Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to welcome our continuing families to another exciting school year and extend a special welcome to our new families for 2023. This year we invite the Green, Haworth, Hill, Iverach, Kelly, Nicholson, Whittaker and Wood families into St Mary’s. I sincerely hope your experience with the school is positive and your students are engaged with their learning.

The 2023 St Mary’s school year has started with great momentum focussing on teaching and learning. On Monday our staff joined over 2000 teachers from the Canberra & Goulburn Archdiocese at the Canberra Convention Centre to participate in the ‘Faith in Learning’ conference. The Archdiocese has implemented a consistent approach to the Science of Learning with a focus on direct instruction.

To assist the implementation of this approach, St Mary’s has been provided with an expert in the field. Michael Roberts has extensive knowledge in the Science of Learning and has 22 years of Principal experience across 10 schools. Michael will visit the school 5 times this year with dates being confirmed earlier this week. To ensure all staff benefit from this process, St Mary’s will take a pupil free day on his first visit, Tuesday 14 February. This will allow all staff to engage with Michael and ensure consistent training and knowledge is delivered across the board. I realise this is short notice for the pupil free day, however I hope you understand we must take advantage of this opportunity.

It is also with great joy that I welcome 18 new kinder students to our school, Jack Connellan, Bodhi Fair, Molly Green, Harper Hart, Hugh Haworth, Rylee Hill, Piper Hoye, Tully Hutchins, Billy Iverach, Luna Kelly, Bowie Loudon, Darcy Nicholson, Isabelle McDonell, Sam Robertson, Zoey Smith, Trudy Sturgess, Bronte Whittaker and Ida Wood. I must say how smart they look in their new uniforms and congratulate them on learning the St Mary’s culture so quickly.

2023 also sees two educators join our staff. I would like to welcome Mrs Nadia Worland (Release from face-to-face teacher, Wednesday) and Mrs Brydie Daly (Classroom Support Assistant, Monday & Tuesday) to the team and look forward to the collaboration they will bring to St Mary’s.

I would like to offer an invitation to our entire school community to contact the school for any reason, either positive or negative. I am open to constructive feedback and no issue is too big or too small for the school to be contacted about. I am looking forward to collaborating with the entire school community to ensure St Mary’s continues to provide the quality education service it is known for.

Kind Regards,

Phil Nielsen

Principal