Issue #18 13th November 2024
Principal's Update
It doesn't seem possible that we are already in Week 5! Our Kinder 2025 children arrived at school this morning for their third transition morning. They are already looking like confident Kinder kids, ready for their big-school adventure to begin. Their final Kinder Transition morning will be on 27th, when they meet their Year 6 2025 buddies.
TechMatics Day
Yesterday, 12 students attended the TechMatics Day at St Peter's, alongside students from all of our Catholic primary schools. The day is designed for technology enrichment in small groups, that encourages the use of creative and critical thinking skills to solve a range of problems.
Swimming Carnival
Recently, the permission note was sent out on Compass for our upcoming Swimming Carnival for students in Years 1-5 (Wednesday 11th December). Permission is due now. Please carefully read this note and check with your child about the races they would like to do (50m OR 20m OR 10m, they cannot do more than one distance).
Rotary Awards
We congratulate Archer and Ellie, two of our outstanding Year 6 students, who have been named as our 2024 Northlakes Toukley Rotary Primary Citizenship recipients. Next Monday night, these students will celebrate with their teachers and families in an awards evening, where they will be presented with a certificate and a medallion in recognition of their outstanding citizenship role. Congratulations, Ellie and Archer!
Crickets Trials
Recently five of our students, Rawson B, Van B, Koa F, Hayden T and Archie W, attended the Broken Bay trials for Cricket. From these trials, Rawson, Koa and Archie were selected to represent Broken Bay for 2025, and they will travel to Lismore in December this year. Congratulations to you all.
Canteen
Today, your child will bring home a note with the opportunity to volunteer in our canteen. Without volunteers, we are unable to keep our canteen open 3 days a week. While I understand many parents are unable to help due to work commitments, if you are able to even volunteer just a few hours a term, it would be appreciated, particularly on a Friday which is the busiest day with hundreds of lunch orders! Chatting to other mums or dads and organising to help on the same day is always an option too. Please send the note back as soon as you can.
The last day for lunch orders this year will be Monday 9th December. The canteen will continue to sell food at recess and lunch until 13th, if items are still in stock.
2025
If you know your child will not be returning to St Mary's in 2025 due to moving or travel, it is important that you inform the school over the coming days. We do have children on our waitlist in some grades, and teachers are also looking to finalise class lists for 2025. It is important we have all of this information to best place children.
Cowan and Lewis
Cowan and Lewis have informed us that their West Gosford store and online ordering will be closed from Tuesday 18th November to Friday 22nd November for stocktake and system upgrades. The store and online ordering will reopen on Monday the 25th November.
Upcoming dates of Significant Events in Term 4
Creative Arts Showcase Evening: Wednesday 13th November
Rotary Awards Evening: Monday 18th November
'That's a Wrap' Parent Workshop: Wednesday 20th November
Final Kinder Transition and Liturgy: Wednesday 27th November, 9.15am
K-2 In-Class Awards: Monday 2nd December, 2.00pm
K-6 Award Ceremony: Tuesday 3rd December, 10.15am Years 3-6, 11.30am K-2
Final School Mass: Wednesday 4th December, 9.15am
Year 2 Journal Presentation Liturgy, Tuesday 10th December, 2.20pm
Swimming Carnival (1-5) and Water Fun Morning (K+6): Wednesday 11th December
Thanksgiving Mass and Year 6 Graduation: Thursday 12th December, from 5pm
Reports go home: Friday 13th December
Last day for students and Guard of Honour: Tuesday 17th December, 2.45pm.
Please note, dates and time can change, however this will be communicated via Compass and future newsletters. Additional events to these are also named on our calendar and in other spots in this newsletter.
'That's a Wrap' Parent Workshop
Mums and dads, come along with some friends and a few gifts and learn some gift-wrapping techniques while you chat with parents over a few refreshments. A great, relaxed afternoon here at school next week with our PEC, Victoria. See you there!
From Our REC
Advent Liturgies
Please join us for our upcoming Advent Liturgies. These will be held in the church each week during the season of Advent.
Advent Liturgy #1 (Year 3 and Year 4): Monday 25th November, 2.30pm
Advent Liturgy #2 (Year 1 and Year 2): Monday 2nd December, 2.30pm
Advent Liturgy #3 (Kinder and Year 6): Monday 9th December, 2.30pm
Advent Liturgy #4 (Year 5): Monday 16th December, 2.30pm
Parish Mass for St Brigid's and St Mary's
This Sunday we are holding our next St Mary's and St Brigid's combined Mass. It will begin with cricket and fun activities from 4.30pm, before some refreshments and then Mass beginning at 6pm. Please come along with your children and some friends for a fun afternoon. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Junior Altar Servers
Sr Jennifer has been holding training sessions for our students who were interested in becoming Junior Altar Servers. The students will be officially commissioned at our Combined Family Mass with St Brigid's on Sunday 17th November at 6pm.
Religious Education Creative Arts
Tonight, a number of staff will attend the Diocesan Religious Education Creative Arts Showcase. We will recognise and celebrate with Selkie R, Isla P, Katy-Leigh P, Finley G, Zara B and their families. These students were named in the top 3 places in the diocese for their submission about the 2024 theme 'Joy'. Congratulations to you all.
Year 5 and Kinder 2025 Family Mass
On Sunday December 1st, it is Year 5's turn to come together for their Sunday Parish Mass. They will lead the readings and also sing a song together. The invitation was sent home a few weeks ago (picture attached). The new Kinder children will be also attending, so it will be a great opportunity for your Year 5 children to see their buddy. We do expect all of our Year 5s, as school leaders, to be in attendance on this one morning. Thank you for your support.
All Saints Mass
Last week our Year 4 students led a beautiful Mass for the Feast of All Saints. The students read strongly and were exceptional in their behaviour and reverence. Thank you to the parents who were able to join us.
Christmas Appeal
Soon, your child will talk to you about an item that they have been asked to bring in for the school Christmas Hamper Appeal. Collectively, when each child brings in one item, we make many lovely hampers for St Vincent DePaul to distribute, with the help of our Mini Vinnies students. These will help families in our local community who are finding it tough.
Our Parish would like to share with you '24 Hours For The Lord'. If you are interested, please call the parish on (02)8379 1730.