Newsletter - T3, 86 - 12/09/2025
From the Principal
As we get closer to the end of Term 3 and prepare to farewell our Year 12 cohort, it is time to reflect on what lies central to our mission here at St Mary’s: Community.
The Year 12 cohort has led the school with integrity and enthusiasm. They have built a community that is proud of their school and will leave a lasting legacy.
From the beginning of the year, our Year 12s set a tone of inclusion, kindness, and leadership. Whether it be including younger students or involvement in community service, they have consistently demonstrated what it means to be part of a Catholic community.
Leadership amongst this group of students has not been about titles or recognition, rather a presence around the College, leading by example to make others feel welcome. They have encapsulated the rich school spirit that exists at the College.
As they prepare for the HSC Examinations, Graduation, the Formal and the next chapter of their lives, I want our Year 12s to know how much they have shaped this school. They have modelled what it means to live out the Gospel values.
On behalf of all the St Mary’s community, thank you Year 12. Community is not something that we are taught, it is something that must be built.
Thank you
It was announced to the St Mary’s community this week that I will be concluding my time at St Mary’s at the end of the 2025 calendar year, as I prepare to take up a new position at Xavier Catholic College.
I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the entire St Mary’s community for your friendship, support, and warm welcome during my time here. It has been a privilege to be part of such a vibrant and caring community. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at St Mary’s, and the experiences and relationships formed here will leave a lasting impression on me.
Under 14 Girls Rugby Union - Country Cup
Congratulations to our 14 Girls team, who were victorious in Coffs Harbour yesterday.
Under 14 7’s Rugby Union
Well done to our boys who competed in the state finals in Tuggerah yesterday. They played superbly with 2 wins and 3 losses, narrowly missing the semi-finals.
We are so proud of both teams: Well done!
Have a great weekend.
Michael Campbell
Principal
Upcoming Dates
Week 9
Monday 15/09/25 - Year 10 Common Maths Task (Periods 1 & 2) - SMCC
Week 10
Tuesday 23/09/25 - Year 12 Assembly - SMCC
Wednesday 24/09/25 - Year 12 Graduation Mass & Awards Ceremony - SMCC
Thursday 25/09/25 - Sunday 28/09/25 - Ignite Conference - St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane
Thursday 25/09/25 - Year 12 Theme Park Day - Movie World
Friday 26/09/25 - Indigenous Traditional Ball games session - SMCC
Friday 26/09/25 - Last day of Term 3
Parish Mass Times
Weekend Mass
Saturday 5.00pm
Sunday 8.00am
Weekdays
Monday 9.00am
Tuesday 8. 00am
Wednesday 8.00am
Thursday 9.00am
Friday 9.00am
Saturday 9.00am
Adoration
Wednesday 5.00pm
Following 9.00am Mass Saturday
Reconciliation
Saturday 8.30am - 9.00am
Anointing of the sick
First Saturday of each month
Country Mass
Sunday, 28 September
Tabulam, 10:30am
Mission Team
In our readings at Mass this weekend we hear "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son..." (John 3:16). This verse offers a simple yet profound truth: God's love is generous, sacrificial, and meant for everyone.
As parents and teachers of teenagers, this message is both comforting and challenging. It reminds us that we are called to love our teens: unconditionally, selflessly, and with a heart open to grace. It also reassures us that, even when we fall short, unconditional love is constant.
In a world full of expectations, John 3:16 gently calls us back to the core: love. When our young people experience this kind of love at home, they grow in the confidence that they, too, are deeply valued and called to share that love with others.
Graduation
Over the next fortnight, we will be accompanying our Year 12 students as they close the chapter on their time at the College. This is a time of much excitement and trepidation. We will take these next steps together as they move from being high school students to being young adults with the world at their feet. We will walk alongside their next steps and provide as much care, compassion and support as possible as they navigate these few weeks.
Clare Axman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Evangelisation
Catch the Wave
Year 8 students participated in their Catch the Wave Retreat on Tuesday, 9 September.
Catch the Wave gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of ministry at the College and brings attention to the experiences that students will be given the opportunity to attend, such as SHINE, IGNITE and other ministry events.
