St Mary's Primary School Fortnightly Newsletter Term 3 Week 9

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

Dear Families,

We all enjoyed some spring sunshine earlier this week and it’s a welcome sight after a long and cold winter. At school the children are experiencing an extra burst of energy as they take every opportunity to run around in the slightly warmer air. I’m sure that you will remember from your own school days that the playground is a great leveler. The social interactions that occur during play breaks allow children to mix socially, to problem solve and to test their skills. What might begin as negotiations around the sandpit can provide rich learning for later life when we have to negotiate our way through the workplace. Not all interactions are positive and we learn from these too. Playing fairly is a skill that everyone needs to learn along with inclusion, acceptance and tolerance. Great skills for life-long learners! As our children learn to respectfully play together we hope that they will continue to acquire useful skills which will set them up for life. There is no problem which can’t be solved, no situation that doesn’t involve creative thinking and there is always an opportunity to make new friends. With a sense of optimism and resilience we know that our children will be well prepared for a successful future. 

A Little Spring Prayer
Lord Jesus,
May the sunlight and the rain be reminders that you are at work renewing the earth. As a God of
renewal, You are ever at work in our lives, too. Open our eyes and lives to the needed changes in our lives
this spring. Awaken us to new life and perspective, for we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida 

Principal    (principal@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au)

Students finish Thursday 14th September

Thursday 14th September is the last day of term for students - this is a regular school day with school finishing at 3:15 pm.  On Friday 15th December teachers will travel to St Mary's Donald to work with thier teachers and consultant Tony Dalton for professionsl development for Family Engagement in Learning.

Friday December 15 - Final day for 2023

With confirmation now from Catholic Education Ballarat, students last day will be Friday 15th December. I will confirm the end of day time once this is known. Thank you, Nerrida

Father's Day Breakfast Friday September 1

Thank you dads and granddads for coming along to our Father's Day breakfast and a walk through the classrooms - we hope you had a terrific morning and enjoyed your breaky and cuppa with your children.  Thank you staff for the early morning cook up!

Click on the photo gallery to scroll through the photos. 

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 30

Next

Equine-assisted therapy for emotional wellbeing - Thank you Jess and Digby

On Tuesday 5th September, Jessica Cody arrived with her horse Digby to offer equine assisted therapy for all students. Jessica is a qualified teacher with a Masters in equine-assisted therapy and a lifetime connection with horses. With social and emotional learning at the heart of the program, Jess and Digby offered sessions to the students to help develop resilience, hope and optimism. The students were thoroughly engaged and thrilled to have Digby visit our school.  Our Grade 5 students had a special session with Jess and Digby with a focus on leadership and service to others. Even Fr Matt enjoyed the visit!

Colonial Day- A Journey Back in Time!

On Wednesday 6th September, it was a step back in time for the Grade 3-6 Barley and Lentils students as they enthusiastically celebrated Colonial Day. The day was a special event which took the students on a journey to experience life in colonial Australia in the late 1800's and allowed them to immerse themselves in the rich history of the colonial period.

The students dressed up in colonial-era clothing, which included bonnets, long dresses, shawls, vests and blazers, pantaloons and even buckle shoes! Mrs Letts, Mr Malcolm, Bron and Alyssa also looked fabulous.  The day started with students lining up at the flagpoles to sing "God Save the Queen" and then they nostalgically marched inside to the classrooms for the day's activities. The students used slate boards and chalk and also tried cursive writing with quill pens and ink. Although many found this quite challenging they didn't get the cane! Throughout the morning students made traditional damper enjoyed with jam, made their own spinning and weaved toys and played traditional games of hopscotch and hoola hoops.  It was a day of hands-on learning and immersive fun activities that will leave a lasting impression on these young historians! Thank you Mrs Letts. MrMalcolm, Bron and Alyssa for your work in organising the day.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 15

Next

Chickpea Assembly - Friday 8th September

Thank you to Mrs. Kemp and Chickpeas for your assembly this week.

