A note from the Principal
Dear Parents & Caregivers
Inspired by Christ, we aim to graduate confident, capable and compassionate individuals who are ready to go out into the world and lead with their head, their heart and their hands.
Building Resilience in our Children
In a world where comfort and convenience are often just a click away, it is natural to want to shield our children from struggle. But the truth is that doing hard things is one of the most powerful ways children build resilience.
Resilience (the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change) isn’t something children are born with. It’s developed through experience. When children face challenges, whether it’s learning a difficult skill, navigating a social conflict, or coping with disappointment, they’re building the mental and emotional muscles they’ll need for life.
Letting children struggle doesn’t mean abandoning them. It means supporting them as they work through difficulty, encouraging effort over perfection, and praising persistence rather than just outcomes. These experiences teach children that failure isn’t final—it’s a stepping stone to growth.
When we step in too quickly to solve problems or remove obstacles, we unintentionally send the message that they can’t handle adversity. But when we allow them to face challenges, we show them that we believe in their strength and capability.
Building resilience isn’t just for children either. As parents, we continue to grow when we take on hard things too. Whether it’s learning a new skill, managing work-life balance, or navigating parenting challenges, our willingness to face difficulty models strength and perseverance. When our children see us embracing challenges, they learn to do the same.
So, let’s encourage our children to try new things, take risks, and stick with tasks even when they’re tough. Let’s celebrate effort, not just success. Because every time they do something hard, they’re not just learning a skill, they’re becoming more confident, capable, and resilient human beings
P&F Meeting
Our next P&F Meeting will be held on Thursday 7th August (TBC) at 9:30am in the staffroom (following the assembly). It would be great to have many parents there supporting our executive team.
Winter Carnival
Our students from Years 4-6 will again compete at this year’s Winter Carnival on Friday 20th June. Students will compete in soccer, netball and football. All events will be held at Hay Park in Bunbury. Thank you to those parent volunteers who have offered to coach teams. We wish all our teams the best of luck.
It’s Disco time!
The Year 6 Disco is being held on Friday 27th June. The flyer is included in the newsletter (see below) and outlines the theme (80’s Fluoro), times and associated costs. Food order forms will be sent home today. There will be accessories to buy on the night so bring some extra cash. Again, we have secured another International DJ for the event.
Assembly
Our next assembly is booked for 9am Thursday 3rd July. All parents and friends are invited to join us.
St Mary’s Got Talent
The much-anticipated return of St Mary’s Got Talent will happen on Thursday 3rd July 1:30-3pm in the Multi-Purpose Room. On this day, parents are invited to attend and support their children. We look forward to an afternoon of fun, celebration and recognition of talent across the school.
Cross Country
Our school faction cross country will be held on Friday 4th July (last day of school). Students have already commenced training at school, but it is always good to get some extra miles into the legs outside of school hours. Races will commence at 10am with our Pre-Primary students, and flow through to our Year 6 students who we aim to have finished by lunch at 12:40pm.
NAIDOC Day
NAIDOC Week celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture, and achievements. In 2025, the theme is “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.” It marks 50 years of NAIDOC, honouring the resilience of Elders and empowering young leaders to shape a future grounded in unity, respect, and self-determination. As a school we will be recognising NAIDOC week on Friday 4th July with a liturgy at 9am and rotational activities after lunch.
Semester One Reports
Semester One Reports will go home on the last day of term. Reports will be provided in line with the School’s Curriculum and Standards Authority which outlines the requirements for each year level and learning area. This year, reports will be provided to parents electronically through SEQTA Engage. This is in line with many schools across Catholic Education, cutting associated printing costs and reducing teacher workload. If you are having trouble accessing SEQTA Engage, please contact the office.
Interschool Cross Country
The Southwest Cross Country Championships will be held on Thursday 31st July at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Competitors will be selected following our school event on Friday 4th July.
Religious Education Assessment
In Week 3 next term, our Year 3 and 5 students will participate in the Religious Education Assessment. The assessment tests students’ religious knowledge and provides the school with important information regarding the teaching of Religious Education in comparison to students across the state.
Book Week
Next term, we will be celebrating Book Week during Week 6. This year’s Book Week theme is “Book an Adventure”. Just in case you wanted to consider costumes early…
Rear Carpark
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through concerns raised regarding the rear carpark and processes for keeping our children safe. As a school we are fortunate to have three avenues for drop off and pick up which include the rear carpark, "kiss and go" at the front of the school, and bus services. Please note the rear carpark is not for 'kiss and go', students must be walked to and from the classroom. From time to time these areas may become congested but it is important that people continue to be patient and courteous as families leave the school, and follow the directions given in the email sent 12th June. It only takes 10 minutes to clear our spaces and working together ensures that everyone gets home safely.
School Website
Our school website can be found HERE and contains much information regarding school operations and procedures.
Parent Information
An updated parent information booklet, including teacher email addresses and school operations, can be found on our school website under the school information tab or by clicking HERE.
Term 2 Calendar
Please take note of the Term 2 calendar found HERE for all upcoming events.
Enrolments
St Mary’s is open for enrolments and has places available across all year levels. Please share this information with prospective families, and contact the office on 97324700 should you be interested in a tour with the principal. More information, including an introductory video, can be found on our school website at http://www.stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au/.
Thank you
Andrew Gammon
Principal
St Mary's School Donnybrook
Email: admin@stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au
Website: www.stmarysdbrk.wa.edu.au
Location: 30 Bentley St, Donnybrook, WA, 6239
Phone: 08 97324700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Catholic-Primary-School-Donnybrook-1835840293345149/