Principal's Message

Welcome to the term 3 Newsletter...

Welcome Parents, Guardians, Family and Friends, to the Term 3 St Mary's College Newsletter.

As we move into the final term of the school year, I am excited to share some significant updates and reflections from our recent four-year review process. This comprehensive evaluation commenced with a thorough self-reflection by our staff, aimed at identifying our strengths and areas for growth. Following this, our appointed reviewers visited all campuses, learning about how St Mary’s offers an education in partnership and providing valuable insights that will help us enhance our educational practices and student experiences.

100 days of school
Prep students at South Morang celebrate 100 days of school

Our prep students officially reached 100 days of school! This milestone offered a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their journey and celebrate the growth and learning they have achieved so far.

I am also pleased to announce that we held our Year 7 2025 Information Evening. It was a terrific opportunity for incoming families to learn more about our programs and community, ensuring a smooth transition for our future Year 7 students.

This term, we celebrated two major events that highlighted our school’s spirit and commitment to inclusivity. Our Secondary Schools' Deaf Sports Day was a resounding success, showcasing the talents and determination of our students and providing rich opportunities to build friendships and engage in social activities with other Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.

It was heartwarming to see our students come together as a school in support and camaraderie.

Lianna Tanisha St Dominic's Day
Entrance Procession for the St Dominic's Day Mass

Additionally, our St Dominic's Day whole school celebration was a joyous occasion, bringing students and staff from all campuses together to honor our school’s mission and values.

In our ongoing commitment to support all students, our secondary school staff collaborated with Deaf Children Australia on a new program that will provide meaningful work experience placements for our year 10 students. This initiative will equip them with essential skills and opportunities to thrive in their future endeavours, gain knowledge required in seeking their first part time jobs and insight into the best senior secondary pathways to support their career choice.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. Together, we are creating an enriching environment where all students can flourish.

The Right To Disconnect


In line with the Fair Work Act and as part of the new ‘Closing Loopholes’ laws, as of August 26th 2024, employees now have the 'right to disconnect' outside of their work hours.

Our dedicated staff at St Mary's College make every attempt to reply to emails in a timely manner, however they are not expected to check or reply to emails or other forms of contact beyond school business hours.

This is to protect and maintain staff wellbeing and respect their personal lives and down-time.

Further information is available on the Fairwork website:

Right To Disconnect

St Dominic's Day

St. Mary's Students and Staff Celebrate St. Dominic's Feast Day...

On August 8th, the students and staff of St. Mary's gathered at St. Dominic's Church to celebrate St. Dominic's Feast Day with a special Mass.

This meaningful occasion provided an opportunity for our whole school school community to deepen their bonds and reflect on the values and traditions that form the foundation of our school.

The afternoon was filled with fun and social connection, as everyone enjoyed activities together like bowling and arcade games.

Secondary Schools Deaf Sports Day

Deaf and hard of hearing students enjoying some fun in the sun (and shade)...

St Mary’s College Students Shine at Deaf Sports Day


This week, our secondary students from St Mary’s College for the Deaf participated in the Deaf Sports Day hosted at Melbourne University. The event, organised by Deaf Sports Recreation Victoria (DSRV), brought together 150 deaf and hard of hearing students from across Melbourne and surrounding areas for a day filled with diverse sports and engaging social activities.

Under sunny skies, our students enthusiastically took part in various sports, showcasing their skills and teamwork under the guidance of coaches who ran clinics. Beyond the physical activities, the day offered a wonderful opportunity for like-minded students to connect, build friendships, and engage with one another in a supportive environment.

The event was a great success, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and community within the deaf and hard of hearing population. We are proud of our students for their participation and the positive spirit they brought to the day.

Speech Pathology at St Mary's

This month we celebrated Speech Pathology week...

Speech Pathology Week – Communicate Your Way

Speech Pathology Week this year focused on the various ways people can communicate. People can communicate through sign, speech, gesture, keyword sign, communication books or devices. Regardless of the means, communication is a powerful tool that “bridges gaps, fosters meaning and understanding, and strengthens a person’s relationships in all aspects of life” (SPA, 2024).

Speech Pathologists work with people across the lifespan to enhance their ability to communicate.

