Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 8, it is hard to believe we’re only three weeks away from the end of Term 1. There is still so much going on at St Mary’s and so much learning to be done!

Last week Chris De Britt from the Catholic Education Office in Canberra ran a professional development session for our staff. His aim was to expose staff to different ways to analyse student results from CE mandated assessments like DIBELS and PAT. His presentation was informative and engaging. I very much look forward to receiving feedback from parents and staff on the evidence-based discussions you will engage in later in the year about your child’s growth and performance. I would like to share with you some excellent results we have already achieved early in 2025. Below is a graph of the Archdiocese and our school’s Beginning of Year DIBELS results (students are tested at the beginning, middle and end of year). I am pleased to report that the bottom of the graph shows that we only have 11% of students requiring intensive support in reading whereas the rest of the Archdiocese are reporting that 19% of students require intensive support in reading. This is a fabulous result and a testament to the hard work of our staff and most importantly our students. 

A reminder that morning supervision begins at 8:25. As there are no teachers on the grounds until then please ensure your child does not arrive at school before 8:25. Many children have been getting to school before morning supervision begins. Thanks for your co-operation.  

Congratulations to Billy Pettit (pictured below) of 6 Faith for being awarded with the ‘Country Women’s Association of NSW Phillip Group Education Grant’. Well done Billy!!

Next Tuesday, St Anne’s Temora Principal Louise Grant will visit St Mary’s and present to our Year 5 and 6 cohort about High School at St Anne’s. Parents are also invited to attend.

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins