St Mary's Primary School Newsletter Term 2 Week 1

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary’s Primary School respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the
Wotjobaluk Nation, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk
peoples, and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Nation Peoples of the Wimmera Mallee area. 

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.  St Mary's Catholic Primary School  is committed to the safety and well-being of all students.

Key Dates

Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 2 Week 1

Dear Families and Friends, Staff and Students of St Mary's,

Welcome back everyone to Term 2.  I do hope you have all had a restful break and enjoyed spending time with family, friends and loved ones. Easter is a time to reflect on our lives and is a hopeful reminder to all Christians that we too will one day experience resurrection as God makes all things new.

During the first week of the holidays, along with other Principals and school leaders in the Diocese, I was very fortunate to attend the World Edulead conference in Singapore. It was an enriching three day event. Keynote speakers highlighted the changing face of education and the importance for educators to prepare our students for our VUCA world, one which is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. So whilst the world continues to change at an exponential rate, we need to challenge ourselves. Do we want to be the progressive school, or the one that prepares for what currently exists?

The future of education is already here, with Artificial Intelligence platforms able to be utilised as a natural part of student learning and teaching practice. Current educational research shows students learn content and much needed skills better when their learning environment is student-centered, personalised, experiential, collaborative and inquiry-based. We want our learners to know how to learn, to self-reflect, self-monitor and self-regulate, and to effectively teach themselves from their own learning. The World Economic Forum identifies the top skills for 2025 around problem solving, self-management, working with people and technology use and development. Moving forward, anything not automated or digitised, such as creative thought, critical thinking and originality will be extremely valuable. Hence the importance for language development to enable learners to express themselves and further opportunities for students to be active in their learning as critical and analytical thinkers. Consequently, St Mary's proudly continues to re-evaluate our own teaching and learning continuum. We are willing to be the risk-takers, to strive to be innovative and implement value-based change to ensure our school community can remain highly relevant in our rapidly changing world. This is a challenging yet also very exciting time for education and we want to prepare our learners for this world!

It is yet again another busy term and a short one, only 9 weeks.  Please note for your planning our school closure day on June 1. Teachers will be involved with CEB staff analysing student data and using this to improve teaching and learning. 

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida

ANZAC Day Tuesday 25th April

The start of our term has been very positive, with the students are fully embracing each new day. Tuesday was ANZAC Day. ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. St Mary’s students were well represented at ANZAC Park for the 11:00 am service and thank you to all students who attended and families supporting them. Our student leaders laid a wreath in remembrance. There were St Mary students and staff attending with their own community involvement including Guides and the Band. Thank you everyone.

Information evening for the Fullness of Life - Relationships and Sexuality Program

Information has been emailed home with the course outline of the F-6 curriculum for the Relationships and Sexuality well-being and health components. Attached to the email is also a letter warmly inviting parents to an information session, to be held at school in the library at on Thursday 4th May from 7pm till 7:45pm.  Here we can further share with you the age-appropriate approach to the learning and teaching that will take place during the unit. Please take the time to review the curriculum so you are aware of the content covered at each year level. Jim Waight from the Catholic Identity and Mission team  - Catholic Education Ballarat will lead the introduction to our evening via zoom, and then myself and teachers will be available to answer any questions.  For those unable to make the information session, Jim's presentation will be recorded and made available upon request. You are also very welcome to contact me to arrange a meeting with your child's teacher and myself if you still have questions.  

St Mary's is committed to working in partnership with families and we look forward to sharing the information evening with you. 

Thank you Parent Club, Staff and Student Helpers.

Thank you to all those who cooked and helped with the catering for Ben Bentley's 90th Birthday celebrated on Sunday 23rd May, with a very special thank you to our students helpers who generously gave their time on the Sunday afternoon to help in serving the food. Thank you to Fergie, Zoe, Blake, Campbell, Colby, Olivia and Aleah, who wore their St Mary's school uniform on the day in helping and were wonderful ambassadors for our school. 

Mother's Day breakfast, liturgy and learning walk

Invitation to all mums, grandmas or special people for Mothers Day breakfast Friday 12th May. 8:15 am start for a ham and cheese croissant (and alternate gluten free option - see order form sent home) followed at 9:00am with a special presentation and short liturgy in the library. Children will also have a croissant with their parents/carer - their order has been collated by their teachers. Mums and grandmothers/carers are then welcome to visit classrooms for a learning walk through to 10:00am. An order form has been sent home with your child. Grandmothers/special people are also welcome, please include their order on the form. Limit to 2 adult participants per family please. Please contact Nerrida if more than 2. We look forward to spending this special morning with you.

Catholic Education Week celebrations 24th May

On Wednesday 24th May our school will travel by bus to St Joseph's Primary school in Hopetoun for a fun day to share experiences and hospitality with our fellow St Paul VI Parish schools.  Our Ladies Help of Christans, Murtoa, and St Patricks, Nhill will also be joining us there.  We had the priviledge of hosting this day last year and the students had a wonderful day coming together across all the schools to engage in activities and play with each other.  Students can wear their sports uniform on this day.  Permission forms will be sent shortly through PAM once tranpsort is confirmed. 

