SMC NEWS 2025 - Term 1, Week 7
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am very appreciative of your support and your response in staying connected with the College over the past week. Given the weather events, I am hoping that this message finds you all safe and well. Most of us have appreciated the opportunity to get back into our routine! Please be assured that we will continue to support your sons as they continue learning and preparing for an important assessment period arriving soon during the latter part of Term 1.
St Mary's College (SMC) Critical Incident Committee
The College has a Critical Incident Committee that met a number of times in the past week given the anticipation of Cyclone Alfred. The committee meets at times when an urgent response is required. The committee consists of myself, Ms Samantha Parle (DP), Mr Kev Murphy (APMI), Mr Matt Draper (APSE), Ms Angela Harris (Acting APC), Mr Patrick Wilson (Business Manager), Ms Erin Kehoe-O'Shea (Acting Director of Communications), Mr Troy Smith (Maintenance Manager) and Principal Assistants Ms Kirsty Eckhardt and Ms Marisa Roper. The committee met maintly to navigate our response and communications in anticipation of the cyclone, including considering safety for our students, staff and wider community. I appreciate their efforts in keeping the community informed of what is happening around SMC.
International Women’s Day (IWD)
One of the disappointing aspects of the weather event was that many IWD events across Toowoomba were cancelled. As a Catholic Boys’ School in the Edmund Rice Tradition, we are grateful for the contribution that many women have made to our SMC community over many years in leadership, teaching , support, Board, P&F, co-curricular and as supportive parents and carers.
To this end, I have added a link to Dr Mary Murphy’s recent speech to an EREA community about the women in Edmund Rice Education and an important message from Br Damien Price - Christian Brother and Old Boy of St Mary's College.
EREA - Women in Leadership.mp4
Dear Friends,
On this International Women’s Day Weekend, you are invited to listen to the talk given by Mary Murphy on The Women who influenced the Heart of Edmund. It was the first Edmund Rice Breakfast held on February 19th at Nudgee College. This breakfast is part of a series of breakfasts during 2025 to celebrate 150 years of Edmund Rice Ministries here in Queensland. Dr Mary Murphy is a wonderful speaker and is insightful about the women who deeply influenced Edmund.
In the coming days we hope to download this film on to the Nudgee College YouTube site. If you have trouble opening the link please let me know and I’ll get someone who knows something about IT to assist.
The 150 Years of Edmund Rice Ministries hope you find Mary work inspirational.
God bless
Br Damien Price
NAPLAN
NAPLAN will begin as scheduled this Wednesday March 12 and will continue until Tuesday March 18 for Years 5, 7 and 9 across Australia. Ms Shari Pauli and Ms Angela Harris are administering the exams and I want to thank Shari and Angela and all staff for the preparation of our students. Preparation began in Term 4 2024 with work in the Writing, Reading, Language Conventions and Numeracy areas. Also, our teachers in Skills lessons play an important role in going through the essential skills of NAPLAN.
Impacted Events
Unfortunately, it is inevitable at times like this that College events are impacted. The events which were impacted are as follows:
- The Parent Engagement night, scheduled for Monday 10 March has been postponed with a new date to follow.
- The P&F Race Day which was to be last Saturday 6 March, has also been postponed. New date to follow.
- The College "Open House" for Old Boys, scheduled for last Friday 5 March, was cancelled due to the weather.
Please download the SMC App on your phone for urgent updates and calendars.
SMC Bus
St Mary's College is pleased to continue our partnership with Robertson's Bus and Coaches to provide a private bus service for our students. This service operates in the mornings and afternoons and offers a convenient travel option for all boys in Years 5 to 12, at no additional cost to families. It is designed to give families a reliable alternative for commuting to and from school, ensuring that our students arrive safely and punctually.
Please note that this bus service is intended strictly for travel between home and school. We request that it not be used for drop-offs at after-school activities.
As an added safety measure, we will soon be installing cameras on the bus. Additionally, students will be required to tap on and off the bus using their College ID cards, which will be issued to all students in the coming weeks.
Reflection - Project Compassion 2025
The team at Caritas Australia have done a wonderful job in 2025 to shine a light on those living in poverty in 2025. Project Compassion was launched at the College on Ash Wednesday in a moving liturgy.
First Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 10 March)
This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.
Project Compassion 2025 shares three stories from around the world. We’ll meet Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) a young student from Samoa who faced severe water shortages at her school. Thanks to Caritas Australia and the generosity of supporters like you, her school now has a 10,000 L water tank improving hygiene and allowing the teachers to prioritise education.
We’ll get to know Lam from Vietnam, born with short stature, Lam faced social exclusion and limited employment opportunities – through the I-SHINE program, Lam is now a freelance graphic designer.
And we’ll meet Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who faced immense challenges after losing her father to war and raising her children in poverty. With support from Caritas Australia, Irene received vocational training in sewing and farming and can now support her whole family.
Watch our Introduction to Project Compassion film HERE - be inspired by 3 powerful stories of resilience and strength, and learn the impact that your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.
Please donate today.
You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, envelopes or by scanning the QR code above.
Or online at: caritas.org.au/project-compassion
Or by calling: 1800 024 413
Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
Sincerely
Brendan Stewart
College Principal
principal@stmaryscollege.com
Deputy Principal
Wet Weather Breaks
The College is settling back into normal routines after the visit of our friend Alfred, and I sincerely hope that your households managed to get through the last week without too much drama. The wet weather however, has prompted the ‘wet weather plan’ for breaktimes at the College. You would be aware that there isn’t a lot of undercover space here so we make the following changes during wet weather –
- Oval and Primary Playground are closed
- Bonyi Bonyi room is opened and supervised for quiet activities
- Primary classrooms are opened and supervised for Yr 5 and 6 boys
- Primary handball is paused to allow boys to sit in the Manual Arts Undercroft, out of the weather
The Library and Hub are open and operate as usual. Boys have a range of options to stay dry during the breaks. As usual though, our boys continue to surprise me. While walking around the playgrounds this week, many of them would prefer to huddle in their usual spots, getting wet and uncomfortable. This tells me that their habits and territorial nature outweighs their desire for physical comfort. Interesting creatures, these young men!
4 Pink Wheels
Many of the boys have asked me about the sleep out last week and I have been able to assure them that I did not sleep well, it was very uncomfortable and I learnt a lot. I will speak to them about it on Assembly today, but I wanted to pass on my sincere gratitude to the families, boys and SMC staff who donated to the Protea Place fundraiser – they have almost reached their goal of raising $1 million, which will be used to expand their services to providing accommodation to women at risk of homelessness. If you would like to donate, the link is still open: https://4pinkwheels.com.au/page/Samantha-94303006
Fire Evacuation Drill
Last week, the College successfully ran the first of our emergency response drills. This one was for a standard fire evacuation and I am pleased to report that the process ran very smoothly. Despite some new systems, and with over 200 new boys and 15 new staff, we managed to evacuate and have rolls checked in 15 minutes. I was impressed – and told the boys so on the day. Further drills – for lockdowns and ‘during break’ events will run each term as part of our college-wide safety programs.
Samantha Parle
Deputy Principal
parles@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
PROJECT COMPASSION
Last week, on Ash Wednesday we marked the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection, renewal, and preparation for the joy of Easter. Lent is a time when traditionally we make an effort to be better people in some way or another.
Every Lent we join with our partners at Caritas to support their Project Compassion campaign which seeks to raise funds for international development.
This year the theme of Project Compassion is Unite Against Poverty. Every mentor class in the college has a box to receive whatever small change the boys can donate. Please encourage your sons to make a donation, however small to this campaign. Small change soon adds up. If every boy and member of in the college gave just $5 over the course of Lent, we would have a total of well over $5000 to donate to Project Compassion. This amount has the potential to help many people in developing parts of our world.
The aims of Caritas and Project Compassion are firmly aligned with our touchstones of Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, and Justice and Solidarity.
Please speak to your sons about this, and if they have any ideas for fundraising, please ask them to get in touch with me.
Blessings,
Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
Learning Behaviours at SMC
At the end of Term 1 families will receive a report card that details the progress of their son so far in 2025. As well as Academic results, students receive feedback on their learning behaviours across 5 different areas: Application, behaviour, organisation, punctuality and participation. They are rated on a 4-point scale from Very Good to Needs Improvement. In order to ensure a consistent understanding of our expectations in these areas, teachers use the grid below to assist in making decisions.
This can be a useful tool for families to use when setting goals around engagement in the classroom and how to improve learning behaviours.
Angela Harris
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
harrisa@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Parent Evening - Momentum Mental Health with Shirley-Ann Gardiner
This recently postponed event is back on the college calendar.
The new date is Monday 24thMarch 2025. Time: 5.45pm - 7.00pm
St Mary's College invites you to attend our Parent Information Evening with Shirley-Ann Gardiner.
Momentum Mental Health is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming the mental health and wellbeing of the community. Their purpose is to make mental health and wellbeing accessible to everyone, every day, focusing on prevention and innovative, contemporary support programs.
Shirley-Anne was awarded the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award in Toowoomba for her work with vulnerable communities.
The presentation will cover three topics:
1. Improving your wellbeing (The “5 Ways to Wellbeing”)
2. Setting healthy boundaries
3. How to have a difficult conversation with someone in distress
Date: Monday 24thMarch 2025. Time: 5.45pm - 7.00pm
Venue: Edmund Rice Cultural Centre, Hill Street, Toowoomba
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 Social Media & Comparison Culture.
"In today's digital age, comparison has become the norm - with constant exposure to curated lives and unrealistic standards, it's no wonder so many young people feel they are falling short”
Dr Emma Woodward. Child and Adolescent Psychologist.
Comparison culture fosters a mindset where individuals constantly evaluate their own worth by measuring themselves against others. This leaves many young people feeling as though they're falling short. For children and adolescents who are still developing their sense of identity, this environment can be especially harmful - contributing to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt and anxiety.
Year 12 Formal - Thursday 27th March 2025 - Reminders
With just over 2 weeks to go to the college formal, excitement builds for a night of grace and friendship. High hopes are raised for a magnificent evening complete with beautiful décor and sparkling lighting. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with our students and their partners looking their best and hearing lots of laughter and vibrant discussions coming from the night.
Formal Arrivals
The venue at Picnic Point opens at 5pm and all boys must be inside and seated by 7pm. This allows a two-hour window for arrivals. Students’ arrival will be staggered with their house groups.
Bowdler from 5pm – 5.30pm, McGoldrick from 5.30pm – 6pm, Purcell from 6pm – 6.30pm, and Waterford from 6.30pm – 7pm. The arrivals will be live streamed to our Facebook page.
Character Strength of the Week – Gratitude
This week, we concentrated on the character strength of gratitude as part of our intentional 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 gratitude. By doing so they actively notice the good things that surround them, with generosity becoming a way of life not simply an act. This habit truly builds St Mary’s Men for Tomorrow
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 been a phone-free school policy since the start of 2024. Please refer to the policy for further information.
Please note if your son has need to contact you, our reception staff will assist.
Important changes:
- 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 SMC “leave pass”
- Grade 11 and 12 Parents who request their Grade 11 or 12 student depart college during school hours must provide a written request for early departure detailing the following.
Matt Draper
Assistant Principal - Student Engagement
draperm@stmaryscollege.com
Primary and Middle School Curriculum
Years 5-9 Curriculum
NAPLAN Levels of Achievement
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) revised the NAPLAN performance bands, a few years ago, to better reflect the skills and knowledge that students need to demonstrate to succeed in their education.
