Take Note

Welcome Families BBQ | New year, new connections

Join us on the College Green this Thursday 19 February as we kick off the new school year with a relaxed Welcome Families BBQ. 

We'll have the grills fired up from 4.00pm, so come along early, say hello and enjoy a complimentary bite to eat in a friendly, informal setting. 

If you're new to St Mary's College, this is a lovely opportunity to meet our staff, connect with other families and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of our SMC community. 

Kinder to Year 7 students and families are also warmly invited. 

The Junior School and Year 7 Information Sessions will take place that evening in the Mary Morgan Wing, with entry via the College Green. Further details are provided in the poster below and on Connect. 

To help us plan catering and accommodate dietary needs, please RSVP to the BBQ using the link here. 

Open Morning 

We warmly invite you to spread the word for our Open Morning on Thursday 19 March 2026.

Prospective families can take a tour, speak with our students and staff and see what we get up to during a regular day at St Mary’s College.

There are three tour times available: 9.30am, 10.00am and 10.30am.

Tours will depart from Reception at the lower Brisbane Street entrance. Bookings are essential via the link here. 

Key enrolment dates 

Kinder 2027 applications will close on Friday 15 May 2026 with offers being sent out to families on Friday 19 June 2026. Learn more about Kinder at St Mary’s College here.

Year 7 2027 applications will close on Friday 13 March 2026 with offers being sent out to families on Thursday 16 April 2026.

Sibling application reminder 

Current families are reminded to please submit sibling applications by the relevant due dates. Existing enrolments of older siblings does not mean an automatic enrolment of younger siblings.

Sibling applications need to be lodged individually to be added to our Enrolments online system. 

For further information please contact our Enrolment Officer, Nicole Wighton on enrol@smc.tas.edu.au or (03) 6108 2560.

Our publications are here!

We're delighted to share that the Santa Maria yearbook and the latest edition of our Alma Mater magazine are fresh off the printer and heading home with families this week. 

It's always a joy to see these in your hands, and we hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed putting them together.

Please note: 

• Copies of both publications will be sent home with the eldest child in each family (or the only child, where applicable) in Prep to Year 12.
• Leavers from the Year 12 Class of 2025 will be invited back to the College to collect their copies.
• If your family would like additional copies, these can be requested through the Student Services office or by emailing communications@smc.tas.edu.au 

Hop on board our Junior School Bus Service

St Mary’s College operates a dedicated bus service with designated stops on the Eastern Shore and in Sorell, providing a safe and reliable pick‑up and drop‑off option for students from Kinder to Year 6. Please note that this is a stop‑to‑stop service rather than door‑to‑door. 

The service is fully cashless, with each registered student receiving an individual SMC bus card to tap on and off from their first day of travel.

In 2026, our families can choose between two cashless payment options: 

• Pay-per-term: $250 per student, per term.
• Pay-as-you-go: $4.00 per student, per trip.

For more information, please email transport@smc.tas.edu.au

NAPLAN 2026 – Key information for families

Students will complete NAPLAN between 11 and 23 March 2026. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills students learn through everyday classroom teaching. It is not a test students can study for.

All students will sit assessments in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s assessment program and does not replace ongoing teacher assessment, though results can be a useful starting point for conversations about student progress.

Since 2023, NAPLAN has been held in March to allow schools earlier access to results and to support planning for teaching and learning.

NAPLAN Online  

Most students will complete NAPLAN online, which provides more precise results and uses adaptive testing, so questions better match each student’s level. Online testing also offers a range of accessibility options and is generally more engaging for students. Please note: Year 3 students complete the Writing test on paper.

Parent resources  

A NAPLAN information brochure for parents and carers is available on the official National Assessment Program (NAP) website. If you have any questions, please contact the College.

milangkani | birth-to-five program

Are you looking for a welcoming program for your baby, toddler or preschooler? We’d love you to join us for milangkani, our birth‑to‑five early learning program.

Our Term 1 program commenced this week, and it was wonderful to welcome families back into the space. We’re excited to see even more members of our wider community join us as the term unfolds.

milangkani offers fun, engaging and developmentally rich play‑based experiences designed to spark curiosity, nurture confidence and support your child’s growth across all early learning areas.

