Dear Parents and Carers 

It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of Semester One! Thank you for the many ways you have supported our school community throughout Term 2. The strong partnership between families and the school is vital to each child’s success, and we are truly grateful for your ongoing involvement, encouragement and support. I would also like to thank our dedicated staff for their continued commitment and care. Every day, they work hard to create a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where each student can learn, grow, and thrive. The teachers have enjoyed the term and are looking forward to catching up with you during Parent–Teacher Interviews next week to discuss your child’s progress and development.

This week, we warmly welcome Mr David de Carvalho as the new Executive Director of Catholic Education. David is a highly respected and experienced leader in the education sector, bringing with him a deep knowledge of, and commitment to, our Catholic faith.

Upon his appointment, David shared, “I am very much looking forward to getting to know and working closely with the leaders and staff of our 56 schools and 9 early learning centres, and our parish priests, as we continue to offer the gift of Catholic education to all families living in the Archdiocese. Our Australian society has never been more in need of this gift, which offers not only excellent academic outcomes, but more importantly a Christ-centred vision of humanity, life and learning as oriented to all that is true and beautiful and good.”

David will begin visiting schools next week, and we look forward to welcoming him to our beautiful community in the near future.

Next week, we farewell Tim Smith, Performance and Development Leader from Catholic Education. Tim has dedicated nearly 40 years to Catholic Education and has worked closely with schools across the South Coast throughout his career. Tim has been an excellent leader and a strong advocate for St Mary’s. His commitment, wisdom, and support have made a significant and lasting impact on our school and broader community.

We thank Tim for all that he has given to Catholic Education and wish him every blessing and happiness in the next chapter of his life.

This Sunday, we congratulate and pray for our students who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is a significant step in their faith journey, and we are delighted to welcome Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who will be confirming the children. We extend our thanks to Mrs Durnan, Ms Lock, Fr George, and all those who have been involved in preparing the students to receive this special sacrament.

Last weekend, Fr Richard Thompson celebrated Mass at Sacred Heart Church. His reflection on the Gospel reading—the feeding of the five thousand with loaves and fishes—was a powerful reminder of the gift we have as Catholics in being able to receive the Eucharist, and the importance of who we are and how we live as people of faith. Fr Richard encouraged us to be welcoming through our words and actions, so that others may feel invited to walk alongside us.

This is also my hope for St Mary’s—that every student, family member, and visitor feels welcomed, valued, and included from the moment they step through our gates. Together, through faith and community, we continue to grow.

School Uniform Update
Thank you to the many parents who have taken the time to provide feedback on our school uniform. Your input is greatly appreciated and plays an important role in helping us make informed decisions that reflect the needs of our school community.

We are currently working with Hip Pocket Batemans Bay and Moruya Coastal Workwear to ensure consistency in the supply and appearance of our uniform items. A number of parents who responded to the recent survey expressed interest in having an alternative to the bomber-style jacket. In response to this feedback, we will begin the process this year of sourcing another jacket option. We will keep families updated as this progresses.

From 2026, we will introduce a requirement for all students to wear black leather school shoes. These do not need to be formal leather shoes—all-black leather runners will also be acceptable. However, please note that shoes must be completely black, including soles and laces.

We appreciate your continued support in ensuring students wear the correct uniform each day. A consistent approach to uniform helps promote a sense of belonging, equality, and pride among our students as they represent St Mary’s.

Kindergarten 2026 enrolments
Kindergarten enrolments for 2026 are progressing rapidly and we are nearing capacity. Over the past two weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many new and returning families as we welcome the youngest future members of the St Mary’s community.

If you have a sibling who will be starting Kindergarten in 2026 and you have not yet submitted your enrolment paperwork, we strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible to secure a place.

Please don’t hesitate to contact the Front Office if you need an enrolment pack or have any questions.  

Carroll College Musical 
This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Carroll College Musical, We Will Rock You. It was a fantastic production, and I especially enjoyed seeing so many of our former St Mary’s and St Bernard’s students taking on lead roles and showcasing their incredible talent on stage. A huge congratulations to Carroll College on delivering such a wonderful show. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the performance and left feeling inspired!

