Friday 2nd May 2025 ~ Issue 11

Child Safety Statement

School Values

Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Respect Our School - Hormati Sekolah Kita

Do Your Best - Lakukan Yang Terbaik

Help Others to Succeed - Bantu Teman Untuk Berhasil

Important Dates

TERM 2

Thursday 8th May - Step Into Prep

Thursday 8th May - Spend the Day at Monivae (Grade 6 students)

Monday 12th May - Mother's Day Celebration at school from 1.20pm

Friday 16th May - Assembly

Monday 26th - Friday 30th May - Catholic Education Week

Wednesday 28th May - Friday 30th May - Gr 5/6 Camp - Warrnambool

Friday 30th May - Assembly

Wednesday 4th June - School Photos

Friday 13th June - Assembly

Friday 27th June - Assembly

Friday 4th July - Last day of Term 2

PUPIL FREE DAYS IN 2025

Wednesday 14th May - Whole School PD - Diocesan Strategic Plan - Horsham

Friday 19th September - Structured Literacy

Wednesday 17th December - Last day of the school year for students

ADVANCE NOTICE

Wednesday 17th September - St Mary's School Concert at Hamilton PAC

From the Principal

Dear Families,

It has been wonderful to be back at school for the start of Term 2! As I mentioned in my Seesaw message to start the week, so many things happened on the holidays - Easter, ANZAC Day, the death of Pope Francis. It has been lovely to connect with the students about these events.

On Monday we hosted our Open Morning. It was a privilege to show prospective families around our beautiful school. Then on Thursday we welcomed a large group of kinder children to school for Step Into Prep. It was so much fun!

A number of our students are just excelling in the world of sport! Lucy Outtram has participated in State swimming, Meki and Hana Churchill, Nina Roll, Charlie Moyle and Johannah Winnell are all competing and trialing in the basketball world and Alaska Bremner has run at the Stawell Gift and won the Little Athletics State Title in her age group for walking!! Outstanding efforts!

Have a wonderful weekend, shared with those you love,

Terrielynn

The recent death of Pope Francis has brought great sadness to many around the world. Pope Francis taught us that helping others, especially those who are lonely, sick, or poor, and caring for creation are some of the best ways we can show love for Jesus. Pope Francis encouraged people to care for everyone, just like Jesus did. 

God of All Creation, 

We thank you for the life of Pope Francis, for his love and care for all people, especially the poor, the sick, refugees, and those in need. 

He showed us how to be kind, gentle, and loving. 

We pray that he is now with You, resting in Your peace. Please help us remember his example and act in a way like he showed us to do. 

We ask this through Jesus,

Amen.

Catholic School Culture

MASS TIMES – 2025                                                 

Hamilton: Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.30am                                    

Dunkeld: Sunday 8.30am                  

Glenthompson:  Sunday 8.30am

Penshurst: Sunday 8.30am

Sacramental Program

Next week, on Wednesday 7th May, the families of the candidates will attend a meeting to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Following this, we will spend time together at the Saturday evening Masses learning about this sacrament. The sacrament will be received on Sunday 8th June. 

Baby News!

In the past month we have welcomed three new babies to our St Mary's family! Nemo, Shiivani and Rose have welcomed their new baby brother, Khyza, Jude and Seth have welcomed their baby sister, Ziggy and Dominic is excited to have a new baby brother, Kit. Congratulations to all these families!

New Families

This week we also welcomed two new families to our school, who have moved to Hamilton in recent weeks. Jaiden and Jacen have joined us in Gr 5 and Gr 1 and Addison in Gr 5 too.  We hope they love our place as much as we do!

Prayers

We have some families who are experiencing ill health at the moment. We wrap our arms around them all. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Learning and Teaching

School Wide Positive Behaviours

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is:  A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behavioural supports needed for a school to achieve behavioural and academic outcomes for all students.

For the next two weeks at St Mary’s, we are working with our students on the following:

RESPECT - treat everyone with kindness

SAFETY - follow the rules

RESPONSIBILITY - be the boss of your learning

Sports Catch Up

State Swimming - Way to go, Lucy O!

Lucy O swam her heart out at the State Swimming on Thursday. The school was abuzz with excitement to watch Lucy via the livestream, especially the Grade 5/6 department.

To make it to this level is such an incredible achievement. Lucy was quite daunted by all the people but that didn’t stop her from knocking another 1.05 seconds off her PB! Lucy placed 5th overall in the 9/10 Year Girls 50m Backstroke in the State. Wow! What a champion! She finished in a time of 43.58, amazing! Over the course of the year she has improved her PB by over 9.5 seconds. We are in awe of you Lucy, well done!! 

Division Athletics

We have 15 students competing at the Division Athletics in Warrnambool today.

