2025 Term 3 Week 9
Staff charges
This is the last week for Mrs Jessica Fortescue and Ms Logan Hanigan before they begin their maternity leave. We want to thank Jess and Logan for their dedication to our students and send them our very best wishes for this exciting time.
Stepping in as the Year 1 Blue class teacher will be Mrs Emma Ingram, who will work alongside Ms Tory. Ms Sophie Berry will take over for Logan as the Year 1 Red class teacher. We are delighted to welcome both Emma and Sophie to our teaching staff.
We also want to share that Mrs Dominique Montford, who has been on leave this year, has resigned from her role at St. Mary's. We thank Dom for her contributions to our school and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. The Assistant Principal - Mission role will be advertised over the holidays.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Stage 3 Camp 24 - 26 September
Next week, our Stage 3 students and their teachers will head off on an exciting adventure to Lake Ainsworth for their much-anticipated school camp.
This camp is a wonderful opportunity for students to build independence, develop teamwork skills, and deepen friendships.
We would like to extend our thanks to the parents who have generously volunteered their time to assist with supervision and support during the camp. Your willingness to step in and help ensures the camp runs smoothly and safely, and your presence adds so much to the sense of community and care.
We look forward to hearing all the stories, laughter, and learning when our students return!
Final Day Term 3 - Friday 26 September
Next Friday is the last day of school for term 3 and we wish everyone a fun and safe time.
Staff Development Day - Monday 13 October
Staff return to school to undertake professional development on Monday 13 October. Students enjoy an extra day of holidays.
Students return for Term 4 - Tuesday 14 October
Classes recommence on Tuesday 14 October.
Stage 2 Excursion to Treetops in Coffs Harbour - Wednesday 22 October
Stage 2 are looking forward to their excursion next term to Treetops in Coffs Harbour. Students will be tested mentally and physically on a range of high ropes courses up to 25 metres above the ground, through the Orara East State Forest.
They will be working on team-building, bonding and personal, and respectful, relationships which they have been covering in their PDHPE unit this term.
Stage 3 Walking Rosary Thursday 23 October
We are looking forward to an upcoming special prayer experience: the Walking Rosary. This prayer experience will be graciously led by Warren Niethe, Religious Education and Catechesis Education Officer from the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Lismore.
The Walking Rosary is a reflective prayer procession that moves through a sacred space as we meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary. It offers a peaceful, sensory way for our students to experience prayer: walking together, holding rosary beads, reflecting on scripture, and praying as one community.
School Disco - Thursday 23 October (New Date - 6 November)
Year 6 students will hold a whole school disco on Thursday 23 October as their final fundraiser for 2025. They will be running a sausage sizzle, selling lolly bags, drinks, and 100s boards.
Volunteers are needed for the BBQ. Please contact the school if you are able to assist.
Jacaranda Parade of Youth - Saturday 25 October
We are excited to share that our school will be participating in this year’s Jacaranda Parade of Youth on Saturday, 25 October! All students are invited to March behind our student-created banner.
This community event is a highlight of Grafton’s Jacaranda Festival. Our students will have the opportunity to represent the school proudly as part of the parade, and we encourage families to come along and join in the fun.
Students will assemble by 8:45am outside the Clarence Valley Council building at the river end of Prince Street in their full formal school uniform, including school hat. Students may also wish to bring a water bottle.
The Parade finishes at Market Square where the banners will be judged. We ask parents and carers to collect their children from the teachers at the conclusion of the judging.
An Event in compass will be shared for parents and carers to indicate if their child will be participating in the Parade.
CVCON Valley Schools on Show - Wednesday 29 October
Our school’s Dance Groups will again, be proudly participating in the upcoming CVCON Valley Schools on Show event!
This celebration brings together schools from across the Clarence Valley to showcase the amazing talents of our students in the creative arts. It’s a great opportunity for students to perform, and share their creativity with the wider community.
The event will take place at Market Square and will feature performances from a range of local primary and secondary schools. Further information will be shared closer to the event.
Jacaranda Thursday ( School Closed ) - Thursday 30 October
Please note that there will be no school on Thursday, 30 October as we observe Jacaranda Thursday. This day is a special community celebration and public holiday in our local area.
Jacaranda Float Parade - Saturday 1 November
We’re excited to be taking part in the vibrant Jacaranda Float Parade on Saturday, 1 November. This is a highlight of the Jacaranda Festival for many of our students.
This event relies heavily on the support of volunteers, including the teachers and the truck driver who generously volunteer many hours of their time on a Saturday. To help make lighter work of this, we would love to have lots of parents join us to assist with decorating. Your time and creativity will make a big difference in bringing our float to life!
Please mark this day in your calendars, more details will be shared closer to the date.
