2023 St Mary's Primary Term 4 Newsletter Week 4

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,

Today, Friday 27th of October is officially World Teachers Day 2023. We celebrate and acknowledge all those involved in the educational endeavour in our schools and thank God for their contribution. We pray for all those who educate and support our young people. 

October is Catholic Mission month and Lentils are busy planning towards their fundraising day on Wednesday November 1. Monies raised this year will be for Caritas to support their humanitarian assistance with the crisis in Gaza. The prayer, Let your faith shine like the stars, is an interesting one in troubled times. God told Abraham that his descendants would multiply like the stars across the evening sky. Yet for the people who live today in the lands of Abraham, a light shining across the sky in the evening might be a missile or a burning building on the horizon. For these people, it must be hard to imagine how or when they might look to the stars in peace. 

We don’t know how or when there will be any form of conclusion to the war that rages in these ancient lands. We don’t know that reconciliation can even be possible. We do know, however, that our prayers can help in the most difficult of situations. Perhaps we can be the holders of faith for those who are suffering so much. Perhaps then, and with faith, we might begin to see small signs of peace begin to emerge. 

We Pray for Peace
God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon all your children in the Middle East: Jews, Muslims and Christians, Palestinians and Israelis.
Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope, oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation,
that violent encounters may be replaced by loving embraces, and peace and justice could be experienced by all.
Amen. 

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida 

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

School Advisory Council (SAC) and Parent Club Annual General Meeting

As per our Family Facebook notification, you are invited to consider becoming a member of our School Advisory Council (SAC). The SAC is the leading advisory group for the Principal and an active forum for parent and community participation. SAC is important in providing support and advice in the strategic planning, school improvement, educational outcomes and stewardship of resources for the school. There are only one to two meetings in each of Terms 1, 2 and 3 , with the Annual General Meeting in Term 4, so it is not an onerous commitment.

We have some current SAC members coming towards the end of their tenure. A nomination form is attached that can be downloaded. Copies are also available at the office. Please return forms to school to Nerrida by Wednesday 1 November. The AGM for School Advisory Council and Parent's Club, will be held on Wednesday 1 November at 6:00pm in the meeting room. Attached below is the DOBCEL School Advisory Council Terms of Reference for further information as to the role of SAC in a Catholic school in our Diocese. 

Staffing for 2024, Transition Days and Kinder Visits

Next year we welcome back from family leave, both Claire Schulz and Victoria McPhee. Andy Malcolm and Marg Clancey will complete their contracts for us as the conclusion of the 2023 school year and we wish them both all the best with their future endeavours. We will be able to properly thank them for their contributions at the end of year Graduation Mass. Classroom structures and staffing combinations are still being finalised and as for every year, these are dependent on our current student numbers and 2024 enrolments.

As a reminder for our 2024 Foundation student families,  the Foundation students Transition days will be held on Tuesday November 28 from 9am-11am, Tuesday December 5 from 9am-12pm, and Tuesday December 12 from 9am-1:45pm. Also on December 12, the current Grade 6 students will attend Warracknabeal Secondary College for their transition day at the Secondary College, and through the morning on this day our current students will have transition sessions with their 2024 classes and teachers. 

On Wednesday November 8 our Grade 6 students will have an additional half- day transition session at the Secondary College.  A PAM notification for permission to walk to and from the WEP and attend with a staff member will be sent in the next week. 

And finally, on Wednesday November 8 and Thursday November 9,  the Grade 5  students will visit the Kinder to meet the St Mary's 2024 Foundation students. Again,  a PAM notification for permission to walk to and from the Kinder to attend with a staff member will be sent in the next week. 

Lentil and Barley Camps - we had a blast!

Over the past two weeks Lentils and Barley students have had a fabulous time on their respective camps, each person challenging themselves and making the most of new experiences.  Thank you to Bron Orval, Andy Malcolm, Clare Letts, student teacher Will Martin and Nerrida Holland for organising and attending the camps to allow these opportunities for the children to have these amazing experiences. 

Lentil Camp "Tarooki" - Robe, SA

Lentil Camp Reflections

Barley Camp - "Lady Northcote", Glenmore, VIC

World Teachers Day 2023

From Catholic Education Ballarat:

Let’s celebrate our educators! World Teachers Day (WTD) is celebrated on Friday 27 October 2023.

We appreciate everything you do. The inherent value you have to our schools and the contributions to the success of your students does not go unnoticed.

We want to celebrate and recognise the achievements, successes, and hard work our educators carry out each and every day.

