LINKS: Term Two, Week Nine

From the Principal

Nearing End of Semester One

This semester has been jam-packed full of learning for our students, both in the classroom and out. We thank you for your ongoing support as we value parents to be the first educators of the children you have entrusted into our care. The next week and half is brimming with experiences for your child, including final assessments, classroom learning, Years 3 - 10 Athletics Carnival, Under 8s Day and Mercy Day. After all of this, I am sure we will all enjoy a much-deserved break. Please take care over the holiday period and return to us safely on Tuesday 15^th July.

Please note that Friday 18^th July is the P-2 Athletics Carnival and there will be no assembly on this day.

Staffing announcements

I am happy to announce that our new Career Development Practitioner is Karen Sullivan, while Carly Sheridan continues her Maternity Leave. Karen's excellent rapport with our students and community along with her experience in HR and business makes her a great fit for this position. We wish Karen all the best with this new role. Karen will be doing this role on a Friday.

At the end of this term, we bid a sad farewell to Molly Haswell who has been an exceptional Teacher Aide for St Mary's. We wish her luck as she starts her teaching profession. I would like to announce that Mrs Laura Martin will be our new Teacher Aide and will begin next semester. We are very excited to welcome Laura to the team and we wish her all the very best for her new role. 

PEN Executive

I would like to thank and congratulate our PEN Chair, Andrew Erbacher, and Secretary, Sarah Prior for their commitment to our Parent Engagement Network. Please keep an eye out for information for our Term 3 Forum.

Shaping our Future Survey  

Coming soon: Your chance to help shape our schools

Every two years, families from our school communities share their views through the Shaping our future – Perception Survey. It’s a valuable way for us to reflect on how each of our schools are living out Toowoomba Catholic Schools shared purpose: enabling full and flourishing lives.

This year’s survey will be sent via Sentral on Monday, 21 July. Please keep an eye out for it – your feedback helps shape the future of all 32 Toowoomba Catholic schools.

We will also be asking Years 5 to 12 students from across the diocese to complete a student version of the survey during Catholic Education Week at school.

For more information please email: angela.collins@twb.catholic.edu.au

Enrolments

It is that time of year again that we begin looking forward to 2026. Our Prep journey begins this term with an information evening and some come and see mornings, with interviews to follow in early Term 3. We are also seeking intentions for students for 2026, particularly in secondary school, so we can begin our staffing and budgeting processes.

Road Safety

It has been brought to my attention that some parents are doing illegal u turns on Brisbane Street and parking illegally. Can I please remind you and urge you to follow all road rules around the school to ensure the safety of our students. Please note that we have spoken with Queensland Police who may have an increased presence to ensure road rules are being followed as the safety of our students is paramount.

Op Shop Volunteers

The St Mary’s Op Shop are seeking volunteers to assist. If you are interested, or know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Annette Billsborough on: annetteb06@bigpond.com

Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community,

Halfway Through the School Year

As we approach the end of Semester 1, we reach the halfway point of our school year—a perfect time to reflect on progress and look ahead to what’s next.

Family Holidays During Term Time

While we strongly encourage full attendance to support every child’s learning, we understand that family holidays may occasionally fall during term. If you are planning time away, please notify the office at least four weeks in advance. This allows all relevant teachers, including specialists, to plan accordingly—particularly around assessment tasks. Please note that, in line with school policy, we do not provide additional work for students during family holidays.

Celebrating Student Achievements

With Term 2 wrapping up, teachers are finalising assessments and preparing student reports, which will be sent home at the end of term. These reports offer valuable insights into your child’s progress and areas for growth. We encourage families to celebrate achievements and set goals together for the term ahead. Over the holidays, simple activities like reading, journaling, or exploring the outdoors can help keep young minds engaged.

Semester 1 Reports Update

An update regarding our reporting Achievement and Effort scales will be communicated to parents Wednesday (18^th June) by our Curriculum leaders.

