SMC NEWS 2025 - Term 2, Week 1
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
If you have managed a break over the Easter period, I hope you have shared it with family and friends and had a chance to refresh. Thank you to our College staff who "held the fort" over the past couple of weeks at the College.
We welcomed back all students this week at a rousing assembly on Wednesday morning. I appreciate the work of our Year 12 Leaders who continue to build for the future in their time as leaders of the College.
Important Strategic Planning Update
For the remainder of 2025, the College moves into the final months of its current Strategic Plan 2023 - 2025: Today's Boys, Men for Tomorrow. In this regard, I have asked Mr Chris Mayes, recently retired Principal of St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe, to assist us with the new Strategic Plan to begin in 2026. As parents and carers, you will be given opportunities to contribute to this new plan. St Patrick's College is an EREA school and has gone through a remarkable period of growth during Chris' leadership.
Can I invite all Parents and Carers to attend a Parent Engagement night on Monday 12 May, 7pm in the ERCC, to discuss 3 items:
- New Strategic Plan
- SMC College Bus
- AAA US College Agreement
Please see an email next week about this opportunity to attend and thank you for your continuing engagement in the College.
Staff News
Please welcome Mr Thomas Knauth (Humanities department) and Ms Stella Pang (IT) to the College on Tuesday. The College also welcomed back Ricki-Lee Chapman on Tuesday who returns to our teaching staff from leave.
Please also keep in our thoughts and prayers Ms Kim Young (Finance), who has had a further complication with her recent illness.
Around the Grounds
We are excited to share progress of our new amenities block near the Duhig building. This is part of our Master Plan in improving amenities for students over the next few years. During Term 2, access to this building will need to change for students and staff because of construction occurring at the College. We will share the end result with you in the coming weeks!
PNG Trip - Thank you
A sincere thank you to Mr Stephen Sowter, Mr Simon McKeiver, Mr Hector Peralta and Old Boy Mr Joseph Doljanin who accompanied a group of students to a village in PNG over the holidays. Immersion is a part of our "Justice and Solidarity" touchstone and I'm sure our boys returned with many amazing stories from their time up North.
EREA Football - Thank you
Congratulations to Head Coach Mr Dave Nugent, Coach Mr Joe Jones, Coach Mr Jack Spencer assisted by Ms Emma Bowdler and Mr Alexander Jackson for taking three teams to the 2025 EREA Tournament at Nudgee College over the holidays. Although the results didn't go our way, the boys and coaches absorbed some amazing experience that will stand them in good stead in the local competitions in Term 2.
Looking forward to a great week to kick-start Term 2.
Reflection - Pope Francis
I know that the passing of Pope Francis has brought to light his achievements and compassion for all over the past week. The outpouring of grief and gratitude is a testament to his impact over a long period of time.
It has been incredible to me the number of "famous" people who have paid tribute to him for many reasons - his loving attitude, environmental care, being a man of the people and so the list goes on.
My simple reflection is that we all look for positive leaders in tough times in our lives - people who build, grow and care for others. Surely Pope Francis was one of these people.
May Pope Francis rest in peace. I share this beautiful reflection from our AP Mission and Identity, Mr Kev Murphy.
This week, we reflect on the sad passing of Pope Francis.
His humility, love, mercy, and hope for creation call us to embody these values in our lives and our college community.
From welcoming challenges with compassion to caring for our common home, and standing up for truth and fairness—let us lead with love, teach with mercy, and inspire hope in all we do.
In honouring his papacy, may we keep his spirit alive and be his living legacy.
Sincerely
Brendan Stewart
College Principal
principal@stmaryscollege.com
Deputy Principal
Building Works Underway
As we move into the new term, the most obvious change over the holidays has been the beginning of the building project in the middle of the College. The space that was previously the Drama Courtyard is being used to construct a new set of student toilets. These toilets will meet the latest requirements and will be a welcome addition to the College facilities.
In the meantime though, we will be working around a construction site for the whole of Term 2. In Assembly this week, the boys were given instructions about how we will handle the movement of a lot of people around this. As the term moves on, we will have a chance to see what works and what improvements can be made – literally a work in progress! I am sure that the boys and staff can work together to ensure that the smooth running of the school continues.
The end result will be the addition of six toilet cubicles, as well as a wash basin area and an additional change room. The change room will be useful for the performances that we are hoping to see in our Drama Rooms. This space has also benefited from some attention – paint, repairs, curtains – over the break and is looking very professional.
Parent Teacher Interviews
The word of the week this week is ‘co-operate’. The beginning of term is always a good time to remind our boys and our staff that we will all find greater success if we work together. And that is a perfect segway to our Parent Teacher Interviews! We are looking forward to meeting new families and connecting with continuing families as we put time aside in our busy lives to talk about your boys. And while the boys in your life may roll their eyes, and shrug off the event, this is a visible way to show your son that you have a great interest in his progress at school. We all know that the best results happen when families and schools work together, with the same vision and values, and we are very grateful to have such an engaged and supportive parent group at the College.
Samantha Parle
Deputy Principal
parles@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
The Easter Season: Pilgrims of Hope
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope everyone had a wonderful break filled with quality time with family and friends.
As we move into the Easter season, we celebrate the renewal and hope of the resurrection. The Easter Gospel reminds us of the discovery of the empty tomb and the profound truth spoken by the angels, that Jesus is found among the living, not the dead.
This message encourages us to see Christ in all of our daily interactions, in moments of joy as well as in challenges.
To live as "Easter people" is to embrace life with a sense of hope and possibility. It means recognising that, in our human imperfections, Jesus walks with us, offering love and life.
This Jubilee Year, the church calls us to be "Pilgrims of Hope"—to journey through life with a deliberate spirit of joy and renewal, empowered by the renewal of the resurrection.
As we begin this term, full of opportunities and challenges, let’s carry this Easter message with us. May we find hope, possibility, and the gifts of life in all that lies ahead.
Honouring Pope Francis: A Call to Lead with Love
As I write this article, we have not long heard the news of the passing of Pope Francis.
In our mission as a Catholic Boys College in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are called to honour the spirit and teachings of Pope Francis—embracing his vision of humility, love, mercy, and hope for our the earth and all of creation- values very much aligned with our touchstones.
This means looking beyond the ordinary and asking ourselves: How can we embody these values in our interactions with others? Perhaps it's in welcoming challenges with compassion and fresh eyes, or in taking the time to address justice and fairness both in the college and beyond. Maybe it is being more active in the care of our common home.
It could also be in finding moments of silence for prayer and reflection, making room for simplicity over extravagance, or speaking out for truth and fairness for those on the margin of our society, even when it's hard to do so.
Blessings,
Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
Using the M-Score
At the end of last Term, most students would have received the M-Score for Term 1 2025. The Year 11 students will receive theirs at the conclusion of Unit 1. The M-score is calculated from students results across their subjects. This result is a wonderful way for students to start to set measurable goals around growth in their learning. I encourage you to discuss your son’s M-Score as a family and explore ways to improve it moving forward into Term 2. Small changes can have a large impact!
Angela Harris
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
harrisa@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Welcome Back to Term 2.
Our assembly this morning reminded me of the great school spirit that we have at Saint Mary's with our Year 12 cohort leading the College in the school song. A tangible sense of camaraderie was on display built on the very foundations of our college, that of - Faith, Integrity, Excellence and Action.
We look forward to our term together with our leaders setting the standard of brotherhood.
How to help my distracted teen.
I encourage all parents to take full advantage of cutting-edge resources and speakers in our School TV section of St Mary’s Website. This week’s focus is a SPECIAL REPORT on How to help your distracted teen find motivation and focus for school | St Mary's College - Toowoomba
For parents looking for cutting edge resources that are bite sized and relevant I encourage you to access School TV through our website. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg renowned psychologist has coordinated cutting edge resources developed by experts in the field to assist you in staying across what’s trending in your boy’s world and keeping yourself informed so as to approach a conversation with current and relevant information.
Wellbeing
At St Mary’s College Wellbeing is supported and promoted every day, by way of our lived Edmund Rice Touchstones of Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Liberating Education and Justice and Solidarity.
While we look forward to launching the SMC Kindness Campaign on the 6th May during Assembly and celebrating events such as the Year 7 Kindness Day on Friday 9th May it is the daily positive interactions between staff and students that promote wellbeing in and around our college.
Character Strength of the Week - Fairness
This week, we concentrated on the character strength of fairness as part of our deliberate character development program to develop our boys into men of faith, integrity, action, and excellence.
My specific focus from this is to encourage our boys to take every opportunity to develop into fine young men by prioritising fairness in all their interactions, with family, friends and classmates.
Attendance procedures
Should your child need to be absent from school for a whole or part day (late arrival / early departure), please use the SMC App or alternatively email reception@stmaryscollege.com
SMC App
Please download and log in to the SMC App – this is a great resource for families. From here you can easily register your son’s absence, check the College calendar, and receive communications.
Concerning absences, please be aware that you can log your son’s absence ahead of time if events are coming up in your family life, that will mean that he will be away from school. The list below outlines Student and Parent/Carer Responsibilities regarding students' absence from class.
Matt Draper
Assistant Principal - Student Engagement
draperm@stmaryscollege.com
Primary and Middle School Curriculum
College M-Score (Mary’s Score)
We are pleased to inform you that the M-Score (Mary's Score) letters have been sent to all parents. The M-Score is a comprehensive assessment tool designed to provide a fair evaluation of your child's academic performance. Here’s a summary of what you need to know about the M-Score:
- Percentage: The M-Score is measured on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest achievable score.
- Average Score: It represents an average score across key subjects, providing a holistic view of your child's academic abilities. Only subjects that occur for a minimum of one semester will contribute towards the M-Score.
- Weighted Distribution: The M-Score is a weighted average of the overall percentages of each subject studied. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of each cohort's subject weighting for core and elective subjects.
- Subject Results: Your child's overall percentage for each subject is accessible on Canvas.
Additionally in the next week, students will be receiving an individual email with their M-Score so they can track their progress over the term and ultimately the year. We encourage students to set personal academic goals and focus on improving each term. By fostering a growth mindset, we aim to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and resilience at our college. Celebrating small achievements and learning from challenges will help students grow and succeed.
We also encourage you to have a discussion with your son about his individual scores for each subject, which can be accessed on Canvas. This is a valuable opportunity to set specific academic goals and create a plan for achieving them. Engaging in these conversations can help your child understand their strengths and areas for improvement and motivate them to strive for excellence.
We are also excited to announce that students who received a Commitment to Learning Award or a High Achiever's Award will be receiving their certificates in the coming weeks to celebrate.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email paulis@stmaryscollege.com.
Shari Pauli
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
paulis@stmaryscollege.com
Head of Primary
ANZAC Day
This year on ANZAC Day itself, we aim to have a large contingent of our boys and staff participating in the Toowoomba mid-morning march. Leading us will be our Drumline group, followed by our Student Leaders and our first XIII Rugby League squad. We warmly invite all students to participate, and we would particularly like to see as many Primary students, and Grade 11s and 12s as possible.
Please encourage your son to participate in full academic uniform including hat. He should also bring a water bottle.
Students are asked to gather at 9:40am on Margaret Street, near Neil Street (outside Fitzy's) where you will meet St Mary’s College students and staff.
Parents are responsible for arranging transport for their son/s to Margaret Street at 9.40am and collection for their son/s from Mothers’ Memorial at the conclusion of the Morning Service at approximately 11:00am.
This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show their support for members of our community and their families who have fought and died for our country in the name of freedom and peace. If you have any family medals, we encourage the boys to wear these with pride when marching.
Term 2 Primary Sport
From Week 2, Friday sport will take place during Periods 5 and 6, with athletics as our focus for the term. Students are reminded to wear their sports uniform every Friday.
Additionally, our Monday Sporting Schools activities will run from Weeks 4 to 9, offering students the chance to get involved in soccer or rugby union. Students are asked to wear their sports uniform on Mondays during these weeks.
Stephen Coren
Head of Primary
corens@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
Welcome to Term 2, 2025.
The Term 2 fees have been issued and unless you are on a payment plan are due on 30/04/2025. If you have not received your latest statement with the Term 2 fees, please send an email to our accounts team accounts@stmaryscollege.com and we will follow up for you.
We are currently down a staff member in our accounts team due to health reasons, though will endeavour to ensure we respond as quickly as we can to any queries.
We wish you and your family a wonderful Term 2 and if you have any payment queries, we are only an email or phone call away. For phone calls, 4631 7333 and select option 3.
Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
accounts@stmaryscollege.com