Dear Parents and Carers, 

This week, we see the end of our first semester, as the winter weather settles on us with its blustering winds, cool temperatures, and a little more rain. I thank many of our parents who have braved the cool mornings and cooler nights to attend Parent Teacher Interviews. Attending interviews and developing a positive relationship with your child’s teacher supports your child’s education. When you received your child’s report last Friday on Compass, you will have noticed that the reports were quite different from past years. The new reports reflected the new English and Mathematics Syllabus’, we hope the reports have given you insight into your child’s learning. 

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Showcase was a great success this week, with Year 6 students actively involved in preparing and serving a variety of products. The range of items available for purchase, from frittatas to honey jumbles, dried citrus, herbs, flowers, relishes, and jams (especially made by Kitchen Guru Jodi's mum), highlights the whole ‘paddock-to-plate’ experience. The enthusiasm and pride of the students in assisting customers was evident in their big smiles, showcasing their involvement and enjoyment in the event. Our Kitchen Garden fosters a great sense of service and sense of community. Enormous thanks to our Kitchen Garden team; Jodi Donnelly, Anneliese Robinson, and Anna Sim, we are so lucky to have such a dynamic and clever team working with our students. 

Last Monday we had a panel of colleagues from the Sydney and Parramatta Diocese to complete the Cyclic Inquiry Process at St Mary’s. The panel was astounded by the beautiful grounds and facilities we are so blessed to enjoy every day, they were impressed by the sense of welcome and belonging and the strength of the school community. A big thank you to our parents who spoke to the panel on the day, sharing their views and experiences of being part of our school community.

Part of that wonderful sense of belonging is showing you belong to our team by wearing our school uniform with pride. Often we see students wearing something they feel like rather than the uniform that has been agreed upon by the school community. Sometimes our students do not fully understand how fortunate they are to be attending school, and to have a school uniform. The following story was shared by a teaching colleague recently:

‘When I worked in Tanzania, the day the students received their uniforms was literally the happiest day of the year. These families live way below the poverty line with no electricity or running water and their homes barely have the basics. Yet the children march out in uniform singing, proud of what it stands for and the parents are in tears as they envisage the future for their little treasures.’ Please share this video with your children, it may help give some perspective on just how fortunate they are. School of St Jude 

Next semester we welcome back Mrs Ashleigh Hedger, who is returning part-time from leave. We are pleased to share the news that Mrs Hedger will be teaching in the Year 2 class on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Miss Tegart teaching the rest of the week. Miss Tegart will also be teaching Performing Arts - Music on Tuesdays for all classes, in addition, Mrs Collins will be teaching the Dance and Drama Syllabus. These classes will support our school production next term.

Next week is NAIDOC Week across the country, “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud” is this year’s theme honouring the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations cultures – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

NAIDOC Week is an invitation for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. It also celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced. We are so blessed at St Mary’s to have Uncle Phil Butler walking with us and sharing culture, please join us on Thursday 25 July at 9:45am for our own school NAIDOC Celebration.

Please stay safe over the holidays and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 23 July 2024. 

Yours in Partnership,
Laurinda Nelson