LINKS: Term One, Week One

From the Principal

Welcome back for 2025

A warm and heartfelt welcome back to St Mary’s to all of our new and returning students, staff and families. What a gift the Summer Holidays are for all of us. A time of reconnection with those that we love and treasure. The gift of renewal of faith through the Christmas season. The chance to slow down and appreciate what life is all about with the most precious people in our lives. I trust that you all had a special time over the last couple of months and you have come back refreshed and renewed and ready for a fantastic 2025.

Last week, our staff gathered to prepare for the year ahead. The week was filled with learning and building of community. On Thursday, we experienced our Spirituality Day and focused on “Mercy in Action” and what it means to live out our Mercy tradition in a Modern World. A huge thank you to Mary Bell who was our guest speaker and shared her experiences of being a part of the St Mary’s community for 60 years. We also participated in Service-Learning activities by cleaning the church, helping in the Op Shop, visiting Kaloma, doing some cooking for families in need and planting seedlings for the Community Gardens.

It was lovely to welcome to our staff Miss Rommy Beckinsale who will be our PE teacher and Middle Leader: Sport. We also welcomed Annie Pattinson and Louise Millar who will be assisting as School Officers: Classroom Support. We are blessed to be surrounded by a tremendous community, and we look forward to building on this in 2025.

Some Reminders

As we begin our new school year, it is timely to remind everyone of the need for privacy for our students. We all get excited when our child/ren achieve well or participate in a fun activity, but I would like to remind you to be mindful when taking photographs that you seek parent permission to photograph children other than your own and, for safety, be cautious around the posting of these on social media.

Japanese Encephalitis

There have recently been reported cases in the Goondiwindi area of Japanese Encephalitis.  Please seek advice from the Goondiwindi Medical Centre regarding the vaccine.  Lucy Walker Pharmacy Terry White Chemist in town have the vaccines and are offering this vaccine daily with an administration fee of $24.95.  In the meantime, to prevent mosquito bites you may consider:

• Wearing mosquito repellent when outdoors
• Wear loose clothing
• Wear long sleeves
• Light coloured clothing
• Covered footwear including socks

Particularly at dawn and dusk when mosquitos are most active. As a school, we have engaged spraying to try to keep exposure to a minimum.

New Parent Code of Conduct

Last week, you would have received an email regarding the Parent Engagement Charter and the new Parent Code of Conduct. For your information, both documents can be found on our website: https://www.goondiwindi.catholic.edu.au/parent-information

Right to Disconnect

One of the joys of living in a small town is that we have beautiful relationships in our tight knit community. However, I would like to remind parents that our staff do have a right to disconnect from work outside of hours, so I would encourage you to communicate with staff through the appropriate channels of their school email or phoning the office to allow for a healthy work/life balance for our staff. Please also try to deal with concerns at the lowest and most appropriate level possible. This will allow people to resolve concerns in a timely, efficient and positive manner.

PEN Information Night

There has been a suggestion that we move away from our two parent bodies, the Parents and Friends Association and School Advisory Council to one body – the Parent Engagement Network (PEN). Please note that no decision has been made and there will be an information session in the library on Tuesday 4th February from 6 – 7pm. Tracey Jacklin from Toowoomba Catholic Schools will come out to discuss with parents the options and answer any questions that you may have.

Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community, Happy Australia Day!

I feel like I only just got used to writing “2024” and now I have to try to remember to write “2025”!

I hope you had a refreshing break. For many of the parents I have spoken to recently, the school holidays have been about 2 weeks too long! I hope you’re not one of them. Don’t worry, it will soon be the end of term holidays. Again.

This week there is a mixture of excitement and apprehension as students catch up with their peers, meet their new teachers and familiarise themselves with their new class. For those who are new to the school, there is a lot of familiarisation occurring! Regardless, here’s hoping that everyone will settle in quickly and have a great start to the year.

NAPLAN 2025

Just a heads up that NAPLAN testing will occur for Year 3, 5, 7 & 9 students in weeks 7 and 8 this term (starting Wednesday 12^th March). I will be providing more information about this in subsequent Links newsletters.

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

Welcome back to a new school year! We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday break, filled with moments of joy and reflection. As we commence Term 1, we look forward to the exciting opportunities and challenges ahead as a community of learning, faith, and service.

