Term 4 - Week 4 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

The P&F AGM is on this Wednesday 7th November at 7pm.  I invite all parents and friends to come along.  I would like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge the work of Hamish Hutton (President), Tony Woods (Treasurer) and Ben Farmer (Secretary) who will be stepping down.  Hamish will be leaving the school at the end of the year, for a few years at least, until his youngest child starts school.  We looked through our photos to find a picture of Hamish, who was in so many - helping out at school events or working tirelessly behind the scenes of school events.  This photo of Hamish at a recent swimming carnival sums up his support for the school.  Thank you Hamish, you will be missed by all.  Tony and Ben will be around for a few more years and I would like to thank them both for their encouragement and obvious love of the school.  

It was wonderful to see Nellie B in Year 6 receive the Fred Hollows Award for Humanity at Parliament House from Gabi Hollows and Education Minister Rob Stokes.  Nellie was recognised for her efforts in fundraising and raising awareness of Refugees during Refugee Week. Nellie’s teacher Mr Andrew King, recognised her potential and encouraged her to take part in the campaign. Photos of Nellie receiving her award are on the School Blog.  Well done Nellie, we are proud of you!

Our children continue to inspire us with their sporting achievements. Hamish S and Charlie D in Year 5 are representing the school at a high level in cricket and basketball respectively next week. We wish them every success!

I warmly invite all parents and friends to our upcoming Celebration of Learning on Tuesday 14 November between 9-10am.  This is a wonderful opportunity to see our classes in action and be part of our community of learners. Every parent knows the difference an outstanding teacher makes. We see it in a child who begins to ask good questions about how the world works. Large-scale research clearly shows that in any given school year, the single biggest factor that affects how much a student will learn is his or her individual teacher. It is no wonder that when we think of schools that meet students’ changing needs, the first thing many think of is great educators.

The best teachers are active researchers, in two important ways. Firstly they are researchers of their students: they carefully observe their pupils, and from knowing them deeply, are able to engage them in learning that is both meaningful to their own lives and academically enriching. Secondly, they are researchers in the practice of teaching, actively seeking out strategies as educational data on the field evolves and children’s needs change.

We look forward to seeing you at our Learning Celebrations.

In the busy lead up to the Season of Advent it is easy for us all to forget to take time out and reflect on who we are as people of faith. In the words of Pope Francis we can take great joy. “From my point of view, God is the light that illuminates the darkness, even if it does not dissolve it, and a spark of divine light is within each of us.” Go forth and enjoy the busy weeks ahead.

Enjoy a relaxing weekend.

Peace and God bless,

Beverly

Principal's News Term 4 - Week 3

Dear Parents and Friends,

A warm welcome back to the final school term for 2017!

 The following weeks will bring great excitement as we prepare for our new learning spaces following the building project.  Our new school will ensure that the teachers have the resources, space and inspiration they need to realize the full potential of every student.

The estimated date for completion of the building project will be January 29^th which will allow the St Mary’s staff the necessary time to move in before school commences on Wednesday January 31^st. Once all classes are settled we will be inviting all families to be part of a special tour to see the classrooms in action.  As you can imagine all staff members and students are looking forward with great anticipation to working within the new spaces.

During the Spring vacation I had the opportunity to visit a number of progressive schools in Toronto, Canada. These schools have been established to provide an education where young people can be successful as individuals through magnificent teaching and leading where there is a focus on high-quality relationships, pedagogy and belief in children’s competence. These schools are deeply rooted in their communities and foster innovators, nimble problem-solvers and engaged citizens, boosting math comprehension, cultivating creativity and using technology to broaden the parameters of learning. They are exploring why the role of schools is expanding to nurture students’ social-emotional skills and growth mindsets, and how vital this broader definition of education is to children’s long-term health, happiness and success. I could see strong links between the Australian schools and of those in the province of Ontario in the realisation of this vision and how we as parents and teachers work closely together.

It was a delightful experience to participate in Mrs Kate Crisp’s Year 2 class liturgy this morning. The children spoke about the significance of the values of love and compassion in our world today and how as children they respond to each other in the class and in their own families. These opportunities where children can focus on their faith through the scripture stories and relate it to everyday living where they themselves can make a difference is a powerful means of learning. It was very encouraging to see our beautiful children reflecting in this positive way.

