Welcome to Week 4. Can you believe the amazing weather we continue to be blessed with!

Thank You for Attending Our Open Classroom Event

A big thank you to all the families who joined us on Monday for our Open Classroom event. It was a fantastic opportunity for you to see the Spelling Mastery program in action and just as importantly, to see both your child and their teacher actively engaged in learning.

As I’m sure you noticed during your visit, we are incredibly lucky to have such dedicated and talented teachers here at St Mary’s. We’re excited to continue using the Spelling Mastery program across our school in the years to come and hope to get you back in later this year for another session.

An extra special well done to our Year 2 parents, who came along thinking they were just there to observe a spelling lesson, only to find themselves joining in and completing the activities too! The feedback suggests there might be a few rusty spelling skills out there, but we loved your enthusiasm and willingness to get involved.

Mothers Day

Our Mother’s Day Breakfast and Mass was a truly beautiful and special celebration. It was heartwarming to see so many families come together to honour the incredible women in our lives.

A big thank you to our wonderful Year 1 students and staff for preparing such a beautiful Mass and for your touching performance of 'My Beautiful Mummy.' Your heartfelt singing brought smiles, and no doubt a few happy tears to many.

Celebrations and special events like Mother’s Day would not be possible without a mountain of help, support, and behind-the-scenes organising. For that, we extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who made or donated food, created the beautiful family powerpoint, fuelled us with coffee, cooked bacon and eggs rolls or helped with both the setup and pack down.

A special shout out to all our volunteers especially, Lauren and Rene Paccagnan, Leanne & Dani Sabotkoski, Lean & Marco Pepe, Doug Jarrott, Diem Hoang, Katie O’Hara, Elishah Lusi, Helen & Kevin Potter, Grace Pante, Kate & Mitchell van Noordenne.

Some of the feedback we have received from the day:

“What a truly beautiful breakfast and morning to be a mum at St Mary’s” 

“I have attended many of these events at other school and this by far has moved me the most” 

“It’s mornings like today that show how truly wonderful out school community and school is”

“It was a special celebration that honored the role of mothers in such a meaningful way”.

New Family

We’re thrilled to welcome the McCarthy family to our school community. Alex has joined 3/4 Blue and Ben 1 Blue. Starting at a new school is a big step, and we look forward to making their transition as smooth and joyful as possible.  Please join us in giving them a warm welcome and don’t hesitate to say hello when you see them around!

Mini Boss Shark Tank – Save the Date!
Are you a parent of a Year 5/6 student? Grab a pen and mark your calendar, our exciting Mini Boss Shark Tank Event is happening on Tuesday 1st July, from 6:30–7:30pm!

Come along and support our young entrepreneurs as they pitch their innovative ideas to a panel of special guest judges. It’s sure to be a fun and inspiring evening, all are welcome!

Calling All Entrepreneurs, Marketers, and Product Developers!
Do you have a passion for marketing, an eye for great ideas, or experience in business or product development? We’re looking for a volunteer to join our Year 5/6 Shark Tank Panel on Tuesday 1 July!

If you're interested in inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and sharing your expertise, we’d love to hear from you.

Please contact me at lgraham@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au if you meet the criteria above and are keen to get involved!

Parking on Cecil Street:
We kindly remind everyone to please be mindful of parking on Cecil Street, especially during drop-off and pick-up times. Double parking is becoming a concern and creates a dangerous environment for our students and families.

To ensure everyone’s safety, we ask that you use the designated parking areas and avoid stopping in no-parking zones or double parking. Following these guidelines helps keep traffic flowing and protects our children.

Reminder:

Upcoming school closure day next Monday 19th May.

Welcome Back

Next week we welcome back Mr Anthony. He will be back on deck and no doubt you will hear about his time spent overseas and on his recent backyard project at home.

Enjoy the rest of your week

Laura Graham

Acting Principal

Meet our Specialists Teachers and School Leadership

Name: Laura Graham

How long have you worked at St Mary’s?   2025 marks my eighth year at St Mary’s—though it feels like only yesterday that I first joined this wonderful community! Over the years, I’ve been privileged to take on a few different roles. For the first three years, I served as the Learning Diversity and Literacy Leader, a role that allowed me to work closely with students and staff to support inclusive learning practices.

In 2019, I stepped into the role of Deputy Principal, and it has been an incredibly rewarding journey ever since. I continue to feel deeply grateful to be part of such a dedicated, caring, and vibrant school community.

Photo: My two beautiful daughters (Matilda and Harriet) at their recent Frozen and Wicked birthdays!

