Dear Parents and Carers

This week we celebrated our grandparents and elders who show us wisdom and love in our lives. As we gathered to celebrate these important individuals we reflected through liturgy the inspiring figures of St Joachim and St Ann, the beloved grandparents of Jesus. Their legacy of love and faith is a beautiful reminder of grandparents' vital role in our lives. Grandparents often serve as pillars of strength in families, sharing stories, traditions, and invaluable life lessons. It was wonderful to meet so many visitors who had traveled considerable distances to be present for their children. 

As our third term comes to a close we have so many things to be grateful for, this week we have witnessed so many shining stars stepping onto the stage in our school production of Super Stan.  It gives me great pleasure to witness children sharing their creative talents and having the confidence to stand on stage in front of their peers and a large audience. Superstan was the result of countless hours of hard work by so many people, I thank our staff and in particular Mrs Daniella Cooper, Mrs Erin Chard, Miss Bridget Tegart and Mrs Glenda Johnston for their time, passion and mentoring of our cast and crew. Rehearsals began several months ago, with students learning not just their lines, but giving up their lunchtimes and learning to work as a team to bring the show to life. 

This week I have also been incredibly aware of the generosity of our Parents and Friends. A lovely meal was organised and provided on Tuesday night as well as morning tea for our grandparents on Wednesday. The generosity of spirit, time, and energy that each of you brings to our school community is invaluable. I would also like to acknowledge the Kitchen Garden team who, each fortnight share their expertise in the garden and the school kitchen bringing life skills and passion for healthy and good food. Jodi Donnelly, Anneliese Robinson and Anna Sim-Hughes worked with the children to present the Kitchen Garden Showcase Stall, with plants and delicious homemade produce, with all funds supporting our kitchen garden program. 

In Term 4 we will be back in full summer uniform. Our uniform promotes unity and strong learning attitudes in the school environment. We thank you for your support in ensuring that your child is wearing our school uniform in full every day:

• Summer Uniform: Worn fully, with sports uniform only on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Haircuts: Should be neat and presentable, avoiding extreme or carved designs.
• Shoes: Black polishable school shoes for the summer uniform, and predominantly white joggers for the sports uniform.

Have a safe and relaxing break with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 14 October.

Yours in partnership
Laurinda Nelson

Our Merit and Care Awards will be presented and acknowledged at Assembly.

Upcoming Baptism

Sophie H in Year 2 will be celebrating her Baptism into our Catholic Faith these holidays at St Patrick’s in Sussex Inlet. Congratulations Sophie. We wish you every blessing for this joyous occasion.

Blessing of the Animals

You are invited to join us for The Blessing of the Animals on Sunday 6 October, 3:00pm, at Mollymook Beach Reserve. See poster below for more information. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Cricket Stars Inspire Our Future Players!

Last month, we were thrilled to welcome some special guests to our school: Matt Gilkes (Sydney Thunder and local Ulladulla boy), Tanveer Sangha (Sydney Thunder and Australian cricketer), and Hayden Kerr (Sydney Sixers). The students were captivated as these top-level players shared their experiences and inspired the next generation of cricket stars.

With the cricket season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to register! Older students can sign up for Junior Cricket, while younger children are encouraged to join the Woolworths Cricket Blast program, designed to introduce them to the game in a fun and engaging way.

Check out the photos from the visit, and don’t forget to look for the flyer with all the details on how to register your child for the upcoming season. Let’s get ready for a great season of cricket!

Students from St Mary’s have recently undertaken an education tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $20 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.