Newsletter — Term 3, Week 3

Welcome to the Week 3 newsletter for Term 3. We are two weeks into a busy term: Oliver! tickets go on sale next Monday, MacKillop Day is less than a fortnight away, the CSSA winter season is under way, and Year 12 students will receive their practice exam timetable on Friday. Please read the Dates to Remember table carefully — there are several bookings and deadlines in the next three weeks.

From the Principal

It has been a warm-hearted start to Term 3 despite the cold mornings. Students returned on Tuesday 14 July 2026 after our staff professional development day on Monday 13 July, which was spent on our new Digital Learning and AI guidelines for the Senior School and on refreshing our Child Safe Standards training. Thank you to families for the smooth return.

Two reminders on winter uniform, which applies for the whole of Term 3. Senior students must wear the navy blazer to and from school every day — a jumper alone is not sufficient, even on the bus. Hoodies and non-school jackets are not permitted in either school. If a blazer or jumper is being replaced, please see the Uniform Shop (Tuesdays 8:00–11:00am, Thursdays 1:00–4:30pm) or read our Uniform & Grooming Policy.

Looking ahead, I warmly invite every family to join us for the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Friday 7 August 2026. We begin with whole-school Mass at 9:15am in St Mary of the Cross Church, celebrated by Fr Michael Dwyer, followed by the MacKillop Day festival on the Main Oval from 11:30am to 2:30pm.

Finally, congratulations to our cast and crew of Oliver!, who gave up the first three days of the holidays for rehearsals. Tickets go on sale on Monday 3 August at 9:00am and I expect them to move quickly.

Dr Helen Carmody, Principal

Junior School

Semester 1 reports. Thank you for your positive feedback on the new report format. Reports remain available under "Reports" in the Parent Portal. If you have a question about a report, please email your child's teacher in the first instance. Details on how we assess are on the Reports & Assessment page.

Head lice — Year 2. We have had confirmed cases in 2F and 2K this week. Please check your child's hair this weekend, and if you find live lice or eggs, treat and comb before Monday. Children may return to school once treatment has started. Our Head Lice Policy explains the steps. A separate notice went to Year 2 families on Friday.

Book Week. Save the date: the Book Week dress-up parade is on Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 9:00am on the Main Oval. This year's theme is "Stories Light the Way". Costume guidelines and the Book Fair times are on the Book Week 2026 page. Please start planning — simple, home-made costumes are very welcome.

Father's Day. The P&F Father's Day Stall runs on Friday 28 August and the Father's Day Breakfast is on Thursday 3 September 7:15–8:30am in Mary MacKillop Hall. Details will follow on the Father's Day 2026 page.

Prep 2027. Mrs Kate O'Brien, our Registrar, is continuing enrolment interviews for Prep 2027 through August. If you have a younger sibling starting next year and have not yet lodged an application, please do so promptly via the Prep 2027 page or call (03) 9555 0120.

Junior Athletics Carnival for Years 3–6 is Friday 4 September 2026 on the Main Oval, with the Prep–2 Mini Olympics the same morning from 9:30–11:00am. Full details in the coming weeks.

Ms Priya Natarajan, Head of Junior School

Senior School

Year 12 practice exams. The practice exam timetable will be published on Friday 31 July 2026 on the Learning Hub and the Portal. Exams run from Tuesday 25 August to Friday 28 August in Mary MacKillop Hall, with sessions at 9:00am and 1:30pm. Year 12 students attend only for their scheduled exams and study at home otherwise; the Library is open for quiet study from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Full winter uniform including blazer applies. See Practice Exams — Year 12.

Year 10 subject selection. The Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection Evening will be held on Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 7:00pm in the Hall, followed by individual interviews on Wednesday 2 September and final selections due Friday 4 September. Mrs Jenny Marsh has begun careers conversations with every Year 10 student. Please read the Subject Selection — Year 10 page before the evening.

Year 9 City Experience. The City Experience week runs from Monday 31 August to Friday 4 September 2026. A parent information session will be held on Tuesday 4 August at 6:00pm in the Hall — Mr Will Turner will walk through the itinerary, Myki requirements and daily departure arrangements. See Year 9 City Experience.

Year 7. A settled start to the term for our Year 7s. A reminder from Mr Nick Papadopoulos that laptops must arrive fully charged each morning and that chargers should stay at home — see the Laptop Program (BYOD) page for the minimum specifications if a device is being replaced.

Homework Club runs Monday to Thursday 3:30–4:30pm in the Library, free, with staff support. It is a particularly good habit for Years 7–9 with assessments due — see Study Skills & Homework Club.