What’s an interesting fact about you?  Before joining the St Mary’s community, my husband Adam and I had the incredible opportunity to live and work in a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory. What started as a one-year adventure quickly turned into five unforgettable years, we simply fell in love with the school, the families, the rich culture, and the vibrant community spirit.

Our time in the NT holds a very special place in our hearts. It was where we were married, created lifelong memories, and embraced experiences that shaped both our personal and professional lives.

One day, we hope to take our daughters on a journey around Australia, sharing with them the magic of remote living—and who knows, maybe even return to work in a remote community again!

Name: Rebecca Backman

How long have you worked at St Mary’s? I worked full time for 7 years in a range of year levels from year 1 to 5/6. In 2019, I went on maternity leave to have my first baby and returned to work one day a week in 2022 for 2 years as a Learning Enhancement teacher in Mathematics. I went back on maternity leave mid 2023 and returned as Mathematics Leader for 2 days a week in term 2 of 2024. How many years have I worked at St Mary’s?

Photo:  My family and I at my youngest sister’s wedding at the start of the year.

What is your favourite thing about our school and working as Mathematics Leader? The staff are amazing to work with and go above and beyond to help our students learn. They will give anything a go if it supports our students to learn and grow. We are also so privileged here to have such beautiful children to teach. There is a lovely sense of community here. I love mathematics, games and puzzles. I am very fortunate to be able to do something I love and share my knowledge with the staff and students.

What’s an interesting fact about you?  I love dogs. I have 2 gorgeous golden retrievers, Charlie and Ruby. I enjoy taking them for walks and teaching them new tricks. I am also a mum of 3 beautiful boys, Jordan (6 yrs old), Joshua (4 yrs old) and Darcy (1 yr old). They keep me fit and active and always on my toes, particularly Darcy who has discovered how to climb and stand on tables! Becoming a mum has given me a whole new perspective on teaching, I have loved seeing first hand the developmental journey our children go on prior to commencing primary school.

Name: Melissa Edmunds

How long have you worked at St Mary’s?  I have been at St Mary’s for seven years. I started as a CRT halfway through 2018, and since 2022 I have been lucky enough to teach Italian, which has been the highlight of my time in teaching.

Photo:  My nonna and I, my biggest supporter and the person who inspires my love of Italian culture.

What is your favourite thing about our school and especially teaching Italian? Someone once told me, "If you don’t feel safe, it is hard to learn." That’s what I love most about being part of the St Mary’s community — the feeling of safety. The leadership and the wider community make coming to work genuinely enjoyable. You feel recognised and respected as a person, not just as an employee. Lastly, of course, the students — every day, they inspire me to be a better teacher and a better person.

I love teaching Italian because it allows me to share my culture and honour my family roots, especially the influence of my nonna, who inspired my love of the language and traditions.

However, Italian class is not just about language — it's about opening young minds to the world, different ways of life, and developing curiosity and respect for other cultures.

What’s an interesting fact about you? I have two beautiful children, Wyatt who is 9 and Ivy who is 6.

I am obsessed with the TV show Friends. If I could only watch one show for the rest of my life that would be it!

“Pivot! Pivot! PIVOT!”- Ross Gellar

Name: Jenny Sutton

How long have you worked at St Mary’s?  This is my 27th Year working at St. Mary’s. During that time, I have worked as a specialist PE Ed Teacher and Coordinator, a classroom teacher across all Year Levels, and now as a specialist Art Teacher and Prep Teacher.  

Photo: My beautiful family

What is your favourite thing about our school, and especially teaching? I love teaching at St. Mary’s because the whole school community is a happy and positive place. The Leadership team is amazing and always there to support staff and students. The school is constantly developing with current teaching philosophies, and the children at our school are friendly and love learning. This makes coming to teach so enjoyable. I am especially passionate about art, and my new role is amazing because I get to teach what I love the most.

What’s an interesting fact about you? I have three lovely adult sons and one gorgeous daughter-in-law. Recently, we welcomed a new addition to our family, ‘August George’, who was born in September, making me a nanna for the first time. He is so cute and gives our family so much joy every day! In my spare time, I enjoy running long distances, including cross-country and trail runs. I also love doing watercolour botanical art.

Name: Hannah Power

How long have you worked at St Mary’s?  2021-present (Currently in my 5th year)

Photo:  Christmas 2024 with my family ♥️

What is your favourite thing about our school and working as a Learning Diversity Leader? One of the things I love most about St Mary’s is the amazing sense of community and our genuine commitment to inclusion. Over the past five years, I’ve found my work here incredibly rewarding, partnering closely with families, students, and staff to help ensure our students feel encouraged, and supported. I’m constantly inspired by the dedication of our staff, who go above and beyond to meet each student’s unique needs. As Learning Diversity Leader, I feel lucky to be part of a passionate team in a school that truly celebrates its learners, making our work to help every child feel connected, confident, and proud deeply fulfilling.