Teaching and Learning
At St Mary’s, our staff are committed to providing your child with the highest quality education. Over the past two years, our whole staff has engaged in professional learning focusing on the Science of Learning and the Science of Reading. This evidence-based approach underpins our classroom practices and supports all students in achieving success.

Spelling Mastery has been implemented across Years 3–6 as a Tier 1 whole-school intervention strategy. All staff were trained in the program and now work collaboratively to deliver targeted spelling instruction each morning. As part of our consistent whole-school approach:

• Spelling Mastery is taught four days per week
• Lessons begin promptly at 8:50am and run for 20 minutes
• Students are grouped across year levels based on need

This structured and explicit teaching program has not only supported student growth, but has also provided staff with valuable professional development. Many of our teachers have shared their “light bulb” moments, as they see the direct impact this approach is having in the classroom.

Our teaching philosophy is grounded in explicit instruction, where teachers teach first, then ask—ensuring students have the knowledge and support needed before being asked to respond. We also use daily reviews across the curriculum to strengthen memory and reduce cognitive load. These strategies are making a real difference: students are thriving and experiencing real success in their learning.

This week, I also had the pleasure of listening to our Year 5 speeches. The students were confident, creative, and incredibly impressive. I was so proud of their efforts and the growth they have demonstrated. Congratulations to each of them!

NAIDOC Week Celebrations
We are working closely with St Bernard’s, Batemans Bay and Carroll College, Broulee to plan authentic and meaningful celebrations for NAIDOC Week.

In Week 1 of Term 3, we will participate in two significant events:

• Yuin Bunaan Cultural Day
• Thursday 24 July – All Aboriginal students and school leaders are invited to attend the regional NAIDOC Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Bega, beginning at 11:00am.

In Week 2, St Mary’s will host our own NAIDOC Week celebrations, with a range of activities planned for students across the week. A highlight will be our special cultural experiences designed to deepen students’ understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

These events are a valuable opportunity for our school community to celebrate, learn, and reflect on the rich traditions, contributions, and stories of our First Nations peoples.

School finishes for Term 2 for all students on Thursday 3 July.

I wish all families a safe and enjoyable break and we look forward to seeing you back for Term 3 on Tuesday 22 July.

Warm regards
Jo

Johanna Wain
Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,
SEMESTER ONE REPORTS – Now Available on Compass
Semester One student reports will be available today, Friday 27 June from 12:00pm, via the Compass Parent Portal.

Reporting plays a vital role in providing feedback to students, parents, and teachers about learning progress. In a standards-referenced framework, teachers make professional judgements about each student’s achievement based on what has been taught and assessed up to this point in the year. Reports are informed by a range of evidence, including assessment tasks, observations, and classroom learning, all aligned to curriculum outcomes.

Students in Years 1–6 will receive an A–E grade for each learning area, using the Common Grade Scale, which provides a shared language for reporting achievement. For students in Kindergarten, achievement for each subject is reported against the NSW Syllabuses using the following four-point scale:

The Engagement with Learning Statements provide insights into your child’s approach to learning. They reflect important aspects such as work habits, communication, responsibility, behaviour, and collaboration, and serve as a valuable starting point for meaningful conversations about your child’s progress. There are four levels of engagement: 

PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS
Parent–Teacher meetings will take place in Week 10, on Monday 30 June and Tuesday 1 July. These meetings are an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress directly with their class teacher.

During the meeting, the teacher will also talk through your child’s Semester One report, explaining how grades have been determined based on work samples and assessment tasks. Each meeting will run for approximately 10–15 minutes.

We encourage all parents and carers to take part in these valuable conversations about learning.If you haven’t yet made a booking, we invite you to do so. Please contact the school office if you need any assistance with Compass access or the booking process.

The booking portal on Compass will close on Sunday 29 June.

NAIDOC WEEK 2025 – Celebrating Strength, Vision & Legacy
Over the past 50 years, NAIDOC Week has grown into a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history, and strength. As we honour this important milestone, we reflect on the generations who have paved the way—and look forward with hope to the young people who will continue the journey with pride, courage, and deep respect for the past.

