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