YEAR 8
Building Strong Connections
Clare Robertson
Head of Year 8
YEAR 8 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 7
Social Emotional Learning - Wellio
On Tuesday of Week 7, Pastoral Mentors will be leading their PGs through a Wellio lesson on Connecting with Teachers, which will provide students with strategies for building a strong learning relationship with their educators to increase academic success. Wellio is the College’s new social-emotional learning platform for 2026. This lesson on connecting with teachers aligns with the Year 8 theme of Building Connections, which we are developing as the year progresses through SEL, Year 8 camp, year-level assemblies and inter-cohort activities.
Project Compassion Fundraisers
Year 8 Pastoral Groups are leading the way with project compassion fundraisers in this season of Lent. Congratulations to 8CA2 and 8HU1 who have organised lolly bag sales and bake sales to raise funds for vulnerable communities and people in need. This is empathy in action - one of our key guiding principles at St. Mary’s. Families are invited to contribute to the College’s donation page at this link - https://www.projectcompassion.org.au/fundraisers/stmaryscatholiccollegeworee3092
Mary’s Mayhem Concert & Interschool Chess Tournament
Congratulations to the Year 8 students involved in the Mary’s Mayhem rock band concert on Wednesday, and the Interschool Chess Tournament at TAS on Friday, in Week 6. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting these and witnessing our students excel in areas outside the classroom - what talent we have amongst our cohort! Extracurricular activities develop social skills, critical thinking and improved time management skills, having a positive impact on academic outcomes. St. Mary’s is fortunate to offer so many extracurricular opportunities - a dinner conversation with your child this week could focus on how they can get involved in extracurricular aspects of the College.
Assessment Planner Reminder
As we enter the busy assessment period of the term, please encourage your child to refer to the Year 8 Assessment Planner on the Student and Parent Portals. Organisation and forward planning are crucial to managing stress levels and to ensure high levels of assessment are completed.
Extracurricular Spotlight - Lego Club
Held every Wednesday in C6 at second break. All students welcome.
UNIFORM SCHEDULE: WEEK 7
WHOLE-OF-COLLEGE NOTICES
Commemoration Mass and Morning Tea
Sunday, March 8 2026, 10:00 am
We warmly invite you to join us for St Mary's Catholic College Commemoration Mass. This special occasion marks 40 years since the commemoration of the opening of the College. Following Mass, morning tea will be provided.
Please register via the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIYHJ
School Fees and Levies - Term 1 2026
School fees and levies for Term 1 were issued on Wednesday, 18 February 2026. The due date for payment was Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
If you are a fee payer and have not received your statement, please contact the Accounts Team. The Accounts Team is also available to assist families in setting up an approved payment plan for those who are unable to pay the full amount by the due date.
Thank you.
Accounts Team
smw.accounts@cns.catholic.edu.au
Shoe Guide
At the College, students are required to adhere to the uniform and personal grooming guide. We want to support families, students, and teachers in understanding specific requirements, particularly for sports shoes. We know students are currently wearing shoes in the 'not suitable' section of the graphic below.
To provide clarity, we have listed the main shoes worn by students with their sports uniforms that require fixing and shoes must meet expectations for the start of Term 2. This provides you and your family time to make changes to comply with the uniform guideline outlined in the College Diary under Uniforms: Sport shoes - Low cut, supportive, lace-up, all-purpose shoes for running with a suitable grip. Colour scheme should be discreet. Skate shoes and other flat-soled shoes are not acceptable.
The shoes shown in the graphic below are examples we frequently see; they are not the ONLY shoes not permitted. If you are unsure of the correct shoes, please send a picture or ask your child to speak with the Head of Year for clarification. Uniform infringement consequences will come into play at the commencement of Term 2. We appreciate your support in making it very clear what we expect regarding appropriate footwear at the College.
The Tuckshop
Rosies - Friends on the Street
College Key Dates
Please note that all key dates are listed in the College Calendar. This can be accessed via the MyCE Parent App and synced with your personal calendar.
| Event | Date | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Commemoration Mass & Morning Tea | Sunday, 8 March | Term 1 |
| Cross Country | Wednesday, 1 April | Term 1 |
COLLEGE WEBSITE - For the latest information and guidance relevant to both staff and families, please refer regularly to our St Mary's Catholic College Website.
Leah McBryde
Assistant Principal
Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9)
On behalf of the College Leadership Team
College Leadership Team
College Pastoral Team
