SMC NEWS 2025 - Term 2, Week 3
Week Ahead
From the College Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
A sincere thank you to many of you who have attended official events at the College, including our Anzac Day service held last week. I am looking forward to seeing many Mums and students at our Annual Mothers' Day celebration this Friday 9 May in the ERCC. In anticipation, I am grateful to the many staff who have volunteered to help on this morning.
Strategic Planning
Last Friday, the ELT met with Mr Chris Mayes to discuss the new Strategic Plan which begins in 2026. It was an effective use of time and I can report that the team are aligned on how we can connect to the SMC community to get the best feedback possible to inform the new plan. Chris will attend the College on Monday 12 May to collect data. I wanted to provide an update on how we wish to consult with all of you moving forward as part of this process. The current plan, Today's Boys, Men for Tomorrow, is due to end December 2025.
As Parents and Carers, you will be invited to contribute in 2 ways:
- Mr Mayes will meet with parents at our Parent Engagement Night Monday 12 May beginning 7pm in the ERCC (Please see our recent invitation sent by email last week).
- Towards the end of this week, each family will be sent a brief survey with an invitation to complete for more detailed feedback. This will be due to be returned within a week.
The current Strategic Plan has been successful, and I am grateful for the support of the community over the past 2 ½ years. It is now time for us to consider how we can use these learnings as a platform for the next chapter of the College’s life.
TCS Excellence Awards
Congratulations to the following staff members who have been nominated by myself for TCS Excellence Awards in 2025.
- Mr Jack Hickey - Category: Administration, Finance and Facilities Support (currently ERCC Manager)
- Ms Bernadette Rogers - Middle Leadership (currently CL Science)
- Mr Stephen Sowter - Middle Leadership (currently Director Pedagogy)
- Ms Samantha Parle - School Leadership (currently Deputy Principal)
A sincere thanks to our four staff members who have been outstanding contributors to our SMC Community over a number of years. We will find out soon if they are nominated for Toowoomba Catholic Schools major awards later in Term 2.
Special Projects Role (Principal PA and Marketing)
Please welcome Marianna Kramer, who begins work as my assistant on Thursday this week. Marianna will work Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Principal PA position and therefore Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays in the Marketing team. Marianna brings great experience from other schools in Toowoomba and most recently was employed at Catholic Care Social Services.
Rugby League games - Home Game Policy
In 2024, we devised a "home game policy" which ensured that all home games would have an audience to view games - in general, the year level of participation in the relevant game. We are looking forward to a good season for all teams in 2025 and I thank you in advance for your support of this policy.
Personal Reflection - Passing of Christian Brothers, Br Paul Conn and Brother Ted Magee
It goes without saying that St Mary’s College is a Christian Brothers School and was called St Mary’s CBC at one time. Personally, I have been heavily influenced by the Christian Brothers in my leadership over the years, so it was with sadness that I learnt last week that 2 Queensland brothers, Paul Conn and Ted Magee, passed away within hours of each other.
Paul was Deputy Leader of the Oceania Province of Brothers and was born in Townsville. He was past Principal of a number of Edmund Rice schools around Australia, including Ignatius Park College where I served in leadership with him. Ted was also a past Principal of Christian Brothers' schools and was living in Bundaberg and until very recently, was very active in his Parish.
As a St Mary's College community, we reflected on their lives this week and I offer this prayer in this time of thanks and gratitude to both men:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Amen.
Enjoy the week ahead as part of our community.
Sincerely
Brendan Stewart
College Principal
principal@stmaryscollege.com
Deputy Principal
Safety – Lock Down
Last week on Assembly, I spoke to the boys around some of the safety measures that we have in place at the College - as you can see in the slide below.
I talked to them about the procedures that we use all of the time, as well as the changes for events that we plan for such as excursions or upcoming Edmund Rice Day. And then there are the plans that the College has in place for those ‘just in case’ moments. Last term, the College conducted a successful fire evacuation drill, and I was very impressed with the way the boys undertook their responsibilities, especially as we had changed our usual practices. This term we will be running a practice drill for a lockdown event. Depending on your son's exposure to social media and general news, there may be some level of anxiety around the concept of a lockdown. As I explained to the boys at Assembly, the main reason that we conduct a lockdown at the College is because we need to know that all of the boys are inside in a classroom or in a building with a member of staff. For example, one of the more common reasons that we have had to lockdown the College is due to a gas leak or a dangerous substance in a business nearby.
It would be helpful if parents could talk to their sons around the necessity for drills like this and reinforce there are no reason to panic. It is merely just another tool that we have in place to ensure staff and student safety should a ‘just in case’ circumstance arise. If you have any questions around how we lockdown at St Mary’s, or any of our other safety drills or procedures, please feel free to make contact with me here at the College.
Building Project
While it isn't very visible from the outside of the College, the boys are certainly very aware of the building project that is being undertaken inside of the College. The construction of a small new toilet block near the drama rooms is disrupting the movement of boys around the school. The boys are approaching this disruption with great thoughtfulness and responsibility and giving consideration to those around them, as we would expect. The building project is progressing as planned and I will continue to report back to students and families as the project proceeds. At the moment, we have a big hole in the ground but when there is something more exciting, I'll be sure to include photos in upcoming newsletters.
Word of the Week
Last week's Word of the Week was rambunctious - thanks to a suggestion for Mr Stephen Sowter.
I gave the boys a challenge of using the word rambunctious in a sentence in their everyday life. So, I hope at least some of you may have heard that word across the dinner table at some stage in the last week or so. I was very proud of one of our Year 11 students who managed to appear at my office door within minutes of the end of Assembly and managed to swing it into conversation – oh so casually. Well done Mr Page.
Samantha Parle
Deputy Principal
parles@stmaryscollege.com
Identity
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that the St Mary's College Community lost a former colleague and dear friend this week.
Robie Jayawardhana, who retired at the end of 2023 came to the college from Townsville Catholic Education in 2019 as a Digital Solutions teacher but quickly established himself in RE eventually becoming school chaplain. He also performed an acting Deputy Principal role for a period, showing his experience in operational matters.
Robie was such a gift to the community, with a great sense of humour and a loving heart. He was a man of great faith and he enabled all of us, staff and students alike to find it that bit easier to access our spiritual side.
Robie has left us two great legacies at the college. The Homeless Jesus statue at the apex of Hill and Margaret streets was his project. Robie wanted to highlight the fact that Jesus is amongst all of us at all times, especially in those society sees as the “least”. It is by remembering this, and by reaching out to those on the margins, that we fulfil our potential as human beings. It is in this that we live our Christian faith. Robie certainly did this in life.
His second big legacy is the Footsteps of Jesus Service Learning scheme. This allows students to log their hours of service and reflect upon the impact this use of their time has had on others. This scheme was on hiatus for a period of time as the Diocese wanted to roll it out to all schools, to allow them the benefit of Robie’s vision.
I am proud to be able to say that the computer systems to make this happen have now been developed and we will launch this initiative at Assembly in week 4.
We extend the heartfelt condolences of our community to Robie’s family and all who knew him.
Vale Robie Jayawardhana
FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM RELAUNCHES
As mentioned above, we are delighted to be able to relaunch the Footsteps of Jesus program in week 4.
This allows students to track and log their service work over the year.
As a Catholic college in the Edmund Rice tradition, service work is something we see great benefit in. It allows students to challenge and step outside of their own bubbles to be able to engage in dialogue and encounter with other people in the community.
Service learning is any activity which is:
- In the student’s own time
- Unpaid
- For the benefit of another individual or the community
This may well be work that they are doing already for a sports team or a neighbour or friend.
In the next newsletter I will send a step by step guide to how students can log hours on the system.
In the meantime, please talk to your student about service learning and see if they can identify any opportunities.
Service-Learning awards based on footsteps of Jesus data will take place early in term 4.
Blessings,
Kevin Murphy
Assistant Principal Identity
murphyk@stmaryscollege.com
Curriculum
As Term 2 assessments commence, we kindly remind families to be aware of our policy regarding absences during assessments. Year 11 and 12 students with an unplanned absence must obtain a medical certificate. Further information is available on the St Mary’s Website.
Angela Harris
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
harrisa@stmaryscollege.com
Student Engagement
Kindness day – Launch
Tuesday 6 May and Yr 7 Kindness Day Friday 9 May
The foundation of a vibrant school community is kindness. It creates a welcoming atmosphere where everyone is treated with respect and feels appreciated.
Mrs Connolly launched Kindness Day on Assembly this week, with our Year 12’s taking the Kindness Pledge. As role models for the college our Year 12 students are essential in establishing the tone for compassion. They can encourage others to do the same by exhibiting empathy, respect, and understanding. We urge every student to live out the Golen Rule “treat others as they wish to be treated”.
Our boys are expected to "be courteous and respectful to everyone, work to create a friendly environment at our college. By opposing bullying and prejudice, we can work together to create a community where people are kind and feel like they belong.
“Happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort. It’s more than simply a positive mood, it’s a state of wellbeing that encompasses living a good life.”
Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
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 https://stmaryscollege.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/happiness-gratitude
Once a Brother… Always a Brother… Never Let a Brother Down…
The Launch of The SMC Peer Support Program
It started with a boy whose journey at St Mary’s College got off on shaky ground. A boy who struggled to regulate his emotions. Struggled to engage in class and connect with his peers. This boy sparked an interest in the people around him. So much so that one particular teacher within our community took this student under his wing. He introduced him to the First 13 Footballers who, through great patience, mentored this young man.
He saw them as his big brothers, knowing that if he was ever in trouble he could go to them for help. After a few years, this young man is now thriving at the College and has become an integral part of our community.
It continued with a second boy, whose arrival at the college prompted the informal pairing of a senior student, who had overcome his own early challenges, as a mentor. This evolved into the SMC Buddy Program, drawing inspiration from Peer Support Australia's long-standing initiative.
The program pairs junior "blue shirt buddies" with senior "white shirt buddies" for guidance and support. Carefully selected pairings meet weekly through various interactions. Currently, 14 pairs foster an inclusive community, building confidence and wellbeing.
Last Friday’s BBQ launched the SMC Peer Support Program, (pictures below) further strengthening these connections. The program's core strength lies in the consistent daily engagement between buddies, making St Mary's a more supportive environment
Character Strength of the Week – Prudence
This week, we concentrate on the character strength of prudence as part of our deliberate character development program to develop our boys into men of faith, integrity, action, and excellence.
Our boys are encouraging to prioritise prudence in all of their relationships and to seize every chance to grow into good young men. As our boys mature into good young men they give back to our community through conduct that is epitomized by, independent decision-making, common sense, and self-control.
As parents, we strive to instill strong, Gospel principles in our boys so that they may live happy, fulfilling lives, avoiding needless danger or regret, and enhancing others by their deeds of service.
Matt Draper
Assistant Principal - Student Engagement
draperm@stmaryscollege.com
Primary and Middle School Curriculum
ICAS Assessments – Years 5-9 Students
This year, students from Years 5-9 at St Mary’s College can join the ICAS Assessments. ICAS is part of UNSW Global, a group linked to UNSW Sydney with over 40 years of experience in educational assessments.
ICAS is designed to help students improve their thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, and Writing. Each assessment is a chance for students to show what they’ve learned.
Everyone who takes part will get a printed certificate and an online result report. The best performers in ICAS can win medals and will be invited to special award ceremonies to celebrate their hard work.
The assessments are a great chance for students to challenge themselves and take part in an international assessment. Your child will get to answer high-quality questions made by experts, and test their knowledge against students from all around Australia
Remember, these assessments are optional. If you want your son to take part, we’ve sent an email to all parents of students from Years 5-9 with the code to book. The tests will be held within this period of time:
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
Toowoomba Step into Stories
Thanks to Ms Anning, the Primary has two authors visiting on 15 May as a part of the Toowoomba Step into Stories. This will be a great learning opportunity for our students!
