From the Principal
Mrs Belinda Burton
Term 3 Week 10
HAPPY TERM 3 HOLIDAYS
As we reach the end of Term 3, I want to wish everyone a restful holiday. Thank you to all students, staff, and families for your support throughout what has been an extraordinarily busy term. What a busy term with Grandparents' Day, our Book Week Parade, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Class Liturgies, NAIDOC Week activities, Dio & Polding Athletics, Fete donation days, and Year 5 & Year 4 camps to name some of the highlights.
Thank you once again for Term 3. I wish all our students, staff, and families a restful, safe, and rejuvenating spring holiday break.
Pupil Free Day tomorrow Friday, 25 September
Please note that Friday is a staff development day. Our teachers and staff will be participating in a spiritual retreat. School will be closed and all staff will be off site.
TERM 4 - Students Return
Students return for Term 4 on Tuesday, 13 October in their Summer Uniform.
Polding Athletics Carnival
Congratulations of Myles & Molly who competed at Polding Athletics. The competition was very high and a great experience for our students.
Gala Day - Inverell
Congratulations to our Year 3-6 students who participated in the Gala Day last Friday. It was a great day! Thanks to the organisers form ACS and Holy Trinity for such a successful day. We are very proud of our students who demonstrate great sportsmanship.
First Holy Communion
Congratulatons to the students at St Mary's who made their First Holy Communion Saturday 12th September: Lucy, Francesco, Isla, Matilda, Leanna, Alexander, Tariq, Emmi, Barney, Annelie, Harlan, Evan, Stella.
NAIDOC Week
Thank you to the St Mary's Staff, O'Connor & ACS Staff who contributed to our NADIOC Week celebrations. The children enjoyed a variety of activites - Whole School Assembly, Art, Craft, Dance, Games and the launch of Student Cultural Plans.
New England Sings 2026
Congratulations to Harper and Stella on the fantastic announcement! The girls have been selected out of students from 23 participating schools is a wonderful accomplishment.
Harper has been chosen to perform a solo in the first concert and Stella has been chosen as understudy for 2 of the solo parts in the first concert. This is a terrific achievement, as all schools participating were invited to put recordings of 2 students each in for audition. Congratulations girls.
Saturday 31st October - Final Rehearsal and Sunday 1st November Concert.
Concert: Sunday 1 November Time: Primary Choir 1 11:00am – 1:00pm (arrive at 9:30am)
Venue: Lazenby Hall, UNE
Class Prayer Liturgies Term 3
Thank you to all grades for the class Liturgies this term.
P&F Fete 17th October
Make sure you have your Raffle tickets in the Mega Raffle for the Fete.
Thank you in advance for supporting our P&F’s fundraising efforts for the Fete.
MEGA Raffle, Price: $2 each ticket,
Prizes:
- 30 min 2 Person Gorge discovery flight with Fleet helicopters (Kindly donated by Fleet Helicopters and St Mary's P&F)
- Western Plains Taronga Zoo family Pass (kindly donated by Western Plains Taronga Zoo)
- Voucher to the Cottage Armidale (kindly donated by Shane Ross at The Cottage)
- 4 Burner Jumbuck BBQ (kindly donated by Bunnings Armidale)
- Armidale Golf Club package Including 2 x $50 dinning vouchers and a 30minute golf lesson with the Pro. (kindly donated by Armidale Golf Club)
- FIKA Hamper (kindly donated by FIKA)
- Family Pass to Green Valley Farm (kindly donated by GVF)
- Load of wood (kindly donated by Ben Barker)
- Floor Rug (kindly donated by Harvey Norman Armidale)
- $100 gift voucher to Bicycle Central (kindly donated by Bicycle Central)
- Repco Car cleaning kit valued at $155 (kindly donated by Repco Armidale)
P&F Fete Donation Days
The Fete Friday Collection Days are:
16th October - Donation Day Plants & Cakes
Real Talk - Tuesday 27th October at 6:30pm
Armidale Catholic Schools and St Mary's will host an upcoming Parent Information Nights. St Mary's will host the Parent Session on Tuesday 27th October at 6:30pm in the School Hall.
2027 Armidale Catholic Schools Recruitment Campaign
Please see the link to an animation that has been created to support the launch of 2027 Campaign for Catholic Schools.
Centacare Newsletter
Please see be Centacare NENW's first quarterly newsletter.
Transition Program - Term 4 26th October 2026
It won't be long before we begin welcoming our 2027 Kindergarten Students for Transition. It is scheduled to commence Week 3 - 26th Octobeter Term 4 and run for five weeks.
This is an important program in helping our Kinder students familiarise themselves with the school environment, routines and ensuring a smooth and confident start to their schooling journey.
Kindergarten 2027 Enrolments Open!
We're now accepting enrolment applications for Kindergarten 2027! If you're interested in joining St. Mary's School, please complete the enrolment form online. https://stmarysarmidale.catholic.edu.au/
We look forward to hearing from you!
Attendance: Every Day Counts
Consistent attendance is the cornerstone of academic success. We ask that all students aim for 100% attendance unless prevented by illness. If your child is absent, please ensure the school is notified via the office or our portal by 10:00 am. If you are unable to notify the school prior to 10am you will receive an sms reminding you to explain your child's absence.
Contacting Your Child's Teacher
Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 67772 4441 or email the school at smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au.
School Hours
Teachers commence duty at 8:20am and finish at 3:10pm if not on an afterschool duty.
Rusden Street Door Opens at 8:20am when supervision begins.
School starts: 8:50am
Recess: 10:50am – 11:30am
Lunch: 1:30pm – 2:10pm
School finishes: 3.10pm.