The following will replace the numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard four levels of achievement:
- Exceeding
- Strong
- Developing
- Needs additional support
These new levels are designed to provide a more accurate and comprehensive view of students' abilities and progress, and to help teachers and parents identify areas where students may require additional support.
Our NAPLAN Awards criteria reflects these levels. We recognise that academic achievement is an important aspect of your child's education and are committed to realising their successes. Our NAPLAN awards will reflect the new achieving levels and continue supporting students who demonstrate outstanding performance in literacy and numeracy. In addition to our NAPLAN High Achievement Awards, we will recognise students who have shown significant growth from their previous NAPLAN results. Following NAPLAN testing, we look forward to celebrating and recognising students’ academic success in Term 2 once results have been published.
We encourage you to talk to your son about these changes and to continue to support him in his education. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
NAPLAN Schedule
What to Bring:
All boys must arrive at each NAPLAN session with the correct materials. This includes:
- Device (fully charged)
- Earphones (wired)
- Pencil case
For more information on NAPLAN, please visit the ACARA/NAPLAN site. Should you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please get in touch with the College by Wednesday 12th of March 2025.
Shari Pauli
Director of 5-9 Curriculum
paulis@stmaryscollege.com
Head of Primary
Homework
At St Mary’s we strongly value homework completion as we believe it gives your child a chance to:
- work through the things they have learnt at school
- strengthen their long-term understanding of a topic or activity
- develop study skills that they will use for the rest of their life
Parents and caregivers are asked to ensure that homework is completed and returned to school on the due date. Year 5 should be completing approximately 30 minutes of homework whilst Year 6 should be completing 45 minutes.
Homework Club is held every Thursday in the library from 3.05 – 4.05pm. Students can complete any homework/assignments and receive assistance from staff.
Students who do not complete their homework will complete it at lunchtime.
School TV
In the last newsletter, I mentioned School TV. This is a wellbeing resource that can support parents in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting.
At this time of the year and assessment being completed in classes, parents might find this particular resource in School TV useful:
Exam Jitters | St Mary's College - Toowoomba
Stephen Coren
Head of Primary
corens@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
Dear Parents & Caregivers
March Statements:
There has been a delay in sending the March statements which will be sent in the next 7 days, please review them carefully and don't hesitate to reach out with any queries.
Your prompt attention to account settlement helps ensure seamless operations within our school. We're here to support you with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your statement.
A reminder for any extra-curricular sporting trips or overseas tours, your account needs to be in order for participation. If you foresee any issues, please contact our accounts team or myself to discuss options.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing partnership.
Warm regards,
Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
accounts@stmaryscollege.com
Director of eLearning
It is hard to believe we are in week 7. There has been a plethora of curricular and co-curricular activities and events that have taken place. I sincerely applaud the time management, resilience and diligence seen thus far of students, parents/carers, and staff to engage and adapt themselves through these events.
Schools are extremely busy places and as such, I strongly encourage all families (this includes parents, carers and students) to download our College App through your phone’s respective app stores. It is our “point of truth” for all college activities.
What does the SMC College app mean for you?
- Majority of our college correspondence is located within this app.
- You are able to review:
- College calendars (including assessment calendars for each year level)
- Submit absences (through the Sentral Portal)
- Receive notices for various curricular and co-curricular activities, etc.
- Look at Report cards (through the Sentral Portal)
- Find services and links to key domains of the college (General, Identity, Student Engagement, Teaching and Learning)
To assist navigating the app, I have attached a PDF document which showcases a few key elements/aspects. Over the coming weeks, I will provide more documents which will extend your understanding.
As you are the main drivers and users of the app, I welcome all feedback to improve your engagement and overall user experience. My contact details are listed below.
Marty Hollis
Director of eLearning
hollism@stmaryscollege.com
Community Updates
