Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,

What’s On This Week

• Thursday, September 4, 2:30 p.m. – 2026 Prep Storytime

• Friday, September 5 – Father’s Day Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. followed by Mass at 9:15 a.m.

Upcoming Events

• Monday 8 & Tuesday 9 September – Flourishing Learners Conference for School Leaders

• Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 September – Year 5/6 Camp, Sovereign Hill

Around Our School

School Disco

Last Friday night’s School Disco was a huge success! A big thank you to our Parents & Friends team, especially Ebony Galizi and Karolina Wardawa, for organising such a fun event for the children. Thanks to our volunteers - Cathy Adamczyk, Grace Pante, Deana Temelkovska, Kate van Noodenne, Lauren Concessio, Leah Pepe, Leanne Sabotkoski, Marcia Powell, Melissa Fenech, Stella Kyriakou, Kimberley Lerch, Anna Randell, Carey Dewerson, Courtney Stubberfield, Geraldine Di Natale, Laura Montebello, Liz Sarkady, Mireille Constantine, Shejne Kapitelli, Sophie Carter, Fatima Serafino, Diem Hoang, Elise De Losa and Jacqui Trethowan

Maths Program Visit

On Monday, we welcomed staff from another school who came to see our Explicit Maths Program (EMP) in action. This program currently runs from Prep to Year 2 and is receiving a lot of interest from other schools. In 2026, EMP will extend into Year 3, and over time it will expand across all year levels in our school.

Flourishing Learners Conference

Next Monday and Tuesday, school leaders from across Catholic schools will gather for the first-ever Flourishing Learners Conference on explicit instruction in schools. This sold-out event will host more than 1,400 participants. We are privileged to hear from internationally recognised education experts including Dylan Wiliam, Tom Sherrington, Emina McLean, Dr Nathaniel Swain, and Bron Ryrie Jones.

Year 5/6 Camp

Next week, our Year 5/6 classes head off to Sovereign Hill and Adekate Camp. We thank our teachers for their dedication in preparing this wonderful learning experience, and we wish everyone good weather and safe travels.

Second-Hand Uniform Shop

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Amanda and Diem, who have been doing a wonderful job managing the Second-Hand Uniform Shop. However, as Amanda’s time at our school comes to an end later this year, we are seeking a new volunteer to take on her role. Amanda is keen to do a handover before the year finishes, so if you are interested, please contact the school office.

MACSSIS Surveys

All families should by now have received an invitation to complete the annual MACSSIS survey. We are aware there has been a small issue with PINs, and we are working to resolve this.

This year, there has been a change to how the survey is distributed. In previous years, only around one-third of families were randomly selected to take part. Now, the survey is being sent to all families.

In the past, participation numbers were low, which made it difficult to gather meaningful data. By opening the survey to everyone, we are hopeful of receiving a much broader range of responses that will give us valuable insights into the experiences of our school community.

Bayfit Promotion.

Don’t forget, this is the final week to take advantage of the Bayfit promotion for our school community. Thank you to those who have signed up for the 6 months for $299 deal. The school will receive a $100 donation for every sign up.

Father’s Day Breakfast & Mass

We look forward to celebrating our dads, grandfathers, and special friends at the Father’s Day Breakfast this Friday at 8:00 a.m., followed by Mass at 9:15 a.m. This is always a special occasion in our school calendar, and we warmly invite all families to join us in giving thanks for the wonderful role fathers and father figures play in our lives.

Our Father’s Day Stall was a great success last Friday, with students excited to choose gifts for their dads and special people. A huge thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers for making it such a fun and lively event on our school calendar. Thank you to Angela and Cam McCulloch and their wonderful team of volunteers - 

St Mary of the Cross. Pray for us

Anthony

St Mary’s Faith News

 School and Parish Connections

Gospel: Luke 14: 1, 7-14

All who exalt themselves shall be humbled and all who humble themselves shall be exalted

On a Sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.

New Front Office Display

Crosses from Around the World

We have now collected about 6 crosses - Thank you to everyone who has donated a cross

If you have a cross from your travels – whether from overseas or within Australia – that you would like to donate, we would be honoured to include it. The crosses will be thoughtfully displayed on the wall beneath the mounted monitor in the front office.

We look forward to creating an inspiring and meaningful space that invites contemplation, discussion and reflection for all who visit.

Thank you for helping us bring this idea to life.

Wednesday Morning Masses

As part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing the spiritual life of our students, each class has been taking turns to attend the Wednesday morning Parish Mass at 9:15am.

The response from teachers has been positive. The children have been able to connect with parishioners and pay attention to rituals that they have been taught in class.

Moving in to term 3, we warmly invite parents and carers to join their child’s class on the day they are rostered to attend.

You may receive an email invitation or a paper invitation, so please check emails, children’s reading folders or take heed of your child’s verbal invitation.

This is a beautiful opportunity to come together in prayer and strengthen our connection as a school and parish community.

We encourage you to check when your child’s class will be attending the Wednesday Mass.

We look forward to welcoming you to this special part of our faith life.

During this Mass you are welcome to sit with your child, but we ask that you join us as a class - so please come along and sit with us at Mass.

Term 3 Masses

At the weekend family Masses, families sit together. Children who are reading are encouraged to sit with their family near the front of the church and ideally to have the reader sit in the aisle seat.

Winter Interschool Sports Tops

Now that our Interschool Sports have concluded for the year, please kindly ensure that any St Mary's tops are returned to school, washed and folded. Thank you for your consideration.

Division Athletics

Next Thursday 11th September, three of our St Mary's students will be competing in the Hobson's Bay Division Athletics Finals at Newport Athletics Track. We wish Will Trethowan, Ava Matina and Eloise Pante all the best for their events!