Newsletter 2025 Term 4 Week 3
PRINCIPAL NEWS - Mr Peter Hughes
This week we have had a dancer from the company ‘Dance Curriculum’ in Sydney taking all students for lessons. He is here for two weeks and from all reports and what I have seen the students are loving it. Following his visit we will tie all the dances together and put on a performance for our parents. We will advise parents of a date once it has been confirmed.
Today is World Teachers Day and I thank the Community Council for the cake they provided for morning tea. Schools across Australia are struggling to find teaching staff because of the increasing complexity of the role. This has been an area of focus for governments, both state and federal, for a number of years. Many schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, still struggle to get applicants when a vacancy arises. This disadvantages the education and ultimately the career options available to our students. We are fortunate to have a highly skilled staff at St Mary’s.
On Wednesday evening I attended my last Community Council meeting. I have attended these for twenty five years, so a lot of meetings. I told the members of our Community Council that it was one of the most productive and effective I had ever worked with. They get on well together, work hard throughout the year and are always thinking about ways to make school a better and more enjoyable place for the children. We have several members moving interstate next year so we are looking for new members. If you would like to join the council please let either myself or the front office know. The council meets twice a term.
Open Classrooms
These are taking place next Wednesday from 3.10pm - 5pm. Please come along and see what your child has been doing in class.
Reminders
As we continue to offer enriching experiences beyond the classroom, we kindly remind families of the importance of providing consent for events and excursions by the due date.
Timely consent is essential for several reasons:
- Student Safety: We must confirm attendance numbers to ensure adequate supervision, transport arrangements, and emergency planning.
- Logistics & Planning: Booking venues, buses, and resources depends on knowing how many students will attend. Late responses can affect the quality and feasibility of the event.
- Compliance: Schools are required to follow strict guidelines for student participation in sporting events and excursions. Without signed consent, students cannot legally attend.
- Fairness: Staff work hard to organise these opportunities. Meeting deadlines helps ensure all students have equal access and that no one misses out due to late paperwork.
We understand that life gets busy, so we encourage families to check communication platforms regularly and return consent forms as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us provide safe, exciting, and well-organised experiences for our students.
School Engagement Survey
Have your say! The new annual School Engagement Survey is launching mid-November, and you will have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences at the school as a parent or guardian and provide feedback.
Your feedback will be valuable to help us understand how to better support your child and improve our school.
The new survey has been developed with the support of JWS Research. It will take around 10-15 minutes to complete, and your responses will be kept completely confidential and only reported at an aggregate level.
You can expect the 2025 School Engagement Survey to be distributed through Compass as a News Item and push notification in the coming days! If you have any issues accessing the survey link, please contact the Catholic Education Office through Strategy.Survey@cg.catholic.edu.au
AP NEWS- Mrs Katie Thompson
Today we celebrated Day for Daniel in support of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation whose PDH Child Safety Curriculum we utilise. The story behind this foundation is that Daniel Morcombe was a 13 year old boy, living with his parents and brothers in the town of Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. While on his way to buy Christmas presents for his family at a local shopping centre, he went missing.
He was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, waiting for a bus at 10 minutes past 2pm on Sunday 7th December 2003. He was abducted and murdered; after years of searching and an incredible undercover police investigation Daniel was finally found in 2011. Daniel’s parents, Bruce and Denise started the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to give back to the community who had supported them from the day that Daniel went missing. Today, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation is one of the most well known not for profit child safety organisations in Australia. Daniel’s story changed child safety in Australia and the determination and dedication of his parents has inspired the entire nation.
The red t-shirt Daniel was wearing the day he went missing has become a symbol of child safety awareness. Every year, thousands of people dress up in red for an annual National Day of Action for Child Safety, held on the last Friday in October: Day for Daniel.
Thankyou to the students for their support of this day and their gold coin donations raised $252.30. Well done St Mary’s students.
Safe on Social - Kirra Pendergast
Incase you missed it last week, or the link did not work for you, here is the link again to the Australian Law Changes for 16 Year Olds and Under - The Student Friendly Guide. It explains exactly what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do right now to protect your content and your digital rights. It helps students, parents, and educators understand the new national minimum-age requirements for various social media platforms.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The Student Leader has decided to commence two new initiatives this term.
- An Inter-House Sports competition which is open to all students and will be held on Thursdays at lunchtime. Each week will alternate between soccer and League Tag. It is open to all students in K-6. They are hoping to build up some House Spirit and also develop support between older and younger students plus encourage modelling of good sportsmanship. The students will be playing in House teams - McCarthy, McGrath, O’Dwyer or Finnegan, and a trophy will go to the winning house at the end of the term. Students will need to sign up each week for a team on Wednesday’s at lunchtime. We are all looking forward to a great term of inter-house games.
- The student leadership team wanted the students at St Mary’s to be able to find a way to voice their suggestions for things in the school. So they have made a Suggestions Box which lives at the office. Anyone can write a suggestion on the slip provided next to the box, sign their name and class and post it in the box at the front office. The student leaders will empty the box once a week and discuss with Mrs Thompson and Mr Hughes some of the ideas. Any ideas put forward will only be considered if signed by the student.
