Dear families,

It’s been a long, cold and productive term for all.
I hope you have managed to stay cold/flu/covid-free.

Our students have worked exceptionally hard this semester and I am very proud of their (and their teachers’) efforts. 

Our Prep-2 team have very successfully embarked on the implementation of a new phonics program and the students are reaping the rewards. I joined in on part of Prep TS’s lesson yesterday and had the lovely Rory confidently correct me when I did not use my loud voice to pronounce the ‘j’ sound. 

The 3/4 students’ Term 3 inquiry unit culminated in a showcase for their peers and parents this week. The efforts they have dedicated towards their dioramas and reports have been outstanding. The time they took to recreate their animals out of plastacene and the level of detail achieved in them was fantastic.

Our 5/6 students also had the opportunity to demonstrate their scientific learning this term in a showcase. The rockets they created either independently or as a family activity were all so vastly unique and detailed. I particularly loved hearing their content knowledge as they spoke confidently to adults and each other about their creations.

Last month, we had Max, Meagan and Thomas represent St Mary’s at the Regional Cross Country event. They each ran a great race and represented our school with pride. Congratulations on making it so far.

The Parents and Friends once again held their successful Bunnings BBQ and Sausage Sizzle. A very big thanks to all who volunteered on the day and prior with purchases and an extra special mention to Vee, Jodi, Jules, Katrina and Ainsley who carried the load in the lead up and on the day. I also want to acknowledge those who donated money and came along on the day and bought a snag, sweet or ten!

We managed to raise a little over $5,500 towards our ninja equipment.

In related news, following the P&F AGM earlier this term, I am pleased to announce the following positions for the 2025-2026 P&F team:

President: Adele

Vice President: Jodie

Co-Secretaries: Kelly C and Belinda

Treasurer: Amber

Co-Treasurer: Elaine

Marketing and Communications Coordinator: Kelly M

Grants Officer: Katarina

General Committee members: Jules, Ash, Emelia, Vee, Anna, Connie

Congratulations and thank you to all the members, particularly those who have taken up an official position.

The team are always looking to expand, so if you can spare a few hours, a few times per term, feel free to contact the team at parentsfriends@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

I’ve been asked to clarify an aspect of the school uniform policy.

Children can wear any kind of coat as outerwear. Our official uniform includes two options for outerwear: puffer jackets and softshell jackets. However, children are also allowed to wear any other coat that they prefer during colder weather, regardless of colour.

I am thrilled to announce that I received official word from MACS’ Director, Ed Simons, that we have secured another $1.1M toward our upcoming building project. This means we will now have $3.5 million to allocate towards the first Stage of our master plan.

Thank you to the parents who have submitted their opinions via the survey shared by Kennedy Nolan. The team have commenced working on ideas for the project and I am looking forward to sharing updates with you all as they progress.

Wishing our students a well-deserved break after a long and busy term.

Have a great break from school routines,

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Thanks to the Junior School Council’s initiative, Monday’s casual clothes day raised nearly $300. It was great to see students getting involved and supporting such a fun cause. This is a great start toward reaching our goal of purchasing the first piece of Ninja equipment for our school. We’re excited to see what creative ideas our JSC comes up with next to keep the momentum going. Well done to everyone who participated, your efforts are helping to make our school even more amazing!

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

We are proud to share that our very own Sonia Riccardi and Kate Haywood have been nominated for the esteemed Australia’s Best Teachers Award, a recognition that celebrates outstanding educators who go above and beyond in their commitment to students.

This award honours the unseen heroes of education, teachers who work with passion and dedication each day to inspire, innovate, and elevate the learning experience. Often working behind the scenes, they shape the minds and futures of young people through their quiet yet powerful influence.

We thank all those who have supported this nomination, and most importantly, we recognise Sonia and Kate for their exceptional contributions to education in Australia. Their work continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of children, and we are incredibly proud to have them as part of our St Mary’s community.

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

At St Mary’s, we believe that prayer should be a language of the heart — and one that is accessible to all. That’s why we’re excited to share our journey toward learning Auslan  (Australian Sign Language), prayers beginning with the Lord’s Prayer.

Learning how to sign prayers in Auslan is more than just learning signs — it’s about fostering empathy, inclusion, and connection within our school and wider community. By teaching our students to sign the Lord’s Prayer, we are:

• Creating a welcoming environment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing members of our faith community,
• Encouraging awareness and respect for different forms of communication
• Deepening our spiritual lives by expressing prayer in a new and meaningful way
• Engaging students in hands-on, expressive learning that reflects Gospel values of love and inclusion.

This term, every class at St Mary’s is working hard to learn how to sign the Lord’s Prayer in Auslan. From our youngest learners to our senior students, we are embracing this beautiful language as a way to bring our prayers to life — with our hands, our hearts, and our faith.

Click on this link for  a short video of the Lord’s Prayer performed in Auslan, so as to include our wider community to join us in learning and practicing this beautiful prayer at home.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to see our students share their Auslan prayers with the wider school community!

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

We are excited to invite you to the second workshop in our Parent Workshop Series, taking place on Tuesday, August 5th, during Term 3 and titled “Big Feelings, Brave Responses”.

This session will begin with a brief recap of our first workshop, Understanding Anxiety in Children, before exploring the topics of Self Regulation and Strengthening Connections.

We are delighted to welcome back Elaine O’Connor, Occupational Therapist, who will guide us through practical, evidence-based strategies that parents can use to support their children during challenging times.

Parents who attended our previous session found it highly valuable, and we’re pleased to continue deepening our understanding of this important topic with Elaine’s expert guidance.

The presentation will once again be FREE for St. Mary’s parents and child minding will be offered for St. Mary’s students.

Details:

Parent Workshop: Big Feelings, Brave Responses

Date: Tuesday 5th August

Time: 6:30 - 8pm

Location: Upstairs in the TRI Centre

Remember to register your interest via the Operoo note sent out this week or email me directly, noting how many adults will attend and whether you require child minding services. 

We look forward to seeing you there.



Warm Regards
Marg Masseni
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

All food and drinks are purchased at the bar. 
No nibbles are allowed in the venue this year, please eat before the event. Come dressed to impress 80s-90s style if you wish! Otherwise, smart casual. Spot prizes for best dressed.

You'll need to attend the evening to enter raffles and auction items.

All fundraising on the night will go towards school improvements.

To purchase a ticket, please select a table with spare seats. 

Purchase your tickets by clicking 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

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage