Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to our school year. I trust everyone has had a restful break and that you are now all enjoying the return to school schedules. It has been a wonderful start to the year, with all classes settled and ready for learning. I would like to acknowledge the work of my staff in being in the classrooms well before the return of students to ensure that the learning spaces are bright, inviting and inspiring learning. As the students had all had an orientation with their teacher last year, hopefully as they stepped into a new class there was more excitement than anxiety. I have already noted some fantastic work from many classes. 

On Tuesday, we joined with the school community to welcome our beautiful new Kindergarten class for 2023. There is nothing like watching the smiling faces of parents and new Kindies arriving into the school for the first official day, so full of expectation and joy. Mrs Lee and Mrs Treweek had prepared a beautiful classroom with plenty of things to discover. It was wonderful to share Tea and Tissues with our new Kinder parents at the Parish Centre after the morning drop off. There were a few tears and a lot of chatter and laughter on both sides of Cork’s Lane. A big thanks to the Parish team for providing such wonderful hospitality. 

Welcome to all of our new families joining our school community in 2023. I look forward to getting to know each of you over the coming weeks. I hope St Mary’s becomes a place that feels like a second home where you all feel welcome, heard and supported. If you see a few new faces in the playground please say ‘Hi’ and extend a sense of welcome to our community. 

We look forward to welcoming our parents in for Three Stars and a Wish/ Meet and Greet next week. This is an opportunity for our staff to listen and learn from parents, as the people who know our children better than anyone else. It is important that the student is part of the conversation and the setting of goals for the year to come. 

This Friday, weather permitting, we will have our Swimming Carnival at the Milton Pool. These are always really fun days for all our students in years 1-6. It is a little bit too early for our Kindergarten children to be participating yet! Please come along and encourage your child by being present for them. A Big thanks to Mrs Reid for organizing another great Carnival Day. 

We had a really successful P and F meeting on Monday night. Thanks to the members of our community who came to lend a hand. I am pleased to welcome Sam Whittle (Ben’s Mum)  to the important role of Canteen Manager. Sam has some great ideas for the canteen and is keen to find a few volunteers to help on Fridays this term.  So if you have a spare hour or two please call the school office or respond on Facebook P and F page. 

Yours in partnership,

Laurinda Nelson