Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you for your ongoing support throughout what has been another full and productive term at St Mary’s. It is hard to believe we have reached the end of the term with only one remaining before the school year draws to a close. While there is no doubt we are all ready for a holiday, this has been a rewarding time of learning and achievement for our students. We now look forward to a well-deserved break before returning refreshed for the final stage of the year.

Kindergarten 2026
On Wednesday 17 September we held our final ‘Dip Into Kindergarten’ morning for children enrolled or considering enrolling at St Mary’s in 2026. It was a very successful morning enjoyed by the children as they all got to experience some of the wonderful things that happen in our Kindergarten classroom.

We look forward to welcoming our 2026 Kindergarten students next term for the Kindergarten Orientation sessions on Thursday November 13 and Thursday November 20.

Celebrating Growth in Spelling
This term our students from Years 2–6 have completed PAT Spelling assessments, and we are delighted to share the fantastic growth they have demonstrated across the school. The results show that students are making strong progress in their spelling knowledge and application, with many achieving above-expected growth since their last assessment.

One of the key contributors to this success has been the consistent implementation of the Spelling Mastery program. Through explicit teaching, daily practice, and carefully sequenced lessons, students are developing not only their spelling accuracy but also their confidence in using words effectively in their writing. Teachers have also noticed that the structured approach allows students to build on prior learning and apply spelling strategies more independently.

We are very proud of the effort and persistence students have shown in their spelling learning this year. These results remind us that with the right tools, clear instruction, and dedicated practice, all students can experience growth in their learning.