Term 2 Week 1| 30 April 2025

Principal - Mrs Megan Pearce

Dear Parents and families of St Mary’s,

Last week we had a short but memorable start to the new term, celebrating both the energy of our students and the reflective spirit of our nation.

On Tuesday our staff engaged in a valuable Professional Development Day with a focus on continuing to strengthen our whole school approach to supporting every learner through Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). We are proud to be building a consistent, school-wide system where student needs are identified early, and support delivered in a structured collaborative way. Days like this allow our staff to deepen their understanding, reflect on best practices and plan effectively for the needs of all students.

Our Cross Country Carnival was a fantastic day filled with determination, teamwork, and plenty of smiles. It was wonderful to see students giving their all, encouraging their mates, and enjoying the friendly competition. A huge thank you to Suzie McInnes for her excellent organisation and preparation, with the day running like clockwork thanks to her efforts. I’d also like to thank our staff for their support and the parents who came along to cheer, your involvement always adds to the atmosphere.

Then Thursday morning our school community gathered in reverence and gratitude at our ANZAC Day Liturgy, beautifully led by our Year 6 students. It was a moving opportunity for our students to reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served, and continue to serve, our country.

We were privileged to welcome Sergeant Michael Wex as our guest speaker. A proud member of the Australian Army with active service in Afghanistan, Sergeant Wex shared powerful insights into the true spirit of the ANZACs. He spoke to our students about the four enduring values that define this spirit - Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice. His words reminded us that these values are not only part of our history but are qualities we can strive to live by each day in our own lives, whether it’s standing up for what’s right, supporting a friend, or persevering through challenges. His words were a powerful testament that ANZAC Day is not just about remembering the past, but about how we carry forward those qualities that define us as Australians.

On Friday, our students proudly participated in the ANZAC march, demonstrating their respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. Thank you to our families for your support and for encouraging this important act of remembrance within our community.

This week has been a true reflection of the St Mary’s spirit - striving to do our best, supporting one another, and taking time to reflect on what matters most.

Thank you, as always, for your support and involvement in school life.

God bless,

Megan Pearce

Mother's Day at St Mary's

Mother’s Day Picnic Celebration

We are excited to invite all our wonderful mums, grandmothers, and special women in our lives to our Mother’s Day Picnic on Friday, 9th May.

The celebration will begin at 9:00am with a heart-warming assembly presented by our Prep students. After the assembly, families are invited to enjoy a relaxed picnic and fun activities together.

Picnic boxes will be available to purchase:

• $10 for one adult and one child

• $5 for each additional person

If students do not wish to purchase a picnic box, they are welcome to bring and eat their usual morning tea during the picnic.

To help with catering, please return the completed order form and payment to the school office by Wednesday, 7th May.

We can’t wait to celebrate this special day with our school community!

APMI - Miss Imogen Hunt

Welcome back from the holidays! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating break. As we embark on a new term, I am excited to reconnect and continue our journey of learning and growth together.

ANZAC Day Liturgy

Last Thursday, we held a special ANZAC Day liturgy where our students showed deep respect and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the ANZAC soldiers. The ceremony included readings, prayers, and the laying of wreaths, honouring those who served and remembering their bravery and dedication. We thank Year 6 for leading us in this liturgy and modelling the importance of this ceremony.

Pope Francis – passing

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. Elected in March 2013, he was known for his humility, simplicity, and focus on social justice. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis emphasised the importance of mercy, compassion, and care for the poor and marginalised. He was a strong advocate for environmental stewardship, interfaith dialogue, and the inclusion of all people within the Church.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Pope Francis' passing. His legacy of compassion and advocacy for the marginalised will continue to inspire us. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his profound impact on the world and the Catholic Church.

Let us come together in prayer and reflection, honouring Pope Francis' memory and striving to live out the values he championed.

Sacramental Program – Reconciliation

Students who are part of the sacramental program will be completing their first reconciliation on Thursday 8^th May at 9am. This is a closed service for students and their families to attend.

Once students complete this they will then move into their next sacrament of first communion which will be later in the term. Students will be participating in the program from 5:00 – 5:30pm on Tuesdays.

Warm regards,

Imogen Hunt

Curriculum Support - Mr Tony Kim

Happy week 2 family and friends of St Mary’s!

We are now truly underway for Term 2 2025. I would just like to say thank you to everyone, (parents, students, staff, community), for making Term 1 a huge success.

Continuing from Term 1, STEM club will be returning every Wednesday during first break in the Art Room.

I would also like to introduce weekly Chess Club where students can play casually, competitively or learn to play chess! Please see the flyer below for more information.

Thank you for your continued support!

Tony Kim

Curriculum Coordinator

Learning Support - Mrs Majella Lynch-Harlow

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Healthy Hearing for a Strong Start
Did you know that up to one in ten children and one in three adults may experience 
some degree of hearing loss or hearing difficulties? Hearing health plays a vital role in 
every child’s ability to learn, communicate, and thrive in the classroom. 
We are excited to announce that all Prep students at St Mary’s will have their hearing 
screened by an audiologist at no cost to parents. By conducting hearing screenings, we 
aim to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
Permission forms have been sent home, and we ask that parents return these as soon as 
possible.

