Term 2 Week 4 | 14 May 2025

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!

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

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

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. 

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.

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!

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 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 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 & 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.

May Birthdays

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.

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