Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

Newsletter - Term Two Week Ten - 2025

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As we reach the end of another vibrant and fulfilling term, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our wonderful students, staff, and families for the continued support and commitment to our school community.

This term has been rich in faith, learning, and celebration. We were blessed to journey with our students through the Sacramental Program, with many of our young people receiving Confirmation and First Eucharist. These were truly special occasions, beautifully supported by our parish and school families, and moments that will stay with our students for years to come.

The energy and excitement of our Edu-Dance Concert were a joy to witness! The students showcased their talents with enthusiasm and confidence, and it was wonderful to see so many families coming together to celebrate their children’s achievements.

Our Mother’s Day celebrations were another highlight, offering a precious opportunity to acknowledge and thank the incredible mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our community. It was heartwarming to see so many smiles as we came together to honour these special people.

This term also saw the historic announcement of our new Pope, Pope Leo XIV. We took time as a school to pray for him and discuss what his leadership means for the Church and the wider world, helping our students connect their faith to global events.

Our before and after school clubs continue to thrive, providing enriching experiences that extend learning and foster friendships beyond the classroom. We are grateful to our dedicated staff who make these opportunities possible for the students and their families.

I am delighted to share that we have received a great deal of positive feedback from both new and current parents about the new structure, as well as the warm, welcoming environment at our school. Your words of encouragement affirm our shared commitment to providing a nurturing, high-quality Catholic education.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. I wish every family a restful and safe holiday break, and I look forward to seeing you all refreshed and ready for another exciting term ahead.

Student Reports

The Mid-Year Reports will be available this afternoon from 4:00pm. It is important, as parents are undoubtedly aware, to take the time to discuss the report with their child. Teachers’ comments are important and should be used as ‘indicators’ in areas which a child may work towards improving. When reading the reports, I encourage parents to focus on the strengths. Look for strengths first, even if they are not in the traditional 3Rs or core subjects.

Considering your child’s effort and attitude to learning. If your child is putting in the required effort this is to be recognised and celebrated. If the report or portfolio work indicates that more effort is required, then this is something to work on next semester. I encourage parents to arrange interviews with class teachers if there is some area of concern, to develop a collaborative approach towards assisting the child with their schooling.

Personally, reading just over 700 reports is a privilege and is also a very humbling experience. I have been very impressed with the level of effort that the students are applying to their work. This semester, it is clear that the children are striving to #MakeADifferenceEveryday, working hard in class and staying engaged with their learning. However, as we continue into Term Three, the challenge is in front of each of us, to continue to improve.

Mr Wayne Bull Retirement

In recent weeks, Mel Maria Catholic Primary School had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Wayne Bull, Executive Director, and Mrs Annette Morey, the new Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA). Their visit acknowledged the significant achievements of our school community as we transition to our new educational model. Wayne expressed his pride in the leadership team, staff, students, and parents for their dedication and success in implementing this innovative approach.

Today, as Wayne concludes his remarkable career in Catholic education, we pause to recognise his extraordinary contribution spanning over four decades. Beginning his teaching journey at Mercedes College in 1979, Wayne went on to serve in leadership roles at Mercedes College, St Brigid’s College Lesmurdie, Lumen Christi College, and La Salle College.

During the past six years, Wayne has provided exemplary leadership as both Deputy Executive Director and Executive Director of CEWA, guiding a system of around 160 schools and more than 83,000 students across Western Australia. His outstanding service was recently recognised with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia, honouring his significant contributions to Catholic education and Indigenous education support. Additionally, Wayne’s tenure as a Commissioner of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) further demonstrated his commitment and wisdom in shaping Catholic education at a national level.

On behalf of the Mel Maria community, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Wayne for his dedicated service and visionary leadership, and we wish him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement beginning 4 July.

We also extend a warm welcome to Mrs Annette Morey as she steps into the role of Executive Director. We wish Annette every success in this important position, confident that she will lead with great insight, knowledge, and grace.

Term Planner

The Term Three Planner is available on the school website.

Staffing Changes – Semester Two

As we approach the end of a busy and productive term, I would like to share some important staffing news for Semester Two.

Firstly, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Miss Brittany Tyson for her dedication and valuable contribution to our Year Four students. We are grateful for the care and commitment she has shown during her time at Mel Maria and wish her every success in her future endeavours.

We are also delighted to welcome Mr Cormac Murtagh to the Mel Maria community. Mr Murtagh will be joining our Year Six team and is set to commence in Week Two of Term Three. He is currently teaching at St Bernadette’s in Port Kennedy. We look forward to the enthusiasm and expertise he will bring to our school.

Thank you for your continued support as we prepare for an exciting second half of the year.

Kindergarten 2026 and Pre-Kindergarten 2026 Applications are Now Due

Places are filling fast for our Kindergarten program in 2026 which is most encouraging. There has been so much positive feedback from parents, educators and most importantly, the students that our numbers are growing.

Enrolments are now being taken for new students wishing to commence Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten at Mel Maria Catholic Primary School in 2026.

Mel Maria Catholic Primary School will continue to offer three, four or five days of Kindergarten in 2026.

Pre-Kindergarten will be offered (depending on enrolment numbers) over the five days of the week, with families having the opportunity to book a maximum of two days of Pre-Kindergarten to commence with. This may change over the course of the year.

Both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten places are limited so parents within the Mel Maria community must submit their applications as soon as possible. Forms can be obtained from the office or on our website.

Paul Hille

Principal

#MakingADifferenceEveryday

Prayer for the Week

At the end of this semester, we give thanks to God:

We are grateful for our classmates, teachers, parents and a community that cares for us.

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school,

both in and out of the classroom,

For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced;

For the respect and care that has been given.

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.

For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles,

For the hope that has lifted our hearts,

And for the love that has kept us going

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. Give us strength and courage to do what is right; to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us,

to generously give time and effort to help others, to be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities;

During the break may we all have a good rest and good fun and always be safe in all our activities.

Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Thought for the Week

"Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world."
— Malala Yousafzai

Pre-Primary to Year 6 School Reports

The reports for all children from Pre-Primary to Year Six will be available online (SEQTA) on Friday 4 July after 4pm. Please endeavour to check your SEQTA login before this date to ensure you are able to access your child/s reports.

You can access reports either through the 'Our Parents' tab on the school website or by using the following URL.
https://melmaria.engage.cewa.edu.au

If you've forgotten your password, simply click on the 'Forgot your password' link on the login page to request a password reset email. Please be aware that the link in the email will expire one hour after it's been requested. Parents who are new to Mel Maria this year or who have not previously been provisioned with a SEQTA Engage account will receive an email next week inviting them to create an account.

Should you encounter any account-related problems, kindly reach out to Lyn Dowie on 9330 0550 or lynette.dowie@cewa.edu.au with your request.

Three Week Break Initiative- Implementation, 2027

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I am writing to share with you that Catholic Education WA (CEWA) has announced it intends to implement a three-week mid-year break across its 150 schools from the 2027 academic year.

The implementation of this initiative will not only bring our school in line with practices at other Independent Catholic Schools but is based on significant research into how the change will positively impact teaching, learning, and wellbeing.

I want to stress that there won’t be any changes to the hours of instruction your child receives as a result of this initiative, however small adjustments to individual term calendars and school timetables may be required.

As CEWA prepares to implement this initiative, they are welcoming feedback from our students, parents, staff, and community members. I encourage you to submit any feedback you may have via this form.