From the Director of Junior School 

Dear Families,

It has been a wonderful start to the year, with our first two weeks filled with energy and promise. Both of our Kinder classes have begun their journey with excitement, curiosity and, understandably, a touch of nervousness as they take their first steps into school life with us. 

In a few weeks’ time, they will be 'belled in' alongside our oldest students, our Year 12s. It is a special and much-loved tradition. The same ritual will be repeated years from now when these girls bell out at the end of Year 12, marking – for many – 14 years of learning and growing at St Mary’s. 

We hope that their time with us will be one of deep growth: spiritually, academically and socially. We want each student to feel supported and challenged, with a wide range of opportunities before them, so they can step confidently into adulthood and choose the path that is right for them. 

Year 6 Commissioning | Friday 13 February 

Last Friday, Father Bernard Perera, along with Year 6 families, selected staff and students from the Junior School, commissioned our Year 6 class of 2026 as our leaders of the Junior School. The students, through this ceremony, made a commitment to our College to show respect and honour for their learning environment in light of the Gospel Values and the charism of Nano Nagle.

We also officially appointed our badge leaders, who made a leadership pledge to work alongside their Year 6 peers to foster a strong and active school spirit through their care and support of others in our school community. They committed to always leading by example, demonstrating their values through their deeds as well as their words. 

We wish our Junior School leaders, as well as our Year 6 cohort, all the best for a successful final year in the Junior School. 

Goal Setting Interviews 

The Junior School student goal-setting interviews will be held on Wednesday 4 March and Thursday 5 March, running from 3.00pm to 6.00pm in your child's classroom. These interviews provide an opportunity for families to meet with their child’s 2026 teacher to set goals for their child’s learning for the year.  

Communication around how to book these will become available via Connect next week.  

Parent Information Sessions and Welcome BBQ | Thursday 19 February 

This Thursday, we look forward to welcoming all our Junior School families to our Welcome Families BBQ on the College Green from 4.00pm. All families of our students are welcome to attend the following information sessions. 

Digital Technologies and Transport Agreements/Policies 

Please note that Junior School students will not be able to use technology until the agreements listed below have been signed. 

Year 3-6 students 

In the school diary, which our Years 3–6 students received last week, there are pages outlining our policies on the use of devices and technology, as well as our bus and transport agreement. We ask that parents and carers take the time to read through this with their child and then sign the agreements in the diary.

Early Years students 

Last week, parents and carers of our Early Years students (Kinder to Year 2) were emailed the agreements listed above. We ask that these be read with your child and completed digitally. 

Technology use at school | Mobile phones and smart watches

A reminder that, as per our Digital Technology Policy, students are required to hand in their mobile phones and digital devices (including smart watches or any device not needed for learning) to their teachers at the beginning of the school day. These will be returned to students at the end of the day.

If you need to contact your child during school hours, please phone our Student Services team, who will pass the message on to your child through their Class Teacher.