From the Principal

Week 6 Term 2 

Year 6 Confirmation - Pentecost Sunday - 24th May

Our warmest congratulations to our Year 6 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday, 24th May.

It was a beautiful celebration, led by Bishop Murphy, as our students took this significant step in their faith journey. We are incredibly proud of the reverence and dedication they displayed throughout their preparation and during the ceremony itself.

Thank you to Bishop Murphy, our parish team, the Year 6 teachers, and the families who supported and guided our students toward this special milestone.  "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Catholic Schools Week 25-29th May             Our Hope Filled Future

Catholic Schools Weekis a sacred time for us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the beautiful fabric that is our school community.

Our distinct Catholic identity is not just a label on our gates; it is the living, breathing soul of everything we do. It is found in our daily prayers, our liturgies, and the celebration of the Mass. It is visible in the signs and symbols throughout our hallways and classrooms, reminding us daily of the greater story we are all a part of.

Christ is at the heart of our Catholic schools. We are a Christ-centered community, with Jesus as our beating heart. It is His Gospel values that guide our daily interactions, calling us to: Serve others selflessly, Be kind always, Show mercy and compassion, Respect all life & Walk with absolute honesty.

At the core of a Catholic education is the profound belief that every single one of us is made in the image and likeness of God. Because of this truth, we say to every person in our community with absolute certainty: You matter.

"Pope Francis reminded us that 'educating is an act of hope.' When we invest in our students, we are casting a vote of confidence in the future God has planned for them." 

This week, we have celebrated our students, our staff, our learning, and our teaching, with many fun events, Catholic Schools Week Assembly, Deanery Mass, Musica-Viva concert, Buddly class sport activities and a Disco.

Mary Help Of Christians 24th May, Happy Feast Day, St Mary’s!

Mary Help of Christians holds a sacred place in our country’s history as the Patron Saint of Australia. In the early days of European settlement, when there were no priests or formal churches in the colony, it was the faithful praying of the Rosary that kept the Catholic faith alive. Because of this deep devotion, Australia became the first nation in the world to choose Mary, under this special title, as our patroness.

As a school community bearing her name, this day is the heart of who we are. 

A Prayer for Our School 

Mary, Help of Christians, Mother of the Church and Patroness of Australia,

We place our school, our families, and our nation into your gentle hands.

Help us to express our faith with honesty, to remain resilient in difficult times, and to be kind, reasonable, and loving in all our relationships.

Guide our students to be leaders of hope, and always wrap them in your maternal protection.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.

St Mary, pray for us.

National Sorry Day: Walking Together in Healing and Hope

The 26th May, is a deeply significant day in Australia, marking the anniversary of the landmark Bringing Them Home report being tabled in Parliament in 1997.

National Sorry Day is a time for us to acknowledge the historical injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In particular, we remember and honour the Stolen Generations—the children who were forcibly removed from their families, communities, and country. We acknowledge the ongoing pain, grief, and trauma that these actions caused, and continue to cause, for Indigenous families across our nation. As a Catholic community, our faith calls us daily to seek healing and reconciliation.

A Prayer for Healing and Reconciliation

Loving God, We pray for the healing of the Stolen Generations, and for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who carry the pain of the past. Open our hearts to listen to their stories with deep humility and compassion. Guide us as a school community to walk together in a spirit of true reconciliation, building a future grounded in justice, respect, and love for one another. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Spectacular Success at the Eisteddfod

A massive congratulations to our incredible St Mary’s School Choirs and Ms McNeall for your outstanding performances at the recent Eisteddfod!

Our young performers took to the stage with pride, and their beautiful singing truly captivated the audience and adjudicators alike. The joy that radiated from the stage was a reflection of the hard work and dedication our students have put into their rehearsals over the past few months. 

A heartfelt thank you to Ms McNeall as an achievement like this does not happen by accident, thank you to Ms McNeall for your incredible dedication in preparing the choirs, your passion, endless patience, and ability to bring out the absolute best in every single child is what makes these beautiful performances possible. 

Well done to all the Choirs, you have made St Mary's incredibly proud!

Diocesan Cross Country

A congratulations to all our talented athletes who travelled to Barraba last week to compete at the ACS Cross Country events! Every single student did an amazing job representing our school. 

An extra special congratulations goes out to the children who placed in the top 6 for their respective age groups. Because of their excellent performances, they have qualified for the upcoming Polding Cross Country. The very best of luck to: Molly, Harriett, Sofia, Alex & Catalina.

Thank you to the parents who travelled to Barraba to assist and cheer on the team, and to the staff who went to Barraba.

