LINKS: Term Three, Week Five

From the Principal

Shaping our Future Survey  

Thank you for helping shape our future

Thank you to all the parents and carers who took the time to complete the Shaping Our Future – Perception Survey.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps us better understand what’s working well and where we can grow – both as a school and as part of the wider Toowoomba Catholic Schools community. By sharing your thoughts, you’ve played an important part in helping us continue to create learning environments where every student can thrive.

Feast of the Assumption

This Friday, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, a sacred day in our Catholic tradition honouring Mary’s journey to heaven. At St Mary’s, we’ll gather in prayer and reflection with two special Masses: Prep to Year 3 at 9:00am, and Years 4 to 10 at 11:30am. May Mary’s example inspire us to live with grace, compassion, and courage every day.

Bullying No Way Week

From 11–15 August, St Mary’s proudly joins schools nationwide for Bullying No Way Week. This year’s theme, “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.”, reminds us that bullying prevention is a shared responsibility. At St Mary’s, we’re committed to creating a safe, inclusive space where every student feels valued. Through our UR Strong program, we talk about ‘mean on purpose’ behaviours. Please continue these discussions at home by using this shared language to ensure that everyone feels valued and respected. Let’s stand together, students, staff, and families, to be courageous, compassionate, and vocal in rejecting 'mean on purpose behaviour. Together, we build a community where everyone belongs and kindness leads the way.

Week 6 Absence

Next week, I am attending the ACEC conference in Cairns. This term, TCS leaders and principals are all attending this in lieu of the normal TCS Leadership Forum. As such, I will be away for the week. I’d like to thank John Shaw for being Acting Principal in my absence and the rest of the School Leadership Team and staff for their assistance with this while I am away.

Eisteddfod

I would like to congratulate all of our competitors in last week’s Eisteddfod for their excellent performances. You all did yourselves, your families and your school very proud!

2026 Class Allocations

We will soon be thinking about staffing and class allocations for 2026. Our staff work with great care and dedication to ensure that we place students appropriately, knowing their friends, strengths and needs within the classroom. While we will not be able to accommodate all requests, if there is something that you would like us to consider when allocating staffing and classes for next year, can you please let me know before the end of Term 3.

School Fee Accounts 

It is TCS policy that we issue monthly Account Statements to offer a full perspective of accounts and the balance owing. Should you require a copy of an invoice, please contact goondiwindiaccounts@twb.catholic.edu.au and this will be emailed through separately.

Op Shop Volunteers

The St Mary’s Op Shop are seeking volunteers to assist. If you are interested, or know of anyone who would be interested, please contact Annette Billsborough on: annetteb06@bigpond.com

Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community,

Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod Week

St Mary’s School always has so many students involved in the Eisteddfod, and this year was no exception. I had the pleasure of seeing many students perform and was amazed at their talent. The Eisteddfod is such a wonderful opportunity for young people to get up on stage and perform in whatever capacity, whether it be dance, instrumental, vocals, poetry, speech or drama. Saturday evening was a wonderful night, showcasing the talents of just some of our students who were chosen to perform to showcase the Eisteddfod performances. Events like the Goondiwindi Apex Eisteddfod would not be possible without the competitors, but also their parents and families, teachers, volunteers and sponsors. It truly is a wonderful community event!

Helping Your Child Remember What They Learn

Did you know that students can forget up to 70% of what they learn within a day if they don’t review it? This is based on the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, which shows how quickly memory fades without reinforcement.

As a parent, you can support your child’s learning by encouraging smart revision habits at home. For example:

• Spaced repetition: Help them review key concepts over several days, not just the night before a test.
• Retrieval practice: Ask them to explain what they’ve learned or quiz them using flashcards.
• Mixing topics: Encourage them to revise different subjects in one session to build stronger connections.
• Use visuals: Diagrams and mind maps can make learning more memorable.

These simple strategies can make a big difference in helping your child retain and apply what they learn, without adding more homework.

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

This week marks a Holy day of obligation in the Catholic liturgical calendar — the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated annually on August 15th. It's a time of reverence, joy, and reflection on Mary's unique role in salvation history.

