Term 1 Week 7 Newsletter 2024
Important Dates
Mar 13 | NAPLAN (Year 3 and 5) - Writing |
Mar 14 | NAPLAN (Year 3 and 5) - Reading, Language Conventions |
Mar 15 | NAPLAN (Year 3 and 5) - Maths |
Mar 18 | P & F Meeting - 6pm - ALL WELCOME! |
Mar 19 | Casual Clothes Day - Easter Raffle Donations |
Mar 25 | PUPIL FREE DAY |
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: C O U R T E S Y
Jesus showed us by his example that courtesy is treating people considerately and thinking about what is good for them, not just us. It means treating them like we would like to be treated ourselves. Being courteous prevents rudeness and arguing. It helps a home or school run more smoothly because people aren't being selfish but are always thinking of others.
From the Principal
Mr Luke Wilson
Principal
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week 7.
NAPLAN testing for Year 3 and Year 5 is happening this week. Thanks to Mr Keady for organising and running our Diocesan Swimming Carnival last week and to Mrs Clark for organising our participation in the Science and Engineering Challenge last Thursday.
NAPLAN - Years 3 and 5:
* Wednesday, 13th March - Writing
* Thursday, 14th March - Reading, Language Conventions
* Friday, 15th March - Maths
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities, and governments with information about how education programs work and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.
Parent-Teacher Interviews - Monday, 18th March and Tuesday, 26th March -
Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held in Weeks 8 and 9.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 teachers will conduct two-way parent-teacher interviews.
Years 3 to Year 6 will conduct three-way student-parent-teacher interviews.
The interviews will be offered on Monday, 18th March and Tuesday, 26th March.
Families will be able to book a time for their interviews as of tomorrow, 12th March.
These interviews are an excellent opportunity for a one-on-one chat with your child’s teacher and to gain information on their progress in the first eight weeks of the year. It is also an opportunity for you to share any concerns or questions.
Kindergarten Enrolments 2025 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 any other supporting documentation will be required to process your enrolment application. Enrolment interviews for all new families will commence on Monday, 13th May.
It would be very helpful if any of our 2025 Kindergarten sibling enrolments could be sent in the next few weeks. This will help us clarify how many places we’ll have available for our new families in 2025.
Condolences - Our prayers and sympathy are extended to the Dunlop family (Jett - 2B) following the death of Brock's father. May he rest in peace.
Pupil Free Day - MONDAY, 25th MARCH - St. Mary’s staff will focus on our school's response to the changes to the Mathematics K to 6 Curriculum.
School Fees - Term 1
Term 1 Statements have been generated and are due for payment on Friday, 15th March.
If you haven't received your Statement, please check your 'SPAM' mail. Thank you.
Sport
Diocesan Swimming Carnival - Last Wednesday, St. Mary’s swimmers represented the Western Region at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Thanks to Mr Keady, who did a fantastic job organising the carnival.
Congratulations to our Junior Boys Relay team (Harry Finlay, Jake Butcher, Diesel Simpson and Connah Maas) and to George Finlay, Emily Lindsay and Georgie Meyers, who qualified to progress to the Polding Carnival, which will be held in Homebush.
Western Boys Netball - Congratulations to Thomas Alley and Jackson O'Connor, who were nominated to trial for the Western Boys Netball team in Orange last Thursday. Thomas and Jackson were both selected and will now represent Western in Penrith on 14th and 15th August.
Bathurst Diocesan Winter Sports Trials - Congratulations to the following students selected at the Bathurst Diocesan Winter Sports Trials last Friday.
Netball: Willow Scott and Taylor Nichols
11s Rugby League: Jackson O’Connor, Jake Clarke-Lawrence, Thomas Alley and Fletcher Pilon
Open Rugby League: CJ Gordon and Vin Grey
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 the 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.
Project Compassion 2024 - In 2024 the Project Compassion focus will be ‘For All Future Generations’. As it was Project Compassion Sunday last Sunday each class will commence their fundraising for 2024 this week. This year's theme reminds us that what we do today can have an impact For All Future Generations. This message invites us to step up for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival and those whose needs at this time are far beyond ours. By putting compassion into action, we can make a difference today, For All Future Generations.
Meet4Mass - Each year, primary schools in Dubbo organise Meet4Mass. This is an opportunity for families and students to come together to celebrate the Eucharist at a Sunday morning Mass. This term, St. Laurence’s, St. Pius X and St. Mary’s are combined. Year 6 classes from these schools will have their Meet4Mass on Sunday, 24th March at 9am (Palm Sunday), whilst K-5 from each school will combine on Sunday, 7th April at 9am. We would love to see you there.
Fourth Week of Lent - (Week beginning Monday, 11th March)
Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory had to take on many household chores and farming activities to support her parents. They struggled to pay for Memory’s school fees and school supplies, and Memory often had to walk to school barefooted.
With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory was able to enrol at a technical college where she learnt technical skills in carpentry. She undertook a three-year carpentry course, with CADECOM supporting part of her tuition and boarding fees.
Memory became the first female carpenter from her village. Today, she works as a carpenter at one of Malawi’s largest hydroelectric power stations. With the income from her job, she can provide financial support to her family and inspire other young women in her community so that they may have the opportunity to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
Watch Memory’s Story
Please donate to Project Compassion.
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow, for all future generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
Photo: Tim Lam/Caritas Australia
Easter Liturgies - We invite our families and community to come along to one of our Holy Week Liturgies.
Palm Sunday Liturgy (Kindergarten) - Friday, 22nd March at 12.30pm
Holy Thursday Liturgy (Year 6)- Wednesday, 27th March at 12.30pm
Stations of the Cross (Year 3)- Thursday, 28th March @ TBC
ST. BRIGID'S PARISH - MASS TIMES:
St Brigid's: Saturday - 6pm, Sunday - 9am and Sunday - 6pm
St. Laurence's Church: Sunday - 7.30am
Wellbeing
Mrs Sue Nuttall
Wellbeing Leader
Just a reminder the eSafety parent webinar is coming up.
It will be very helpful for all parents to view...
Have a wonderful week!
Awards
STUDENT OF THE WEEK:
| Albie Isbester - 1B For settling into Year 1 and working hard in all areas. |
| Clay Crawford - 1G For his positive contributions to class discussions. |
| Lily Thornton - 3B For displaying excellent skills for learning and always working enthusiastically. |
Zac Jacobson - 5B |
HOUSE AWARDS:
Congratulations to the following students for gaining 10 points for
their Sports House for exemplary behaviour:
| LA SALLE: | LENNON: | McAULEY: | MOORE: |
| Logan Dunkley - KB | Rose Buckley - KB | Hendrik Rawson - KB | Ruby Smith - KB |
| Jaxon Malouf -1G | Hank Dunworth - KG | Zadie McWhirter - KB | Nate Hopkins -KG |
| Amya Frankland -1G | Harvey Walkom -KG | Ava Richardson - KG | Ari Shepherd - 1G |
| Kai Gleeson -1G | Charlie Bower -1G | Irish Salloum -1G | Stella Chippendale -5B |
| Vera Morley Pauco -3B | Matilda Waters - 1G | Louis O'Connor - 1G | Donny Larkin -2B |
| Jed Barrett -5B | Layla Madgwick -1G | Stella Goodstat - 4B | |
| Benji McGhee - 2B | Jensen Walkom -1G | Jake Clarke-Lawrence - 5B | |
| Robert Bell -2B | Isabelle Robinson - 4B | Maddison March - 2B | |
| Leo Goodwin - 2B | |||
| Ivie-Mae Ley -2B | |||
| Amity Smith -2B | |||
| Jett Dunlop - 2B |
P&F News
Next P&F Meeting:
Monday, 18th March in the School Library
We encourage new members to come and join our P&F.
Thank you to our P&F Committee:
President - Ilka Grattan
Vice President - Shelley McGhee
Secretary - Amy Whiteley
Community News
BIRTHDAYS:
Celebrating their birthday this week are:
Isaac Clarke, Quinn Wiatkowski, Logan Dunkley, Koa Cooper, Ivy Carney, Thomas Alley, Max Bourchier and Remy Sharkey.
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.
Canteen
Canteen Roster
TUES Mar 12 | HELP WANTED If you can assist in the Canteen, please phone the school office. |
WED Mar 13 | Melissa Barrett and Ros Dixon |
THURS Mar 14 | HELP WANTED If you can assist in the Canteen, please phone the school office. |
FRI Mar 15 | Victoria Meyers and Amy Whiteley |
MON Mar 18 | Cassie Carney |
A big thank you to:
Sarah Chippendale, Zoe Madgwick and Victoria Meyers for their assistance in the Canteen last Friday.
Your help was very much appreciated!
The 2024 Canteen Roster was sent home to our volunteers today.
Student News
Science and Engineering Excursion