In addition, I will conduct hearing screeners for students in older grades who are 
experiencing significant learning difficulties. I will work with classroom teachers to 
identify the list of students to include in our screening. Parents who have particular 
concerns about their child’s hearing are encouraged to reach out. I will use an online
hearing screener program called Sound Scouts to help identify any hearing issues. I will
then refer them to our audiologist if there are any concerns about their Sound Scout
results. This is to ensure any underlying hearing issues are detected and managed to 
reduce their impact on learning. Permission notes will be sent home for any students 
included in these screeners.

Understanding Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing challenges that can impact individuals:
1. Conductive Hearing Loss
Occurs when sound is blocked from reaching the inner ear, often due to middle 
ear infections (commonly known as "glue ear"), earwax buildup, or foreign 
objects in the ear canal. While usually temporary, it's important to address these 
issues early as residual fluid can affect hearing even after an infection resolves. 
About four out of five children experience a middle ear infection at least once 
during childhood. Parents can support their children by teaching them how to 
clear their noses and unblock their ears and to seek treatment promptly if there 
is any sign of infection. 
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Caused by damage to the inner ear, this type of hearing loss is typically 
permanent. It may be present from birth or develop later due to factors such as 
loud noise exposure, certain medications, viral infections, or head injuries. The 
degree of hearing loss ranges from mild to profound, but most cases can be 
managed effectively with hearing aids or cochlear implants. 
3. Listening Difficulties in Noise
Even with normal hearing in quiet environments, some individuals struggle to 
understand speech in noisy settings such as classrooms or restaurants. Causes 
include auditory processing disorder, developmental delays, language 
challenges, attention deficits, or multilingual backgrounds.

If you have questions or concerns about hearing health, feel free to reach out—we’re 
here to support you and your family.

Warm regards,
Majella Lynch-Harlow
Learning Support Teacher

Year 1 - Mrs Susan Holloway

Hi there,

What a start to Term Two! After a morning of running at the Cross Country event on our first day, Year One came back to school to learn more about the Anzac tradition and the importance of this day.  We made a wreath for our Anzac Assembly on Thursday held last Thursday and explored the uniform the soldiers wore after reading the text 'Anzac Ted'.

This week is our first full week back and we are beginning our writing pieces for our Charleville Show entries. We are submitting a creative writing piece and are looking forward to celebrating our final copies which will be completed by the end of next week. 

During Term Two we are learning about our Mercy Mindset of Hospitality and the importance of feeling welcome and helping others to feel welcome as well. A little kindness can go a long way!

Enjoy the rest of your day,

Sue Holloway and the Year One Team

Year 2 - Miss Shauna Gallagher

Welcome back to term 2. We are really looking forward to all of the new challenges and learning experiences that this term is going to bring.

Last term, we had so much fun!

In Science, we learned all about the life cycles of different plants and animals.

In HASS we studied the different parts that make up our wonderful planet. We learned about the states and territories of Australia and the continents of the world. We also learned about the oceans, and we took a further look into the depths of the ocean which we all found fascinating.

In English, we learned about narrative texts and wrote our own stories about “Alexander’s Outing in Charleville”, which were our own adaptations of the book “Alexander’s Outing”.

In maths, we really enjoyed practicing our skip counting, measuring the length of various objects in metres and centimetres and solving bigger addition and subtraction problems.

In term 2, we are looking forward to learning all about informative texts and creating our own informative texts on a topic that interests us. We can’t wait to extend on our learning of number strategies, time and money in maths.

We are extra excited to learn all about life in Ireland as a 6/7 year old with our pen pals in Ms. Gallagher’s friend’s class for HASS.

We will be focusing the Mercy Mindset of ‘Hospitality’, where we will make sure to show great teamwork and generosity in our learning and daily school lives, throughout the whole term.

Let’s not forget about all the fun and interactive activities that we are going to continue with in Digital Technologies.

We look forward to showing you all this new learning as we go through the term.

Years 5 & 6 Camp Fundraising

Student Protection Officers

Introducing Our Student Protection Officers

At St Mary's School Charleville, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. To ensure a safe and supportive environment, we have designated Student Protection Officers (SPOs) who play a crucial role in our school community. Please see our Student Protection Officer Poster attached.

Our Student Protection Officers are responsible for:

1. Ensuring Student Safety: They are trained to handle any concerns related to student safety and well-being. They provide a safe space for students to discuss any issues they may be facing.
2. Providing Support and Guidance: SPOs offer support and guidance to students, helping them navigate any challenges they encounter, whether academic, social, or personal.
3. Promoting a Safe Environment: They work closely with staff, students, and parents to promote a culture of safety and respect within the school.
4. Responding to Concerns: If any concerns about a student's safety or well-being arise, our SPOs are the first point of contact. They ensure that appropriate actions are taken to address and resolve these concerns.

We encourage you to reach out to our Student Protection Officers if you have any questions or concerns about your child's safety and well-being at school. Their dedication and commitment to our students' welfare are invaluable, and they are always here to help.

Thank you for your continued support in making St Mary's School Charleville a safe and nurturing environment for all our students.

April Birthdays

Flyers