Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community,

Here's what's happening this week and a look at some exciting upcoming events:

What's On This Week

• Monday July 28 and Wednesday July 30: School Review
• Tuesday July 29: Parent Teacher Interviews
• Thursday July 31: School Compliance Review
• Thursday July 31: Year 2 ACMI Excursion 
• Friday, August 1: Entries close for the Australian Mathematics Competition ($9 entry fee - Registration to school by Thursday Morning July 31)
• Friday August 1: Principal Meeting.
• Friday August 1: Preps 100 Days of School.

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, August 6: Australian Mathematics Competition
• Wednesday August 6: 2026 Prep Storytime
• Friday August 8: Feast of Mary MacKillop Mass 9:15.
• Friday August 8: Teeth of Wheels Visit
• Friday, August 29: School Disco!!! (Get ready to dance!)

School Review Update

We've had two incredibly busy days of reflection and discussion for our school review. A huge thank you to everyone who participated!

Our reviewer is now preparing their report and will meet with the school in August to discuss their findings and advice. Following this, the report will be finalized and shared with both the school and Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools (MACS).

This will kick off the important process of developing our four-year strategic plan for 2026–2029 and our annual action plan for 2026. We're excited about the future and the positive changes this will bring!

Our registration review takes place tomorrow with a different reviewer.

Bell Shakespeare Visit

As you may know, the school has a great connection to the Bell Shakespeare Company. Daryl Marmion has been part of the Bell Shakespeare mentorship program in 2024, and our students have performed Shakespeare in the past. This Monday, we had a visit from Bell Shakespeare to run a workshop for our senior students. The feedback from the students and staff was very positive as our students once again entered an era very different from what they encounter now.

Feast of Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop has a special place in our hearts at St. Mary's. The Sisters of St. Joseph were in charge of the school from 1900 to 1999. Next Friday, we have our Mass for the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop on Friday, August 8th, at 9:15 a.m. We hope you can join us.

Semester Two Parents and Friends Event Volunteer Call-out

We've had a terrific response to the call for volunteers for our school events for Semester Two, so thank you to everyone who has responded. If you still want to add your name, I have included the link. We are looking into doing the Big Red Bow fundraiser, too: https://www.bigredbows.com.au/. It's a great way to decorate our trees and houses in the lead-up to Christmas. Hopefully, we can share more about this with families soon.

Volunteer Call Out Form

God Bless, Anthony

We will be hosting a Classroom Swap on Tuesday, 5 August.

To enrich both student and teacher experiences and to support our continued professional development, each class will participate in a classroom swap during the first three periods of the day. Teachers from Prep–Year 2 will move to Years 3–6, and vice-versa. Student's will remain in their classrooms and their structure and routines for the day will remain the same. 

This fun and engaging initiative gives students the chance to learn from a different teacher and allows staff to observe and share teaching strategies across year levels. We’re excited about this opportunity and look forward to sharing insights and reflections following the swap.

Yours

Laura Graham

Teaching and Learning Leader 

Cyber Safety

Cyber Safety- Term 3

St Mary’s Faith News

 School and Parish Connections

Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13

Ask, and it will be given to you.

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

“Father, may your name be held holy,

your kingdom come;

give us each day our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.

And do not put us to the test.”’

He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

 Way of the West

 The Month of August

This year’s Charism team will be very present around the school in the next few weeks making everyone aware of the ‘Way of the West’ program and reminding families of items that will be collected each week.

Most of the Saints showed their love for God through practical acts of kindness, especially by helping those in need. Following their example, we invite our school community to once again support the 11th annual “Way of the West” program throughout the month of August.

This important initiative collects food and living essentials for Refugees and people seeking Asylum in the West. Each classroom has a collection box where families can drop off their donations.

This week we are collecting dried food items – please see the posters displayed in the office and on the noticeboard for specific items.

Next week we are collecting Tinned food - Please see the posters displayed around the school, on the school noticeboard and on the flyer sent home

In the coming weeks you will see posters around the school, notices in the newsletter, and hear from our Charism Team, who will be visiting classrooms and speaking at Assembly to share weekly updates on what items are being collected.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of this program, which makes such a difference in the lives of others.

New Front Office Display

Crosses from Around the World

We received our First Cross - Thank you the Vance Family

As part of our recent staff Reflection Day, we were inspired by the idea of creating a new display in our front office – a collection of crosses from around the world. This will be a whole school initiative, and we warmly invite our families and staff to take part.

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.

The class Mass timetable should have been sent home as a PDF last week by your chad’s teacher.

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.

Sacramental Program 2025

Confirmation - Thursday 14th August

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

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

Confirmation will be held on Thursday 14th August at 7:00pm.

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.

Congratulations to the Term 3

Class Representatives

Winter Interschool Sports Tops

State Cross Country Championships