Mr Tom Brennan, Head of Senior School

Sport

CSSA Round 1 (Wednesday 22 July). A strong opening round for St Mary's:

Round 2 is this Wednesday 29 July 2026, 1:20–3:25pm. Draws and venues are on the CSSA Wednesday Sport page; students travelling by bus must have their permission form completed on the Portal. Winter training continues as timetabled — netball Monday and Thursday, football Tuesday and Thursday, soccer Monday and Wednesday, hockey Wednesday at the Wattle Creek Hockey Centre with the bus provided.

Junior interschool sport (Years 3–6) continues every Friday 1:30–3:00pm in the NDPSA winter competition — netball, football, soccer and basketball this term. Students wear sport uniform on Fridays only. The Winter Lightning Premiership is on Friday 21 August at Kingsley Park Reserve. See Friday Interschool Sport.

House Cup standings (Week 3): MacKillop 1,410; Chisholm 1,395; Romero 1,290; Polding 1,255.

Carnival dates: Junior Athletics Friday 4 September (Main Oval); Senior Athletics Tuesday 8 September (Ringwood Athletics Track); CSSA Athletics Finals Wednesday 16 September. See Athletics Carnivals.

Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport

Music & Arts

Oliver! — tickets on sale Monday 3 August, 9:00am. Our College Musical opens in Mary MacKillop Hall on Wednesday 19 August 2026. Performances are Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August at 7:00pm, and Saturday 22 August at 1:30pm (matinee) and 7:00pm. Tickets are $25 adult, $15 student and concession, and $70 for a family (two adults, two children), and are sold through the Parent Portal under "Events". Seating is allocated on purchase. With a cast of 64 students from Years 5–12, a crew of 22 and a live pit orchestra, we expect the season to sell out — please book early. Details at College Musical.

A huge thank-you to the cast and crew who rehearsed from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 July in the holidays, and to Mr Callum Reid (director), Ms Hannah Kim (choreography) and the many parents who have been sewing costumes.

Debating. DAV Round 4 is this Thursday 30 July at 3:30pm. Good luck to all teams, especially our B Grade (Year 10) team, who are undefeated so far. See Debating.

Spring Concert — Wednesday 16 September 2026, 7:00pm, Hall. Booking details later in the term.

Ms Grace Whitlam, Director of Music

Faith & Mission

MacKillop Day — Friday 7 August 2026. Whole-school Mass at 9:15am in St Mary of the Cross Church; families are very welcome to join us. The festival on the Main Oval runs from 11:30am to 2:30pm, with stalls run by Year 12 and Year 6 students, music from the Stage Band and the House tug-of-war. Students should bring gold coins for the stalls — all proceeds support the Josephite mission work in Timor-Leste through Mary MacKillop Today. Students wear full school uniform for Mass and may change into House polo for the afternoon.

First Eucharist (Year 4). Parish preparation sessions continue on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm in the parish centre. The First Eucharist Mass will be celebrated on Sunday 6 September 2026 at 10:30am in St Mary of the Cross Church. Please see the Sacramental Program page or contact Sr Bernadette Long.

Our regular Masses and liturgies continue: first-Friday Mass this term falls on MacKillop Day itself, and the Vinnies group meets Tuesday lunchtimes to plan the Winter Appeal.

Mrs Siobhan Reilly, Deputy Principal – Wellbeing & Mission

P&F

Our next meeting is Wednesday 5 August 2026 at 7:00pm in the Staff Room, with an online link for those who cannot attend in person. The main item is the shade-sail project for the Junior playground — our 2026 fundraising target is $45,000 and we are on track to make a decision on the supplier at this meeting. New faces are always welcome; no experience required.

We are also seeking volunteers for the Father's Day Stall (Friday 28 August, 8:30am–1:30pm shifts) and the Father's Day Breakfast (Thursday 3 September, 7:15–8:30am). Volunteers need a current Working With Children Check. Email pandf@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au or see Parents & Friends.

Mrs Rachel Ibrahim, P&F President

Dates to Remember

Community Notices

Bus Route B — Kingsley Park stop. From Monday 27 July 2026, the morning pickup at the Kingsley Park shops (corner Kingsley Avenue and Park Street) moves five minutes earlier, from 7:52am to 7:47am, because of roadworks on Old Mill Road. All other Route B stops and all afternoon times are unchanged. See School Buses & Transport.

Lost property. The Junior lost property box is outside the Junior office; Senior items are held at the Senior office. Please name everything — unnamed items are donated at the end of term.