Term 2 Week 3 Newsletter 2024
Important Dates
May 13 | P&F Meeting - 6pm - School Library - ALL WELCOME |
May 13 | Book Club - Orders DUE |
May 14 | House Award and Line Award - Morning Tea |
May 15 | Year 4 Ministry - Holy Spirit Mass |
May 15 | Maths Olympiad Years 5/6 and Maths Games Years 3/4 |
May 15 | Year 4G Wambangalang Excursion |
May 17 | Years 4 to 6 - PSSA |
May 20 | Kinder 2025 new family enrolment interviews commence |
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: HONOUR
Honour is doing what is right, even when it's hard, doesn't suit you or no one is watching. It means we stick to our word and keep our promises and commitments. Jesus taught us to speak and act carefully to treat all people with honour, love and respect they deserve.
From the Principal
Mr Luke Wilson
Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week 3.
It was wonderful to see so many mums and other important people to our children, join us on Wednesday for our liturgy, open classrooms and lunch, last Wednesday. Thanks to our Year 6 teachers and students for presenting a beautiful liturgy.
On Tuesday, we sent seven teams to the Rugby League Gala Day. All of the boys and girls had a great time and enjoyed a fun day of Rugby League.
On the same day, Mrs Nutall and Mrs McKenzie took our talented Cross-Country team to compete on the very challenging course at Coolah. We had some great performances.
Congratulations to our School Spelling Bee Champions
Stage 2: Lucy McArthur and Anna Godwin
Stage 3: Emma Malouf and Anne Campbell
These students have qualified for the Diocesan Spelling Bee in
Wellington on Thursday, 30th May
House Award - Morning Tea - Congratulations to the students in Lennon who gained the most points for Term 1 in Term 1 for the Class House Award. KG were our Term 1 Line Award winners. They will receive their special morning tea tomorrow. Students are awarded points for demonstrating excellent behaviour, doing their best school work, effort, attitude and being model students. Ultimately, the House with the most points at the end of 2024 will be awarded the Annette Storer Shield in Term 4.
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, 20th May.
Parenting Ideas - Helping Children Thrive at School (Dr Justin Coulson)
The following factors generally matter most when it comes to your child doing well at school:
1. Reading: If there is only one thing that you do with your children for their education, read to them. This should start as young as possible and continue through toddler years, preschool years, and into big school. Read to them – and have them read to you – as they go through their early primary years. And keep books around right through high school. Reading is one of the best predictors of children’s academic success, and it is associated with increased resilience, particularly for kids from challenged or traumatic backgrounds.
2. Be involved: Research shows that parents who ask about school, check in on what students are learning, talk with the school teacher from time to time, and continue to monitor and stay up to date on what is happening at school have children who do better academically when compared with students whose parents are uninvolved. Getting involved shows you care.
3. Relationships with peers: Children who enjoy a sense of school belonging, according to Dr Kelly Allen at Monash University, do better at school. They also have higher levels of life satisfaction.
4. A sense of progress and purpose: These are two separate things, but I’m including them together because they often follow one another. When our children make progress, they feel competent and capable. This increases their motivation and makes school feel purposeful. If parents can work to help children see the progress they’re making, it will boost the desire for more progress, and the work becomes easier and more enjoyable.
5. People who love them: There is no way of getting around this fact: kids do well for those they love. When a student loves his science teacher, science becomes the best subject ever and he tries hard as a result. The same goes with PE, English, or any other subject. Helping children feel like they are known, numbered, and missed combined with teachers who are enthusiastic about their topics, helps kids do better at school.
Often people will say, “But what about my child?” So many parents are dealing with ADHD, autism, ODD, sensory issues, depression, or other additional health or developmental needs. My response is always the same: those points above become even more vital. Read, be involved, help them make friends, challenge them to progress and find purpose, and make sure someone loves them.
By Dr Justin Coulson - Dr Justin Coulson is a dad to 6 daughters. He is the parenting expert and co-host of Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, and he and his wife host Australia’s #1 podcast for parents and family: The Happy Families podcast.
Winter Uniform
Officially, the children are to wear their formal winter uniform after the June Long Weekend
on Tuesday, 11th June but if your child is feeling cold,
they can wear their winter uniform from the commencement of Term 2.