Christy Burne
Christy's session for our Grade 5 students will cover the following topics: How can we live more creatively and courageously? Whether it’s the scientific method or the hero’s journey, try-fail cycles are vital to our progress and success. Cristy shares stories from her books and her own life, drawing on everything from the Three Little Pigs to Fiona Wood: Inventor of Spray-on Skin. Why do hard things? Writing a novel is hard. Defeating the bad guy is hard. Being an author is hard. But it’s so incredibly rewarding to do hard things. Cristy shares her infectious passion for giving it a go and growth mindset. How can I write a better story? There’s a science to writing a great story. Cristy unpacks how to plan a story, how to build suspense, and how to generate ideas from your own life.
Sue Whiting
Sue's session for our Grade 6 students will cover the following topics: The truth in the lie, are stories lies? Participants will ponder this question as Sue explains the importance of putting the ‘truth in the lie’ and the techniques she uses to achieve this. Using Missing, and The Book of Chance as case studies, as well as a sneak peek at her upcoming crime novel Promises and Other Lies, Sue will highlight how she collects ideas and uses research in the creation of her suspenseful page-turning crime/mysteries.
Toowoomba Maths Teams Challenge 2025
Congratulations to the boys who represented St Mary’s at the Toowoomba Maths Teams Challenge at St Ursula’s College. This was an excellent opportunity for the boys to develop their analytical thinking, perseverance and their creative approaches to problem-solving. Thank you to Mr Gregson for supervising the boys and to Mr William’s for the organising our boys’ participation.
Darling Downs Science and Engineering Discovery Day – 20 May
Good luck to our Primary boys who will be attending the Science and Engineering Discovery Day at USQ on the 20 May. Students will engage in a set of fun and competitive activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology. I am sure the boys will enjoy the experience.
Sporting Schools
Monday Sporting Schools activities will begin next week and run until Week 9, offering the students the chance to get involved in soccer or rugby union. Students are asked to wear their sports uniform on Mondays during these weeks.
Happy Mother’s Day
Wishing all the special ones in our lives a day filled with joy, appreciation, and well-deserved relaxation on Sunday - you deserve it!
Stephen Coren
Head of Primary
corens@stmaryscollege.com
Business Manager
I hope everyone has settled into the routine of Term 2 with our final long weekend behind us. Hopefully, by now, routines are established, and everything is running smoothly.
Work is progressing on our new amenities block outside of the Drama rooms with completion on track prior to the start of Term 3. There will be several other capital projects starting soon which will be announced shortly as well.
Understanding Invoices and Statements
We often receive queries about Invoices and Statements. An Invoice is a single charge showing what is being applied to your account, while a monthly Statement shows all transactions for a set period.
Debtor Process for Late Payments
We strive to keep our school fees as low as possible, which requires all parents and caregivers to stay on top of their accounts. If you are unable to make a payment for any reason, a courtesy email or phone call is appreciated. All unpaid school fee invoices will receive a text reminder after the due date. If no payment is received, we will commence our debtor process. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please discuss with us to avoid action being taken.
Government Funded Back to School Support – Saver Plus
Saver Plus is a program organised through The Smith Family Organisation that can provide an extra $500 for education costs.
What is Saver Plus?
Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes, aimed at bolstering their financial skills to develop and maintain good savings habits. Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 62,000 people in starting to save. It helps overcome barriers to education expenses and sets participants up for a brighter future.
Eligible Savings Goals
Assist a primary or secondary school student’s education
Please see the attached flyers for more information or go to the following website www.saverplus.org.au.
If you have any questions about school fees or your account, please contact our friendly finance department at 07 4631 7333 (Option 3) or email accounts@stmaryscollege.com.
All the best for the remainder of Term 2.
Patrick Wilson
Business Manager
accounts@stmaryscollege.com
