Term 3 

Weeks 1-3 DIBELS Literacy Assessments all students K-6

Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August 2025 Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition for interested Stage 3 students - look for event on Compass

Thursday 31st July - Bongil Bongil S2 Excursion 

Friday 1st August - Yr 4-6 Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition

Monday 4th - Friday 8th August - Stage 2 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee

Monday 11th - Thursday 14th NAIDOC Week events TBC

Tuesday 12th August - Parent Information Session Literacy

Friday 15th August - St Mary’s Feast Day - 10am Open Classrooms, 11am Picnic Lunch

Monday 18th August - Book Week Parade

Tuesday 19th August - S3 Town Library Book Week Session

Wednesday 20th August - K-2 and S2 Town Library Book Week Session 

Monday 25th August- Friday 5th September - Year 1 Phonics Assessment

Tuesday 26th August - Diocesan Athletics Carnival - Coffs Harbour

Wednesday 27th August - Lockdown Drill

Monday 1st September - Catholic Mission Presentation S2 & S3

Monday 8th September - Year 6 Write a Book in a Day

Monday 8th - Wednesday 10th September - S2 Parent Teacher Interviews

Monday 8th - Friday 12th September - NAPCAN Child Protection Week

Tuesday 9th September Marybells 9 - 11am

Friday 12th September - Fire Drill

Friday 12th September - Year 6 BHS Ignite TBC

Monday 15th - Thursday 18th September - Parent Teacher Interviews K-2 and S3

Monday 15th September - DOT Day!

Tuesday 16th September - Marybells 9 - 11am

Tuesday 16th - Wednesday 17th September Year 4 Camp @ Cascade

Friday 19th September - Last Day for Premiers Reading Challenge

Monday 22nd September - Regional Public Speaking Competition Year 3-6 @SJPC

Tuesday 23rd September - Marybells 9 - 11am

Wednesday 24th September - Family BBQ and Disco (K-2 3.30-4.30 3-6 4.30-5.30)

Thursday 25th September - Rewards Day Session 2&3

Thursday 25th September - Last Day Term 3 for Students

Friday 26th September - Staff Professional Learning Day - Spirituality - Pupil Free Day

Term 4 

Monday 13th October - Staff Professional Learning Day - School Improvement - Pupil Free Day 

Tuesday 14th October - First Day Term 4 for Students 

Tuesday 21st October - Marybells 9 - 11am

Tuesday 28th October - Marybells 9 - 10.30am 

                                   Marybells Graduation 10.30 - 11am

Thursday 11th December End of Year Final Awards Assembly and Giving Tree 9.30 - 11:00am

Monday 15th December - Year 6 Graduation and End of Year Celebrations

Wednesday 17th December - Last Day Term 4 for Students

Thursday 18th December - Last Day Term 4 for Staff

God, our loving Father, 

In this Jubilee year,  

you remind us of our call to love creation. 

Help us to work together  

to replant, repair, and renew. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Jesus, our light, 

In this Jubilee year, 

you remind us of our call to love our neighbours  

and to set free those who suffer. 

Help us to treat everyone with dignity;  

to be fair, forgiving and kind. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Holy Spirit, our inspiration, 

In this Jubilee year, you remind us of our call to grow in faith and love. 

Help us to hear you in scripture, to see Jesus in others,  

and to be united as God’s global family. 

Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope. 

Amen 

We need your help!

We are looking for parents who are willing to come to school and talk to the media and production team about why they chose St Mary’s. Are you interested? Please let Lisa Doolan know. Below is an outline of what will happen on the day;

• The production team will first capture a family photo and some quick video footage of

your child/children interacting with you/each other to support the video testimonial.

• After this, your child/children will return to class and we will film your testimonial. We will

attach a microphone and take approx. 15 minutes to capture responses to questions.

The below questions are a guide of the types of questions we will ask. We may ask you to

expand on some answers or ask additional questions depending on your answers. If you

are uncomfortable answering any questions, please just let us know.

• Note: we will ask you to repeat the question at the beginning of your answer. E.g. I chose

St Mary's Primary Bellingen for my child because ...