Speech Pathologists can support the following skills:

  • Language comprehension ‘and development (i.e. vocabulary, grammar, syntax)
  • Articulation (speech production)
  • Literacy (reading and writing)
  • Social Skills and Pragmatics
  • Use of AAC devices (people who find it hard, or are unable, to communicate through speech and use alternative or augmentative communication)
  • Stuttering
  • Voice
  • Swallowing


SMC is dedicated to enhancing and supporting student’s communication skills.

Whether through direct means (individual or group Speech Pathology intervention) or consultation with TOD’s, the staff at St Mary’s recognise that communication is a human right and key to our world.

This term, we continued to provide therapy to our primary students through individual and group speech pathology intervention, as well as bi-annual language testing. This helps identify how students are tracking, and if there are any areas of difficulty that SP’s or TOD’s can intervene in.

We have recently introduced an Allied Health Assistant (AHA) to the Speech Pathology team, who is currently running group and individual therapy sessions. Our wonderful AHA, Eve, is in the final year of her Speech Pathology degree, and is being directed and supported by a trained Speech Pathologist.

- Diana Mina

Student Leadership News

Check out what our amazing Student Leadership team have been up to in Term 3...

Student Leaders Raise Funds for Caritas

At the beginning of Term 3 the student leadership team dedicated their time and efforts towards raising funds for the not-for-profit organisation Caritas. The student leaders planned, promoted and ran an activity of choice at their individual campuses to support this fantastic organisation.

Caritas is an organisation that shares the mission of the Catholic church to help the poor and promote charity and justice in Australia and throughout the world. As of 2024, Caritas serves in 20 countries to work with people and communities affected by natural disasters and climate change, conflicts and human rights issues. Caritas provides aid, long-term development, medical and educational services and advocacy for a better world.

The leadership team organised a ‘chocolate coin toss’ or ‘guess the lollies in a jar’ as their fundraising activity at each campus. Our leaders hope to educate our communities about the work Caritas does each year. Our leaders also hope to support people in need through the act of fundraising.

Thank you to Jack, Lianna, Cleyara, Rosetta, Ira and Tanisha for their dedicated efforts in making this fundraiser a success, while displaying the Dominican Pillar of service. In total, the leadership team raised $363 for Caritas.

Wantirna South Campus News

Term 3 happenings at the Wantirna South Campus...

Potato Olympics

To match the excitment of the the 2024 Olympics, the very creative Holy Trinity 5/6 teachers organised a Potato Olympics. Our potato competitors came from across the world to compete in the events of diving, rolling races, archery and cycling in the velodrome.

The activity was a fantastic example of how maths can be combined with current events. Students needed to measure the splash created by their potato in a diving event, measure the distance in the rolling event, and add the numbers during the archery event. The St Mary's students along with their Holy Trinity peers had a sensational time together.

Giant Jenga Fun!

Our St Mary’s students are very fortunate to have deaf mentor and role model, Natalie Ng, visit each fortnight. Natalie recently completed a Bachelor of Health Science and is working towards becoming a youth worker/counsellor.

As part of her role, Natalie participates in various activities with our St. Mary’s students, including lunch and recess mentorship sessions where she provides social skills support, games and companionship. These students had a fantastic time with ‘Miss Natalie’ playing games including Giant Jenga!

Mini Olympics

The Year 3/4s and 5/6s were lucky enough to take part in a Mini Olympics Incursion. They learned about the Olympic values and how those values would impact positively on the athletes. Students worked in small groups and chose a country to represent during the various activities.

Points were collected as a team for winning an event or showing positive sportsmanship and teamwork. The incursion ended with a medal ceremony announcing the teams/countries that had won bronze, silver and gold.

Narrative Writing

During term 3, our Year 2 students have been busy creating narrative pieces. Students have worked hard to identify the structure of a narrative, develop characters and settings and most importantly a problem and solution.

After planning and drafting their stories, students collaborated with teachers to revise their work, paying special attention to spelling and grammar. The highlight for many students was the opportunity to proudly share their finished pieces with their classmates.

Mathematics: Angles


Over the past few weeks, the grade 5/6 students have been learning about angles. After being introduced to the different types of angles, students were asked to locate, name, and measure them on our St. Mary’s windows. Students used protractors to measure the degree of the angles accurately.

Father’s Day

To recognise our incredible male role models, we invited dads, grandfathers and uncles to come along for an afternoon at Holy Trinity Primary School to celebrate Father's Day.

Together with their children, and in house teams, they took on the fun challenge of crafting paper planes. The day brought a friendly paper plane flying competition, where fathers and children tested their skills and agility in a joyful and memorable experience.

Summer Interschool Sports

Students in grade 5/6 have trained with their Holy Trinity PS peers to prepare for the Summer Interschool Sports competition.

Children could participate in cricket, volleyball, softball or tennis. Seeing the teamwork, encouragement and sportsmanship displayed by all the students at the event was inpiring.

Dandenong Campus News

Find out what our students have been doing in term 3...

Performing Arts Night

A huge congratulations to all of the talented students of St John’s and St Mary’s for delivering such a memorable evening filled with creativity and passion. St Mary's students Harley and Rianna showed their dedication, hard work, and talent when they sang on the big stage!

We are so proud of you for your outstanding efforts and the joy you brought to the stage. Well done to everyone involved!

Photograph Source: St John's Regional College

Art Day

In the last few weeks of term 3, the school celebrated the artistic and creative talents of the students. Students were involved in a range of Art activities during lunch time.

Daniel became fully involved in the chalk drawing on the pathways.

These activities help channel students into areas they may not normally have the opportunity to trial.

Year 9 Cafe Program

This term our Year 9 students gained hands-on experience as they participated in a week of cafe experience at SJRC. This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop valuable skills and build confidence in a real-world setting.

The students prepared delicious treats, learnt the skills in customer service and were able to use the Point of sales system. Our students were also learning the importance of maintaining a clean and organized workspace, ensuring that the canteen runs smoothly and efficiently.

This work experience program not only provides our students with practical skills but also fosters a sense of independence and responsibility.

Excursion to Artvo

At the end last term a group of year 9 students had the opportunity to participate in activities in Artvo.

It was a day in which they experienced the opportunity to photograph themselves in a range of fun and unusual activities. This day engaged their growing brains and created a new learning environment.

NAIDOC Week


During NAIDOC Week, our Year 8 students delved into Indigenous cultures, focusing on the Dreaming and its significance. As part of their learning about inclusivity, they completed a project on the Rainbow Serpent, a central figure in Indigenous creation stories.

This project helped students develop a greater appreciation for the traditions and history of Australia's First Nations peoples, promoting respect and understanding of cultural diversity.

Ringwood Campus News

Find out the latest from the Ringwood Campus...

Year 8 Camp

The Year 8 camp presented the students with challenges and took them out of their comfort zones.

The students had the opportunity to experience new challenges including, abseiling, meeting a snake, walking on a bed of nails and a team challenge- the Mud Course! These activities helped students learn more about themselves as individuals and how to overcome fear.



Excellence Assemblies

Sarah performing at the Excellence Assembly

All year levels celebrate excellence in students across all areas of the curriculum. A number of students are recognised for their efforts in a variety of areas.

Sarah was acknowledged for her talents in the field of music and performed on her saxophone in the Jazz band. Music is another way students can find their place and extend their minds.



Celebrating Excellence, Inclusion, and Community

Last week, our entire school community came together for a special Assembly that highlighted the values of perseverance and excellence across all aspects of school life. It was a meaningful occasion where students, staff, and families gathered to recognize the achievements of our diverse learners and to celebrate the unique contributions of every individual within the Aquinas and St Mary's partnered community.

As a Catholic school, we also had the opportunity to come together in a beautiful Mass, reflecting on our shared faith and values. In the spirit of inclusion, our Auslan interpreters were present to ensure that our Deaf and signing students could fully participate in the celebration.

Caption Connect

Our students benefit from CaptionConnect, which provides real-time live captioning during class. This technology enhances their access to information shared by teachers and during student discussions.

Kayla (pictured) can view live captions either on her personal device or on the teacher's interactive whiteboard, ensuring seamless access to classroom content.

Cooking Classes

A highlight for many students is the opportunity to participate in cooking classes. These hands-on sessions not only allow students to explore their creativity in the kitchen but also teach them essential skills for the future.

Tluang, for example, enjoys preparing delicious meals while gaining a valuable, lifelong skill. Through these classes, students are learning the importance of nutrition, meal planning, and teamwork, all while building confidence in their ability to cook for themselves and others.

Vocational Major Activities

The Vocational Major and VPC students experience a variety of activities in their courses to give them opportunities beyond the classroom.

This helps them to develop teamwork and shared responsibilities. On this particular activity students were raising money for CARITAS by making and selling Fairy Floss.



A Week Out of the Ordinary

Back in June, the Year 9 students enjoyed a unique alternative school week filled with diverse activities designed to challenge and enhance their learning skills. Much of the week was spent in the city, where students explored various locations.

This experience not only broadened their learning but also helped them develop key skills such as organization and time management, proving to be a valuable part of their educational journey.



LOTE Day Activities

Also, in June, our Year 7 students had the exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of cultures during LOTE Day. They explored traditional Chinese painting techniques and enjoyed hands-on French cooking, where they got to sample their delicious creations.

This special day not only provided engaging cultural experiences but also fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation for the values and traditions of different cultures.



South Morang Campus News

Discover what our South Morang campus students have been up to during term 3...

Year Prep St Dominic lesson

As part of our preparation for St Dominic's Day on 8 August, Prep students learnt about our patron saint.

They drew pictures of St Dominic and made paper lilies which are often painted with St Dominic as a symbol of his purity.

Celebrating 100 Days of School

At the start of August, our Prep students reached a very big milestone...100 days of school!

On Thursday the 8th August, they dressed up as Centennials. We even had one of our St Mary’s staff join in! Congratulations to all of our students on achieving this big milestone.

Book Week

Prep students celebrated Book Week by dressing up as their favourite characters, Peppa Pig and Taylor Swift. The students proudly showed off their costumes and book during the Annual Book Week Parade with Marymede.

Year 10 Adventure Camp

Year 10 students braved the wet and cold weather for their adventure at Camp Rumbug in Foster North.

They undertook hiking up and down steep hills, the mud run, archery, flying fox, canoeing, raft building, team challenges and initiatives. It was a fun and challenging experience for our students and we were all rewarded with the magnificent views of Wilson’s Prom.

Marymede Day

St Mary's students celebrated alongside their partner school peers for their special annual event, Marymede Day.

The whole school got together to celebrate with a Mass, the Marymede Walk around the outskirts of the school and various interactive activities.

Year 7 Curriculum

Our Year 7’s had the opportunity to handle reptiles such as crocodiles, lizards and snakes at our Science incursion.

These students are also enjoying woodwork (learning how to use the new Pillar Drill to make wooden bookends), music and PE which are all hands-on subjects.

Certificate of Academic Excellence

A special mention and congratulations goes out to Tanisha for earning a Certificate of Academic Excellence in Art. It is truly great to see her creative talents being recognised! Way to go!



Boy’s Soccer Premier League

In August, two of our partner schools, Marymede and Salesian played each other in the Year 9 Premier League competition.

It was an exciting and proud moment to have a St Mary’s College representative in each team!

Marymede won convincingly 7-0.



What is the key to a good friendship?

On RUOK? Day, our students discussed what is key to a good friendship. They shared ideas like helping, being kind, listening, and being there for each other. They agreed that trust, honesty, and support are important for building strong friendships.

It was a great reminder to always check in with friends any day, offer support and let them know we care.

Sunbury Campus News

What's the latest news from our Sunbury Campus?

Drama Trip

The accelerated drama class recently had the opportunity to attend a matinee of the musical ‘Beauty and the Beast’ in the city. This was a wonderful opportunity to see live theatre and apply what they are learning in class onto the stage.

Soccer Skills Soar

St Mary's student, Jagan was the youngest player in the 2024 Victoria Para Football State Program. He was selected to compete in the 2024 Football Australia National Para Football Championships. It was held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from September 10th to 14th.

Jagan had an incredible experience playing againstsome of his para football idols, including Taj Lynch (NSW) and Connor Bunce (WA). His schedule was intense, with early starts for training, matches, and recovery, all while managing AIS canteen rotations!

Despite it being his first Nationals, Jagan played in 5 out of 6 matches and impressed the Pararoos coaches with his performance.

Year 7 Retreat

Year 7 engaged in a retreat day at the St John Bosco centre in Brunswick. The day enabled students to connect with their faith and others, as well as get up close and personal with furry friends!

Community Service

Year 12 VM and VPC students have been learning about the importance of service and caring for our community.

They baked tasty treats for the residents of Calvary aged care and visited the Cornish Grange where they swapped stories.


Putting Numbers Into Practice

Year 12 students visited Holy Moly to apply their numeracy skills. They were tasked with measuring the golf course so they could design their own golf course! It was a learning opportunity but also lots of fun.

Sovereign Hill

Year 12 students visited Sovereign Hill to get a hands-on experience when learning about the Gold Rush Era and the immigrants who came to take advantage of it.

Students had an opportunity to pan for gold which was not as easy as it looked.


Work Placement

An integral part of the VM and VPC program is work placement every term. Students learn skills such as how to communicate with the public, accept payments and work as part of a team.

These opportunities empower our students to develop essential skills, gain real-world experience, and build confidence in their abilities. These experiences not only strengthen communication and teamwork but also foster independence and drive professional growth, preparing them for a successful future.

Hands On Electives

Our Year 7’s have a number of elective choices and the Timber and Design class is very popular!

In this subject, students learn to how to measure and mark correctly as well as safely use hand and power tools in order to make various joins such as the rebate join. It helps to show great care for detail.

The finished product this term was a sliding lid box, which students will be able to bring home.


Tarneit Campus News

What has been happening in Term 3 at St Mary's Tarneit Campus...

Podcasting Prowess

“Podcasting @ The Channel”


Year 12 student, Lianna, visited The Channel at the Arts Centre back in July, where she transformed a script written in her VM Literacy into professional-quality audio production.

The class was guided through the process of recording their voices using state-of-the-art equipment, editing their work and adding sound effects and music to enhance her podcast.

This hands-on experience not only taught the students valuable technical skills but also encouraged creativity and advocacy on topics that are important to them. In completing her podcast on “the importance on deaf inclusivity in schools to support future success” with her TOD, Lianna has completed Unit 4, Area of Study 1 for her subject.


Check our the episode:

Listen to the Episode (7m27s)

Transcript

Community Gardening

The Year 12 VM students went to St Francis of Assisi Primary School to work on their Personal Development Community Project. This excursion allowed our students to build connections and learn about the basics of land management and garden planning.

We are incredibly proud of them and look forward to returning each fortnight to monitor our progress.

Staff News

Welcoming new staff and a glimpse of staff events...

Welcoming new staff members

We are pleased to welcome new staff members to our St Mary’s team this term. We have three new Educational Support Officers - Courtney Peters at our Sunbury campus, Damien Brislin at our Tarneit campus and Trudie Kennedy at our Dandenong Campus. Joining us also is Eve Asquith who will be providing speech and language support at our Wantirna South and South Morang campuses. Kathy Russo will be working as our Youth Worker and is based at our Dandenong campus. We are delighted to welcome them all onboard.

School Review

As part of the school review process this year, staff were invited to spend the day with staff from the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools to review our school improvement progress over the past four years. This is always a thought provoking experience as we reflect on what we have achieved as a school and our goals for improvement for the future.

VCSSDPA Conference

Members of our leadership team attended the annual Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools Deputy Principals Association conference held in Marysville this year.

This was a great opportunity to hear about best practice across the state and strengthen our relationship with members of the leadership teams in our partner schools.


A brand new person in the world...

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that Lauren Jekel has welcomed her beautiful baby boy, Tasman Chase, into the world!

Born on August 26th at 1:58 am, weighing a healthy 3.84 kg. Mum, and bub are doing well, as is a proud Dad, and Clark who is stepping into his new role as a big brother. Congratulations to the Jekel family!


Student Absence Reminder

Just a reminder, we are asking all parents/guardians of St Mary's College students at all campuses to follow the new Student Absence Notification process. This is designed to ensure we have a timely and responsive approach to the care and wellbeing for our students.

Student Absence Notice

Community Announcements

In other news...

Looking for something to do these holidays?

Asia Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships

The Asia Pacific Deaf Basketball Championships are being held in Melbourne, VIC. from the 21st - 29th of September at the State Basketball Centre.

Deaf Basketball Championships


Auslan Bilingual Story Time

St Albans Library hosts fortnightly storytelling sessions in both Auslan and English. Each session features a Deaf storyteller presenting in Auslan, accompanied by a children’s librarian who reads the story in English. These sessions are perfect for young Deaf and hard of hearing children, as well as their parents, carers, and families, providing an inclusive and engaging experience for all.

Where: St Albans Library. 71A Alfrieda St, St Albans VIC 3021
When: Fortnightly Saturday sessions at 10.30-11am on:

  • 7 & 21 Sept
  • 5 & 19 Oct
  • 2, 16 & 30 Nov


Student Absence Reminder

Just a reminder, we are asking all parents/guardians of St Mary's College students at all campuses to follow the new Student Absence Notification process. This is designed to ensure we have a timely and responsive approach to the care and wellbeing for our students.

St Mary's College

6471

Student Absence Notice
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