Welcome to 2025!

It was amazing to see our new Kindergarten students transition to school life at St Mary’s earlier this week. We welcome Abigail, Ellira, Harlow, Marlie, Petra, Poppy, Roy and Scott to our school community and wish them every success on their learning journey here at school.

Staffing

We also congratulate Mrs Brown on her new position here at St Mary’s. We know her experience in the K-2 space will be of immense benefit to these students. Also, to Mrs Dumbrell, who now officially takes on the role of Religious Education Coordinator and school executive in 2025.

Please see below our staffing and roles for 2025:

• Parish Priest: Fr Joe
• Principal: Mr Ryan Forsyth
• K-2 Teacher: Mrs Kelly Brown
• 3/4 Teacher and Religious Education Coordinator: Mrs Jeanette Dumbrell
• Year 5/6 Teacher: Miss Sarah Collins
• Students Centred Learning and Release for Classroom Teachers: Ms Jenny Jackson
• Library and Classroom Release: Mrs Eliizabeth Murray
• Classroom Support Teacher (Friday): Mrs Justine Hughes
• Classroom Support Assistants: Miss Debbie Ferguson, Miss Sarah Holland and Mrs Kate Dobbie
• School Administration: Ms Tracee Holland (office manager) and Miss Sarah Holland
• School Counsellor: Mrs Lucinda Clay

Grounds Maintenance

Thank you to Danny Matthews and Thomas Korn for their work over the break in watering plants, mowing lawns and generally maintaining the school. It has been appreciated.

Swimming Carnival

We return to school this year with some swimming lessons today and tomorrow. This will be followed by our swimming carnival next Friday 14th February. All students will attend this carnival. Years 3-6 heading to the pool first thing in the morning and K-2 at 10am.

All students will have an opportunity to swim (whether it be the smaller pool for our younger students or the larger pool for our races and free time for the older students).

All families are most welcome to attend and support our students on the day. We will provide some poolside shade for students and families. If there are parents that are happy to help with timing or set up, please let the school know through this Google Form (click this link)

Upcoming Events

We are always trying to utilise a variety of different platforms as a way of supporting parents with upcoming events. Please keep an eye on the newsletter, Facebook, Compass and a new Google Calendar that will be set up and shared with families next week. As most families would be aware, Compass is our main form of communication but we simply wanted to provide some options so families can choose their other preferred method of keeping up to date with these events. 

Please see the fee schedule below for 2025.

Term 1 fees will be emailed out from CE soon. Families are asked to continue to pay fees using your unique BSB and account number.

New families will receive their unique details on your first fee statement.

Swimming lessons commenced today and are the following dates:

Thursday 6th & Friday 7th

Thursday 20th & Friday 21st

This is for years 1 to 6 with Kindergarter students remaining at school. 

Could students please come to school dressed in their summer uniform and bring along their:

• Swimmmers (can be worn under their uniform)
• Hat, sunscreen
• Towel 
• Swimming bag and a spare bag for wet clothes if necessary
• $2.50 per session or $10 for the four sessions or advise if a pool pass

I am looking forward to supporting you and your school community throughout 2025!

Student and Family Counselling Service 

Marymead CatholicCare Student and Family Counsellors provides school counselling in Catholic and Independent schools throughout Canberra and Regional NSW. This service aims to support students to achieve academic success, psychological health, and social and emotional wellbeing. 

Generally, students engaged in the service receive 6 to 8 individual therapy sessions which are provided at school. All students who wish to access the service require a current referral and parent/guardian consent must be obtained prior to students engaging in the service. Once a referral has been received, contact is made with the parents/guardian to discuss and assess individual student needs, outline the counselling process and answer any questions.  

If you have any questions or would like to find more about school counselling service, please do not hesitate to contact our Student & Family Counsellor, Lucinda. She can be contacted at school on WEDNESDAYS or via email: lucinda.clay@mccg.org.au 

If you would like to refer your child, please complete a referral form via the link below:

https://mccg.my.site.com/housing/s/school-referral-form

Lucinda Clay 

Student and Family Counsellor 

Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn

I am looking forward to supporting you and your school community throughout 2025!

Student and Family Counselling Service 

Marymead CatholicCare Student and Family Counsellors provides school counselling in Catholic and Independent schools throughout Canberra and Regional NSW. This service aims to support students to achieve academic success, psychological health, and social and emotional wellbeing. 

Generally, students engaged in the service receive 6 to 8 individual therapy sessions which are provided at school. All students who wish to access the service require a current referral and parent/guardian consent must be obtained prior to students engaging in the service. Once a referral has been received, contact is made with the parents/guardian to discuss and assess individual student needs, outline the counselling process and answer any questions.  

If you have any questions or would like to find more about school counselling service, please do not hesitate to contact our Student & Family Counsellor, Lucinda. She can be contacted at school on WEDNESDAYS or via email: lucinda.clay@mccg.org.au 

If you would like to refer your child, please complete a referral form via the link below:

https://mccg.my.site.com/housing/s/school-referral-form

Lucinda Clay 

Student and Family Counsellor 

Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn