From the Principal 

Dear St Mary's Families,

Well, what a shock I had this afternoon with a surprise gathering from our students to present me with a wonderful book: crammed with amazing ideas, suggestions, creations, pictures and well-wishes from the fantastic students of St Mary's. I am always blown away with the ideas and talent that we have within our school community. As I explained to the students, I was very touched with all of effort and ideas that I have received. Here are just some of the wonderful pictures of me so far! Thank you to everyone one involved!

A sincere thank you to our wonderful families and the Parents & Friends Committee for organising such a beautiful morning tea following our Grandparents and Special Friends Day Paraliturgy in the beautiful St Mary's Church nearly a fortnight ago. This much-loved annual celebration continues to be one of the highlights of our school year, and it was wonderful to see so many grandparents, special friends and families join us.

Congratulations to the students who have been selected to represent their peers on the Student Representative Council (SRC) for Semester Two. Taking on a leadership role is both a privilege and a responsibility, and we are incredibly proud of each student who has stepped forward to serve our school community.  We look forward to seeing our Semester Two representatives embrace this opportunity and wish them every success as they work together to make a meaningful difference for our students.

Today our Year 3-6 students participated in Metro Trains'  Rail Safety Education Program, with sessions tailored to each year level. Delivered by Metro's Community Education team, the interactive workshops focus on safe behaviours around trains and stations, recognising safe people to seek help from, emergency procedures, and responsible travel on public transport. For our senior students, the sessions also explore journey planning, Myki use, and the importance of making safe choices when travelling independently. The program supports students to build the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe on Melbourne's rail network.

Next Monday, our wonderful Prep students will celebrate the exciting milestone of 100 Days of Prep. It is incredible to reflect on how much they have grown in confidence, independence and learning since the beginning of the year. One of the things I love most about this tradition at St Mary's is that our whole school community joins in the celebrations. Mrs Perri and Miss Moore have organised a fantastic day of activities centred around this year's theme, "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up." I have no doubt our Prep students will delight us with their creativity, enthusiasm and big dreams. Families are warmly invited to join us for the 100 Days Parade from 9:00–9:30am, and we look forward to celebrating this wonderful milestone together

In the week of August 17, St Mary's will acknowledge Bullying. No Way! Week, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment where every child feels known, valued and supported.

As part of this important initiative, we are also partnering with our cybersafety education provider, Inform and Empower, to deliver age-appropriate learning focused on cyberbullying and online safety. These engaging sessions will equip students with practical strategies to navigate the digital world safely, make positive online choices and respond confidently if they encounter cyberbullying or inappropriate online behaviour.

By combining our whole-school focus on safety, respect and responsibility with explicit cybersafety education, we aim to help students develop the knowledge, confidence and courage to stand up to bullying in all its forms—both in person and online. Together, we continue to strengthen a school culture where respect, empathy and student wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.

More information about the initiative can be found at:

https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/

Parent information sheets for each of the safety units from Inform 'n' Empower can be downloaded below:

Looking a little further ahead, we are looking forward to the Year 3 & 4 camp at YMCA Anglesea in Week 6 from Wednesday 19 August until Friday 21 August and in Week 7 we will be busy with our Book Week activities which includes the annual book fair! Mrs Mason has created a lovely page on this newsletter which details the planned activities!

We warmly invite all fathers, grandfathers and special friends to join us for our annual Father's Day / Special Friends BBQ Breakfast on Friday 4 September from 7:30am. This much-loved community event is a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time together before the school day begins while enjoying a delicious bacon and egg breakfast. The cost is $15 per family, and we would love to see as many families as possible join us. Grab Your Tickets Here

Mark your calendars for Retro Vibes: No Kids, Just Hits on Saturday 24 October! Our Parents & Friends Association is once again hosting a fantastic adults-only evening, bringing our community together for a night of great music, dancing and fun while raising valuable funds for St Mary's. Tickets are now on sale, with an early bird price of $55 available until 31 August before increasing to $65. Every ticket purchased directly supports our school and the opportunities we provide for our students. I encourage you to gather a group of friends, secure your tickets early, and join us for what promises to be a memorable night. Thank you to our wonderful P&F for all of the work already going into making this event a success. Tickets available here

Change of time: Senior School Mass: please note that the Senior School Mass will now be at the 10:30am mass, not the 5:30pm mass on Sunday 23rd August.

Take care, and may God’s blessings and peace be with each of you as we journey through the year together.

James Millane