Newsletter Term 1 Week 1 - Friday 31st January 2025

Dear Families, 

Every new year brings its own energy and excitement. I am hopeful that this year will be full of opportunities and blessings for us as we learn and grow together.  

Today, our new Parish Priest Father Neville popped in to say “hi” and meet our staff and students. Fr Neville is originally from the Northern Province of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Fr Neville came to Australia in 2002 and began his ministry as a Chaplain to the Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil community, who lived in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In February 2009 Neville was warmly welcomed to the Diocese of Ballarat. During his time in our diocese he has worked in Camperdown, Mildura, Horsham, Hopetoun, Warracknabeal and Nhill. We look forward to getting to know more about Neville and how he can support our school. Please join us to celebrate our beginning year Mass next Friday with Father Neville.

It was wonderful to welcome 121 new and returning students and to witness their enthusiasm for the new year. Our new foundation students are settling into life as St Mary’s students. We extend a warm welcome to our Foundation students -  Sadie, Iliza, Louis, Rigby, Maggie, James, James, Oscar, Lola, Ari, Denver, Holly, Maggie, Helena, Jasper and Alejandro.

We also welcome Corina, Jemima, Lucinda and Hamish in other year levels across the school.    

During the first few weeks of this term, students will be focusing on ‘connections’. This  means that we intentionally provide learning that focuses on building positive relationships, understanding desired behaviours, strengthening a sense of collaboration and helping students feel that they belong. We operate on the premise that a sense of belonging, connection and psychological safety is vital in order to optimise learning for all. 

We have a highly skilled team of educators and administration staff. It is an absolute privilege to work alongside this team each day. 

Our staff team for 2025

Junior Learning Community 
Teachers - Jo Price and Julieanne Pender  
Learning Support - Lorna Dunmore, Rachel Chaffey and Grace Dunmore

Middle Learning Community 
Teachers - Ben O’Loughlan, Georgia Fleming, Gabby Cunningham and Linda Lyons
Learning Support - Di Cunningham and Jocelyn Oddie 

Senior Learning Community
Teachers - Toni Stockwell, Helen Kirkpatrick and Simon Edge 
Learning Support - Geraldine Stokes, Jo Rigby and Jocelyn Oddie 

Specialist Teachers
Linda Lyons (Art), Gabby Cunningham (Physical Education and Science), Roxanne Leed and Helen Kirkpatrick (Chinese)

Administration
Jess Praag

Business Manager
Jane Pola

Maintenance
Luke Preston

Leadership Team
Jo Price, Toni Stockwell, Ben O’Loughlan

Principal
Roxanne Leed 

Thank you to all for your endeavours to ensure such a smooth start for our students. I am very aware of the energy it takes to support young people to get used to new routines, people and experiences. I am  impressed with the care taken by some of our students as they support younger students at St Mary’s. 

To encourage the most successful outcomes for students at school, it is vital to establish positive home / school partnerships. We encourage parents to feel welcome to make an appointment with your child’s teacher, should you wish to discuss your child’s learning or social emotional development. 

I offer this prayer by Vinita Hampton Wright as we enter the new year.

God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly,
thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others,
mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.

May we walk gently.
May we speak only after we have listened well.
Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently,
aware that you have endowed, every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose.

May we regard the world with tenderness.
May we honour rather than destroy.
Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully,
willing to hope laugh dance and dream,
Remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come.
May we welcome your lavish love.
May we cast off the small, vindictive voice our fears make.
May the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.
Amen.           

Every blessing for the year ahead.
Roxanne Leed
rleed@smararat.catholic.edu.au 

SUNSMART POLICY
It is compulsory that students wear hats in Terms 1 & 4 for any outside activities. New students receive a free hat from the office when they start at St Mary's. All other hat purchases are $10 (cash only).

DROP OFF AND PICK UP POINTS

Students are able to enter the school grounds via the ramp on Moore Street. The gate will be open at 8.30am and children will be supervised in the yard from this time.

At the end of each day, students are dismissed from the Davey Hub. Parents are able to meet children either in The Hub or on the grass/decked areas. We would like to remind all parents to be especially careful when dropping off and picking up your children. Please refrain from double parking in Moore Street and take care when backing out of car spaces to ensure the safety of all children.

SCHOOL ACCESS

If you are visiting the school between 9.00am and 3.00pm you are requested to enter through the office.

OFFICE HOURS
Monday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Tuesday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Wednesday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Thursday 8.30am - 4.00pm
Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm

FOUNDATION REST DAYS

A reminder that Wednesdays in Term One are Rest Days for our Foundation students. These will be each Wednesday up until the Labour Day public holiday, when students will be at school full time (from 12th March).

TERM 1

WEEK 2
Wednesday 5th February
Foundation Rest Day

Friday 7th February
Opening Mass @ 9.30am

WEEK 3
Wednesday 12th February
Foundation Rest Day

WEEK 4
Wednesday 19th February
Foundation Rest Day

WEEK 5
Wednesday 26th February
Foundation Rest Day

WEEK 6
Wednesday 5th March
Foundation Rest Day

WEEK 7
Monday 10th March
Labour Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 12th March
Foundation students at school

WEEK 8
Thursday 20th March
School Photo Day

WEEK 10
Friday 4th April
Last Day of Term 1
Early finish @ 2.15pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students over the school holidays in January

Enoch C, Amelia P, Rafferty B, Ari K, Willow K, Phoebe H, Libby H, Denver K, Ted B

This week's student birthdays

Isabelle P, Alejandro W, Iliza B, Tanner W

Congratulations to Theo who completed his Sacraments of Initiation during the holiday break. What a great milestone.