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St Marys District School’s vision and mission is for every child and young person to achieve bright lives and positive futures through being known, heard and included, safe in all environments, well and thriving and learning more each day. Reaching this goal for every student is something the staff, and the School Association committee work very hard to achieve each year. Our values of Connection, Courage, Growth, Respect and Responsibility underpin this work.
During 2024 our school improvement priorities have been Reading and Wellbeing for Learning. Staff have just completed the annual review process and I am pleased to share some of the evidence of improvement with you now.
The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey clearly demonstrates:
- Student wellbeing in relation to School Climate has increased to above that of all DECYP schools
- Student cognitive engagement has increased by more than 10% and is above all DECYP schools
- Substantial and sustained positive change to students’ sense of School Belonging over the past two years has led to our school currently sitting well above similar schools and this has also prompted an invitation for staff and students to share snapshots of our wellbeing practice with other schools across the state next year.
The Kindergarten Development Check demonstrates:
- As our Kinder students transition to Prep their readiness for learning is well above all DECYP schools
PAT reading shows:
- Significant increases in student reading growth and achievement
- Years 7-10 reading results now above similar schools
- P-2 reading continuing to be above DECYP schools in all achievement categories.
This snapshot of our current school data shows we have much to celebrate with strong improvement in our identified priority areas. I congratulate staff and students for their commitment to continual improvement.
2025 Staffing and Class Groups
As with every year, we do have several staff confirmed as leaving at the end of this year. I would like to thank the following staff for their work and commitment to our school and students and wish them well in the future.
- Mr Stephen Smith has accepted a position accepted a new role as Director of Teaching and Learning for Nyangatjatjara College in the Northern Territory for 2025.
- Mr Alan Edwards is retiring from teaching to enjoy time with his family.
- Mr Scott Brown, Miss Camilla Welsh and Mrs Emily Van Galen are all transferring to schools closer to home, with Mr Brown heading to Campbell Town DHS, Miss Welsh to a school in the Launceston area and Mrs Van Galen to Bicheno PS.
- Mr Peter Critch will also be leaving our staff, and we thank Pete for his contributions through his 2024 role as Youth Worker
- Miss Mary Antonopoulos will be joining our teaching team in 2025, and I am looking forward to welcoming her into our school community.
The school leadership group (SLG) for the start of the 2025 school year will be:
- Mrs Carolyn Watson Principal
- Miss Sandra Cook Assistant Principal (7-12)
- Mrs Meg Burbury Assistant Principal (K-6)
- Mrs Michele Bennett AST (Support and Wellbeing)
- Mr Matt Pinkerton Instructional Specialist (7-12)
- Mrs Fiona Gray Instructional Specialist (K-6)
- Mrs Lisa Bean SBM
- Miss Janine Burt SBM
2025 Class Groupings
Below are our 2025 class and team structures.
Primary: K - 6 Class Teachers
- Kinder/LiL Mrs Kate Lee
- Prep/1 Mrs Jenny Hickman
- 1/2A Ms Julia Rossi
- 3/4A Mrs Leonie Youdale and Mrs Teresa Kirk
- 5/6A Mrs Wendy Wilson and Mrs Diane Dykes
- 5/6B Miss Mary Antonopoulos
Secondary: 7 – 12 Class Teachers
- 7A Miss Sandra Cook
- 8A Mrs Christine Waters
- 9A Mr Matt Pinkerton
- 10A Mrs Emma MacIntosh
- 11/12 Mr Will Innis
Farewell Grade 10’s
Please see below an excerpt from my Presentation Assembly Principal’s Address:
“…to our Grade 10 class of 2024, as a group they are to be celebrated as a resilient, determined, kind, articulate and insightful cohort of students. They are a class to be proud of and I thank them for the enormous contribution they have made to the life of our school over their years here. In discussions with staff, these students will be remembered for their welcoming and accepting ways, their friendliness and enthusiasm, their cheerful approach and their zest for life. These qualities will serve them well as they spread their wings and transition to further education or training, locally or in Launceston or Hobart. We look forward to hearing of their achievements and adventures in the future.”
Finally, I would like to thank everyone in our school community for their ongoing support of our wonderful school. To our students who will be returning in 2025, staff, families and our school community members, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a restful, relaxing and fun filled holiday.
Warm Regards,
Carolyn Watson
Principal
Our Primary and Secondary Presentation Assemblies were held on 12 December.
Please enjoy our photos.
I want to express gratitude to all my Visual Art students for a fantastic year filled with creativity and growth. In our final lessons, we dedicated our time to completing projects in painting, ceramics and design, while also enjoying some festive Christmas art and craft activities to wrap up the year. Thank you for your enthusiasm and hard work this year!
Mrs Howard
On Monday 16th December, the Primary students enjoyed a fun filled day at Waub's Bay beach in Bicheno. The weather conditions were less than ideal, with a stiff breeze blowing onto the beach. The students still enjoyed a swim on the ocean as well as games and activities on the grass. We had a fabulous lunch catered by the St Marys Bakery and special thanks goes to the amazing team that organised and delivered this food to all at the beach.
On Tuesday, 17 December, our secondary students enjoyed a memorable outing to Waubs Bay Beach in Bicheno to celebrate the end of the school year. The day was filled with fun and relaxation, as students took to the water for a refreshing swim, engaged in lively games of beach cricket, and tested their strength in a friendly tug of war. With beautiful beach weather to top it all off, it was the perfect way to wrap up another fantastic year together.
On Friday 13December Prep/1A had their final Friday farm morning visit for 2025. We have thoroughly enjoyed our farm experience this year. We have witnessed baby chickens hatch from eggs, planted seedlings, tasted fresh produce and had endless giggles when feeding the animals.
On behalf of Prep/1A I would like to extend a great big thank you to Craig for your time and effort in creating these opportunities for our students.
Julia Rossi Prep/1A Teacher
