Principal News

The days are getting longer and warmer, and Term 3 seems to be flying by. There’s a great energy around the school at the moment, with plenty happening both inside and outside the classroom. It’s wonderful to see our students so engaged and our community coming together. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this weeks newsletter! 

Book Week

Book Week was a huge success and filled with fun from start to finish. The week kicked off with our much-loved Parade on Monday, where students looked absolutely amazing in their creative costumes, and staff made a fantastic group of “Where’s Wallies!” Throughout the week we enjoyed other highlights, including the daily “Stop, Drop and Read” sessions and the very popular Masked Reader, which had everyone guessing until Miss M was finally revealed as the crazy giraffe! It was a joyful celebration of reading and imagination for our whole school community.

Peer Observation - Writing

Well done to all students and staff for completing our Peer Observation writing cycle over the past few weeks. Our students have been working with a strong focus on the fundamentals of writing, using self-assessment and teacher feedback to drive improvement. At the same time, staff have been engaging in peer observations, with colleagues visiting classrooms to share practice and reflect on the most effective, evidence-based strategies. This process has highlighted the power of explicit instruction and collaboration in boosting student outcomes.

Go Girl, Go For IT

Last week our Year 5/6 girls attended the Go Girl, Go for IT expo, an inspiring event designed to encourage young women to explore the world of technology, coding, engineering, and innovation. The girls had the opportunity to hear from industry leaders, take part in hands-on activities, and learn about the many exciting pathways available in the STEM fields. It was a fantastic experience that not only broadened their horizons but also empowered them to see themselves as future innovators and problem-solvers.

Book Week in the Mandarin classroom

During Book Week, we were delighted to welcome some of our wonderful parent visitors into the Mandarin classroom to share picture storybooks in their own languages. Students had the opportunity to listen to stories read in Polish, Slovak, Italian, Spanish, Croatian, and of course, Mandarin.

This special experience gave our students the chance to not only hear the beauty of different languages but also to gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural diversity within our school community. It was wonderful to see the students engaged, curious, and respectful as they explored the unique sounds and rhythms of each language.

Another highlight of the week was when Jonathan proudly read a poem in Slovak that had been passed down from his great-grandmother. His performance showed how language can connect us to our family history and heritage in such a meaningful way.

As we approached the end of Book Week, we gave a big shout-out to our parent volunteers for sharing their time, language, and culture with us. Experiences like these help our students understand and value cultural differences while celebrating the rich diversity that makes our school community so special.

Together, we celebrated not only the joy of reading, but also the power of diversity. 

Battle of the Boots

A quick reminder that the annual Battle of the Boots is coming up soon — our dads will once again take on Hampton Primary in the big footy match. We’re out to defend our title, and the excitement is already building! Somehow, I’ve even been talked into making a minor guest appearance in the forward pocket… so come along, cheer loudly, and show your support for our team. It’s always a fantastic community event, and we’d love to see you there.

Sporting Success

This week a selected group of students from Years 3–6 proudly represented our school at the Dendy Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to all who competed and gave their best effort on the day, and a big thank you to Sam Sullivan for coordinating our team. In addition, our Year 5/6 mixed netball team travelled to Pakenham on Friday to compete in the Southern Metro Finals. We’re so proud of the way they played and represented our school with great spirit. More detailed results from both events will be shared in next week’s newsletter.

Team Teach PD

Thank you to our community for your support during last week’s school closure day, which allowed our staff to take part in valuable professional development. The day was spent with Team Teach, an organisation that provides training in building positive relationships, understanding behaviour, and creating safe and supportive learning environments. The strategies and approaches we explored will help strengthen our practices here at St Mary’s, ensuring we continue to provide the best possible support for every child.

Hampton Community Kinder Visit

A big thank you to the 4-year-old group from Hampton Community Kinder who visited us on Wednesday to experience a taste of primary school life. The children enjoyed a high-paced sports session with Miss Jones and a fun, creative art lesson with Miss M. We’re grateful to Emily and the team at Hampton Community Kinder for their ongoing partnership, which provides such positive opportunities for the children as they prepare for school.

Art Show - Tie-dye!

As part of this year’s Art Show, we will be creating tie-dye T-shirts during art lessons. Our theme for the Art Show is “Belonging.” To celebrate this, all students will be asked to wear their tie-dye T-shirts to the Art Show to symbolise that we are all one big school family and community.

We also encourage students to bring along an additional T-shirt for siblings or other family members who will be attending, as they are an important part of our St Mary’s community too.

What students need to do:

• Please bring a plain white T-shirt to school by Week 8 (old or new, minimal writing or logos preferred).
• Clearly label each T-shirt with your child’s name using a permanent marker.
• Hand the T-shirt(s) to the class teacher so they can be marked off and stored in the classroom until needed.

The tie-dye activity will take place during Week 8 this term.

Thank you for your support in helping to make this a colourful and meaningful part of our Art Show

Any keen Garden Experts?

Our lemon, mandarin and peach trees are in need of a good prune so they can continue to thrive. If any parents, grandparents or friends of the school have some gardening expertise and could lend a hand, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re also looking at updating the watering system for our Garden Club – so if you have skills or experience in this area, please reach out. Any support, big or small, would be greatly appreciated!

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools- School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)

Each year, Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne take part in the MACSSIS (School Improvement Surveys). 

This year, the survey window runs from Monday 1 September to Friday 19 September 2025.

All families at St Mary's are warmly invited to share their feedback by completing the survey. 

On September 1, you will receive an email with your personal login details.

MACSSIS results provide valuable insights that guide our priorities and future planning at St Mary’s. 

Every family’s voice matters, and your input plays an essential role in shaping the future direction of our school.

We would be grateful if all families took part in the survey.

Further details about the survey can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjkNImfr8BM

Student Success Stories 

As mentioned in last weeks newsletter, we are always keen to highlight great achievements of past and present students from St Mary's. Please feel free to share these with me! 

We’re excited to share some wonderful news about Hosea in Year 4. Hosea is currently part of the Melbourne Victory Pre-Academy program and has recently been selected for the Under 10s Gold Coast Tour Squad. He’ll be representing Victory in one of their two squads, East and West — an outstanding achievement and recognition of his hard work and talent. Well done, Hosea — we’re very proud of you!

Thanks

Steele