Dear Parents,

Our year 3/4 learning community attended the Forest Edge camp in Neerim East and it was such a wow factor! What a beautiful environment for our students to explore and participate in many fun adventures. I attended the camp for some of the time and was so impressed with our staff and students. I take this opportunity to thank the following staff for supporting our students and giving up their family time to provide this wonderful learning experience: Lisa, Andrea, Katie, Rob and Ange - thank you so much for all you did on camp.

Thanks to our Defence Force Mentor, Lucette, for leading our beautiful Remembrance Day service last Friday. This is extremely important in our school with many Defence Force families serving our country, being of service to others and experiencing very challenging and difficult situations to keep us all safe in our wonderful country.

The Defence Force students have been working collaboratively with students from Crib Point Primary and St Joseph’s on a poppy project. She-ron, the wonderful grandmother of a Defence family, made three wreaths with the students from the schools that were presented to the schools last Wednesday. It was such a special occasion and I thank She-ron, Lucette, Kerry and Carolyn, the Defence Force Mentors from the other schools, for their great work.

Weeks like last week really give us the opportunity to stand proud and strong as a wonderful St Mary’s community. This is lived out in the way we join together to encourage our students to be respectful, compassionate and inspiring human beings.

Just a reminder students must wear full uniform every day- black leather shoes must be worn with the formal uniform and sports runners on sports days. All uniform must be official uniform purchased from Beleza. If you are suffering financial hardship please email principal@smhastings.catholic.edu.au as I have some funds from a donation for school uniforms.

Updates on new uniform items

Additional item of a different style of shorts and pants
The soft shell jackets will be in store very soon.
We are introducing a new sports top. The old Gold polos – Sports polos have discounted these by 50% to help sell them out but students can continue to wear this style for as long as needed. The New Sport polos arriving in January.
We are updating our logos to a more modern logo - All old logo stock have discounted by 30% off, - students can wear the old logo stock for many years until it is obsolete. Once they sell out of any sizes, they will start using the new logo. You may see some items with new logos before others for this reason.

Our official transition session for 2024 will be held on Tuesday 12th December from 9.00am- 10.30am.

On this day all students in the school will attend a session with their new teacher for 2024. This provides an opportunity for students to be prepared for the following school year.

During this session your child will spend time with their 2024 teacher and class members. On this day you will be given an envelope with all of the necessary information pertaining to the 2024 school year but I will also send home initial starting dates, pupil free days etc for 2024 this week for your information.

You will also be invited to book in for an individual session with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the 2024 school year. This information will be provided in the information pack. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to know their home room teacher and to begin to build a strong, positive relationship for the new school year.

Please promote our wonderful school to all in our community. We are still taking enrolments for 2024. Word of mouth is the most effective marketing tool and so please invite any of your friends, family and community to come along for a tour of our school.

We look forward to seeing all of our community at the Christmas Carols afternoon on Friday 1st December. It is set to be a wonderful afternoon with Christmas carols, a BBQ and our wonderful Preps will present the Nativity. Invite all of the community to come along and make it a special gathering for all.

Yours in Partnership,

Gab

Indigenous Perspectives