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Dear Parents and Carers
I hope your week has been going well. As the year unfolds, we often find ourselves caught in the busyness of everyday life, balancing homework, after-school activities, work, and family commitments. It can feel overwhelming at times, but it’s comforting to remember that we don’t journey alone. Our school community is a place of connection, where we support one another through both the challenges and the joys.
Recently, we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption, a beautiful reminder of Mary’s special place in our faith. Her Assumption into heaven is not only a celebration of her unique role, but also an invitation for us to reflect on the love, devotion, and sense of belonging we experience within our families. Grandparents Day was another wonderful example of this; a day filled with thanks for the generations who help shape our children’s lives.
As Fr Josh reminded us at Mass that we can always turn to Mary in prayer and find comfort in her care. Please know that here at St Mary’s, our door is always open.
Book Week
Our Book Parade and Book Trivia was a huge hit with students, staff, and families this week! It was great to hear the excitement in our students as they arrived dressed as their favourite book characters. From classic storybook heroes to modern-day favourites, the creativity on display showed just how much our students connect with the magic of books.
In the afternoon, our classrooms were buzzing with friendly competition as students took part in our Book Trivia. It was great to see the teams working together to answer questions and share their book knowledge.
Reading is such an important part of learning, and events like these help us nurture a genuine love of books in our students. By celebrating reading in fun and engaging ways, we hope to inspire our students to keep exploring new stories, ideas, and building their knowledge and vocabulary.
We’re also excited to share some very special news — our 2026 school musical production will be Finding Nemo! We can’t wait to showcase the incredible talent of our students and bring this much-loved story to life on stage.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in the fun and helped make the day such a memorable celebration of Reading at St Mary’s.
First “Dip into Kindergarten” Session
We recently held our first “Dip into Kindergarten” session, giving our 2026 starters a wonderful opportunity to experience what big school will be like at St Mary’s. The children explored classrooms, met some of our teachers, and engaged in fun, hands-on activities designed to make them feel comfortable and confident in their new school environment.
We have two more sessions to go, each providing valuable opportunities to support the children’s transition to school. These sessions help familiarise students with routines, the classroom environment, and school life, ensuring they feel prepared and excited for their first day in 2026.
We look forward to welcoming all our new Kindergarten students and seeing them grow as part of the St Mary’s community!
School Uniform Update
Thank you to all families who shared their feedback on our school uniform. We are excited to let you know that there was strong support for introducing an additional jacket option, a soft shell style. We are currently working with our supplier, and once details are finalised a sample will be on display at the school. The jacket will be available for purchase directly through the school ready for 2026.
We are also partnering with Hip Pocket and Moruya Coastal Workwear to ensure our school logo is consistent across all uniform items. While this process may take some time, it will mean a sharper, more unified look for our students in the years ahead.
Our students represent the school each and every day through the way they wear their uniform. We are proud of the sense of belonging our uniform brings, and we are excited to continue strengthening this tradition with these positive updates.
Key Events Term 3
Our annual Father’s Day Breakfast will be held on Friday 5 September from 7.30am to 8.30am outside the Hall. All students are welcome to invite their fathers, grandfathers, uncle or special friend to come and receive a bacon and egg roll for breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day. The breakfast is prepared by the Staff at St Mary’s. (There is no cost involved). To help us with catering, please complete the quick survey below and let us know how many breakfast rolls your family will need by Friday 29 August. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L69Y6WF
After breakfast, we invite you to stay for a special Father’s Day Liturgy, led by Kindergarten, in the Hall starting at 9:00am.
- The Sacrament of First Eucharist is taking place Saturday 13 September at 5.00pm.
- Open Classrooms will take place Monday 22 September, from 2.00pm – 3.00pm. Parents will be invited to share in the learning in classrooms.
- St Mary’s is celebrating the end of Term 3 with a Disco on Thursday 18 September. All students are invited. Parents are welcome to drop their children off at the school Hall at 5.00pm and pick up at 6.30pm. Staff will be supervising the children.
- St Mary’s Talent Show: Thursday 25 September at 9.00am in the Hall
Blessings on the week ahead.
