Issue #3 8th March 2023
Principal's Message
The last two weeks have been full of fantastic learning and wonderful friendships. As I walk through the playground each day, I am reminded of how cheerful, friendly and positive our childern are; they always say hello and invite others to join in their games. What wonderful students we have! Our wonderful Kindergarten children went on a 'Principal Hunt' last week and then came into my office to look around and talk about their start to Kindergarten. What keen and excited learners they are!
Kinder 2024 Open Day and Information Evening
It will be exciting to welcome new and current families to our upcoming Open Day and Information Evening on March 23rd. If you know someone who is looking to enrol their child, please let them know.
Pupil Free Day
This Friday 10th March is a Staff Development Day, where staff are trained to run 'Rock and Water' in their classes. This will be a pupil free day. Thank you for your support.
Cinema Under The Stars
It is not long until we all come together to watch a movie at our 'Cinema Under the Stars' night. We look forward to seeing many families come together on our oval on Friday 31st March. If you haven't yet purchased a ticket, you can do so on the Qkr! app.
Carpark Safety
A number of cars are still driving unsafely through our carpark. If you are dropping off a child, you must pull into a designated car park for your child to get out. Please do not pull up in front of the school gates or the hall. These are not drop off areas and when a number of cars are turning, reversing and passing each other while children are moving about, children are in danger of being hit.
Fr Joshy
Last week we welcomed Fr Joshy as a new additional Assistant Parish priest, joining Fr Tomy and Fr Baby. Please make him feel welcome when you see him around.
Easter Hat Parade
This year, we look forward to introducing an Easter Hat Parade for our Kinder-Year 2 children. This year, it will take place on Wednesday 5th April at 9.15am. Children are encouraged to make an Easter Hat at home to bring in for the parade.
NAPLAN
Next week, our Year 3 and Year 5 children will sit NAPLAN. We wish our students the best of luck as they sit their Writing, Reading, Language Conventions/Spelling and Numeracy tests during the NAPLAN window of March 15th-27th.
Catholic Schools Week
Parents, please join us for our Catholic Schools Week Liturgy and Open Classrooms on Tuesday 21st March. Further details are below in the REC section.
Upcoming Dates
In addition to the many dates on our Term 1 calendar, please note some additional dates:
Year 5 Bathurst: Thursday 27/4 - Friday 28/4 | Year 6 Canberra: Wednesday 7/6 - Friday 9/6 | Last Day of Term 1: Thursday 6/4 |
| School Photos: Monday 1/5 and Thursday 4/5 | 50th Anniversary Dinner: Saturday 27/5 | First Day Term 2: Wednesday 26/4 |
Book Covering Help Needed
We have bought more books that will soon go to classrooms; more decodable readers and also sets of novels for our primary students. We need help covering them! If you can spare some time, please pick up a set or two from the office to take home and cover. We appreciate any help you can give.
Justin Coulson Webinar -Anxiety and Resilience - 29 March 2023-7.00pm
The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) have a free webinar on 29th March at 7pm, to provide parents and carers with strategies to assist their children with Anxiety and Resilience.
PIP Team News
Our PIP Team ask for.... Just one thing.... On March 23rd we welcome new potential families to our St Mary's community at an Open Day afternoon. Here, our PIP Team will serve afternoon tea and a crèche service will be available for families who wish to explore the school. If you are able to help during the afternoon tea service and help in the crèche we ask that you 'sign up' using the link below. Those volunteering will need to complete a volunteer form at the front office on the day.
https://signup.com/mobileweb/2.0/vspot.html?activitykey=64718396931174017#choose_jobs_page
REC
Catholic Schools Week
From Monday 20th March - Sunday 26th March we will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week. The theme is, "Walking together in faith and love". On Tuesday 21st March we will have a special liturgy in the church at 2.15pm. Following this celebration we invite parents into our classrooms to see the wonderful learning that has taken place so far this year. On Thursday 23rd March we hold our Open Day from 4pm and Enrolment Evening from 5.30 -6.30pm. Year 3 will also be sharing their learning as they lead Sacred Space on Thursday at 2pm. We conclude the week with Year 1 celebrating mass with our parish on Sunday morning at 9am. We look forward to celebrating this all with you!
