Principal's Message

Dear St Mary's Community,

This will be my last newsletter to you all and a perfect opportunity to thank you for your support over the last semester. Leading at St Mary's has been an experience I will not forget and I look forward to this next chapter as my family grows. There are fantastic things happening at St Mary's and I trust you are in wonderful hands with Gemma for Semester 2. Your support and involvement is what makes St Mary's community what it is. Thank you to all who go above and beyond for the community - staff and families alike! To our amazing students, I know you will continue to grow, flourish and achieve amazing things in your bright future.

There have been some updates to the staffing structures for Semester 2:

• Haley O'Meara will join us on Mondays and will be overseeing VIT graduate to proficient processes, planning with Clare with Garden to Kitchen and coaching within Inquiry.
• AnneMaree Bernardo (LSO) will be moving on from St Mary's and we thank her for her efforts over the past years and her care for the school.
• Sarah White will begin as Student Engagement Leader (Learning Diversity and Student Wellbeing) two days per week (Wednesday and Thursday each week). 
• Julie Cotter will teach Grade 5/6 on Monday - Wednesday.
• Blythe Neve will continue in Learning and Teaching role and will teach Grade 5/6 on Thursday and Friday.

We thank Brooke for her efforts and care with our Grade 5/6 class in Term 2 and we will welcome Brooke back to St Mary's for casual work. 

This coming Semester, Science will take form in the Garden to Kitchen program which Clare and Haley are very excited about! I can't wait to hear about all of the learning and deliciousness that takes place in Semester 2.

Parent teacher interview bookings are now open for Term 3 Week 2 Wednesday 22nd July between 3:30pm and 6pm. Meeting time slots at 10 minutes each and a great time to discuss your child's Semester 1 report.

Semester 1 reports are now available on PAM. Please note, Visual Art reports will be available in Semester 2 as Anita has had to take some extended leave to support her family. Please keep Anita and her family in your thoughts and prayers - we look forward to welcoming Anita back to school next term. 

Please find attached a document from the VCEA outlining important information regarding the NCCD for parents and carers. 

Key Dates for Semester 2

A friendly reminder that Monday 13th July is a School Closure Day and staff will be engaging in professional learning.

I thank you for your trust and support over the last semester and wish you all the best as we enter in the holiday period and beyond. 

God bless,

Shannon Betham

Acting Principal