Dear Parents and Carers

It’s hard to believe that we are now approaching the end of Week 7 and that we are about to launch into Spring. Hopefully the weather will continue to warm up. I know many of our students are participating in sporting finals as their seasons come to an end. I wish all our students all the best in their various competitions and look forward to hearing about their results at school.

We have two students heading off to Sydney in Week 10 to compete at the Mackillop Athletics Carnival in Sydney and our Years 3-6 tennis teams will be competing in the Todd Woodbridge Cup in Broulee in a couple of weeks. I would like to especially thank Mrs Grant and Mr Hill who go above and beyond to support our students to participate and compete in a variety of sports. Each term students are also provided and taught a variety of sporting skills through their Physical Education lessons. The students are often telling me that sport is their favourite subject.

Thank you to our School Community Council for coordinating the Cookie Dough Fundraiser last week. I know there has been lots of talk about how delicious the cookies are! We very much appreciate the wonderful support of our families.

2026 Classes
Over the term we have been receiving a number of new enrolments across the school for the 2026 school year. Principals have recently received most of their staffing allocation for 2026 and in the coming weeks we will determine the class structure across the school. This information will be communicated via the school newsletter. Teacher placements are now being considered. This information will not be released until a definite decision has been made in relation to Kindergarten 2026 at the conclusion of this term.

New Social Media Age Limit – What Families Need to Know
From December 2025, Australia will introduce a new minimum age of 16 years for using most social media platforms. This change comes under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 and aims to reduce online harm by ensuring platforms are more accountable for who uses their services.

For many families, this will mean changes to how children access and use technology. Whether your child is already online or has been asking to join, this new law will shape their digital journey.

What Is the New Social Media Age Limit?
Social media companies will now be required to prevent children under 16 from signing up for or keeping accounts. This applies to popular platforms such as:

• Instagram
• Snapchat
• TikTok
• Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Reddit
• YouTube / YouTube Shorts

Not included in this law are:

• Messenger Kids
• WhatsApp
• Google Classroom
• Gaming platforms

Enforcement will be the responsibility of the platforms themselves, not parents or children. Companies that fail to take reasonable steps to verify age and remove underage accounts may face heavy penalties – up to $49.5 million or 5% of global turnover, whichever is greater.

What Are the Benefits of This Change?
While this adjustment may be challenging for some young people, there are many advantages for families and schools:

• Increased safety – reducing exposure to harmful content, online predators, and cyberbullying.
• More time for real connections – encouraging children to spend more time with family and friends offline.
• Better wellbeing – limiting social media use can reduce anxiety, stress, and the pressure of online comparison.
• Healthier digital habits – giving children more time to develop responsibility and resilience before entering online spaces.
• Clearer boundaries – families can feel more supported knowing there are legal limits in place.

This new law provides a valuable opportunity for families to have meaningful conversations about digital wellbeing and to set positive routines around technology use. For further information, please go to the Cyber Safety Project weblink https://cybersafetyproject.com/social-media-ban/

Archdiocesan Public Speaking
Congratulations to Olivia L, Quinn A, Harriet W, Tommy D and Matilda W who are competing at the Archdiocesan Public Speaking competition in Cootamundra next Friday. Not only is it commendable to have our school represented at this competition, but it is wonderful that we have 5 students who have made it to this elite level. Congratulations, I know that you will give your very best. We are all very proud of you!

Volunteers in the Classroom
At St Mary’s, we are fortunate to have some wonderful volunteers who generously assist in the classroom, particularly with reading. Our students enjoy their time with our volunteers, and our staff greatly appreciate the support they provide.

In addition, many parents contribute throughout the term, helping in classrooms and supporting school events. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers for everything they do. Your willingness to give your time and talents makes a real difference to our school community, and we are very grateful for your dedication.

If you know someone who may be interested in volunteering, please encourage them to contact our Front Office. All volunteers are required to hold a NSW Volunteer Working with Children Check, which can be obtained through the following website and is free for volunteers: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-working-with-children-check 

I hope all our fathers and special guests enjoyed a wonderful morning celebrating Father’s Day. A heartfelt thank you to the St Mary’s staff who worked together to prepare and cook breakfast for everyone, it was a team effort. Kindergarten led us in a beautiful liturgy. Also a big thank you to our School Community Council and families for supporting the Father's Day Raffle. Congratulations to the 6 families who won a prize. 

Wishing all fathers and father figures a very Happy Father’s Day. For those remembering someone they have lost, please know you are especially in our thoughts today.

Warm regards
Jo

Johanna Wain
Principal

How Mini Whiteboards Help Us ‘CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING’ at St Mary’s
At St Mary’s, we are committed to using teaching strategies that make the biggest difference to student learning. One important part of this is making sure that students are truly understanding what they’re being taught – and that’s where our mini whiteboards come in!