This year, our theme is "Mercy in Action," inspired by the life and legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. Catherine’s unwavering commitment to compassion, justice, and service calls us to actively live out our faith by reaching out to those in need, fostering inclusivity, and making a difference in the lives of others. Throughout the year, we will explore ways to bring this theme to life in our classrooms, liturgies, and everyday interactions.

During our Professional Development week last week, our staff participated in a day devoted to Mercy in Action. We revisited the teachings of Catherine McAuley, looked at our school history, engaged in a variety of workshops and in the afternoon our staff participated in some service-learning activities. It was an enjoyable day where we were reminded of the benefits of serving and welcoming others with an open heart – two key messages we hope to build into our community further in 2025.

Let us approach this year with open hearts and minds, ready to embrace the spirit of mercy and continue building a strong, supportive, and faith-filled community. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and working together to make 2025 a year of meaningful growth and action.

Fr Bony

Our Priest, Fr Bony is currently on leave until the second week of February. He is currently visiting India and his family. We hope Fr Bony is enjoying some special time with his family and friends and we look forward to welcoming him back soon.

Opening Mass

Our Opening Mass and Leadership badge presentation (for Primary and Secondary students) is scheduled for Wednesday 12^th February at 9:30am in the Centenary Centre. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Year 6 Kaloma Visits

The Year 6 students will be visiting the residents of Kaloma every second Tuesday to participate in Mass with the resident and Fr Bony. I will be providing both Year 6 classes with information around these visits in the fist few weeks of Term. You will also receive information about these visits and a consent form through the Parent Portal in the next few weeks. In the past, students have thoroughly enjoyed this form of service learning.

Wishing you all the best for a busy and successful Term 1!

Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Secondary News

Welcome to the New Academic Year!

We’re thrilled to kick off Week 1 of Term 1 for 2025!

The Resilience Project (TRP)

We are excited to launch The Resilience Project (TRP), which focuses on three key areas that we will explore throughout the year:

• Gratitude: When you pay attention to what you have. Don’t worry about what you don’t have.
• Empathy: The ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes
• Mindfulness: The ability to be calm and the ability to be present
• Emotional Literacy: The ability to label the emotion you are experiencing as you experience it.

In short, our guiding acronyms are:

TRP and GEM&EL.

Our staff have completed the first of several professional development sessions on TRP, with more scheduled for the first semester. Also keep your eyes and ears out for the Parent Inspire evening in Term 2 which we would love as many of you to attend as possible. Students will begin their TRP lessons on Monday, February 3, 2025. Each week, we will provide updates on our progress in the project, in our Links newsletter.

Tips for a Smooth Transition

After a long holiday, getting back into a routine can be challenging. Here are some strategies that can help to establish a productive evening routine, setting the stage for a successful next day:

Evening Routine:

1. The 3:2:1 Rule:

• 3 hours before bed: No food.
• 2 hours before bed: No schoolwork.
• 1 hour before bed: No screens.

• Make decisions the night before to reduce morning stress. Lay out clothes and organise items for easy access.

• Tidy your bedroom and common areas so you wake up to a neat environment.

• Consider how much time you need in the morning to avoid stress. What morning routine will help you be your best self?

• Keep your phone out of the bedroom to promote better sleep.

These practices will help ensure a restful night, crucial for recovery and growth.

Creating a Homework (Learning) Area:

To enhance focus and engagement, establish a dedicated space for homework. Regular use of this area signals your brain to switch into "homework mode," boosting productivity.

Considerations for Your Learning Area:

• Use low lighting to reduce eye strain.
• Ensure comfortable seating and good ventilation.
• Choose a quiet space, free from distractions.
• Keep it tidy and well-equipped with necessary supplies.
• Decorate with colourful goal posters placed slightly above eye level.

While Working:

• Wear clothes that help you focus.
• Stay hydrated.
• Move around periodically to improve circulation.
• Avoid music with heavy beats.

What to Avoid:

• Don’t study in bed, as it can disrupt your sleep patterns.
• Reserve your learning area solely for studying.

Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Pastoral

Welcome back to a new school year! I hope that you have had an enjoyable break with your families and you are feeling rested and ready for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. I am looking forward to seeing all students across our school flourish and meet their full potential this year.

For those new members to our school community, I teach Health classes from P-6 and my ML Pastoral role across P-10 allows me to work in collaboration with classroom teachers and the Senior Leadership Team, to ensure that our care network enables students to thrive in a consistent, caring, and nurturing environment.

