2024 St Mary's Primary School Fortnightly Newsletter Term 1 Week 1

Acknowledgement of Country

St Mary’s Primary School respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the
Wimmera Mallee area, the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk
peoples, and pays respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.

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 1 Week 1     

Hello and welcome to all our families for 2024!  It is an exciting time for us all in beginning the new school year. 

A very big welcome to our new Foundation students - Beau, Bronte, Charlie, Daniel, Joey, Matilda, Oscar, Patrick, Quinn, Rudy and Summer.  Welcome also to new students Sam (Grade 3) and Shreesh (Grade 2) we are so pleased your families have have chosen for you to come to St Mary's!  We look forward to having all our new students as members of our St Mary's community throughout their primary school years. With staff officially returning last Monday, we also welcomed back Claire Schulz and Victoria McPhee from family leave, who will be team teaching the Wheat classroom. 

The return to school energy could be felt on Wednesday morning, with class buddies joining up with each other, students and staff catching up again with lots of photos taken and many families having a chat and a welcome cuppa.  Thank you to Parents' Club for organising the morning tea for families. 

Students had a busy first day, settling into school, happy to be with their friends, learning new routines and excited to be together.

For key and important dates throughout the term, please refer to the Term outline at the beginning of the newsletter. All dates are also available on the school calendar in PAM.

So again to everyone, welcome back to the new school year. I wish a settled and productive year for us all.  May this prayer below give us guidance for the year ahead.

Let us pray

Entering the New Year
God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly,
thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others,
mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.

May we walk gently.
May we speak only after we have listened well.

Creator of all life, help us enter the New Year reverently,
aware that you have endowed, every creature and plant, every person and habitat
with beauty and purpose.

May we regard the world with tenderness.
May we honour rather than destroy.

Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully,
willing to hope laugh dance and dream,

Remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come.

May we welcome your lavish love.
May we cast off the small, vindictive voice our fears make.

May the grace and peace of Christ bless us now and in the days ahead.

Amen.        

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida

Family Photos - click on the images and scroll through

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

Our First Day at St Mary's!

Family Engagement at St Mary's

On Tuesday 30th January all staff were involved in professional development with Educational Consultant Tony Dalton. We wer also joined by Liz McIntyre, Well-Being Consultant from Catholic Education Ballarat and for part of the day Fr Matt Restall also joined us. Tony is an enaging presenter and our sessions were very hands on and productive. Staff finished the day enthused and enriched with many ideas to continue connecting and working in partnerships with our familes. 

PAM /SIMON - Medical, Interview Bookings and Excursion Permissions

Families - please check you have updated your student's details in PAM. Please ensure you have acknowledged your child's swimming ability and any medical conditions including Asthma. Students requiring a puffer at school will need an Asthma management plan signed by a general practioner. This needs to be completed annually each year. 

The Getting to Know You communication afternoons are to be booked through this platform and are available now. Also permission forms for students to attend the pool for the Water Familiarisation Program (Feb 12-15), the Swimming Sports (Feb 23) are all available on PAM. The Foundation Numeracy and Literacy bookings can also be completed now. 

It is very important that your child's medical details and swimming ability is updated to PAM as soon as possible. Thank you parents for attending to this promptly. If you have any problems with Pam please contact Paula or Nerrida.

Bus travellers and notes

Thank you families for including notes into your children's diaries when there are changes to bus travel. Please understand if there is no note in the child's diary or phonecall/email to school regarding changes, (eg being pick up from school or walking to sport etc) your child will be directed to go home on the bus. 

Term 1 School Swimming Activities- volunteers required.

In Week 3, from 12th-15th February we will be running our Water familiarisation program each afternoon after lunch. Students will travel by bus to and from the school. Please also check your child's diaires for further information and complete the permission and medical forms on PAM.  We would be very grateful for volunteers to assist with the program during this week.   We are also seeking volunteers to assist with the swimming sports on February 23rd. Please email Nerrida if you can assist.

Please note -

• Whilst we encourage all parents to assist, we are unable to have parents/caregivers who will have younger children with them at the pool. This is for the safety of the group you are teaching/supervising as well as your toddlers.
• All volunteers must have WWCC 
• All volunteers must have signed our Code of Conduct (available from the school Office).

The purpose of the swimming sessions is for Water Safety and Water Familiarisation. During each session the students will participate in activities based around Water Safety & Confidence, Endurance and Stroke.  Please remember that we do not specifically teach the students to swim. We aim to give the children skills and knowledge as to how to keep themselves safe in and around water.

Please be aware that if your child does not follow the instructions of the adult leaders of the group they will be sat out of the pool for their safety and the safety of the rest of the group.