What the Research Says
Modern research into how the brain learns – often called the Science of Learning – tells us something very important: students learn best when they are taught clearly, with lots of practice and timely feedback.

Because the human brain can only hold a small amount of new information at one time, it's easy for students to become overloaded or confused – especially if they don’t realise they’ve misunderstood something. That’s why teachers need to regularly check how well students are following along during a lesson.

Checking for Understanding – In Action
In every classroom at St Mary’s, our teachers use a strategy called ‘Check for Understanding.’ This means they don’t wait until the end of the lesson to find out if students “got it” – they pause often to ask questions, look at student responses, and make sure everyone is on the right track.

A simple but powerful tool that helps with this is the mini whiteboard.

Why Mini Whiteboards?
When students write their answers on mini whiteboards and hold them up, teachers can quickly scan the room and spot who understands the concept and who might need more help. It’s much faster and more effective than calling on one student at a time – and it gives every child a chance to think and respond.

This approach helps teachers adjust their teaching straight away if needed – reteaching a concept, giving more examples, or guiding students through another round of practice.

A Consistent Routine
To help things run smoothly, all classes at St Mary’s use the same simple routines and language for using mini whiteboards. You may hear your child talk about:

• Hover it – holding their board ready but not showing it yet
• Chin it – holding it under their chin so the teacher can see
• Bin it – wiping it clean when done
• Park it – keeping the board down and ready for the next task

These clear routines help make whiteboard use quick, consistent, and focused.Ask Your Child!
Mini whiteboards might seem like a small thing, but they’re part of a much bigger picture – helping your child learn more effectively, stay engaged, and receive timely feedback. Next time you chat with your child about their school day, ask them how they use their whiteboard in class. You might be surprised by how much learning it supports!

Get Ready to Move, Groove, and Explore with the Jollybops!
Jollybops Science Show will be visiting St Mary’s next week on Tuesday 9 September – bringing science to life with fun, laughter, and spectacular experiments!

The Jollybops are science educators and entertainers who deliver energetic shows packed with real scientific demonstrations, humour, and audience interaction. Their performances are tailored to each age group, linking directly to the science curriculum in a way that’s both educational and unforgettable.

Here’s what our students can look forward to:

Kindergarten to Year 2: "Move and Groove with Energy"
Students will explore how things move, what energy is, and where it comes from – all through dancing flames, bouncing balls, and surprising experiments! This show is designed to introduce young learners to scientific thinking in a fun and accessible way.

Years 3 to 6: "The Big Chemistry Show"
Older students will be wowed by this exciting exploration of chemical reactions! From colour changes and bubbling potions to foaming explosions and gas-producing experiments, this show highlights the magic of chemistry in a way that’s fun, educational, and unforgettable.

Each Jollybops Science Show promises to inspire curiosity and excitement, showing our students just how amazing science can be. We can’t wait for these action-packed shows of learning and discovery!

God bless and take care, 

Sue Heffernan
Assistant Principal 

Hockey Gala Day
Last Friday, our students enjoyed a wonderful day of hockey fun at Gundary Oval. Thanks to the fantastic  organisation of Cheryl and Sharni, the children were able to put their skills into action through a series of exciting mini games. The day was filled with energy, teamwork, and plenty of smiles, giving students a fantastic opportunity to practise the hockey skills they had learnt earlier this year while enjoying friendly competition. 

In other hockey news….

The event is a mixed-gender, primary school competition for Stage 2 students. Games will be played with modified equipment and scoring, ensuring an inclusive and enjoyable experience. Students will be placed into teams by their class teachers and will compete against other schools in our region. Divisions will be
organised to suit different ability levels.

The focus of the day is participation, fun, and skill development, while also introducing students to the exciting game of tennis. 

Please go to COMPASS for further details and to provide consent for your child to attend this fantastic day.

CECG Cricket Trials – 2026 Pathway
The CECG (Archdiocesan) Cricket Trials for 2026 will be held on Friday, 31st October 2025. These trials are open to boys and girls currently in Years 3–5 (please note, current Year 6 students are not eligible as this is the 2026 pathway). Students who currently play, or have previously played, competitive cricket are encouraged to register.

Successful students will then have the opportunity to attend the MacKillop Trials on 17th–18th November, ahead of the NSWPSSA Championships in February 2026.

Registrations are to be completed via the CSNSW Portal and will close on Friday, 24th October 2025.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Mrs Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator

Father's Day Raffle Winners
Camerons Harware Weber go anywhere - Darcy McM
Nicholson Tyres Voucher - Hayes A 
Strive Fitness Voucher - Eli G
Adelaide Hotel Voucher - James M
Sports First Voucher - Elsie CH
Treecycled Voucher - Zechariah A

Community Council