Dear Parents/Carers,

As we enter Week 8, the end of term is fast approaching and the holidays are just around the corner. The final three weeks are filled with important events and activities, so we encourage all families to read the newsletter carefully to stay informed and avoid missing out.

On Monday, St Mary’s had the privilege of hosting two educators from COGlearn as part of our ongoing commitment to professional learning and instructional improvement. The visiting coaches worked alongside our teaching staff, offering support and constructive feedback to enhance their classroom practice. I am pleased to share that our staff demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise throughout the day. The COGlearn team expressed their admiration for both our dedicated teachers and the respectful, engaged students they encountered. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on our practice and celebrate the strengths of our school community.

On Thursday and Friday of last week I met with other principals in the region. We discussed the assessment approach that the Archdiocese are looking to mandate for Mathematics, ‘Acadience’. It was encouraging to see how closely this assessment piece aligns with the Connecting Maths Concepts (CMC) program we already teach at St Mary’s. I am confident that our students are well prepared for this assessment tool and will be able to respond effectively to the even more challenging aspects of the tests.

Last week, we warmly welcomed the Naidoo family to our school community. Avanya has joined Kindergarten, and Divya has joined Year 5. We trust you’ll enjoy your time with us and look forward to the wonderful contributions you’ll make to our school.

As outlined in the school uniform policy “For health and safety reasons boys and girls hair is to be worn tied back if longer than shoulder length. Hair adornments must be in a colour scheme that matches the uniform and kept to a minimum. Jewellery is also to be kept at a minimum.” Where the policy states “Jewellery should be kept to a minimum”, means that we request that only small sleepers or studs be worn. Dangling earrings or decorative sleepers are not permitted for safety and uniform consistency. Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining our school standards.

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins