Term 4 Week 6 Newsletter 2024
Important Dates
Nov 20 | P&F Meeting - 6.00 pm - All Welcome |
Nov 22 | Splash & Dash - P&F Fundraiser - 11.30 am to 2.00 pm |
Nov 28 | Kindergarten Farm Excursion |
Dec 03 | Christmas Concert - 6.00 pm @ St. Johns College |
Dec 09 | End of Year Mass @ 10.00 am - St. Brigid's |
Dec 12 | Up Class Day - 10.00 am |
Dec 13 | Year 6 Tunnel @ 2.30 pm |
Dec 18 | LAST DAY OF TERM 4 |
Mar 17 | 2025 Opening School Mass |
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: T R U S T W O R T H I N E S S
Trustworthiness describes someone who we can depend on to be honest, work hard and keep our secrets.
As well as never betraying us, a trustworthy person is dependable and can be trusted to get a job done and use their time well.
From the Principal
Mr Luke Wilson
Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week 6.
Last Thursday, we had the children from our 2025 kindergarten class come for their final visit as part of their transition program. It has been great to see these children enjoying their visits to our school, and we look forward to them all becoming part of our community next year. Thanks to Mrs Finlay, Mrs Wilson, and Mrs Weir for all their extra work in making these orientation sessions possible.
Congratulations to our Year 2 students who celebrated their First Reconciliation last week and over the weekend.
Thanks to our REC, Mr Keady, Mrs Alexander and Mrs Bruce, for their work in preparing our students for the first of three sacraments, which these children will celebrate while at St. Mary’s.
We celebrated Year 2’s First Reconciliation with a school liturgy today.
SPLASH & DASH - P&F Fundraiser
Friday, 22nd November
Commencing at 11.30 am
Our Splash and Dash will occur this Friday, 22nd September, commencing at 11.30 am and concluding after lunch at approximately 2.00 pm. There are lots of fun activities planned, and it should be an exciting day. Thank you to our P & F organising committee for doing an exceptional job in making this a successful day. Their hard work and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated. Students are permitted to wear casual clothes with a touch of red on the day. Students must wear a hat and covered shoes (not thongs or sandals). For child protection purposes, all volunteers must complete a Working with Children Declaration for Volunteers before commencing volunteer work in the school unless they have already obtained a Working with Children Check Clearance Number. Forms are available from the school office, via email, or on the school website.
The format for the day is as follows:
11.30 am:
Groups move around the 15 stations in their class group. Each station will run for 5 minutes.
1.10 pm - 2.00 pm:
Lunch- BBQ sausage sandwiches, drinks and ice cream.
Families will need to order their lunch on Munch Monitor. Once you open your Munch Monitor page, you click on the School Shop tab to order their lunch.
Our Fundraiser offers incentive prizes for those students who raise the most money. As in previous years, any incentive prizes won through collecting sponsorship will be donated to local charities to be distributed to children in disadvantaged families in our local community this Christmas. Alternatively, families can donate the cost of their incentive prizes to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
We have 283 registered fundraisers and have raised just over $19,100.
We have three more fundraising days to go...
Thanks for your generosity and support.
Whooping Cough - We have a few confirmed cases of Whooping Cough at St. Mary's.
Please see the attached NSW Health Fact Sheet for your information.
Religious Education
Mr Tim Keady
RE Coordinator
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to all of our Year 2 students who received Reconciliation for the first time over the past week. We are extremely proud of you and are excited to see you take the next step in your faith journey.
Thank you to Year 1, Mrs Fuller, Mrs Sutcliffe and Miss Hodges for leading our school in a special liturgy today to mark this important milestone in our Year 2 students' lives.
Year 2 - Reconciliation Retreat
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Congratulations Kala...
Congratulations Kala (2B) on being welcomed into the Catholic Church last week.
Fr Greg visited Year 2 to facilitate this special event and we were joined by Kala’s family.
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Sacramental Program - Last weekend marked the final event in our Sacramental Calendar for 2024. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our Parish Sacramental Coordinator Mrs Rosie Hosking for all of her hard work and support throughout the year across all sacraments as well as our Parish Priest Fr Greg and School Chaplain Fr Nam. I would also like to thank our staff who have gone above and beyond in their support of these milestones for our students, often giving up their own time to help run and organise the sacraments. Finally, I would like to thank the parents and our amazing students for their engagement in the sacramental program for 2024, we truly are blessed to be part of an amazing faith community.
Vinnies Hampers - Our annual Vinnies Hamper drive is underway again in 2024. Each year we ask students/ families in each class to purchase items that are donated to create Christmas Food Hampers for members of our local community that may find it difficult this Christmas. Please remember to send in your items before the end of Week 8.