What’s an interesting fact about you? I’ve been working in schools for over 20+ years and have had the privilege of working across five different school communities, including time in government schools before moving into the catholic sector. My journey in education began back in high school, when I started teaching gymnastics to young children when I was in Year 8. It sparked my love for working with kids, and I still enjoy the occasional cartwheel and handstand ? (on soft ground, of course! haha)

Name: Gina Coetzee 

How long have you worked at St Mary’s? I began working as an external artist with St Mary’s back in 2016, offering the Wakakirri programme and competition to students. I became a staff member in 2019 offering Dance and now Drama as part of the Performing Arts programme.

Photo: At the theatre with my family, watching one of the Julia Donaldson books being brought to life on stage.

What is your favourite thing about our school and especially teaching Performing Arts? With extensive experience teaching Dance and Performing Arts across various schools in Australia, the UK, and South Africa—including state, government, private, and Catholic institutions—I've had the privilege of witnessing diverse educational environments. Among them, St Mary’s stands out as exceptional. In particular the level of care and support of the entire community including students, families and staff here at St Mary’s.

Having been immersed in the Performing Arts from a young age, I can confidently say that Dance and Drama are not just my profession, they are my passions. Watching students find creative ways to express themselves through Dance and Drama fills my cup each day. These subjects allow students to learn not just the content, but the interpersonal skills and tools through the way in which the subjects are designed for education; benefiting students in all areas of life both in and out of the classroom.

What’s an interesting fact about you? I have two daughters that attend St Mary’s, Florence in 2 Blue and Lily in Prep Yellow.

I am also a Yoga teacher working in the community and lead the mindfulness workshops here at St Mary’s for our Wellness Day.

What’s happening in Specialists

Italian

It's been a busy and exciting week in Italian! Our Prep students have been learning to name and label classroom items in Italian, such as la matita (the pencil), la gomma (the eraser), and il quaderno (the exercise book).

In Year 1/2, students are exploring how nouns work with definite and indefinite articles — for example, la casa (the house), una casa (a house); il giardino (the garden), un giardino (a garden). They’re beginning to notice these patterns and use them in simple phrases.

Our Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 learners have been practising how to tell the time in Italian. They’re asking and answering "Che ora è?" and learning to express times including "quarter to" and "quarter past." Year 5/6 students are also learning how to express how many minutes are left until something happens in Italian.

Performing Arts

This semester students are studying the Elements of Drama. From Prep to Year 6, students are exploring character, role, voice and situations, as well as improvisation, imagination and relationships.

Preps are looking at how to communicate stories to the audience through their use of facial expressions, body actions, character and voice. At the moment we are looking at feelings and emotions.

In Year 1/2, students are exploring the creative use of a stimulus, this term they are using a prop. They are using their imaginations to look at recreating the prop as other objects in a range of different scenarios or situations.

In Year 3/4, students are working through the musical Matilda. This will be a year long project with dance, drama and singing interwoven into their classes. The aim is to work towards an end of year performance of the musical.

In Year 5/6, students are developing their own plays from stock scripts and will be working on all elements of drama and performance, as they work towards a showcase of their plays near the end of term 2.

Visual Art

This Term, the students in Prep to Year 6 are continuing to develop their understanding of on the Visual Elements of line, colour, pattern, shape, tone and texture.

In Prep, the children are focusing on developing their drawing skills and building their understanding of the colour wheel and patterns. They are experimenting with a variety of art materials to create their artworks.

In Years 1-2, the children are creating artworks using various materials such as paint, crayons, pencils, and collage, applying different techniques and processes to express ideas, observations, and imagination.

In Years 3–4, the children are focusing on using the visual elements to create artworks that inspire care for creation. This forms part of a reflection on The Jubilee of Hope, which is our Church’s focus for 2025. They are also exploring a variety of artists' works to deepen their understanding of different styles, techniques, and how art can communicate meaningful messages.

In Years 5–6, the children are building on their knowledge of the Visual Elements of Art. As part of their exploration of the Jubilee Year of Hope, they are drawing inspiration from international artist Gary Hirsch to create artworks that express their own visions of hope for our world. They are also studying a range of artists and creating pieces that reflect the styles and techniques of those artists.

Physical Education

Students across St Mary's have been working extremely hard in P.E. this term.

