Dear Parents and Caregivers

Dear Parents and Caregivers

 This Friday is World Teachers’ Day (I think it should be extended to everybody who works in schools) and I would like to acknowledge our wonderful staff here at Mary Mac. I’m sure by now you have heard we are in the midst of a critical teacher shortage. I can honestly say that in my whole time in education, I have never seen it so bad. I think we need to be extremely grateful that we currently have a full cohort of staff members who give so generously to our community and especially your children. Please show them the gratitude they deserve. Something as simple as saying, “Thank you” could make their day. Teaching can be a thankless task where we often receive complaints and criticism much more than we receive compliments. With so many teachers leaving the profession, lets look after the ones we have here so that we can keep them where they are happiest, in their classrooms with their students. When I first became a teacher, I was often told that teaching is not for the faint hearted. So true!

Empathy Reflection …. We are but travellers here. Mary MacKillop 1867

QCE Award It is with great pleasure I announce that Mary Mac has received a prestigious Quality Catholic Education award for our initiative of employing our own occupational and speech therapists on staff. This is in addition to our ongoing relationship with Curtin University and the speech intervention programme we have been running for the past two years. On Monday morning this week, we were presented with this award at Optus Stadium in front of a room filled with Catholic leadership teams from across WA. Apart from the recognition of the work we are doing in this space, I really hope that other Catholic schools follow our lead and employ their own occupational and speech therapists as another layer of support and intervention for the students who need it the most.

Interschool Athletics Carnival This Friday 25 October, our interschool squad will be competing against 7 other Catholic schools at Challenge Stadium in Mt Claremont. Mr Boyce has already sent home all the details. As usual, I’m sure our students will compete in the right spirit and will do their very best. Parents and grandparents are most welcome to come along and cheer on our athletes.

Teachers v Students Netball Game Once again, our brave staff have been thrown down the gauntlet by our senior netballers and they have challenged us to a game on Tuesday 29 October at 2.00pm on our courts. Last year, the students won. Let’s see how we fare this year!

 All Saints and All Souls Day We will be holding a special whole school Mass on Thursday 31 October at 8.45am for All Saints Day. This is a special day on the Church’s calendar where we remember the saints who were such wonderful role models to all of us. Also, on Friday 1 November, please remember that it is All Souls Day. This is a time when we remember our loved ones who have gone back to God.

Yours sincerely

Laurie Bechelli
Principal