Mission Day next Wednesday November 1

Lentils class and the Grade 6 leaders have been very busy planning and coordinating Mission Day Fete  which will be celebrated  on Wednesday November 1. 

$5 per family - please bring in an envelope and give it to the class teacher from Monday 30th October.

Your support of fundraising activities organised by our students to support this project is greatly appreciated.  This year our fundraising will be supporting Caritas and the Gaza Crisis appeal.  Alarming escalation of violence in the region is leaving people in Gaza in urgent need of humanitarian aid and our support is needed now.  With your compassionate generosity, we can support our partners and their local networks on the ground to provide emergency support to people displaced and affected by the most recent hostilities. This vital support will help families meet basic needs and cope with trauma. 

School TV - Special Report Discussing War and Conflict

Children are frequently exposed to distressing news through the 24-hour news cycle and social media. These experiences can provoke anxiety, especially in young minds still forming their worldviews. Parents and caregivers should be mindful of overexposure to such content as it can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Children’s responses to trauma can vary, from being strong emotional reactions to being indifferent. It can leave an emotional imprint that can affect a child's behaviour and perception of danger. Children need reassurance about their safety as they navigate uncertain times.

Tailor conversations to your child's age and emotional maturity. Younger children benefit from simplified explanations focusing on peace, empathy, and cooperation, while older children can delve into historical events, root causes of conflict, and the complexities of international relations.

Before discussing these topics with your child, it is also important to assess your own emotions and comfort level. By staying calm and providing physical comfort will help your child regulate their own emotions. In challenging times, compassionate adults play a crucial role in helping children cope with anxiety and providing hope and understanding in our complex world.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to tackle this difficult topic and helping children understand there is still hope in our complex world. Please 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-discussing-war-conflict

Wheat Assembly - next Thursday 2nd Nov

A reminder to all that Wheat assembly will be held next Thursday 2nd November in the school library.  All parents and special friends welcome. 

Lentils Push Cart Challenge - Tue 7th Nov

Invitation from Colby in Lentils :

On Tuesday the 7th of November, the Lentils class will host a Push Cart challenge to be held at school after a BBQ lunch provided by the Parent Club. Students will be able to wear casual clothes and we ask for a gold coin donation towards Mission Month.  There will be also cakes and slices for students to choose from.

If you are wondering what a Push Cart challenge is, it is a competition where you have one person in a cart and another person pushing the cart and you race around a course. Whilst the Energy Breakthrough is regularly held in Maryborough, for this year, to enable more students to be involved,  we learnt about the Energy Breakthrough competition, the design process and the components of the push cart in our lessons at school. 

If anyone is wanting to ask questions, please email Fiona Holland.

School Fees and Levies 2024

A reminder 2023 school fees are due. In previous newsletters it has been shared that 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 students 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

Prelude to Christmas - Sunday 3rd Dec 6:00pm at the Lutheran Church

This annual event will return this year, on the evening of Sunday Dec 3.  This year the Anglican Church will be hosting the event, with the event held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 6:00pm. This is a wonderful ecumenical evening where community members from the various churches in Warracknabeal can celebrate together the advent season and love of Christ, through scripture readings and performances.  The children will present two songs, so all children are expected to attend, and all families are warmly invited. Students will practice their songs at school and also at the church leading up to the event. A PAM permission form will be sent closer to the date for the children to walk to and from the Church for these practices. 

Songs have been chosen and students will start learning and practicing these over the coming weeks.  The songs are "Christmas Is The Time" and "Walk to Bethlehem".  At the end of the newsletter are links to You Tube clips for the songs and copies of the words. Please practice these with your children. (Sing out loud and sing it proud!).  We want the students to learn the words by heart and your help is greatly appreciated.

Upcoming dates

Wednesday November 1:  Lentils Mission Day ($5 per family), also SAC and Parents' Club AGM 6pm followed by dinner at the Creekside Hotel

Tuesday November 7 : Lentils Push Cart Challenge (afternoon) with Parent Club BBQ lunch, Casual clothes day for all students with gold coin donation per student for Mission Month.

Saturday November 11: Remembrance Day, St Mary's student representatives at Post Office by 10:15am

Weeks 9 and Weeks 10:   To be confirmed Student Swimming Program

Thursday December 7: Graduation Dinner at the Creekside Hotel 6:00pm

Wednesday December 13: Graduation Mass (with presentation of the Shine Award and farewells to families and staff leaving St Mary's.)

Friday December 15:  To be confirmed St Mary's students Pool Party (this is also the last day for students)

Community News

Prelude to Christmas Songs