The first STM Community Council Open Meeting for 2024 was a great success - thanks to all the parents who came along in addition to our usual council members. 

We discussed a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Luke's update on facilities improvements and teacher movements;
• the High Impact Teaching Practices being implemented across the school
• exploration of school canteen options;
• how to best use our community gardens; and
• planning for future school events (see the STM magnet for dates!)

Our community council members - parents and teachers alike - are highly approachable, and always welcome ideas or issues. Names are listed below

• Michael Kelly - Chair
• Stephanie Dickson - Secretary
• Leah Makin - Council Member
• Skye Keatinge - Council Member
• Megan Hansford - Council Member
• Keren Baker - Kindergarten Council Member
• Fr. Anthony Riosa - Parish Priest
• Luke Donnelly - Principal
• Nicole Mikkonen - Assistant Principal/Staff Member
• Reuban West - Staff Member

 and we encourage anyone with views or wanting to get involved to contact the council via stm.communitycouncil@cg.catholic.edu.au or in person at pickup/dropoff. 

Big thanks also to Ms Strmota for taking to the Parent Engagement Coordinator role with gusto, and ensuring every class has a Parent Contact. For anyone who missed signing up to the class contacts list, please contact Ms Strmota at ariana.strmota@cg.catholic.edu.au - it's never too late to join the groups and access information about class social events and other bits n pieces. 

Speaking of social things, below is the table of events for the rest of the year with the class(es) responsible for running each event. Take a look to see when your class(es) will be on duty. Your class contact will work with parents and carers regarding requirements for your specific event closer to the time. If you're unable to make the event itself there are plenty of opportunities to help out beforehand (with rostering / shopping / organising raffle prizes etc) while on the day even just 15 minutes of volunteering to help prepare food/serve/clean up makes things run smoothly - and is a great way to meet other parents, community members, and your child's classmates. 

Our final discussion at the community council meeting was on developing a short piece of marketing that you - our school community members - could consider using in conversations with friends, family or colleagues who are investigating schooling options. We are so lucky to be part of a great school - with kind and empowering leadership from our principal and deputy, our teachers, and our student leaders - and we'd love your help getting the word out there. We've come up with the below 'BBQ 5' (5 points that would suit a conversation around a barbecue/water cooler/elevator trip). Welcome your feedback and thoughts. 

This was my last council meeting as my family are moving to the country in the school holidays, but I know STM will continue to go from strength to strength. If you're ever out in the central west look me up, and please do come along to the next open council meeting on 25 June at 6pm - put the date in your calendars now, and use it as an opportunity to learn more about your school, meet some other people, and give back - the joy of volunteering is real!

Cheers,

Skye 

Skye Keatinge