Principal's News

Week 7, Term 3

🔬 Science in Action – The Case of the Missing Cake!

Last week, St Mary’s was buzzing with excitement as the entire school came together for a special whole-school science experiment. Working in their house teams, students became scientists and detectives, collaborating to uncover clues and solve the mystery of the missing cake.  It was wonderful to see the teamwork, problem-solving, and enthusiasm from every year level as they worked through the investigation. I am happy to say my innocence was proven- I did not steal the cake! Mrs Corfield was the guilty party! 

 What a fun and engaging way to celebrate science in action! Thank you to Amanda Strickland, Learning and Teaching leader, for preparing everything for this amazing day! We are so lucky to have your passion and enthusiasm engaging our students in all areas of learning. 

🤒 Sickness Reminder

We are currently experiencing a higher-than-usual number of illnesses among both students and staff. If your child is unwell, we kindly ask that you keep them at home until they are fully recovered.

When sick children attend school, it increases the spread of illness and makes it more difficult for everyone to stay healthy and engaged in learning.

Please note that we are also experiencing staff shortages, and it is becoming increasingly challenging to secure replacement teachers, which is having an impact on running normal classes. Keeping unwell students at home helps us maintain a safe and productive learning environment for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping keep our school community healthy. 

🌸 Mini Mary’s – Visit #2 🌸

Our Mini Mary’s Class of 2025 joined us for their second transition session this week, and what a joy it was to have them in the school! These sessions are all about helping our future Preps feel comfortable, explore their new environment, and begin building friendships with each other. We are so excited to continue sharing these special moments as they begin their St Mary’s journey. 

Our Vision for Engagement at St Mary’s 💙

At St Mary’s, we are committed to creating calm, respectful, and welcoming classrooms where every child feels safe, valued, and ready to learn.

The MACS Vision for Engagement guides us in building an environment where every student can grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Why this matters 

Today’s children face many challenges — from rising anxiety to increased online pressures — so it’s more important than ever to create supportive spaces that help every child feel a sense of belonging and confidence at school.

What this looks like at St Mary’s

• Modelling and teaching kind, respectful behaviour
• Building strong connections and friendships
• Encouraging regular and punctual attendance
• Supporting each child’s mental health and wellbeing
• Helping students stay motivated and resilient
• Meeting the individual needs of every learner

Our students play a key role too

Students are encouraged to:

• Show respect to teachers and classmates
• Participate actively in their learning
• Follow classroom routines that support learning
• Persist through challenges and celebrate growth
• Help create a space where everyone feels safe and included

Together, families, staff, and students make St Mary’s a place where every child can flourish.

🤝 Respectful Behaviour at St Mary’s

Part of the Vision for Engagement,  at St Mary’s, we believe that everyone has the right to feel safe and respected. As part of our behaviour expectations, we want to remind students and families that physical actions or violence are never acceptable under any circumstances.

When conflicts arise, we encourage students to use their words, seek help from teachers, and look for safe and respectful ways to solve problems. We appreciate the support of our families in reinforcing these expectations at home, ensuring our school remains a safe, positive, and welcoming place for every learner.

 St Mary's is a safe place for students to come to school, but also for our staff to feel safe at work. The parent, student and staff codes of conduct all reiterate these points and can be located on our school website here http://School Website- Policies, under Care Safety & Welfare of Students. If you have questions about this at anytime, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via principal@smhastings.catholic.edu.au '

📱 Operoo Reminder

Just a friendly reminder to please ensure your contact details are up to date on Operoo.This platform is what we use to communicate with families and reach emergency contacts if needed.

Please also take a moment to review your child’s medical information and any other important details to make sure everything is accurate.

Keeping this information current helps us support your child quickly and effectively whenever needed.