Term 3 Week 5 2025

Principal's Message

‘We do whatever it takes to lead the way in Love, Learning, Faith, School Spirit, Sport & Community’

Dear families and friends,

This was my speech at the blessing of our beautifully renovated spaces: Welcome kids, staff, families, parishioners, Fr Peter, our Parish priest and Fr Wilbur, Mr Frank Hannigan our Chairman of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Board and a parishioner, Mr Aaron Beach our Regional Assistant Director and a parishioner, Michael Campbell, Claire Axman and College Senior representatives, Chris Burley and his team of builders, tradesmen and tradeswoman, and a special big welcome to the Sisters of Mercy here today ... welcome back home!

A big thank you to Chris Burley and his crew, including parents and ex-students Justin, Michael, Scotty, Marc &  Baxter - as well as many other dedicated workers. You have truly brought our vision to life! You were so easy to work with and did such an incredible job.  This renovation is important for us now, but also to honour and celebrate our rich past. Chris, I see similarities with your role and mine. You work so hard, produce quality work, but often it's only the defects that get pointed out to you.  You would carry a lot of stress, but do not show it.  You employ so many, organising work now and into the future for them all, juggling schedules, personalities and differences, all whilst striving to build a good culture.  You should be so proud of what you and your great crew have achieved.  Well done and thank you.

I would also like to thank Sisters Marg, Deslee and Therese for providing furniture and pictures, alongside my mum and dad, who provided antique pieces for decoration. I thank Tim and Jack for putting the podcasting together.  Jai, Bec and Michelle for helping move all the stuff in.  Jai and Danny, painting the pews, Jai for making some really nice furniture.  Jai has been a machine helping me.  I also especially thank my wife Michelle, for all the help with getting it all sorted, including cleaning, coming to pick up furniture, lights, you name it.  Thank you.

This beautiful building behind me will now be known as the Sister Centre, aligning with The Convent and The Catherine Centre. It honours our Mercy Sisters, including our Mercy Sisters, Sister Mary and Sister Frances, who taught music in these very rooms for many years.

Our SMP Sister Centre is now a space for literature, music, creative and performing arts, technology and innovation. Back in the day the Sisters were so dedicated to music, a little like we are dedicated today to Literacy and Numeracy.  Well, I’m keen to bring a strong focus back on the Arts as well. This space will promote this.

We were inspired to honour our Mercy Sisters and Church with the timber battens on the exterior outside the front of this building (the other side) representing this. The central battens reflect the sound waves that permeated from these rooms for years and will continue from this building. These sound waves are the waves from the song, Hail Mary, Gentle Woman. The outer battens represent pipe organs, our St Mary's Church, and the Convent roof spires -all a tribute to the Sisters' dedication to music and unwavering commitment to our church and education. Inside you will see two images.  One is from our first school building, with kids and Sisters standing out the front in 1887. The other is from a photo taken in 1960 of the St Mary’s Casino Sisters and Priests on Ordination day.

Our kids and community will benefit from this building now and for many years to come. Boys and girls, this includes Karaoke at lunch times and Year 6 students starting an SMP radio program for us.

The section of the Sister Centre housing our library books will be known as Betty's Corner, named after Betty Schuhmacher. For 50 years, Betty provided invaluable service to our SMP Catholic school community, particularly in the library. This, along with the Betty Schuhmacher Bucking Bull Competition, ensures her 50-year legacy of service will live on forever here at SMP.

Last year, we celebrated Father Peter's 20 years as our priest here in Casino,  also celebrating as a school that the following year would mark his 50th as an ordained priest. Today, as a school, we proudly recognize and celebrate his 50 years of dedicated service to our faith and community. Father Peter is an integral part of Casino and the Lismore Catholic Diocese. I want to thank Father Peter for all he has given our school and this community over the many years. He is a significant part of the successful history of Catholic Education in Casino and deserves immense acknowledgment for this. Father Peter deeply cares about this community - our school, the town folk, parishioners, staff and kids - and we thank him for his leadership, guidance and friendship.