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.
Pentecost Sunday - This Sunday, all Year 6 classes from our local catholic schools are invited to attend our Sunday mass to celebrate Pentecost Sunday. All are welcome!
Confirmation - Confirmation will be held on the 1st/2nd June and 8th/9th June
Preparation Meetings will occur early in Term 2. Families 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 @ 5 pm (changed due to the Winter timeslot), Sunday at 9 am and 5 pm
If you have any questions about the sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Rosie Hosking via email at sacraments.dubbo@cdob.org.au
Gospel Focus:
Preach the Gospel
(Mark 16:15-20)
Share the message of Jesus with others.
ST. BRIGID'S PARISH - MASS TIMES:
St Brigid's: Saturday - 5pm, Sunday - 9am and Sunday - 5pm
St. Laurence's Church: Sunday - 7.30am
Sport
Polding - Congratulations to CJ Gordon, who was selected for the Polding Opens Rugby League team after trials in Tamworth last Friday. CJ will now represent Polding at the NSW PSSA Championships later this term.
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT!
Cross Country - Last Tuesday, Mrs Nutall and Mrs McKenzie took our talented Cross-Country team to compete on the very challenging course at Coolah. We had some great performances, with some of our children achieving a top-eight finish and gaining a place in the Diocesan Cross Country team.
Congratulations to: Emily Lindsay (2nd), Charlie Bell (7th), Roy Larkin (7th), Lucinda Anderson (6th), Diesel Simpson (4th) and Eli Willocks (8th).
Rugby League Gala Day - We had seven teams at the Rugby League Gala Day on Tuesday. Thanks to Nick Wilson, Tilly Wilson, Finn Sutcliffe, Molly Knight, Ava Sutcliffe, Billy Sykes and Archie Aird who helped with coaching. The boys and girls had a great day and enjoyed lots of support from the sidelines from parents and friends.
Congratulations to: Willow Scott, Lina Cattelottti, Isaac Clarke, Gus Dunn, Austen O'Connor,
Louis Knight and Jake Butcher who won team awards on the day.
School Fees
Term 1 Fees were due on 15th March 2024.
If you pay by the Term, prompt payment is required.
Term 2 Fees were emailed on Friday, 10th May 2024 and DUE on Friday, 24th May 2024.
If you'd like to start up a Payment Plan to manage your school fees, please phone the school office. Thank you.
Awards
STUDENT OF THE WEEK:
Indi Green - 1B |
| Evie Cooper - 1G For her enthusiastic attitude towards all aspects of her work. Evie is a kind and responsible member of 1G who shares her kind and friendly nature with others. |
| Haddie Green - 3G For radiating positivity throughout a challenging art lesson, inspiring her peers and showcasing unwavering determination. |
Tom Galvin - 5G |
HOUSE AWARDS:
Congratulations to the following students for gaining 10 points for
their Sports House for exemplary behaviour:
| LA SALLE: | MOORE: | LENNON: |
| Annelise O'Brien - 2B | Jack Hubbard - 2B | Rose Buckley - KB |
| Alfie Bonham - KB |
School Photographs
School Photographs will be held on Monday, 17th June, 2024.
Children are to wear their formal winter uniform.
Attendance
If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school on time every day, contact the school so we can work together to find a solution.
Reaching out to the school is a proactive and constructive step if you're experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time.
Contact your child's teacher to discuss any specific challenges your child may be facing. Their teacher can provide insights into the classroom dynamics and academic progress, helping to identify potential areas of concern.
Collaborate with the school to identify any underlying issues contributing to the difficulty in getting your child to school on time. This could involve academic challenges, social issues, or other factors impacting your child's motivation or wellbeing.
Read about School Avoidance here.
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.
Community News
BIRTHDAYS:
Celebrating their birthday this week are:
Brodie Laws, Diesel Simpson, Naksh Bagrain
and Eleanor Quayle.
We hope you enjoy your birthday!
Canteen
Canteen Roster
TUES May 14 | Jenny Higgens |
WED May 15 | HELP WANTED |
THURS May 16 | Emma Maas, Kim Large and Emily Simpson |
FRI May 17 | Kim Scott, Nikki Taylor and Sophie Richardson |
MON May 20 | Sheridan Wiatkowski |