Learning and Teaching
Lamont Bookfair
A huge thank you to our school community for supporting our recent Book Fair!
Together, our school community generated an incredible $7,542 in sales, which has resulted in $2,262.60 in commission to spend on new books through Lamont.
Thanks to this support, we have been able to purchase copies of all the CBCA shortlisted Picture Books and Novels, as well as complete sets of the OCHRE texts for our Foundation – Year 2 teams. These resources will help us continue to provide rich literature experiences and ensure students have access to high-quality texts across the school.
Thank you again for your support, this is a fantastic result for our students and our classrooms!
Michaela
Literacy Leader
Michaela.Biddick@smcmeppingnth.catholic.edu.au
Golden Children
Congratulations Sarah (Yr 3 Courage), Evan and Johaan (Yr 4 Optimism) who all earned their Golden Child Award recently.
Sarah earned the title of Golden Child in '24, '25 and now again in 2026, whereas the two boys, Evan and Johaan earned theirs last year in '25 and now again in 2026.
All students did extremely well to learn and share so many facts about so many different areas of learning and to earn all 10 Stem Masters.
Well done to all three students on such a wonderful achievement!
(To earn the title of Golden Child, students must earn masters in and be able to name facts about: The planets, rainbows, bones, the solar system, clouds, the mouth, birds, towers, lightning and thunder and all 118 elements
of the Periodic Table)
Mike
STEM Teacher
Michael.Caruana@smcmeppingnth.catholic.edu.au
Thank you and farewell!
As I prepare to farewell our school community and move into the next stage of my career at the end of this term, I do so with mixed emotions.
This will be my final newsletter contribution, and I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere thanks to the students, staff and families who have made the past two and a half years so meaningful for me at SMCM.
Education is ultimately an act of service, and I have always viewed my role as one of supporting students, staff and families to the best of my ability. It has been a privilege to contribute to a community that is deeply committed to learning, growth and the wellbeing of every child. I have learned a great deal throughout this journey, and I leave with many lessons and memories that I will carry with me.
While many initiatives, projects and improvements have taken place during this time, I believe the true strength of our school lies in its people. I have been continually inspired by the care, professionalism and generosity of our staff, who give so much of themselves each day for the benefit of the children. From a parent perspective, it may not always be easy to see the depth of work that sits behind classroom practice, but having had the privilege of working alongside our staff each day, I have seen firsthand a team of thoughtful, committed and highly capable educators who have approached new learning and challenges with courage and purpose.
In recent years, there has been growing attention on changes in teaching practice, the Science of Learning, structured literacy, explicit teaching and evidence-informed approaches to learning. It is not easy for any school to shift practice, and meaningful change does not happen overnight. At SMCM, I am proud to say that our staff have responded to this work with remarkable professionalism and determination. From Foundation to Year 6, our classroom teachers, LSOs and leadership team have worked through significant change together, refining routines, planning, lesson delivery, classroom environments and the ways we support students to learn. Our partnerships with La Trobe’s Science of Language and Reading Lab, the Australian Education Research Organisation and MACS have all contributed to this development, but it is the collective effort of our staff that has made the work possible. Good teaching is a craft that is never finished, and our staff should be very proud of the way they have continued to learn, reflect and improve for the benefit of every student.
I have also greatly enjoyed building relationships with our students, whose energy, humour, curiosity and kindness make our school such a special place to be. While teachers have gone through a great deal of change, we cannot forget that our students have also been part of this journey. It has been inspiring to see our young people embrace new routines, engage so thoughtfully in their learning and grow in confidence over time. Anyone walking into a learning space can see the consistency in routines, the enthusiasm students show when using their mini whiteboards (who doesn't love having their own mini whiteboard?!) and the pride they take in their learning. Some of my fondest memories will be the small daily interactions with students: the conversations, questions, greetings and moments of joy that remind us why this work matters. I will miss those interactions deeply, and the students of SMCM will always hold a special place in my heart.
To our families, thank you for your warmth, support and partnership. Your trust and encouragement have meant a great deal to me. I have always valued the opportunity to work alongside families in support of children’s learning and wellbeing, and I am grateful for the kindness and support you have shown me during my time at SMCM.
I would also like to sincerely thank Claire for the trust, guidance and opportunities she has given me during my time at the school. I am deeply grateful for the confidence she placed in me and for the opportunity to serve in such a privileged role within this community. I am especially thankful for the broader leadership and curriculum teams, whose collaboration, insight and encouragement have made this journey so fulfilling, and who have challenged, supported and inspired me in equal measure.
It has been a privilege to serve in this role and to contribute to the life and direction of our community. As I move into this next chapter, I do so with gratitude for all that I have experienced and confidence that our school will continue to thrive. Thank you for your support, encouragement and trust. I wish everyone all the very best for the future.
Warm regards,
Rafael
Learning and Teaching & Digital Technologies Leader