Enjoy a relaxing weekend.

Beverly Coffey

Term 3 Week 10 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time

They just have the heart

Elizabeth Andrew

In these busy times, it is easy to forgot to thank the people who are constantly volunteering their time and expertise.  Our parents volunteer around the school each and every day in morning car line, in the classroom, on the P&F and School Advisory Council.

Last Saturday night we celebrated our annual fundraiser - the Big Night Out.  As usual, an extraordinary amount of effort went into a fabulous and enjoyable evening.  We would like to acknowledge the efforts of Year 3, in particular Susan Vaz, Katie Delaney, Cait Ryan, Shauna Milani, Lynette Ireland, Alanna Antcliff, Michelle Abbey, Nicole McPeake and  Deb Taylor.   A big thank you to Craig Donnell for a wonderful job as MC on his birthday (and thanks to Larissa Huntington for making the birthday cake!)

A big thank you to our BNO sponsors, who have been named on the School Blog.

This Saturday night is the student’s turn with the School Disco.  Thank you in advance to Rebecca Ruis and Adrienne Langdon for bravely taking on this task! We expect that the children will respect the volunteer parents and remember that they are representatives of the school. Ms Kaye will be keeping an eye on proceedings. We thank her for giving up her time for the children.

Last night (Thursday 14th September) we enjoyed a wonderful showcase of talent at the “Voices of St Mary’s”. Representatives from Years 3-6 gave fantastic performances of stories, poetry and song. The senior choir and an instrumental group also performed showing great talent and as usual were inspiring. Thank you and well done to Mrs Lavick, Danielle, all the staff and students. Congratulations also to the beautiful St Mary’s Adult P&F choir on concluding the evening with their rendition of the Irish Blessing.

It is with pleasure that we will be welcoming Bishop Terry Brady at the Parish Healing Mass at 10.30am on Wednesday 20 September in the Ron Dyer Gathering Space and also on Friday 22 September at School Assembly.  You are all welcome to attend.

Next Friday 22 September is the end of Term 3.  We have had moments of sadness and moments of joy this term and we are very much looking forward to starting afresh next term as we enter the Season of Advent and the coming of Christ.  We look forward to celebrating the many happy events on the School Calendar with our School community.

Enjoy a wonderful weekend.

Julie Hunt

Acting Principal

Term 3 Week 4 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

This week we celebrated the Feast of Blessed Mary Mackillop with our students. This was an occasion to recall a life that embodied characteristics 'integral to the Australian identity', including a sense of a fair go for everyone, and her willingness to stand on the side of people often referred to as the 'Aussie Battler.'

The message of the feast challenges each Australian to know the God who is with us, to embrace with a compassionate heart those who travel the journey with us and to believe that each person can and does make a difference in our world. Our students identify these values as part of our school mission.

Mary Mackillop's innate goodness and her down to earth approach to life, her ability to bring hope and purpose in the midst of suffering has given Australians freedom to be spiritual. Mary is not a Saint to be admired from afar. She is a person who truly understands the everyday life of people, their struggle and their joys. Our students are very proud of their colour house of Mackillop and its message. 'Never see a need without doing something about it.'

This message of generosity and making a difference extends to our parent community especially for their support of our biggest fundraiser for the year the Big Night Out. As our new learning spaces are currently being constructed we are fundraising for our new Library Space. This space will bring traditional books and interactive digital technology together in a contemporary setting which will inspire students to love reading.

We need your support to make this happen.

Please buy a ticket and come along and enjoy the St Mary's Community in a fun night.

'The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, distracts and excites. It gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.' 
- Elizabeth Hardwick. 

Building Update

All levels have been completed.  This Saturday columns will be poured ready for the structural steel to complete the roof.

The basement and ground floor have been cleared of props so plumbers and electricians can start the fit out.  Work is also continuing on the western façade.

Thank you for your support of St Mary’s.

Kind regards,

Beverly Coffey

Welcome to Term 3 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

Welcome to Term 3.  

