Mrs Ryan's Fortnightly Reflections

This week we welcome the time of Lent into our Catholic Church calendar and into our daily lives. Our learners have been exploring the importance of Lent in giving something up of ourselves for the betterment of others. All learners and staff this week have reflected on what they might give up leading up to Easter, and walk in Jesus’s shoes for the next forty days.  “When you pray, fast and give, Your Father will reward (or deliver) you!” Matthew 6:1-19 

Well it has been a week of water sports and activities and we have had the weather to match. Our Year 3 - 6 learners took to the pool to complete their swimming trials awaiting the possibility of moving to the next round. It was impressive to see the growth, courage and positivity in taking to the pool and trying to swim further than we did last year! It is such a joy to attend these events and the children share how proud they are of their own efforts alongside contributing to the team. Well done to St Augustine’s who won our overall swimming sports this year!  

Alongside our swimming sports our Year 5 and 6 learners also took part in the Open Waters learning experience. This is such a valuable experience that our learners are afforded in learning how to safely swim and navigate the Murray River. We were blessed with great weather to take part in a week on the waters. 

Our staff are in week three and are all continuing to establish safe, happy and predictable learning routines and expectations for our learners. As our 2024 teachers are entitled to four hours of class focus time where they collaborate on curriculum, prepare engaging learning and analyse assessment. This year our specialist teachers have been split into a Junior and Senior setting which has allowed a more significant and focused one hour time slot with our learners. Our specialists are enjoying the change and are also working diligently to set all learners up for success. 

I wanted to thank our community for their patience while we rectified glitches with family profiles from ICON to Compass. My sincere apologies to our new families including our Foundation families who would have been without crucial information in starting St Mary’s and the school year. I do believe all information has been posted on expected platforms and I hope parents have had the time to catch up on all things St Mary’s. If at any time you need further clarity please contact your child’s classroom teacher or the front office. 

As we have started a new school year, I thank all of the families who are sending their children in accurate St Mary’s uniform. Just a reminder that bike shorts, or exercise pants are not a part of St Mary’s uniform. Also, we are observing that many school hats are being vandalised with scribble, graffiti and black marker. While we appreciate that our hats need to be labelled, completely vandalised and coloured is not acceptable use of our uniform. If your child has done this, can a conversation please be had that this is not acceptable. We would appreciate hats in such states being replaced at your earliest convenience.

On Monday 26th February we welcome back our educational facilitator Kirsty Lush from Real Schools to progress our parent understanding and practicalities of Restorative Practices for our community. This is the second parent session which will recap our understanding as well as provide new learning and strategies of raising a resilient child. I know as a school leader and parent I find these sessions invaluable and I do hope to see many families attend. Please see the video link and flyer attached in this newsletter for further details. 

Next week we will have school photos for all members of our school. In the interim we have been busy trying to put together a ‘Meet the Team 2024.’ We are hopeful it introduces many of our new staff to all of you in the community and the predominant role they hold at St Mary’s. Our team is ever changing and growing, but I hope this helps many of our families. 

Next week our School Advisory Council will resume its invaluable work and will resume collaboration around school improvement at St Mary’s. This year our school advisory council will discuss and discern on next steps for our Master plan as well as putting in place strategies to re-enage our parents as partners in learning at St Mary’s. We hope to reintroduce some past practices as well as create some new ones. Our children thrive when their parents are active within our learning communities. Thank you to the members of our community who have expressed interest in joining, I will be in touch soon!

Take care & God Bless, 

Jasmine Ryan 

Principal