The Chickpeas students shared their posters on money and explained the types of coins they would use to purchase items. They also proudly presented their work describing their favorite activities from their Swan Hill excursion - old fashion laundry, butter churning and carriage rides were very popular.  But the highlight was their singing in Japanese "I can sing a rainbow".  Well done Chickpeas, you did such a great job!  See our family facebook page for the video of the assembly. 

Below are our award winners for this week.

Japanese Culture Day

On Friday 8th September under the guidance of Mrs. Jess Boyd, the students enjoyed a Japanese food culture day with delicious pork gyozas, chicken skewers,  rice balls amd moshi ice treats

Thank you Mrs. Boyd for organising the food and also to staff assisting with the cooking and serving of the food to the children.  Many came back for seconds!

STOMP presentation and Movie night

On Friday the 6th of October, the students at St Mary’s would like to invite you to watch their STOMP presentation and share a BBQ tea and a movie projected onto the big scoreboard, all starting from 3:30pm. The Parent Club will be providing a fundraiser BBQ tea along with an assortment of snacks for students at a small cost. We encourage you to come along and share this special time with your students.

 Available for purchase will be

sausages, hamburgers with or without coleslaw, cupcakes, ice creams in cones, water, fruit boxes popcorn, tea and coffee

We would ask you to indicate how many people you would bring to the showcase as a rough guide for our catering purposes. If you have any special dietary requirements (ie gluten, vegan/vegetarian, or allergies), please indicate in the form below.

As this is a school event, there is to be no alcohol brought or consumed on the premises.

Please indicate your RSVP through the Google link below.  If any difficulties with the form, please email your RSVP to jboyd@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au

School Fees and Levies 2024

At our recent SAC meeting held on Monday 4th September, our school fees and levies were reviewed.  Also discussed was our school's commitment to provide the best in technology through our infrastructure and devices, to ensure no child is left behind in terms of digital literacy.  

St Mary's is updating the technology provision across the whole school through its masterplan, which includes in 2024 updating the students' chromebooks currently used across Years 3-6.  As such, from 2024, a $100 technology levy per student per year will be introduced, for student in Grade 3 ,4, 5 and 6. 

School fees for 2024 are:

Family fee $895  per family

Capital fee $90 per family

Student fee $180 per student

Technology levy $100 per student

If you have concerns regarding fees and fee payments, or wish to have a confidential discussion regarding how you can best contribute to your child's fees, please call the school or contact Nerrida at

principal@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au

Little Desert Athletics - now Mon 11/9

Families please see your emails. Due to poor weather, the Little Desert Regional Athletics will now be held on Monday 11th September in Stawell.  The arrangements for transport remain the same. 

Barley and Lentil Camps next Term

Permission forms will be out through PAM soon for the Barley and Lentil camps.  Lentils will head to  Tarroki camp in Robe S.A  from 17-20 October, with Barley heading to Lady Northcote camp at Bacchus Marsh from 25-27th October. Fee statements have been sent to families and your prompt payment towards these are appreciated.  If you are having difficulties with fee payments please contact Nerrida. 

Wellbeing - R U OK? Day

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm –– are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention year round by urging people to invest time in personal relationships and empowering informal support networks to identify signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, “Are you OK?”

Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report 

https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day

Catholic Schools Guide Treasure Hunt

Community News

Dyson Community Grants

The next round of Dyson community Grants is now available. This program has been established to provide grants in support of the many community groups and organisations around Victoria. 

There are two rounds of grants annually, each with $10,000 available (maximum grant $1000). Eligible organisations include schools, sporting clubs, not-for-profit groups, charities, local societies and emergency services.

This next round of grants opens on 13 September and closes 11 October 2021.

All details, including an online application form, can be found at 

http://dysongroup.com.au/about/community-grants

General enquiries, interviews etc:             Peter Cocks

                                                                   Mobile: 0417 398 232

                                                      community@dysongroup.com.au

Our Diocesan Community

The link to the current issue of the Our Diocesan Community is below.