I trust that you all enjoyed a happy and restful winter break with your family and now feel re-energised for the busy term ahead. It's encouraging to see the children returning to school with a healthy enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Let's keep that spirit alive!

Term 3 will be interesting with the various activities planned, so we look forward to working closely with you. I am confident that from the many learning experiences that St Mary's School is able to offer and under the guidance of our dedicated staff, that our students will continue to progress with confidence.

Our children continue to inspire us with their remarkable achievements.  On 4th August we have a number of children representing the school at the Eastern Region Athletics Trial. Yesterday Cathy Z in Year 2 was announced a finalist in the Young Archibald Competition.  Cathy's picture of her brother William is on display at the Art Gallery of NSW until 22 October 2017.  Recently Orlando was highly commended in the 2017 NSW Storytelling Competition, the only Year 5 student in the State to reach the final stage of competition.  Lachlan in Year 6 is currently representing Australia in the US Kids Golf World Championship and closer to home, Josh in Year 6 recently received an award in the North Sydney Young Writers Competition.  Each child has a gift, and it is pleasing to see so many using their talents to aspire, inspire and make a difference.

Building Update

The School Holidays provided opportunity for major electrical installation work in the administration section of the school as well as continued work on the building site.

Comms Room:  New flooring and a new Server were installed in the Comms Room.  Extensive cabling was laid under the kinder courtyard and Principal's office as well as in the roof cavities, all of which will eventually connect to the new building. 

Jacaranda Pruning:  The Jacaranda was pruned under Arborist instruction.

New Building:  The new building is definitely taking shape - it is an exciting time as each day reveals more shape and form.  Scaffold is now up, last level concrete pour early next month, with structural steel and roof to follow.

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.

Beverly Coffey,

Principal

Term 2 Week 4

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr

Dear Parents and Friends,

Change is part of life.  When St Mary’s opened it’s doors on 26th February 1888, North Sydney was a working class area.  The two-roomed school was surrounded by bush on one side and paddocks on the other.  By 1913 enrolments had reached 300 boys.  The year of 1956 saw the demolition of many nearby homes to build the Warringah Freeway, subsequently enrolments started to drop, to a low of 69 in 1978.  From 1980 enrolments started to increase once again, the school growing in size to cater for all those who desire a Catholic education for their child. We currently have 373 students enrolled with three more classes planned by the end of 2020.

Our building project is progressing well now and we are looking forward to our ten new learning spaces, library, canteen and playground areas. Over the coming weeks staff, students and parents will have an opportunity to collaborate on how we utilise these new learning spaces for excellence in student learning.

This week I have been involved in a review of education in Sydney Catholic Schools as a panel member looking specifically at the quality of teaching and learning in our systemic schools and the opportunities for student engagement across the primary school curriculum. It has been encouraging to see many outstanding examples of dedicated teachers and leaders in our primary schools and the positive impact they are having on student learning,

Thank you to the Year 2 parents, led by class mums Joan Larkin, Nicci Rowe, Tara Egger and Genevieve Costelloe for the wonderful Mother’s Day breakfast.  Indeed it was very special to savour the many delights! Thank you also to all those who were part of the very special liturgy that followed.

May I also take this opportunity to personally thank the parents who were involved in my recent contract renewal process. Your encouragement was greatly appreciated as we work closely together in the development of our school community over the next few years.

A school calendar update was sent out earlier this week.  There are many upcoming events of which you are kindly invited to take part.

Best wishes

God bless

Beverly Coffey

Term 2 Week 2 2017

A Prayer for Mothers

All-loving God,

we give you thanks and praise

for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers,

who give life and count toes

and tend to our every need;

May they be blessed with patience and tenderness

to care for their families and themselves

with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers

who have nurtured and cared for us;

May they continue to guide

in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated

from their children because of war,

Poverty or conflict;

May they feel the loving embrace of

our God who wipes every tear away.

We pray for women who are not mothers

but still love and shape us

with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers & great grandmothers

who are no longer with us

but who live forever in our memory 

and nourish us with their love.

Amen

- Heide Busse

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Term 2!  I hope that you had a wonderful break, whether you went on holiday or just enjoyed a change from the school routine.  We look forward to a term filled with learning and happy memories.