A Special Visitor: Bishop Peter Murphy Visits St Mary’s!

Our school community was filled with excitement recently when we welcomed Bishop Peter Murphy to St Mary’s. It was a special day as the Bishop visited every grade, spending time with all our students from Kindergarten through to Year 6.

Ahead of his arrival, our classrooms were buzzing with preparation. The children had spent time reflecting on the Bishop's role as the shepherd of our diocese, and they put on their thinking caps to prepare some wonderful questions for him.  The students were eager to learn more about his life, his faith journey, and his daily work. The questions from our students ranged from deeply insightful theological wonders to delightful curiosities about a Bishop's life. 

Bishop Peter shared stories about his own life—including his background working in agriculture before answering the call to the priesthood—and gave our students advice on how they can be leaders of kindness and hope in their own lives.

Kinder Town Library Visit

Kindergarten students took their learning out into the community recently with an excursion to the town library!

Upon arriving, the children were treated to a fantastic experience by the library staff. The adventure included: Storytime, A Behind-the-Scenes Tour, Reading & Exploring.

A big thank you to the town library staff for welcoming us so warmly, and to the parent helpers who joined us to keep our little explorers safe on their walk!

Staff Development Day- Monday 25th May

On Monday, St Mary’s staff joined educators from across the Tablelands Cluster Conference on Catholic Education in the Armidale Diocese.

It was an inspiring day of professional learning, collaboration, and spiritual renewal. Our teachers engaged in keynote addresses and targeted, practical workshops designed to continuously lift student outcomes and strengthen our distinct Catholic identity.

We are incredibly grateful to the Armidale Catholic Schools Office for organising this event, and to our school community for supporting our commitment to continuous professional growth. Our teachers have returned with fresh inspiration, new strategies, and a renewed energy for the learning journeys ahead!

Important Upcoming Dates

Toys at school

We ask that students avoid bringing toys to school unless specifically requested by their teacher. Toys can easily become a distraction during class time when in pockets, may get broken or lost, and can sometimes cause disagreements between students in the playground. We appreciate families supporting this expectation and helping students keep valuable or special toys safely at home.

Semester 1 Reports 

Our teachers are beginning to collect data, completing various student assessments in preparing for this semester's reports. These reports will be on Compass parent portal in Week 10. Should you have any questions after reviewing your child's report, parent teacher interviews will be available during Week 11. 

The Semester 1 Report provides parents with an overview of their child's achievement and development in all key learning areas, as well as their level of engagement and socialinteraction.

A Community Built on Mutual Respect

At St Mary’s, the partnership between school and home is something we cherish. It is built on a strong foundation of mutual respect, safety, and a shared commitment to the wellbeing of our children.

With this in mind, we want to share an important legislative update currently being discussed at a state level that affects all school communities across New South Wales.

The Education Amendment (School Community Safety) Bill is currently before the NSW Parliament. This proposed legislation has been introduced in response to a rising trend of bullying, aggression, and threatening behavior directed toward school principals, teachers, and staff across the state.

The Bill will permit an authorised person, such as a school principal, to issue a School Community Safety Order against a parent, carer, or adult visitor in specified circumstances. This legal measure is designed to act as a protective shield, ensuring that schools remain safe, secure, and respectful environments for staff to teach and children to learn.

We are deeply grateful that when our families have queries or concerns, you approach us to address them in a positive, collaborative, and constructive manner. By always keeping the best outcomes for our children at the heart of the conversation, we ensure our school remains a place care and learning.

Contacting Your Child's Teacher

Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 67772 4441 or email the school at smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au.

Kindergarten 2027 Enrolments Now Open!

We're now accepting enrolment applications for Kindergarten 2027! If you're interested in joining St. Mary's School, please complete the enrolment form online. https://stmarysarmidale.catholic.edu.au/

We look forward to hearing from you!

LET'S GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN 2027

 Online Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2027.  

through Compass and the school website

Attendance: Every Day Counts

Consistent attendance is the cornerstone of academic success. We ask that all students aim for 100% attendance unless prevented by illness. If your child is absent, please ensure the school is notified via the office or our portal by 10:00 am. If you are unable to notify the school prior to 10am you will receive an sms reminding you to explain your child's absence.

School Hours & Supervision

Teachers commence duty at 8:20am and finish at 3:10pm if not on an afterschool duty.

Rusden Street Door Opens at 8:20am when supervision begins.

School starts: 8:50am 

Recess: 10:50am – 11:30am

Lunch: 1:30pm – 2:10pm 

School finishes: 3.10pm.