Dear Parents and Carers

It’s hard to believe that we are already at the end of Week 3. I am not sure about you, but I feel the weeks seem to pass by very quickly, especially with children’s sport on the weekend!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Mary MacKillop of the Cross, Australia’s first saint and an extraordinary woman whose legacy continues to inspire us today. At the heart of her life was a faith, a compassionate spirit, and an unshakable commitment to education and helping those in need.

Mary MacKillop believed in the power of education to change lives. In 1866, together with Fr Julian Tenison Woods, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and opened her first school in Penola, South Australia. Her mission was clear: to provide a Catholic education to children in rural and disadvantaged communities, especially those who might otherwise be forgotten. At a time when access to education was limited for many, particularly the poor, Mary worked tirelessly to build schools, train teachers, and travel across Australia to reach isolated communities. Her dedication laid the foundation for the rich network of Catholic schools we have in Australia today.

At St Mary’s, we honour Mary MacKillop’s legacy by striving to live her values: faith, compassion, resilience, and a commitment to justice and inclusion. Her story reminds us of the importance of kindness, service, and believing in the potential of every child.

May we continue to follow in her footsteps and, like Mary, “never see a need without doing something about it.”

How We Teach Mathematics at St Mary’s
At St Mary’s, we are committed to providing every student with the best possible foundation in Mathematics. We recognise that a strong understanding of mathematical concepts supports problem-solving, critical thinking, and confidence across all areas of learning.

Mathematics at St Mary’s is taught using a low variance curriculum developed by Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn. A low variance approach means that all students receive consistent, high-quality teaching of key concepts in a clear and structured way across all classes and year levels. This ensures that no matter which classroom your child is in, the essential building blocks of mathematics are being taught in the same, effective way.

Our approach is grounded in explicit instruction—a method that is both structured and systematic. As described by educational researchers Archer and Hughes (2011), explicit instruction is “an unambiguous and direct approach to teaching that includes both instructional design and delivery procedures.” In practice, this means:

• Lessons are logically sequenced and build on one another
• Teachers review previously learned content
• New concepts are clearly explained and modelled
• Students participate in guided and repeated practice
• Adjustments are made to support and extend students so that all learners are working at the right level for their needs
• Teachers provide specific feedback throughout the lesson
• Students complete independent practice to consolidate skills
• Learning is regularly assessed and reviewed

This method ensures that all students are actively engaged and supported to achieve success in Mathematics.

We also recognise that students learn at different paces and levels. That’s why we make ongoing adjustments to extend students who are ready for challenge and support those who need additional help, ensuring every child is being taught at the right level for their learning. Our goal is always to improve student outcomes and foster a love of learning mathematics.

The Mathematics curriculum includes Number and Algebra, Statistics and Probability, and Measurement and Geometry. These strands are taught with a focus on deep understanding, fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving.

For students in Years 5 and 6, we are offering opportunities to participate in an Extension Maths program, designed to challenge and further develop mathematical thinking in students who demonstrate high potential in this area.

Mathematics is a subject that empowers students to think logically, solve problems and make sense of the world around them. Through a consistent, evidence-based we aim to set our students up for success, now and into the future.

Feast of the Assumption and Grandparents Day
You’re Invited – Feast of the Assumption Mass and Grandparents’ Morning Tea Friday 15 August 9:15am. We warmly invite all parents and grandparents to join us on Friday 15 August for a special celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, one of the most significant days in our Church calendar.

Our whole school community will gather for Mass at 9:15am to honour Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to reflect on her faith and devotion.

Following Mass, we welcome you to visit your grandchild’s classroom, where students will proudly share some of their learning from the year so far.

After classroom visits, please join us for a picnic morning tea on the grass. We are so looking forward to welcoming our grandparents and special friends. We hope you can join us for this meaningful and joy-filled morning.

BOOK WEEK
We’re approaching that time again when the talk of costumes, dress ups and favourite characters are hot topic! Book Week is being celebrated in Week 5 this term. This year’s Book Week theme is “Book an Adventure”. This theme provides great scope to be imaginative with costumes. These can be as creative and diverse as you wish. Really any book character could feature with this theme. Let your child escape into the character of their choice! Our Book Parade will be held on Monday 18 August at 9am in the Hall.

PARENT EDUCATION
Catholic School Parents Australia are presenting the Parent Webinar: Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety. The webinar is designed to empower parents with practical tools and insights to support their children in managing anxiety. Presented by psychologist Karen Young, this session will explore strategies to promote wellbeing. Please refer to the flyer below for registration details. 

Blessings on your family this week.

Warm regards
Jo

Johanna Wain
Principal