From the Principal

As each new year begins, we take the opportunity to reassess our goals and expectations and make a commitment to ourselves as to what the new year may bring. 

This year, for myself, 13 staff and 155 students, St Mary’s College has become part of what is new for us. As our students have returned, we move into a new year at St Mary’s focusing on our Presentation touchstone of Hospitality. I can’t speak for the other new arrivals, but this touchstone is certainly alive and well in our Presentation community.

On behalf of our new people, I would like to thank you all for your warm welcome. We look forward to working with you as the year progresses to ensure we can make the most of all the opportunities our staff and students will be presented with this year. 

For the first time in my career, we have been challenged by this pandemic, which has finally made its way into our school environments in a significant way.  Our intent is to communicate with you and keep you informed as the government updates us on the way they would like to see schools operate. This is affected by day-to-day case numbers and the changing environment as the government deals with the pandemic.

Reporting a confirmed COVID-19 case to the College 

From a St Mary's perspective, we have communicated with you about the protocols fortesting and isolation. This week, Public Health has asked that the College collects essential information for the reporting of positive COVID-19 cases to the Minister for Health. As a result of this, the reporting of an absent child has changed. When reporting a student absence for a positive COVID-19 case, parents and carers are required to complete the online form on our website here. 

When reporting a student absence for any other description, including being a close contact of a COVID-19 case, please complete the regular form found in the SMC toolbox on the St Mary's College website here. 

In case you may have missed any of the communication we have sent out so far, please refer to the COVID-19 page in this edition of The Fountain. This information can also be accessed on the College website here. 

Traffic congestion

As we start our school year, we know that many parents will be dropping students off each day. There are three colleges (St Mary's, St Virgil's and Guilford Young) on our precinct and nearly 1,700 students will need to enter and exit their respective schools each day. 

I ask that parents take particular care when using the education precinct to make sure our students are safe. Please observe all traffic regulations that relate to a school precinct, especially the times allocated for parking. 

Damian Messer

Principal