School News

Book Week Parade & Kinder Visit

On Thursday, 21st August, we celebrated Book Week by dressing up as a book character.  It was wonderful to see so many characters and fabulous costumes. Thank you to the students and parents for your efforts.  

After our Book Week Parade we walked to Inglewood Kinder and read one of our favourite stories ‘Press Here’ by  Henre Tullet, this is an engaging book where children need to complete actions, press, rub, blow the dot or clap as pages are turned. This was followed up with a make-your-own Press Here book and other Press Here activities. 

Cooking  Last Friday, we used some of our garden produce to make yummy rice paper rolls for everyone to enjoy.

Alternative play As the weather has been a little chilly this week, some students have spent time in the warmth of the library and enjoyed some mindful colouring.

PUSLE CHECK:  

To ensure the quality assurance of the Magnify Sandhurst initiative and broader school improvement work, our School Improvement Leader, who represents Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd., came to visit the school with the purpose of gaining an accurate understanding of current practice and identifying both areas of strength and those that may benefit from further support or alignment. As part of our system-level responsibilities, CESL are committed to promoting alignment with diocesan priorities, supporting school performance, and strengthening improvement outcomes. Ben Fitzpatrick came to visit the staff and students and began the process  in consultation with myself. As a school we are very aware of our strengths and areas of focus, in terms of teaching and learning we were complemented on how we have implemented Magnify and its programs across the curriculum. 

Multi-Lit Visit

The MultiLit team visited St Mary’s this week to assess our progress and the implementation of the program in our classrooms. We were thrilled to welcome a panel of three who spent time observing lessons, speaking with staff, and reviewing how we are embedding the program into our daily practice.

The panel validated the great work already happening across the school, highlighting the consistency of our approach, the quality of teaching, and the strong commitment of staff to supporting every student’s literacy growth. They also commended us on the way we have created a culture where evidence-based practice is valued and prioritised.

Importantly, the team not only affirmed our achievements but also prompted our thinking about future directions and further ways we can build on this success. Their encouragement confirmed that we are on the right track and provided us with valuable insights for ongoing improvement.

A huge congratulations to our staff, who received overwhelming positive feedback and praise for their efforts. Their dedication, professionalism, and willingness to continually learn and adapt are making a real difference for our students.

VRAQ Audit

Earlier in the week, our school underwent its review by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). We were very pleased with the outcomes, with all practices and components to keep students safe recognised, and no further actions or recommendations required.

The VRQA is the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that all Victorian schools meet the minimum standards for school registration. This review process is an important part of maintaining compliance and accountability, while also providing assurance to families and the wider community that our school continues to operate at a high standard across all areas.

The process involved:

• Submission of documentation and evidence to demonstrate that we meet the VRQA minimum standards (governance, curriculum, student wellbeing, staffing, facilities, child safety, etc.).

• An external panel reviewing the submitted evidence.

• An on-site verification visit or interview to clarify aspects of compliance.