As Mr Goodes has referred to already, we are really excited and passionate about the positive effects the implementation of The Resilience Program (TRP) will have on our secondary students, parents/carers and teaching staff this year.

During Term 1 Health lessons, from Prep - Year 6 classes will build upon their understandings of the language of friendship using our URSTRONG program.

For those new members to our school community, this program is a whole school strategy that empowers our students, teachers and parents to use a common language to both strengthen friendships and resolve conflicts.

As we know relationships are the heart of social -emotional wellbeing and we have had great success with building a community of kindness across St Mary’s over the last 2 years of this program’s implementation.

I encourage you to read through the attached URSTRONG Parent Information booklet that will provide you with an overview of the language used across our Primary school.

For more information or Pastoral concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Nicki Wyllie
Middle Leader: Pastoral

Nicola.wyllie@twb.catholic.edu.au

Sports Report

My name is Rommy Beckinsale, and I am thrilled to join the St Mary’s School community as the P-8 Physical Education teacher and P-10 Sports Coordinator. This year, I am excited to introduce a theme for sport at St Mary’s: CONNECTION. Sport has a unique ability to bring people together, foster friendships, and help us grow as individuals. It’s about more than just competition—it’s about building relationships, finding belonging, and connecting with our teammates, our community, and even ourselves.

The idea of having a theme for sport is new to St Mary’s, but I believe it will help guide us in creating a shared focus and purpose throughout the year. My hope is that this theme inspires our community to see sport as a powerful way to connect, both on and off the field.

This theme holds special meaning for me, especially after my experience moving to Goondiwindi. One of the main ways I built connections to the community was through sport. Joining and supporting local teams gave me the opportunity to meet people, form friendships, and feel connected to the community. Sport has always been an important part of my life, but this experience reminded me of its power to bring people together.

Growing up, I threw myself into every opportunity to play a variety of sports. These experiences taught me resilience, teamwork, and the joy that comes from movement, but the connections I made along the way are what stayed with me the most. Whether it was representing my school, competing with Met West, or proudly wearing the maroon of Queensland, sport always helped me feel connected to others and myself. 

For 2025, my goal is to foster this same sense of joy, belonging, and connection among our students. Whether they’re experienced athletes or new to sport, I want every student to feel empowered to participate, take on challenges, and grow. I’m excited to build on the positive and inclusive sporting environment that Kath Spicer has so thoughtfully developed over the years, and I look forward to a fantastic year ahead. Together, let’s make 2025 a year of connection, growth, and a shared love for sport!

Important Information:

We are trialling a new process for representative sport at St Mary’s. We are calling for nominations for all Macintyre Zone (10-12 years) and Border District (13-19 years) sports at the beginning of the year.  We can then create email groups to send out relevant information so families can be organised and informed. Please complete the forms as soon as possible by clicking on the links below.

Macintyre Zone Sport Expression of Interest Form

Border District Sport Expression of Interest Form

Medical Form: If you nominate for a sport, please print or collect a medical form from our front office. You only need to complete one form and we will duplicate it if needed. Some sports require additional paperwork and/or a fee. We will make sure all relevant information is shared as early as possible. We ask that if any medical conditions change throughout the year that you contact me and complete a new form. Medical forms are due on the first day of school:  Wednesday 29th January 2025.

Nominations for Macintyre Zone Swimming are now closed. Please make sure your medical form and $5 is handed into the office by Wednesday 29th January 2025.

Please see the documents attached for 2025 Representative Sport Dates.

Other important dates to have in your calendar:

Term 1:

St Mary’s Swimming Carnival (Year 3 -10) – Friday 7^th March

Laura Geitz Cup (Year 7-9) – Sunday 16^th March – Toowoomba

League Tag Gala Day (Year 2 and Year 4) – Wednesday 26^th March – Gilberts Oval

St Mary’s Cross Country Carnival – Thursday 3^rd February – Riddles Oval

Term 2:

Broncos Cup Round 1 – Thursday 29^th May – Goondiwindi

Broncos Cup Round 2 – Wednesday 4^th June – Warwick

St Mary’s Athletics Carnival (Year 3 – Year 10)- Thursday 26^th June – Barry McGregor Oval

Term 3:

St Mary’s Athletics Carnival (Prep – Year 2) – Friday 18^th July – School Oval   

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Rommy Beckinsale
rommy.beckinsale@twb.catholic.edu.au

Cultural Report

2025 is set to be another exciting year of cultural growth at St Mary’s!