What Is the Assumption of Mary?

• The Assumption refers to the belief that Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life.
• It was declared a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, affirming her special place as the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.
• This feast is a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning Catholics are called to attend Mass in honour of Mary

We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with two special school Masses at St Mary’s Church on Friday, 15th August.

Assumption Mass Times:

• Prep – Year 3: 9:00am – 10:00am
• Years 4 – 10: 11:30am – 12:30pm

This is a beautiful opportunity for our school community to come together in prayer and reflection, honouring Mary’s faith and her Assumption into heaven. Families and friends are most welcome to attend and share in this sacred celebration.

Confirmation

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba, Bishop Ken Howell will be presiding over the Confirmation Mass on Sunday 24th August at 9am.

This is a significant milestone in the faith journey of our students, as they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and affirm their commitment to the Church. 

Everyone is warmly invited to attend and support our young candidates as they take this important step in their spiritual lives.

Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight!

Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Secondary News

This term has been dynamic and productive, and alongside everything else, we were thrilled by the remarkable talents our students showcased at the Goondiwindi Eisteddfod.

The annual event is a vibrant testament to hard work, perseverance, and the countless hours of practice that underpin every performance. Theodore Roosevelt’s words remind us that credit belongs to the brave who step into the arena, commit to the process, and embrace the journey - whether the outcome is winning or learning. Our students embodied that spirit.

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

We are incredibly proud of all participants:

• Performers who delivered confident their performances after countless hours of rehearsal.
• Musicians whose dedication to technique and expressive performance shone through.
• Dancers, poets, and speakers who demonstrated discipline, teamwork, and creativity.
• Supporters, families, and teachers who stood beside them, providing encouragement and belief in their potential.

To every student who stepped into the arena at the Goondiwindi Eisteddfod, thank you for your bravery, hard work, and willingness to push beyond comfort zones.

In tandem with celebrating our students, our positive behaviour focus continues to promote kindness in speech and action. We encourage polite language, supportive words, and a respectful tone that considers others’ feelings. Emotional intelligence (recognising context, understanding that some moments can’t be undone, and knowing there is a time and place for everything) guides us toward choosing kindness consistently.

Organised, Prepared, Ready to Learn:

Our Approach to Homework, Study Space, and Exam Preparation

Our approach to learning emphasises organised systems and a conducive study environment. The saying, “For every minute spent organising, an hour is earned,” captures our philosophy that preparation reduces anxiety and boosts performance.

A Homework (Learning) Area is intentionally designed to support focus:

• Low light, comfortable and well-ventilated
• Quiet, neat, tidy, and well-resourced
• Colourful posters and clear organisation to aid recall

Students should wear “work clothes” (clothes suitable for focused study) plus water and periodic brain breaks. Light background music (without lyrics) can help concentration. Avoid studying in bed, as it often blurs boundaries between rest and study and can undermine structure.

Preparing for exams with intentionality matters. A growth mindset, maintaining a healthy lifestyle (sleep, nutrition, movement) helps transform nerves into focus. We encourage viewing exams as opportunities to demonstrate learning. A deliberate revision schedule and effective test-taking strategies help manage time and reduce stress.

As John Shaw wrote about it is important to understand ‘The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve’. It shows how information fades without effective and deliberate revision. Regular, structured revision slows this decline and strengthens long-term memory. Homework acts as built-in revision cycles (revisiting material, creating separate study notes, practicing retrieval, and applying concepts in new contexts). A well-planned revision schedule emphasises spaced retrieval, targeted practice, and self-testing to reinforce learning and reduce pre-exam anxiety.

Practical revision tips

• Break study into manageable blocks (25 - 45 minutes) with brain breaks (Pomodoro Technique)
• Use active recall and spaced repetition (quiz yourself on key terms and problems).
• Mix topics within a session to promote flexible understanding.
• Maintain a visible revision calendar aligned with major assessments.

Quick prep checklist for students

• Is your learning area prepared and distraction-free?
• Do you have water, a notepad, and the right materials ready?
• Have you scheduled study blocks and brain breaks?
• Do you know which topics require revision this week?
• Are you using retrieval practice and spaced revision in your plan?

Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Pastoral

This week is “Bullying No Way” National Week of action.  At St Mary’s, we prefer to use the terminology ‘Mean-on-Purpose.’ We will be having discussions/ doing activities during the week to raise the awareness about the importance of belonging, inclusivity and embracing who we are.

This campaign stresses the importance of respecting everyone and building a culture of kindness in our schools. It also highlights the fact that we all have a role to play in preventing ‘mean-on-purpose’ behaviour, by encouraging people to be bold and speak up. These key concepts align well with our current URSTRONG Friendship Program.

Families play an important role in helping children understand ‘mean-on-purpose’ behaviours, including whilst they are online and know how to respond to it. A great website for Parents to learn more about how to keep children safe whilst online is Parents | eSafety Commissioner

Remind your child that ‘mean-on-purpose’ behaviour is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.

Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against ‘mean-on-purpose’ behaviour and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.

For more information or pastoral concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Nicki Wyllie
Middle Leader: Pastoral

Nicola.wyllie@twb.catholic.edu.au

Sports Report

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Netball Carnival

Congratulations to the following students who represented St Mary’s at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Netball Carnival on Thursday 31^st July. Our Junior Girls team won their division, and the Senior Mixed team were undefeated in their division! We are so proud of your efforts!

Junior Girls Team:

Elsie McDonald, Evelyn Cush, Kate Quinlan, Molly Gleeson, Eliza Brownlie, Georgina Mooney, Bridie Doherty, Genevieve Capp, Lydia Aylwin.

Senior Mixed Team:

Emma McDougall, Lizzy Hayes, Payton McNaulty, Patrick Gleeson, Hudson Derbidge, Matilda Uebergang, Harrison Carey and Grace Vukovich!

Mac Zone Athletics

Congratulations to the 59 students who represented St Mary’s at Mac Zone Athletics on Friday 8^th August. St Mary’s won the Aggregate Award for the day! 

Congratulations to the following Age Champions and Runner Ups from the day:

9 Years Boys

Thomas Gleeson – Runner Up Age Champion

10 Years Girls

Lucy Illing – Age Champion

Annabelle Makim - Runner Up Age Champion

10 Years Boys

Spencer Heeson - Runner Up Age Champion

12 Years Girls

Georgia Wild - Runner Up Age Champion

We are waiting for results from the carnival including the announcement of the MacZone team. Please keep an eye out for an email for the Darling Downs Track & Field Trials.

Horse Sports Event- Chinchilla

Congratulations to Mila Gibson, Riley Gore, Grace Morrissy, Jessie McMaster, Ivy Offerdahl who competed at the Horse Sports Event in Chinchilla on Friday, 8^th August. Horse Sports is an event where students represent their school in a number of different equestrian events. This year there were large, competitive age groups and all students represented their school proudly and displayed wonderful sportsmanship. Both Riley and Ivy won their respective age groups. Unfortunately, Jessie had to withdraw early with a lame horse and Mila also had to withdraw after a couple of falls; she wins this year's bravery award for getting back on. Grace also did very well at her first ever school horse riding event. Well done to all riders, we are very proud of you.

Tennis State Championships

Good luck to Lotte Persse who has been selected to represent Darling Downs at the Tennis State Championships in Cairns in Week 5! All the best, Lotte!

Darling Downs Primary Netball Gala

Thank you to all the students who trialled for the Darling Downs Primary Netball Gala on Monday afternoon. It was so great to see so many Years 4-Year 6 students having a go and show great sportsmanship. Please keep an eye out for an email with the team announcements.

Date: Wednesday, 27th August (Week 7)

Venue: Toowoomba Netball Association

Cost: $25 per student

Teams: St Mary’s have registered 3 teams: Championship (Division 1), Challenge (Division 2) and Development (Division 3).

Term 3 Primary Sport Dates

Term 3 Secondary Sport Dates

Rommy Beckinsale 
Middle Leader: Sport

rommy.beckinsale@twb.catholic.edu.au

Cultural

Celebrating a Week of Excellence at the Eisteddfod!

What a week it was! Our students truly shone across a range of disciplines at the Eisteddfod, bringing home major trophies in both individual and group categories.  Congratulations to all performers, staff, and supporters who made this week so memorable. Your commitment to the arts continues to inspire and uplift our community. 

Individual Achievements:

We proudly celebrate students who received top honours in instrumental performance, vocal excellence, and drama — a testament to their talent, dedication, and hard work.

Group Successes:
Our ensembles also made a powerful impact, with trophies awarded in Choir, Verse Speaking, and Instrumental Groups. These achievements reflect the strength of our collaborative spirit and the high standard of ensemble work across the school.

St Mary’s Inaugural Interhouse Cultural Competition & Cultural Shield

Rehearsals in Houses began in week 4 with much excitement. We encourage all students and families to attend Starry Starry Night on Friday September 5 to participate in their House performances.

The winning House will be awarded the Interhouse Cultural Shield, celebrating their creativity, teamwork, and school spirit. We look forward to sharing this exciting new tradition with our families and celebrating the incredible talents of our students. Together, we shine!

St Mary's Starry Starry Night – Audition Reminder for individual items

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture

benita.klowss@twb.catholic.edu.au

Building Cultural Capacity one experience at a time.

Library News

Book Week

Excitement is building….Book Week is nearly here! Costumes are being prepared, books read and voted on and students will be able to sign up for book week activities during library sessions this week.

Our week will include:

• An online presentation by author Andy Griffiths (Treehouse book series)
• A scavenger hunt for Preps, Years 1 and 2 and 3+
• Watching the presentations of Book of the Year awards
• Checking out the ‘dressed up’ classroom doors
• Discovering some adventures teachers have been on and books to match the adventure
• And of course, no show without punch: the annual fabulous Dress Up Parade!

Parade details: Friday 22^nd August 9am Centenary Centre

Happy reading!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the library staff at:

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Bookclub

BOOK CLUB ISSUE 5 will arrive this week and be sent home on Thursday or Friday.

Some wonderful and immensely popular books we received this issue due to your orders:

Please order online through ‘the loop’ as we no longer accept cash orders at school.

All purchases contribute to funds for our school library with all popular fiction titles in our library purchased due to the funds raised through orders – we are most grateful for this – THANK YOU!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the library staff at:

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Guidance Counsellor

Navigating online safety and sexual development: eSafety’s new resource

Date and Time: Wednesday 27 August 2025, 1:00 PM — 2:00 PM (AEST)

Presenters: Anne Atcheson, Deanne Carson, Derek McCormack, Gulsum Adas and Lewis Allan

This webinar will explore ways you can use eSafety’s newly released ‘Online safety and sexual development guidance’ to better support families. 

Learn more and register

About this webinar

Children and young people are growing up in a digital world where they use online devices and platforms in many aspects of their lives. 

What children and young people see and do online can affect them in both positive and negative ways. For parents and carers, keeping children and young people safe online can feel overwhelming, especially with the availability of violent content and the potential for sexually abusive or exploitative contact. There is also often online misinformation about sex, relationships, sexuality and gender – which can be hard to identify.   

It’s important that practitioners and service providers who work with children and families can provide support and guidance regarding online safety. To provide this support, it is critical to understand how the online experiences of children and young people can impact, and be impacted by, their relationships and sexual development. 

To assist practitioners and service providers to better support children and families, eSafety has recently released their ‘Online safety and sexual development guidance’. 

This webinar, produced in partnership with eSafety, brings together some of the key people involved in developing the resource. This webinar will give you:

• insight into how the ‘Online safety and sexual development guidance’ was developed, including the evidence base underpinning the resource 
• a better understanding of the intersection of online safety and children’s sexual development, including the development of respectful relationships
• insight into how to use the resource with the families you work with, including case scenarios to illustrate practical examples.

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor 

E Paul.Fomiatti@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Careers

Supporting Students Through SET Planning

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be guiding our Year 9 and 10 students through the Senior Education and Training (SET) planning process - a vital step in shaping their learning pathways for Years 11 and 12, and preparing for life beyond school. The SET plan is more than just a document; it’s a personalised roadmap that helps students make informed decisions about their future.

