Learning Support - Mrs Majella Lynch-Harlow

NCCD – Supporting Students at St Mary’s Charleville

At St Mary’s, we ensure all students can access a quality education. Each year, we take part in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD), which helps schools support students with disability and informs funding decisions.  The data that we collect, and share is used to determine some of the funding that our school receives from the government to support our students. 

What Is the NCCD?

✔ Counts students receiving learning adjustments
✔ Identifies levels of support needed
✔ Helps schools improve disability support

How Do Schools Support Students?

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, schools must provide reasonable adjustments such as:
✔ Ramps, accessible facilities and assistive technology
✔ Adapted teaching methods
✔ Personalised planning for learning support

Who Is Included?

Students may be counted if they receive ongoing support for learning difficulties, chronic health conditions, or other disabilities. Schools work with families and professionals to assess student needs.

Key Information

📌 When? August each year
📌 Is it compulsory? Yes, all schools must participate
📌 Privacy? Only anonymised data is shared—no personal details are shared (including names and specific details of the learning difficulty or disability). 

The NCCD ensures students get the support they need to succeed. For more information, please see these fact sheets in English and Vietnamese.  I am happy to answer any questions that you may have about the NCCD or how students are supported in their learning at St Mary's. 

Transport Assistance Scheme

The Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) provides financial assistance for families transporting students to non-state schools in Queensland.

The Scheme has two programs.

• Bus Fare Assistance: assisting families who pay more than the weekly threshold in bus or ferry fares.
• Students with Disability: supporting students with a disability who have demonstrably different transport needs from other students of the same age.

Applications for Semester 1, 2025 open on 1 May 2025. To learn more about the scheme, including eligibility for both programs, visit https://www.schooltransport.com.au.

NSSTAS is a joint initiative of QCEC and Independent Schools Queensland and is funded by the Queensland Government.

Year 5 & 6 Camp Fundraising

Camp draft bar helpers still needed for the Saturday 9:00pm to midnight shift. Remember that by volunteering at our fundraising events you can reduce your child's camp fees.

Save the date for our Bingo night.

Flyers

May Birthdays

Year 6 - Miss Toni Lamb

Hi all,

What a wonderful Term Two Year Six is having so far! After a wonderful day of fast running, superb sportsmanship and wonderful war cries at the Cross-Country event, I was left feeling so proud of the Year Six’s contributions to the event and the leadership they all showcased throughout the day. 

We then moved into looking at Anzac Day and all of the amazing men and women who served our country. We read the book ‘One Minute's Silence’. The kids loved hearing the stories and the way this book was written was phenomenal for them. The illustrations also enhanced their understanding of the topics and events.

I was so proud of how the students showcased great responsibility for Anzac Day in our own school ceremony and also in the community march. What a wonderful way to honour those who have fought for our freedom. We are also looking further into the topic of the Anzacs and Gallipoli in English and will be looking further into information texts to respond to a very important letter that Year 6 received from The Australian War Memorial. Students will be building their knowledge and responding with their very own articles that they will also present to their classmates!

We also had a fabulous morning at our Year Six retreat talking all things leadership and reflection and then got our very own senior shirts; and don’t they look amazing! It has been a very exciting and busy start of term for Year Six!

We have begun our show work and are very excited to be entering handwriting and colourings into the Charleville Show entries. Another exciting day that Year 6 students have been working hard to prepare for is Mother’s Day. We hope they always know and remember how loved and appreciated they are!

We are also very excited to be looking into chemical sciences and wants and needs in HASS. What an exciting term we have to look forward to!

We cannot wait to share more of our adventures and learnings along the way with you all. 

Year 5 - Mrs Kirsty Lines

It’s been a busy and fun start to the term for Year 5!  Here are all of the activities Year 5 have participated in:

• Show work: Each student chose the category they wanted to enter. 3D Art, handwriting, creative writing and drawing were all popular.
• Mothers' Day: We presented our mums with a lovely plant and sang them a song.
• Readers' Cup: Seven students from Year 5 are participating in Readers' Cup. Good luck Clara, Sophie, Hope, Ari, Elliott, Georgia and Sllim.
• Sport: Many of our students trialed at district cross country and soccer.  Soccer was definitely the most popular of these, with all but seven students trialing at a district level.  Also, three students trialed in Roma for regional rugby league. 
• Sophie Boot anniversary: We helped to lead Sophie’s anniversary gathering earlier in the term.

We’re excited about Pope Leo the fourteenth!  Our fluency reading is about him.

Have a great term,

Year 5.

