Term 1, Week 10, 2025

From the Leadership Team

Dear Families

It is hard to believe that we are in the final week of Term 1 already! As we reflect on the past 11 weeks, we can be very proud of all we have accomplished together as a school community. It has been an action-packed term full of learning, growth, and shared experiences, where challenges were met with determination and successes celebrated with joy. We commend every student, teacher, and family member for their dedication and hard work.

Some of the highlights from the term include Harmony Day, which was a vibrant occasion that brought our community together to honour the unique cultures and traditions that make us so special.

Our shared faith and traditions were beautifully highlighted as we celebrated the feast days of St. Patrick and St. Joseph. These moments allowed us to honour the lives of these saints and reflect on their powerful examples of faith, courage, and compassion. Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent—a time for reflection and spiritual preparation. These significant days offered us an opportunity to pause, reset, and open our hearts to renewal and growth.

The introduction of Auslan lessons has been well received and a great new addition to our school curriculum. Students have embarked on an inspiring journey into learning Australian Sign Language, fostering meaningful connections and exploring the power of communication in new and impactful ways. Our students continue to work hard to prepare for the Catholic Schools Music Festival Choir and the Children’s University program has provided wonderful opportunities for exploration and extended learning. This term also brought with it the challenges and triumphs of NAPLAN testing. We are proud of our students for their focus and resilience during this time and we await the results later in the year.

Last Friday we came together as a school community to celebrate SPORTS DAY. The weather was perfect, and it was a wonderful day of action and fair play. What a treat it was to see our school buzzing with families. We acknowledge to work of Mr Cristian Morgado who put in hours of work behind the scenes to make this day possible. Congratulations to McAuley for taking out the House Cup and to Coolock for winning the Spirit Award. If you were unaware, we also unveiled a new award this year. The Doube/Hughes Trophy was awarded for the first time to the 100 metre sprint champion students. Both Nick Doube and Ged Hughes have been outstanding, long standing staff members and absolute stalwarts for our community and it is only fitting to have this trophy named in their honour. Check out some of the photos of Sports Day included in this newsletter, the spirit of teamwork, determination, and sportsmanship was truly commendable.

It can get a little confusing for some given the fact that the dates for Easter each year is determined by the phases of the moon. This time last year, Holy Week had already occurred – but in 2025, we are still a week or so away from Holy Week! Nevertheless, we are getting closer to the most important week in the Catholic calendar, and we continue to prepare ourselves through our Lenten commitments. As we remember the events of Holy Week as a school and look forward to our Easter celebrations during the school holidays, let us take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Easter. As a Catholic community, Easter reminds us of the triumph of life over death, hope over despair, and love over fear. This Easter, we invite you to reflect on the hollow Easter egg as a symbol of the empty tomb of Christ and the joy of His Resurrection. It is a beautiful reminder that, through faith, we are called to embrace renewal and share love and kindness with those around us. Throughout this week our students will partake in important Liturgical events prepared by our classes including Holy Thursday and Good Friday (The Walk of Witness).

So, as you can see it has been a busy term, and none of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication and cooperation of our staff, students, and families. Thank you for your unwavering support, hard work, and commitment to learning. It is through our combined efforts that we continue to grow as a community centred on faith, excellence, and compassion.

On behalf of the entire Leadership team, we extend our heartfelt thanks for the way you have welcomed us both into the community. It has been a term of relationship building, which is paramount to working in partnership. Thank you for your genuine kindness.

As we move into the well-earned break, we embrace the opportunity to rest, recharge, and prepare for the new adventures that await in the next term.

Shaping our Future,

Belinda and Gareth

End of Term 1 and Term 2 Reminder

A reminder that Term 1 concludes THIS Friday, April 11th at 3.00pm.

Term 2 commences on Tuesday 29^th April. Our staff will engage in professional learning on the first Monday of term 2. Our OSHC service will be available on this day, but as always, bookings are essential.

Uniform Reminder for Term 2

All the signs are there to show the gentle change of season and students are coming to school with their jackets and in trackpants. This is a timely reminder to ensure we are wearing our correct winter uniform. Brand name trackpants (adidas, nike, etc) are not a part of our school uniform. For reference, our entire school uniform is available at Lowe’s within the Elizabeth City Centre. Please consider using the school holiday break to ensure your child’s uniform is meeting our standards.

Thank you and Farewell - Sam

We are very fortunate to have such supportive student counsellors here at St Mary Magdalene’s School which makes it hard when we need to say goodbye. Sam Reynolds will finish her time with us at the end of this term and Shannon O’Toole will continue to work for one day per week. We are in the process of advertising for Sam’s replacement and look forward to making an announcement soon. Thank you, Sam, for all the support you have offered to our students.

ICT - Cybersafety

As the holidays approach, it's a good time to remind families about the importance of staying alert and guiding our children to use their devices responsibly. One helpful tip is to encourage kids to use their technology in shared spaces, like the living room or kitchen, rather than private areas such as bedrooms. This makes it easier to keep an eye on their online activities.

We also recommend carefully monitoring your child's use of social media apps. Make sure they meet the age requirements, and consider using filters or parental controls to stay informed about what your child is sharing or receiving in chat groups. This helps you stay connected and aware of their digital interactions.

The online world evolves rapidly, and staying informed about potential risks can be challenging. At school, our teachers are actively teaching students about online safety to help them navigate the digital space responsibly and securely. Let's work together to keep our children safe as they explore and enjoy the online world!