As part of this process, I’ll be connecting with Year 10 students to understand their intentions for next year. My goal is to ensure a smooth and supported transition, particularly in relation to elective offerings and subject selections at their chosen school for 2026. Together, we’ll help students feel confident and excited about the journey ahead.

Subject Selection

1.Choose What Works or You

Pick subjects that reflect your strengths and interests to make the school experience your own. When you enjoy what you're learning, you're more likely to stay motivated and succeed.

2. Get Informed

Talk to teachers who teach the subject, ask students already studying it, attend taster sessions. The more informed you are, the better your choices will be.

3. Ask around!

Seek advice from teachers, coordinators, and your Careers Advisor. They can help you see how your choices connect to your goals, future study or job opportunities.

4. Keep Your Options Open

If you're unsure about your future, that’s okay! Choose a mix of subjects to keep your options open after Year 12. Having a broad skill set gives you more freedom to change direction later on.

5. Connect Subjects to Your Goals

If your ideal subject isn’t available, choose ones that help build related skills and support your ambitions. Think creatively about how different subjects can contribute to your future path.

6. Balance Your Workload

Pick subjects that interest and challenge you without overwhelming your schedule. A manageable mix helps you do well and avoid burnout. For example, three folio-based subjects might be too much work to manage well.

7. Consider Your Pathway

Are you aiming for an ATAR-based university course? A hands-on career or trade? Choose subjects that align with your post-school plans, whether academic, vocational, or both. There’s more than one way to reach your goals.

8. Remember the Big Picture

School is about personal growth, not just grades. Choose subjects that give you space to grow as a person and enjoy the full experience of school life.

UPCOMING PATHWAY EVENTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST:

Saturday (August 16, 2025)

Defence Careers Australia - ADFA Open Day 2025
Join us online or in person for ADFA Open Day to learn about life on campus and how you can receive a fully funded UNSW degree. Join us online or in person for ADFA Open Day to find out how you can start your exciting career in the ADF. At the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), you’ll receive a fully funded world-class UNSW degree, earn a salary while you study, and graduate straight into a guaranteed career – HELP debt-free. Don’t worry if you can’t make it in person, you can still attend ADFA Virtual Open Day online. Register now to reserve your spot at the online event, or join us in person with no registration required.

Time:
08:30 AM - 03:30 PM (ACST)

09:00 AM - 04:00 PM (AEST)

07:00 AM - 02:00 PM (AWST)
Location: Online and ADFA Campus

Details and Registration:
https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/x1rq5di

Sunday (August 17, 2025)

University of Southern Queensland - Open Days 2025 - Toowoomba
Explore your area of interest and get expert career advice. Take part in hands-on activities and speak to current students.

Explore our facilities and chat with our academics.

Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: USQ Toowoomba

Details and Registration:
https://www.unisq.edu.au/study/why-unisq/open-day

Sunday (August 17, 2025)

The University of Queensland - Gatton Open Day
Explore your area of interest and get expert career advice. Take part in hands-on activities and speak to current students.

Time: Details in link
Location: Gatton

Details and Registration:
https://study.uq.edu.au/open-day-gatton

Tuesday (August 19, 2025)

Defence Careers Australia - Dalby: A Night in the Army Reserves
Want to serve without the full-time commitment of joining the Australia Defence Force? Look to the Army Reserve.

You'll receive tax-free pay in part time roles that you can do one night a week, one weekend a month or a few weeks a year.

Join ADF Careers at the upcoming A Night in the Army Reserve and speak with current serving personnel about the roles on offer.

It is highly recommended you book as soon as possible to avoid missing out as places are strictly limited!

Time: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM (AEST)
Location: Dalby Army Reserve Depot

Details and Registration:
https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/91vb7l7

If you're seeking information about specific career pathways or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch I'm always happy to help!

Karen Sullivan 
Secondary Teacher: Careers

karen.sullivan@twb.catholic.edu.au

COMMUNITY NEWS