In 2025, NAIDOC Week will be held during the school holidays, from Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July. The term NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It is a time to celebrate the rich culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples—and to strengthen the connection between all Australians.

This year’s theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," highlights the power of our young leaders, the wisdom of community, and the enduring legacy of ancestors. It’s a celebration of where we've come from—and where we're headed.

At St Mary’s, we will celebrate NAIDOC Week as a whole school in Week 2 of Term 3. We are deeply committed to growing our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, languages, and knowledge systems. By celebrating NAIDOC Week, we deepen our understanding, show respect, and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation and unity in our school and beyond.

We are proud to live, learn, and work on the land of the Walbunja and Brinja Yuin peoples, the First Custodians of this country. We remain dedicated to building respectful, genuine, and ongoing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, local communities, service providers, and organisations.

YUIN BUNAAN - Wednesday 23 July (Week 1)
On Wednesday 23 July, our K–12 Catholic Pathway Schools will come together to celebrate Yuin Bunaan, a special Cultural Day at Captain Oldrey Park, Broulee. This meaningful event is held every second year and forms an important part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations.

The day will be attended by our First Nations students, each of whom is invited to bring a friend to share in the experience. They will join students from Carroll College, Broulee and St Bernard’s, Batehaven.

We sincerely thank our dedicated teachers for their planning and preparation, and we are also grateful to the organisations and community groups whose generous support will allow cultural knowledge to be shared through a range of engaging stalls and hands-on activities.

We look forward to this special day of community, culture, and connection.

SOUTHERN REGION NAIDOC MASS – Thursday 24 July (Week 1)
On Thursday 24 July, St Patrick’s Primary School, Bega will host the South Coast Schools Regional NAIDOC Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Bega, beginning at 11:00am. This special celebration will bring together students and staff from schools across our Southern Region, including St Bernard’s (Batemans Bay), Carroll College (Broulee), St Patrick’s (Bega) and Lumen Christi (Pambula).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 4–6, along with our Year 6 school leaders, will represent St Mary’s at the Mass and will travel by bus with students from St Bernard’s.

Following the Mass, there will be a presentation of NAIDOC Awards recognising nominated students and adults from across our regional schools.

We warmly invite parents, carers, and families to join us for this important and meaningful celebration of culture, faith, and community.

Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)

How to participate in ICAS  
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)  
2. Read the Privacy Collection Statement below.
3. Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
4. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)  
5. Enter our school’s access code – SJE888 
6. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.

ICAS results and certificates
All assessments will be conducted online, at school. We will notify you of the date(s) that we will run ICAS assessments, and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to school. Once we have received them, we will present them to your child to bring home. The back of the certificate will show your child’s ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. - Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent

Privacy collection statement  
The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.

ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).

To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:

• collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam. 

• transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia. 

• share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving). 

• use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes. 

You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/. 

We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.

ICAS Assessments 2025

Parent orders close Monday 28 July 2025

As we come to the end of a busy and rewarding term, I wish all our families a safe, restful, and relaxing holiday break. Thank you for your continued support throughout the semester—I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for another great term ahead.

God bless and take care,

Mrs Sue Heffernan
Assistant Principal

Year 6 Learning Leaders
This term, our Year 6 leaders have worked incredibly hard as disciples within our school community, striving to grow in both their learning and leadership inside and outside the classroom. They have been involved in so many wonderful events and initiatives, including: presenting the Year 6 Assembly, participating in the Sorry Day Bridge Walk, selling Zooper Doopers, watching the Carroll College musical, competing in the Athletics Carnival,taking part in Walk Safely to School Day, representing the school at Rugby League Gala Day, visiting the Book Fair, attending soccer, netball, football, and touch trials, competing in Cross Country, attending Photo Day, engaging in STEM activities at Carroll College, hosting the Mother’s Day Breakfast, celebrating Father George’s Farewell Mass, participating in the My Body, My Life program, taking part in the Tennis Clinic and we even welcomed a new Pope during this time, and of course, we continue to walk proudly on our Confirmation journey.

