Dear Parents and Carers 

It was so lovely to finally welcome our parents and carers back into our school grounds this week. It is very strange to think that it has been a year since we locked our gates and erected a safety barrier outside the hall for parent pick up. You will notice that we are no longer hand sanitising at the front gate in the mornings, children will still wash their hands before they enter classrooms. Please continue to be vigilant with keeping children home if they are unwell and thank you to our parents who continue to get COVID tests for any flu-like symptoms. 

Today our Mini Vinnies team met to elect new student leaders to lead this significant group in our school. Social Justice or working to improve the life of those that are vulnerable in our community is a crucial aspect of living as Chrisitians in our community. It is so heartening in our school to see so many of our students give up their lunchtimes to volunteer their time, we look forward to seeing what the Mini Vinnies group has planned for Project Compassion fundraising during Lent. 

Last Monday we held our P and F AGM. It was great to see so many people present at school and tune in through Zoom to contribute to building our community. We are so fortunate that we have such a dedicated group of parents who work collaboratively to connect our community and raise money to support our students. Co congratulations to the P and F executive team:

President : Jodie Lee

Vice president: Anneliese Robinson

Secretary: Tara Daly

Treasurer: Anna Sim 

Thank you to the many parents who have attended the Personal Planning Meetings for their child over the last two weeks, the staff have benefited in so many ways learning from you and your child about their hopes and learning goals.  An enormous thank you to Mrs Julie Valentini who works tirelessly in our school to ensure that the needs of every student are met. Research shows that children whose parents are actively involved in their child’s education have better academic and social outcomes. 

Next week is Harmony Week, which celebrates the diverse cultures within our community. This year’s theme is ‘Everyone belongs’. On Friday we invite all children to bring in a symbol of their cultural background, this should be suitable to share with their own class. We are lucky to have such a rich and diverse St Mary’s school community all bringing their unique gifts from their family backgrounds. 

I look forward to seeing you inside the school gates,

Yours in partnership

Laurinda Nelson