In upcoming Religious Education classes, students will have the opportunity to nominate themselves to be in the Ministry class for next year.
Year 12 2026 Retreat
Students in Year 12 2026 will be participating in their annual retreat in Term 4 during transition week. The purpose of the Retreat is to enhance the spirituality of students. This is a valuable time for our students to deepen their friendships with each other and to set personal goals as they embark on their final year of school.
This is an overnight retreat held at Camp Drewe in Lennox Head, which is a compulsory event. Consent and payment is due by the end of Week 10 (Friday 26 September).
2026 Stage 6 Retreat
Students in Year 11 and Year 12 in 2026 will participate in the Senior retreat day. Throughout the day, students will form new relationships with their peers and be equipped to tackle their final years of schooling. This will be held at the Parish Hall, with students having normal recess and lunch breaks.
Kate Rowlands
Leader of School Evangelisation
Learning & Teaching Team
Business Studies Excursion
On Wednesday, the Business Studies students recently visited Richmond Dairies to deepen their understanding of key business concepts. The excursion began with a warm welcome and a guided tour of the factory to see production processes. After this, they were given the opportunity to enjoy Richmond Dairies’ own ice cream. They also heard from speakers across a range of departments, gaining insights into Operations, Human Resources and Finance. This authentic learning experience allowed students to connect classroom theory with real-world practice while also appreciating the role a local business plays in our regional community. Thank you to Richmond Dairies for supporting our senior Business Studies students.
Emily Jones
Leader of HSIE
Celebrating Our Wakakirri Story-Dance: Mind Over Matter – Tales of Inner Strength
Since May, a dedicated group of our students has been passionately developing and rehearsing their Wakakirri story-dance, a unique performing arts event that brings together storytelling and dance to share powerful messages. Wakakirri is a national competition in which schools create story-dances based on a chosen theme each year.
This year, our students created a memorable performance titled "Mind Over Matter: Tales of Inner Strength." Their story explores the very real challenges many teenagers face regarding body image and societal pressures. Through their dance, they express how feelings of self-doubt can be transformed by discovering inner strength, showing that having a strong mind helps us overcome obstacles, build confidence, and embrace that true beauty comes from within.
The students worked together in weekly rehearsals, building teamwork and encouraging each other’s contributions. Experienced dancers mentored newcomers, while the group collaborated on designing the storyline and choreography. This inclusive spirit has been one of the standout achievements of our Wakakirri journey.
We are extremely proud of all the students for their commitment, creativity, and growth throughout this process. Special thanks to Ms. Maguire for leading this project, vision and rehearsals and Megan Elliott for expertly filming the performance.
This is only our second year participating, and we eagerly anticipate seeing this cultural activity flourish in the years ahead. While we would have loved for the community to see the performance live, we are excited to share it via video soon.
Please join us in celebrating the talent and hard work of our Wakakirri performers!
Keely Maguire
Teacher
Northcoast Interschools Debating Competition
Last Thursday, we were proud to host the North Coast Interschool Debating Competition. The event brought together students from several local Catholic Colleges, including Woodlawn, Trinity, Xavier, and Mt. St. Patrick's, for a day of spirited debate.
Students participated in various roles, serving as debaters, adjudicators, and timekeepers. The competition included both prepared debates and impromptu debates, where participants had a limited time to construct arguments for their assigned topics.
The students were highly engaged throughout the day, sharpening their debating skills and demonstrating remarkable respect for their opponents. It was a day filled with positive energy and intellectual exchange.
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone in our College community. The warm welcome you showed to all our visitors was fantastic and truly showcased the hospitality of our school.
Ashleigh Bailey
Literacy Coach
ICAS Competition
The ICAS Competitions wrapped up in Week 6, and I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our students who participated across the various subjects - Mathematics, Science, English and Spelling Bee. These assessments are designed to challenge and extend students beyond the classroom curriculum, and it takes real courage and commitment to put yourself out there.
Well done to everyone who took part - You should be very proud of your efforts!
Results are being released progressively and will be fully available to parents via the ICAS Parent Portal by Wednesday, 17 September. Some results may already be visible, so feel free to log in and check. If you need any assistance accessing the portal, please don't hesitate to get in touch - I'm more than happy to help.
To celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students, all participants will be recognised at a Term 4 assembly.
Once again, congratulations to all students who embraced this opportunity to extend themselves and take on the challenge.
Kylie Parker
Numeracy Coordinator
Sports News
Under 14 Girls Rugby League - Country Cup
On Thursday, 11 September, our Under 14 Girls Country Cup Rugby League team won their competition in Coffs Harbour and secured their place as the Northern State Winners, and will now travel to Bathurst to play the Southern State Champions. The full story and photos will be in the next newsletter.
Under 14 Boys Rugby Union 7's - State Secondary Schools Finals
On Thursday, 11 September, the College Rugby 7s team traveled to Tuggerah for the state finals. Competing in a tough pool, they started with a narrow 5-0 loss to Cronulla High School. The team bounced back with a dominant 22-5 win against Mater Maria Catholic College, with Riley Formaggin scoring two tries.
They suffered two close losses due to conversions, with scores of 19-17 and 12-10, which placed them fourth in their pool. They finished the day on a high note, with a 12-5 victory in their final cross-pool game against Engadine High School. Overall, the team's ability to compete with high-quality opposition from around the state was considered a remarkable achievement.
Thank you to those parents who came and supported the Boys from the sidelines, your encouragement was appreciated.
The team would like to thank Alex and Paige Gibbons from Ray White Real Estate Casino and Kyogle for supplying the team with a polo shirt for the trip.
Lismore Diocesan Athletics Championships
Last Tuesday, 39 students and 3 staff attended the Diocesan Athletics Carnival, held in Coffs Harbour.
The day started early and the weather was great for the students to compete. We had students compete in a variety of track and field events. It was great to see many of our students getting involved and participating, they all stepped up and represented the College with pride and eagerness.
Notable Performances:
1st Place
Reece Gay, 12 Years, Shot Put
Lascelle Hayward, 17+ Years, High Jump
2nd Place
Karen Dyason, 12 Years, High Jump
Marley Botfield, 12 Years, Javelin
Eva Crompton, 13 Years, Shot Put
Toby Makejev, 13 Years, 100m sprint
Brett Argall, 14 Years, Javelin
3rd Place
Eva Crompton, 13 Years, Discus
Toby Makejev, 13 Years, Shot Put
Kayla Patch, 14 Years, Javelin
Bethany Dyason, 15 Years, High Jump & Javelin
Nashua Thomas, 15 Years, High Jump
Lascelle Hayward, 17+ Years, Long & Triple Jump
Declan Murphy, 17+ Years, High Jump
Jayden De La Cruz, 17+ Years, Shot Put
Ashleigh Bailey & Piper Byrnes
Managers
Years 7/8 & 9/10 Girls Schools Cup Netball
Years 7/8
The 7/8 Girls team showed great teamwork and determination throughout the competition. Miley Falls earned the Players’ Player award, with Zoe Connolly coming in a close second.
The team started strong with an 11-all draw against Xavier Catholic College, followed by a fantastic comeback win over Woodlawn Gold (13-7) after being 4 goals down at halftime. They dominated Kyogle High with a 24-1 victory but faced a tough loss to Casino High (14-8), finishing third in their group. In the final, they secured a well-deserved win against Richmond Christian College, 10-5.
Well done to all the players for their hard work and sportsmanship! A big thank you to Violet Zeller and Chelsea Scully for volunteering as umpire and manager for the day — your support was truly appreciated!
Kylie Parker
Coach
Years 9/10
We had a fantastic day at the Lismore Netball Courts, with perfect weather and a vibrant atmosphere. Our first match was a fast-paced and energetic game against Casino High School, which we won 14-11. Our second game, against Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina, was a highly competitive and intense match, ending in an 11-11 draw. In our final round-robin match, we secured a convincing 31-1 win against Richmond River High.
Advancing to the finals, we faced the undefeated Ballina Coast High School. This was an intense and high-quality match, and every player displayed great resilience and teamwork. Despite our best efforts, Ballina Coast won 13-11. Our performances stood out and reflected outstanding sportsmanship and skill throughout the day.