Warm regards
Jo
Johanna Wain
Principal
High Impact Teaching in Practice
Next week we welcome our Catalyst coach from CogLearn, Dean Katsiris, who will be working alongside our teachers to strengthen our focus on high-impact teaching practices. These visits are a valuable part of our learning journey as a school, providing teachers with feedback, encouragement, and strategies that help make learning more effective for every student.
The coaching visits will centre on our Daily Reviews - a powerful way to build student confidence by revisiting key knowledge, practising skills, and making connections to new learning. It is always inspiring to see our teachers engage in professional dialogue, reflect on their practice and trial new approaches with enthusiasm.
At the heart of our teaching and learning at St Mary’s is the belief that every child can learn and grow when teaching is explicit, structured, and responsive to their needs. The work we are doing with our CogLearn coach ensures that our classrooms are places where learning is clear, purposeful, and accessible for all students.
Indigenous Literacy Day
The 4 September is Indigenous Literacy Day, a special day that highlights the importance of reading, storytelling, and learning from the rich cultures of Australia’s First Nations peoples.
Indigenous Literacy Day reminds us that stories connect us - to our history, to our community, and to each other. Across Australia, Aboriginal and Torrs Strait Islander peoples have passed on knowledge through stories, song, and language for tens of thousands of years. These stories are not only a gift but also a reminder of the deep wisdom and culture that shape our nation.
As a community, we are committed to valuing and learning from the voices of Australia’s First Peoples. By celebrating Indigenous Literacy Day, we encourage our students to grow as respectful learners who listen, wonder, and appreciate the diversity of stories that shape our world.
Bus Behaviour
There are a number of important travel expectations to keep students safe and to ensure an enjoyable and stress free trip to and from school. This term, there has been an increase in reports from the bus companies of unsafe behaviour of students when travelling to and from school on buses. As a matter of urgency, please revise the following expectations about safe bus travel with your child/children.
Students are expected to follow these rules for the safety and comfort of all passengers, including themselves. If the rules are not followed, it may lead to the suspension of students or banning students from travelling on buses.
It is every student’s responsibility to behave in a manner that ensures the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers. This includes:
Behaviour on buses:
- Use appropriate language not offensive or racist language
- Fighting, spitting, feet on seats, throwing things in or from the bus is not permitted
- Do not push or shove other people
- Do not bully or harass other passengers or the driver
- Avoid attracting the attention of the driver except in the case of emergency
- Do not play music at such volume that it may distract the bus driver or other passengers
Safety on and near buses:
- Obey reasonable directions from the driver (e.g. where to sit or to remain in the bus)
- Remain in your seat – do not move around the bus unnecessarily
- Keep bags and other items clear of the aisle
- Do not allow any part of your body to protrude out of the bus at any time
- Wait for the bus in a quiet and orderly manner – including at bus interchanges
- Stand away from the roadside until the bus comes to a complete stop
- Allow other passengers to leave the bus before stepping onto the bus in a single line
- Wait until the bus stops before moving to get off the bus at your designated stop
- Wait until the bus leaves the stop and you have clear vision before crossing the road
- Cross the road where and when it’s safe to do so, use crossings/traffic lights where available
Legal considerations on buses:
- Wear the seat belt properly adjusted and fastened, if one is available
- Ensure that buses are not vandalised – report any damage, e.g. graffiti and window etching, to the driver
- Do not interfere with bus property, equipment and signage
- Do not leave rubbish on the bus, or at bus stops or interchanges
It is important that students catching the bus report any unsafe behaviour to the driver and their parents.
God bless and take care,
Sue Heffernan
Assistant Principal
Assumption Mass & Grandparents Day
Last Friday we came together to celebrate a very special occasion, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, which is also our school’s feast day, alongside Grandparents Day. We began the morning with a beautiful Mass, where we reflected on Mary's importance in our faith and gave thanks for the loving presence of grandparents in our lives. It was heartwarming to see so many families join us in prayer and celebration. After Mass, students took their grandparents to classrooms to showcase some of their learning and then we shared a lovely morning tea back at school. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for such a lovely morning.
