Principal's Panorama

Dear Families of SMOTA, 

It is with great pleasure that I share a few reflections on what has been a busy and vibrant fortnight at St Mary of the Angels. The energy in our classrooms and playgrounds has been wonderful, and it is a true testament to the dedication of our students and staff, as well as the unwavering support of our parent community.

This fortnight has encompassed many events, including a fantastic Art Auction Night. It was inspiring to see our students enthusiastically embracing the theme and demonstrating their talents. The creativity on display, from the amazing costumes to the thoughtful performances, was a joy to witness. Events like these truly showcase the spirit and collaborative nature of our school community.

Our focus on learning has continued to flourish. I had the privilege of visiting a number of classrooms over the past two weeks and was so impressed by the engagement and enthusiasm of our students. 

I would like to sincerely thank our P & F for the brand new gazebos. Our young people put these to great use at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. It was really great to be able to have a space where we could be identified as a school community. 

As we look ahead, we have our upcoming Father's Day BBQ and Book Week parade to look forward to. Information for these events can be found on the community page of our newsletter, and we encourage all families to get involved.

Thank you again for your partnership and support. It is a privilege to be the Principal of such a wonderful school!

Brain Olympia 

On Monday 11th August 2025, two teams from St Mary of the Angels attending the Annual Brain Olympia Competition in Inverell. We are so proud of the efforts of our teams! They represented our school to a very high standard. Well done!! Thank you to Mrs Hayes for supervising our young people on the day. Lachie Rosser and Lexi Cochrane recounted the days events:

On Monday the 11th of August, some excited St Mary of the Angels students from Years 4–6 travelled to Holy Trinity School, Inverell, to take part in Brain Olympia. When we arrived, the teachers introduced themselves, the schools, and the teams. They also set us a fun challenge for the day — to make a new friend before we went home.

There were two Guyra teams competing:  Guyra White and Guyra Lemon. The subjects we competed in were: General Knowledge in English, Geography, Science, Public Speaking, Maths, and Drama. Hugo Sisson represented the Guyra White team in Public Speaking, advertising the Dream Machine — a time machine to take you anywhere in history. Lexi Cochrane represented the Guyra Lemon team in Public Speaking, advertising the School Clone — a clever invention that makes a clone of you so it can go to school while you stay home!

The day was filled with fun, challenges, and plenty of thinking. Everyone worked together, encouraged one another, and showed great sportsmanship. In the end, the St Mary’s White team came out on top and will now be representing our school at the next level of competition.

Until next time, thank you for your continued support.

Zoe Nugent

Principal