Parent Survey - Please complete the school survey on your thoughts about how we celebrate Father's Day and Mother's Day at St. Mary’s. We appreciate your feedback to help us plan for 2025. Results will be shared with the school community at the start of next year.
| RE Dates for the Calendar | |
Week 9 | Monday, 9th December - End of Year Mass @ 10.00 am - St. Brigid's |
SAVE THE DATE: Our 2025 Opening School Mass will be held on Monday, 17th March | |
Gospel Focus: End Times (Mark 13:24-32)
Prepare for Jesus.
ST. BRIGID'S PARISH - MASS TIMES:
St Brigid's: Saturday - 6pm, Sunday - 9am and Sunday - 6pm
St. Laurence's Church: Sunday - 7.30am
Sport
Congratulations to our St. Mary's Basketball teams, who won last Thursday's Basketball NSW Primary School Challenge regional rounds in Bathurst. Both teams have now progressed to the finals, which will be held in Penrith in two weeks.
The Diocesan Summer Sports Trials were held last week - Congratulations to the following students selected to represent the Bathurst Diocese at Polding Trials in 2025:
Basketball - Evie Galvin and Thomas Galvin
Touch Football - Zara Maas, Jackson O’Connor, Ollie Boothby, Diesel Simpson and Fletcher Pilon
Awards
STUDENT OF THE WEEK:
| Logan Dunkley - KB For working really hard to become an independent and focused learner in Term 4. |
| Skylar Tobin - KG For her quiet and dedicated approach to learning. |
| Emmett Giddings - 3B For consistently being a safe and supportive friend in 3B. |
| Jack Graham - 5B For his positive attitude and persistence in completing all class tasks. |
HOUSE AWARDS:
Congratulations to the following students for gaining 10 points for
their Sports House for exemplary behaviour:
| LA SALLE: | McAULEY: | MOORE: | LENNON: |
| Owen Fitzgerald - 2B | Amity Smith - 2B | Imogen Smith - 2B | Cora Fox - 2B |
| Annelise O'Brien - 2B | Maddison March - 2B | Harry O'Donoghue - 2G | Kala Squires - 2B |
| Robert Bell - 2B | Annabel Williams - 2G | Isaac Goodwin - 2G | Claudia McNamara - 2B |
| Albie Grisinger - 2G | Tex Simpson - 2G | Zara Maas - 5G | Thomas Conte - 2G |
| Althea Higgins - 2G | Lucas O'Connor - 2G | Archie Shaw - 5G | Nala Wellman - 2G |
| Kieran Dixon - 2G | Charlotte Bruce - 3G | Brodie Laws - 2G | |
| Logan Nichols - 2G | Bridie Herbert - 3G | Eva McArthur - 3G | |
| Maggie Lawson - 2G | Samantha Edwards - 5G | Louie Knight - 3G | |
| Ethan Varghese - 2G | Rusty Hatton - 5G | Bella Cowden - 3G | |
| Harrison O'Brien - 3G | Sean Edwards - 3B | Trace Gardiner - 3G | |
| Lexi O'Connor - 3G | Joseph Conte - 3G | ||
| Brock Eagleston - 5G | Lucinda Anderson - 3G | ||
| Evie Galvin - 5G | Daniella Conte - 5G | ||
| Frankie Wilson - 5G | Clancy Moore - 3B | ||
| Hudson Giddings - 5G |
School Fees
Attendance
Automated Attendance Notification:
CEDB has set up Automated Attendance Notifications for our school.
Attendance Tracking: Teachers will record attendance as usual.
Automated Alerts: If your child is marked absent without a known reason, an SMS will be sent to your registered mobile number.
Immediate Action: You can take immediate action by contacting the school if the absence is unexpected or unaccounted for.
Ensure Your Contact Information is Up-to-Date: Verify and update your mobile number with the school office.
Communicate Absences: Notify the school in advance if your child will be absent.
Stay Alert: Look out for SMS notifications from the school.
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:
Grace Butler, Denham Bruce, Rubie Wright, Rusty Hatton,
Lucinda Anderson, Clara Cook, Annelise O'Brien
and Mrs Marla McCauley-Zell.
We hope you enjoy your birthday!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Free to a good home, an older style upright piano. Has been lovingly used for many years.
If you are interested, then moving costs from the Delroy Dubbo area will be your responsibility.
Please call Christine on 0400 301 674 for details.
School student travel information for parents and students
School Travel Passes
Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Terms of Use
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.
This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30 am and 7.00 pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.
All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
School Uniform
Canteen
Canteen Roster
TUES Nov 19 | Amanda Isbester |
WED Nov 20 | Zoe Fox |
THURS Nov 21 | Chris Catelotti and Jackie Pratten |
FRI Nov 22 | Michelle Howarth, Hayley Lee and Tiffany Single |
MON Nov 25 | Kristy Hubbard |
REMINDER:
MunchMonitor cut-off time for placing lunch orders - 9.45 am.
LATE LUNCH ORDERS:
9.45 am - 11.00 am - Parents are welcome to phone the school office to place a lunch order.
After 11.00 am - Students have an option of a Vegemite Sandwich, Cheese Sandwich
or Cheese and Vegemite Sandwich only.