First Eucharist Commitment Mass & Retreat Day
This Saturday, the children preparing for their First Eucharist will join their families at Mass, where they will receive a special blessing from Father Josh. Together with the support of our parish community, they will commit to the Sacramental Program as they continue their journey towards celebrating their First Holy Communion. We look forward to supporting our Year 4 students as they start this special journey. Next week, all of our Year 4 students will participate in a Faith Formation Retreat Day at Carroll College to assist them to deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and how they are called to be Christian leaders.
Father’s Day Liturgy - hosted by Kindergarten
On Friday 5 September, our Kindergarten students will host our special Father’s Day liturgy following our annual Father’s Day breakfast. Breakfast is from 7.30am-8.30am. We warmly invite dads, grandads, and father figures to join us for this celebration of the important role you play in the lives of our children. Kinder are very excited to be leading us in prayer to honour and give thanks for the gift of fathers. To help us with catering, please complete the quick survey below and let us know how many breakfast rolls your family will need by Friday 29 August. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L69Y6WF The Community Council are also hosting a raffle, tickets are available on Qkr.
Mrs Jessica Afflick
Religious Education Coordinator
Mrs Carla Durnan
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Year 5 has had a wonderful start to Term 3! The students have thrown themselves into all aspects of school life with enthusiasm, teamwork, and persistence. It’s been fantastic to see them working hard, supporting each other, and growing in confidence. As we move towards being our senior students, they are also building their sense of responsibility and leadership, getting ready for the exciting opportunities that await in Term 4.
English
In Year 5 English, we are learning new ways to make our writing more interesting, such as using appositives and relative clauses. Students have been developing their note-taking skills too, especially while exploring the history of early convict life, which has sparked lots of curiosity and discussion in class. This term, our class novel is Tom Appleby, Convict Boy by Jackie French. It tells the story of Tom, a young orphan in 18th-century England who is forced into crime and transported to Australia as a convict. Through hardship, friendship, and resilience, Tom begins to build a new life in the harsh yet hopeful colony.
Thoughts about the story so far….
Neiva: ‘In Convict Boy, I like that it’s teaching us about how hard life back then was and that Tom didn’t have much like we do and that he's very young to be doing a chimney sweep job.’
Matilda: ‘It’s a bit hard to read as the characters spoke back then like ‘yer mate’ but I like reading the book with the class.’
Beau C: ‘Convict Boy is adventurous and exciting - there’s been a few surprises along the way so far.’
Nicholas: ‘It’s hard to read and understand the way the British people spoke in those days. It’s really descriptive. I think Tom is too young to be a chimney sweep and be sent as a convict to Australia.’
Sienna: ‘I like how this story is telling us about the olden days and how they started cleaning chimneys. It’s very detailed. It’s a bit hard to read because of the language they used but we’re getting there.’
Lucy: ‘I really like listening to the story convict Boy. I think the character Tom is very brave because he’s had to get through so much like his father dying and he is still very young.’
Reading Fluency
Each day, Year 5 students practice reading fluency with their buddy. From a passage based on our class novel, Tom Appleby, Convict Boy, students move off in their pairs to practice their reading skills in fluency and accuracy as well as improving their pace and expression. Each student reads aloud for 1 minute and then is provided feedback in their reading, providing a ‘goal’ to be worked towards for their next session. Some of the feedback and self reflection includes:
Aria: “ Lucy tells me that I have good fluency and my pace is good. My expression is getting better with practice and so is the way I phrase when reading aloud.
Hugo: ‘Koby tells me that I am reading very well, most of the time I have good fluency but sometimes I get stuck on some words then I try to make sure I get it right the next day.’
Xavier: ‘Jake tells me that I am a pretty smooth reader but sometimes I could read a bit faster in places when there are tricky words or sentences.’
Willa: ‘Neiva tells me that I have good expression and I am a smooth reader but sometimes I read a little too fast.’
Book Week
Year 5 had a wonderful time celebrating Book Week on Monday! Students joined in the excitement of the dress-up parade, showing off some fantastic and creative costumes that brought favourite book characters to life. We were also lucky to have Mrs Wain visit our class to share one of the 2025 shortlisted books, which everyone enjoyed listening to and discussing. It was a fun reminder of the joy that stories bring and the importance of reading every day.