Thank you
Thank you to those families who participated in the Media visit this week. We look forward to sharing the results with you.
School Fee Assistance
We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. DLCSL is developing an organisation fee assistance and debt management processes that will replace the current policies that exist at our schools.
Please reach out to Jacki if your family experiences financial difficulty or hardship, or alternatively you can complete the form on our school website.
Term 3 2025 Calendar link
Pupil Free Days and Public Holidays
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13 October 2025 (Day 1, Term 4) |
Student Free day - Students return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday 14 October. |
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30 October 2025 |
Jacaranda Thursday Public Holiday - school closed |
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17 December 2025 |
Final Day of 2025 for students |
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18 December 2025 |
Staff Development Day - student free day |
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19 December 2025 |
Staff Development Day - student free day |
Warm regards
Jacki, Jasmine and Hannah
Message from The Council of Catholic School Parents
Dear Friends,
From 10 December 2025, age restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent children under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account.
Is your family ready?
Find out more about the social media ban from the eSafety website here!
Regards,
Cath Garrett-Jones
Executive Director
Diocesan Soccer and Netball Knockout
St Mary’s soccer and netball teams played in the Clarence Zone Soccer and Netball knockout in Yamba last Wednesday against teams from Yamba, Maclean, Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Sawtell and Bellingen. It was a tough day for all teams as the competition was very competitive. The girls netball team performed well and learnt from the experience, but most importantly they had fun. Our girls soccer team played some magical moments and were a great support for other teams who were short on players. The boys soccer team were very competitive but narrowly missed out on playing in the final and ended the day 3rd behind Yamba and Sawtell. All students were fantastic representatives of our school.
Dudley Jones/ Todd Woodbridge Tennis
St Mary’s has won the Dudley Jones Tennis title for a second year in a row. The stage 3 students who represented St Mary’s, played exceptional tennis against many other Clarence Valley schools. Our Stage 2 students played in the Todd Woodbridge competition and finished runners up to Grafton primary. Again all students were fantastic representatives of our school.
Kind regards
Peter Tonkin
Fees
- Only charge e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools in the garage or shed, away from living areas and exit doors.
- Never use or charge batteries or equipment showing signs of damage such as swelling, leaking, discolouration, or odours
- Only use chargers that comply with relevant standards and have been supplied with, or deemed compatible with, your battery or device
- Never leave devices on charge for extended periods (e.g. overnight) or unattended
- Switch off once fully charged
- Don’t charge phones on your pillow or in bed, only charge devices on hard surfaces
- Buy products from reputable brands and suppliers
For further information go to https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/chargesafe
Unfollow the Fear - a Guide to Online Bullying
Whether you’re a student being harassed in a group chat, a parent unsure how to help your child, an educator overwhelmed by tech-fuelled drama, or a professional watching your reputation unravel this resource is for you.
CVCON 2025 enrolment forms
Uniforms
St Mary's School uniforms are available to purchase from Lowes in Grafton Shopping World. The sports uniform is worn on Wednesday and Friday each week.
Attendance
- If your child is arriving to the school after 8:45am please sign them in at the office.
- Please use Compass to record full day absentees. Partial absences are recorded by staff when students are signed in and out of the office.
- Students who leave a school event early will have a partial absence recorded.
- A medical certificate or other documentation may be requested where frequent absences due to illness occur.
- Generally, extended leave (greater than 10 days) during the school term would not be approved. These absences are recorded on the roll as unjustified and a completed Form 01 Extended Leave Notification Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days is required.
- In exceptional circumstances parents may complete an Form 02 Approved Extended Leave Application - Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days for consideration by the Principal, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student. The Principal may decline or accept this application.
Overseas Visa Details
Reminder: Parents and Carers are to keep the school informed of any change in residency/visa status during the course of their child's enrolment, with evidence of new visa status provided. Parents should be made aware that the school must be informed of any change in residency status.
Working With Children Check (WWCC)
At St Mary's we are committed to creating and supporting a culture of safety for children and ensuring that children are protected. All employees and volunteers are required to have a current WWCC.
NB - The vast majority of volunteers in schools are parents of a child attending the school at which they are volunteering (eg reading groups, fetes, camps, excursions and canteen) and therefore do not require a WWCC. Exceptions to this are
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volunteers interacting one-on-one with a child not their own,
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working with children who have a disability,
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offering mentoring services,
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when the volunteer is not a parent or close relative.
Child Safeguarding Statement
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) is wholly committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
As school communities and as individuals, we commit to fostering communities of safeguarding that recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children and young people. Our commitment is drawn from the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, in love and justice, whereby the dignity and sacredness of each child is respected. Additional information may be found on the DLCS website or by using this link: Child Safeguarding Policy.