From the Principal...
Welcome Back to Term 3!
Can you believe we're already in Term 3? The year is flying by! We've kicked things off with an incredible start thanks to our students' AMAZING Wakakirri performance. Congratulations to the whole Wakakirri team — what a brilliant display of teamwork, creativity, and fun!
A big thank you to the staff who supported and guided our performers: Mrs Augustine, Miss Gabrio, Mrs Harley, Mrs Wells, Mrs Aiken, Mrs Crowe, Mrs Payne, Mr Augustine, and Miss McInerney. We’re so proud of everyone involved! You can read more about Wakakirri in Mrs Augustine’s update later in the newsletter.
Religious Literacy Assessment – Year 4
On Monday, our Year 4 students completed the Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA). This is a Diocese-wide online assessment that focuses on what students have learned in Religious Education from Kindergarten to Year 4. The results help us understand our strengths and identify areas for growth. Well done to our Year 4s for approaching the assessment with such maturity!
100 Days of Kindergarten!
What a fantastic day we had on Wednesday celebrating 100 Days of Kindergarten! Our littlest learners dressed up as 100-year-olds, and they looked adorable!
Thank you to all the Kindergarten parents and carers who joined us for a special prayer and some fun, hands-on activities. After lunch, Kindergarten teamed up with their Year 4 buddies for more celebrations — it’s always such a joy to see these friendships grow.
Year 2 Excursion
Year 2 had such a great time on their excursion to the Rail Museum at Thirlmere yesterday. We saw old mail trains that delivered letters across the country, we saw a carriage for a race horse, and another that delivered biscuits! We learned all about the jobs people had on trains in the olden days, but our favourite part was going for a ride on the steam train and hearing the whistle blow, TOOT, TOOT!
Mary MacKillop Feast Day
Today we celebrated the Feast Day of Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop.
We began the day with a beautiful liturgy attended by our parents and carers — thank you to those who were able to join us. Throughout the day, each grade will take some quiet time to reflect on Mary MacKillop’s life and legacy, with a special liturgy prepared by our wonderful Year 4 team.
God of compassion, God of all people, we praise you for your servant, Mary MacKillop, who gave her life to serve you in the poor and oppressed.
As she is honoured in our world, may we continue to learn to share her vision.
Help us to recognise, as she did, that the poor of our time will hear the gospel in the way we serve them. Be with us as we strive to follow her and carry out our mission of service and care. Amen
Building Update
We’re excited to share that Year 5 & 6 building of our building project is expected to be finished by the end of this term!
As part of this work, the carline shelter and seating near the main entrance have been removed to make way for a brand new and improved entry into the school. While we’ve had some wet and windy weather lately, which has made things a little tricky, we’re doing our best to keep things running smoothly.
You may have also noticed some lovely improvements around the school grounds! The team from Greenworx has been helping with garden clean-ups, rubbish removal, laying new turf and sprucing up existing areas. The school is looking better every day!
Thank you for your patience and support as we continue to improve our school for our students and families.
New Assembly Format – Term 3
Thank you to all the parents and carers who provided feedback through the recent Tell Them From Me survey. Taking your suggestions (and those of our staff) on board, we’re trialling a new format for our Whole School Assemblies this term.
Assemblies will now be held on Friday mornings in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, and will take place in the School Hall.
Each assembly will include a focus on prayer and reflection, birthday celebrations, student awards, PB4L presentations and showcasing student learning from Kindergarten to Year 6.
All parents and carers are warmly invited to attend. If your child is receiving a Blue Award, you’ll receive an email notification in advance.
We’ll be asking for feedback on this new format at the end of the term to help us plan for the future.
New Uniform Proposal
Thanks to those parents/carers who have given feedback on the proposed new uniform. This survey has also been shared with staff and our students from Years 3-6 for their thoughts/opinions.
A couple of points for clarification:
-There is a GIRLS and BOYS uniform that is all year round, this is listed on the document sent as GIRLS Uniform and BOYS Uniform. There are then optional extras for winter. E.g. The skirt for girls worn all year round, with an option for pants in Terms 2 & 3. Essentially meaning we have gone away from a compulsory summer and winter uniform to one compulsory uniform all year round, with optional extras.
-As mentioned, the new uniform will be integrated over a three-year period. Therefore there would be no expectation our current Years 3, 4 or 5 students move into the new uniform if parents/carers did not wish them to do so.
-There is intentionally no ties (for boys or girls) in the proposed new school uniform.
-There will also be a school bag update, this was not sent out in the documentation. Please find below a photo of the updated school bag.
Should you wish to give feedback please complete the STM NEW UNIFORM FEEDBACK form by Monday 11 August at 8:30am.
Wishing the STM community a safe and happy weekend.
Mrs Melissa Vella