Dear Parents and Carers 

I hope you’ve had a lovely week. Today we celebrated World Teachers’ Day at St Mary’s, a special occasion to recognise the work of teachers around the world. Here at St Mary’s, we are blessed with an exceptional team of educators who are dedicated, passionate, and committed to our students. Each day, they go above and beyond to nurture and inspire our learners, helping them grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

To all our teachers, thank you for everything you do. Your care and commitment make St Mary’s such a special place to learn and grow.

Congratulations to Ryan T, Emilia K and Zane C on having their artwork selected to be featured in the Eurobodalla 2026 Environmental Calendar!

The students were presented with a copy of the new calendar and a gift at a special presentation held yesterday at the Basil Arts Exhibition Centre. What a wonderful achievement!

School Survey
Have your say! The new annual School Engagement Survey is launching mid-November, and all families will have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences at the school as a parent or guardian and provide feedback. Your feedback will be valuable to help us understand how to better support your child and improve our school.

The new survey has been developed with the support of JWS Research. It will take around 10-15 minutes to complete, and your responses will be kept completely confidential and only reported at an aggregate level.

You can expect the 2025 School Engagement Survey to be distributed through Compass as a News Item and push notification in the coming days! If you have any issues accessing the survey link, please contact the Catholic Education Office through Strategy.Survey@cg.catholic.edu.au

Mission Market Day
Today we celebrated Mission Market Day. We began the day with Mass, focusing our thoughts on others and praying for those who are less fortunate. Following Mass, students and teachers set up a wonderful variety of stalls in the Lean To. The students thoroughly enjoyed the range of activities and delicious food on offer. A huge thank you to our families, students, and teachers for the time and effort that went into creating and running the market stalls. It was truly a team effort! A special thank you to Mrs Jessica Afflick and Mrs Carla Durnan for their planning and coordination. The funds raised will go towards supporting the important work of Catholic Missions.

School Improvements
Over the holidays, several exciting improvements have taken place around our school. The Year 4 classrooms received a fresh coat of paint, bringing a bright and welcoming feel to the learning spaces. A new glass sliding door has also been installed between the Year 3 and Year 5 classrooms, helping to create a more flexible and collaborative learning environment in the block.

The front gates near the staff carpark have been freshly painted, and a big thank you goes to Tim Weyman for generously repainting the lines in the staff carpark, it looks fantastic!

We’re also thrilled to announce that four chickens will be joining our school community next week! Thanks to Matt Wood, who has built a wonderful chicken coop and run, our students will soon have the opportunity to interact with and care for animals as part of their daily school life. We’re even hoping to sell some eggs in the future!

The students are very excited about these new additions, which will not only enhance our environment but also provide valuable learning opportunities for responsibility and care.

Class Allocations for 2026
As we begin planning for next year, our focus is on creating the best possible learning environments for all students. A gentle reminder that any written requests or concerns regarding class placements for 2026 should be sent to me via email at jo.wain@cg.catholic.edu.au .

Our staff are currently reviewing class lists in preparation for our ‘Step Up’ session in Week 10. This process is something we approach with great care and consideration. Our teachers know your child well, their learning needs, friendships, and the environment in which they thrive. I encourage you to place your trust in us as we work thoughtfully to create balanced and supportive classes for 2026.

Keeping Our Children Safe Online
As technology continues to play a big role in our children’s lives, it’s important that we, as parents and carers, remain actively involved in helping them navigate the online world safely. Many online games and apps now include chat features or social elements, which can sometimes expose children to inappropriate content or unwanted contact.

We encourage all families to monitor the games and apps your child is using, check privacy settings, and have open conversations about what’s appropriate online. Simple steps such as setting boundaries around screen time, keeping devices in shared spaces, and discussing who your child interacts with can make a big difference.

Please also be aware that online chats and group messages can sometimes spill over into school conversations. If you have any concerns about what your child is experiencing or hearing, my door is always open.

If you ever come across something that concerns you, such as online bullying, inappropriate contact, or harmful content, you can make a report to the eSafety Commissioner at www.esafety.gov.au . The eSafety website also provides excellent resources to support parents in guiding children’s safe and positive online experiences.

The Changing Face of Cyberbullying: Help Protect Your Child Online
Presented by the eSafety Commissioner
This free 45-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in primary and secondary school. AI tools are evolving rapidly, and some are being misused in ways that can harm or exploit children and young people — including the creation of deepfakes and digitally altered images.

The session will explore how these technologies are being used, their potential impact, and practical ways to support and protect your child online. 

Blessings on your family. 

Kind regards
Jo

Johanna Wain
Principal