Father Slack will be remembered as a giant alongside Father Relihan, and no doubt, one day, will receive great recognition, just as Father Relihan has with the Relihan Centre. Father Peter Slack is a strong advocate for creative arts in schools. So, the rooms to my left and right will now be known as Peter's Place, named after Father Peter Slack.  These state-of-the-art rooms are perfect for music, music recording, podcasting, video casting - you name it!  I have a suspicion that if Father goes missing, we may find him at Peter's Place.

I wish to acknowledge the Mercy Sisters, who have been with us since 1887.  The light, that looks like a lantern, at the front of the Convent building near the office is turned on each night, reminding us of Catherine McAuley as she would say - We should all be shining lamps, giving light to all around us. Sister Mary Joseph Donegan was our first Principal.  The Mercy Sisters originally came from all over the world. They taught and lived in the Convent building.  We have Sisters here today who lived in this beautiful building. The newly renovated Convent upstairs will now be known as the Sr Donegan Wing, named after our first Principal. Upstairs you'll find quotes from Sister Donegan, Catherine McAuley, Father Peter, and the late Father Arthur.

In the kitchen, the splashback features an extract from a letter Sister Donegan wrote to her superiors in January 1891. This truly highlights how they came from far and wide - from countries, cultures and climates vastly different from our own. It reads:

"We are having a very warm summer; it is not safe to go outside during the day. Water left exposed would be almost at boiling point in the afternoon. We never go off the verandah without an umbrella. All the buildings here are roofed with a kind of tin; the glare from it is very trying to the sight. I fear we shall all have to wear spectacles soon. The nights are very beautiful. Many of the people sleep in hammocks on the verandah. We have not seen any snakes yet this year."

This extract truly humanizes the Sisters, acknowledging the immense work they did in God's name during what would have been lonely and very trying times and conditions for them. It’s pretty amazing, I don’t think she would have ever thought it, but 137 years since she became our first principal, Sr Donegan's legacy will very much live on forever here at SMP.  This project has ensured this.

Please put our hands together for our sisters and Fr Peter Slack, in which we honour today and who have contributed greatly to the success of our school and the Casino community.

Before I finish, I would like to present a special award for the best tradesperson on site during the renovations. All tradespeople have been excellent. Special mentions go to Baxter Roberts, Michael Shirm, Simmo, Col, Anthony, Jack, Jay & Justin (who were all top contenders!). But, the best on Ground for the renovations is shared by two. This goes to our two painters, Scotty and Tayla! 

Finally, I wish to acknowledge our incredible staff, students, and families who are writing the current and future history of our school and community.  The future is very bright with this crew!   Thank you!

Take care
John O’Brien

Assistant Principal's News - Mission

3:16 Youth Group
Our next 3:16 Youth Group will be held this Friday 29th August from 3:10–5:00pm at the Relihan Centre. Students who have previously registered are already included. Please see Compass for all relevant information.

Confirmation – Congratulations to Year 3
A heartfelt congratulations to our Year 3 students who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in Week 4. We continue to keep them in our prayers as they grow in faith and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A big thank you to Miss Mac, Miss O'Connor, Mr Hannigan and Mrs Yarnold for supporting the students with their preparation for this.

Feast of the Assumption – Combined Mass with SMCC
Last week we gathered with SMCC’s Years7 - 10 students for a beautiful Mass celebrating the Assumption of Mary. This was great for the students from both schools to come together to celebrate this special Feast Day for Mary and to further build our connection with SMCC.

Years 3 & 5 Prayer Celebration – Friday 29th August
Years 3 & 5 Families are warmly invited to join us in the church at 1:00pm this Friday for a prayer celebration led by our Years 3 and 5 students.

Carlo Acutis Canonisation – 7th September
As we approach the official canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis on 7th September, our students continue to reflect on his life and how we, too, can live with faith, kindness and courage in our daily lives. Carlo will be the first millennial saint of the Catholic Church.

Emergency Preparedness
Over the coming weeks, we will be holding both a Lockdown Drill and an Emergency Evacuation Drill.  These are important components of our school’s safety procedures and help ensure all students and staff know what to do in the event of an emergency.

Lowes Schoolwear Sale
Lowes is holding a 20% off sale from 27th–30th August. A great opportunity to grab any needed uniform items ahead of Term 4.

School Uniform Reminder
We continue to encourage all students to wear the correct school uniform with pride. Doing so reflects our high standards and shows that we do whatever it takes to lead in school spirit. If your child requires support or there are any concerns, please reach out to myself or Mr O’Brien - we are more than happy to assist. 

On regular school days: normal school uniform, fully black shoes, blue navy socks.

On sport days: sports uniform (House Colour named shirts are ok), joggers (non-fluro) and white or black ankle socks are ok.

We understand that sometimes children may come home and say they are allowed to wear certain items e.g. casual shoes, coloured socks, non-school jumpers etc and this can be hard to work out what is expected and what isn't. Please check in with the school if you are unsure.

Attendance Letters
As part of our ongoing compliance with Catholic Schools Office requirements, attendance letters will be sent home shortly to inform parents of their child’s attendance percentage for the 2025 school year so far.  Please, don’t be alarmed by the standardised language - these letters are mandated and cannot be altered. If you have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Sam Irvine
AP - Mission

Assistant Principal's News Teaching & Learning

Premier's Reading Challenge. 

The Premier's Reading Challenge has been extended for all students until Friday 19 September (Friday Week 9).
For those students who have registered for the challenge, you have until this date to upload your reading logs.
If anyone is having trouble uploading their logs, please bring you log to me and I will help you with this process.
All students in K-2 will have their log uploaded automatically based on the books they have been reading in class
If you have any questions about the Premier's Reading Challenge, please don hesitate to contact me. 

Superstar Learners

This Newsletter's Superstar Learners are Jack Morton and Hayden Murray from 4 East. These two have been working tirelessly to solve open-ended Maths problems using 4 digit numbers. They have told us that they love solving these problems as it makes them think more deeply and challenges them to think outside the square. They also said it makes them explore new ways of solving maths equations. Well done boys!

See if you can solve their problem 
The Mystery Number- Who am I? I am a 3 digit number, I can be divided evenly by 5 and 2. When multiplied by 10, my answer is less than 1500. What could I be? There is more than one answer, can you find them all?

Felicity Wilde
AP Teaching & Learning

Sport News

Athletics
Congratulations to all students who qualified for both Zone and Diocesan Athletics this year. Despite the challenges caused by the wet weather, our students’ efforts and achievements have been outstanding. We are proud of everyone who reached Zone level and wish the very best of luck to those heading to Coffs Harbour next Tuesday, 26th August, for the Diocesan Carnival.  

Casino Fun Run
The Casino Fun Run is fast approaching on Sunday 21st September. This is always a fantastic day for Sport, both at SMP and within the wider Community. The Fun Run will take place at Queen Elizabeth Park, with the course running between QE Park and Casino CBD.  We would love to see as many SMP students and families as possible register for either the 10km, 5km or 2km races. To register, please follow instructions I have posted on Compass or contact me if you have any questions.  Tip: Selecting 'individual student' will allow you to include your school name 'St. Mary's Primary School Casino'.  Those who register will be given a St. Mary's singlet to wear on the day.

School Holidays NRL Development Clinic
During the upcoming Term 3 School Holidays, The NRL Game Development Team will be running a School Holiday Clinic at Casino.  Please find attached a copy of flyers and all information below: 

• When: Thursday 9 October
• Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm
• Age: 5-12 years
• Cost: $59  
• Where: Casino Cougars JRLFC (Queen Elizabeth Park)
• Registration Link: https://shorturl.at/dIxHg

Cohen Parrish
Sports Co-ordinator

Leader of Love and Community

Grandparent Day/ Trucker Cap Friday

On Friday, 1st August, St Mary’s Primary School came alive with the sights and sounds of the trucking world as we celebrated both the Casino Truck Show and Grandparents Day. The day was a wonderful blend of community spirit, heartfelt moments and good old-fashioned fun.

