Newsletter - 15th October 2025
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wadawurrung people. It is a privilege to be standing on Wadawurrung country.
We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous Peoples from the past, present and future who contribute to this country in which we live.
May Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians continue to work together to educate, unite and live in peace on this land we call home, Australia.
Prayer
Loving God,
We thank You for bringing us safely to the beginning of Term 4. Bless our school community as we learn, grow and share these coming weeks together. Give us energy for our studies, kindness for one another and joy in the work we do.
Today, we also celebrate the gift of creativity. Thank You for the artists in our world. Those who paint, draw, sculpt and imagine new ways of seeing. Thank You for the young artists in our school, who share their stories, colours and ideas through their artwork. May their creativity inspire others and bring beauty into the lives of all who see it.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Upcoming Dates
16th October: Lunch orders due in.
20th October: Lunch orders delivered.
22nd October: School Photos. Please return your envelopes/order forms.
22nd October: ART SHOW, 5:30pm-7:00pm.
27th October: Grandparents' and Special Friends' Morning
30th October: Lunch orders due in.
31st October: Foundation 2026 Transition, 8:50am-11:40am
3rd November: Lunch orders delivered.
4th November: Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
11th November: Foundation 2026 Transition, 8:50am-11:40am
13th November: Lunch orders due in.
17th November: Lunch orders delivered.
25th November: Assembly at 2:45pm.
27th November: Lunch orders due in.
28th November: Foundation 2026 Transition, 8:50am-11:40am
1st December: Lunch orders delivered.
9th December: Foundation 2026 Transition, 8:50am-11:40am
11th December: Lunch orders due in.
15th December: Lunch orders delivered.
16th December: Last day of term.
Messages from the Principal
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING LEADER
Last term, we advertised a part-time position for a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, funded for the next two years, and I’m delighted to announce that Karen Dehne-Simpson, who is currently teaching in the Gumnut Room on a Thursday and Friday, will be stepping into this vital role.
Karen is an experienced educator with a deep commitment to student mental health, wellbeing, and innovative practice. She has already brought her passion and energy to St Mary’s and I know you will all join me in celebrating Karen's appointment! This new position marks an exciting chapter for our school community and I can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have.
TINA - PASTORAL CARE
Tina will be working with us on a Wednesday this term, instead of her usual Thursday. Tina’s dates for this term are Wednesday 22nd October, 5th November, 19th November and 3rd December.
ART SHOW - NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Our students have been very busy putting the finishing touches on their artwork in preparation for our upcoming Art Show next Wednesday evening, 22nd October. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their creativity, effort and imagination. We hope to see our school families and friends here to enjoy the amazing range of art pieces on display and to support our talented young artists.
Doors open at 5.30pm and you are welcome to come along anytime between 5.30pm and 7pm. We are looking forward to a colourful and inspiring night together!
APRONS
A huge thank you to Pat and Gen’s Nanna Shirl, for the wonderful aprons made for our students to wear when cooking. Your generosity and skill have added a special touch and our students are excited to wear them. We are grateful for your kindness and the time you dedicated to making these. It’s thoughtful gestures like this that help make our school community so special.
FOOTY COLOURS DAY - FIGHT CANCER FOUNDATION
A big thank you to Jenny and Karen for organising our Footy Colours Day at the end of Term 3. It was a fun and spirited way to finish the term, with everyone proudly wearing team colours to support a great cause. Together, we raised $111 for the Fight Cancer Foundation, helping children and families facing cancer through this Australia-wide initiative. A huge thank you also to everyone who donated.
GRANDPARENTS' AND SPECIAL FRIENDS' DAY
We are excited to announce that our Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day will be held on Monday, 27th October from 9:00 to 10:30AM. An invitation with all the details will be sent home soon. We look forward to welcoming grandparents and special friends to celebrate and share in our school community. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to show their special visitors what they’ve been learning and to enjoy a morning together.
SOCIAL MEDIA - FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
Please can I ask for your support to like, share and write a comment on our social media posts! This is one of the best ways to spread the word about our wonderful school, showcase what makes our community special and help us reach new families who may want to join us. Your online support not only builds pride, but can also help attract more families to St Mary’s.
SEESAW
We will not be renewing our subscription to SeeSaw in 2026. If you would like to save any work or memories from your child's SeeSaw profile, please download or save these items before the end of the year. Instructions for downloading student work are available on the SeeSaw Help Centre and families can export journal archives, images and videos from their accounts.
PARISH BULLETIN
If you would like to subscribe to the Parish Bulletin and receive it weekly in your email, please click on the following link or scan this QR code. When you are completing the online details, just choose the Gordon-Bungaree Bulletin.
https://www.catholicparish.app/subscription?id=001Ol00000Eh7RBIAZ&req=subscribe
This is a great way to stay connected with parish news and events.
ONE HUMANITY SHOWER BUS
The One Humanity Shower Bus in Ballarat is currently at an all-time low for towels and blankets and has put out a call for donations. If you have any towels or blankets you would like to donate, please send them to the school office by next Friday. I will then deliver all donations to the Shower Bus to support those in need in our community. Thank you for your generosity and support.
God bless,
Clare
Banksia & Gumnut Rooms Update
Abbey: On Thursday 9th of October Joe McCracken came to our school to teach us all about parliament. He sent our school a letter offering to come and teach us all about parliament. He is a Victorian Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party. He taught us all that working in parliament can be easy and hard, as well as boring sometimes.
Here are some of the other things we learnt:
Kaezia: I learnt that there are two different houses of parliament. They are the red and green house. The red house has 40 seats and the green one has 88 seats.
Addy: Something I learnt from Joe McCracken is the state government is in charge of our roads and education in Victoria.
Pat: I learnt from Joe McCracken that there are two different houses one is green and the other is red. There are 88 seats in green and 40 in red. He has one of the seats in the red house. They start work at 8:30 am in the morning and sometimes they go till 4:00 am.
Mimi: On Thursday, a member of parliament, Joe McCracken came to our school to talk about the three levels of government. They are local, state and federal. He also told us about the red house and the green house. The red house has 40 seats and the green house has 88 seats.
Jayden: I learnt that the MP stands for Member of Parliament and that some meetings can go from 8:00am till 4:00am.
Will: I learnt from Joe McCracken that the parliament house is green and red. Green is the bottom because back in the 1850s green was the cheapest colour so they painted it green for the poor. The top floor is red because back then it was the most expensive colour. The green floor has 88 seats and the red floor has 40 and Joe has one seat. It was really fun seeing him.
Vanessa: Joe McCracken came to our school and we had to sit and listen to him talk to us about his job. He gave us all a stress ball football and a drink bottle. We asked him lots of questions and we got a photo with him at the school sign. My favourite part of it was asking him questions.
Art Show
Thunderstorm Asthma
The Grampians Public Health Unit would like to remind local communities that grass pollen season has now commenced.
Families are encouraged to view the information pack put together by the Grampians Public Health Unit. The information can be accessed via this link:
CDF Community Fund
Reach your savings goals while supporting the community!
Accounts with CDF Community Fund help fund loans for capital development works across Australia; from hospital wings for the sick, to safe havens for the homeless, classrooms for students and parish halls for community gatherings; CDF supports Catholic organisations in fulfilling their mission.
With online access, no fees for active accounts and bonus interest rates available on select accounts*, saving with CDF Community Fund provides a way for you to contribute back to the community – it's a higher return than money alone.
A variety of accounts options:
• Mission Saver Student: A great way for young people to earn a bonus interest rate* and build good saving habits while supporting local communities.
• Mission Saver Plus: Employees of Catholic organisations can earn up to 4.90% p.a.* simply by saving more than they withdraw each month.
•Term Investments: Select the terms and timeframes that are right for you with competitive rates locked in for your chosen term.
To open an account and view current rates, visit catholicdevelopmentfund.org.au/communityfund or call 1800 134 135.
*Interest rates subject to change. Bonus rates apply only on Mission Saver Student and Mission Saver Plus account only when monthly deposits exceed withdrawals by at least $1. View current rates, information statements and disclosures on the CDF website.
Cafs Early Help Group Programs
School TV - World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is marked every year on 10 October as a reminder of the importance of mental health to our overall wellbeing. It is a day that encourages families, schools, workplaces and communities across the globe to start conversations, reduce stigma and highlight the support available for those who may be struggling.
Mental health challenges can affect anyone: children, teens, and adults alike. Recognising this helps us create more compassionate and supportive environments.
Parents and caregivers play a central role in shaping the mental health of their children. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the pressures young people face in today's world and how we can best support them. Whether it's helping children find balance between school, technology, and rest; encouraging open conversations about feelings; or modelling healthy coping strategies ourselves - small steps at home can make a big difference.
By engaging with resources and discussions on this day, families can strengthen their understanding of mental health and contribute to a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
This Special Report highlights the importance of World Mental Health Day and offers practical suggestions for how your family can acknowledge and support it together.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://smclarkeshill.
Ballarat Community Attitudes to Gambling- Community Engagement
