Sport Days

Monday Stage 3

Tuesday Kinder

Wednesday Stage 2 Eagle

Thursday Kinder and Stage 1

Friday Stage 2 Turtle

Week 4

Monday 24th - DIBELS Beginning of Year testing window continues

Monday 24th - Zone Swimming Carnival @ Maclean

Monday 24th - Premiers Reading Challenge opens

Monday 24th - Stage 1: History: Walking Tour of Bellingen 1.25pm start

Tuesday 25th - Final Touch Footy Skills Session

Week 5

Tuesday 4th - Diocesan Swimming Carnival Murwillumbah

Wednesday 5th - Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 5th - Beeware Stage 2 Incursion

Wednesday 5th - K-2 OzGreen Get Grubby Session at Park 1.15-2.15pm

Friday 7th - World Day of Prayer

Saturday 8th - International Women’s Day

Sunday 9th - First Sunday of Lent

Principal 

Lisa Doolan

Assistant Principal

Leader of Pedagogy 

Mandy Murphy

Leader of Pastoral Care / Mission

Carmel Dagger

Instructional Leader K-2

Leader of Inclusion

Claire Cole

Supervision commences: 8.35am

First Bell: 8.55am

Session 1 commences: 9.00am

Lunch Eating: 11.00am

Lunch Play: 11.10am

Session 2 commences: 11.40am

Recess Eating: 1.15pm 

Recess Play: 1.22pm

Session 3 commences: 1.45pm

Final bell: 3.15pm

It’s been a brilliant and busy start to the year in Stage 1! We have been impressed with the enthusiasm and effort displayed by the students across all learning areas. Here’s a snapshot of 2025 so far…

Art- Exploring various mediums 

We’ve had lots of fun decorating our new classroom with our artworks; from our 3D Gallery to plasticine mini beasts to floating away in hot air balloons.

Religion- Images of God

Stage 1 has been exploring a variety of biblical images of God, that tell something of what God is like. They have been exploring that God is like a shepherd, a potter, a father and mother. They were given the opportunity to mould a piece of clay into something beautiful, making the connection between God being like a potter.

Sport

Stage 1 has been exploring some Bluearth Games during sport that has allowed them to build relationships and explore different skills. They are provided with opportunities to learn through movement. 

Touch Football

Stage 1 has been enjoying getting outside for movement breaks most days. Our Tuesdays so far this term have started with a Touch Footy session led by Coach Nick. The students have been practising their skills and playing various games.

We’re excited to share an update from our recent Zone Swimming Carnival in Maclean. Seven of our awesome St Mary's students—Harriet, Jed, Henry, Jude, Aaliyah, Noa, and Lauchy—participated with great attitudes, offering encouragement and support to one another while giving their very best.

We’re especially proud of Noa, who has earned a spot in the upcoming Dio event in Murwillumbah next Tuesday for 50 m breaststroke. Noa’s achievement is a wonderful example of determination and hard work, and we wish her the best of luck!

A big thank you also goes out to the parents for their continued support, ensuring our students had the opportunity to shine at this event.

Sarah Bradbrook

The school day can be jam-packed and stimulating. This can affect different children in different ways. After school your child may need some down-time. Unless there is something they are clearly wanting to tell you, when they get home may not be the best time to ask questions or talk about school. Letting them know that you’re happy to see them can be enough. You may simply ask “Is there anything you want me to know about your day?”

Questions often take us into our thinking minds. Many children can benefit from having a break from this at the day’s end. So instead of focusing on talking, your child may appreciate time and space to play or enjoy some of their favourite activities. As the day’s events settle, thoughts and words from the day can begin to bubble-up naturally, without any need for questions or prompts. 

Before the evening meal can be an opportunity to share things everyone is grateful for. This can be simple and brief where each person takes it in turns to say “I am grateful for…”. Some examples: Blue sky, water to drink, a particular friend or family member, the food we are about to eat, butterflies, footballs, home, laughter, a favourite toy or story, shoes, the colour red, computers, ice-cream, holidays, warm jackets, a good day, etc… It can be fun and creative.

Talk about the day may emerge naturally during mealtimes. Family members may be curious about the things people were grateful for and this may initiate some conversation about the day. Parents can model talking about their days which may prompt children to remember their own. Here are some examples of some questions you could explore:

Who made you smile today?

What challenged you today?

What else are you grateful for?

Did anyone push your buttons?

What is the most interesting thing you learned?

Who did you make smile?

What’s something kind you did today?

Is there something you’d like to have done differently?

When did you feel most proud today?

What rule was hardest to follow?

How would you rate your day on a scale of 1 – 10?

What was the hardest part of your day?

Be mindful to listen with openness and curiosity, without judgement or trying to fix or change anything for your child. 

Consider the difference between what you want to know about your child’s day and what they want you to know. 

Rather than asking your child how their day was you could tell them about something from your own day. It may be as simple as “I really enjoyed sitting in the sun at lunch-time today” or “I saw a bird sucking nectar from a flower”….

Parents of Students in Year 3 and Year 5 will receive information about the NAPLAN Assessment this week.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

Week 2

Kinder - Madeline Hopkins & Juna Brown

Stage 1 - Pip Wadick & Tully Ouali

Stage 2 Eagles - Sienna Kiddle & Juliet Harper

Stage 2 Turtles - Harriet Lynch & Oscar Wooldridge

PBS - "I am ready to learn"

Kinder - Mars Tarrant

Stage 1 - Lily Hogarth

Stage 2 Eagles - Francis Newton

Stage 2 Turtles - Willow Clack

Good Samaritan - Cash Connelly

Week 3

Kinder Cameron McQuilty, Nina Wright, Sebastian Raward & Letti Ellis-Cluff

Stage 1 - Tasman Day & Kohan Phoenix

Stage 2 Eagles - Isaac Petherbridge & Phineas Boshier

Stage 2 Turtles - Agnes Everson & Juno Nicholson

PBS - "I am ready to learn"

Kinder - Charlie Mills & Orlando Simmonds

Stage 1 - Tully Brown

Stage 2 Eagles - Eloise Harper

Stage 2 Turtles - Jude Farrugia

Good Samaritan - Eddy Wadick

Piano = Victoria Christie 6655 8782

Brass/Piano = Kate Butcher 0419 789 078

Guitar = Katie Crane 0431 151 987