Principal Announcements
Newsletter 3 Term 2
Reconciliation Week Launch – Mitch Tambo Concert
We were thrilled to launch Reconciliation Week at St Mary’s with a high-energy and inspiring concert by renowned Indigenous artist Mitch Tambo. His powerful performance had every student engaged, clapping along, dancing, and celebrating the rich culture and stories shared through his music. It was a joyful and meaningful way to begin our week of learning and reflection.
A big thank you to Mrs Dyke for organising this unforgettable experience for our school community!
Sorry Day Assembly and Service
This week, we proudly began Reconciliation Week at St. Mary’s with a beautiful and meaningful Smoking Ceremony. We extend our sincere thanks to Billy Cooper for leading this sacred tradition and helping us begin the week with reflection and respect.
We also thank our wonderful FIRE Carriers who represented St. Mary’s with pride and reverence at the Shepparton Sorry Day service. Their presence and participation are a powerful symbol of our school’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation and to honouring the histories and cultures of First Nations peoples.
Let us all continue to walk together with courage, compassion, and hope.
Presentation to Mons Peter at Rodney Park
This week, Sophie and Jordan proudly represented St. Mary’s during a special visit to Mons Peter at Rodney Park. On behalf of our school community, they presented Mons with a Mass set and a St. Mary’s artwork as a token of our gratitude for his ongoing spiritual leadership.
These gifts symbolise our appreciation for the many ways
Mons brings Christ into the lives of our students, families, and now the Rodney Park community.
Thank you to Maree for organising this meaningful occasion.
Farewell Celebration for Josh Preston
We farewell Mr Josh Preston, who finished up at St Mary’s on Friday 22nd May. Josh has been a dedicated part of our school community for the past eight years, and his passion for Health and PE has made a lasting impact on our students.
We celebrated his time with us with a special morning tea on Friday and thanked him for his outstanding contribution to our school. Josh now begins an exciting new chapter at Notre Dame, and we wish him all the very best.
He will be greatly missed!
Welcome to William Geerling
We are very pleased to welcome William Geerling to our school community as a new Learning Support Officer (LSO).
William will be working alongside our staff to support student learning and wellbeing across the school. We look forward to the valuable contribution he will make and are excited to have him on board!
Please join us in making William feel very welcome at St Mary’s.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
We ask our school community to keep Evie Collins, Charlie Walsh, and Daniel Sibio in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
This is a special step in their faith journey, and we pray that they experience God’s love, forgiveness, and peace during this important time.
May the Holy Spirit guide and bless them in their preparation.
Cybersafety Session with School Liaison Police Officer
In week 5, our Grade 5/6 students were visited by our School Liaison Police Officer for an important session on cybersafety.
Students learned about staying safe online, protecting personal information, and making responsible choices when using digital technology.
We thank our local police for their ongoing support in helping our students navigate the online world safely and respectfully
Book Fair – Wednesday 4th June
We’re excited to announce that our School Book Fair will be held on Wednesday 4th June! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore a great range of books and build their love of reading.
A big thank you to Maree & Nerissa for organising this special event for our students. We look forward to seeing many happy readers on the day!
Winter Uniform Reminders
With the sudden onset of very cold mornings, a reminder that school jackets and long-sleeved tops are available as part of the winter uniform to help keep students warm.
Please ensure that all uniform items, especially jumpers, are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This helps us return lost items quickly and easily. Lost Property is located near the door leading out to the courtyard from the office.
Please remind students they are not to help themselves to the secondhand uniforms in the office area, they need to ask the office staff first.
A reminder also about our jewellery expectations: students may wear one earring in each ear, and any additional earrings must be clear studs only.
Thank you for your support in keeping our students comfortable, safe, and in line with our school expectations.
The School Uniform Policy can be found under the Office News Tab.
New Disability Parking
We are pleased to announce the addition of a new disability parking space at the carpark entry to the Marian Centre. This designated space, along with the existing disability park in front of the church, ensures that students and visitors who require accessible parking can do so safely and conveniently. We kindly remind parents and guardians to use only the other parking bays, leaving these spaces free for those who need them at all times. Your ongoing cooperation helps us support all members of our school community.
Thank you for your understanding and support in making our school an inclusive space for everyone.
St. Mary’s Bingo
We are currently seeking support for St. Mary's Bingo, which would generally involve your attendance on a Saturday evening once a term. With numbers being quite short at the moment, your help would be invaluable! Bingo is a fantastic way to engage with our school community while raising funds for various programs. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Maree Williams on 0438 084 364.
Thank you for your consideration, your support makes a big difference!
End of 2025 School Dates
From Sandhurst Diocese advice, our last school days for 2025 for students and staff will be as follows:
- Friday 12th December – Last day for students
- Monday 15th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Tuesday 16th December – Staff Planning/Professional Development Day (Student-Free)
- Wednesday 17th December – Friday 19th December – School Closure Days
Before School Supervision
Please note that all students that arrive at school prior to 8:30am must fill out an application via the link below. For new and casual before school arrivals, please complete prior to 4:00pm each day to enable student lists to be updated for the following morning. Before school supervision is for early bus travellers and parents/guardians who must attend work earlier than 8:30am. A reminder that students are not to arrive or be at school before 8:00am as they are not actively supervised.
I appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation regarding this.
Assembly 19th May
Assembly 26th May
Principal’s Awards
19th May -
Wesley Dow has shown an exceptional ability to live out our Gospel values of love, understanding, and respect, while also truly embracing our PBIS values in everyday school life.
Well done on letting your light shine and for the compassion and leadership you show within our St Mary’s community. We are proud of you!
26th May –
Harper Turvey has shown an exceptional ability to live out our Gospel values of love, understanding, and respect. She consistently displays compassion and leadership and is a wonderful role model—especially to her Prep buddy.
Well done, Harper, for letting your light shine and for the positive example you set for others at St Mary’s!
Attendance matters!
Every minute matters. This is a simple statement, but a true one. For every minute a child is at school they learn. For every minute they are absent they not only miss out on learning, but they also lose some previous learning.
'Disrupted learning time disrupts student's learning'.
Ms V’s Inspirations
“Play is the highest form of research.”— Albert Einstein
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”— Nelson Mandela
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
