Assistant Principal's Message
Morning Arrival Procedure
As many of you will be aware, our school has been trialling a new morning arrival procedure to support the safety of our entire community. Also, this procedure helps support and to maximise learning time. I wanted to take a moment to reinforce this procedure and ask for your continued cooperation.
The procedure has been thoughtfully designed with three clear priorities in mind: the safety and supervision of every student, our staff's ability to fulfil their duty of care and ensuring our children are ready to learn from the moment the day begins.
As a reminder, here is what we ask of families each morning:
Once your child has been dropped off, we ask that you do not wait or linger in the playground. This small but important step allows our staff to supervise students with full focus and helps our children settle into a calm, purposeful start to the day alongside the staff members.
For those who attend our school assemblies, you are always welcome. Please make your way from the Lower grass / Kindergarten Play area to the designated assembly area when the bell rings. If you are waiting in this area, your child is able to stay with you. We commenced this procedure after some feedback from parents.
Our school community is grounded in the values of the Gospel, where Jesus reminds us that we each carry a responsibility for one another. These procedures exist not as barriers, but as expressions of our collective care, ensuring that our actions remain attentive, responsible, and reasonable for every member of our community.
We take hope in Jesus’ message, which reminds us that the true measure of a community is not found in how we treat the majority, but in how we care for those on the margins. The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one, and the father runs to welcome the returning son. In each example, the individual is never overlooked in favour of the many.
While the current changes may have impacted your own experience, they may also be supporting the story of another person, someone on the margins whom you may not know or have encountered. Our commitment is to hold space for both realities with compassion and fairness.
Thank you for supporting the school and for partnering with us in ensuring that St Margaret Mary’s remains a safe and nurturing place where every child can thrive.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN has now begun. The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment undertaken by all Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It assesses the reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy skills students are developing through their everyday learning at school.
NAPLAN provides schools, education authorities, and governments with valuable information about how education programs are supporting student learning and helps ensure that students across Australia are developing the essential skills needed for future success.
For families, NAPLAN offers a snapshot of how your child is progressing against national standards, providing insight beyond the classroom and school context.
As a faith community, we keep in our prayers the students who are completing these assessments in 2026, that they approach each day with confidence, calmness and a sense of pride in their efforts.
In partnership,
Anthony Matthews
Assistant Principal