Public Speaking Success
Congratulations to Tommy D and Fergus P for representing Year 5 in the Southern Region Public Speaking Competition! Our class explored the topic “If I Had a Time Machine…”, and both students delivered thoughtful and engaging speeches. A special mention to Tommy, who was named the winner of the Year 5 competition—an outstanding achievement! We are so proud of their confidence, effort, and fantastic representation of our school.
Mathematics
In Maths, Year 5 has been working on building confidence with fractions, decimals, and finding the area of shapes using formulas. Students are learning to apply their knowledge in real-world situations and are encouraged to explain their thinking clearly. Daily practice has helped strengthen both accuracy and understanding of these sometimes tricky concepts. I am very proud of all the students as they take on challenging questions such as adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators and changing improper fractions to mixed numbers. We have also been finding the Area of shapes by counting squares - before moving into using a formula to work out the answer.
Religion
In Religion, Year 5 has been learning about how Catholics throughout Australia’s history overcame many challenges to preserve and share their faith. We have explored the role of the first Catholic Priests, the establishment of early Catholic schools, and the hardships faced by Catholics in early Australia. Students are gaining an understanding of how faith and resilience helped shape strong Catholic communities that continue to inspire us today.
Visual Arts
Year 5 students have been getting very creative in Visual Arts! In preparation for the Feast of the Assumption last week, students designed and created their own images of Mary, showing both creativity and reverence. We are now moving into our mixed media unit, exploring the colourful and expressive style of artist Dean Russo. Students are beginning their own artworks inspired by his vibrant animal portraits, combining bold colours and patterns to bring wild animals to life on the page.
National Science Week
Last week, Year 5 joined the whole school in celebrating National Science Week, where students and teachers became scientists for the day! In groups, students explored a variety of exciting hands-on experiments such as making ice cream in a bag, creating oobleck and playdough, building a robotic arm, discovering the science of colours, and launching balloon rockets. The day was filled with curiosity, teamwork, and lots of fun as students experimented, tested ideas, and learned about the wonders of science.
Science Week Discovery
In some very exciting science news…..we have some future palaeontologists in our midst at St Marys!
The Australian Museum announced the discovery of a new species of ancient whale that lived around 25 million years ago. This discovery was based on fossils found by Jimmy and Tommy Dullard’s Uncle Ross, at Torquay a few years back. Both Tommy and Jimmy were there when it was found! Click on the short youtube clip below – they’re excited that it’s been named “Dullardi” after the family connection!
Janjucetus dullardi: Sharp Teeth, Big Eyes, Small Whale
“A new species of ancient whale has been formally described by scientists at the Museums Victoria Research Institute. Named Janjucetus dullardi, the species lived around 25 million years ago and represents a major breakthrough in understanding the early evolution of baleen whales. The fossil was discovered in 2019 near Jan Juc, on Wadawurrung Country along Victoria’s Surf Coast, by local resident Ross Dullard. Recognising its scientific importance, Dullard generously donated the fossil to Museums Victoria, where it was carefully prepared, scanned, and studied. The research is being published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.”
Tommy D: “During science week last week, we learned about a new species of ancient whale. This species was discovered after a 25-million-year-old fossil was found in Jan Juc on Victoria's Surf Coast in 2019 – and what makes this extra exciting was that it was found by my uncle, Ross and I!
The fossil has been named Janjucetus dullardi, dullardi after our family. It’s a short snout whale with large forward-facing eyes and razor-sharp teeth, small enough to fit in a car”.
Archdiocesan Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to Xave E and Maya C for representing Year 5 at the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocesan Athletics Carnival in Canberra yesterday. Competing in a variety of events, both students gave their very best and demonstrated great sportsmanship throughout the day as part of the St Mary’s and Southern Region team. It was wonderful to see them enjoy the experience and make the most of this exciting opportunity.
Friday Sport
In Year 5 Friday Sport, students have been enjoying learning and refining their skills in the game of touch football. Through a mix of drills, practice games, and fun challenges, students are developing teamwork, strategy, and confidence on the field while having a great time being active with their classmates.
Dhurga Language and Culture
Year 5 has been thoroughly engaged in their Dhurga lessons with Mr Riley Nolan, who shares his extensive knowledge of the Indigenous culture in our local area. Students have been learning about the Dhurga language, learning important cultural sites, and discovering stories connected to places such as the Bingie Dreaming Track. These lessons are a wonderful opportunity for students to deepen their understanding and respect for the rich culture and history of the land on which we live.
