Term 1 Week 11 Newsletter 2024
Important Dates
Apr 09 | Infants Cross Country |
Apr 10 | Year 6 - Night of the Notables |
Apr 12 | SIBLING - Kindergarten 2025 Enrolment Applications Due |
Apr 12 | Recycling Competition: Last Day of Term 1 |
Apr 29 | First Day of Term 2 |
May 08 | Mother's Day Liturgy / Lunch |
June 17 | Kindergarten to Year 6 - School Photos - Full winter uniform to be worn |
Vision Statement:
St. Mary's Primary strives to be a welcoming Christ-centred learning community that promotes a quality holistic education and trusting relationships in a caring and supportive environment.
Acknowledgment of Country: We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Wiradjuri people, who, long before us, lived, loved, educated and raised their children on this site. We pay our respects to elders past and present, and we recognise the young people who are our future. We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in our community. We respect their deep physical and spiritual connections to the country through their stories traditions and living cultures.
Character Virtue: F R I E N D S H I P
Friendship is a relationship based on shared interests, values, trust and support. A good friendship means you can be honest and comfortable. It is based on equality where people treat each other with kindness and no one pressures the other into something they don't want to do. Showing gentleness is far superior to being tough. It is a sign of strength because we live the way Christ called us to live.
From the Principal
Mr Luke Wilson
Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week 11.
I’d like to thank our parent community for their support throughout Term 1 and hope that the coming school holidays allow you to relax and spend quality time with family and friends.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Citizenship Awards - These were given out at our school assembly today to students who set a good example to their classmates through their respect for classmates and teachers and a positive attitude toward school life.
| Harriet Williams - KB | Mollie McNamara - KG | Will Large - 1B | Amya Frankland - 1G |
| Ibrahim Khalid -2B | Tasha Middleton - 2G | Lucy McArthur - 3B | Lucinda Anderson - 3G |
| Sam Kinsey - 4B | Harry Bywater - 4G | Maggie Elliott - 5B | Grace Butler - 5G |
| Tristan Farrelly - 6B | Camille Chikari - 6G | ||
CONGRATULATIONS! | |||
Night of the Notables - Night of Notables is on Wednesday night, and we’re looking forward to seeing our Year 6 parents, grandparents and friends come along and support our students. Congratulations to our Year 6 students who have spent a lot of time preparing for the evening. Thanks to Miss Herbert, Mr Keady and Mrs Mead, who have worked tirelessly to help our students prepare for the evening.
ANZAC Day - On the last Thursday before returning to school for Term 2, our students will have the opportunity to march as a representative of our school in the Dubbo Anzac Day March on Tuesday, 25th April. Students who march will assemble in Wingewarra St near the Centrelink building dressed in their school summer uniform with hats by 10.15 am on Anzac Day and report to Mr Wilson. Students can be collected at the Dubbo War Memorial in Victoria Park following the Ceremony, approximately 11.30-12noon. We will let you know via Compass if there are any changes to the above times.
Annual School Improvement Survey - The survey will be sent to Staff, Parents, and Students on 2nd May. The survey will be 'live' for two weeks from the initial 'open' date. Its closing date is 16th May. The purpose of this survey is to provide all stakeholders in our school community with a 'voice' in how our school operates. The survey is straightforward, and your responses are collected, collated and used to inform the school where we are operating well and areas where we may need to improve. this is an important tool that all schools in our Diocese participate in each year. Data from it forms and guides our annual improvement plans for the following year.
Enrolments for Kindergarten 2025 are open - Parents wishing to enrol their child are asked to contact the school to receive a copy of St. Mary’s Enrolment Policy and current Enrolment Application Form. Forms can also be accessed via our school website. A copy of your Child’s Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, Immunisation Record, and other supporting documentation will be required to process
your enrolment application. Enrolment interviews for all new families
will commence on Monday, 13th May.
Reminder: Siblings commencing Kindergarten next year.
We are asking for all sibling enrolment applications for Kinder 25 to be submitted by Friday, 12th April. This will allow us to confirm our available positions for new families in Kinder 2025.
Thanks for your support.
Sport
A great effort from our St. Mary's students who participated in the Polding Swimming Carnival last week... We are proud of you!
Infants Cross Country: Tuesday, 9th April
All students in K-2 will be participating as part of our PDHPE program.
