Dear families,

I hope all the mums in our community had a beautiful Mother’s Day last Sunday. I enjoyed spending time with many of the mums, grandmothers and even a few great grandmothers during Friday’s celebrations. What an honour to spend time with so many generations.

Earlier this week, John and I, along with members of our SAC and MACS Infrastructure members were presented with proposals from 3 architecture firms for the development of our master plan and building project. I am currently weighing up our options and hope to be in a position to make an announcement soon.

We have begun allocating funds raised in 2024. So far, we have purchased class sets of novels for our students in Years 3-6 and a class set of Chromebooks. 

We will be announcing our next purchase during next week’s assembly. This is going to be a very exciting purchase that all students will have a say in.  

Our revised Uniform policy is now available here. Our school undertook an extensive process to ensure our uniform met stakeholder approval and we are very proud of the update. If you have any questions about the policy as it is outlined here, please let us know so we can ensure the guidelines are clear for all.

Please note that all students will be expected to transition to the new full uniform by the beginning of the 2026 school year.

In last week’s eNews we announced some upcoming closure days. These days will be utilised to acquit time in lieu that staff accrue working outside of school hours. We have tried to choose a range of days and added them on to weekends or extended existing long weekends. We understand that extra closure days are not easy for many families, but this is the best way to save schools having to fund teachers for the many hours they work outside of a school day and on weekends, attending Sacraments. 

The upcoming closure days will fall on Tuesday 10 June (day after King’s Birthday) and the first Monday of Term 3, 21 July.

We are also planning a 2-day professional learning conference for our staff. We will inform families once the date is secured, but we believe it will take place in Term 3.

The campaign to find Australia’s best teacher is once again underway.

We have incredible teachers at St Mary’s and I’d encourage you all to consider nominating one of my amazing colleagues.

You can nominate here or read more in the article in today’s eNews.

Today is ESS Day around the world, when we acknowledge our dedicated Education Support staff, including Kristy and Katrina in the office. I know you will agree that our team go beyond what’s expected and keep showing up for our children day in, day out.  

Thank you all for all you do to support our students, whatever kind of day they (or you) are having. You mean the world to so many of us.

Have a glorious weekend,

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

At St Mary’s, we believe in the power of kindness to make a real difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. Inspired by the words of Mary MacKillop, "Find happiness in making others happy," we are proud to celebrate Happiness and Kindness Day (aka Yellow Day) on Wednesday, 21st May.

‘Yellow Day’ is a special occasion where our school community comes together to shine a light on kindness, compassion, and joy. A small act of kindness can create a ripple effect, spreading happiness far and wide. Whether it's offering a smile, helping a friend, or saying kind words, each action adds a drop of light into the world — and into our own hearts.

To mark this joyful day, students and staff are invited to wear a splash of yellow to symbolise warmth, optimism, and the happiness we share. The colour yellow reminds us that even the smallest gesture can brighten someone’s day.

Students have been and will continue to explore the theme of happiness and kindness in their classrooms, creating artwork, writing reflections, and sharing stories of compassion and connection. These will be proudly shared at a special Yellow Day assembly, where we will showcase the inspiring work and ideas from each class.

Following the assembly, we will enjoy lunch together as a whole school community, celebrating the friendships and sense of belonging that grow from simple, thoughtful actions.

Let’s continue to live out the message of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop by spreading happiness through our words and deeds — not just on Yellow Day, but every day.

Together, we can create a ripple of kindness that lasts a lifetime.

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

As anxiety becomes increasingly prevalent among young children, understanding its signs and effective coping strategies is crucial for parents and caregivers. 

The session focused on recognizing early signs of anxiety, understanding its causes, and implementing simple tools to help children feel calm and confident. Elaine emphasized the importance of early intervention and provided practical strategies for managing school stress, social anxiety, and other challenges. 

The workshop was well-received and so to further assist families, Elaine has generously shared a comprehensive six-page handout summarizing the workshop's key points. This resource offers valuable information and strategies for parents seeking to support their children's mental well-being.

We encourage parents and caregivers to review the handout and share their feedback. Your insights are invaluable in fostering a supportive community for children facing anxiety.

Click here to access the document.

For more information, please contact me via email at mmasseni@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Regards
Marg Masseni
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage