SMC NEWS 2025 - Term 1, Week 1

Week Ahead

From the College Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

A very sincere welcome (or welcome back) and thank you for choosing St Mary's College, Toowoomba in 2025.  It promises to be an exciting year in 2025, both inside and outside the classroom.  I look forward to working with each one of you for the betterment of your son's academic development and wellbeing.  It has be wonderful to see our boys back at St Mary's College during the week.

I hope all families had the opportunity at some stage to have a restful and enjoyable break together. As we embark on this exciting journey in 2025, I want to extend a warm welcome to our new students and families joining our community, as well as a heartfelt welcome back to our returning families.

This year promises to be filled with new opportunities for learning, growth, and success. Our dedicated staff has been working hard to prepare engaging and challenging educational experiences for all our students. We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can embody our motto and “strive for the crown”.

Please be aware this newsletter has an extensive version each fortnight (starting this week), with the alternative week having a brief, "week ahead" format.

Our Vision

Our vision for St Mary's College is Today's Boys, Men for Tomorrow.  It conveys a sense that we are on a journey with you and your sons to assist them to become the best versions of themselves as young men.  We aspire to help develop skills and abilities that will help every young man at the College to take the opportunities that the outside world has to offer.  It is an exciting time to be a part of college life.  Over the next few weeks, you will hear more about how you can be involved and engaged in College life.  There are many opportunities this year, and I look forward to seeing each and every one of you on the school campus at some stage during 2025.

Communication

Our main form of communication in 2025 remains our email system.  Our staff are expected to attend to these email queries within 48 hours.  If the matter is more urgent, please ring the front office.

Please note the change to the College website this year, with the installation of a "chatbot".  We have spent some time researching and installing this feature as a way of getting up-to-the-minute, accurate information to you.  It is monitored by College staff in office hours 8am - 4pm.  We have moved away from school-monitored social media as a way of getting information.  Over the course of the year, we do not have staff available to answer queries 24/7 in a manner that is generally expected on platforms such as Facebook groups.  The new chatbot is now running on the college website.  Give it a try today!

All families will also benefit from the use of the College App, found on the regular app platforms for all phones.  This app provides information around Sports, Arts and Co-curricular, calendar, absentee notes and SMC events amongst many other items. 

New Teaching Staff

In January, we welcome a number of new teaching staff to the College. 

We are very fortunate to have recruited some dynamic new teachers for our students this year.

Please make the following staff feel welcome:

1. Ms Charlotte Bull – Year 5
2. Mr Greg Bostock – Mathematics
3. Mr Will Clark - Mathematics
4. Mr Mark Holmes – Technologies
5. Mr Craig Johnstone – Technologies
6. Ms Che McDougall – English
7. Ms Madeleine Parkes-Moller – Year 5
8. Ms Jodie Smith – Arts/Drama
9. Mr Sean Udal – Information Technology/Music
10. Levi Siyi Yan - Mathematics

Additionally, we have employed the following Permission to Teach staff to fulfil our schedule this year:

1. Ms Kerri Bailey – Food Technology 
2. Ms Tyla Parker – Food Technology
3. Mr Todd White – Technologies 

Capital Works at the College

Over the Christmas holidays a new Primary Playground has been installed near the Primary building and staffroom.  We are very happy with the final result and we hope our Year 5 and 6 boys are also!  The new playground features a ninja-type course and a number of our students (and staff) have test-driven the final product over the past few days.

In addition to the playground, a long-awaited renovation of the staffroom has been completed, and all staff members were able to move into their new accommodations last week.  This will allow our staff to complete their work with a little extra professional comfort.  We have been planning the work for a number of years so it is good to see this project finally come to fruition in 2025.

Additionally, we hope to be able to start work on the new amenities block near the Drama Rooms towards the end of Term 1, with work on the toilets near the Primary Building scheduled to commence in 2026.

With your assistance, we hope to be able to continue the development of the College to meet the needs of our students and families into the future.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely

Brendan Stewart 
College Principal 
principal@stmaryscollege.com

Deputy Principal

Term 1 Week 1

First day of school! Any of you who have been reading the St Mary’s College newsletter for any length of time would know that I LOVE the first day of school. And for those of you who are new to SMC – now you know! After the long summer break, all of our staff return and we have a busy few days preparing for the year ahead – getting classrooms ready, ordering resources, checking the technology – so many details. For a while, the college staff are pleased just to get back into it and see each other. By the end of our PD days, though, we’re all starting to look around and wish the boys were back. Today (as I write this), our first boys for 2025 are here! 

So – a big welcome and welcome back! Whichever applies to your family, I hope that you have enjoyed a good summer. I also want to acknowledge the hours of work families have put into getting their boys ready for school – uniforms, booklists, school bags, embroidered hats, and haircuts. We really do appreciate your support of the College expectations. If your son is a bit older, and your house is like mine, holiday sleep patterns are about to come to a sudden end, and that will be both painful (for the boys) and entertaining (for us).

A few reminders as we get back into the school zone –

Traffic and Parking

The College is located within the city zone, making traffic a constant issue and parking a challenge. If you are visiting the College for an appointment or to speak to someone at the Office, please use the visitor carparks on West St (in front of the Primary Building). Parents should not use this space as a pick-up zone.

Dropping off and collecting students makes the College streets extremely busy. Some areas that are used for drop-off and pick-up are

• Stadium carpark
• Hill Street 10 minute zone
• Margaret Street, west of the bus zones
• Helen Street
• For older boys – a short walk to a more accessible zone

For parents collecting on Margaret and Hill Streets, make sure that you are not interfering with the safe use of the crossings. Both are staffed by crossing supervisors, who are also highly valued members of the SMC community.

If you are picking up on Margaret Street, please ensure that you are not interfering with the movement of school buses.

At all times, we ask parents to prioritise the safety of our students, and your children. You may be in a rush, you may have had a long day, you may be frustrated by someone else’s selfishness – but your decisions when driving around the College can have serious consequences. And none of us want to see that.

What’s Happening

Keeping up with news and events at the College is best done via the SMC App. Please ensure that you have full access to this important tool. If you have questions, we have also installed a help feature on our website where users can make enquiries, and we can get answers to you in a very short time frame. We are excited to see how this develops over the year.

For specific events (such as camps and excursions), communication will be via email to the parents. It is essential that your email is up to date and ‘the one you check’. Most permissions are given electronically and it is important that parents stay up to date with these.

Parent access to Sentral gives you access to the College Calendar, which is a great source of information.

A New Start

As your son moves into the year, he will be facing challenges: new teachers, new classes, new subjects. Facing new experiences is something that we do throughout our lives. As a parent, the best approach you can take is to normalise the feelings of being ‘uncomfortable’ in these new settings and situations. It’s okay to feel a bit off balance, out of your depth or uncertain. In fact, the only way to get better at this is to live through it. Naturally, our boys try to avoid situations that make them uncomfortable, and they will need encouragement – from you and from us – to stretch themselves into new spaces and personal growth. I am very excited about the growth we will see in 2025.

Samantha Parle
Deputy Principal
parles@stmaryscollege.com

Identity

Welcome to 2025!

As we embark on a new school year, it is my pleasure to share the theme for Pope Francis' Jubilee Year in 2025: Pilgrims of Hope. This theme resonates deeply with our community's mission and identity, reminding us of our shared journey with your sons.

At the heart of our journey this year, are the four Edmund Rice Touchstones, which guide and inspire us in living out our faith and values.

Gospel Spirituality: As pilgrims of hope, we draw strength from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our faith community is rooted in Gospel values, encouraging us to nurture our spiritual lives through prayer, reflection, and acts of love.

Inclusive Community: In our diverse and vibrant school community, we are called to welcome and celebrate each person as a unique and valued individual. As pilgrims of hope, we build a culture of inclusion where everyone feels a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves.

Liberating Education: Edmund Rice’s vision of education was one of transformation and empowerment. As pilgrims of hope, we are committed to providing a holistic education that nurtures the mind, heart, and spirit, freeing our young people to become men of tomorrow.

Justice and Solidarity: Our journey as pilgrims of hope calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised and oppressed. We are called to be advocates for social justice, working together to create a more compassionate society. Through acts of service, advocacy, and compassion, we embody the hope that is at the heart of the Gospel.

May this jubilee year of 2025 be a journey of growth, inspiration, and profound hope for all of us.

Upcoming Dates

All Families Liturgy and BBQ:           Monday 3^rd February                               5.30pm ERCC

We welcome all families, new and returning, to a short liturgy and BBQ to welcome the new school year.

Opening Mass:                                          Tuesday 11 February                               8.45am ERCC

All students are to wear full academic uniform on this day.

Blessings,

Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com

Curriculum

Student – Teacher – Parent Partnerships 

Welcome back to a new year at St Mary’s College. As our students begin their learning for the year across all their classes, it is timely to mention the importance of the partnership that exists between the students, their teachers and you, the parents. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your son’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns. Likewise, our teachers will reach out to you as needed as we all work together to support your son.

Staff email addresses are as follows: SurnameFirstInitial@stmaryscollege.com (e.g. harrisA@stmaryscollege.com) 

 Starting the Year Strongly 

Last week, at our first assembly, I spoke to the boys about being ready to learn in 2025. Kicking off a new school year is a great opportunity to set the tone for success. Here are a few of the key messages that I spoke about: 

• Embrace the Fresh Start: Every new school year is a blank canvas, a chance to reinvent yourself and set new goals. Approach it with enthusiasm and an open mind. 

• Set Clear Goals: Identify what you want to achieve this year, whether it’s academic performance, extracurricular involvement, or personal growth. Break these goals down into actionable steps. 

• Stay Organised: Keep track of assignments, deadlines, and activities using your diary. Staying organised reduces stress and sets you up for success.  

• Build positive habits: Establish a consistent routine that includes study, exercise, sufficient sleep, socialising, part-time work. Good habits set the foundation for success. 

• Be Resilient: Learning is challenging. Don’t give up. Be willing to get things wrong and make mistakes. Embrace the challenges and learning opportunities. 

• Stay Curious: Maintain a curious mindset and a love for learning. Ask questions, explore new subjects, and stay engaged in your educational journey. 

Remember, this school year is what you make of it. Approach it with positivity, determination, and a growth mindset, and you’ll set yourself up for a rewarding and successful year ahead. 

Angela Harris
Assistant Principal - Curriculum 
harrisa@stmaryscollege.com 

Student Engagement

Welcome back to school to all our St Mary’s families

Standards

I want to take the opportunity at the start of the school year to speak on the importance of high standards.

Sustaining high standards as a college is an essential element in your son's achieving his best, and St Mary’s College is committed to upholding these high standards across all areas to foster an inclusive, welcoming community and a disciplined student body. Our high standards aim to create a supportive and structured environment where students thrive academically, socially, and personally, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities.

2025 Changes to Procedures   

Please note the following changes to policy and or procedures for 2025.

Sign Out Procedures Sign Out Procedures

This change has been communicated on previous broadcasts this year via Ed Smart and will be well publicised to our boys via multiple modes, including assemblies and college-wide Pastoral Induction. This message has also been posted as a Broadcast today.

Grade 10 and younger

• Students in Grade 10 and younger must be collected and signed out by an authorised carer
• Siblings in Grade 10 and younger of a Senior Driver will be granted permission to exit with their brother in which case all student names with permission to depart will feature on the St Mary’s College “leave pass”

Grade 11 and 12

Parents who request their Grade 11 or 12 students depart college during school hours must provide a written request for early departure detailing the following

• Reason for early departure
• Mode of transport e.g. Requests to walk, drive from site
• Name of premises to which the student is travelling
• Name of the person making the request

Mobile Devices Policy Mobile Devices Policy

This change has been communicated on previous broadcasts this year via Ed Smart and will be well-publicised to our boys via multiple modes, including assemblies, college-wide Pastoral Induction, and publications (image below) around the college. This message has also been posted as a Broadcast today.

At St Mary’s College, we believe in creating an environment that maximises learning, fosters social interactions, and ensures the safety and well-being of all our students. This is why we have adopted a phone-free school policy since the start of 2024.

• When on-site, phones are switched off and stored in lockers during the school day
• Phones may not be used during the school day, including camps, carnivals, or excursions

College Response 

• To ensure the success of this policy, it is essential that all students adhere to the guidelines
• Failure to comply with the phone-free policy will result in the following consequences:

1. First breach: phone confiscated, phone reflection plan, phone handed in daily for a week
2. Second breach: phone confiscated, internal suspension, phone handed in daily for a week
3. Third breach: phone confiscated, external suspension, phone handed in daily for a week

Special Provisions

• In circumstances where a student needs to use his mobile phone for a specific purpose, this can be arranged with his House Leader or with another member of the Student Engagement Team. Situations that might warrant this may include – contacting a workplace, checking a change of details with a parent, or making an appointment.

Important to note - Mobile Phone consequences will take effect from the start of Week 2, Monday, 3rd February.

Uniform Policy  SMC_Uniform Policy

Hair

Student hairstyles are to be business-like and conservative. Specifically, haircuts are to be:

• Neat, clean, and tidy in appearance and student’s natural colouring only.
• Graduated in changes between lengths, with no great change from one length to another.
• No shorter than number two blade on top of the head, can be faded to a one blade at the neck.
• Not to be tinted, bleached, streaked.
• Short enough so it does not touch the collar at the back or fall over the eyebrows at the front, or longer than halfway down the ear on the sides.
• Please be aware that as fashions and trends change, the College leadership may identify other hairstyles (e.g., Mullets, dreadlocks) as unsuitable.

Hair not conforming to standards 

• Students will be withdrawn from class, events, formal occasions and representation of the college, when non-compliance with college policy is extreme or is part of a continuing pattern.

• Students who come to school with coloured hair will be removed from all activities, including classes until the issue can be resolved.

• Parents/carers will be contacted by the college to collect their son and have the hair adjusted to comply with expectations. Students will be withdrawn from all activities until their hairstyle meets college standards.

Thank you for ensuring that your son meets these standards.

School TV  Home Page SchoolTV | St Mary's College - Toowoomba

For parents new to SMC, you have access to School TV through our website. Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg, a renowned psychologist, has coordinated cutting-edge resources developed by experts in the field to assist you in staying informed about what’s trending in your boy’s world and approaching a conversation with current and relevant information.

Matt Draper
Assistant Principal - Student Engagement
draperm@stmaryscollege.com 

Primary and Middle School Curriculum

Welcome to the 2025 school year. As part of my role, I am the coordinator of NAPLAN for the College.

NAPLAN—the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy—is a crucial annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It serves several important purposes:

• Informs Policy and Resource Allocation: NAPLAN data provides insights into student performance, helping schools allocate resources effectively.
• Transparency Across Levels: By assessing literacy and numeracy skills, NAPLAN offers transparency at individual school, state/territory, and national levels.
• Identifying Learning Gaps: It allows educators to identify if students are falling behind and help schools address these gaps.
• Tailoring Instruction: NAPLAN results empower teachers to assess their teaching methods and tailor instruction to meet student needs.
  

The specific schedule for NAPLAN this year is as follows:

If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN, please feel free to reach out to us at paulis@stmaryscollege.com. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Shari Pauli
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
paulis@stmaryscollege.com 

Head of Primary

Welcome

Welcome to the 2025 school year at St Mary’s for the 140 primary boys and their families. It can be an overwhelming experience starting at such a big school, but the boys have settled in well and have smiles on their faces.

This year, the Primary students are extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated staff supporting them:

Teacher Aides: Mrs Desi Williams, Mr Lachlan Moore and Miss Bianca Anderson

Learning Support: Mrs Diane Kahl

Year 5B: Mr Zach Smith

Year 5G: Mrs Sonja Swanepoel

Year 5W: Miss Maddy Parkes-Moller / Ms Charlotte Bull

Year 6B: Mr Mark Gregson

Year 6G: Mr Stephen Coren, Mrs Sienna Anning (Hass) and Mr Julian Smith (Science)

Year 6W: Miss Amber Ross

Sport Leader – Mr Scott Cowan

Curriculum Leader 5-9 – Mrs Shari Pauli

Head of Primary – Mr Stephen Coren

Specialist Lessons

Year 5B – Art (Mrs Tamara Strong), Music (Mr Joe Goodman) and STEM (Mr Paul Martens)

Year 5G – STEM (Mrs Bernadette Rogers), Spanish (Mr Hector Peralta) and Music (Ms Cherie Runciman)

Year 5W – STEM (Mr John Parker), Drama (Mrs Eylece Blakie) and Music (Mr Darcy Walker)

Year 6B – STEM (Mrs Bernadette Rogers), Japanese (Miss Emily McCallum) and Music

Year 6G – STEM (Mr Julian Smith), Art (Mrs Tamara Strong), and Music

Year 6W – STEM (Mr Paul Martens), Spanish (Mr Hector Peralta) and Music

Music in Year 6 includes instrumental (Mr Joe Goodman), vocals (Ms Cherie Runciman) and drumbeat (Mr Darcy Walker).

If you need to contact the College regarding the education of your son, please contact the relevant class teacher in the first instance.

Some students were missing a few stationery items this week. Please see the following link to ensure that your son has all the necessary equipment:

https://www.stmaryscollege.com/teaching-learning/primary-college/

Primary Information Evening

The Primary Parent Information Evening will be held on Monday, February 3rd. The session will begin at 4.45pm in Bonyi Bonyi (the old gym/Dadirri room) before we move to the ERCC for the liturgy. This will enable people to attend the meeting and then the House Liturgy and BBQ at 5.30pm. This information session will focus on the logistics relevant to the Primary.

Primary Leadership Induction Ceremony

The Year 6 Primary Leadership Induction ceremony will also be held on Tuesday 4^th February from 2pm in the ERCC. All primary students will attend this event.

Primary Camps 2025

The Year 5 camp is from the 12^th - 14^th of February. Students will be attending Camp Somerset. The aim of this camp is to join the boys together as a cohort after beginning their journey at SMC from many different schools. It is a vital bonding time for the boys and begins their journey at the College positively.

Year 6 Camp will travel to K’gari from the 16^th – 19^th September (Week 10, Term 3). On this camp, the boys will discover the wonders of nature’s classroom with a range of interactive experiences, learning about the wildlife and ecology of the world’s largest sand island.

Primary Sport

Swimming Carnival

Swimming trials for the upcoming swimming carnival, Thursday 6^th February, will be held tomorrow for the Primary boys. The students are asked to bring their swimmers, swim shirt, towel and goggles for these trials. I look forward to seeing all the boys swimming to the best of their abilities and representing their Houses with pride next Thursday.

Friday Sport

Term 1 interschool sport will be held from Weeks 3-8. This term, students will compete in either AFL or participate in skill development or chess at the College. Sport will be held here at the College in Week 2 to organise these activities.

Sport Lessons - AFL

Sports lessons for Term 1 will be held on Mondays from Weeks 3 - 6. Students are to wear formal uniforms to school and pack sports uniforms for their lessons.

Primary Playground

A welcome addition to the College facilities this year is the new primary playground. It has already been tested and enjoyed by a number of boys. This playground is one of two places specifically designated for primary students, along with the manual arts undercroft, where the students play handball. Students can also play on the oval, read and play board games in the library, socialise in Centenary Court, relax/enjoy activities or receive help in the Hub. There is a place for everyone!

Stephen Coren
Head of Primary
corens@stmaryscollege.com

Business Manager

Dear Parents & Caregivers

Dear Students, Parents, and Carers,

As we embark on a new academic year, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all our new students and their families joining our school community in 2025. We are equally excited to welcome back our returning students and their families. We hope you had a restful break and are ready for an exciting year ahead.

Upfront Discount on Fees

If you pay the full year school fees by 21st February 2025, you will receive a 5% upfront discount on the tuition portion of your fees.

Invoices for Term 1 Fees

Please be informed that invoices for Term 1 fees will be sent out this week. We encourage you to take advantage of the upfront discount offer and settle the fees promptly.

We look forward to a productive and successful year together. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our accounts office by email accounts@stmaryscollege.com or by phone 07 4631 7333 (Option 3).  All our fee information is available on our website here.

Warm regards,

Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
accounts@stmaryscollege.com

Community Updates

2025 Parents & Friends Association Raceday

Tickets are now available for the 2025 Parents & Friends Association Raceday on March 8th, 2025!

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUWU

Join us for an unforgettable evening of live horse racing, live music, and a delicious three-course meal.
Every ticket supports the St Mary's College Parents & Friends Association and helps fund essential projects for our boys.

Calling all parents! If you would like to be involved in the race day, join us for a planning meeting on Tuesday, February 4th, at 6 PM at the Wilsonton Hotel.