St Mary's Newsletter

Term 2 - Week 4 (15th May, 2026)

Dear St Mary's School Community,

Focus Value: : Trust

We rely on each other to do the right thing.

Upcoming Masses

The Ascension Mass: Sunday the 17th May - The Ascension of the Lord is the Christian feast commemorating Jesus ascending bodily into heaven 40 days after Easter. It signifies the completion of his earthly mission, his exaltation, and the empowerment of his disciples to continue his work on earth.

Mary Help of Christians Mass. The Mary Help of Christians Mass is a special Catholic celebration that honors Mary, mother of Jesus as a loving mother who helps people follow Jesus.

A long time ago, Christians prayed to Mary during wars, dangers, and hard times. They believed she helped and protected them. In 1571, after the Battle of Lepanto, many people thanked Mary for helping Christians stay safe.

Later, Pope Pius VII created a special feast day called “Mary Help of Christians” after he safely returned home from prison. Churches then began celebrating Masses in her honor.

Today, the Mass reminds people that Mary cares for everyone like a mother and helps bring people closer to Jesus.

Please join us at next Friday’s Mary Help of Christians Mass at 9 am. This Mass will be led by the Year Two/Three Class. 

CSAC Meeting

Our CSAC meets this Monday at 7pm. I extend my thanks to all parents who volunteer their time to help out the school in a myriad of ways.

 

GEMS

Mrs Mac and I will be away on Tuesday attending the GEMS conference in Southern Cross. 

Confirmation Meeting

Thank you also to the parents who joined Father Philip yesterday helping to prepare their children for the upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation

Assembly

A reminder that the Year 6 Assembly is on at 2.15 pm next Friday.

P&F

The Chompsaw is another MUCH appreciated P&F purchase for the school. You can see it being used below during one of Mrs Jackson’s Technologies classes.

Puppet Theatre Incursion

Next Thursday we welcome the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre to St Mary’s for what will be, I’m sure, a fun filled and ‘different’ incursion.

Hurt-to-Help Free Dress Day

Tommy and Layla have organised a free dress day, come dressed as your favourite sports star, next Thursday the 21st of May to raise money for Hurt-to-Help. Hurt-to-Help provides crucial financial aid to individuals and families affected by medical issues, accidents, natural disasters, domestic violence and other crises, ensuring that every donation truly makes a difference. See their flyer below for more information. 

"Children are not things to be moulded, but are people to be unfolded." — Jess Lair

 

God Bless

Mr H


Thank you's from the P&F

The P&F would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their efforts this term:

  • Thanks to Tessa Crook, Sophie Alberti and Amanda Wood along with the year 2/3 class families for organising and supplying morning tea at the latest Cummins Theatre Morning Melodies, raising $300
  • Thanks to Hannah Herbert for organising a very successful Mother's Day raffle raising $3,900
  • Thanks to the Georgia Brown, Megan and Gary Anderson for assembling the new picnic tables
  • Thanks to the wonderful St Mary's staff for supplying a beautiful spread of morning tea for the Mother's last week. It was so nice not having to organise this ourselves.
  • Thanks to Jess Silver for all the extra hours she is putting into the Performing Arts Festival rehearsals twice a week
  • Thanks to Kate Crees for organizing Run Club every Thursday morning and to Hannah, Sophie, Loren, Tess, Christine, Katie for helping with milo and toast afterwards
  • Thanks to Aaron Flannagan for spraying the oval weeds during the school holidays and assisting the P&F with a plan to top dress the oval during the next school holidays. We are excited to see the oval condition improve

Many hands make light work!


Olivia Gray

P&F President

Uniform Shop Update

Polar Fleece Jackets

Our Custom-made order of size 3 polar fleece jackets have arrived.

These are ready to be ordered through www.quickcliq.com or can be purchased by cash on a Wednesday morning between 8.30am and 9.10am.

Thank you for your patience.

Class News

Pre-Primary

It has been a busy start to Term 2 in Pre-Primary, with lots of fun learning happening in our classroom!

Over the past few weeks, we have learnt all about Anzac Day and have also been busy creating some very special gifts for Mother’s Day. The kids loved creating their gifts and were very excited to take them home to their mums! 🤗

In Literacy and Maths, we have been working hard on recognising initial sounds and blending sounds together to read CVC words, as well as exploring teen numbers, developing our understanding of counting and number recognition.

In HASS, we have been diving into all things family members! We are learning how our family members are connected and exploring the differences between families within our classroom by creating family trees.

The kids have also been loving our construction home corner this term and have had so much fun dressing up as builders in hi-vis vests and hard hats!

We are looking forward to more fun and learning, as we take on this massive 11-week term!