Thank you for your continued support throughout the semester. Let’s finish Term 2 strong—and if you’re travelling during the break, we wish you a safe and relaxing holiday!

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

As we approach the final week and a half of the school year, there’s a wonderful mix of excitement and reflection in the air. This time is a chance to celebrate our students’ hard work, their growth, and all the memorable moments we’ve shared throughout the Semester.

To end the term on a meaningful note, we are thrilled to celebrate our annual Mercy Day (see below for further information) If you’d like to take part and join your child in their Friendship Group activity session, please send me an email at: karra.suhr@twb.catholic.edu.au

As this is the last newsletter before the term break, I would like to wish all our students and families, a safe and happy holiday period. May this time be filled with rest, laughter, and quality time with loved ones. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 3!

Mercy Day

On Friday 27th June the school will be holding its annual Mercy Day. This is a day for us to remember and learn about our founding the body, the Sisters of Mercy and celebrate the 114 years of education at St Mary’s.

Students are invited to wear free dress in the theme ‘Shades of Blue’. Please note sleeves are required, no Crocs (closed in footwear) and school hat is to be worn.  We ask students to bring a gold coin donation which will be donated to the Sisters of Mercy Foundation. We will also be offering a free sausage sizzle at Second Break. Please note there will be no tuckshop available for First Break.   

During the day we will be holding rotational activities. The outline for the day is as follows:

Reconciliation

Congratulations to the 13 students who made their reconciliation last Wednesday evening! This significant step in your faith journey is a testament to your dedication and spiritual growth. The sacrament of reconciliation is a beautiful opportunity for reflection, renewal, and embracing God’s grace. These students will begin their Confirmation preparations next term.

Catholic Education Week

We are excited to participate in Catholic Education Week on 27^th July – 2^nd August, a time to celebrate the gift of Catholic education and its vital role in shaping young hearts and minds. This week allows us to reflect on the mission of Catholic schools in fostering faith, excellence, and a strong sense of community.

During this special week, 5G will lead us in a liturgy, we will host a morning tea for our dedicated op shop volunteers, and we will come together to celebrate Grandparents Day on Thursday, 31st July, honouring the wisdom and love of those who guide and support us.

Staff will also be attending the Bishop’s Inservice Day in Toowoomba on Friday, 1st August, a valuable opportunity for professional reflection and growth. Please note that this will be a Pupil Free Day.

We look forward to sharing these moments as a school community and encourage everyone to embrace the learning, service, and celebrations that make our school such a special place.

Wishing you all the best for the coming weeks,

Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Secondary News

At St Mary’s, our core values of Faith, Community, Compassion, and Respect shape our school community.

Respect lies at the heart of our interactions, fostering an environment of understanding and inclusion where everyone's voice is valued.

Respect starts with oneself, acknowledging our emotions, skills, beliefs, and abilities. By standing up for our beliefs and taking care of our bodies, we cultivate self-respect. This self-respect sets the foundation for earning respect from others, creating a culture of trust, safety, and wellbeing.

Understanding and celebrating differences, showing kindness, listening attentively, and practicing good manners are all key aspects of respecting others. Additionally, taking responsibility for our actions, such as avoiding property damage, littering, and contributing to a greener world, is essential for promoting respect and care within our school community. Let us all commit to fostering respect in all aspects of our lives at St Mary’s.

School Disco

We are incredibly grateful for the enthusiastic support from our school community in empowering our secondary business students. Their dedication before, during, and after the country-themed school disco exemplifies the values of teamwork and hands-on learning. Together we all helped to transform a fun event into a valuable educational experience, gaining practical skills in planning, organisation, teamwork, analysis skills, etc.

Your involvement made this memorable night possible, and it provided real opportunities for our students to apply their knowledge in a meaningful way. Stay tuned for updates on how the funds raised will be allocated and used.

Congratulations and thanks again to all the students, organisers, helpers, and supporters.