Sam: I am proud to be a leader at St Mary’s because it is such a great school and everyone is kind and caring.
Andre: I am proud of my leadership because I always give everything a go and never give up… no matter what.
Maddie: As a leader, I have had the opportunity to visit Carroll College and meet lots of new people, spend time with our buddies, and help with various jobs around the school. 

Take a look at some special highlights with our incredible Year 6 Students: https://youtu.be/elKpVHbd6J8  

Religion
This term in Religion, our students have been exploring the significance of Baptism and how it marks the beginning of a person’s journey in faith. They have also reflected on what it means to confirm their faith as they grow in understanding and commitment to the Church. In addition to this, students have studied the key elements of the Jewish High Holy Days, including Rosh Hashana. They learned how these sacred celebrations focus on reflection, renewal, and reconciliation. Through this, students made meaningful connections between the Jewish traditions and the Church’s liturgical year.

Lily: I have enjoyed learning about my Saint, using Canva and preparing for Confirmation.
Abbie: I enjoy our Confirmation Retreat at Carroll College and my favourite activity was rock art.

English
Year 6 students are making great progress in their Spelling Mastery program, and this has transferred into their informational texts about Poland, speeches, and their Mayor writing tasks. There has also been a significant improvement in the students' reading fluency, which is practised each morning. On Monday, we completed our class novel Us Mob Walawurru, which the students thoroughly enjoyed for its rich cultural perspective. Students also completed their Public Speaking topic, “What Mistakes Teach Us.”Congratulations to Tessa and Matilda, who will progress to the next stage, and to Ollie, who has been selected as our class reserve.

Gracie:My reading pace has improved because of Reading Fluency each morning.
Ollie: I enjoyed reading my speech, our topic was so much fun.
Matilda: Our class novel has been great learning about Aboriginal culture.

Mathematics
The students are thoroughly enjoying Mathematics this term. They have been working on building automaticity with their times tables, which is helping them develop a clearer understanding of mixed numerals and improper fractions. We have also explored measurement, where students used protractors to accurately measure all three types of angles. This week, the students have been highly engaged in an exciting extension activity—planning a “Dream School Camp.” This task includes budgeting, time management, measurement, and data collection. Each Wednesday, a group of Year 6 students take part in extension Mathematics with Mr. Hill, and they are thoroughly enjoying this opportunity.

Declan: I have enjoyed extension Maths and planning a dream school camp with Ms Lock.
Bella: I have made improvements with my times table and extension Maths is fun with Mr Hill.

Science
This term's science unit is Chemical Science, focusing on the distinctive properties and behaviours of solids, liquids, and gases. Through hands-on experiments and engaging activities,the students have been exploring the fundamental nature of matter. The students have been captivated by The Big Idea, which explores stars, supernovae and the dramatic events within it. Moreover, students are actively learning about the periodic table, gaining insights into the organisation and characteristics of elements.

Benji: I like learning about atoms and how they share electrons with other atoms. Reyansh: Science is cool, because we get to learn about the periodic table and do experiments. 

History
This term, students have been learning about the struggles for rights and freedoms in Australia during the 20th Century. They have described and explained key events and challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and children, examining how Australian human rights have evolved over time. A particular focus was placed on the significance of the Mabo Decision and its impact on the recognition of land rights for Indigenous Australians.

Liam McA: I have learnt about Aboriginal rights and how, in 1967, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples were finally recognised in Australia.
Edwin: I have learnt that the Human Rights Commission helps protect the rights and freedom of all Australians, including the right to vote.

The Arts
Our art journey has been truly inspiring! We've explored influential artists like M.C. Escher and Banksy, drawing inspiration from their unique styles. Through the creation of saint portraits, we’ve embarked on a personal journey of exploration and self-expression. During music lessons with Mrs. Shannon, the students have been studying xylophone tunes and learning to play music from popular songs.

Pham : I am really enjoying art and I love music too.
Anikah : In music, I really enjoy playing the xylophone and performing songs like 'Old MacDonald Had a Farm'. 

Health
During health class this term, students have been focusing on learning how to maintain a healthy diet. One of the key activities involves planning a balanced eating plan that ensures adequate intake of vitamins and minerals from each food group. This activity encouraged students to consider the nutritional value of various foods and how they contribute to overall health and well-being.

Dion : It is really important to keep your body and mind healthy.
Liam G: I really enjoyed learning about proteins and understanding which foods are healthy for your body and which ones aren't.

Dhurga
Year 6 have been super excited every Thursday with Mr Nolan. We have been learning Dhurga, an Aboriginal language traditionally spoken by the Yuin people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the South Coast. Some of the phrases we have been exploring include: "Ngayaga" – Hello, "Ngumbudhaa-nji" – God bless you, "Daramalan" – God, and "Wajaar" – Country.

All Year 6: We are lucky to have Mr Nolan in our class teaching us Dhurga. We love listening to his family’s Dreamtime stories and learning about the culture and language of the Yuin people.

Ms Allison Lock
Year 6 Teacher

St Mary’s Athletics Carnival
It was such a wonderful day at our school Athletics Carnival last Wednesday. A change of venue this year, to Captain Oldrey Park at Broulee, took away that layer of worry of closed fields etc that seemingly always surrounds our carnivals and we were greeted with a beautiful winter's day. Although a little brisk to begin, the St Mary’s staff all banded together bright and early to start the pre carnival set up. This year, we introduced the High Jump event to the rotations - a fantastic addition which the students all thoroughly enjoyed and certainly a crowd pleaser. A special thanks to Jon Brady at Carroll College for arranging and delivering the high jump mats to the ovals for us to use. We also thank the six Carroll College Sports Coaching Students, Matilda, Harry, Seb, Kobi, Dylan and Gabbi who were an incredible help with all track and field events.

The students who made it into the finals of discus and shotput were able to showcase their strength in the throwing events while on the track, we were excitedly cheering for the runners as they did their very best in the 800m, 200m and 100m sprints, with some very close finishes.

Our K and Year One students all had a great time at the novelty events. A mixture of javelin (foam) throwing, team games like ‘Rob the Nest’, sack races and parachute games were all thoroughly enjoyed by the students with lots of smiles and giggles travelling across the oval.

A special thanks to Mr Bernie Beatty who provided the delicious BBQ for our hungry athletes and again to our Carroll College staff who assisted with line marking in readiness for a big week of carnivals.

We also thank Mr Hill for preparing the students so well prior to the carnival. Mr Hill was tirelessly working his way through field events so we had finalists ready to go. Mr Hill has also continued the Wednesday morning run club this term to help those interested in running to keep up their fitness, speed and agility. This has been a wonderful addition to the school sports program and we look forward to seeing our students put their running skills into practice again next term at the Southern Region Athletics Carnival. The SR carnival will be held in Bega on Monday 28 July and the Bega athletics Grounds from 9.30 am. The St Mary’s Athletics team travelling to Bega will receive a COMPASS notification in the next few days which will require consent and payment to secure your child’s place. If your child is unable to attend the next level, please be in touch at your earliest convenience so that the next child in line can be invited to attend. Additionally, if you will need assistance with travel arrangements to Bega, please be in contact with me so that we can try to accommodate extra passengers with families etc.

Congratulations to the following students that will be representing St Mary’s at the Southern Region Athletics Carnival:

St Mary’s Athletics Team

Next Tuesday at 2pm, all parents and families are invited to attend the Athletics presentations in the PAC. Classes from Year 2 - 6 will be eagerly awaiting results and receive a ribbon if they placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the overall timed events. We will also be naming the Athletics Age Champions as well as announcing the winning house. We look forward to seeing you there.

It has been a huge term for sport - the children have all shown such a wonderful attitude towards participation and engagement in both team and individual sports. For a small regional school, we certainly have some very talented and dedicated sports stars among us. I am looking forward to sharing more outstanding sports news in term 3.

I hope all families have the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate over the holidays.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

Mrs Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator