Dear Parents and Carers, 

This reflection was shared by our Director Peter Hill, as we approach Mother’s day I thought it was worth sharing with our school community. 

‘A world that looks to the future without a mother’s gaze is shortsighted.’

Pope Francis, January 2019

The intricate art of mothering is fulfilled by many in our midst: mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, foster mothers, some fathers and ‘mother figures’ in our lives. We turn to them for unconditional love, comfort and hope. Mothering is intrinsically the work of the heart - an outpouring of love that finds its way to us when we need it most.

Over the past two years, the unfolding challenges have highlighted our yearning for the unique qualities that only our mother's gaze brings. It is our mothers we turn to for solace, support and guidance.

Images of mothers around the globe, across our nation and within our very own communities have reminded us of these gifts in the most pronounced ways. We witnessed mothers driving children to safety; sitting on ash covered beaches singing songs of comfort to their children and assisting in crisis centres during the bushfires. We observed mothers navigating their way through two years of a global pandemic, doing their utmost to keep their family safe; juggling homeschooling and work, walking through their neighbourhoods with their children hunting for teddy bears and meeting newly born grandchildren via facetime. In recent weeks we have seen mothers during the flood crisis sitting on rooftops consoling their children as they await rescue; leading the clean up of the homes in their local areas and giving support to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Collectively, we bear witness to the heroic nature of mothers and their ability to read the needs of their children in the spirit of selflessness, pragmatism, humility and enduring love. During this time of reflection and celebration of mothers, we turn our gaze to the ultimate role model of motherhood – Mary.

As a young mother, Mary found herself in a deeply challenging situation as she and her family fled Israel as refugees, with the very real fear that their young son would be killed. One can only imagine the inner strength that Mary would have summoned to make her journey across the desert with her newborn in tow.

In recent weeks we have observed the plight of refugee mother’s yet again, highlighted by the recent conflict in Ukraine. Haunting images of mothers fleeing conflict with their children in the dead of night, giving birth in underground basements and smuggling their offspring across borders is a story as old as time. Mothers across the globe from near and far stand in solidarity with refugee mothers in the living hope that peace, civility and above all that love will conquer.

We thank our beautiful mothers for their love which sends each of us on our way through life, even when they are gone from our lives, their love continues to support us and carry us through the highs and lows of life. My hope is that all mothers are treated with kindness and gratitude this Mother’s day and that every child grows to know and appreciate  the power of a Mother’s love. 

Happy Mother’s Day 

Yours in partnership 

Laurinda Nelson

Class Merit Awards 

Kinder – Stevie-Mae D, Evie L, Adhya M

Year 1 – Isaac G

Year 2 – Goldie D, Arlo S

Year 3 – Alexander B, Bryn S

Year 4  - Phoebe H, Lexi L. 

Year 5 – Georgie D, Anika D 

Year 6 – Finn B, Gage L

Super Star Awards for Week,   

We Care For Our Learning-

Parker G, Bowie M, Evie P, Bryn S, Georgie A, 

Sadie N,  Arabella B,  Mila L,  Ally S, Phoebe H, Clifford Chard, Viraj Dhillon, Banjo Field, Goldie D, Hugo A, Dundi B, Molly S, Angelo A, Jacoba F 

Principal Award 

Isabella L, Finn B, Charli P

All Stars -  Kindergarten

Thank you to all our wonderful Mothers and families for joining us today.

Arabella A ~ Molly S ~ Phoebe H ~ Joshua Mc ~ Hugo A ~ Banjo F

Cameron W ~ Fleur C ~ Adhya M ~ Andie M ~ Tilly G ~ Riley B 

Lucas D ~ Kayden L ~ Beatrice S ~ Liam R ~ Luke R ~ Harrison K

Year 1 students have been busy making a Cascade Book on a topic of interest. The books were a lot of fun to make with themes ranging from Dinosaurs to Life Underground. Year 1 can’t wait to take them home to show their parents!

Mrs McGregor

Mother’s Day has been celebrated in Australia on the second Sunday of May since 1924. But, Catholics have been celebrating a sort of mother’s day since the first few centuries of the Church. The fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetaree Sunday, traditionally was a time to return to your mother church (home parish) and leave an offering.

Those who practiced this custom were said to have gone “a-mothering”, and soon it became known as “Mothering Sunday.” As the popularity of “Mothering Sunday” grew, it became a day when domestic servants were given leave to be with their families. The day became one of the few times a year where a grown family could gather, as working families often had conflicting schedules. Once the tradition became a day for family reunion, with a reference to mothers in the name, it naturally evolved to include all mothers within the celebration. For children, the long walk back home became a time for picking flowers for mum, and this would grow to the tradition of giving gifts of all sorts to mothers.

In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary. Chosen by God above all other women, Mary’s faith and obedience paved the way for the Incarnation. Her example teaches us faith, obedience, humility and most of all, how to love. As St Thomas of Villanovaa said, “If in this world any creature ever loved God with whole heart, with whole soul, and with whole mind, she was the creature.”

“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things.

From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone.

From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God.”

ST POPE JOHN PAUL II

At the foot of the cross, her heart broke for Jesus, yet she accepted God’s will not only for her Son, but for herself in her new role as mother to us all (cf. John 19:25–27). As we honour today our earthly mothers and mother figures—including stepmothers, relatives, guardians, close family friends and those who would be mothers—let us honour our heavenly mother as well. Those devoted to her are always led to her Son. For her wise counsel tells us, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).

Important Dates

Sunday 15th May: All Sacramental candidates are encouraged to attend Mass at 9am,Ulladullaa to be presented to our parish community

Sunday 22nd May: Please join us and Bishop Brian in celebrating at Mass atUlladullaa as Fr Michael is installed as our Parish Priest.

First week back our SPLICED students participated in a whole day workshop with Mrs McGregor and John Charadia. Students worked in our delightful arts space, making headway on their projects for this year. This year's theme is Taking Up Space and we have bodies of work on philosophical thinking, war, the imagination, endangered animals, rare species of animals and more. Students will be thinking critically and creatively on their chosen topics and producing work with multiple literacies ranging from poems, narratives, articles, manifestos, stop motion and visual arts pieces including collage, lead sketches and watercolour animal profiles. 

Emily McGregor SPLICED and Year 1 Class Teacher

When the Kindergarten students arrived at school for day one of term two, they were greeted with a very happy Humpty Dumpty sitting proudly upon a new wall. The rumour was that Humpty would be sticking around for the term. However, when Kindy arrived at school on Monday of week two, they faced a crime scene, and they are now trying to work out whether Humpty fell off the wall or whether he was pushed? Our little investigators now have the task of looking at the evidence, gathering their data and deciding what happened. Will there be a suspect, or will they deem it an unfortunate accident? Watch this space.

All our students are invited to attend the 2022 Scholastic BOOK FAIR.

A huge selection of wonderful books will be on display in our Art Room (enter through the School Hall).

Friday 13th May will be Browse Day, this will give the students an opportunity to look around the Fair and make their wish lists for Shopping Day on Monday 16th May.  Eftpos facilities will be available for purchases 9:30am- 3:30pm, so parents are welcome to come along with their students' wish list and maybe do some present shopping as well. 

We still have some items of both winter and summer uniforms available here at school.

Should you wish to place an order with us here at school please call, email or drop in an order form. All orders will be processed and sent home or be ready for collection every Friday.

LOWES are now fully stocked with all items, there has been some confusion regarding items that are supposedly not available (See below)

'Note: This product is currently out of stock'. This message only relates to In Store Pick Up which is not availble for St Mary's.  

Ignore this message, select your items and Add to Cart.

This coming Tuesday, 10 May our wonderful P & F committee and Canteen staff are offering a delicious Spaghetti Bolognaise Meal Deal for only $5!

Orders with payment MUST be received by 9:00am on the day, students can drop their orders off at the Student Counter in the office.

Gluten free option available.

The talented year 5 students have set up an NRL Clinic, where they are teaching students in 3-6 NRL skills.