In Prep, we have been focusing on fundamental hand-eye coordination skills, where students have been learning to throw underarm and catch with both hands in front and on the chest. These skills are extremely important when playing a wide range of sports and will be extremely useful as a foundation when moving through the years at school. Over the next few weeks, we will be preparing for our Little Athletics carnival by practicing a number of skills that will be used on the day.

In Year 1, Years 3/4 and Years 5/6, the students have been focusing on fundamental soccer skills, including dribbling, passing, shooting and ball control. A primary focus has been to use different parts of our bodies to control the ball, including feet, thigh and head, as well as dribbling using all parts of the foot, including both feet. We have also been focusing on using the inside of our foot, as well as a correct instep, to pass the ball in a straight line, as well as control those passes by trapping the ball with the ball of our feet. Year 1 will shortly be preparing for our Little Athletics carnival by practicing a number of skills that will be used on the day. Years 3/4 and Years 5/6 have started preparing for their own Athletics Carnival, including practicing for events like Shot Put, Discus, Long Jump, Triple Jump and High Jump.

In Year 2, the students have been focusing on fundamental AFL skills, including bouncing the ball and handballing. A specific focus has been to bounce the ball in the right area, so that it comes back to our bodies, as well as handballing with the correct technique (we call it the ice-cream scoop). Over the next few weeks, we will be preparing for our Little Athletics carnival by practicing a number of skills that will be used on the day.

Last week, 17 students from Years 3-6 competed in District Cross Country at McIvor Reserve in Yarraville, running either 2km or 3km. We had a fantastic day, with all competitors doing well both on and off the track, as they celebrated the success of others in the most fantastic way. Congratulations to all runners on the day, with a special congratulations to Zachary Cross and William Trethowan, who have advanced to the Regional Cross Country finals next week. We wish them the best of luck.

St Mary’s Faith News

 School and Parish Connections

Gospel: Fourth Sunday of Easter

John 10: 27-30

I give my sheep eternal life.

Jesus said:

‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice;

I know them and they follow me.

I give them eternal life;

they will never be lost

and no one will ever steal them from me.

The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone,

and no one can steal from the Father.

The Father and I are one.’

Mother’s Day Mass 2025

We hope that all the mothers at St. Mary’s had a truly special day this past Sunday, filled with love and appreciation.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Parents & Friends (P&F) group and all those involved in organising the memorable Mother’s Day breakfast last Friday. The event was a tremendous success, and the addition of flowers added a delightful touch that was warmly received by all the mothers in attendance.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Mother's Day at St. Mary’s a truly special occasion, celebrating the incredible mothers within our community. Your dedication and generosity are deeply appreciated.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank all the teachers who made and each child made a special card and gift fro their mums. The effort that our teachers put in to making Mother’s day special is beyond belief. A lot of thought and planning goes in to the cards and gift. I hope all the mum’s enjoyed them.

I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing teachers who went above and beyond to make Mother’s Day so special. They made sure there was something special on the table at the breakfast for every mum. Thank you too for the thoughtful handmade cards and gifts, every detail was carefully planned to ensure every mum felt loved and appreciated.

The creativity and care that went into the children’s creations were truly heartwarming, and we know just how much the mums treasured them. We are so grateful for the incredible effort our teachers put in - not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.

Year 3 Reconciliation evening with Maria Forde

We invite all Year 3 students and their parents to attend an important Information Session about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which will be celebrated this term.

The session will provide an overview of the preparation program and key dates. It is essential that at least one parent attends with their child.

Date: 27th May
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: The school Hall

We look forward to supporting your child on this special faith journey.

An Information booklet will be sent home with your child this Friday 2nd May.

If you have any questions please contact your child’s teacher or Charlotte Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au

Sacramental Program 2025

This year the only Sacrament the school will be facilitating is the “Rite of Reconciliation”.

Below are the dates for Reconciliation

You would have already received an email requesting you to book a time for child to make their Reconciliation. If you haven't, please contact Madeleine in the front office.

There will also be an information evening session for candidates and their parents. Details will be provided in next weeks newsletter.

Eucharist and Confirmation

Instruction will be conducted through the Parish with the Support of Mrs Lipnicki

If you child is in Year 4 and is yet to make their “First Eucharist” please contact Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au.

Likewise if your child is in Year 6 and is yet to make their “Confirmation” please contact Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au

School Masses

Term 2

All families are welcome to attend the school Masses.

At St Mary’s, students sit as a class with their teacher in reserved pews.

The Altar servers sit in the first pew to the left of the Altar. The pews to right of the Altar are reserved for the choir and music ministry.

Parents are asked to find a seat towards the back of the church or any free seats once the children are all seated.

Please do not sit in the pews reserved for the school children.

Winter Interschool Sports