2024 St Mary's Primary School Fortnightly Newsletter Term 2 Week 7

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 2 Week 7

Last week was Laudato Si' Week with the theme "Planting Seeds of Hope in our World" where we we celebrate what it means to care for our common home. This year the theme of Laudato Si’ Week centres around ‘seeds of hope’. We are called to consider how we can plant and nurture seeds to be the hope that the world needs during this time of suffering for our planet (Laudate Deum, 2).  Parents Club and students are also keen to plant 'seeds of hope', with Parents Club providing soil, seedlings and gardening equipment in order to care for our school environment.  Thank you Parents Club and students for your contributions. 

In 2023, Pope Francis released a ‘sequel’ to his famous letter called Laudate Deum which reminds us of the urgent need to act. You can find out more about Laudato Deum at the link below.

Invitation to prayer

Creator God,
You fill the earth with life,
Lead us to live in harmony with the earth you have created.
May we respect all life from the smallest of plants to the tallest of trees, the vastness of the oceans to the majesty of mountains and the tiniest insects to the wildest beasts.
We ask this in your name.
Amen                                                                                   From Jim Waight (Catholic Ed Ballarat) and

https://www.caritas.org.au/news/blog/laudato-si-week-19-26-may-2024/

To mark the 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat, and in recognition of, and sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sisters and brothers, four Message Sticks are now journeying simultaneously to each Catholic school across the four education zones of the Diocese. On Monday we welcomed the Mid Northern Zone Message Stick to our St Mary's community. A litugy was held to formally receive the Message Stick, which has been housed in a classroom each day this week, and in the office on Thursday. The Message Stick has been passed to St Patrick's, Nhill. Also this week we recognised Reconciliation Week. Students engaged in age appropriate activities to increase their awareness and understandings of the importance of this week. The theme "Now more then Ever" is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strati Islander people will- and must - continue.

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida

Simultaneous Story Time

National Simultaneous Storytime was celebrated at school on Wednesday 22 May.   Mrs Kemp read Bowerbird Blues for all students and staff. 

Safety Blitz and School Wide Positive Behaviours

We have been having a safety blitz to reinforce to students our School Wide Positive Behaviours (SWPB) that are always in place at St Mary's. The SWPB matrix is in every learning area of the school and referred to when a teachable moment arises to reinforce to students the importance of being a safe, respectful and responsible learner.  The matrix has also been emailed and hard copy sent home to familes. We encourage you to refer to this and have your own 'teachable moments' with your child to reinforce their understanding of our expectations.  As we also do here at school, please ask your child who they feel their trusted adults are at school to reach out to if ever they feel hurt or unsafe. We want all children to always feel safe at school.

Wheat Assembly Award Winners

Parent Club Wood Raffle Fundraiser

 The oldest child in each family has been sent home a ziplock bag  with information for the St Mary's Parent Club Wood Raffle Fundraiser. Each family will have 20 tickets to sell at $2 each. If you sell all of these quickly, there will be more tickets at the office for you to collect. Tickets will need to have name and phone number on each ticket please. We will draw the winner at the Japanese Assembly on the 3rd June!

1st prize, 6 x 12 trailer load;   2nd, 3rd and 4th prize, 6 x 4 trailer load.  With the wood raffle, we are asking if anyone has/works at a business where we can pop some raffle tickets at. If this is something you can do, please contact Hanna Starbuck Parent Club. A huge thank you to the families who are donating wood! 

Greater Western Region Cross Country in Warrnambool - well done to Harlow and Miki!

Congratulatioms to Harlow and Miki who represented our school proudly at the Greater Western Region Cross Country Championships last Monday, running their best times. Well done, we are very proud of you!

Winter Lightning Premierships

This year the Winter Lightning Premierships will be held at Nhill College on Thursday, 13 June. The Year 4-6 Canola students will be participating in AFL and netball. Students are to wear school sports uniform. Students will need to bring a water bottle, lunch and snacks. Students with medical needs will need to bring their medications with them. Please see transport arrangements and parent consent acknowledgement in PAM. 

Illnesses

There have been a number of students with coughs and colds in the past few weeks. Thank you for your cooperation by keeping children home when they are unwell or showing signs of illness.  This helps in preventing the spread of infections and ensuring the safety of other students and staff members.

$400 School Saving Bonus - but not for our families....

Last week the Allan Labor Government announced a $400 School Saving Bonus for all school students in government schools regardless of income, but only for Health Care Card holders in Catholic schools.

This is deeply unfair.

We believe the payment should apply to all students or be means tested for all students.

It should not be based on which school you attend. 

This policy punishes families for choosing to send their children to a Catholic school.

Our school, together with other non-government schools and our peak body, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, are working hard to oppose this policy and we need your help.

We need to show the Victorian Government that punishing families who choose a Catholic school is unacceptable.

Please consider contacting our local Member of Parliament, Emma Kealy, to express your concern.

Emma Kealy’s office can be contacted by calling 53820097 or by emailing emma.kealy@parliament.vic.gov.au 

A template letter in both PDF and WORD format  is available in the links below to assist you with making your voice heard. 

Free Dental Van - forms due Mon June 3

Every child has been sent home a copy of the form below, for a free dental check up later in the year.  The forms are due back to school by Monday 3 June.  No late forms are accepted as these are posted off in a bulk group. If you have misplaced the form, another can be collected from the office.

Strengthening Children and Teens against Anxiety

In our current world anxiety in children and others seems to be more and more prevalent. An event for parents, carers, professionals and others who are involved in caring for or raising our children is being held in Horsham on 4 June.

Strengthening Children and Teens Against Anxiety – June 4th – 2 sessions each 1.5 hours.  The two sessions will be at 1.30 - 3.00pm and 6.30 - 8.00pm

Anxiety is a normal human experience. Sometimes it can become too big, and when children get caught in the tail whip of anxiety, it can swipe at their belief in themselves, their engagement with the world, and the glistening unfolding of their potential – but it doesn’t have to be this way. Anxiety is very manageable, and any important adult in the life of a child has a profound capacity to strengthen children and teens against anxiety and towards courage and resilience. With all anxiety, comes opportunities to strengthen children and teens with a mindset, skills and qualities that will lead them towards deeply fulfilling, brave, whole-hearted living. Let’s talk about how.

Bookings are open for both sessions.

School TV - School Refusal

Though many children will refuse to go to school at some stage in their lives, school refusal is very different to truancy. It is a more serious condition than separation anxiety and often stems from a child’s anxiety about school. They may be worried about their school work, interacting with other kids, dealing with teachers, playing sports or being away from family. School refusal is a behaviour that can also be accompanied by sadness or depression, physical symptoms and social isolation. This condition is equally common amongst boys and girls, from all socioeconomic groups and across both primary and secondary levels.

Here is the link to the School Refusal edition of SchoolTV

https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-refusal

Child Safe Standards

School Fees

Thank you to families who have paid their student levy and arranged payments.  If you are experiencing difficulties with fees please contact Nerrida for a confidential discussion and payment plan options. 

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