Principal Announcements
Newsletter 3 Term 2 2026
Pentecost
Pentecost is a special celebration in the Church that takes place fifty days after Easter. It marks the moment when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, filling them with courage, wisdom and joy as they began sharing the message of Jesus with the world. Often called the “birthday of the Church,” Pentecost reminds us that we are all called to live with faith, kindness and hope in our daily lives.
At St. Mary’s, our students have been learning about the symbols of Pentecost, including flames, wind and the colour red, which represents the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through prayer, classroom activities and liturgical celebrations, students have reflected on how they can use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to “Let Their Light Shine” by showing love, respect, understanding and forgiveness to others.
As a faith-filled community, Pentecost is a wonderful opportunity for us to remember that the Holy Spirit is always with us, guiding and strengthening us to make a positive difference in our school, parish and wider community.
Respect – The Golden Rule
Throughout this month of Mary, our students have been focusing on the importance of respect and living out “The Golden Rule” — treating others the way we would like to be treated. It has been wonderful to see students demonstrating kindness, understanding and compassion towards one another in the classroom and on the playground each day.
A beautiful example of this can be seen in our special flower display created for the Month of Mary. Each student designed a flower featuring their own ideas and promises about how they can show respect to others. The display is filled with thoughtful messages about including others, using kind words, helping friends, showing forgiveness and being caring members of our school community.
The colourful flowers are a lovely reminder that even small acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day and help our St. Mary’s community continue to “Let Your Light Shine.” We thank our students for the positive way they are striving to live out our Gospel values each day.
Congratulations to Our 10 First Reconciliation Candidates
On Friday 15th May, we celebrated a beautiful First Reconciliation Celebration Mass alongside our Grade 3/4 students and the families of our sacramental candidates. It was a special opportunity for our school and parish community to come together in prayer and support these students as they continue their faith journey.
We congratulate:
Bayden Newman, Ava Fisher, Oscar Williams, Jiro Valledor, Eddie Weis, Luna Wolfe, Alex Lloyd, Frank Salsone, Xavier Cruickshanks, Noah Koum.
We keep these students and their families in our prayers.
Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards
On Monday 18th May, we were proud to celebrate Maree Williams at the Greater Shepparton City Council Volunteer Recognition Awards, where she was recognised as one of the very deserving nominees.
Maree has provided many years of dedicated and passionate support to the St. Mary’s community, generously giving her time to support our students, staff, parish and families. Her kindness, commitment and willingness to always help others is deeply appreciated and has made a lasting impact on our community.
We sincerely thank Maree for all that she has done for St. Mary’s over so many years and congratulate her on this wonderful recognition.
GRIP Leadership Workshop
Our student leaders recently participated in a dynamic workshop led by GRIP Leadership. The day provided an engaging and practical experience designed to help students develop confidence, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be an effective leader in their school community.
Throughout the workshop, students were actively involved in activities that challenged them to think about leadership in action—how to lead by example, support others, and contribute positively to their school environment. There was a strong focus on teamwork, resilience, and using their voice in positive and respectful ways.
Our leaders thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other student leaders, share ideas, and reflect on how they can bring what they learned back to St. Mary’s. The energy and enthusiasm they displayed throughout the day was wonderful to see.
We are very proud of our student leaders for embracing this experience and look forward to seeing them continue to grow and lead within our school community.
Wala Dance Immersion
Our Grade 3–6 Indigenous girls recently had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a Dance workshop with Thara from Wala Dance. Throughout the workshop, the girls learned how to use movement and dance to tell an Indigenous story, deepening their understanding of culture, expression and storytelling through performance.
It was a rich and engaging experience, and we are very much looking forward to seeing the girls share their learning when they perform at an upcoming school assembly.
Sorry Day
Our school recently took part in National Sorry Day commemorations, acknowledging and reflecting on the significance of this important day in Australia’s history.
A number of staff and students attended the Commemoration Service in Shepparton, joining the wider community in a time of reflection, respect and learning. This was a meaningful opportunity to listen, learn and stand in solidarity as we continue to deepen our understanding of the Stolen Generations and their ongoing impact.
Across the school, students also engaged in a range of Indigenous perspectives and activities, supporting their learning about First Nations histories, cultures and contributions.