Students in Kinder and Year 1, will complete the 1 kilometre run (1 lap of our school course) with their Year 5/6 buddies. Year 2 will run independently.
Students will need to bring a drink bottle. Asthmatic students will need their puffers.
Parent volunteers are most welcome to come and assist/cheer!
Asthma Reminder: Classes have commenced running practice for our upcoming Cross Country.
For children's safety and as per school policy, we remind parents that asthmatic students must have a labelled puffer and spacer in the school sickbay and that their puffer should be accessible at all times.
| The following start times are approximate: | |
| 9.05am | Infant students walk the course. |
| 9.30am | Kinder boys (with their Year 6 buddies) |
| 9.45am | Kinder girls (with their Year 6 buddies) |
| 10.00am | Year 1 boys (with their Year 5 buddies) |
| 10.15am | Year 1 girls (with their Year 5 buddies) |
| 10.30am | Year 2 boys |
| 10.45am | Year 2 girls |
| 11.00am | RECESS |
Primary Cross Country:
Our Primary Cross Country was held last week, and we had outstanding results throughout the day.
Pointscore Champions: McAULEY
Cheering Trophy: MOORE
A special mention to Charlie Bell who broke a record that had stood since 2008 in the 12 year boys.
Congratulations to the following students who will represent our school at the Diocesan Trials in Coolah.
| 9 years and under boys | Roy Larkin, Hudson Green, Cooper Lew and Tex Simpson |
| 9 years and under girls | Esther Williams, Lucinda Anderson, Torah Maas and Indigo Coyle |
| 10 years boys | Diesel Simpson, Tanner Howell, Jobe Pearson and Billy Carter |
| 10 years girls | Solei Grey, Emmie Williams, Ruby Lawson, Isabelle Robinson |
| 11 years boys | Slater Gray, Jackson O'Connor, Creadon Mallison and Fletcher Pilon |
| 11 years girls | Emily Lindsay, Zara Maas, Frankie Simpson and Evie Galvin |
| 12 years boys | Charlie Bell (new record - 11.51), Eli Willocks, CJ Gordon and Brax Cooper |
| 12 years girls | Milah Green, Claudia Cook, Taylor Nichols and Indie Wilson |
Cross Country - Primary
Rugby Union Gala Day - Congratulations to the 2 St Mary’s teams that competed in the NSWRU Primary School 7s Gala day today at Victoria Park, Dubbo. Thanks to Mrs Sutcliffe and Mr Fuller, who enjoyed a very wet and windy day while coaching and managing our teams.
Both teams have progressed to the Regional Finals Day on Wednesday, 22nd May, in Orange.
What a fantastic effort!
PSSA Competition - The Dubbo District Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Winter Sports Competition will take place in Term 2 and involve our students in Years 4-6. This competition involves students from the various government primary schools in Dubbo, St Pius X School, and ourselves. Games are held from 11.30 am - 1.00 pm each Friday at various venues throughout Dubbo. Nomination notes will be sent home this week.
The aims of the Dubbo District PSSA competitions are for the children to:
* Enjoy the sport.
* Develop a positive, sportsmanship attitude.
* Develop skills in various sports in a competitive situation.
* Attain higher standards of behaviour.
* Mix with students from other schools through sports.
Religious Education
Mr Tim Keady
RE Coordinator
Dear Parents,
Rise - RISE Youth Festival is for young people in Years 6 to 9 (anyone in Years 10-12 can be involved as a youth team member). The Diocesan Youth Ministers facilitate a festival full of fun, friendship, small group challenges, workshops, games, music and lots of opportunities to encounter Jesus. Register HERE.
Rego is open (even though it's not until July holidays) - St. Brigid’s Parish will subsidise the cost to bring the participant's contribution to $50. We'll also try to arrange transport or carpooling.
Confirmation - Confirmation will be held on the 1st/2nd June and 8th/9th June
Preparation Meetings will occur early in Term 2. Families will need to attend one meeting each week but can choose different time slots according to what works best. (three sessions in total)
Sessions are as follows:
Sunday after 9am Mass @ 10am 5th May/12th May/19th May
Tues after 5.45pm Mass @ 6.15pm 7th May/14th May/21st May
Wednesday 4.30pm 8th May/15th May/22nd May
Confirmation practice Tuesday 28th May @ 6.15pm
Confirmation will be held on 1st/2nd June with Bishop McKenna.