Over the coming weeks we have several events which are outlined in our newsletter today as well as on our school calendar, which can be accessed via the Blogsite.

I look forward to joining you in Mother's Day Celebrations this coming Friday 12th May. Thank you to the P&F, Susan Vaz and the Year 2 parents for organising this event.  A Happy Mother's Day to all our mothers!

We have several information sessions which we invite our parent community to:

• Literacy information session for Kinder Parents on  Tuesday 16 May at 5.30pm.  At this information session we will discuss how to best support early reading at home and in the classroom and also share pedagogical insights from the reading recovery program.  If you are wanting to help out with classroom reading groups, we ask that you please attend this session.

• STEM information evening on Tuesday 23 May at 7pm.  Markus Powling has recently attended two overseas conferences where he has delivered papers on STEM teaching in Primary Schools.  We are proud that we are competing at an international level with our STEM program here at St Mary's.

• Two Newman Program Information sessions on  Tuesday 30 May at 7pm and again on Thursday 8 June at 9am.  These sessions will be presented by Amanda Tinson, Sydney Catholic Schools Leader of Learning in Gifted Education and Meghan Bassett, our Newman Facilitator at St Mary’s.  

Our newsletter today will outline further information on these sessions. Our school blogsite has considerable information on both the STEM and Newman Programs.

Building update:  Works are progressing well with the reinforcement to the Ground Floor Slab being completed by end of May and the pouring of the concrete floor on June 1st.  Estimated completion date for the project is 21 December 2017.

Enjoy a glorious Autumn weekend!

Kind regards,
Beverly Coffey

Term 1 Week 10 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

As Term 1 comes to a rapid close, it is a delight to look back over the past ten weeks to see how far our students have progressed, to celebrate their learning journey and to thank them for their generous contributions they have made to school life. There have been many outstanding achievements as our students have worked with motivation, perseverance and commitment. Well done to all!

Throughout this Lenten season, our school theme of Gratitude has been at the forefront of our minds. The school community has generously supported Project Compassion. Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of our Catholic community and caring supporters throughout Australia to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold the dignity of every human being, especially those who have suffered greatly and have little. Our social justice captains have diligently collected money in the project compassion boxes each week and delivered it to the School Office for safe keeping. We look forward to sharing the total amount raised when students return in Term 2.

We are grateful for the continued support of the P&F, thank you to Hamish, Tony and Susan for your efforts.  A special thank you to Susan and the BNO Bunnies who sold over 900 buns today!

Building Works Update:  With constant rain delay experienced over the past couple of months, the builders are six weeks behind schedule, but are confident of making up time over the next six months. 

There are two Staff Development Days attached to this holiday break where the teachers will engage in professional development on Quality Literacy Teaching to improve student learning outcomes in all areas of the English Syllabus. St Mary's teachers will join with the teaching staff from St Michael's Lane Cove and Sacred Heart Mosman to specifically assess the most effective ways to engage students in the writing process. Next term there will be some parent sessions where this process will be modelled in some workshops to assist parents in understanding their child's progress.

As we enter into the last week of Lent and the school holiday break, may the message of new life and hope be with you and your family.

Happy Easter to all!

With every blessing,
Beverly Coffey

Principal's News 24 March 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

It is possible that the most important conversation we have each day is with ourselves. This conversation could determine if our outlook for the day is to be one of optimism and so fill us with confidence to accept and deal positively with the days' menu of events. The way adults feel about themselves will have a big influence upon the manner in which our children view the prospects of their day. A healthy positive attitude to life is contagious and if we parents are carriers, then our children are sure to be infected.

As teachers of St Mary's School, we try to bring a positive gospel perspective to every aspect of school life. Here are some examples:

• God reaches out to all of us in our day-to-day life: Finding meaning in our experiences is a sacred act. When our Kindergarten children recreate their experiences in talk and play they are being touched by God.
• We are both blessed and broken: Each one of us has enormous potential; talents to be developed and challenges to be met. At the same time we seek healing and forgiveness, the opportunity to learn from mistakes and to start again with confidence.

Through the diverse curriculum offered at St Mary's School our learning intention is to help students make sense of their world.

