Principal Report

Dendy Swimming Championships

Our swimming squad recently competed at the Dendy District Swimming Championships at Oakleigh Recreation Centre and represented the school extremely well throughout the day. The students competed with great effort and showed our RICH values in the way they supported one another and approached each race. Their hard work resulted in an impressive 2nd place overall against a strong group of competing schools. Thank you to Ms Sam Sullivan for organising the day, as well as the many parents and staff who assisted and supported our students.

Some special mentions:

1st Place - Noah J (11yo Freestyle)

1st Place - Elliot D (12-13yo Freestyle)

1st Place - Pablo, Maxi, Miles, Noah (11yo Freestyle Relay)

2nd Place - Pablo, Elliot, Lachie D, Noah (Medley Relay)

2nd Place - Lachie D (11yo Backstroke)

2nd Place - Lily G (11yo Backstroke)

2nd Place - Pablo B (11yo Breaststroke)

2nd Place - Seb J (9-10yo Butterfly)

These students will now represent the school and Dendy District at the Beachside Championships

School Production

Clues have begun to appear around our community about the musical we will be performing in 2026. We are pleased to share that Mrs Nicole Everett will be joining us as Production Manager, which means this year’s production promises to be next level.

All will be revealed next Wednesday, along with the next steps as we begin preparing for the audition process.

A reminder that our School Production will take place at St Leonard’s College on Thursday 17th September, with two performances scheduled for 1:00pm and 6:00pm. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Battle of the Boots

Dads, we need you!

I’d encourage all dads—new and returning—to get involved in this year’s Battle of the Boots.

It’s a great way to connect with other dads, enjoy the social side of the school community, and most importantly, support our kids.

Easter Paraliturgy

We welcome all families to the Easter Paraliturgy. This year it well be held in the Church.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will soon take part in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy). This assessment provides a snapshot of how students are progressing in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy.

At St Mary’s, we emphasise that NAPLAN is just one assessment on one day and does not define a child’s learning or ability. Our focus is always on the growth, effort and progress students make across the entire year.

The school uses NAPLAN data alongside our own assessments to look at whole-school trends, track growth over time and help guide teaching and planning so we can continue to improve learning outcomes for all students.

Some tips for parents during this time:

Keep routines normal – ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep and has a healthy breakfast before school.
Keep it low pressure – remind your child that NAPLAN is just one test and their best effort is all that matters.
Encourage reading – regular reading at home helps build vocabulary and confidence.
Talk positively – simple encouragement and reassurance can help students feel calm and prepared.
Be on time for school – arriving relaxed and ready helps students settle before the assessments begin.

Open Morning

On Wednesday we held our second Open Day for the year and welcomed many prospective families into the school. It was wonderful to see our students proudly sharing their classrooms and learning spaces. Many visitors commented on how well mannered, friendly and welcoming our students were, which was fantastic feedback to hear.

We still have two more Open Days coming up, so please encourage any prospective families you may know to come along and see what St Mary’s has to offer.

Thank you to Kimberly Francis and Tim Arnold for giving their time to assist and speak with visiting families about their experience as parents at our wonderful school.

Run Club & Fun Fit Friday

It was great to see so many students, staff and parents attend our first Run Club for 2026. It was an awesome way to start the day, with a great energy around the school as everyone got moving together.

We look forward to seeing everyone again next week! 🏃‍♂️

Thanks

Steele