Principals News

Dear Parents,

This week the news has been dominated by the number of women killed as a result of domestic violence. Last year 74 women were killed and this year 32 women have lost their lives. Over the weekend there were protests in all the capital cities over the murder of our daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends. 

The other story in the news is about schools returning to old-fashioned discipline. I must say that returning to old-fashioned discipline intrigues me as once again education is being used to fix issues in society. Quite simply it isn’t the job of schools to do this. It is the primary role of parents to teach their children how and when to behave.

In some families, the parenting role has been watered down. An emerging trend we see is that where parents want to be their child’s friend and advocate for their child from an early age, rather than taking on the role of the parent and setting firm boundaries. It is the role of the parent to say no to their child and say it often. Overall, while it's natural to want to make children happy, it's important to strike a balance and teach them important life lessons such as patience, respect, resilience, and the value of hard work. Setting boundaries and providing guidance can help children develop into responsible, well-adjusted individuals. However, by going the other way and indulging your child can result in the following:

1. Entitlement: Indulging children excessively can lead to a sense of entitlement, where they expect to always get what they want without understanding the value of hard work or patience.
2. Lack of resilience: Children who are constantly indulged may struggle to develop resilience and coping skills when faced with challenges or setbacks. They may not know how to deal with disappointment or failure because they haven't had many experiences of not getting what they want.
3. Poor decision-making: When children are always given what they desire, they may not learn to make good decisions or understand the consequences of their actions. They may struggle with impulse control and have difficulty prioritising their needs over their wants.
4. Dependency: Indulged children may become overly dependent on others to meet their needs and solve their problems. They may struggle to develop independence and self-reliance because they're used to relying on others to fulfill their desires.
5. Strained relationships: Indulgence can strain relationships between parents and children, as well as between the child and other family members or peers. Parents may feel resentful or frustrated when their children constantly demand things, while children may struggle to form healthy, balanced relationships with others if they're accustomed to getting their way all the time.

At St Mary’s we focus on high expectations on how the children behave and we believe that most of the time the children will always do the right thing but occasionally a couple will step out of line. Parents must also set high expectations of behaviour for their children. When they do the wrong thing they will have some consequences and it is important parents do not save their child from these consequences. 

Mother’s Day 

Mother’s Day is a very important day for all mothers throughout the world. It is a time to acknowledge the great job that our mothers do in looking after us and guiding us through our lives. Mothers play a vital and irreplaceable role in the lives of their children and society at large, contributing to their well-being, growth, and success in countless ways. Their love, care, and guidance lay the foundation for healthy families, thriving communities, and a brighter future for all. Mother’s Day is an opportunity for us as children and as a community to thank our Mums and all special women in our lives and to show them how grateful we are for all that they do! It is also a time to reflect and to honour Mary, Jesus’ mother, reminding us of our own mother who always loves and guides us. My own mother raised five children and is the single most important person in my upbringing. She very much ran the family providing unconditional love for her five children and later her 13 grandchildren.

The world is becoming a much busier place and celebrating Mother’s Day is perhaps a good time to reflect on the amount of time we are able to give our children. TIME is the most important thing we can give a child. TIME for them to talk about their day at school or problems with their friends, time to give them a cuddle, time to play a game with them, time to watch them play sport, time to spend as a family unit. It is only when our children reach teenage years that we realise how quickly time moves on and how important the early years are. When children spend quality time with adults, they are likely to feel secure and this helps them to grow into well-adjusted adolescents and adults. This week, I ask that all parents stop and reflect on their family life and ensure that enough time is invested in their children. Time with your children will be repaid in years to come as you see your children grow into fine young adults.

At a school level, we rely very heavily on the mothers and their assistance. Every day a number of the mums are active around the school making life for the children and the staff easier and benefiting the school immensely. We are very grateful for the contribution our mothers make to St Mary’s.

On behalf of the staff, I would like to wish all the mothers a Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday week.

Mother’s Day Activities

The Mother’s Day Stall will take place on Thursday 9th May. This is an exciting opportunity for children to buy gifts ($5-$10 gifts; cash only). The Mother’s Day Breakfast will take place on Friday 10th May commencing at 7:30 am followed by the Mother’s Day Liturgy at 9:00 am which will last approximately an hour. If possible, please take an hour and make the time to attend this liturgy. I know that the children look forward to having their mothers attend this special occasion. If a mother is unable to attend, a special friend or significant other can represent the family.

Mother's & Special Friends raffle

With over 15 amazing prizes to be won worth over $2,000

o        Tickets on sale via Operoo (closing Thursday 9th May)

o        Tickets are: 1 for $3, 5 for $10 & 10 for $15

o        Raffle will be drawn Friday 10th May

On behalf of the staff, I would like to wish all the mothers a Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday week.

Homework Policy Survey and Feedback

All parents would have received their electronic copy of the survey for parents relating to homework at St Mary’s. These surveys must be completed by Friday 3 May. On Monday at 9:00 am, we will be running consultation sessions in the hall with our parents and beginning the process of updating our Homework Policy. Thank you to all the parents who have already completed the survey. The staff and Year 5 and 6 students have also completed the survey.

District Cross Country

On Wednesday afternoon we had approximately 65 of our children represent the school in the Dendy District Cross Country championships at Oakleigh. It is a testament to the training the children have completed over the past few weeks. I would like to thank the staff and the parents who have assisted with the early morning training sessions. I must say how pleased I was with the behaviour of our children at the event. 

Our school did a great job once again placing sixth on the day with nine schools competing. A number of our children will now represent the district in the Division Championships after finishing in the top 8 in their age group: 

The following students finished top 8:

Lucy Dolan

Matilda Worn

Angus Allen

Elliott De Pinho Henthorn

Congratulations and good luck in the next round! 

Book Fair

Our upcoming Book Fair begins Monday, May 6th – Wednesday, May 8th from  8:35 am – 9:15 am AND 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm, in the Learning Area next to Grade 2 (entry via oval). It's a fantastic opportunity to find great reads for your loved ones and to contribute to the growth of our School Library. Over the past few years, we've expanded our collection, and we're excited to continue adding resources during this fair. Our previous Book Fairs were a huge success thanks to parental support. If you're available to help out during the fair, please email the school office at office@smhampton.catholic.edu.au with your preferred day/s and times.

Enrollments 2025

A reminder to all current families with siblings starting school in 2025: Please remember to submit a sibling enrollment form for the upcoming academic year. We encourage our families, the greatest advocates, to remind friends and families about enrolments for 2025 now open.