Dear families,

Our shared liturgy today in the church was a great way to gather as a Catholic community, remembering the events of Holy Week as we head into the Easter holidays.

The liturgy, beautifully and prayerfully arranged by Mr Freeman and presented by our student community, provided reflective space to ponder how the events of Holy Week affect us and our interactions with family, friends and the wider community.

We later gathered for our Easter raffle. Thank you to our P&F who organised the prize packs and to our parent community for the donations. We had over 70 prizes. 

We were also presented with a cheque from the P&F president, Adele, for $52,500. Thank you so much for your generosity and to Katarina, the P&F grants officer for securing extra grants which contributed to this amazing amount. We have spent some of the money completing the tram renovations last year. We will also be purchasing some LEGO Education kits for students to use during STEM classes and some new equipment for the playground.

The sale of our Hot Cross Buns fundraiser also raised money for the Royal Children’s Hospital. 

It’s been a big term for learning at St Mary’s; especially for our Preps and new staff. It’s also been a great term of learning for all students and staff as we continue to explore the Science of Learning. Our Prep and Junior teachers and students have made enormous gains in their phonics understanding with the implementation of UFLI. I am impressed by the way our students are not only putting words together to read and spell, but they are also able to explain how sounds are pronounced and why certain sounds belong together.

I thank our new staff for the faith and trust they have shown in the programs and processes we have in place and for their openness to give things a go and also the expertise in the craft of teaching they have brought with them and shared with their new colleagues. It’s always exciting to learn new ways of doing things from each other and coming up with a great mix of old and new ideas to create something even better.

I wish our students and families a blessed Easter and a restful holiday.

We look forward to a choc-a-block Term 2 (see what I did there?!)

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Hobsons Bay Millennium Time Capsule Exhibition

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Our Parents and Friends have done an incredible job raising $116 for the Royal Children's Hospital through their Hot Cross Bun sale. This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the generosity and support of our school community. 

The funds raised will go a long way in supporting the hospital's important work, helping to provide care for children in need. 

A big thank you to everyone who contributed by purchasing buns and to the Parents and Friends team for organising this wonderful fundraiser. Your efforts have made a real difference, and we’re so proud of the impact we’ve been able to make together for such a deserving cause.

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

We have SOLD half of the Trivia Night tickets and we haven't even told you about our epic raffle and auction prizes available on the night. You must attend the evening to enter raffles and auction items.




Calling out for raffle prize donations for our Trivia Night. 

 

If you're workplace or contacts are in a position to help us deliver some epic prizes we would love to hear from you. This includes redballoon vouchers, Bunnings, Dan Murphys, Endota Spa, local services, and products. 

 

All fundraising on the night will go towards school improvements.

 

Please reach out to P&F parents or email us with your donation details at  parentsfriends@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

To purchase your tickets click here.

THANK YOU to the following businesses who have kindly donated PRIZES to our TRIVIA NIGHT


                          

Please support these local businesses when considering making a purchase.

 

Thank you.

P&F Team.

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and St Mary’s is excited to be taking part!

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 and aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading.

It is not a competition; it is a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 5 September 2025.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

This year, the Challenge is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘20 years of words and wonder’ and a year of special activities. For details, follow the Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge Facebook

Since it began in 2005, more than 4.5 million young readers have taken part and together read more than 63 million books!

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge

To register your child, or for more info, please email me at blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Happy reading! 

Thanks 

Brenda lycke

Literacy Leader

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage