Friday 17th October 2025 ~ Issue 31
PARISH PRIEST: Fr Patrick Mugavin PRINCIPAL: Mrs Terrielynn Groves
SAC CHAIRPERSON: Mrs Joyce Nedziwe CHILD SAFETY OFFICER: Ms Tania Stevens
Child Safety Statement
School Values
Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
Respect Our School - Hormati Sekolah Kita
Do Your Best - Lakukan Yang Terbaik
Help Others to Succeed - Bantu Teman Untuk Berhasil
Important Dates
TERM 4
Thursday 23rd October - Catholic Social Teaching Day
Friday 24th October - Mission Day
Friday 31st October - Assembly @ 2.55pm
Monday 3rd November - Book Fair begins
Tuesday 4th November - Melbourne Cup Holiday
Wednesday 5th November - Prep Transition morning
Monday 10th November - 3/4 Swimming
Tuesday 11th November - Prep Transition morning
Tuesday 11th November - Remembrance Day
Friday 14th November - Assembly @ 2.55pm
Friday 28th November - Assembly @ 2.55pm
Friday 5th December - Christmas Parade
Tuesday 9th December - Orientation Day
Thursday 11th December - Junior Sports Day
Friday 12th December - P/1/2 Excursion
ADVANCE NOTICE
Thursday 18th December - Last day of the school year for students
From the Principal
Dear Families,
Another wonderful week at St Mary’s!
A huge thank you to all the students and staff who took part in the filming of our new school promotional video, courtesy of our governing authority DOBCEL. Your enthusiasm and smiles truly captured the spirit of our beautiful school. We can’t wait to share the finished product with our community soon!
Congratulations to our talented students who represented St Mary’s at Regional Athletics last Friday. By all accounts, you showed great sportsmanship and effort and we’re so proud of your achievements.
In the Kitchen Garden, students in 3/4 and 1/2 have been busy harvesting produce and cooking delicious meals. It’s been wonderful to see their teamwork and creativity shine.
A reminder that enrolments for 2026 are well and truly open! If you have younger children starting school or know families interested in joining our community, please encourage them to book a tour or contact us for an enrolment pack.
And finally, it is Catholic Social Teaching Day and Mission Day next Thursday and Friday. Information has been sent home about the two days. We look forward to the learning and the fun we will have!
Have a wonderful weekend, shared with those you love,
Terrielynn
Catholic School Culture
MASS TIMES – 2025
Hamilton: Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.30am
Dunkeld: Sunday 8.30am
Glenthompson: Sunday 8.30am
Penshurst: Sunday 8.30am
This week a fragile peace is returning to Gaza. We keep all those experiencing war and violence in our prayers. Bringing peace is something we are all capable of, individually and as communities. The following prayer by Pádraig Ó Tuama may prompt consideration of how peace can be created in the here and now.
Retrieved from: Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community
St Vinnies
We have been approached by St Vinnies to once again donate Christmas desserts to their Christmas Appeal. We will set some tubs up near the office in early November and start taking donations. Thanks for your support!
Learning and Teaching
Book Fair
Great news - our annual Book Fair is back for 2025! It will be held in Week 5 of this term, in the spare classroom space, next to 5/6W.
The Book Fair will be open for browsing on Monday 3rd November and Wednesday 5th November of that week, with the buying days being Thursday 6th November and Friday 7th November, both before and after school. It's a great chance to grab some Christmas gifts too!
Just like last year, we now have an option to pay via Tap and Go. You can still pay online prior to the fair, as well as cash, but this adds an extra payment option.
An invitation to the Book Fair (with information about how to pay online) will be sent home very soon. Please keep an eye out for this. Your children will bring home a 'Wish List' as well, after they have had a chance to browse the Book Fair.
If you have any questions about our upcoming Book Fair, please don't hesitate to contact myself or Casey Rook.
Tania Stevens
Sports Catch Up
Regional Athletics
We are extremely proud of our Regional Athletes who showcased their remarkable sporting abilities and determination last Friday at Ballarat, despite challenging weather conditions. Please enjoy the gallery of photos, showcasing the joy and excitement of our students.
A special congratulations to Alaska B, who achieved an impressive 2nd place in both the 800m and 1500m track events, qualifying her for the State Athletics in Melbourne on Wednesday 5th November. Additionally, we celebrate Charlie M, who secured 1st place in Hurdles without breaking a sweat! The Hurdles event was unable to be safely conducted in the windy conditions, so they awarded places based on the students’ seeded times. Charlie will once again compete against a student from Dunkeld at the State Level, reigniting their friendly rivalry on the big stage.
We are all eager to watch you race at State Athletics, Alaska and Charlie! The entire St Mary’s community will be cheering you on!
Regional Results
Jed P - Discus (8th)
Marlee L - 100m (13th), 200m (11th)
Lucy O- High Jump (9th)
Beau P- Discus (11th)
Alaska B- 800m (2nd) & 1500m (2nd)
Isabella T - 1500m (11th)
Johannah W- 800m (6th), Relay (6th)
Charlie M- Hurdles (1st) and Relay (6th)
Sophie U - Hurdles (6th), 100m (7th) & Relay (6th)
Nina R- Discus (4th), Shot Put (3rd) & Relay (6th)
Regional HoopTime
The Grade 3/4 Boys take to the court on Monday 20th October. The boys are in a pool of 6 teams, which will see them play schools spread from Koroit to Horsham. We wish Casey Rook and the boys all the very best on Monday! Our Grade 5/6 Girls All Star team will play on Monday 27th October. We thank Casey Rook for her support and coaching expertise for both teams.
The teams are:
Grade 3/4 All Star Boys
Players:
Darrell M, Jed P, Jonty M, Jed R, George R, Kai T, Kieran F, Lachie R
Grade 5/6 All Star Girls
Players:
Charlie M, Hana C, Nina R, Isabella T, Alani R, Johannah W, Meki C
Saturday Morning Netball - begins Saturday October 18th
Saturday Netball gets underway this weekend. We have a SeeSaw group set up for the three Grade 3/4 teams and the two Grade 5/6 teams. If your child is playing and you are not receiving any SeeSaw messages please let me know ASAP.
We thank Joe McKew for stepping up to umpire a Grade 5/6 team and supporting Chelsea Hayes to start her umpiring journey. Good on you Chelsea for being brave and taking this on. We are very grateful for you!
If you see these people please thank them for their time and support with coaching & umpiring: Renee Perriman, Lisa Lowin, Jane Nankivell, Emily Kelson, Belinda Colliton, Shae Outtram, Eva Outtram and Mallory Stanley.
NET SET GO - begins Saturday October 18th
Net Set Go will be going ahead in Term Four, thanks to a lovely parent who has taken on the co-ordinator role.
It will take place on Court 5 each week from 9.30am.
The HNA are still waiting for the competition to be set up on Netball Connect, so please see the HNA Facebook page for further details.
It will run from Saturday 18th October - Saturday 29th November (with no play over the Melbourne Cup Weekend, 1st November).
District Cricket (Cricket Blast Competition)
The Cricket Blast School Cup will be held on Thursday 30th October at Pedrina Park. The day will run from 9.30am to approximately 2.30pm. We have around 47 students attending. Chris Minney, Bec Kearney, Casey Rook and Mel Fitzpatrick will attend on the day. The interested students have received a note.
Grade 3/4 Swimming Program
The Grade 3/4s will swim from Monday 10th November - Friday 14th November from 12.00-2.00pm. The notes for this came home this week. Please ensure you return the ‘blue’ permission note by Friday 31st October. Thank you.