1. Could you tell us your name and the name and class of your children?
2. As a parent, why did you choose St Mary's Primary Bellingen for your children?
3. What has St Mary's Primary Bellingen done to support your children and your family?
4. Could you talk about your reason for choosing a Catholic school over other schools?
5. What do your children love most about St Mary's Primary Bellingen?
6. As a parent, what do you like about St Mary's Primary Bellingen (teachers, facilities,

community)

2025 Non-government schools census privacy collection notice.pdf

CNA_AI_Parent_Webinar_2025_Poster_Flyer.pdf

Online Learning 

Week 1 - "I am reverent"

Week 2 - "I am an active learner"

Week 3 - "I play safe and fair"

Week 4 - " I am honest"

This week we celebrated Schools Tree Day. This day and the mini pilgrimage, organised by Mrs Dagger showed us all just how lucky we are to attend a school with such beautiful, natural grounds. On Tuesday the garden clubbers conducted weeding and were in awe at the significant growth that had occurred at our Rawson Creek planting site over the past two years. Plus we were thankful for the work of Bellingen Urban Landcare (BULC) and the knowledge that they have shared with us. We are hoping to work with them again very soon. Keep an eye on their facebook page if you would like to volunteer and help BULC on any of their upcoming working bees throughout our community. The one on the weekend at Market Park was a great community event and Kim and Liz have so much knowledge to share.

During the week many classes, like the Stage 2 Turtles (photographed here) got out and did a lesson outside under the trees. Many used natural resources like leaves to explore just how splendid nature is, as they created artworks of interest to them. Later in the week Mrs Dagger spoiled us all as she led us on a pilgrimage throughout our community. Along the way the children stopped and reflected on all of the wonderful parts of creation and the people who take time to care for our common home, including Market Park and our School Garden. There were many thoughtful noticings linked to a sense of gratitude, wonder and awe.

Last week the children of St Mary’s went on a mini pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a journey to become closer to God.

Mrs Doolan told us about the pilgrimage that she went on overseas a few years ago.

Firstly we went to the Mary grotto. We spent some quiet reflection time praying to Mary.

Next we went to the garden and fruit trees. We walked through the garden and noticed all the small details like the little insects, hanging bees and bats and all the pretty flowers in the garden beds.

After that we went to see the Jubilee art work that students from Kinder to Year 6 made. The theme of the art work was Pilgrims of Hope.

Then we walked over to the park. We stopped to look at nature and appreciate God’s creation.

Next stop we went to the creek where we helped Urban Landcare plant trees a couple of years ago. We got to see how big the plants and trees have grown. We talked about working together with the community to care for our common home.

Our last stop was the Church to see the Jubilee boat. It was made by some high school students from Port Macquarie and is a symbol of the Jubilee year. It will be travelling around our whole diocese this year.

By Eloise, Juliet and Eddy

Garden Club have recently been cleaning up the tree growth at the Rawson Creek planting site and they are in awe of how well the trees have been growing. The work of Bellingen Urban Landcare and our mini volunteers to make our common home beautiful for all to enjoy is very evident. Bellingen Urban Landcare are always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping out let us know and we can put you in touch with our contacts.

Eco Art Challenge - Winners are Grinners!

Our Kindergarten and Stage 3 Buddies were awarded the Gowings Choice Award for their artwork Reduce, Reuse, Respect.  The winner of this prize was chosen by the Gowings Chief Sustainability Officer.  We are very proud of the achievement and acknowledgement of the talent and skills of our young artists and teachers.  Well done team!  The prize is a $500 Gowings Gift Card, which is very exciting and handy.

Week 1

Kinder - Aleera Njemanze & Remy Vinecombe

Stage 1 - Milton Fielding & Jax Maher

Stage 2 Eagles - Mila Vinecombe & Cassidy Clarke

Stage 2 Turtles - Arthur West & LuLu Northcott

Stage 3 - Minka Neale & Leon Webber

PBS - "I am reverent"

Kinder - Alby Cowley & Mars Tarrant

Stage 1 - Tully Ouali

Stage 2 Eagles - Eddy Wadick

Stage 2 Turtles - Agnes Everson & Levi Grebert

Stage 3 - Oscar Reibelt

Piano = Victoria Christie 6655 8782

Brass/Piano = Kate Butcher 0419 789 078

Guitar = Katie Crane 0431 151 987