Sacred Space - 4 Blue
This Thursday 4 Blue will lead our Sacred Space. This will begin at 2pm in the quad. We look forward to sharing their learning with you.
Project Compassion - Harmony Day
From now until the end of term we will be raising money to support "Project Compassion". Each classroom has a project compassion box in it. On Friday 31st March we will be celebrating "Harmony Day". On this day we encourage all students to wear orange. This will form part of our Wellbeing Week. To support this charity we ask all students to bring in a gold coin donation.
Stations of the Cross
This year Stations of the Cross will be incorportating both our parish and our school. We are very blessed to have Sr Jennifer leading this. We would love as many students and their families to participate. Keep your eye out in the coming weeks for further details.
Welcome Nicole!
We welome Mrs Nicole Anderson to our school as our Parent Engagement Coordinator (PEC). She will be leading many many programs. Some of you may have seen her on the playground or at Storytime of a Thursday morning. Below is a flyer with more information about Nicole and her role at our school. I am sure you will make her very welcome.
Ash Wednesday Mass
Thank you to all our parents and grandparents who joined us for Ash Wednesday Mass. Year 4 did a wonderful job leading this mass. It was great to see a dramatisation of the First Reading.
Kinder and Year 6 Welcome Mass
Thank you to all our Kindergarten and Year 6 families who joined us for our Welcome Mass. Our Year 6 students read beautifully and our Kinder sang and did the actions so well to our Thanksgiving song. The morning tea after mass was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. We look forward to our Year 1 mass on 26th March at 9am.
Sacred Space 5 Blue and 5 Gold
Thank you to 5 Blue and 5 Gold for leading our Sacred Space in Week 5. It was a great way to share the meaning of Lent with our school community.
Our Year One Sunday mass is coming up on Sunday 26th March at 9am. We are looking forward to hearing our students read and sing. This is a great way to celebrate our faith together and have a catch up with our school friends on the weekend.
Easter Egg Raffle
Our annual Easter Raffle is underway!
Donations of Easter eggs, baskets and gift bags are gratefully accepted from Monday 6th March. Tickets will be sold on the top playground before school and at recess. The Mini Vinnies team wil begin selling tickets on Monday 14th March.
The raffle will be drawn in Week 11 with all money donated going to support local families doing it tough. Tickets are 50c each or 3 for $1.00.
Cyber Safety Week
This week we are focusing on how to be safe when using technology and the internet. Our fabulous student led technology team has been assisting students and teachers in Years 3 and 4 to navigate Minecraft and a Cyber Safety World. This was extremely engaging for our students and allowed our technology team to demonstrate their IT skills as well as their leadership skills. I know the Year 3 teachers and students were very impressed.
This week all students will discuss how to use technology and the internet safely and when to ask for help. All students from Kinder to Year 6 will read and discuss our school Internet and Technology User Agreement. All students will bring this home to share with you. Please sign and return to school as soon as possible. In addition to this, a Compass note will be sent out asking parents to give permission for their child/ren to use technology and the internet while at school. Please complete this when it comes through. We are asking that both these notes be returned by the end of Week 10 (31st March 2023).
To conclude our week on Cyber Safety, we encourage you to have a conversation with your children about what they have learnt during the week. It might also be fun to have a family movie night and watch, "Ralph Wrecks the Internet." This may spark some age appropriate conversations about staying safe online.
Cyber Safety Week
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A Spotlight on Year 1
Sports News
2023 St Mary’s School Cross Country
What a gorgeous day for a Cross Country Carnival!
What a wonderful turnout from our St Mary’s Community!
Thank you to our fabulous parent helpers who braved the sun and the speed of our amazing runners to give out the all important places to all our great kids who gave their best.
So proud of all runners especially those who find cross country a challenge, but “Gave it a Go!”
CCC Cross Country is on Friday 5th May for top 6 competitors in 8yrs – 12yrs
Diocesan Winter Sports Trials
These are taking place over the next couple of weeks.
Please keep a check on emails in case of postponements or change of venue.
Sometimes we do not get these notifications at school.
Congratulations Chloe S and Willow F who have already qualified for the Broken Bay Touch Team.
Good Luck to our Diocesan Swim Competitors competing at Mingara on Tuesday 14th March.