Year 4 - Mrs Madisen Flaherty

How time flies when you are having fun! The start of the term included students participating in the school cross country and creating the Year Four Anzac Day wreath. In week two, Year Four presented their prayer assembly on the Mercy Mindset of Hospitality. Even though there was a malfunction with the music, Year Four did a fantastic job continuing to sing the song without it.

During week three, the students were busy creating their Mother’s Day gifts and completing their show work pieces. They were so proud of their efforts and excited to give their special mums their gifts. We hope you all managed to have a relaxing day and received all those breakfasts in bed that the students said they would cook for you!

Due to the fantastic work during lineup by all students in Year Four, Mrs. Pearce presented them with the ‘Perpetual Bilby.’ Each day, a student in the class receives this bilby for their outstanding effort, hard work, and growth mindset. We look forward to an exciting remainder of the term!

Year 3 - Miss Katherine Spalding

Here are the updates from the year three classroom.

We have been fortunate to welcome Miss Jukes to our classroom this term. She has been with us since the start of the term, completing her placement. Miss Jukes is a science whiz and has shared some fascinating experiments about solids, liquids, and gases.

On Monday of Week 4, we went on an excursion along the river walk for some bird watching. We saw many fascinating birds and collected samples from the native plants along the riverbank. A HUGE thank you to all the wonderful parents and family helpers who joined us. Your help and expertise ensured that the morning ran smoothly.

When we returned to school, the wonderful Mrs. Lehmann introduced us to cyanotype printing. Using the samples we collected from the river; we were able to create beautiful prints—just like real-life botanists!

Prep - Mrs Bernie McPhee

It has already been a busy start to our term, with lots of public holidays and work to do. We have been busy getting work ready for the Charleville Show. We have entered three different pieces of work - a drawing, some handwriting and a colouring competition.

We had an Investigations table in Prep this term all about ANZAC Day. Students were able to colour in poppy banners, try on different Army uniforms and they helped to make our beautiful poppy wreath for our school ANZAC assembly.

We had lots of fun running at our cross-country race. We found out that we have some very fast Preps.

We want to thank all the parents who came along to support us when we presented our first Prayer assembly. I was so proud of our Preps and their efforts with speaking and singing. They were a little nervous but did a fantastic job. We hope all our mothers loved their Mother’s Day gifts. We had fun making them.

Curriculum Support - Mr Tony Kim

Happy Week 4, family and friends of St Mary’s!

Diocesan Approach to Reading – Standardised

We are nearly halfway through the term with teaching and learning surely and truly underway.

As a part of our Diocesan Approach to Reading (DAR), we will soon be conducting standardised reading assessments. For students from Prep to Year 3, they will be completing the SPARKLE screener and reading assessment. Students in Year 3 to 6 will be completing the PROBE reading evaluation. Students in Year 3 will be completing either SPARKLE or PROBE dependent on their previous reading level.

These assessments will provide essential information on how our students are tracking and inform our teaching and learning to provide personalised supports at all learning levels.

If you have any questions regarding these assessments, please do not hesitate to contact the leadership team or myself directly at tony.kim@twb.catholic.edu.au.

TCS Interschool Chess Tournament

Sign-on for the TCS Interschool Chess Tournament has officially closed! I am very excited to have so many enthusiastic players participate in this fantastic opportunity to engage with other schools within our diocese. The tournament will take place online next Thursday 22 May. Please wish our students the best of luck in their upcoming games!

Have a fantastic week!

Tony Kim

Curriculum Coordinator

APMI - Miss Imogen Hunt

We have had an eventful and enriching term so far, filled with moments of learning, growth, and community spirit. We are excited to share updates on various activities and events that have taken place recently, from celebrating new leadership in the Catholic Church to our students' spiritual and personal development.

New Pope Leo

We are excited to share the news of the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost. As the first American-born pope, his election marks an historic moment for the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name to honour previous Popes Leo, particularly Leo XIII, who was known for his emphasis on social justice and workers' rights. This choice signals a potential focus on justice and modern challenges, aligning with our Mercy Mindsets of compassion and hospitality.

Year 6 Leadership Retreat

Our Year 6 students recently participated in a Leadership Retreat focused on the theme of servant leadership. They engaged in various activities that emphasised the importance of leading by example and serving others. Each student received their Year 6 shirts, proudly displaying their names and the school crest, symbolising their role as leaders within our school community. This retreat was a wonderful opportunity for our students to reflect on how they can embody the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives.

Year 4 Prayer Celebration

The Year 4 students gathered for a Prayer Celebration centred around the theme of hospitality. They explored how hospitality is a vital part of our faith, reflecting on how Jesus welcomed and served others. The Year 4’s did a fabulous job singing their song ‘Peace like a river’ even when the music cut out. Students worked well together to show us the small differences we can do to show hospitality to others in our community.

Prep Prayer Celebration

Our youngest students in Prep celebrated Mother's Day with a special Prayer Celebration. They honoured their mothers and mother figures through a heartfelt video and song, expressing what they love about their mums and how they guide them. Thank you to all who attended.

Sacramental Program – First Communion

As part of our Sacramental Program, students are preparing for their next sacrament, First Communion, which will take place later this term. Starting this week, students will participate in the program every Tuesday from 5:00 – 5:30 pm. We look forward to supporting our students as they continue their faith journey and receive these important sacraments. We are proud of our students' dedication and growth in their faith and leadership. Thank you for your continued support in nurturing their spiritual and personal development.

Warm regards,

Imogen Hunt

Principal - Mrs Megan Pearce

As we begin Week 4, I want to thank everyone for the great energy and community spirit we’ve seen over the past few weeks. With a number of short but very busy weeks, it has been wonderful to see our students, staff, and families making the most of every opportunity to learn and come together as a school community.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the mums, grandmothers, and special women who joined us for our Mother’s Day Picnic last Friday. It was wonderful to see so many families coming together to celebrate the important women in our children’s lives.

We hope you left with full hearts and special memories that will be treasured for years to come. It’s in these simple moments, sharing food, laughter, and time together that we build the strongest connections with our children.

Last Thursday’s Reconciliation Liturgy was also a special reminder of what makes St Mary’s such a connected and faith-filled community. Thank you to all who were able to join us and to everyone who continues to support the faith life of our school.

We are also looking forward to seeing the many student entries on display at the Charleville Show this week, along with the excitement of the handball competition. We look forward to catching up with many of you over the weekend as we come together to celebrate another wonderful community event.

I’m pleased to share that we are preparing to hold our Parent Engagement Network (PEN) AGM in the first week of June. Thanks to the nominations we have already received for executive positions, we are now able to move forward. This is a great step in continuing our parent partnerships across our school. Further details will be shared on the Parent Portal shortly. I encourage all families to consider coming along to be part of this important conversation about parent engagement at St Mary’s.

A reminder that Term 2 school fees are now due. We sincerely appreciate the ongoing financial contributions of our families, which directly support the day-to-day running of our school, including resources, learning programs, and the upkeep of our facilities. Your commitment helps us continue to provide quality Catholic education for every student. If you have any questions or require support with payment arrangements, please don’t hesitate to contact the office.

Next week, I will be attending a Principal Forum in Goondiwindi with leaders from across our Diocese. These gatherings are an important opportunity to reflect, learn, and collaborate with other school leaders to strengthen the work we do here at St Mary’s. I know the school will be in good hands during my absence, and I look forward to returning with new insights and ideas to share with our community.

Thank you once again for your partnership and trust. Together, we continue to make St Mary’s a place where every child is known, valued, and given every opportunity to succeed.

God bless,

Megan

Prep 2026 Enrolments – Sibling Families

Is your next little learner ready for Prep in 2026!

At St Mary’s we are getting ready to welcome the next generation of St Mary’s students and we’d love to welcome siblings of current students! As places can fill quickly, we warmly invite our current families to lodge enrolment forms for younger siblings to enrol now.

Enrolment forms are available from the school office or can be completed online via our website: Home - St Mary's School, Charleville

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a conversation or tour with the Principal, please contact our friendly office team.

We’re Hiring! Help Us Bring Back Tuckshop – Join Our Team!

At St Mary’s, we’re always looking for ways to support our students and strengthen our school community. We currently have two exciting opportunities available and warmly invite anyone interested to apply.

Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor (2 days per week) Do you enjoy cooking and being part of a team? We’re currently seeking someone to take on the role of Tuckshop and Uniform Convenor for two days a week. At the moment, we don’t have anyone in this position, and we’d love to bring back regular tuckshop days for our students.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys preparing food, working with others, and playing a valued role in school life. Full training and support will be provided.

School Officer Position (part-time)

We are also advertising for a part-time School Officer. This is an essential role supporting student learning and classroom activities, with the opportunity for training, development, and meaningful job satisfaction.

How to Apply

Applications for both roles can be submitted through the Toowoomba Catholic Schools website: Jobs available | Work and learn with us | Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools

🌟 You’re Invited: Under 8’s Day at St Mary’s School, Charleville! 🌟

Join us for a morning of discovery, creativity, and fun as we celebrate Under 8’s Day with our youngest learners!

📅 Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025

🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Location: St Mary’s School, 66 Watson Street, Charleville

🎨 Theme: Unleashing Scientific Thinking Through Play

This year’s theme encourages children to explore, experiment, and engage in hands-on activities that spark curiosity and foster a love for learning.

Who’s Invited: Children aged 0–8, their families, and community members are all welcome to join the festivities.

Come and experience the joy of learning through play at St Mary’s School. We look forward to celebrating with you!

Mother's Day at St Mary's

Mother’s Day Picnic Celebration

We are excited to invite all our wonderful mums, grandmothers, and special women in our lives to our Mother’s Day Picnic on Friday, 9th May.

The celebration will begin at 9:00am with a heart-warming assembly presented by our Prep students. After the assembly, families are invited to enjoy a relaxed picnic and fun activities together.

Picnic boxes will be available to purchase:

• $10 for one adult and one child

• $5 for each additional person

If students do not wish to purchase a picnic box, they are welcome to bring and eat their usual morning tea during the picnic.

To help with catering, please return the completed order form and payment to the school office by Wednesday, 7th May.

We can’t wait to celebrate this special day with our school community!

Learning Support - Mrs Majella Lynch-Harlow

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Healthy Hearing for a Strong Start
Did you know that up to one in ten children and one in three adults may experience 
some degree of hearing loss or hearing difficulties? Hearing health plays a vital role in 
every child’s ability to learn, communicate, and thrive in the classroom. 
We are excited to announce that all Prep students at St Mary’s will have their hearing 
screened by an audiologist at no cost to parents. By conducting hearing screenings, we 
aim to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
Permission forms have been sent home, and we ask that parents return these as soon as 
possible.

In addition, I will conduct hearing screeners for students in older grades who are 
experiencing significant learning difficulties. I will work with classroom teachers to 
identify the list of students to include in our screening. Parents who have particular 
concerns about their child’s hearing are encouraged to reach out. I will use an online
hearing screener program called Sound Scouts to help identify any hearing issues. I will
then refer them to our audiologist if there are any concerns about their Sound Scout
results. This is to ensure any underlying hearing issues are detected and managed to 
reduce their impact on learning. Permission notes will be sent home for any students 
included in these screeners.

Understanding Hearing Loss
There are three main types of hearing challenges that can impact individuals:
1. Conductive Hearing Loss
Occurs when sound is blocked from reaching the inner ear, often due to middle 
ear infections (commonly known as "glue ear"), earwax buildup, or foreign 
objects in the ear canal. While usually temporary, it's important to address these 
issues early as residual fluid can affect hearing even after an infection resolves. 
About four out of five children experience a middle ear infection at least once 
during childhood. Parents can support their children by teaching them how to 
clear their noses and unblock their ears and to seek treatment promptly if there 
is any sign of infection. 
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Caused by damage to the inner ear, this type of hearing loss is typically 
permanent. It may be present from birth or develop later due to factors such as 
loud noise exposure, certain medications, viral infections, or head injuries. The 
degree of hearing loss ranges from mild to profound, but most cases can be 
managed effectively with hearing aids or cochlear implants. 
3. Listening Difficulties in Noise
Even with normal hearing in quiet environments, some individuals struggle to 
understand speech in noisy settings such as classrooms or restaurants. Causes 
include auditory processing disorder, developmental delays, language 
challenges, attention deficits, or multilingual backgrounds.

If you have questions or concerns about hearing health, feel free to reach out—we’re 
here to support you and your family.

Warm regards,
Majella Lynch-Harlow
Learning Support Teacher

Years 5 & 6 Camp Fundraising

Principal - Mrs Megan Pearce

Dear Parents and families of St Mary’s,

Last week we had a short but memorable start to the new term, celebrating both the energy of our students and the reflective spirit of our nation.

On Tuesday our staff engaged in a valuable Professional Development Day with a focus on continuing to strengthen our whole school approach to supporting every learner through Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). We are proud to be building a consistent, school-wide system where student needs are identified early, and support delivered in a structured collaborative way. Days like this allow our staff to deepen their understanding, reflect on best practices and plan effectively for the needs of all students.

Our Cross Country Carnival was a fantastic day filled with determination, teamwork, and plenty of smiles. It was wonderful to see students giving their all, encouraging their mates, and enjoying the friendly competition. A huge thank you to Suzie McInnes for her excellent organisation and preparation, with the day running like clockwork thanks to her efforts. I’d also like to thank our staff for their support and the parents who came along to cheer, your involvement always adds to the atmosphere.