Students are to come to school in uniform and will change into their bathers before going to the pool. Students can wear their sports uniform to school on swimming days. Please send your child’s swimming gear in a named separate bag. All clothing must be named.            

All students need to wear a rash vest for this program. 

As a reminder, Foundation students do not attend the swimming program on Wednesday 14th February as that is their rest day. (They are very welcome to attend the Ash Wednesday Mass that will be held that day at St Mary's Church at 9:00am). 

Ash Wednesday Mass

All families and St Mary's Parish members are warmly invited to the Ash Wednesday Mass at St Mary's Catholic Church at 9:00am on Wednesday 14 February. Our Foundation students and families are also very welcome to attend the mass.  

School Sport 2024

Children across age groups in Years 3-6 will have many opportunities to enage in sporting activities and if successful, may represent St Mary's across a variety of interschool, regional and perhaps even state events.  This term will be our Swimming carnival on February 23rd and those students who qualify may represent St Mary's at the regional level in Horsham on Tuesday 28th February . The other regional event students may qualify for this term is Tennis in Horsham on March 7- more details regading this event will be available soon. 

The school sport Victoria web site is a very good resource to familiarise yourself with. It has division, region and state dates for all sports as well as rules and regulations. 

Victorian State Teams

Nominations for Vic state teams close the end of February. If you have a talented child in AFL, cricket, netball, basketball or soccer wishing to trial for one or more of these sports, please go to the school sport Victoria website for more information and online entry.  It is up to parents to complete these forms and bring in to school for students to trial for state teams.

https://ssv-cms.eduweb.vic.gov.au/Pages/SSV-Home.aspx

Uniform reminders

The Parent Handbook is available on the school website under Our School- Parent Information.  A reminder that hair ties/ scrunchies/bands must be navy blue, light blue or made from school uniform material, blue socks to be worn with school dresses and shorts and white socks with sports uniform. Earrings are to be plain sleepers or studs no larger than the earlobe, either gold/silver/navy or light blue- no butterflies etc or dangle/drop earrings or variety of colours. Other earring colours and flat to the earlobe, no dangling styles can be worn on sport days and fundraising events.

School Shoes - these are to be PLAIN BLACK as per the uniform requirements in the handbook.  This has not been changed. The uniform regulations specify leather school shoes. There are many styles on the market that fit this description. However, parents are urged to avoid shoes that feature coloured stripes, logos or any other coloured decoration. The school shoes are to be plain black all over, including the soles.

Student Absence from School - Every Day Counts

It is a legal requirement for parents to explain absences from school. Please remember to log on to PAM and state if the absence is due to sickness, doctor’s appointment or family reasons. Alternatively you can email or phone the school prior to 9:30 am on the day of absence, otherwise an absence SMS will be generated. If there is a scheduled absence please advise us in advance. 

Every Day Counts

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education.
Students learn new things at school every day– missing school puts them behind. Of course we do not want children to come to school if they are ill, and their health is priority. But please consider if the reason for your child to miss a day of learning is important. If your child's school report shows less than 90% attendance for the semester, that represents at least 1 week absent a term or two weeks absence over a semester  -  at least 10% of learning opportunities missed. 

Family holidays - if there are planned holidays during school term time, parents are to notify Nerrida at principal@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au. Please do not write a note in a diary or talk to a teacher for long planned absences, this must come through me, as the Principal has the responsibility for overseeing attendance and all reasons for absences.   For known absences of 3 days or more, parents are to contact the Principal. 

Safer Internet Day

Every year the E-safety commissioner promotes Safer Internet Day. This year it will be Tuesday 6 February.  At St Mary's, safe internet use is promoted continuosly throughout the year within our curriculum. In Technology this term, the focus is primarily on Safe Internet Usage with the following themes: 

• Balance and Wellbeing
• Privacy and Security
• Relationships and Communication
• Cyberbullying
• News and Media Literacy

Each year, the Commissioner calls on all Australians to Connect. Reflect. Protect. Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.  Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others. Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.  
 
By doing these simple things, we can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.

Parent tips are below:   

Get Back to School Ready with the School Student Broadband Initiative: Free nbn internet until December 2025!

To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government is providing up to
30,000 eligible families with no internet at home a free National Broadband Network (nbn) service.
The Australian Government has announced that they have extended School Student Broadband Initiative, which
now means free nbn internet service for all new families that take up the offer until 31 December 2025.

How can SSBI help your child?
• Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in
classroom activities.
• Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely
use the internet and participate in a world that is more dependent on digital technology.
Is your family eligible for the SSBI? To be eligible your family must:
• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in
Qld/Vic/Tas, Kindy in NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT/ACT and Pre-Primary in WA).
• Not have an active nbn Internet service at home. (Having a mobile internet service does not affect
eligibility).
• Live in a premises that can access the nbn via a standard connection – this will be checked for you.
• Not have had an active nbn connection during the previous 14 days.