Sessions run every Monday from 9.15am to 10.30am in the milangkani room, opposite Murphy’s Café. Attendance is free.

Learn more about the program and register your interest on our website. Keep an eye out for our Term 1 schedule, which will be released soon.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your little ones. Please feel free to share this invitation with friends or family who may love to join as well.

Join our Chess Club

Are you passionate about chess?  Whether you’re just starting out or already an experienced player, our Chess Club is the perfect place to learn, play and challenge yourself.

Open to both Junior and Senior School students, the club offers a great opportunity to sharpen your skills, connect with fellow chess enthusiasts and enjoy some friendly competition. The program is suitable for all chess levels and experience, and new players are more than welcome. 

Details

• Who: Junior and Senior School Students
• When: Started last Friday 13 February and running for eight weeks. Cost is $70 per child. 
• Where: Student Resource Centre.
• Enrol: blacksquarechess.com 
• Contact: James at jamesblacksquare@gmail.com

Volunteering at SMC 

There are many meaningful ways for parents and carers to get involved in College life as volunteers. 

As a Child Safe Organisation, and in accordance with legislation, all volunteers are required to hold a current Registration to Work with Vulnerable People. Volunteers, as mandatory reporters, must also complete the online CET Safeguarding Children Briefing/Form. 

To access these forms, please visit our website here. 

Both requirements need to be completed before volunteering at the College. 

Traffic safety reminder

With Term 1 now underway, we wish to remind all parents, carers and students to take extra care when driving and parking in our school zone at any time of the day. 

Please always be vigilant and obey the signed parking rules and speed limits, particularly during busier times of the day, such as pick-up and drop-off. 

Below are some helpful tips to make sure you're driving carefully and looking out for pedestrians, especially children. 

• A speed limit of 40km applies in Tasmanian school zones during busier times of the day. 
• You must not park or stop in a 'No Stopping' area or bus zone for any reason.
• You can only stop in a 'No Parking' area for the immediate purpose of picking up passengers. 
• It is illegal to 'double park' by stopping next to another car already parked near the kerb.
• Please avoid encroaching on or parking across a driveway, as this blocks access for property owners. 

Cathedral car park off limits 

Parents and carers are reminded not to park in the Cathedral carpark. This space is only intended for Cathedral staff and for parishioners when attending Mass and other services.  

'Hug and Go' zone 

St Mary's College has a designated 'Hug and Go' zone on Harrington Street. We encourage this to be used when students are not accompanied on the grounds by an adult. It is important that the Hug and Go zone is not used as a parking area and that time limits are adhered to, so that further traffic congestion is avoided.  

Crossing at the lights

Students are required to use the traffic lights when crossing at the Patrick Street/Harrington Street and Brisbane Street/Harrington Street intersections, pictured here.

Please take a moment to view our traffic safety information flyer, linked here. 

Thank you for your cooperation. Let's be mindful and share the road safely together.

Murphy's Café 

Murphy’s Café operates onsite from Monday to Friday, offering breakfast, recess and lunch for our College community.

The Café serves delicious, nutritious food made fresh onsite, using sustainable packaging, free‑range eggs and locally sourced ingredients. 

Click the link here to learn more about Murphy’s Café and explore the Term 1 menu.

Uniform Shop 

As we settle into the new school year, it’s a great time to check in on your uniform needs. Our Midford Sandy Bay Uniform Shop is fully stocked and ready to help with any new items you may require.

The shop is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am–4.30pm and Saturday 10.00am–1.00pm. 

The Uniform Shop is located on the corner of York and Regent Street, Sandy Bay. Contact the Shop on email at sandybay@midford.com.au or phone 0455 336 214.

Newsletter via Connect

Our school newsletter, The Fountain, is emailed to parents and carers fortnightly on Wednesdays. 

A link to the latest edition is also available on the Families page in Connect. Keep an eye out to stay informed and connected with all the latest SMC news and events.

Stay social! 

Follow us on our official St Mary's College Facebook and Instagram pages for the latest student updates, a glimpse into life at the College and behind-the-scenes moments of daily experiences. 

Join us as we celebrate our SMC community. See you on our socials!