Sport
Sport is always a celebration and it is wonderful to see our children participate in the many opportunities that are available these days.  Our Blog showcases our children and their sporting achievements.  We were particularly proud this week that Joshua M from Year 6 has achieved State Level in Swimming.  Well done to Josh and to all the children who use their special gifts to represent the School in such a wonderful way.

Thank you

Thank you to Year 4 parents for co-ordinating a lovely morning tea for Grandparents Morning.  We have had wonderful feedback from Grandparents and appreciate all the support to make this a special occasion for grandparents and the children.

Annual Improvement Plan:

This week I will share the Annual Improvement Plan for the 2017 school year. This plan identifies areas for improvement as part of the Sydney Catholic Schools Strategic Improvement Plan for individual schools. Following a process of discernment with the St Mary's Leadership Team and consultants the following plan was developed showing our learning intentions and success criteria.

An appendix has been added to the Newman Project for your understanding.

Annual Improvement Plan Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-GnU83fiTd8ak9pTVd2T19XX3c/view?usp=sharing

Newman Project Link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-GnU83fiTd8bTlORUc1QWhlX2c/view?usp=sharing

Have a wonderful weekend,
Kind regards,
Beverly Coffey

Principal's News - 10 March 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

This week we once again ask all families to reflect on the importance of the Church season of Lent. We talk to the children about the special ways they can show compassion towards each other and how love is a vital component in their lives, just as Christ made it the basis of His whole message to us.

Lent is a time when we focus on our relationship with God. It is a time of letting go of what prevents us from being the person we want to be. During His public life, Jesus faced temptation, suffered hunger, thirst and betrayal as well as the agony and humiliation of crucifixion. He did not face these things so that we could be exempt from them but that we could approach our difficulties in life with dignity.

I have included these thoughts from Pope Francis about our commitment to Lent.

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Himalayan Trek

It is with great excitement that we update our community on the Himalayan Trek that is currently being organised by two of our parents Mr Craig Donnell and Dr. Kaustuv Bhattacharya. As you my remember, the idea of the trek was originally planned for November 2015 but was postponed due to the serious earthquake that hit Nepal in April 2015.

On Friday 28 April 2017, the team of trekkers which includes our parents, will depart for Kathmandu, Nepal to make an ascent on Imja Tse (Island Peak, 6189m). Their mission is to raise $100,000 for the Rare Disease Research Fund at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and St Mary's School. Dr. Kaustuv, who is the paediatric metabolic specialist at The Children's Hospital Westmead, outlined the challenges that lay ahead for his patients and the need for further research to help find cures or treatments.   

In addition to the funds being raised for research in Australia, St Mary's Parents and Friends Association along with our students are organising educational supplies that will be carried up the mountain to donate to Shree Himalaya Primary School in Namche Bazaar. A list of what is needed is included in this newsletter so we hope that you can support us. A need for warm clothing for Sherpas and their families has also been identified due to recent hardship caused by the earthquakes and avalanche.

This will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to be involved in this needy cause. Further details are included in today's newsblog.

We wish the Trekkers every success in this very worthy mission to help those in need.  

Parents and Friends Association

This week we welcomed many new faces to our first meeting for the year which outlined the plans for the social activities that will take place in 2017. It was a delightful opportunity to engage our parents in the ways they can support the St Mary's School Community this year. 

Building Project

Gledhill Constructions are making good progress on the building site now that the traffic management issues have been resolved with North Sydney Council. Work to be completed during this month includes:

• Complete detailed excavation
• Shotcrete works to both elevations
• Commence in ground drainage plus hydraulics below basement slab
• Reinforce and pour concrete footings/shoring columns to Ridge Lane
• Prepare, Form, Reinforce and pour basement slab by April 12th. 

Enjoy a relaxing weekend!

Kind regards,

Beverly Coffey

Term 1 Week 3 2017

New Year 4 Classroom for 2017

Dear Parents and Friends,

It has been encouraging to see our new Kindergarten children settling into their school routines so happily over the last few weeks. Congratulations to all parents for your great support in this task. We also thank all the students of St Mary's for making the Kindergarten children feel welcomed.

