the students so thoughtfully and thank you to our Years 1 and 2 students who joined them in this special celebration of faith.

Our Year 5/6 students have had a particularly engaging fortnight. They participated in sessions with Courage to Care, whose volunteers spoke very highly of both the students and the welcoming culture of our school. Students also enjoyed their first excursion of the year to Parliament House, where they met our local Member of Parliament, Rachel Westaway.

Alongside their classroom work, our staff continue to engage in significant professional learning. Members of the leadership team recently attended the Southern Region Network Day, continuing work on the MACS Flourishing Learners Strategic Initiative. Mrs McDonald and Mrs Mason also represented St Mary’s in a Literacy Community of Practice, bringing together flourishing schools to share knowledge and strengthen literacy teaching.

Next week I will attend two days of seminars as part of the Mental Health in Schools initiative, which will guide an important area of work for us this year. On Wednesday, Ms Jacquie will attend the VFI WalkThru Coaching Masterclass, focusing on classroom strategies such as checks for understanding, full participation and opportunities to respond to further strengthen teaching practice across the school.

Our Staff Conference has also had a strong start, highlighted by a session with Carmel Menzies from Sound Waves Spelling, helping deepen our spelling instruction. A special thank you to Mrs Borgese, who also led staff learning on supporting our topic-based curriculum in areas such as Science and Humanities. We are fortunate to have such experienced teacher leaders within our staff.

Our Student Leadership groups continue to be very active. Faith and Social Justice Leaders are promoting awareness of Lent while supporting fundraising for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. The recent Plain Clothes Day was enjoyed by all while helping students learn about Saint Casimir, whose feast day it was. Students have also loved our Hot Cross Bun Fridays, organised by our Community Leaders and Faith & Social Justice Leaders (supported by the P&F).

Looking ahead, we are excited for upcoming Clean Up Australia Day activities and gardening projects, led by our Sustainability Leaders. I am also looking forward to Prayers in Pyjamas next week, followed by the Junior School Mass the following weekend.

Hot off the press is the news that four students that will have their artwork exhibited at the

Creative Arts Festival 2026 as part of Catholic Education Week. 

Creative Arts Festival 2026

Celtic Hall

Catholic Leadership Centre

576 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne

Sunday 15th March - Sunday 22nd March.

The exhibition is free and everyone is welcome to visit.

Audrey S  Year 4 - Butterfly

Harrison F  Year 4 - Peacock

Theo C Year 2 - Bunny

Madison D Year 4 - Butterfly

Please also spare a thought for our Year 3 and Year 5 students, who will begin NAPLAN next Wednesday. 

Ride to School Day is shaping up to be another wonderful community event thank you in advance to our Parents & Friends Association, along with Mrs Borgese and Ms Tovey, for helping organise and promote the day.

Next Wednesday (11/3) evening we celebrate our first family faith evening with Prayers in PJs from 5.30pm. See the RE News page for more details but this promises to be another great evening.

Finally, thank you to Steve May who has worked so quickly and diligently to install the first phase of security upgrades at school. He has been in today to reactivate the pedestrian gate at the OSHC facility at the specialist campus. The new gate and pin lock will be in use from next week.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support in making St Mary’s such a vibrant learning community.

Take care, and may God’s blessings and peace be with each of you as we journey through the year together.

James Millane