Principals Message

Dear families,  

A very warm welcome back for Term 3. It is hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through the year and we have accomplished so much. 

NAPLAN – So incredibly proud!! 

Yesterday, we sent home NAPLAN results to our families of Year 3 and 5 students. NAPLAN was facilitated very early in Term 1.  I could not be prouder to share the outstanding results from the 10 key learning areas, including Reading, Writing, Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar, and Numeracy (for both Year 3 and Year 5). Eight of these areas achieved a ‘Strong’ proficiency rating, with seven showing significant improvement from last year—surpassing both the National and State average gains from 2024 (2025 data is still pending). Two areas scored at the higher end of the ‘Developing’ proficiency range. With the enhanced teaching strategies and targeted intervention introduced through our Magnify framework in 2025, I am confident, and look forward to, seeing continued growth in these areas and further strengthening within all areas. Importantly, no areas were rated as ‘Needs additional support’ proficiency.  

Well-done students, staff and families!! 

Expression of Interest – Before/After school care 

Last week, I sent home an expression of interest for before and/or after school care. It looks like I have enough interest for 2026 to explore third-party options and get the ball rolling if we are successful. If you have yet to express interest, please email me at vryan@smrushworth.catholic.edu.au 

Learning Conversations  

We have our Learning Conversations coming up next Monday and Tuesday. Please do not forget to book your appointment as it is a powerful opportunity for students, teachers and families to set mutual goals. It also provides our students with a voice in their learning. 

Swimming 

We have now completed two of our five days of swimming for this years programme. I can not complement the students more for their engagement and respectful behaviour in public. I am sure that there will be some tired children come Friday afternoon. 

Enrolments now OPEN 

Any families who would like to enrol students for 2026, we ask that you please return your enrolment forms asap so that we can begin the process of planning how 2026 and beyond. If you require an enrolment pack, please contact Pete or Georgia in our office. 

If you know of anyone who wishes to enrol at St Mary’s and receive a high level of education, care and welcoming, please encourage them to contact us.  

Winter bugs and illness 

As we now move into Winter, we are beginning to witness greater instances of common illnesses. To ensure that we keep our community healthy, we ask that if you notice any symptoms including; fever, vomiting, or diarrhoea, please keep them at home until they have fully recovered. Please see the recommended exclusion period for common illnesses. 

Once again, I thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school. Please do not hesitate to come and see me or email if you have any questions or concerns. 

Vin Ryan