2025 St Mary's Primary School Newsletter Term 4 Week 1

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary’s Primary School respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the
Wimmera Mallee area, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk
peoples, and pays respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.  St Mary's Catholic Primary School  is committed to the safety and well-being of all students.

Principal's News

Dear families,

Welcome back to the final term for the school year, how quickly time flies by! 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday  and are well rested for the busy term ahead.  There will be a number of events and activities happening between now and the end of the year and to keep up to date, I suggest you regularly check and make note of Key Dates and check out St Mary’s FB Page.

We have a Public School Closure Day this Thursday 9th October for the Warracknabeal Show Day. 

A note will be sent home with every child today regarding a visit/appointment with the Lions Eye Health. Please complete and return the form if you would like to have your child’s eyes tested. On the same day as the eye testing, (Friday 17th October), Parent’s Club will be providing a Special Lunch and Chickpeas will have their class Assembly.

A reminder that tudents will begin Term 4 wearing their correct summer uniform and being Sun Smart with hats and sunscreen.

                                     Summer is near, let’s enjoy the sunshine!

We encourage families to regularly take a look at our St Mary’s FB Page. Schools and family life in general are very busy places.  Often reminders or events and activities are posted.

Continue reading for Special Editions (particularly from the kids) and some Flyers

 Julie Leonard

Key Dates

School Promotional Video

SPECIAL REPORT: World Mental Health Day

"This day serves as a global reminder for us to embrace the need to prioritise and normalise mental health care. Mental health is a universal concern, transcending geographical boundaries and affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds."

Dr Emma Woodward

We are a BARR school (Bushfire at Risk)

Pleae read the communication below. As a Bushfire at Risk school, on days there is a Catastrophic fire danger forcasted in our district, the school will close. Other educational providers in our area will also close, and there will be no school byses running. We need to receive notification from the Department if Education and also DOBCEL in order to close. The school will always endeavour to notify families as soon as practical. We did have two Catastrophic school closure days earlier this year. 

Please ensure you have downloaded the SIMON everywhere app to receive the first notification of a sudden school closure through PAM, as this is the official school emergency notification platform.

Then emails will be sent to families, followed by a Facebook update. 

DOBCEL Strategy 2035

Please find below a letter from Catholic Education Ballarat Executive Director, Tom Sexton and DOBCEL Board Chair Terry Harney regarding the DOBCEL Strategy 2035.

This letter introduces the new strategy that all DOBCEL schools will be working through over the next ten years.

Child Safety at St Mary's

St Mary's is committed to zero tolerance of child abuse, listening to and empowering children and young people and keeping children and young people safe. We are committed to being proactive in the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young people. Child Safe Standard 11 as below highlights what we as an organisation must do. regarding documentation. If you ever have any concerns, regarding the safety and wellbeing of your child please contact the Principal. Your information makes us more aware of what needs to be addressed and how we can improve. 

For more information please visit this link Child Safe Standards 

Thunderstorm Asthma

Community Events