2025 St Mary's Primary School Newsletter Term 4 Week 5

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

Happy Melbourne Cup Day 🏇

Dear families, 

Over the past two weeks, students and staff and school community have been extremely busy celebrating events, attending camps and excursions. A huge thank you to Mrs Holland and Mrs Letts, for organising the camp to Robe and Lady Northcote and making sure the kids had a memorable experience. (photos on FB)

On Sunday, Charlie Gregaon and Lachie Kearns received their First Holy Communion during the 8:30 am Mass at St Mary’s Church. They were joined by their families and the St Mary’s congregation as Mons Glynn presented them with the Sacrament of Eucharist  Congratulations Charlie and Lachie.

This is also an exciting week as the Year 4 and Year 5 students visit the kindergarten as part of the Buddy/ Kinder transition process. We are also looking forward to Mission day on Friday.

We are so proud of  Oaklee Rowe who will be competing in the Shot Put at State Level this Thursday. Give it your best shot champ!

World Teachers’ Day – A Special Thanks!

Last Friday, we celebrated the incredible work of our teachers. Their dedication, passion, and commitment make a difference every day—guiding students through challenges, inspiring curiosity, and offering constant support. We’re so fortunate to have such an inspiring team—thank you for all you do!

Reminder: School Closure Day next Monday 10th November for staff Literacy Professional Development.

Temporary disruption to our SIMON & PAM

Service Notice

You may notice some interruptions to PAM and the SIMON app over the next week while system security checks are completed across Catholic schools.

This work follows a national investigation led by external cybersecurity experts to ensure all school accounts remain secure. There is no evidence of unauthorised access to our school’s data, but some login systems are undergoing precautionary resets and maintenance.

Thank you for your patience — services should be back to normal soon. In the meantime, if you need to log an absence or update important medical details please email Paula pwinsall@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au and your child's classroom teacher.

Last Wednesday there was a great buzz in the room as the School Advisory Council (SAC) and Parent’s Club held their AGM at St Mary’s. The turn out was very impressive and a large number of parents were keen to take up positions within the SAC team and Parent Club. I’d like to thank Jessica Boyd and James Gregson and all parents for their support and commitment during 2025, the school is in a better place due to your consistent hard work. 

I’d also like to thank all nominees for offering their commitment to roles in both the SAC and Parent’s Club.

Congratulations to the following people on their successful nominations;

SAC members: Ben Henderson, Hanna Morcom, Natalie Hewitt, Adam Schulz, Kristy Gove And our new SAC chairperson is Will Hewitt.

 Our board for Parent’s Club 2026: President: Kristy Gove, Vice President: Hanna Morcom and Secretary: Rachael Phillips

Thank you to the outgoing members of the advisory council and Parent’s Club, your contributions are greatly appreciated

Families will soon receive a letter informing you of your child’s participation in our Relationship and Sexuality (RSE) Program. Mrs Werner will be covering age appropriate topics                                                     

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 Robe Camp, Lady Northcote Camp, SchoolTV (Transition), Social Media Age Changes, Student Absence, Latrobe Flare Project, and some Flyers

 Have a great week ahead!!!!

Julie Leonard

Key Dates

School Promotional Video

Lentils Camp to Tarooki, Robe 🏕️

School Camp to Tarooki, Robe

On the year 5/6 camp, we were split into two tribes. The tribes were split into boys and girls as we had an equal number. We did multiple water activities such as kayaking, water obstacle, hole in the bucket and climbing on rocks. When we got there we got introduced to the helpers working there, Jonah, Nathan, Sally and Karen. Sally was the one making all of our food so we thanked her for doing so. We thanked all of the people there before we left for home. It was about a 3 and a half hour drive to Robe each way. The girls cabin had a great view of the ocean. We had lots of fun on camp. We got home at 4.50pm

Maddi

Kayaking

On Tuesday we, the Lentils class, went to camp in Robe. When we got there the first activity was kayaking. We got our rooms ready and got back on the bus to drive to a lake near the campsite. After a demonstration of how to kayak, we chose our partner and started learning how to do it. We were all having fun until Hudson and Ryan got onto the lake and started splashing us. We did some activities like making a kayak snake. After kayaking for a while we stopped for afternoon tea. We walked along a path to the spot where we were eating and saw a crab just down the path. When we got back to our kayaks we played a game where we swapped kayaks with another person while on the water. Maddi was the only one to fall the whole time. On the way back we had a race to see who could get back before the camp leader. Caleb and Ms Leonard got back first followed closely by Heidi and Harlow and then the camp leader. Everyone loved kayaking and got very wet. 

Heidi and Harlow

Lost in the forest

On the first night of camp we played Lost In The Forest.

Lost in the forest is where we collected small colourful tags that were hidden in trees, bushes, on branches and in fences. We were in a tribe, GIRLS VS BOYS, and we started in a big elastic band stuck together. We could only collect one tag at a time. Yellow was worth the most points, then pink, orange and green.

But while we were collecting them a stranger would appear and ask you a Question or A Riddle. The strangers included Mrs.Holland, Ms.Leonard, and Nathaniel and Jonah, the two guides to our Camp. They would hide in different spots and ask us something or do a task. If we got it wrong, we would lose our tag. We had to make a pyramid for one of our tasks. It was so much fun. This was one of the favourite activities we did. For Lost in the forest the Girls tribe won.

Indi

Initiative Team Games

Year 5 and 6 went to camp one week ago. I am writing this article about one of the activities we did. We played a game called Number Touch, where you had to touch the number tiles in order but the catch was that you couldn’t have more than one hand in at a time! Then we did a game where you had to get two golf balls into a cone, but we had to use pipes to do it. After that, we played a game where we had to put three different balls into three different holes, and there were lots of different levels. Level 4 was the hardest where we had to put one of each ball into each hole.

Caleb and Hudson

Tribal Games

My favourite activity at camp were the tribal games. There were 3 different games - number touch, get the ball in the hole and the golf ball run. We then played Pool Noodle Ninja. One member from each tribe had to wear a blindfold and spin around 3 times. Then your team mates guided you to get the right coloured pool noodle so you could hit the other person. It was my favourite activity because it was really fun.

Nathan

Water Obstacle Course

On Wednesday the 22nd of October Lentils class were on their full day of camp.

We started off with some games then we did a water obstacle course. We didn’t get far before we got wet. We were soaked after the first obstacle but it was very fun. You had to fill up a bucket with water and then throw it to the next person in a zigzag line and that was only the first obstacle. The second obstacle was to create a tube out of pipes for water to run through. The next obstacle was to crawl under a net to transfer the water to another bucket with a sponge, then retrieve keys  from a pole with a stick.  The keys opened some padlocks on a chest that had puzzle pieces in it. At the end we had to solve a puzzle. One person had to wear a blindfold and they were the only one that could touch the pieces and everyone else on their team had to direct them to put it together. The last part was really tricky.

We had to use a lot of teamwork while we did the obstacle course. 

Miki and Chloe

Beach games and activities

On the year 5-6 Robe Camp for 2 nights, Tuesday-Thursday, we went to the beach to play games. We did this before we came home on Thursday. The first game we played at the beach was a game where we had to dig under a pole. You had to get your whole tribe under the pole from one side to another without touching it. If we accidentally touched it, we would have to count to 10 in sync. The second game was run and catch the flag game. We had to run on the sand and beat the other people to a flag. If we didn't get one we would be out, plus every round one flag would disappear.

For the bucket spilling challenge, each tribe had two buckets that had holes all around them and one to pour the water in. You had to carry the holey buckets to the water in pairs, run back and pour the water into the non-holey bucket. The first one to overflow the bucket would win. 

After all the games we left the beach and got changed back at the camp before we left.

Thanks to Jonah and Nathaniel (our camp leaders).

By Lachie and Edi. 

Robe camp

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Canola Lady Northcote Camp 🏕️

Wow, what a camp!
It all started on Thursday morning when we waved goodbye to our parents and headed off to Beaufort for a quick pit stop. Later that day, we arrived at Lady Northcote, where we set up our rooms and got ready for yabbying. Once our lines were baited, we waited patiently for our first bite. We caught around ten yabbies and released them back into the dam.

That afternoon, we moved on to raft making—but unfortunately, none of our rafts made it across the water! After tea, we hit the dance floor for a fun-filled disco, grooving to some great tunes. We were even lucky enough to finish the night with a movie before heading to bed.

Early the next morning, we made our way to archery and had heaps of target practice. The highlight of the camp, though, was definitely the Giant Swing. We all challenged ourselves and cheered each other on—it was so exciting to see everyone have a go!

 Lady Northcote Discovery Camp

On the 30th of October the Canola class went to Lady Northcote.  First we put our bags in the trailer connected to the bus, then we picked our seats and drove 4 hours to Lady Northcote near a place called Bacchus Marsh. We had to hand over our devices and then we were assigned to our cabins. Our first activity was yabbying, we had a hand fishing rod and a net. Every yabby we caught we put in a red container. Our second activity was rafting. We were split into two groups and we had to build a raft with the only materials we had: 4 barrels, 8 pieces of rope and 4 logs. On Friday, it was archery. We had a  bow and a set of 3 arrows.  Our 4th activity was the giant swing. We were pulled up by other classmates and then we got to pull on a rope and release ourselves. I loved the camp and would happily go back.

