Principal's Message
Welcome back to St Mary's School for 2024. We are ready for another wonderful year of learning. I hope everyone had a restful and well-deserved holiday and that you all feel relaxed and refreshed, ready for another busy school year. I hope that 2024 is a wonderful year filled with community spirit and learning for all. It has been fabulous to see how excited the children are to return to school and we will warmly welcome our Preps and a number of new families across the various grade levels.
The start of the school year is always busy and I would ask parents to read the newsletter and mark in their diaries the dates that will impact them and their families. Hopefully, it will provide some clarity for parents around the expectations and procedures at St Mary’s. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. We have an exciting year, with lots of school camps, sacraments and liturgies, many, many sporting and extra-curricular events and, of course, our School Production in Term Four.
As many of you are aware I will be working as principal at both St Mary's and St Joan of Arc this year, meaning I will be spending time at both schools throughout the week. I will have scheduled days at each school but will be in attendance at important events and meetings at both schools. To commence the year I will be scheduled at St Mary's on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and St Joan of Arc on Wednesday and Friday. I will need to spend more time at Hampton for the first few weeks to get to know the community. I still can be contacted by parents by email and happy to meet with parents when needed. Evelyn Whatmore will continue to steer the ship when I am off campus.
The big event this year will be the school production which will be directed by our performing arts teacher Veronica DelCastillo. We are still waiting on confirmation of dates but it will be Term Four and hopefully take place at St Bede’s College. The Year 5 and 6 children will have the chance to audition for different roles later this term.
I must say I have been very impressed with the dedication, work ethic and professionalism of the staff in the short time I have been here. Many of them spent significant time on the holidays preparing the school for the new year. The classrooms are looking terrific meaning they will be inviting for the children. In 2024, we warmly welcome a number of new staff to our school and the following is a list of the staff for 2024:
Leadership
Lead Principal Tony McMahon
Deputy Principal Evelyn Whatmore
Student Wellbeing Daliah McLoughney
Teaching and Learning Bridie Kelly
RE and Sports Sam Sullivan
Learning Diversity Annie Walker
Literacy Catherine Wensley
Mathematics Ally Mullany
STEM and IT Max Reid
Administration
Ranae Robinson
Susie Forbes
Classroom Teachers
Prep Ewelina Podgorska
Year 1CW Julie Cochrane (Mon-Tues) & Annie Walker (Thurs-Fri)
Year 1S Edward Simpson
Year 2L Bianca Ludeman
Year3 D Shellby Dale
Year 3 BH Emma Buckingham (Mon-Tues) & Maria Hatzipetrou (Wed-Fri)
Year 4 DB Michelle Dolling (mon-Wed) & Cinzia Banks (Thurs-Fri)
Year 4S Grace Santoro
Year 5MW Kelly Moxon (Mon-Thurs) & Catherine Wensley (Fri)
Year 6S Sam Sullivan (Mon-Wed & Fri) & Bridie Kelly (Thurs)
Year 6 R Max Reid & Yang Song (Wed 8:45am-12:45pm)
ExtraCurricular Programs
Performing Arts Veronica Del Castillo (Tues, Wed, Thurs)
Visual Arts Daliah McLoughney (Mon, Tues, Thurs)
Mandarin Yang Song (Wed-Fri)
Physical Education Robyn Muir (Mon, Tues & Thurs)
Literacy Intervention Catherine Wensley (Mon-Thurs)
RE& Sports Coordination Sam Sullivan (Thurs)
Learning Support Officers
Claire Robinson, Helena O’Sullivan, Marie Hird, Georgina Benvenuto, Michelle Perpina, Tayla Kent (Tues-Thurs), Brooke Hutchins (Tues, Thurs, Fri), Sarah-Jane Clarkson (Tues, Thurs, Fri), Natalie Imperatori (Mon-Wed)
School Staff Email Addresses
Please note that the email addresses are the first initial of first names plus surname followed by @smhampton.catholic.edu.au. I would like to remind parents that teachers are only expected to respond to emails within 24 hours and will not be responded after hours.
New Parish Priest: Fr Martin
Over the holidays Father Martin commenced as parish priest of St Mary’s. He will split his time between St Mary’s and Sacred Heart. He was previously parish priest at Greensborough. Father Martin will be well received by each of the communities with his inclusive nature and his willingness to let the children be part of liturgies and masses. He has already met with the staff letting them know of his expectations with the parish class masses and other events at the school. I know he will be welcomed by our school community.
Newsletter Distribution and Whatsapp
The school newsletter link is emailed to all families each fortnight on Friday via the address provided on Operoo. A request from Operoo will be sent allowing parents to supply additional email addresses if required.
St Mary’s uses the WhatsApp platform as a means of class representatives communicating school-related information to parents in a prompt and convenient manner. For parents to become part of their class group they must abide by the school agreement.
WhatsApp groups are set up for each grade level by class representatives and all parents will be invited to join using the mobile telephone numbers provided to St Mary’s. It is important for all parents to remember that the purpose of the WhatsApp groups is to communicate school-related information and ask school-related questions only.
The groups are an official communication channel of the school and all messages and content shared in the groups is monitored by the school. It is a condition of entry into the class WhatsApp groups that all parents agree to comply with the following guidelines:
• All information shared must be directly relevant to the school and/or school events/activities that relate to that class.
