Principal Announcements
Newsletter 3 Term 1
Schools Clean Up Day – Friday 7th March
On Friday, March 7th, all classes will take part in a Clean Up Day, spending time after lunch tidying their designated areas. We all take pride in our school environment and work together to keep St. Mary’s looking its best. Moving forward, these same areas will remain the responsibility of each class, especially when we need to tackle extra rubbish in the yard. To keep things fun and encourage ongoing care, we may even have spot prizes throughout the year for the cleanest spaces! Thank you for your support in fostering a sense of responsibility and pride in our school community.
Parish News
Thank you to all who prepared for and attended our memorable opening mass and farewell assembly for Mons Peter.
We now all look forward to celebrating Mons Peter’s official Parish farewell on Sunday 30th March at the 10:00am mass with a luncheon afterwards in the Marian Centre. Everyone is welcome!
Thank You for a Wonderful Evening!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Prep Welcome Liturgy, Open Classrooms, and Family Welcome BBQ on Thursday, 27th February.
It was a fantastic evening filled with connection, celebration, and community spirit.
We were delighted to begin the night with our beautiful Prep Welcome Liturgy in the Marian Centre, setting the tone for a wonderful year ahead. It was great to see families exploring classrooms, meeting teachers, and gaining insights into their child’s learning journey.
A special thank you to our specialist teachers for sharing their programs and the important role they play in supporting our students.
The evening wouldn’t have been complete without the delicious BBQ and the chance to share a meal together. We appreciate everyone who helped make the event a success, from our staff to our wonderful volunteers.
Thank you for being part of this special night—we loved seeing our school community come together, and we look forward to many more opportunities to connect throughout the year.
NAPLAN 2025 – Grade 3 and Grade 5 students
Our Grade 3 and Grade 5 students will participate in NAPLAN testing from Wednesday 12th March to Wednesday 19th March.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to review the letter and NAPLAN brochure sent out earlier this week, which include detailed information about the testing schedule, catch-up sessions for students who may be absent on one or more of the days, and procedures for requesting exemptions.
This year, all tests will be conducted in the mornings in the Marian Centre to ensure the best possible testing environment for our students. We appreciate your support in helping our students prepare for this important assessment period.
Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Survey
On Monday 17th February, all families received a letter advising you of the opportunity to participate in this year’s ECSI survey. As this provides the school with valuable data to set future goals, your participation in this survey would be much appreciated. All details and access passwords are in the letter provided.
St. Mary’s Cross Country – Friday 14th March 9:30am to 1:30pm
We are excited for our upcoming cross-country event on Friday, 14th March! Students will walk with their teachers to the oval across McLennan Street to participate. To ensure your child’s attendance, please approve their participation in PAM on SIMON. We warmly invite parents and guardians to come along and support the students. However, we kindly ask that pets remain at home to help keep all students feeling safe and focused during the event. We look forward to a fantastic day of fun and fitness!
🌟 New families 🌟
You're Invited to Our Open Day!
📅 When: Thursday, 1st May
⏰ Time: 11:45am – 1:30pm
📍 Where: Marian Centre, St. Mary’s Mooroopna
Discover all that St. Mary’s has to offer!
Join us for a warm welcome and presentation by our Principal, followed by guided tours of our school led by our amazing student leaders.
See our vibrant learning spaces, meet our dedicated staff, and experience the wonderful St. Mary’s community first hand.
Enrolments for 2026 close Friday, 30th May – don’t miss this opportunity to secure your place!
We can’t wait to welcome you to St. Mary’s Mooroopna!
Reminder: Special Toys & Collectables at School
We have noticed an increase in special toys and collectables, such as ‘Cubeez,’ being brought to school. While we understand the excitement they bring, they are causing concerns around safety, lost or damaged items, rubbish in the yard, and distractions from social play.
To support a safe and positive school environment, we kindly ask that these items remain at home. If brought to school, they should stay inside bags or the classroom during the day.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep St. Mary’s a safe, clean, and engaging place for all students.
Uniform Reminder
At St. Mary's Mooroopna, we take pride in wearing our school uniform correctly, as it reflects our respect for ourselves, our school, and each other.
We kindly remind students that nose piercings should not be obvious—please cover them with a band-aid or wear a clear piercing.
Make-up should be natural and not overly noticeable.
These guidelines help create a positive and inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and valued. Thank you for your support in maintaining our high standards.
* Uniform policy is available under the Office News Tab.
End of 2025 School Dates
From Sandhurst Diocese advice, our last school days for 2025 for students and staff will be as follows:
- Friday 12th December – Last day for students
- Monday 15th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Tuesday 16th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Wednesday 17th December – Friday 19th December – School Closure Days
Before School Supervision
Please note that all students that arrive at school prior to 8:30am must fill out an application via the link below. For new and casual before school arrivals, please complete prior to 4:00pm each day to enable student lists to be updated for the following morning. Before school supervision is for early bus travellers and parents/guardians who must attend work earlier than 8:30am. A reminder that students are not to arrive or be at school before 8:00am as they are not actively supervised.
I appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation regarding this.
Assembly 24th February
Assembly 3rd March
Principal’s Awards
24th February – Mason Dwyer
Mason has been working exceptionally well as an inspiring leader this year. Congratulations on always trying your best and thriving to be successful when assisting in PMP and with your ongoing hard work in the classroom. Also, I heard a little hint that you may like to become a PE teacher in the future, so dream big and we hope this is something you can aspire to.
3rd March – Xavier Cruickshanks
Xavier has really been working exceptionally well as such an encouraging friend and role model. Congratulations on always trying your best and thriving to be successful when assisting friends and with your ongoing hard work in the classroom. You are certainly letting your light shine. Well done!
Attendance matters!
Every minute matters. This is a simple statement, but a true one. For every minute a child is at school they learn. For every minute they are absent they not only miss out on they not only miss out on learning, but they also lose some previous learning.
Ms V’s Inspirations
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." – William Butler Yeats
"Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best they can possibly be." – Rita Pierson
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