By Ollie

Lady Northcote 

On the 30th of October the Canola class went to lady Northcote for school camp. The activities we did over 2 days were Yabbying, Rafting, Archery and the Giant Swing. My favorite activity was Yabbying because you had to be patient and you had to be very gentle with the yabbies. Most people chose the Giant Swing as their favourite activity because you could choose how high you could go. Most people went to the very top. 

When you dropped from The Giant Swing it went at the speed of the  bus that we took to the Camp.  We had a fantastic time!!!!

By Cooper.

Lady Northcote- Here we come!!!

The Canola 3/ 4 class went on a road trip to Lady Northcote. This is how the activities went. The first activity was yabbing, the lake view was phenomenal. The next activity was rafting, it was a bit of a brawl. After that we had a disco, watched a movie and then went to bed.  On Friday we had Archery and The Giant Swing. We loved it all.

 Penny Camilleri

🎮 Social Media Age Changes Coming Soon 🧑‍💻

CHILD SAFETY

From 10 December 2025, new Australian laws will make 16 the minimum age to hold an account on major social media platforms (like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, and YouTube). These changes aim to protect young people from online harms and encourage healthier digital habits.

Key points:
Platforms must take steps to stop under-16s from creating accounts.
The rule applies to platforms primarily used for social interaction.
It’s not a criminal offence for children; the responsibility lies with the companies.
Families are encouraged to talk about online safety and screen-time use.
For more information and resources, visit the eSafety Commissioner website: www.esafety.gov.au.

The eSafety Commissioner is offering a new round of free live webinars this term to help parents and carers support their children’s safe and healthy use of technology.
Topics include:
Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into secondary school
Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online
Algorithms and adolescents – the rewards and risks ofrecommender systems
The changing face of cyberbullying – protecting your child in 2025
AI-assisted image-based abuse – navigating the deepfake threat
Each session runs for 45 minutes and provides up-to-date advice and practical strategies for parents of children inboth primary and secondary school.
Register and find out more:
eSafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
We encourage all parents and carers to take part — these sessions are an excellent way to stay informed and confident in supporting your child’s digital wellbeing.

All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and Halloween

Last Friday, Saturday and Sunday explained: All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and Halloween

Halloween, (Trick or Treat) is celebrated on October 31, began as All Hallows’ Eve—the night before All Saints’ Day (Nov 1), a feast day observing the lives of the many saints for whom there is no specific feast day during the year. The following day, Nov. 2, marks a day of prayer for, and remembrance of, the “faithfully departed”: relatives, friends and strangers who are no longer living.

All Saints’ Day and  All Souls’ Day are significant Feast Days in christian history. 

Latrobe Flare Project 📚

                                                           A Systematic Synthetic Phonics Literacy Program. 

As we enter Term 4, our staff have been working extremely hard to implement a new, research-based literacy initiative introduced by DOBCEL (Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited). This initiative, called Flare:  has been developed by DOBCEL and is being rolled out across all Catholic schools in our diocese.

Why Flare?
Flare was created in response to the need for a consistent, evidence-informed approach to literacy teaching across the Catholic education system. Recent research into how children learn to read highlights the importance of explicit, systematic instruction in areas such as phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. Flare aims to ensure that every student receives high-quality literacy teaching grounded in the latest educational research, giving all learners the best chance to succeed.

Warm regards,
Principal:  Julie Leonard & Literacy Leader: Clare Letts

In addition, I invite you to copy, paste and watch this clip about teaching sounds                  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pw81jre11dA

Student Absence

As we move through the term, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the essential role that regular school attendance plays in every child’s learning and wellbeing. Every day at school matters. When students miss even a few days, it can interrupt their learning, make it harder to stay connected with classmates, and impact their overall progress and confidence.

We understand that family holidays, long weekends, or giving children a “rest day” can sometimes feel necessary. However, when these occur during the school term, they can significantly affect a child’s educational routine and continuity. Even short absences add up over time.

We ask that families plan holidays and extended breaks during scheduled school holidays whenever possible, and ensure students attend school each day unless they are genuinely unwell. Consistent attendance helps children build strong learning habits, deepen friendships, and feel part of the school community.

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping your child make the most of every learning opportunity. Together, we can ensure all our students thrive.

Julie

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. 

Thunderstorm Asthma

School Transitions

“This is a particularly stressful period for both parents and children and it tends to get trivialised. Parents can often transfer their stress onto their child making transitioning unnecessarily more stressful.”

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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 

Community Events