Other News & Important Dates

Footy Tipping Round 9 Update

Congratulations to our very own Toby Sharp for winning Round 9 with a perfect score of 9/9 tips!

He receives $50 thanks to Merredin Freightlines! 

Round 10 is kindly sponsored by Nextra Merredin. Happy tipping everyone! 

Footy Tipping Sponsors

Churches Fraternal Food Drive

The weather is getting colder and our regular Foodbank supply for the Merredin Churches Fraternal is no longer available. We invite school families to make a food donation to assist those in need. Donations could include: canned food (ham/meat, vegetables, fruit, soup), pea / bean mixes, lollies, biscuits, rice, sugar, flour, tea, coffee, milo, noodles, UHT milk, long life custard, fruit juice, cool drinks, cordial, packet food such as jelly, tea, coffee, milo, pasta, sauces, cereal, gravy, etc....please make sure items you are donating have not expired. Items can be placed in the basket that is located in the School Library. Thank you for your support, it is very much appreciated as Father Philip continues this important outreach program for our Parish. 

Volunteers Needed - Expressions of Interest

Have you got a few hours to spare. The Activities Coordinator at Mooditj Mia/Berringa Frail Aged Care Facility at the Merredin Hospital is looking for volunteers to spend some time with the residents, listening to their stories, reading, playing cards, doing some crafts etc. If you are interested, could you give your name to Fr Philip please so it can be given to the coordinator. 

Call for donations

I've started collecting items to send to the beautiful people in Tanzania with the help of the Retuno E Maa Foundation I will send a sea container when I have enough items to send. If you have anything you would like to donate that would be amazing. Second hand or new, everything can be used.

Some items that will be loved are:

  • Clothes in good condition (no underwear except bras)
  • Socks matching with no holes
  • Linen
  • Shoes in good condition
  • School supplies
  • Bikes & scooters in any form as they can be fixed
  • Balls - netball, soccer, football, basketball, tennis
  • Bread & Cake tins
  • Craft items like wool, crochet & knitting needles, beads, sewing supplies


Items can be dropped off to Cockies Ag

Jasmin 0427823357

Cockies Ag

Mitchell Street

Merredin

Community Notices

Free Flu Nasal Vaccination for Students (Ages 2–11)

Win Big. Give Back. Help Build Westonia’s Playground.

Westonia is a small town based in the heart of the wheatbelt, built on mining, young and old farming families and people from all walks of life. This little country town is full of community spirit. In recent years, we have seen a big growth in young children and babies in our shire. Whether they've grown up here or are new to our town, we want to do our best to support them. One way we can do that is by providing a safe area for them to come together with friends and family to play, grow and learn.

We’re holding this fundraiser to help raise funds and support our vision of a brand-new playground that will help our children thrive. For just $100 you could be in the chance to win a brand new 2026 Hilux SR as first prize and a brand new 2026 Polaris Ranger 1000 Premium as second prize.

Click on the following link or scan the QR code below to purchase your tickets:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C9ynHWYja/ 

WEBINAR To Boost Children's Body Image Every Day

Attention - Student Wellbeing

Raising Body Bright Children 


Want to help your child grow up feeling good in their body?  Butterfly’s webinar for parents of primary age children provides practical strategies to build body confidence, create positive relationships with food and movement, and know what support is available.    

Date: 17 June 2026 

Time: 7pm – 8.15pm (AEST) 

Via Zoom (time-limited recording available)  

Register: HERE  

Cost: $15pp 

(For info:  Full registration link https://events.butterfly.org.au/portal/event/?id=170626_RBBC1751387700&Name=17/06/26%20RBBC 

Merredin College - Year 7 Enrolments 2027

Are you planning for your child to attend Merredin College in 2027??

Please ENROL NOW!!

Applications can be found on our website

For further queries you can call administration on (08) 9041 7520 or at Merredin.College@education.wa.edu.au

Saver Plus Referral Form

Good morning,

We have received valuable feedback from the community suggesting that a referral form would help connect parents and carers with the Saver Plus program more easily.

In response, we’re pleased to introduce a new Referral Form, designed to simplify the process of getting in touch with us.

If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Families can still enquire directly by calling our free number 1300 610 355

Kind Regards

Cim Rodgers (she/her) Community Liaison, Saver Plus

Download

St Mary's Parish Merredin- Mass Times

Merredin: Saturday 6.30pm & Sunday 10.30am

Kellerberrin: Sunday 8.00am

Please visit our website https://merredincatholicparish.org/

St Mary's P&F Uniform Shop

Open Wednesday 8.30am-9.10am

Online Orders: www.quickcliq.com.au