Today our community gathered for the Opening Mass for the 2017 School Year to celebrate in a spirit of love and service. The theme for this year is '' The Mighty One has done great things for me and holy is His name." The action statement is: "Give praise and thanks to God always."

The theme is part of The Magnificat, taken from Luke's Gospel and is the Blessed Virgin Mary's hymn of praise to the Lord. It is also known as the Canticle of Mary in the Liturgy of the Hours, a special collection of scripture readings, psalms and hymns. Throughout this year we will embrace this theme and lead our children to understand and respect the importance of showing gratitude in our daily lives.

The 2017 school year commences with a student population of 372 students in eleven classes with a well supported teaching and support staff consisting of the following:

• 16 Full-time teachers
• 7 Part-time specialist teachers for Reading Recovery; Gifted Education; Literacy and Numeracy Intervention; Music and French (TBA)
• 6 Learning Support Staff
• 2 Office Administration

School building Update
The Building Project is underway again after a delay due to an updated traffic management plan needing to be approved by North Sydney Council. The project managers are currently organising their timetable and schedule for the site works but a completion date has been set for December 13th 2017.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Kind regards,
Beverly Coffey

Welcome Back to St Mary’s School for 2017!

Dear Parents and Friends,

May I wish you a very warm welcome back to St Mary’s School for the 2017 School Year. I trust that you and your families have enjoyed a happy and successful start to the year and feel refreshed and re-energized after the summer break.

St Mary’s Staff returned to work last Friday for their professional learning day and all members are very motivated for the school year ahead and look forward to working in close partnership with you in the weeks and months to come.

Over the holidays the building project has progressed well with all of the demolition work completed. Security fencing has been erected around the building site which will affect a part of the playground usage for this year. In order to compensate for this loss of space the recess and lunch times will be staggered across the classes. This will not affect the start or finishing times of the school day.

The Year 2 and 3 classes will be accommodated in the demountable buildings this year and Year 4 will be located in the former staff room which has been modified to allow for this change. We look forward to welcoming all the students from Year 1 to 6 this coming Monday and our new Kindergarten classes on Tuesday. 

Kind regards,

Beverly Coffey

Dear Parents and Friends

It is a sign of how busy our contemporary lives have become that December has crept up all too quickly and here we are composing our last newsletter for 2016. Throughout the last couple of weeks St Mary's has been abuzz with the end of year activities that have added to the long list of  events and activities for this year which make our school an exceptional learning community.

St Mary's has a rich culture of learning and one that encourages and expects excellence, dedication and commitment from all members, staff and students of the school. Our children are encouraged to reach their full potential, to be true to themselves, find their own personal interests and passions and improve all aspects of their learning as they grow from Kindergarten to Year Six. It is a holistic education that develops students' intellectual, spiritual, social, emotional, physical, artistic and creative capabilities.

This year our teaching staff have been professionally challenged during the weekly Tuesday  afternoon staff meetings where they work in Professional Learning Teams (PLT's) to understand in greater depth the learning needs of all students in their classrooms. To do this, they have been using a variety of diagnostic tools and student learning data to further understand the student learning needs in implementing a purposeful program in line with the revised Australian curriculum. Our aim is to ensure all students, no matter what level, have measurable learning growth and are supported in a positive and encouraging environment. I thank all staff members for their commitment and loyalty to providing a learning environment where all students can reach their full potential.

I also extend my appreciation of the outstanding support provided by our parent community that continues each year. The generosity and level of compassion shown by the parents in the St Mary's community is very unique in so many ways. Blessings to you all!

As a Catholic school we are also privileged to have the Jesuit priests to guide and direct us spiritually throughout the year and remind us of our vocation to educate and care for children. On behalf of all the community I personally thank Fr. Andy Bullen, Fr. Michael Stoney and Fr. Daven Day for their great wisdom and compassion.

In the spirit of our theme for the Jubilee Year of Mercy let us all pray for mercy in the lead up to Christmas. Jesus was born into this world to show us how we can be merciful to others. May the message of Jesus' life live with us each day, knowing that God's love dwells within us, giving us the courage that we too can bring mercy to our world.

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

With every blessing for a happy Christmas and safe and relaxing holiday.

Beverly