Emily Webster
Coach
NRCC Under 14's & 16's Volleyball
Our Under 16 Girls have won for the third year in a row! Well done to all the girls and Ms Maguire on this fantastic achievement.
The Girls’ Volleyball NRCC competition featured 7 teams from our Diocese. Our 16’s Girls team showed outstanding skill and teamwork, winning the overall trophy for the day and securing it for the third year in a row—a fantastic achievement.
The 14’s Girls team also played strongly, finishing 3rd overall. They were tied on points with the team in 2nd place but narrowly missed out due to point difference. Both teams demonstrated great effort and improvement throughout each round.
The Girls’ commitment to training this term was impressive, and their dedication to practice and teamwork clearly paid off on the day. We are very proud of all the Girls for their hard work, determination, and sportsmanship throughout this competition. We now turn our focus to Diocesean Volleyball competition coming up in Term 4.
At the NRCC Boys' Volleyball competition, two teams from St. Mary's Catholic College, the Under 14s and Under 16s, competed. The Under 16s had a challenging day with several close losses but finished strong with a one point victory against McAuley Catholic College. The Under 14s had a successful competition, securing two impressive wins against St. Joseph's Catholic College and Trinity Catholic College. Both teams represented the College with distinction.
Keely Maguire & Daniel Sekulic
Coaches
See below for the latest updates to upcoming sporting fixtures:
- Friday, 24/10/25 - Diocesan Under 15 & Open Boys & Girls Volleyball - Coffs Harbour (Week 2, Term 4)
- Thursday, 6/11/25 - Diocesan Open Boys & Girls Water Polo - Alstonville (Week 4, Term 4)
- Monday, 10/11/25 - Northern Diocesan All Ages Golf - Casino (Week 5, Term 4)
- Thursday, 13/11/25 - Diocesan Under 15 Boys & Girls Water Polo - Alstonville (Week 5, Term 4)
To check upcoming CCC events and registrations - Link to Catholic Sport NSW
Sport Search (½ way down page) → Step 1 (click on CCC) → Step 2 (select sport). Registration & Calendar is also there. CCC is a pathway and option for students to make a direct application to trial for a particular sport. The standard is usually high, depending on the Sport, therefore representative level is usually but not always the minimum requirement.
Craig Beare
Sports Coordinator
Uniform Shop News
Uniforms for Year 7, 2026
If you have a new student starting next year, please consider starting to get your Uniforms ready while we have the stock. Call in and see us during our opening hours so you're prepared for next year.
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Tuesdays 3.15pm to 4.15pm
Thursdays 3.15pm to 4.15pm
The Uniform Shop service is a cashless service. Methods of payment are by EFTPOS or online ordering via Flexischools. No fees are charged to families for using the Flexischools service.
Please note the following information for orders made via this service:
Tuesday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Monday
- Pick up available from the College office on Tuesday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.00pm
Thursday Orders
- Cut off time is 12 noon on Wednesday
- Pick up available from the College office on Thursday afternoon from 3.30pm - 4.00pm.
Orders not collected will be given to the student to take home.
Whilst all care will be taken to ensure that stock availability is correct at the time of ordering, there may be some items that are not in stock at the time of packing the online orders. In this case, you will be contacted to advise of an estimated time of arrival for new stock of that item or given the option of a refund processed through Flexischools.
All uniform shop order enquiries can be emailed to: cash-uniform@lism.catholic.
Second Hand Uniforms
Sustainable School Shop is an online shop dedicated to buying and selling of second hand uniforms. For more information ring 1300683337 or visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au.
Please note that this facility is available for use with the new College uniforms only.
Canteen
Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist in the Canteen. Please contact the Canteen via the College office if you are available at any time to help.
Flexischools
Flexischools is a well-established organisation allowing you to easily place all your canteen orders online at any time.
Download the Flexischools app from the App store or Google Play. Click here for details on how to set up your account.
Once registered, you can start placing orders immediately.
There is a charge of $0.29 per order for using this service.
If you have any questions, please contact the Flexischools Customer Service Team via their website contact page.
The normal process of ordering from the canteen (cash, eftpos, morning lunch orders) is still available.
Advertisements
