A message from Denis

Dear Parents and Carers,

We find ourselves past the halfway point of our first school term of the year.  Time sure has flown since the school year began, filled with lots of learning and growth.  I hope you and your families have been able to enjoy the sunshine as we head toward the colder months.

Our family made the most of the warmer weather with a trip down to Moama a couple of weeks ago.  It was terrific to get away and to disconnect from my phone and emails.  We went away with four other families and it was a timely and relaxing break.  Enjoy this long weekend, whether you are getting away or just spending some quality downtime together; I hope it's a refreshing and enjoyable time.

Persuasive Students

Last week I had a visit from students in 4B.  Ms Draper sent the students to me so they could present their persuasive texts on why St Mary’s should have bees on site.  I was incredibly impressed by the students’ writing, reasoning and arguments.  They produced some incredible pieces of writing aligned to a great environmental clause.

So much so, I’ve been researching how to safely keep bees.  We are a ways off yet, but the girls certainly convinced me to look into it!  Well done.

SMAV Child Safety and Volunteer Training

Thank you to those parents who attended the online session.  Child Safety is paramount at St Mary’s and is an issue we are consistently working on. 

A reminder that all parents and friends who would like to volunteer at St Mary’s must complete the training and associated documentation requirements.

We will be recording a session for distribution to those who missed out in the coming weeks.

AVDSSA Swimming Carnival

Whenever it's possible, I carve out some time in my schedule to attend the days where our students compete in interschool competitions.  Everytime I do, I am filled with pride with how our students represent St Mary's, look after each other, encourage each other and compete with such great spirit.

This year’s swimming carnival was no different.  Aside from taking out the Big School Shield once again for the cumulative efforts of the team, our students competed throughout the day with great sportsmanship and encouraged each other so well.  A Special thank you to Mr Murphy, Viv, Leile and the parents who came down to support and help on the day.

The Grand Prix and Summer Sports Gala Day

I have had the pleasure of spending a few days out and abou  with our 2026 Grade 6 cohort over the last couple weeks.  I made it down to see them represent St Mary’s with great skill and attitude at the Summer Gala Day and also spent the day with them at the Melbourne Grand Prix.

These grade 6s have a great sense of belonging and connection to St Mary’s and I thoroughly enjoy being able to spend time learning alongside them.  The Grand Prix was a highlight with numerous universities spruiking their STEM programs.  Our students engaged with curiosity and interest all of the different stalls, exhibitions and challenges.

Perhaps we’ll see some future St Mary’s student part of a winning F1 team in the future!

Friendship Skills Are Learned, Not Automatic

Walking the yard during break times is one of my favourite things to do on a school day.  Being able to witness our students' camaraderie and genuine care for each other is a joy.  Friendships play a significant role in children’s happiness and sense of belonging at school. While friendships may appear to come naturally, the skills required to form and maintain positive relationships need to be taught, modelled and practised.

At St Mary’s, we explicitly teach social skills such as empathy, communication, problem‑solving and conflict resolution through our Wellbeing lessons. 

Disagreements and misunderstandings are viewed as opportunities for learning rather than failure.

Families can support this learning by encouraging children to talk about their friendships, listening without immediately solving problems (something that can be a default setting for us as parents) and helping them reflect on how others might be feeling. 

These conversations help children develop emotional intelligence and resilience.

Strong friendships are not about always agreeing — they are about learning how to navigate differences with kindness and respect and thinking about how our actions can impact others.

As the term progresses, routines become increasingly important for children’s wellbeing and learning. In an ever‑changing world, predictable structures provide children with a sense of safety and control.

Clear routines — both at school and at home — help children regulate their emotions, manage transitions and focus their attention. Morning routines, consistent bedtimes and clear expectations around homework and screen use all contribute to a child’s readiness to learn.

I encourage you to reflect on the rhythms of your home life. Small, consistent routines often have a far greater impact than we realise. Children (and adults) thrive when they know what to expect and feel supported within clear boundaries.

Never See a Need Without Trying to do Something About it

My Never See a Need Without Doing Something About example this week comes from a staff member who lives her role of helping everyday at St Mary’s.  It might be helping a little person who is struggling to settle in the morning, having a 1:1 chat with a student who is having some friendship issues or supporting parents who are having a hard time.  This staff member steps up and helps whenever there is a need and she does it everyday, all day.  

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay connected,

Denis Johnstone

Principal