TRP Update

As we approach the end of Term 2, our resilience project will focus on gratitude through two upcoming lessons.

The first, "Speaking for Gratitude," encourages students to explore and reflect on quotes and lyrics about gratitude. The second, "Counting Our Blessings," involves students identifying and expressing gratitude across different aspects of their lives, to promote appreciation and connection. Both lessons incorporate meaningful reflection, class discussions, supporting students' emotional resilience.

Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Pastoral

The Resilience Project

As alluded to in last fortnight’s newsletter, I was fortunate to again attend The Resilience Project (TRP) Teacher Seminar in Brisbane. The presenters were all fantastic and I’ve again arrived back with more knowledge and enthusiasm to continue to implement the positive psychology practices within our school.

The research to suggest that implementing these positive psychology practices is having a positive impact across TRP schools is staggering. As the TRP notes, in the Monash University Evaluation table extract below, there has been a 34% decrease in symptoms of anxiety and 47% decrease in symptoms of depression throughout secondary schools who have implemented TRP over a period of 6-7 years.

The Resilient Youth: State of the Nation Report 2024 report states that 1 in 4 primary students experience high levels of depression or anxiety and 1 in 3 secondary students experience high levels of depression or anxiety.

Given this, it is imperative to encourage our students/children to put these Gratitude Empathy Mindfulness (GEM) + Emotional Literacy (EL) principles into practice, given their proven effectiveness in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. In particular, we need to equip our students with ‘emotional tools’ to use in tricky/unfortunate situations and give them strategies to use when faced with challenging situations.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can implement GEM + EL practices at home, please visit the TRP Parent and Carer Hub website: 2025 Parent & Carer Hub - Inspire 1 - The Resilience Project

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

Only a one week left before our Years 3-10 Athletics Carnival at Barry McGregor Oval (Soccer Fields). Please see the information below regarding pre-events, events on the day and the program of events. 

For the Years 3 - 10 Carnival on Thursday 26th June:

• Full Canteen Available
• Shot 2 U Coffee Van
• No Tuckshop available for Prep – Year 2 at School

Event Information – Years 3 to 10 Athletics Carnival

Track Events: Timed heats with ribbons, house championship and age championship points allocated according to fastest times in each event.

Discus: Competition is completed with results to come. Students will be throwing for participation points and fun on the carnival day. Ribbons will be awarded at school before the carnival.

Shot Put: First round completed in Week 8 during PE lessons. Top 10 students will compete at the carnival. This will be posted outside the library for students to check.

Long Jump: To be completed during the allocated time at the carnival (Years 3-6). Year 7 & 8 – Friday 20th June during HPE - 11.15am-1.15pm. Year 9 & 10 – Friday 20th June 12.15-1.15pm.

Prep to Year 2 Athletics Carnival  Schedule of Events

Please note we will have a separate carnival next term for our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students. The Prep-Year 2 Carnival is on Friday 18^th July (Week 1, Term 3) at the St Mary’s Oval. Please see the schedule of events below.

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Netball Carnival

St Mary's have the opportunity to compete at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Netball Carnival on Thursday 31st July (Week 3, Term 3). 

DATE: Thursday 31st July 2025

VENUE: Nell E Robinson, Toowoomba.

STARTING TIME: Teams Arrive: 8:30am; Official Opening: 9:00am.

FINISHING TIME: 2:30pm (approx.)

DIVISIONS: Competitive & Non-Competitive; Boys, Girls & Mixed; The format of the competition will depend on nominations. The number of teams we nominate will depend on student interest and staff availability. 

If your child is interested in competing in this carnival, please complete the Microsoft Form below to register your child. https://forms.office.com/r/kGH0Ha3dA8

This form must be completed by Monday 23rd June

Darling Downs Golf

Congratulations to Max Matchett who was selected in the Darling Downs Team for Golf. Max will compete at the State Championships in Brisbane at the end of this week. All the best Max!