Dates for your Diary
TERM FOUR
October
Saturday 18th October - Saturday Morning Netball begins
Monday 20th October - Regional HoopTime Grade 3/4 (Hamilton)
Monday 27th October - Regional HoopTime Grade 5/6 (Hamilton)
Thursday 30th October - District Cricket Grade 5/6 (Hamilton)
November
Wednesday 5th November - State Athletics (Melbourne)
Monday 10th - Friday 14th November - Grade 3/4 Swimming Program
December
Thursday 11th December - Junior Athletics Carnival
Elise Gordon
egordon@smhamilton.catholic.edu.au
Sporting Highlights
Victorian Government’s Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open! Eligible families can receive up to $200 per child to help cover the cost of sport and active recreation, including swimming lessons.Why apply?
- Up to $200 off registration or lesson fees (plus included uniforms or equipment).
- Swimming lessons are eligible under the program.
- HILAC is a registered provider, so you can redeem your voucher directly with us for your child’s swimming lessons.
- Current round: open from 15 October 2025 to 13 November 2025 (or until funds are exhausted). Vouchers must be used by 31 December 2025.
Who can apply?
Children aged 0–18 years who are listed on a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card (and Medicare card). Some special-consideration categories also apply.How to apply:
- Visit the Get Active Victoria – Voucher Program page.Apply For Vouchers | Get Active Victoria
- Complete the online application form.
- Once approved, you’ll receive a voucher code.
- Bring or email your voucher to HILAC, and we’ll redeem it directly for your child’s swimming lessons.
If you need help applying or redeeming your voucher, please get in touch — we’re happy to assist.
Let’s get our kids active, confident, and safe in the water while saving on lesson costs!If this information can be advertised to parents through your school newsletter, website or social pages that would be fantastic.
Wellbeing
Child Safety
The eSafety Commissioner is once again running some valuable parent webinars for Term 4. The two listed below are very important ones with the end of the year approaching, our Grade 6 students transitioning to high school and the social media ban for under 16's coming into effect on the 10th December. They are less than an hour and definitely worth checking out!
Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school
This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.
It's suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.
Available on:
- 18th November, 12:30pm
Social media age restrictions explained - a guide for parents and carers
From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account. Join our 30-minute information session to understand the changes.
Available on:
- 20th November, 12:30pm
Please see the flyer below for other topics available this term, as well as a link to register.
Tania Stevens
Cybersafety Sessions
Leading Senior Constable, Keleigh Flavel who works as a Youth Resources Officer with the Victorian Police, has offered to run two cybersafety sessions with our 3/4s and 5/6s. She will be at school to run these sessions on Tuesday 11th November. We look forward to hearing what she has to say.
Leadership and Stewardship
Kitchen Garden
It’s been busy in the kitchen this week with the 1/2s cooking on Monday and the 3/4s cooking on Wednesday. As per usual, the results were amazing and gobbled up quickly…even tofu, which was new for many students.
The sharing of the fares at the end is just as important as the skills being developed throughout the cook. The chats, the laughs and the community that continues to thrive is a most beautiful outcome of this program.
Also on Wednesday, Monique Sobey and our wonderful volunteer, Nola worked with the Preps. They learnt all about the power of fruit and made some delicious fruit kebabs!
We are so blessed to have all these wonderful people working with our students.
Catherine Egan
Kitchen Garden photos from Week 2
Community Engagement
St Mary's Christmas Parade
This year our annual Christmas Parade will be held on Friday 5th December.
🍰 Christmas Cake/Pudding Bakers 🥧
We are looking for people to bake Christmas fruit cakes/puddings for our Christmas Parade this year, please let me know and I can supply the dried fruit. Many thanks We are also looking for donations of pre wrapped lollies for our BBQ.🍬🍭🍡
Also, we would like to give a BIG thanks to Emily Kelson who has been baking Christmas Cakes/Puddings etc for our Christmas Parade for years. We thank Emily for her generosity .
Assembly
Our next assembly will be on Friday 31st October at 2.55pm.
School Country bus travellers - not Hamilton town bus travellers
The School Bus Program will process the school bus applications towards the end of Term 4, 2025. This includes renewals of current applications and offers for new 2026 applications which will be emailed to applicants then.
