Dear Parents and
Friends,
Throughout this
term it has been an absolute pleasure to interview the new families enrolling
their children into St Mary’s School. I always ask parents the question of why
they want to enrol their children into a Catholic school and in particular St
Mary’s School. Answers vary of course, but a common theme is present in all
their responses which is usually around the importance of teaching the Catholic
values and celebrating the Liturgy as a community. For our leaders and teachers
in the school it is about proclaiming the story and passing on the story to our
children. We are the storytellers.
Historically St
Mary’s School has experienced the four charisms of the Marists, the Josephites,
the Mercy Sisters and the Jesuits and our students learn about the unique
qualities of these religious orders. Have you noticed the beautiful artwork at
the front entrance to the school? This new work of the Madonna and Child looks
very much at home in the entrance area. It bridges the design elements and
materials of the new buildings with its laser cut and computer engraved
stainless steel elements, while also being sensitive to the history of the old
buildings represented by the traditional cast bronze. Please stop and look when
you are passing through.
Congratulations
to Tayissa O in Year 6 and Bianca R in Year 4 who have made it through to
Mackillop level in Cross Country. This
is the third representative level and a very big achievement.
Today I met
with principals and their parent representatives from Trent Zimmerman’s
electorate for a briefing with the Minister, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham
on education issues resulting from the Gonski review. The opportunity also
allowed for Sydney Catholic School principals to raise our concerns over the
school funding debate and the current SES model which disadvantages so many of
our Catholic schools in the Sydney Archdiocese because of their capital city
location. Our brief to the Minister was to keep the high quality low fee system
of Sydney Catholic Schools and remind him of the great work we do in all 152
schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney. I sincerely thank our St Mary’s School
parent representative, Mr Sam Duggan for his expertise and generous support in
this process.
The staff are
very busy at present preparing the Semester 1 reports for the children. We aim
to provide detailed information to parents so that a very clear picture of each
student’s achievements is accurately recorded. At this reporting period we are
also concerned with giving directions for areas of improvement and growth in
the second semester. Following the dissemination of the reports, parent/
teacher interviews have been arranged for the last week of the term to discuss the
areas of improvement and growth. Please view the meetings as an important part
of the communication in the learning process.
It is with
great delight that I congratulate the Year 6 class parents, and in particular
Lisa Porter and Katie Delaney for their outstanding efforts in the recent
Lapathon raising $26,000 for our new library. Well done to all!
Best wishes,
Beverly Coffey