Then Thursday morning our school community gathered in reverence and gratitude at our ANZAC Day Liturgy, beautifully led by our Year 6 students. It was a moving opportunity for our students to reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who have served, and continue to serve, our country.

We were privileged to welcome Sergeant Michael Wex as our guest speaker. A proud member of the Australian Army with active service in Afghanistan, Sergeant Wex shared powerful insights into the true spirit of the ANZACs. He spoke to our students about the four enduring values that define this spirit - Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice. His words reminded us that these values are not only part of our history but are qualities we can strive to live by each day in our own lives, whether it’s standing up for what’s right, supporting a friend, or persevering through challenges. His words were a powerful testament that ANZAC Day is not just about remembering the past, but about how we carry forward those qualities that define us as Australians.

On Friday, our students proudly participated in the ANZAC march, demonstrating their respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. Thank you to our families for your support and for encouraging this important act of remembrance within our community.

This week has been a true reflection of the St Mary’s spirit - striving to do our best, supporting one another, and taking time to reflect on what matters most.

Thank you, as always, for your support and involvement in school life.

God bless,

Megan Pearce

APMI - Miss Imogen Hunt

Welcome back from the holidays! I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating break. As we embark on a new term, I am excited to reconnect and continue our journey of learning and growth together.

ANZAC Day Liturgy

Last Thursday, we held a special ANZAC Day liturgy where our students showed deep respect and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the ANZAC soldiers. The ceremony included readings, prayers, and the laying of wreaths, honouring those who served and remembering their bravery and dedication. We thank Year 6 for leading us in this liturgy and modelling the importance of this ceremony.

Pope Francis – passing

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. Elected in March 2013, he was known for his humility, simplicity, and focus on social justice. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis emphasised the importance of mercy, compassion, and care for the poor and marginalised. He was a strong advocate for environmental stewardship, interfaith dialogue, and the inclusion of all people within the Church.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Pope Francis' passing. His legacy of compassion and advocacy for the marginalised will continue to inspire us. As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate his profound impact on the world and the Catholic Church.

Let us come together in prayer and reflection, honouring Pope Francis' memory and striving to live out the values he championed.

Sacramental Program – Reconciliation

Students who are part of the sacramental program will be completing their first reconciliation on Thursday 8^th May at 9am. This is a closed service for students and their families to attend.

Once students complete this they will then move into their next sacrament of first communion which will be later in the term. Students will be participating in the program from 5:00 – 5:30pm on Tuesdays.

Warm regards,

Imogen Hunt

Curriculum Support - Mr Tony Kim

Happy week 2 family and friends of St Mary’s!

We are now truly underway for Term 2 2025. I would just like to say thank you to everyone, (parents, students, staff, community), for making Term 1 a huge success.

Continuing from Term 1, STEM club will be returning every Wednesday during first break in the Art Room.

I would also like to introduce weekly Chess Club where students can play casually, competitively or learn to play chess! Please see the flyer below for more information.

Thank you for your continued support!

Tony Kim

Curriculum Coordinator

Year 2 - Miss Shauna Gallagher

Welcome back to term 2. We are really looking forward to all of the new challenges and learning experiences that this term is going to bring.

Last term, we had so much fun!

In Science, we learned all about the life cycles of different plants and animals.

In HASS we studied the different parts that make up our wonderful planet. We learned about the states and territories of Australia and the continents of the world. We also learned about the oceans, and we took a further look into the depths of the ocean which we all found fascinating.

In English, we learned about narrative texts and wrote our own stories about “Alexander’s Outing in Charleville”, which were our own adaptations of the book “Alexander’s Outing”.

In maths, we really enjoyed practicing our skip counting, measuring the length of various objects in metres and centimetres and solving bigger addition and subtraction problems.

In term 2, we are looking forward to learning all about informative texts and creating our own informative texts on a topic that interests us. We can’t wait to extend on our learning of number strategies, time and money in maths.

We are extra excited to learn all about life in Ireland as a 6/7 year old with our pen pals in Ms. Gallagher’s friend’s class for HASS.

We will be focusing the Mercy Mindset of ‘Hospitality’, where we will make sure to show great teamwork and generosity in our learning and daily school lives, throughout the whole term.

Let’s not forget about all the fun and interactive activities that we are going to continue with in Digital Technologies.

We look forward to showing you all this new learning as we go through the term.