We extend our sincere thanks to Catherine Dyke and Tahlia Cooper for their organisation and coordination of these important learning experiences, ensuring our students could participate respectfully and meaningfully.
Healing Mass
St. Mary’s will once again be represented by staff and students at the upcoming Justice and Healing Mass at St. Mel’s Church on Friday 29th May. This special liturgy provides a meaningful opportunity for prayer, reflection and community connection, and we are proud to be taking part alongside our wider parish community.
Several students have also contributed to a beautiful artwork, which will be displayed as part of the Mass. Their creative work adds a thoughtful and personal expression to this important celebration.
We look forward to participating in this significant event and thank all involved for their contributions.
School Review
St. Mary’s will participate in early June, in a School Improvement Tool (SIT) Review, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), to support and guide the development of our next School Improvement Plan. This review process takes place every three to four years and plays an important role in reflecting on our progress and identifying future priorities for learning and teaching.
I would like to sincerely thank all staff, students and community members for their ongoing support, valuable input and dedication to this significant process. Their commitment ensures we continue to grow and strengthen outcomes for all students.
Catholic School Parents Victoria – Supporting Families in Catholic Education
Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV) has been re-established to strengthen the voice of parents and carers in Catholic education across Victoria, recognising parents as the first educators and key partners in their child’s learning, wellbeing and faith journey.
CSPV is guided by a Council of parent representatives from across the state, ensuring that the diverse perspectives of families in Catholic schools are reflected in its work and advocacy.
We invite you to explore the CSPV website at www.cspv.catholic.edu.au where you will find a wealth of information and resources to support your parenting journey within Catholic education, including guidance on wellbeing, faith, learning and key issues impacting families. You can also subscribe via the website to join the CSPV community, receive the quarterly newsletter and be invited to upcoming events.
You can also connect with CSPV on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to access valuable insights, updates and practical resources.
Together, we can continue to strengthen the partnership between families, schools and the wider Catholic community.
2027 Prep Enrolments
📢 Enrolments for 2027 close 31st May – don’t miss this opportunity to secure your place!
Please visit our website for online applications.
School Uniform
A reminder to all families about the importance of students wearing the correct school uniform each day, particularly in relation to footwear. Students are expected to wear black school shoes or plain black sneakers as part of their daily uniform.
We understand that many students enjoy wearing more colourful sneakers; these are welcome to be worn on designated PE days or special sports days.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support in helping us maintain a consistent and respectful school uniform across the community.
Student Birthdays
We remind families of the importance of regular school attendance in supporting every child’s learning and wellbeing. Each day at school provides valuable opportunities for students to build their knowledge, develop routines and strengthen their connections with others.
While birthdays are a very special occasion, they should not automatically mean a day off from school. We love celebrating our students’ birthdays as a community and enjoy acknowledging these special milestones together throughout the school day.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us maximise learning time for all students.
St. Mary’s 90 Years Production – From Humble Beginnings – Let Your Light Shine
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
This year we are having a School Production on Wednesday 25th November.
**(Date change due to clash with Sandhurst Awards Ceremony being held in Bendigo).
Please read the parent/guardian letter sent at the end of term 1 for all the exciting details to celebrate our 90 years.
Student Free Day – Friday 5th June
A reminder that we have a student free day on Friday 5th June for staff to participate with the rest of the diocese in the Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing Profession Learning Day.
St. Mary’s Alumni
As part of our celebrations for this year, we would love to hear from St. Mary’s Alumni – past staff, community members and students. We would love to hear about your past experiences of St. Mary’s. If you are willing to be involved, please contact the school office on 5825 2858 or email at office@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au
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.
Principal’s Awards
18th May – Alex Niao
Congratulations to Alex Nioa, who has received the Principal’s Award for his excellent effort in class, dedication to learning, and positive behaviours. Alex consistently upholds our school values and is a great example to others.
Super effort Alex!
25th May – Zara Vigliaturo
This week’s Principal’s award goes to a student who has been showing consistent participation and respect. Congratulations for always trying your best to let your light shine. Well done to Zara!
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
“Respect yourself and others will respect you.” — Confucius
“Treat people the way you want to be treated.” — H. Jackson Brown Jr.
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
