From the Principal...

STAFFING NEWS...

Long Service Leave

I would like to share with you that both Amanda and I will be taking Long Service Leave commencing Friday, September 5.  We will be away for the last two weeks of term.

While we're away, Michelle Cameron will be stepping in as Acting Principal, and Tania Calibrese will be released from her classroom duties to support Michelle and help with leading the school during that time.

For me, I will be travelling with my husband (London, Estonia and Paris) and look forward to some time away to rest and recharge. I am very grateful to the community, staff and leadership team for their ongoing support, which makes it possible to take this time knowing the school is in such capable hands. 

Please continue to direct any questions, concerns or celebrations to Michelle or Tania during my absence.  I look forward to returning refreshed and ready for the exciting start to Term 4, which will include a Christmas Carols evening and many other wonderful events that bring our community together.

CONGRATULATIONS

🎉 I would like to extend a HUGE congratulations to the wonderful Ms. Annie and her husband Matt as they prepare to welcome their first child into the world! This is such an exciting new chapter, and I couldn't be happier for you both. Wishing you a joyful and healthy journey into parenthood—your little one is already so lucky to have you as parents! 💕👶✨

In other news... Sharen Maguire has been on long service leave and is now on extended leave until the end of this term. We look forward to welcoming her back in Term 4.

SACRAMENT of EUCHARIST

Congratulations to the following children who received the Sacrament of Eucharist on Sunday.  We shared a beautiful celebration and the children were so very well prepared and reverent throughout the Mass.  

OUR BEANIES HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED!!

Just in time for Spring.🌸🌼🌷✨

Luckily for us Melburnians, chilly mornings and evenings will undoubtedly be here to stay a little longer.  Stay warm and show your school spirit with our official school beanie — perfect for those crisp starts. ❄️

Our school beanie is a great way of 'getting our school name out there' and are available now from the office for $12.

BOOK WEEK

What a fabulous Book Week we had! Our parade was a highlight, with so many creative and colourful costumes on display.  We are also very grateful to our parents and families for helping the children prepare their costumes and join in the fun.  It was a wonderful way to celebrate a love of reading together.

This year’s theme, “Book an Adventure!”, inspired so much imagination and enthusiasm across the school.  Thank you to everyone who helped make Book Week such a memorable celebration of books, imagination, and community!

GRANDPARENTS and SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

We were delighted to welcome so many grandparents and special friends to our school for this year’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

The day began with a beautiful Mass, where we came together in prayer and gratitude for the special people in our lives. After Mass, our guests were invited into classrooms to spend time with the children, see their learning spaces, and join in fun activities—including decorating plant pots together!

It was truly heartwarming to see the joy on students’ faces as they proudly showed their grandparents and special friends around. The sense of warmth and community was felt by all.

The celebration concluded with a shared lunch, where everyone enjoyed time to chat, relax, and simply be together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. It was such a pleasure to meet so many of our wonderful grandparents and special friends. Events like these are a fantastic way to build community and celebrate the incredible children who make our school so special.

NORTHCOTE DISTRICT ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

- A message from Dave Witchell

On Monday 25th August, 29 children from St Mary’s represented our school at the Northcote District Athletics Carnival. The children were selected for this event through School Sports Trials and in Physical Education Lessons.

Congratulations to the following children who represented our school:

Anders A, Jensen B, Liam M, Marian K, Celeste A, Ruby P, Leo L, Lucy D, Izayah B, Matthew B, Fletcher M, Yel M, Maxx B, Phoenix S, Natalia B, Estelle B, Milana G, Abigail W, Daisy H, Paige R, Emilia K, Ebube U, Duy L, Levi J, Chloe B, Polly E, Chiara S, Estelle M and Alyssa M.

All children competed very well and we able to achieve the following results:

1st

Natalia B -                 10 Girls Discus

2nd

Levi J -                        12 Boys Shot Put

3rd

Alyssa M -                 11 Triple Jump

Levi J -                        12 Boys Discus

Anders A -                10 Boys 800m

Lucy D -                     10 Girls 200m

Good Luck to Natalia B and Levi J who will now represent our school at the Darebin Division Athletics Carnival on Monday 8th September.

Thank you to Ms Riley and Ms Sarina for their help on the day and to all of the parents who came and supported their children.

Just a reminder... 

We have noticed an increasing occurrence of students chewing gum during school hours. While we understand that gum can sometimes be a habit or a comfort, it is important to maintain a clean and respectful learning environment for everyone.

We kindly ask that parents remind their children that gum is not permitted at school. Your support in reinforcing this rule at home helps us keep our classrooms clean and distraction-free.

FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST

Join us as we celebrate Father’s Day with a morning coffee catch up.

This is a wonderful opportunity for dads, grandfathers, father figures, and families to enjoy a relaxed morning together.

📅 Date: Friday Sept 5

⏰Time: 7:45am

📍Location: School Yard

We look forward to sharing this special occasion with our school community. 

Everyone is welcome!

See P&F News for more details

END OF TERM MARKET

A Message from the Parish...

CHILD SAFE STANDARDS

National Child Protection Week runs from 7th September to the 13th September.  As we approach this event I thought it timely to share the Child Safe Standards and showcase how our school puts these Standards into action. Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight two standards at a time and share how we, as a school community, actively promote a safe environment and prioritise the wellbeing of all our students.

Child Safety Standard 1 

At St Mary's we demonstrate our commitment to this standard through actions such as beginning every assembly with an Acknowledgement of Country, proudly displaying the Aboriginal flag, and embedding Indigenous perspectives throughout our units of inquiry—honouring and recognising our shared history and culture.

Our grade five students will attend (for the first time this year) the Darebin Council Yarning Conference.  This is an event dedicated to promoting Indigenous perspectives and cultural understanding. The conference provides a rich learning experience where students engage with First Nations voices, stories, and knowledge through workshops, discussions, and interactive sessions.

Opportunities like this not only connect students to the land’s First Peoples but also nurture empathy, critical thinking, and a greater understanding of our shared history—key elements of deep learning.

Child Safety Standard 2

At St Mary's we are firmly committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all children. This commitment is clearly reflected in our policies which are publicly accessible through our school website.

All staff and volunteers are expected to uphold our Code of Conduct, which outlines the standards of behaviour and responsibilities required to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every child.