Mrs Megan Grant
Year 5 Teacher
CECG Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all our students who proudly represented St Mary’s at the CECG Athletics Carnival in Canberra on Thursday. Despite the very cold and wet conditions, everyone was excited and ready to give their best on the track and field.
Our St Mary’s team included: Mackenzie H, Abbie H, Bella S, Andre L, Liam G, Xavier E, Maya C, Patrick W, Ned S, Milton W, Maisey B, Calvin M, Olivia L, Byron S, Camden H and Zahli K. Each of these students competed with determination and displayed wonderful sportsmanship, making our school community very proud.
A special congratulations goes to Olivia L, who placed first in the Junior Girls Discus, competing against students from across all three regions! Olivia will now move on to represent the Canberra Goulburn team at the MacKillop Selections at Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday, September 24 – an amazing achievement!
We also congratulate Mackenzie H, on being named Runner up Age Champion for senior girls. Mackenzie competed strongly in Canberra yesterday, placing second in high jump, long jump and discus and will also be heading for the next level of competition – a fantastic effort!
Hockey Gala Day
Students in Years 3–6 are invited to participate in the upcoming Hockey Gala Day, proudly organised by the Eurobodalla Hockey Association volunteers, Cheryl Sutherland and Sharni Barton. The Gala day will be held at Gundary Oval on Friday 29 August. Cheryl has been visiting St Mary’s for many years, sharing her expertise and passion for the game. This event will provide students with a fantastic opportunity to put into practice the hockey skills they have learnt earlier this year, while enjoying a fun and friendly competition. This will be an OPT-IN event. Students not attending will remain at school to be supervised. For further information, please go to the COMPASS portal to accept or decline the event. We are sure the children will have a fantastic day.
Mrs Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator
Resolving Anxiety: The Benefits of Challenging, not Accommodating
One of the most surprising things I learned in my professional training was that anxious kids who receive an overly comforting or accommodating response from adults actually tend to do worse and end up with higher levels of anxiety in the long run. How on earth could this be the case?
Children often report anxiety in the context of friendships, family, phobias (fears) or sleep disturbances due to anxious thought patterns. I think the natural and understandable response of many parents is to provide some reassurance. For example, if a child is preoccupied with worries about loved ones dying, they might remind them about statistics about death or remind them that their home is safe, or that their parents are strong and healthy. It may seem counterintuitive, but the strongest evidence for anxiety interventions suggests that such approaches don’t really resolve the underlying issue, and may even make it worse. The underlying problem with anxiety is not anxious thoughts themselves – they’re just thoughts after all – but rather the way anxiety hijacks the mind.
What major research has found to be the “gold standard” treatment for anxiety in therapeutic settings, is an approach known as exposure therapy (https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/exposure-therapy-anxiety-disorders). The gist of exposure therapy is: an approach that encourages kids to confront their worries head-on, rather than feeling limited by them. In other words, it focuses on increasing a child’s ability to tolerate discomfort (within reason) rather than increasing patterns of avoidance.
There’s only one problem with exposure therapy: very few child therapists/counsellors actually teach it. I think this is a great shame, because if I’ve learned anything from working with kids, it’s that kids can be incredibly resilient, often more so than anyone gives them credit for.
If your child suffers from anxiety and you’re interested in giving this a try, here are some simple suggestions for how you could implement exposure therapy techniques at home:
· Encourage kids to explore the nature of life and death and don’t try to protect them from the harsh realities of life too much. We can assist kids to understand that life is sometimes unfair and the world can sometimes be a cruel place, but that we can look upon any challenging situation as an opportunity for personal growth.
· We can support kids that have death phobias to explore spiritual/religious teachings about death, if appropriate.
· Encourage kids to face situations that are causing them to worry. For example, if your child is socially anxious, find social events that align with the child’s interests/hobbies and give them a few little pushes outside their comfort zone. They may surprise themselves – and you.
· Start out with mild/easy challenges and work your way up to bigger/scarier ones. Create a challenge ladder to track and celebrate your child’s progress on facing their anxiety triggers.
Warm regards,
Damian Gerber
Student and Family Counsellor
