Welcome Back to Term 4

A term of learning, growth, and celebration

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful and refreshing break. This final term of the year is always one filled with energy, purpose and reflection — a time to celebrate how far we have come and to finish the year with pride, enthusiasm and focus.

Learning remains at the heart of all we do at St Margaret Mary’s. Every lesson, every interaction and every challenge is an opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding, strengthen their skills, and grow in confidence. We know that learning thrives in an environment of encouragement and high expectations — where effort is valued, curiosity is celebrated and students feel safe to take risks in their thinking.

Alongside our strong focus on learning, Term 4 will also bring many joyful moments for our community — from our Feast Day celebrations and swimming program to end-of-year liturgies, assemblies and special events that unite us in faith and gratitude. As we begin this final term together, let us commit to finishing well, nurturing a sense of purpose and belonging for every child.

“Together we continue to learn, grow and celebrate as a community of faith and learning.”

Happy Feast Day – St Margaret Mary

A special day for our school community

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of St Margaret Mary, a day that reminds us of our school’s spiritual heart and the values that guide us every day. St Margaret Mary’s message of love, devotion and service inspires us to lead with compassion and integrity, to act with kindness and to seek truth in all we do.

Tomorrow, our whole school will gather to continue our Feast Day celebrations with prayer, reflection and community activities. These moments are so important for our students — they remind us that we are part of something larger than ourselves: a faith-filled community that learns, prays and grows together.

We are deeply grateful to our staff who have prepared the liturgy and activities, led by Mrs Nancy Kubti and to our students who will take part in the celebrations. We warmly invite families to join us in giving thanks for our patron saint and for the special spirit that makes St Margaret Mary’s such a welcoming and faith-driven community.

“Love the Truth” – the heart of who we are.

Swimming Program Begins Next Week

An important part of our PE curriculum

Our school swimming program will commence next week and we are delighted to once again provide students with this valuable opportunity as part of our Physical Education program. Swimming is more than just a sport — it is an essential life skill that promotes safety, confidence, fitness and resilience.

Through the program, students will develop their water safety awareness, build swimming technique and learn how to challenge themselves in a supportive environment. The swimming instructors work closely with our staff to ensure every student feels confident and encouraged, regardless of their starting ability.

We ask that families support this important part of our curriculum by ensuring students are prepared each day with their swimmers, towel, goggles (if required) and a change of underwear. With consistent participation and encouragement, every student can benefit from this wonderful learning experience.

Every child deserves to feel confident and safe in the water.

High Expectations – A Focus for Term 4

Believing in every child’s potential

At our Staff Development Day this week, teachers engaged deeply with the concept of high expectations and how it shapes both teaching and learning. We explored research and strategies that remind us that when we believe in our students’ potential — and communicate that belief through our actions, feedback and lesson design — incredible things happen.

High expectations are about more than just setting ambitious goals. They involve creating the right balance of challenge and support so that every student is stretched and encouraged to reach their personal best. This means providing clear learning intentions, quality feedback and a classroom culture where effort, persistence and progress are celebrated.

Over the coming weeks, our staff will work collaboratively to develop a High Expectations Statement for St Margaret Mary’s — a shared vision of what it looks like and sounds like in our classrooms every day. We look forward to sharing this with you soon, as we continue to partner with families in fostering a culture of excellence, belief, and high support.

High expectations + high support = high growth.

Thank You

As we begin Term 4, I want to thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement and trust. Our school thrives because of the strong sense of community we share — one where parents, staff and students work together in faith and purpose.

This term will move quickly and there will be many highlights and celebrations along the way. Let us embrace these final weeks with gratitude and enthusiasm, ensuring that each student finishes the year feeling proud of their effort, confident in their learning and connected to our school community.

Kind regards,

Grace Carlo-Stella

Principal

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