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.
Understanding Bullying and Social Conflict in School
At school, children are constantly learning how to navigate friendships, resolve disagreements, and build social skills. It is important to understand the difference between bullying, typical social conflict, and what we sometimes call “friendship fires.”
Bullying is repeated, intentional behaviour that causes harm to another child. It involves a power imbalance—whether physical, social, or emotional—and can take many forms, including physical aggression, verbal insults, exclusion or online harassment. Bullying is not a one-time disagreement or a mutual argument; it is targeted and persistent.
In contrast, "friendship fires" are common disagreements or fallouts between peers of equal power. These are part of normal social development and provide opportunities for children to learn empathy, communication and conflict resolution. While these moments can be upsetting, they are not bullying unless they become repeated and targeted.
As a school, we use the RULER approach to support students in developing the essential tools to navigate "friendship fires" and everyday conflicts. By helping children identify and articulate their feelings, RULER fosters empathy and self-awareness, which are key to resolving disagreements respectfully. Students learn to pause and reflect before reacting, communicate their needs clearly and listen to others’ perspectives. These skills not only support healthier peer relationships but also empower students to manage conflict constructively, turning challenging moments into valuable learning experiences. It is these valuable learning experiences that support us in achieving our mission to graduate individuals who are confident, capable and compassionate.
It is natural for parents to want to protect their children, especially when they hear about issues at school. However, we kindly ask that if you have concerns about your child’s experiences—whether it’s a suspected bullying incident or a social conflict—you come directly to the school. Our staff are trained to handle these situations sensitively and appropriately. Approaching other parents directly can unintentionally escalate the situation and make resolution more difficult for everyone involved.
We are here to support your child’s wellbeing and to work in partnership with you. Open communication between home and school is the best way to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students.
If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can help our children grow into kind, resilient and respectful individuals.
Extra Long Weekend
Please note, there will be no school this Friday 30th May, Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd June. Please enjoy the extra-long weekend with your loved ones.
Year 3 Reconciliation
This term, our Year 3 students have been preparing for their First Reconciliation which is taking place tonight, Thursday 29th May. First Reconciliation is a Catholic sacrament where children confess their sins for the first time, learning about forgiveness, God's love and making peace with themselves, others and God. Thank you to Miss Jendrzejak for her efforts in preparing our students for the sacrament, and to our students who participated.
Book Club
If you wish to order Book Club, orders are due Friday 6th June. If you did not receive an order form, please see your child’s teacher.
Year 4 First Holy Communion
This term, our Year 4 students have been preparing for their First Holy Communion. First Holy Communion is a special Catholic celebration where children receive the Eucharist for the first time, deepening their relationship with Jesus and becoming more fully part of the Church community. These students will participate in a retreat on Friday 6th June before participating in the sacrament the following Sunday 8th June at 10am in the Church. We wish our Year 4 students all the best as they prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time.
School Photo Day
The school photo day is Tuesday 10th June. On this day students are to wear their formal school uniform. The link to book a family photo has been sent to parents via text on Tuesday. If you did not receive anything, please see Mrs Humphries in the front office.
P&F Meal Deal
The P&F will be making Cheesy Buns on Friday 13th June. Orders are due back Friday 6th June. Please see your child’s teacher if you didn’t get one.
P&F Meeting
Our next P&F Meeting will be held on Thursday 19th June at 9am in the staffroom. 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. More information will be sent home to parents shortly.
Year 6 Disco
The Year 6 Disco will now be held on Friday 27th June. More information will be sent home to parents shortly.
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. More information will be sent home to parents shortly.
NAIDOC Day
Also on Friday 4th July, our school will recognise NAIDOC Day with a liturgy and rotational activities that support our students in better understanding First Nations history, culture and traditions. More information will be shared with parents shortly.
National Simultaneous Story Time
On Wednesday 21st May, I read the book “Truck Cat” to the school as part of National Simultaneous Story time. On this day, children across schools, day care providers and other organisations read the story together exploring its themes. "Truck Cat" was chosen this year as it is a heart warming story about belonging, resilience and connection. Through the journey of Tinka the cat and his human, Yacoub, it explores themes of home, migration and love. It is certainly a worthy read if anyone would like to explore it further with their children.
National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is held each year on May 26th to remember the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families. It is a time for reflection, learning and healing. This year’s theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” encourages all Australians to connect past injustices with future hope by taking meaningful steps towards reconciliation today. On this day, we came together in Liturgy with hopes to build a more inclusive and respectful future for all children.
Extension opportunities – Recently, we had a number of students from Year 3-6 compete in both the BEBRAS Challenge and KSF Maths Competition. Students were selected for the competitions based on their academic data. This year was our strongest performance yet with a higher number of students achieving credits or above, which also included 3 high distinctions. These students will get another opportunity to compete at the Australian Maths Competition early in Term 3.
Non-Government Schools Compliance Audit – At the beginning of this term, our school had to submit information pertaining to the stewardship of the school in line with the Non-Government Schools Registration Standards. This audit has involved providing evidence of professional standards relating to staffing, environment, finances, processes and infrastructure etc. This is part of a 5-yearly cycle that ensures we are meeting the required standards and catering for your child’s needs appropriately.
Wardandi Gift – On Thursday 15th May, our Year 5/6 students represented our school at the Wardandi Gift held at Bunbury Catholic College. The day provided a great opportunity to learn and offer our respect to our First Nations brothers and sisters and their culture. Our students shared the story of the Kaneang people, as well as participated in a range of fun activities. The signature event for the day is a relay event known as the Wardandi Gift. Our Year 5 students did incredibly well to make the final and finish 3rd against some much bigger schools!
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea – On Thursday 22nd May, our staff participated in the Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea which aims to raise funds and awareness for the Cancer Council. Miss Chelsea Moore, along with a small team, coordinated the morning tea that also included door prizes and a range of fun games. Collectively the staff raised over $1000 for this cause, with fundraising also being opened up to parents. The Year 1 class also held a morning tea on Friday 23rd May and invited parents to join – it is a cause close to their heart.
Assessment of Wellbeing in Education - Last year, we were invited to participate in the Assessment of Wellbeing in Education survey. The survey is a Catholic Education twice yearly trial assessment that aims to measure the wellbeing of the students from Years 3-6. Our students again sat the assessment mid-term one, with the results indicating that our students value their friendships at school and have great relationships with their teachers. Our opportunities for growth included supporting students in managing healthy and respectful relationships with peers, and increasing opportunities for play.
Assembly
Our next assembly is booked for 9am Thursday 5th June. All parents and friends are invited to join us.
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/