Mrs Ryan's Fortnightly Reflections

Today we celebrate World Teachers' Day, and we at St Mary's are truly blessed to have some of the very best! Our teachers work incredibly hard, place our children at the centre of everything they do, and genuinely care about the people they are becoming. Today, I would like to thank them for all they do, all they share, and the positive influence they have on our young people's lives. As a community, St Mary's is extremely fortunate to have the team we do, and sometimes we do not recognise their efforts enough. 

Grandparents' Day launched us into Week 4 of our term, and while I was disappointed to miss it, I heard amazing reviews, stories of happy memories being made, and grandparents sharing their love and gratitude for the day. We welcomed approximately 600 special people to our community to celebrate and acknowledge the important role they play in our children's lives. We had grandparents travel from near and far, and we know that effort speaks volumes about the loving relationships that surround our children and the willingness of families to be part of our special school community. We look forward to welcoming many of you again next year! 

St Mary's will soon begin exploring class configurations and peer selections. This is a valuable opportunity for our children to nominate three to four learners with whom they would like to learn and grow alongside next year. Teachers always frame this process around identifying positive learning partners and emphasise that the classroom is primarily a place for learning, with social connections developing naturally within that environment. Having said that, all children will be guaranteed placement with at least one peer they select. Teachers keep records of all student selections to help ensure this occurs. Parents are welcome to have supportive conversations with their children about their choices if they feel it would be beneficial. 

Alongside classing, St Mary's is currently appointing leaders for the 2027 school year. Once confirmed, this information will be shared with the community. Following the establishment of the leadership structure, the 2027 leadership team will begin considering staffing and teacher allocations across year levels. Staffing in a school of this size continues to be fluid until the final weeks of the year. To ensure all families receive this information simultaneously, correspondence regarding class placements and staffing will be shared following Step-Up Day on 8 December. 

The long weekend tends to mark the halfway point of our final school term. I hope everyone enjoys the weekend ahead, takes advantage of the warmer weather, and returns in Week 5 feeling refreshed and energised for the final weeks of the term. 

In faith, trust and love. 

Jasmine Ryan  

Principal