Mrs Ryan's Fortnightly Reflections

Welcoming Week 7: We have started to see the learning successes, celebrations, and smiles begin to fill our classrooms, staff meetings, and system-wide events. 

This week, at our staff school improvement meeting, we explored academic data and benchmark comparisons that showed the committed effort and dedication of our whole school! Our teachers have done a remarkable job in exceeding benchmarks, ensuring our programs are run with fidelity, collaboratively problem-solving to personalise learning, and embracing change. The data trajectory across the board is on a unified upward trend, and our teachers are proud and affirmed by their efforts. 

Our learners have also been extremely committed to our changes in practices this year and are experiencing great growth in their own data and abilities in the classroom. Their learning stamina, understanding of the brain and what helps us learn, and the overall confidence to commit to the effort of learning have been impressive. 

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to take part in the Year 3 Learning Expo, where "Reuse & Recycle" were key themes. This cohort explored the scientific change of materials and the subsequent effect of being able to recycle and reuse. The marketplace, learning process, and profits they made were incredible. Many parents shared with me how impressive the learning and end products were! And I believe the market was a sellout! 

On Wednesday evening, I celebrated Reconciliation with ten of our learners in the Parish. The sacrament was intimate, and our learners were well prepared. It was beautiful to observe the comfort and compassion displayed in the interactions with our priests and learners. I know that the continued support and prayers will continue with these children as they progress on their faith journey. 

The leadership team and staff are working on class placements in readiness for next year. This process is multilayered and extremely complex. Our priority in placing children in classes is fair, equitable, and ethical. We create classes using data and evidence that consider a balance of additional needs, gender, academic ability, and social and emotional behaviour. While we know that children experience challenges socially and academically throughout their schooling journey, St Mary’s is a place of education and teaching. We are a restorative school that teaches forgiveness and problem solving. We know that our parent partnerships would advocate for this as well. Yesterday, I was fortunate to attend the CESL 2025 Awards, where Grace Dicketts and Sam Farrant received awards of excellence in learning and leadership! The lunch was a very special occasion, where we gathered as a diocese to recognise our learners and staff. St Mary’s staff received some "Highly Commended" recognition, which I will share and present at terrific kid in front of the community! 

St Mary’s staffing configuration for 2026 is now complete, and we have been blessed not to have had to recruit a great deal. Our staffing remains consistent and stable, and we look forward to the learning and teaching that has been embedded this year, carrying into next year for even greater impact. Mrs. Liz Chapman will progress into the Deputy Principal role next year, and St Mary’s will fill the Leader of Learning Diversity and Inclusion role with Nathan Walsh. Nathan comes with passion and leadership experience from St Joseph’s in Quarry Hill. He will soon participate in onboarding training and be introduced to our community. We know the staff and wider community will make Nathan feel welcome. 

With several events pending, I ask that you keep abreast of our communications, particularly on Compass, to RSVP and participate in the many great celebrations that will conclude our year! I look forward to seeing many of you over the coming weeks! 

Take care, and God Bless. 

Jasmine Ryan  

Principal