Dear Families,

It has been a relatively quiet week here at school, with our Senior students away on camp for the past three days. Despite the chilly weather in Corop, northern Victoria, our students and staff embraced the experience wholeheartedly.

Camps provide invaluable opportunities, whether it’s learning to manage time away from home, stepping out of one's comfort zone, or attempting activities and foods one has never imagined trying. These are truly unforgettable experiences that shape young people in unique ways.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to our Senior teachers, along with Tony Freeman, Cathy Sims, Brenda Lycke, and Tom Dow, for giving up time with their own families to care for our students and make this camp possible. I am also deeply appreciative of the parent community for your encouragement and feedback in supporting these experiences, especially at a time when many schools are reducing or discontinuing camps.

Monday will be a rest day for the Senior cohort and their teachers. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I look forward to hearing everyone’s stories when they return on Tuesday.

Next Friday, we will celebrate Father’s Day together. The stall will take place in the morning, followed by an early lunch before our whole school liturgy at 2pm. After the liturgy, dads are invited to spend time in classrooms before joining us for afternoon tea at 3pm in the hall.



This week, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank Isabella, one of our dedicated Camp Australia educators, who concluded her time with our school earlier this week. As a former St Mary’s student, Isabella brought a special connection to our community, and her presence has been deeply valued by both parents and students.

She has been a wonderful addition to our school, and I know she will be greatly missed, especially by the many students whose mornings and afternoons she brightened.

We wish Isabella all the very best as she embarks on the next chapter of her journey and hope she carries with her the warmest memories of her time at St Mary’s.

We are beginning to plan class structures for 2026. Accurate enrolment numbers are essential for our planning. If you are aware that your child may not be returning in 2026, please let me know as soon as possible.

Next week, families will receive an invitation to participate in the annual MACSSIS survey. This is a valuable opportunity for parents to share feedback and help us identify areas of strength and for improvement. Invitations will arrive via email with unique login details. If you don’t receive one, please contact me.

Finally, I recently came across an insightful article on the topic of children and lying. It can be confronting to acknowledge that all children, at some stage, will lie. (Trust me, I too was one of those ”Not my child” parents!). The article provides helpful guidance on how to respond and explains what lies within the bounds of normal childhood development. I’d love to hear your reflections on it.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

We’re pleased to let you know that Elaine has kindly provided a handout with key notes from her presentation. This resource includes helpful strategies and a list of recommended tools and readings for those who would like to learn more. You can explore many of these resources further by searching for them online.

We hope this handout is a valuable support for your parenting journey.
Click here to access.

Regards
Marg Masseni
Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

 ST MARY’S FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

 Event Details

 Date: Thursday, September 11
 Time: 6:30 PM (movie starts promptly)
 Venue: The Sun Theatre, Ballarat Street, Yarraville VIC 3013
 Tickets: $20 per person
 Includes a mini combo (popcorn & drink) for kids
 Seating: General admission (no allocated seats)

 Important Notes
 Parents must purchase their own tickets
 Children must be supervised by a parent/guardian for the entire movie

 [BUY TICKETS NOW]
 The Bad Guys 2

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Our upcoming Book Fair will be held from 

Tuesday 7th October until Friday 10th October.

Students will do a walk through on Tuesday 7th October through to view available books

Times for books purchasing are as follows