School Cross Country Trials

Thank you parents in completing the PAM permsission forms for the Cross Country trials.  Last year St Mary's was very successful in securing the flag for the Little Desert Division for the interschool Cross Country - we have some terrific runners amongst us! For students keen to go to the interschool competition, Under 9 and 10 competitors need to run 2km within 12 mins or less, and Under 11 and 12 competitors need to run 3km in 18min or less.  The next level of competition will be held in Horsham on Wednesday 10th May. Below is a map of our course on which the students will be conducting their trials. We aim to complete 4 trials, from 1:45-2:15pm on 26/4, 28/4, 1/5 and 3/5 with other days possible if inclement weather. If there is rain and the track is deemed unsafe (as there are many parts that are just dirt only and can be quite slippery) then an alternate track at school will be used. Parents and volunteers are sought to assist as check points through the course on these days.  For serious interschool contenders - please wear your sports uniform each day and bring your school uniform in your bag,  as you may need to conduct a trial on the alternate course in the rain - remember it may be raining on the day in Horsham! Obviously we won't get you to run if it is pouring!

School Office

Paula is on Long Service Leave for Week 2 from the 1/5/23 to 5/5/23. There will be no purchasing of uniform during this week. Phone messages will be checked regularly during the course of each day.

No ADHOC Bus Travel for Watchem and Aubrey Buses

There will be no ADHOC bus travel for the Watchem and Aubrey Bus, this includes town bus travel if you have not been registered. These buses are full so no ADHOC travel can be permitted.

Catholic Education - a point of difference.

Many families will now start to pursue the secondary educational pathways for their upper primary children for 2023 and beyond. As families who have already chosen a Catholic faith-based education for your child's primary years, I invite you to consider the opportunity for your child to continue their education in a Catholic setting. 

As a Catholic Diocesan School, St Mary's belong to the Parish of St Paul VI. As part of our Parish, St Brigid's College in Horsham is our nearest Catholic secondary provider. Please see the information following as to the opportunities St Brigid's can offer your child and call St Brigid's College on 5382 3545.

St Brigid's Scholarship and Bursary Opportunities.

At St Brigid’s College there is a range of Scholarship opportunities available for students from Year 7 through to Year 12.

Scholarships at St Brigid’s College reflect our core values which celebrate succeeding together, respecting, inspiring, valuing and empowering our students – because at the heart of what we do is offer an education for life.

We believe in the pursuit of academic excellence, but we also admire a student whose pure motive is to participate in all that is on offer at St Brigid’s College. Our goal is to create courageous, lifelong learners that add to the abundance of our collective being. St Brigid’s College is an inclusive school and we hold the belief that a student desiring a Catholic Education should not be denied.

A range of scholarships are on offer including Bursaries. The Bursary Fund enables the College to establish places for worthy students from a wide range of backgrounds who may otherwise not be able to attend St Brigid’s College. These are awarded at the discretion of the Principal or Business Manager and assessed on the information provided by the applicant. The nature of a bursary is determined by the Principal.

For further information, please call the College on 5382 3545  regarding scholarships and bursaries or please visit the website 

https://www.stbc.vic.edu.au/learning-teaching/scholarships/

Fizzics Education excursion Monday April 3

Thank you to Country Education Partnership for organising Fizzics Education to come to Warrackanbeal and for the Secondary College in hosting the show. The students were mesmerised and engaged to see gigantic bubbles, flying toilet paper, hair-raising electricity experiments, levitating beach balls, volunteers on a nail chair, a giant gyroscope, fire balls, coloured shadows, a flame equalizer and much more!

Creek Walks

From Mrs. Fiona Holland:

This term we are incorporating Science into our Technology unit and investigating our local Yarriambiack Creek. We are very fortunate to have this so accessible to incorporate it into our work.

During the term, each class will be visiting the creek three times to observe the environment, check water samples that I will collect and take back to school and investigate animal and plant life that lives around the creek.

Each class has a particular focus:

• Chickpeas and Wheat – Animal life
• Barley – Plant life
• Lentils – Maintaining healthy water quality

I am planning to take each class during the weeks of May 8^th, May 29^th and June 19^th. Consent forms have sent home through PAM. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at fholland@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.

Thank you, Fiona Holland - Technology Teacher

Book Fair May 22nd, 23rd and 25th - in the Meeting Room

The Book Fair is coming to St. Mary’s! It will be arriving on Monday 22 May and will be operating Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of that week. Come by before or after school on these days to shop a wide range of new titles, for all age groups. 
There will be competitions in each class for students to win vouchers to spend at the Book Fair, so stay tuned. 

Parent Club Fundraiser- Wonder White Recycling Program

Recycle, earn and play. A fun, easy way to fundraise. White, wholemeal, low GI, wraps all of the above. Collect Wonder white bread bags and send them into the school in the specially marked box. The more bread bags we can collect, the more reward points we can earn, therefore the more sports equipment we can collect for the school.  (Emma Mansfield)

Chickpea Assembly and Easter Hat parade

Thank you Louise Kemp and Chickpeas for your amazing assembly. What a fabulous way to finish the term. In particular, the Chickpeas' version of Acknowledgment of Country was incredibly heartfelt and showed a genuine student understanding of meaning and purpose. 

Congratulations to all our award winners for the end of Term 1!

Easter Hat Parade

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