From the Deputy Principal 

School Closure Day, Friday 13th October

A reminder that next Friday the school will be closed to pupils as our staff undertake an important Professional Development Day.  We will be continuing our work with the MacKillop Institute to implement our ReLATE model - a holistic approach to curriculum and strategies to engage all students in cognitive and behaviour change.  The model will be informing our school policies and strategies to strengthen our young people’s wellbeing and learning outcomes.  This is an excellent opportunity for our staff and students, as the ReLATE model is based on the most recent research and evidence-based practices.  The ReLATE program compliments our improvement initiatives commenced last year in wellbeing (Positive Behaviour for Learning and School Wide Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports).

Pirates Past Noon Production

Congratulations to all of the students on a terrific performance of our Pirates Past Noon Production.  A professionally recorded video is available for purchase, and final orders are due this Monday 9th October.  DVDs, USBs and online links will be distributed on Thursday 13th October.  Please note that both the 2pm and 6pm performances are included in the single purchase.

Go to https://encorevideography.com.au/w/store/ and locate St Mary’s

Digital Download $25

DVD $30

USB $35

Puberty Family Education with Cath McCallig 7pm on Thursday 26th October

Cath McCallig returns this year to host our family education evening on puberty in Term 4. Bookings are now open for the online information evening which will take place over zoom, allowing parents and carers to watch and listen with Cath and also have private conversations with their children.

This information evening is highly recommended for families with children in Year 5 and Year 6, although the conversations may also be appropriate for Year 4.  The cost is $20 per family and the topics include:

- The Who, What, When and Why of Puberty (including the pituitary gland and hormones).

- Body parts and their correct, anatomical names

- The common physical, social and emotional changes of puberty are discussed, allowing time for students to talk with their attending adult(s) about management strategies.

- The specific changes according to a person’s body parts are covered (including wet dreams and periods) and again students have the opportunity to discuss management with their adults.

Please see attached for further information and book at https://www.trybooking.com/CKHKC ASAP, as a minimum number of families is required for the session to proceed.

Swimming program in Term 4 (October)

Our annual swimming program is well underway hosted at Kingswim.

The Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 students will be swimming in the first two weeks of Term 4, each day except Friday:

Term 4, Week 1: Mon 2nd, Tue 3rd, Wed 4th, Thu 5th September

Term 4, Week 2: Mon 9th, Tue 10th, Wed 11th, Thu 12th September

The Prep, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 students will be swimming in the following two weeks of Term 4, each day except Wednesday:

Term 4, Week 3: Mon 16th, Tue 17th, Thu 19th, Fri 20th September

Term 4, Week 4: Mon 23rd, Tue 24th, Thu 26th, Fri 27th September

For the swimming program, students are required to bring the following to school:

- Bathers (to be worn to school under school uniform)

- A swimming cap (swimming caps must be worn to participate in lessons)

- Underwear to change into after the lesson

- A towel

- Thongs / flip flops

- Goggles (recommended)

- A carry bag for all items, separate to school bag

Please note that students will be walking to and from Kingswim from school and that a raincoat or umbrella may be required on wet days.

Italian Day, Friday 3rd November ( a message from Signora Vozzo)

Dear Parents, Guardians & Special Friends of St Mary’s Community,

This year we are celebrating Italian Day on Friday 3rd November.

Our theme this year is Carnevale.

Students are invited to dress in a costume that is connected to Italy and its culture.  They are invited to make their own creative mask and wear it for the fashion parade.  If this is not possible, dressing in the Italian colours of green, red and white is preferable. 

The day will commence with the much loved fashion parade and a musical showcase from each year level. Parents and friends are encouraged to attend.

Throughout the remainder of the day students will be engaged in many energetic activities.  Thank you for supporting your children with the preparation of their mask and costume.

Orders are now open for Margherita Pizza ($4.50) and Gelati ($4.00). 

Order at trybooking.com/CMDOO . For ease of catering, only 1 slice of pizza and/or one gelato per child may be ordered. Bookings will strictly close on Friday 20th October. Please book ASAP to avoid disappointment and we thank you in advance for your understanding.

We look forward to an exciting and fun-filled day

Signora Vozzo

2024 Technology Program, 1-to-1 devices in Years 3 to Year 6

We are pleased to announce that in 2024 we will be continuing the 1-to-1 device program in Years 3 to 6, where every student in those years will have access to their own computing device for the purposes of education. 

Students enrolling into Year 3 in 2024 must order and purchase a new Chromebook through the school before Friday 24th November.  The order portal is now open at https://smstkildaeast.orderportal.com.au/ and closes on Friday 24th November

Students enrolling into Year 4, Year 5 or Year 6 in 2024 and who have already purchased a Chromebook in 2023 will continue to use this device for 2024.

Students enrolling into Year 6 in 2024 who rented a Chromebook from the school in 2023 can continue to do so for 2024 for a fee of $150.

If you have any questions regarding the program, please don’t hesitate to contact me.