• No complaints, grievances or negative comments/opinions about the school, teachers, leadership and/or individual children/parents should be shared on the group forum. Any such matters should be raised directly with the class teacher or leadership staff as per the St Mary’s Complaints Handling policy which can be found on the school website under policies.
• Unauthorised sharing or disclosure of any confidential information shared in the WhatsApp group is not permitted and will be treated seriously.
• No photos or videos of children are permitted to be shared or uploaded in the group forum.
• No advertising or other promotional information is permitted to be distributed via the group forum. Information about age appropriate after-school extra-curricular activities or holiday programs are an allowed exception.
• Political opinions and comments are not appropriate or permitted in the group forum.
School Procedures
Correct School Uniform
All children need to be dressed in full summer uniform for Term One. This includes the school short sleeve shirt and shorts for boys, the summer dress or the girls short sleeve shirt and skort for the girls or sports uniform on sports days and the school hat. I would like to remind parents that only school leather shoes are to be worn with the school uniform and not black runners. Navy blue socks are to be worn with the formal uniform and the approved St Mary’s sports sock or plain white sock with sport uniform.
School Jumpers and Formal Jacket: The only top that the children may wear except when the child is in sports uniform is the school jumper and formal jacket.
School Hats: Children are only allowed to wear their school hat and no other hat.
Girls' Hair:Girls must have their hair tied back if it is more than shoulder length. The tiebacks should be predominantly the school colours.
Boys' Hair: Boys must make sure their hair is above their shirt collar or tied back if longer.
Traffic safety around the School
The streets around schools are very busy places for school drop off and pick up so I would ask all parents to please show some patience during these periods to keep our school community safe. Parents need to make sure they adhere to the traffic rules in relation to parking around the school. Parking is limited and directly outside the school is 2-minute parking where we ask that parents stay in their car while picking up their child. I would like to remind parents that the council does have traffic officers patrol the area on a regular basis booking parents who do the wrong thing.
Sibling Enrolments for 2025
We are asking those current families to complete the enrollment process for any siblings who will join our school in Prep 2025. Please contact Ranae in the office for an enrolment form.
School Leaders for 2024
In the coming days the Year Six students will be preparing their applications for the captaincy positions of the school. Their speeches will take place on Wednsday 7th February at 2:15pm. Parents of the Year Six students may attend these presentations. Positions will be announced on Monday 12th February at the assembly. There will also be elections for SRC and environmental leaders for each class in the next few weeks.
Student Mobile Phones and Watches
I would strongly encourage families to send students to school without their mobile phones. If they need to be brought the phones must be turned off before they enter the gate and not turned on again until they exit the gate at the end of the day. Parents who need to contact their child can do so by contacting the school office. Smart watches are banned from school as they are a distraction to learning. If a phone is found to be on or used at school by a student that device will be confiscated. I would ask that parents support the school with this.
2024 School Fees
The School Fees Invoice will be emailed by the middle of February. If you do not receive an email for fees or the email address is incorrect, please contact the office. This statement will include the outline of each term’s fees and due dates. We will not be sending out reminder notices, so it is important that the due dates for each term are noted and scheduled. If you wish to enter into a regular payment plan, please contact Renae at the office.
Assembly
Assembly will be held on Monday afternoon commencing at 2:15 pm. Parents are most welcome to attend assembly. Class awards will be presented at each assembly. Each class will take a turn at hosting the assembly and listed below is this timetable:
Mon 5th February Year 6
Mon 12th February Year 5
Mon 19th February Year 4
Mon 26th February Year 3
Mon 4th March Year 2
Mon 13th March Labour Day Holiday
Mon 18th March Year 1
Mon 25th March Prep
Student Cybersafety Forms
Over the coming weeks you will receive the Cybersafety Use Agreement Form will be sent via Operoo. This must be signed by both parents and students. This is an opportunity to discuss rules with your child around the use of devices. This is an ever-growing area of concern for the school as children younger and younger are getting involved in online activities. We have seen a big increase in the amount of peer conflict due to what is going on online between students. With school starting back it is a great opportunity to reset the boundaries around this area.
Extra-Curricular Classes for 2024
Specialist classes will take place on the following days:
Art:
Monday: Grade 3D, Grade 6SK , Grade 4S, Grade 4DB
Tuesday: Grade 5MW, Grade 6RS, Grade 1CW, Grade 1S
Thursday: Prep P, Grade 2L, Grade 3BH
Physical Education:
Monday: Grade 3HB, Grade 6RS, Grade 4S, Grade 4DB
Tuesday: Grade 6SK, Grade 5MW, Grade 3D, Prep P, Grade 2L
Thursday: Grade 1CW, Grade 1S
All children are to wear their sports uniform on their Physical Education day. Class teachers will notify parents if it is to be worn on any other days.
Performing Arts:
Tuesday: Grade 6RS, Grade 6SK, Grade 4DB, Grade 1S, Grade 5MW
Wednesday: Grade 1CW, Grade 4S, Grade 3D, Grade 3HB
Thursday: Grade 2L, Prep P
Mandarin:
Wednesday: Grade 3HB, Grade 3D
Thursday: Grade 5MW, Grade 6RS, Grade 1S, Grade 1CW
FrIday: Grade 6SK, Grade 4S, Grade 4DB , Prep P, Grade 2L
Tony McMahon
Principal