Our students were thrilled to meet some very special guests from the trucking community, including Yogi and CJ - familiar faces from Outback Truckers. With big rigs on display, generously shared by local families and the Steering the Future team, students had the chance to get up close with these impressive vehicles and learn more about the vital role they play in our local and national communities.

Steering the Future is an innovative initiative aiming to educate and inspire young people about careers in the road transport industry. The program also highlights the importance of safety around trucks, teaching students how to interact safely with heavy vehicles. A key feature of their visit was their interactive truck, fitted out with two driving simulators, 360-degree videos, and VR goggles - giving students the exciting opportunity to experience what it's like to sit behind the wheel of a truck.

The day was filled with laughter, especially during activities like “How many Kinders will it take to pull Yogi out of a rut?” and the grandad challenge.  A highlight was Which Grandma Can Warm a Trucker’s Heart? cooking competition, where our talented grandmothers brought in their best homemade dishes. Yogi and CJ took on the difficult task of judging, with a Cherry Ripe Slice winning over their trucker hearts.

Grandparents were invited into classrooms to witness the rich learning taking place every day at SMP and connect with their grandchildren in a meaningful way.  The day ended with a shared lunch, lots of smiles and a real sense of community pride.

Events like these remind us of the power of connection between generations, industries, and our local town and just how lucky we are to be part of the St Mary’s family.

Nicole Hammond
Leader of Love and Community

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Year 6 Photo ~ 28 August

Next Thursday, 28 August, Year 6 will have a combined photo taken at school.  The students are asked to wear their House shirt, navy sport shorts, navy socks and black joggers.  If you do not have black joggers, please wear your black school shoes for the photo and then you can change after the photo.  Please refer to the School Uniform Policy for the restrictions regarding hair, jewellery, make-up and accessories.  This is a very special free photo that our photographers provide as part of their service. 

Father's Day Stall ~ 5 September

FATHER’S DAY STALL ~ FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER

The Father’s Day stall will be held on FRIDAY 5 September.  The stall is where students can purchase a gift for $5.00 each for their father/guardian.  Please return slip by Thursday, 4 September in an envelope marked with child/ren’s name + class/es and with correct money enclosed.  Place envelope in the office door.  Limit of 4 gifts per student.

No orders will be accepted after Thursday 4 September- if an order arrives at the office on the Friday morning, it will be returned.

HELPERS NEEDED      Help is always needed on the day.  Please let the school know if you can help any time between 9.00am – 11.00am.  Phone the school office on 6662.2566 and advise of available time.  Thank you.

2026 Tuition Fees

ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL

 FEE SCHEDULE  2026

Tuition Fee

School Fee statements are sent out to families monthly.  All fees are billed annually in Term 1. 

Sibling Discounts are applied to Tuition Fees for families with children in the Primary School and across the Primary School and the College.

The Building Levy is an annual contribution which all families make towards the capital development of our Parish Schools.  This is not an optional extra.

Vision & Learning Achievement Awards - 22 August 2025

Carlo Acutis Award ~ Faith in Action

Leftovers

Thank you to all the grandparents who supplied cooking for Grandparents' Day.  There were definitely no food leftovers, but several containers that were left behind:  Beth Flynn and Jane Shephard have their name on their container - many haven't. 

Call in and collect from the school office when able.

Lost Property ~ collect from office

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Willow Hale Addison Stuart Caysen Lambeth Tyson Francis Austin Bird Arrabella Johnson Heidi Bunting Tahlia Freeburn Vincent McSweeney Savannah Whitney Archie Ferguson Jackson Ferguson Ashton Newby Sydney Pehi Marli Smith Rian Stokes Dakoda Slater Nate Want Kai Torti Toby Flynn Matari Blair-Irving Quinn Brown Benji Reynolds Annabelle Trustum Harrison Loy Ellie McKenzie Thea Clark Harper Pratt Aliera Gill Braxten Wallis Taya Morrow Elliot Sharpe Conrad Mason Sonny Flynn William Warne Fraser Somerville Sonny Gooley Isaiah Elefsen Maddison Loy and Hugh Thompson who have recently celebrated their birthday, and to Lucas Marsden who celebrates tomorrow.