Check your eligibility, by following these simple steps:
1. Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT) or by visiting
www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.

2. The National Referral Centre team will then help assess your eligibility for the SSBI, by checking several things including your residential address and current financial situation.

3. If eligible, you will be issued a voucher which can be redeemed at any of the participating SSBI retail
service providers.

4. If further assistance is required, the National Referral Centre will also be available to assist with
contacting your SSBI retail service provider of choice and providing follow-up support.

Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT) or by visiting
www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.

School TV

St Mary's Warracknabeal and all DOBCEL schools have access to this terrific site to help support the wellbeing of your child and better resource families and education staff. After all, happy and well supported students are better equipped to learn and succeed.

Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is an online wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting. This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist you in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle. 

Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources offering practical strategies with a focus to empower confidence when difficulties arise.

We invite you to visit our SchoolTV site and view the content. Discover a host of interesting topics featuring interviews with leading youth wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world offering hours of relevant and practical information. Additionally, each topic includes a compilation of related resources from key organisations providing a comprehensive stream of content. Resources include informative fact sheets, articles, apps, books, podcasts, websites, and other videos - all related to a single topic, in one place for easy access!

Regularly through our newsletter you will see key topics promoted.  In this week's newsletter the topic is School Transition.

Start exploring SchoolTV today!  https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me

School TV - School Transitions

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTV
https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

Upcoming events

Our Getting to Know You afternoons: These will be held next Tuesday 6th February and Thursday 8th February from 3:30pm to 5:30 pm.  Bookings are now able to be made for a 10 minute time slot with your child's teacher and specialist teacher through PAM.  Please ensure you have updated you PAM login in details so you can make these bookings. 

Before meeting with your child's teacher, please make sure you have read your child's Semester 2 report from 2023, available through PAM. This will be helpful for you to engage in discussion with your child's teacher about their learning goals for the year.

Foundation Numeracy Interviews : These will be held on Wed 7th, 14th and 21st Feb. Bookings for these 30 mins sesssions for the Foundation students are now available through PAM.

Beginning of Year Liturgy/ School Leader Induction : Thursday 8th February, 9:15am at St Mary's Church where we will celebrate the beginning of the new year and induct and present badges to our 2024 School Captains - Pippa, Isaac and Ivy and all Grade 6 students as House Leaders.  This year this will be held at St Mary's Church.

For other dates in the term, including Swimming information, please see the key dates at the beginning of the newsletter and in the calendar on PAM. 

Our 2024 School Leaders

School Closure Days 2024

For your planning purposes, please see the days and their purpose as outlined at the beginning of the newsletter. These student free days are important for staff to undergo professional development and complete necessary requirements for compliance. We are all on-going learners!  Parents, please note that during the year, there may be interruptions, presenter unavailability or other valid reasons as to why these dates may change. If so, staff and families will be given as much notice as possible if these dates are to change. 

The theme for each closure day aligns with the development of the 2024 School Improvement Plan.

Thank you families, for your anticipated support of staff for these days. 

Lunch orders are available next week

Lunch can be ordered each Tuesday as of February 6th.  The price list is attached, has been placed on the Family Facebook Page and is on the school website. Please ensure the correct money is included in the order as change is not provided.

Code Red Day - Now Catastrophic

Catastrophic Fire Rating Days
The Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS) is a  nationally consistent system to more accurately predict fire danger and produce clear, simple messages for communities.  The AFDRS system uses 4 tiers of fire danger, from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Catastrophic’
In response to the updated state Victorian Fire Risk register, St Mary’s is rated CAT 4. This means that our school must close on days forecast as ‘Catastrophic’, by the Bureau of Meteorology within our designated fire district. The decision to close will be confirmed by the Emergency Management Commissioner no later than 1.00 pm the day prior to the closure. Once we have received confirmation of the closure we will contact you through SMS, our Facebook page and email before the end of the school day to confirm this. If the forecast for Catastrophic is changed after the notification for school closure, the school will still remain closed. 

School Fees and CSEF

Thank you to all the families who have paid their student levy. If you are a current Health Care Card holder would you please make sure you come into the office and complete a Camps and Excursions Form along with a Family Fee Assistance Form to be able to have your fees reduced. Fee statements will be emailed to you at the end of next week. If you have any concerns regarding fees please make the time to contact the Principal.

Book Club

The first Book Club Issue has been sent home with your child. The due date for Issue 1 is Wednesday 14th February.  Book Club has 2 issues per term.