Jed P - Discus

Sean N - 800m & 1500m

Marlee L - 100m, Hurdles, 200m

Lucy O- High Jump

Beau P- Discus & Relay

James N - 200m, 800m, 1500m & Relay

Owen L - Relay

Xavier L - Relay

Alaska B- 800m & 1500m 

Navvi T- Shot Put

Isabella T - 800m & 1500m

Johannah W- 100m, 800m, 1500m, Relay

Charlie M- Hurdles and Relay

Sophie U - Hurdles, 100m, 200m, Relay

Nina R- Discus, Shot Put, Relay

We wish them all the very best and can’t wait to report on their efforts!

 District Cross Country

The District Cross Country will be held at Lake Hamilton on Friday 9th May. We have 43 students who will be participating. 

The 9 and 10 year olds will run 2km and start at 2.15pm. The 11 and 12 year olds will run 3km and start at 2.20pm. All students finish near the boat ramp and boat sheds. Students will be transported via bus to and from Lake Hamilton. Anyone who will be attending to watch is asked to park along Gray Street. This is in the interest of safety, so that cars are not entering the area during the races.

Prep & Grade 1/2 Swimming Programs

Our Junior School students will swim in Term Two: 

Prep: Monday 5th May - Friday 9th May from 12.00-1.00pm 

Grade 1/2: Monday 26th May - Friday 30th May from 12.00-1.30pm 

Dates for your Diary

May

Monday 5th May - Friday 9th May - Prep Swimming Program

** Friday 9th May NEW DATE ** - District Cross Country @ Lake Hamilton

Friday 16th May - Division Cross Country @ Warrnambool

Monday 26th May - Regional Cross Country @ Warrnambool

Monday 26th May-Friday 30th May - Grade 1/2 Swimming Program

Elise Gordon

egordon@smhamilton.catholic.edu.au 

Wellbeing

Child Safety ~ Child Safe Standards

The new Child Safe Standards (eleven in total) came into effect in July 2022 and are a
vital part of what we do here at St Mary’s. But, what do these standards look like in practice? Each week, we will look at a standard in closer detail.

Standard 3 - Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.

 At St Mary’s we can see this standard in action in a variety of ways. Through our SRC (Student Representative Council), representatives from all year levels in the school come together to discuss what is happening in their school and contribute their ideas. They then feed this back to the rest of their cohort.  We also have student feedback that takes place each term. Each area is given the chance to express what they have enjoyed about the term, any worries they may have and what their hopes for the next term are. This is then included in our Monday morning check in assembly at the beginning of the following term. We also conduct Wellbeing surveys twice a year, in Terms 2 and 4,  to check in with how the children are feeling. As a staff we analyse this data and make plans moving forward as to how we can address any concerns that the children may have. There are many more things that we do that relate to this standard, but this is just a snapshot!

More information can be found on the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) website - the link to this website is below.

Each term, the eSafety Commissioner runs free Parent Webinars on a variety of topics around internet safety and the online world. The topics are listed on the flyer below.  If your would like to find out more information, including the dates available and to register, you can do so here.

Tania Stevens
tstevens@smhamilton.catholic.edu.au

Mental Health & Wellbeing

The Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative is all about strengthening early support for children’s mental health and wellbeing within school communities. It aims to build greater understanding, early identification, and stronger partnerships between schools, families, and specialist services — so that every child feels supported to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
As the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL), my role is to enhance the social and emotional development of the students through small group activities, classroom support and guiding staff to implement whole school practices.
I took on this role because I have a passion for ensuring that all students feel safe and supported in the school environment. I believe when wellbeing is being prioritised in the school we build trust and the foundations for learning and personal
growth.
Going forward, I will work collaboratively with our existing wellbeing team, leadership, teachers, Learning Support Officers, and families. We will use evidence and research-based practices and programs within our school to embed wellbeing
into all areas of school life and learning, whilst making sure all students have a voice in creating a positive school culture.
Please if you have any further questions or queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Bec Sherlock
rsherlock@smhamilton.catholic.edu.au

Leadership and Stewardship

Term 2 Uniform

We usually take a week or two to swap into our full winter uniform so we are very happy for the children to wear either. The children take their shoes off when inside during Term 2  and are welcome to bring slippers or crocs to wear inside. Don't forget that the jibbitz stay home!

Community Engagement

Mother's Day

We are celebrating Mother's Day at school on Monday 12th May. This will begin with mums and special visitors joining the children at school for lunch at 1.20pm, followed by a play at lunch time. Mums and visitors are then invited to their children's homerooms for a shared activity from the end of lunch time until the end of the day. Tea/coffee and a scone will be provided by the school. We can't wait to see you all! If mums are unable to attend, please feel free to organise nana, a friend, dad, whoever might like to join us!!

Assembly

Our next assembly will be on Friday 16th May at 2.55pm.

Spend the Day at Monivae

Grade 6 students are invited to SPEND THE DAY at Monivae College and experience a day of classes and activities on
Thursday 8th May 2025.  Please save the date and register via the link below.

Community Events