Mac Zone Touch

Congratulations the following students who represented Mac Zone at the Darling Downs Touch Football trials on Tuesday 10^th June: Bridie Doherty, Kate Quinlan, Lotte Persse, Piper Rose, Grace Vukovich, Georgia Wild, Hudson Derbidge, Charlie North and Jim Jekyll. It was a very chilly day and all students had a great experience playing their first games of Touch Football.

Darling Downs Tennis

Congratulations to Alfred Charles, Charlie North, James Benson, Lotte Persse and Kate Quinlan who represented Mac Zone at the Darling Downs Tennis Trials last week! We are super proud of your efforts playing and umpiring. A big shout out to Lotte, who was selected in the Darling Downs Tennis team and will compete at the State Championships in Cairns in August!

Term 2 Primary Sport Dates

Term 2 Secondary Sport Dates

Term 3 Primary Sport Dates

Term 3 Secondary Sport Dates

Rommy Beckinsale 
Middle Leader: Sport

rommy.beckinsale@twb.catholic.edu.au

Cultural

As the winter holidays approach, so too does the Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod. I encourage you to remind your children to continue their practice during the holidays.

Angel choir and Seraphim singers will be singing during Mercy Day Mass on the last day of Term 2 to celebrate spending time with others and contributing acts of giving as per our Mercy Charism.

Eisteddfod: Week 4 of Term 3, August 4-9.  Information regarding performance days and times will be distributed early in Term 3 when the program has been released by the Eisteddfod committee.

Term 3 Choirs of Angels Schedule: Below is a reminder list of special rehearsals for Term 3 as listed on the Sentral calendar. Please note the Kaloma performance is still TBC.

Starry Starry Night:

Starry Starry night will be held in Term 3 on Friday September 5.  Information regarding auditions will be distributed early in Term 3.  It’s never too early to start preparing a performance item, so put on your thinking caps!

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture

benita.klowss@twb.catholic.edu.au

Library News

Borrowing Week 10

Holiday borrowing is upon us once again! This will only take place on Monday 23^rd June as both Mrs Parr and Mrs Petrie are away for the remainder of week 10.

Please ensure all students (P-6) return their books on this day. Years 2 to 6 students will borrow the same day for the holidays should they wish to do so.

Readers Cup

Congratulations to our Readers Cup teams  (pictured below, Lydia and Abbey absent) for their efforts over the past semester. Meeting weekly, reading as many books as they could and keeping notes has kept them very busy! The students are to be congratulated for how they conducted themselves at the competition; despite not placing the teams did well and we were very proud to be there with you!

Holiday reading -Look who got caught reading!

Over the winter break is a great time to read. If you catch your child reading, we’d love you to take a photo and e-mail it to the address below so we can create a ‘Look who got caught reading’ display in the library, the kids love to see this pictures so the more the merrier! Have a great break!

Book Week

This year Book Week turns 80! We celebrate this fabulous week from Monday 18^th August. Our dress up parade will be held on Friday 22^nd August. The Children’s Book Council of Australia has set the theme of ‘Book an Adventure’ and we are excited to bring this to life in term 3.

Happy reading!

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

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Guidance Counsellor

Men and Boys Mental Health

Last week was Men’s Mental Health Week and we can draw our minds to it again across the coming month. The big message is to lookout for your friends: - notice, ask, connect.

A reminder that headspace is a National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Headspace provides information and services that support young Australians aged 12 to 25 as well as their family and friends to be mentally healthy and engaged in their communities. Services include:

-Headspace centres (closest to Goondiwindi is Warwick)

-Headspace online and phone support

-Headspace schools and communities

A helpful tool in supporting men and boys’ mental health is - NAC:

N - notice with non-judgement

A - ask your friend how they are

C - connect them to the best support

What is mental health? Feelings, depression, self-harm, emotional blocks – only a beginning!

What is good mental health? Realising your own abilities; cope with day-to-day stresses; be involved in your community; live in a free and satisfying way.

