Principal's Report
Kylie O'Donnell
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 8. It has been another busy and rewarding fortnight at St Margaret Mary’s, with many opportunities for our students to learn, grow and participate fully in school life. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our school community.
Athletics Carnival
As you can imagine, excitement is building as we eagerly anticipate tomorrow’s Athletics Carnival at Hensley Athletic Field. We are remaining hopeful and positive regarding the weather and looking forward to a fantastic day of participation, teamwork and school spirit.
Following feedback from last year’s carnival, we have made a number of small adjustments to the format to ensure all students are actively engaged in events for the majority of the day. In addition, we have refined our parent participation model so that volunteers can remain with their child’s class, supporting teachers across a variety of activities rather than being assigned to a single event. For an estimated event schedule of the day, please refer to our Sport page.
We hope these changes will enhance the experience for everyone involved and contribute to a successful and enjoyable day.
Parent & Friends Meeting
This week we held our Term 2 Parent & Friends meeting. I was delighted to share some very positive updates, including strong enrolment interest for Kindergarten 2027. We were also pleased to note encouraging recognition in the Daily Telegraph regarding the school’s academic performance.
Thank you to those who attended the meeting, and to all families who continue to support the work of the P&F.
NAPLAN Update
While we are still awaiting this year’s NAPLAN writing results, we are very encouraged by the growth demonstrated in Numeracy, Grammar and Punctuation, and Reading Comprehension. These results reflect the dedication of our students, the expertise of our staff, and the strong partnership we share with you.
We look forward to sharing further information once all components have been received.
Carline Safety Reminder
Another concerning matter raised at our recent P&F meeting relates to student safety in the morning drop-off zone. Parents using this service have noted an increasing number of students retrieving their school bags from the back of vehicles while in the carline.
This practice places students at significant risk, as they are required to stand on the road behind vehicles. If bags are stored in the back of your vehicle, I ask that you park safely and personally assist your child, rather than allowing them to access the rear of the car in the drop-off zone.
Please also take note of the following important reminders for the appropriate use of the drop-off zone:
Enter the zone with hazard lights activated to alert other drivers you will be stopping.
Drive as far forward as possible to allow other vehicles to enter behind you.
Ensure your child exits the vehicle on the kerb side.
Do not allow children to move behind your vehicle to retrieve school bags.
Your cooperation is essential in ensuring the safety of all students.
Semester One Reports
Teachers are currently compiling Semester One reports, which will be distributed via Compass on Friday, 19 June. You will also be invited to attend a parent-teacher interview in Week 10.
As partners in the learning process, I strongly encourage you to take up this opportunity to discuss your child’s progress. If you are unable to access Compass, please contact Melissa in the office for assistance.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Tonight marks a significant milestone in the faith journey of our Year 6 students as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Umbers.
We wish all of our candidates every blessing as they celebrate this special occasion with their families and sponsors. It is a meaningful step in their spiritual growth, and we are very proud of their preparation and commitment.
May God continue to bless our students, families and staff as we journey together through this busy and rewarding term.
Warm Regards,
Kylie O’Donnell
Principal