We look forward to students getting their thinking caps on so away ……
ATTENDANCE REWARD- 1/2 Blue
As announced in the week 1 newsletter Year One/Two Blue had the highest attendance rate for Term Three, reaching an impressive 95.3%! 👏
To celebrate their commitment and consistency, the students enjoyed a well-deserved trip to the park and a refreshing ice block treat. 🌳🍧
Well done to all the students, families, and staff who helped make this possible. Keep up the amazing effort!
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
World Teachers' Day was all treats and no tricks at our school today!
Our amazing teachers were celebrated with a special treat — because they deserve nothing but the best.
Even Halloween couldn’t spook away the appreciation we have for them!
Year 1 &2 Halloween Fun
Today, Years 1 and 2 celebrated Halloween with a fun Mummy Race. Each group weregiven two rolls of toilet paper and had to create the best looking mummy. Prizes were awarded for the fastest group, the best covered mummy and the people who could collect the most toilet paper during clean up. All students had a wonderful time with lots of laughs and giggles.
CLASS AWARDS-Week 3
HENNESSY STUDENTS - Acts of Service
Over the next couple of weeks, we’re excited to welcome students from Hennessy Catholic College into our classrooms. This initiative is part of their community service program, which aligns to the College's vision is to ‘Live Spiritually, Learn Dynamically and Act Justly.
We look forward to the positive contributions they’ll make and the wonderful interactions they’ll have with our students.
YOUNG LEAGUE STARS - K-2 Gala Day
COMMUNITY COUNCIL - Christmas Tree Fundraiser
St Mary’s Christmas Tree Fundraiser
This year, St Mary’s is partnering with Hilltops Christmas Tree Farm to bring you beautiful, fresh, locally grown Christmas trees and help raise funds for our school.
Tree prices are as follows:
5ft tree: $80
6ft tree: $100
7ft tree: $120
A % of sales from each tree sold will go to the St Mary’s Community Council to support projects and initiatives at the school.
Families are also invited to attend the Grand Opening at Hilltops Christmas Tree Farm on Saturday 22 November, 5-7pm. See flyer below in the Local Community Events for further information.
When you order your tree through the school, you’ll have the chance to choose and tag your own tree at the Grand Opening.
If you can’t attend the Grand Opening, a tree of your selected size will be chosen for you.
Tree Collection
Trees can be collected on Friday 5 December between 4 and 5pm from the school basketball court.
Orders close on Thursday 20th November.
Please place your order using the links provided below.
For any questions, contact Hilltops Christmas Tree Farm on Facebook or Instagram at @hilltopschristmastreefarm.
Local Community Events
Saver Plus is a free matched savings and financial education program designed to support families on a low income. Participants can receive up to $500 to help cover educational expenses.
Eligibility Criteria:
To participate, individuals must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
- Receive an eligible Centrelink payment
- Have a child in school (or starting next year), or be studying themselves
- Have a regular income (from paid work, child support, carers' payment, or cash-in-hand)
- Be willing to join free online financial education workshops
Note: All eligibility criteria must be met.
Read MoreDiabetic Awareness and Alert Dog Program Community Event
Diabetic Awareness and Alert Dog Program Community Event
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 9:00 AM –12:00 PM @ Big W
Walking Together for Diabetic Awareness.
We invite individuals, families, community groups, and their dogs to come together for a meaningful morning in support of diabetic awareness. On Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, join us at Big W for a special event dedicated to raising awareness of diabetes and the vital role of Diabetic Alert Dogs.
Take part in our interactive store window scavenger hunt! Search for hidden letters (such as “A”) in the windows of local stores and see if you can find them all. This activity is suitable for all ages.
Don’t miss the Apple Game, which will also be held at Big W during the event. Bring your friends, family, and furry companions for a morning of games, walking, and awareness.
Find out more about Lions Assistance Dogs and their Diabetic Alert Dog Program by visiting www.lionsassistancedogs.com.au.
Read MoreHockey Royalty Comes to Young for Free Junior Clinic
Young is set to host a landmark sporting event as three of Australia’s top hockey players—Alice Arnott, Tom Craig, and Amy Lawton—arrive for a special grassroots clinic on Friday 7th November. The Hookin2Hockey Heroes Clinic, proudly presented by the Young Combined Hockey Association with the assistance of Hockey ACT, will run from 4:30pm to 6:00pm at Sawpit Gully Oval, offering local juniors a rare chance to meet and train with national champions.
The event is free for all players aged 14 years and under, and is open to new and interested players—no experience or skill required. Whether your child is a seasoned player or just curious about the sport, this is a welcoming, inclusive opportunity to get involved.
Participants will enjoy hands-on activities with the athletes, have the chance to collect autographs, and soak up the excitement of a community united by sport. To keep the energy high, the canteen will be open, and a BBQ will be sizzling throughout the evening.
Organisers encourage families to save the date and spread the word. Registration details can be found on the Young Combined Hockey Association Facebook page, with updates posted regularly in the lead-up to the event.
For more information, follow Young Combined Hockey Association on social media or contact them at youngcombinedhockey@gmail.com
