Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the 2023 school year at St Mary’s. After a much needed break, our amazing staff have been working hard to prepare their classrooms and create engaging learning experiences for their students. As is always the case, our wonderful students have settled back into school well and are very happy and content.
Kindergarten
With the help of their parents, teachers and Year 6 buddies, our new Kindergarten students have literally launched into ‘Big School’. This year we revamped our School Buddy program and it is proving to be very successful. Watching the older children care and support their little buddies is very special and something we treasure at St Mary’s.
We welcome our new Kinder parents and hope you feel the sense of belonging and family that epitomises our small school. Mrs Genevieve Schofield and our support staff are doing an amazing job with the little ones. Wednesday’s Rest Days are as necessary for Mrs Schofield as they are for the children!
New students and families
We make a special welcome to our other new students and their families. Aria, Delilah, Olivia, Xavier, Alex, Charlotte and Charlie have settled in well and have become important members of our school community. We are very proud of the way our ‘old’ students welcome and look after our ’new’ students. We welcome all of our new parents and grandparents and hope to see you at school and at our upcoming school functions.
School Staff 2023
Leadership Team
| Parish Priest | Father Anthony Riosa |
| Principal | Mrs Noeleen O’Neill |
| Assistant Principal | Mrs Sue Heffernan |
| Religious Education Coordinator | Mrs Genevieve Schofield |
| Coordinator | Mr Justin Bateman |
Teaching Staff
| Kindergarten Blue | Mrs Genevieve Schofield |
| Year 1 Blue | Mrs Jessica White |
| Year 2 Blue | Mrs Carla Durnan |
| Year 2 Maroon | Mrs Frances Devonald |
| Year 3 Blue | Mrs Alicia Hampson |
| Year 3 Maroon | Ms Allison Lock |
| Year 4 Blue - Monday - Tuesday | Mrs Sophie Kenny |
| Year 4 Blue - Wednesday - Friday | Mr Justin Bateman |
| Year 5 Blue | Mrs Megan Grant |
| Year 5/6 Maroon | Mr James Campbell |
| Year 6 Blue | Mr Matthew Harpley |
| Learning Support Teacher | Mrs Jo-Anne Matthews |
| PDHPE | Mr Paul Hill |
| Art | Mrs Wendy Hackett |
Support Staff
| Finance/Admin | Mrs Annette Hazell |
| Admin | Mrs Cathy Smith |
| Learning Support Assistants | Mrs Shellie Butler, Mrs Janet Ryan, Mr Dom Ziino, Ms Mikaela Macnamara and Mrs Brooke Connaughton |
| IT Support | Mr Damien Hughes |
| Canteen Manager | Mrs Hayley Van Weerdenburg |
| School Counsellor | Ms Faith Costigan |
Meet the Teacher Meetings
Next Monday February 13 and Tuesday February 14, teachers will be available for individual parent/teacher meetings before and after school hours. This will give parents a chance to talk with their child's teacher and discuss their child’s learning goals for the semester. We understand how busy families are but we really hope all of our parents take up this opportunity. If you prefer a phone call, please let your child's teacher know. Bookings are made through COMPASS. If you have any difficulties, please let your child's teacher know.
Opening School Year Mass, Family Picnic and Special School Assembly - Year 6 Student Leadership Induction and Kinder Welcome
Thursday February 16 will be a big one at St Mary’s! At 12:30pm the whole school will be attending our Opening School Year Mass at the Sacred Heart Church. We invite our parents, friends and grandparents to join for Mass. Following Mass, we will be having our first Family Picnic on the Front Lawns (1:30-2pm). After lunch, we will be hosting our first Whole School Assembly in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) at 2pm which will incorporate a Kinder Welcome and a Year 6 Student Leadership induction ceremony. Parents are asked to bring along a picnic rug and food and drink for their families. Those children whose parents are unable to make it will also join in with their teachers and friends.
School Fees Remissions
In the next couple of weeks, Term 1 school fees will be sent home. We understand that the last few years have impacted many of our families and we do not wish to add any additional stress upon you in regards to school fees. We offer School Fees Remissions for our families experiencing financial difficulties. It is important however, that parents make early contact with Mrs Hazell or me personally so we can assist you with the remission application. This is a highly confidential process.
Little Investigators Playgroup
We are very excited to be able to re-open our amazing Little Investigators Playgroup for children 0-5 and their parents. Mrs Brooke Connaughton and Mrs Sue Heffernan will coordinate the playgroup each Tuesday from 9-11am.
Playgroup begins on Tuesday 21/02/23 (Week 4).
Please spread the news in the local community. Our Playgroup is open to all families, not only those with children enrolled at St Mary's. It is offered at no cost to families. Please see our flyer at the end of the newsletter in Community Notices.
Facebook
Remember to keep an eye on our Facebook Page. We use Facebook to share many of the fabulous things happening everyday at St Mary’s with our parents, friends, grandparents and community members. It is especially great for grandparents who live at a distance.
Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. We look forward to having a close partnership with all of our families.
Noeleen O’Neill
Principal
"We must teach more by example than by word." ~ Saint Mary MacKillop