Issue #19 27th November 2024
Principal's Update
There are many events happening over the last few weeks of the year. Our students are to be commended for their outstanding behaviour in the classroom, recess and lunch and also sport time.
I would like to particularly highlight our Year 6 students, who continue to be wonderful role models to the younger grades, even in their final weeks of primary school. Each Monday, I spend time with Year 6 as a grade, where we discuss leadership, trust, honesty and how they will go out, in both high school and beyond, and leave their mark. I have been impressed by their growing maturity and how they strive to impact the future.
Welcome Kinder 2025
This morning, we welcomed our Kinder 2025 classes to our school. The students met their Kindergarten teacher and also their buddy after a beautiful Liturgy, run by our Year 5 students. Thank you to our current Kinder families who also provided a plate for morning tea for our new families to enjoy.
Parliament 2025
Congratulations to our School Parliament for 2025: in Year 6 Zara B, Willow C, Charlotte C, Sienna H, Evalata M, Stephanie M, Noah B, Vinnie B, Harry B, Harvey L, Lachlan M and Caspian W, and in Year 5 Finley G and Baylen M. We look forward to each of you sharing your leadership skills next year. Four of these children will become our School Captains, which will be announced at our Award Ceremony next Tuesday.
Sports Captain and Vice Captains
We saw a record number of students speak to be our Sports Leaders in 2025. Congratulations to the following students. Red House: Koa F, Phoebe N, Josi C, Sunny S and Ruby B, Blue House: Ashlee S, Flynn B, Cruz C, Cooper B and Remmi W, Green House: Amarli M, Jazz B, Rhys M, Cruz W-C and Katy-Leigh P, Gold House: Hayden T, Mya C, Evie C, Amarli G and Max A.
Awards
In-Class K-2 Awards: Next Monday, 2nd December, each student in a Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 class will receive a special class award. This takes place in a class presentation that goes for approximately 10-15 minutes (2.00pm-2.15pm) in their classroom. Every child in K-2 is recognised for an achievement from 2024. This K-2 classroom presentation is in addition to the K-6 Award Ceremony.
Award Ceremony: On Tuesday 3rd December, our school will gather in the church for our annual Award Ceremony: Primary at 10.15am (please do not arrive before 10.00am due to Mass) and Infants at 11.30am.
During these ceremonies, 5-6 children from each class will be recognised for their outstanding achievement during the 2024 school year, plus one child from each class to receive the STARS Award and our Catholic Values Award. Everyone is welcome, however parents will be contacted by your child's teacher in the days prior to the Award Ceremony, if they will receive a class award. We ask that you do not tell your child they are receiving an award. Our current student leaders will also be recognised, our highly commended Year 6 Catholic Values and Community Spirit recipients will be named and our Student Parliament and Sports Leaders for 2025 will be presented to the school. All children are to wear their full school uniform next Tuesday (no sports uniform).
Final School Mass
Next Wednesday 4th December, we are holding our final school Mass at 9.15am. Please join us.
Swimming Carnival
Our swimming carnival will be held on Wednesday 11th December for our Year 1-Year 5 students. It is a compulsory school day. Buses will leave at 9.00am and are scheduled to return by 3.00pm.
Touch-Tag Days
This week we have two Touch-Tag Gala Days being held: Year 5 and Year 6 on Thursday 28th and Year 3 and Year 4 on Friday 29th. These days will include all 11 of our Central Coast Catholic School, and are always enjoyable days. Please make sure you have read the event-specific notes on Compass to ensure that you arrive to school on time (buses leave before the bell).
From our Canteen Coordinator, Gina
A reminder to all parents and carers that we would like your volunteer forms for next year by next Friday 6th December, so that a roster for Term 1 can be created.
Volunteering in the canteen is a great way to meet new people, or double up & volunteer with someone you know. The kids love seeing a familiar face serving them at recess or lunch. If you can spare 2hrs or all day it would be much appreciated, as without our volunteers it makes it hard for our canteen to open for our kids. Thank you!
Book Club
A huge thank you to Rochelle P and Kate T who have organised Book Club this year. If you have 1-2 hours a term to help organise the Book Club orders that arrive for our students, please reach out to the office. Kate will continue on with another helper in 2025.
Year 7 Orientation
This Friday, our Year 6 students who are attending St Brigid's or MacKillop in 2025, will attend their Year 7 Orientation Day. This day will ease nerves and help the students become familiar with their new school. Have a great time!
Upcoming dates of Significant Events in Term 4
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.
Dates for 2025: | |
Friday 31st January | Staff return, pupil free day. |
Monday 3rd February | First Day for Years 1-6 and Kinder ‘Best Start’ Assessment Day |
Tuesday 4th February | Kinder ‘Best Start’ Assessment Day |
Wednesday 5th February | First Day for Kindergarten |
REC News
Advent Liturgies
Thank you to our Year 3 and 4 students who led our 1st Week of Advent Liturgy on Monday.
The following grades will be leading our Advent Liturgies at 2.30pm on the remaing Mondays:
Monday 2nd December - 2nd Week of Advent - Year 1 and 2
Monday 9th December - 3rd Week of Advent - Kinder and Year 6
Monday 16th December - 4th Week of Advent - Year 5
Please join us if you can.
Year 5 Sunday Mass
Just a reminder we are holding our Year 5 Sunday Mass this Sunday 1st December at 9am in our Church. The Kinder 2025 students have been invited and are excited to see their buddies again. Please bring a plate of food to share for morning tea. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning.
Kinder 2025 Liturgy
Thank you to our Year 5 and Kinder students for leading our Kinder 2025 Liturgy this morning. Our teachers were beaming with pride as you led this.
Christmas Eve Children's Mass
If you would like your child to be involved in the Christmas Eve Children's Mass here at St Mary's Toukley please complete the link https://forms.office.com/r/SXjT9DuYP6?origin=lprLink Sr Jiji will preparing the students for this. There will be many roles from acting to singing, to reading and dancing.