What stops us from talking about mental health? Potential bullying at school, feeling weak, being stereotyped, worried about what others think, fear it can be used against you later, not being able to trust people.

There appears to be a stigma attached to poor mental health:

- Negative perceptions of mental health

- Myths about mental health

- Labelling and stereotypes

- Fear and discrimination

Who do young people turn to for support when they need it?

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor 

E Paul.Fomiatti@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Careers

Hello everyone! My name is Karen Sullivan, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Careers Development Practitioner. I bring over 20 years of teaching experience, along with a background in Human Resources particularly in employment services and office management. As a parent of four children aged between 15 and 24, I also understand firsthand how challenging it can be to support young people in making important career decisions. 

I’m passionate about helping students discover pathways that align with their interests, strengths, and aspirations. I’m especially looking forward to working closely with our Year 9 and 10 students as they begin exploring their future career options.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting some of our students during their work experience placements. It was wonderful to see them gaining real-world insights and hands-on experience in fields they’re curious about. These opportunities are invaluable in helping students make informed decisions about their futures.

Work Experience Highlight – Tyler Dillon (Year 9)

"Last week I had work experience, and it was really good working as a diesel mechanic. I loved fixing trucks and doing lots of different things like working on tractors. We went out of town to Moree three times to fix different trucks, and then to Tara to fix another one. It was fun seeing new places and working on different vehicles. Back at the workshop, we started washing off a tractor to service it so it could be used back on the farm. I also learned how to weld better, which was fun. That was my work experience for the week!"

If you're seeking information about specific career pathways or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch I'm always happy to help!

Karen Sullivan 
Secondary Teacher: Careers

karen.sullivan@twb.catholic.edu.au

Tuckshop

Tuckshop Updates for the Last Week of Term

As we approach the final week of term, please note a few important changes to our tuckshop schedule:

• Thursday, 26th June: There will be no tuckshop service for Prep to Year 2 students, as they will remain at school. Years 3 to 10 students will be at their Athletics Carnival, where the canteen will be open from 10:00 AM onwards, and a coffee van will be available from 8:30 AM.
• Friday, 27th June – Mercy Day (Last Day of Term): There will be no tuckshop service during First Break, but students can enjoy a free sausage sizzle during Second Break.

Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to celebrating the end of term together!

Jodie Jeans
Tuckshop

COMMUNITY NEWS

We are excited to welcome Sam Clear as our guest speaker at St George Catholic Parish on Saturday, 26th July, for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and deepening faith. Sam is a dynamic communicator with a powerful story to share, drawn from his extraordinary 19-month, 15,600 km walk around the world for Christian unity—an incredible journey that took him from the jungles of South America through the icy winds of Russia and into Spain. With over 1500 international speaking engagements and a background in Mechanical Engineering, Sam shares insights from his walk, his book walk4one – Paving a Path to Unity, and his work in schools all over Australia —all presented with clarity, humour, and conviction. 

The day begins at 11am with a shared lunch, followed by a series of talks and activities designed to build community and explore themes such as Overcoming Adversity, The Need for Unity, Love in Action, and Trust and Perseverance in the Faith. We’ll conclude the day with Mass at 5pm, and all are welcome to join us afterward for dinner at a local restaurant (at your own expense). 

All are welcome, but to help us plan resources and numbers for dinner, we kindly ask you to RSVP. Donations are appreciated but not required. Please bring a plate to share for lunch if you’re able. 

RSVP: Denise McHugh at manddaway@gmail.com  or 0427982254 

"Sharks Camp 2025 - July. GET IN QUICK LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!! Sharks Camp is a four-day volleyball camp designed to cater to athletes of all skill levels. With elite development opportunities available and pathways into club and state-level volleyball, this camp has something for everyone!

The Dates:

8th July | 9th July | 10th July | 11th July

We usually hit capacity pretty quickly, so if you're interested sign up today to secure your spot!!

YEAHHHH SHARKS!!