Parish priests will lead Masses on 8th/9th June.
Confirmation Masses on Saturday @ 5pm (changed due to the Winter timeslot), Sunday at 9am and 5pm
Gospel Focus: Doubt No More (John 20:19-31) Have Faith
ST. BRIGID'S PARISH - MASS TIMES:
St Brigid's: Saturday - 6pm, Sunday - 9am and Sunday - 6pm
St. Laurence's Church: Sunday - 7.30am
Wellbeing
Awards
HOUSE AWARDS:
Congratulations to the following students for gaining 10 points for
their Sports House for exemplary behaviour:
| LA SALLE: | McAULEY: | MOORE: | LENNON: |
| Ned Johnson - 1B | Reggie Curtin - 1B | Mackenzie Fuller - 1B | Reggie Green - 1B |
| Thomas Mackander - 1B | Wyatt Grey - 1B | Mackenzie O'Brien - 1B | Albie Isbester - 1B |
| Ellie Eagleston - 1B | Tommy O'Connor - 1B | Will Large - 1B | Melody Good - 4B |
| Azlyn Sallustio - 3B | Solei Grey - 4B | Charlie Coyle - 1B | |
| Archie Whiteman - 4B | Frankie Simpson - 5B | Billy Carney - 3B | |
| Maisy Peterson - 4B | Esther Williams - 4B | ||
| Navi Brar - 5B | Isabella Anderson - 4B |
Community News
BIRTHDAYS:
Celebrating their birthday this week are:
Jaxon Malouf, Hunter Dixon, Chelsea Meyers, Thomas Bower, Madelyn Tanner, Archie Shaw, Willow London, Claudia McNamara, Zoey Jones, Stella Goodstat, Asher Goodstat, Harvey Walkom, Eva Graham, Mrs Justine Foley and Mrs Lynne Fiander.
Celebrating their birthday in the holidays are:
Ainsley Hartas, Lucas Laws, Mila Huntly, Lucy McArthur, Eva McArthur, Ruby Smith,
Sean Edwards, Lucy Bower, Theo Coyle, Solei Grey, Mrs Stephanie Toole,
Miss Karla Hodges and Mrs Caja O'Brien. We hope you enjoy your birthday!
The new Active and Creative Kids voucher is now available, helping to make activities more affordable for eligible NSW families.
Parents, guardians and carers of eligible school-aged children will be able to use two $50 vouchers per calendar year.
About the new program
- Vouchers are available to those receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A, or Family Tax Benefit Part B, or both.
- Vouchers can be downloaded as a QR code and used toward either an eligible physical or creative activity.
- The $50 vouchers will be issued in school Term 1 and school Term 3.
- Vouchers must be redeemed before their expiry date.
For more information, visit Active and Creative Kids.
Attendance
The importance of regular school attendance - The effective monitoring and promotion of regular student attendance is a legal requirement for our school. More importantly, it is a fundamental issue to student well-being and has proven implications for student academic progress and achievement.
Based upon research, the NSW Education Standards Authority has determined that primary students with attendance rates below 90% are at risk of ongoing impacts on their learning. Research shows that poor school attendance is associated with:
* lower academic achievement, including literacy and numeracy
* early school leaving
* leaving school with fewer qualifications
* reduced opportunities for students to learn and access educational resources, further
limiting achievement
* further absenteeism in higher year levels
We will be monitoring student attendance throughout the year. You can expect to be contacted by your child’s teacher if a pattern of non-attendance, regular late arrivals or unexplained absences occurs.
PARTIAL ABSENCES:
Parents must attend the school office to use the Compass Kiosk to complete a PARENT DROP-OFF or PARENT PICK-UP if arriving late or leaving early.
FULL DAY ABSENCES:
A Note should be submitted via Compass for a FULL DAY absence from school.
Reminder: Parents to submit an attendance note within 7 days of absence. Thank you.
Canteen
Canteen Roster
TUES Apr 09 | Joanna Wiatkowski |
WED Apr 10 | Melissa Barrett and Ros Dixon |
THURS Apr 11 | Jordana Pearson and Emma McNamara |
FRI Apr 12 | Victoria Meyers and Jackie Pratten |
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! | |
MON Apr 29 | Cassie Carney |