Registrations will be called for Instrumental music lessons with Mr Jessen and Choirs of Angels with Mrs Klowss over the next week.

Existing parents of instrumental students from 2024 can expect an email from Mr Jessen shortly. Information for new instrumental enrolments will be pushed out on the Sentral Parent App. To understand the benefits of instrumental lessons, I encourage you to watch this short video.

All new and existing Choir students will need to be registered using the form through the Sentral Parent App. Choir rehearsals will commence on Thursday, February 13.

I am looking forward to watching the many cultural performances we will see in 2025.

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture

Library News

Welcome to the library for 2025!

Students are welcome to come in and borrow before school and at lunch time this week. Official lessons begin next week in week 2. Please see the image below for your child’s library day.

Specific information for each grade will go home in paper format with students.

Young Adult letter

This week, year 6 students will receive a letter regarding the Young Adult section of the library. Please fill in the permission form and return to the library. Parents are welcome to come in to have a look at this section before signing the form.

Have a great year everyone!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the library staff at:

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Student Support

This year we welcome Annie Pattinson and Louise Millar to our Student Support team. They both bring a young and vibrant energy, and we are very lucky to have them as part of our team. Annie has had experience working with children, and will be working in Year 1 this year across the 2 classes. Louise is a registered nurse who is studying teaching, and excited to work with our teachers and students across the school.

We also welcome back our 13 returning Student Support School Officers, who are an integral part of our team and we are so grateful to have them supporting our teachers, and assisting our students in achieving their full potential.

They are the heart of our school, and we thank them and appreciate all they do, every day!!

May 2025 be a successful year for us all.

Allison Marsh
Middle Leader - Student Support

Careers

St. Mary’s Community,

I am incredibly excited to continue the outstanding work of Mrs. Carly Sheridan in 2024, I will be continuing the role of Career Development Practitioner/Secondary Teacher for 2025.

The primary objective of the Career Development role is to collaboratively engage with school communities, advocating for and fostering the achievement, participation, career development, and employability of our students.

As the Career Development Practitioner, my focus includes:

• Building Future Skills: Implementing a targeted classroom program to equip students with essential 21^st century skills, preparing them for life beyond school.
• Strengthen Community Collaboration: Facilitating relationships among schools, employers, and local communities by assisting to provide valuable work experience opportunities and school-based apprenticeship/traineeship offerings.
• Cultivating Positive Decision Making: Guiding students in honing their ability to make informed decisions throughout their lives, empowering them to take ownership of their success.

I look forward to contributing to the ongoing success of our students at St. Mary’s and I am eager to collaborate with the community to pursue valuable opportunities for all.  

Oscar Hunt
Career Development Practitioner

*If you are a business interested in offering a school-based apprenticeship/traineeship, work experience or you are an individual who would like to promote your field of work – please reach out via email: oscar.hunt@twb.catholic.edu.au

Guidance Counsellor

Student and Parent – Mental Health Education Sessions

Schools play an important role in supporting the mental health needs of young people and their families. The Mental Health Education Program (MHEP) delivers free mental health education workshops to primary and secondary school communities across Australia. The program also offers a Parent and Carer workshop alongside the student workshops. Check out the attached LINK to view workshop topics and for more information about the program or book a session. You can access it below.

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor 

Tuckshop Talk

P&F

Welcome back, families.  To kick the year off, the P&F traditionally hosts a MEET AND GREET evening for families to come together socially.  The Student Council holds a DISCO for the students on the same evening.  This year, the Meet and Greet will be set up alongside the Centenary Centre.  It will be held on Friday, 21 February, from 6 pm – 7.30 pm. 

If you want to be more involved but are put off by scheduled meetings and traditional committees, please come along to an information evening on Tuesday, 4 February, hosted by Tracey Jacklin from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office regarding the Parent Engagement Network (PEN) model. 

More information on the PEN concept can be found at www.twb.catholic.edu.au/parents-and-community/parent-engagement-in-catholic-schools/

I will be stepping down from the role of P&F President at the upcoming term one meeting.  The agenda will include PEN information and options for the P&F in the future. Other agenda item suggestions can be submitted to GOOPandF@twb.catholic.edu.au

TERM 1 MEETING – Tuesday, 11 February at 5.30 pm in the school Library.

 All parents are welcome.

Denise Ellis
P&F President 

COMMUNITY NEWS