From the Principal...

Don’t forget to follow St Mary's on our social media platforms to keep up to date with the wonderful things happening across our school community. Our socials are a great way to see highlights of student learning, special events, celebrations, and the many achievements of our students.

Congratulations to our Confirmation Candidates

Congratulations to our Confirmation candidates who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, 15 August. It was a beautiful and significant occasion as our students took this important step in their faith journey and were strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

A very special thank you to Riley and Simi for the care, preparation and guidance they provided to our students. Your dedication ensured that the children were so well prepared for this important sacrament.

Thank you also to Michelle for her wonderful organisation of the event and for ensuring everything came together so beautifully on the day.

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ School Sport Day

What a fantastic day we had at our School Sports Day! Congratulations to Green House, our winning team on the day! 🟢🏆

While the winning trophy is certainly something to celebrate, I was even more impressed by the exceptional sportsmanship shown by all of our students. From cheering on their classmates and encouraging one another to showing respect, resilience and determination, our children demonstrated the true spirit of sport.

There were plenty of courageous efforts and wonderful examples of teamwork throughout the day. It was fantastic to see our students celebrating each other's successes and supporting each other so enthusiastically.

A very special thank you to Dave Witchell for his organisation and preparation leading up to Sports Day, and for attending on the day while still recovering from knee surgery. Your commitment to ensuring the day was such a success is very much appreciated.

Thank you also to Pierce Rooney, who worked alongside Dave to coordinate the day and ensure everything ran smoothly. Your flexibility, organisation and support throughout the day were greatly appreciated.

It was a wonderful team effort and a fantastic day for our students! 👏🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Visit my Classroom

A big thank you to all the families who took the opportunity to visit their child’s classroom. It was wonderful to see so many of you sharing in your child’s learning and getting a glimpse into their classroom environment.

The artwork on display provided a great opportunity for our students to proudly showcase their creativity and for families to see just how talented our young artists are. There was such a wonderful variety of artwork, reflecting the imagination, individuality and creativity of our students.

Thank you for making the time to come along and celebrate our students and their learning with us. These opportunities to connect home and school are so special and valued by our community.

📚🎶 Next week is BOOK WEEK! 🎶📚

Next week, commencing Monday August 24, we will be celebrating Book Week.  This year's theme is “A Symphony of Stories!” 📖

There will be lots of exciting activities happening throughout the week as we celebrate the joy of reading, storytelling and the wonderful worlds that books open up for us. 

Our Book Week Parade will be held on Thursday, August 27, when students can come dressed as their favourite book character. We are looking forward to seeing the creativity and imagination on display! 

It’s going to be a fantastic week celebrating books, stories and the magic of reading! ✨

🍔 Hot Food Day – Next Friday! 🍔

We’re looking forward to our next Hot Food Day next Friday, with a delicious burger lunch on the menu! 😋

A huge thank you to our wonderful P&F for organising these special days. Hot Food Days are always a highlight of the term and something our students look forward to!

Thank you to all the P&F volunteers who give their time to make these days happen. We really appreciate your ongoing support of our school community. 

Father's Day Celebration 

We warmly invite all fathers, grandfathers and significant father figures in the lives of our students to join us for our Father's Day Celebration.

Our Father's Day Stall will also be held on this day.  Students will have the opportunity to choose a special gift for their dad, grandad,  or another special person in their life. 🎁

A big thank you to our wonderful P&F for organising this event. These special opportunities create such excitement for our students and help us celebrate the important people in their lives. 

See the Community News section of this newsletter for information on Bunnings Father's Day event...

🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️District Athletics🏅

Next Wednesday, our students will compete at the District Athletics Carnival. 

A big good luck to all of our competitors!  We wish you all the very best and look forward to seeing you represent our school with pride, enthusiasm and sportsmanship! 

A letter from VCEA - Victorian Catholic Education Authority

Please see attached a letter from the Victorian Catholic Education Authority outlining the work that is currently underway to secure a funding commitment for capital investment in Victorian Catholic schools.  

This would support ongoing improvements to our schools and the provision of new schools.

Please take the time to read the letter.

A Little Time Away ✈️🍀🏴

I wanted to let families know that I will be taking some long service leave from Wednesday 2 September, which is my last day at school for the term, through to the end of Week 1 of Term 4. My husband and I are taking the opportunity to travel through Ireland and Scotland – something we’re both very much looking forward to!

During my absence, Michelle will step into the role of Acting Principal. I know the school community will be in very good hands with Michelle leading the team. She knows our school, our students and our families well, and I have every confidence that everything will run smoothly in my absence.

In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the final weeks of term, has a wonderful and restful school holiday break, and enjoys some special time with family and friends. I’ll see you all when I return in Term 4! 💙