St Mary's Catholic Primary School Warracknabeal eNewsletter

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

2024	Term 3 Monday 15 July - 20 September Term 4 Monday 7 October – Wednesday 18 December
Term 3
Week 5	Thursday 15 August Wheat Assembly
Week 6	Monday 19 August Book Week Parade 9:15 am Wednesday 21 August WWSSA Sports at ANZAC Park
Week 7	Monday 26 August Foundation 2025 information evening Tuesday 27 August (back up date for WWSSA Sports) Thursday 29 August Father's Day Breakfast 8:15 am, followed by Chickpeas Assembly
Week 8	Dental Van visit this week
Week 9	Wednesday 11 September to Friday 13 September Years 5 and 6 Melbourne camp
Week 10	Monday 16 September to Tuesday 17 September Years 3 and 4 Halls Gap camp Term 3 finishes Friday 20 September
TERM 4	Monday 7 October Term 4 commences - students return

A prayer for the new week

Dear Lord,

As we start this new week, we come before you in prayer, seeking your guidance and blessings. We thank you for the gift of life, health, and strength, and we ask that you would help us to use these gifts to bring glory to your name.

Lord, we pray for your guidance and wisdom as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of this week. Help us to seek your will in all that we do, and to trust in your plan for our lives.

We also pray for your protection and provision. Lord, shield us from harm and danger, and provide for all of our needs according to your riches in glory.

We ask for your strength and courage to face any difficulties or obstacles that we may encounter this week. Give us the perseverance to press on and the faith to believe that all things are possible with you.

Finally, Lord, we ask for your peace and presence be with us throughout the week. May we feel your love and comfort, and may we be a light to those around us, pointing them towards your goodness and grace.

May this week be one that is filled with blessings, joy, and purpose, all for your glory.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen

Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 3 Week 1

Today was a very exciting day for our Chickpeas, all dressed up as 100 year olds, to celebrate the Foundation students first 100 days of school. Thank you Mrs. Kemp and Deb for making the day so special for the students.

Staffing

Today was also the final day for Learning Support Officer Sarah-Jayne Holland, Sarah-Jayne has been a valuable staff member over the last 9 years, working closely in supporting students across all year levels. Sarah-Jayne's patience, kindess and expertise have supported many students to overcome challenges and become better learners. Sarah-Jayne willingly helped with extracurricular activities, including swimming programs, school camps and excursions. The school and students have also benefitted from Sarah-Jayne's technical skills, filming and uploading assemblies and creating beautiful digital photo books as Grade 6 graduations gifts.

Sarah-Jayne will soon begin her new position with the Yarriambiack Shire. Thank you for your time at St Mary's Sarah-Jayne, you will be missed.

Joining our school this week is our new Learning Support officer, Cath Bellis. Many of you may already know Cath as a past parent and who is also actively involved in the community. Cath is a well-qualified and experienced learning support officer. Welcome Cath!

NAPLAN

In Week 1, NAPLAN results for our Grade 3 and 5 students were sent home. We are very proud of our students, regardless of where their dot sat on the page. Behind any assessment is, first and foremost, a story that goes with each of our students. At St. Mary's, we strive for academic success for all our students, but we are also focused on nurturing well-rounded individuals who are ready to embrace the challenges of the future with resilience and a passion for lifelong learning. Please reach out to your classroom teacher if you would like to discuss your child’s results.

Thank you again to parents who were able to attend the Parent-Teacher Interviews last week. Anyone who was unable to book a time to meet with their child’s teacher is invited to contact the school to arrange another time. Thank you classroom teachers for your time in providing these valuable sessions for parents.

Travel safely with God's blessings,

Nerrida

2025 Foundation information evening and enrolments

Preparations are underway for our 2025 Foundation class. For all new and existing families with children due to commence in 2025, please collect an enrolment package and return your completed applications to the office as soon as possible. Current students with siblings joining us next year have had an enrolment package sent home in their school bag at the end of last term.

The 2025 information evening will be held at school in the Chickpeas room on Monday 26 August at 6pm. All current and new families are warmly invited.

Canola Assembly

Thank you Canola students, Mrs. Letts and Bron for your work in presenting the assembly this week. Below are our assembly award winners.

WWSSA Sports- helpers needed.

The WWSSA interschool sports will be held at ANZAC Park on Wednesday 21 August. Information has been emailed to familes for the students involved. There will be a canteen available on the day and a lunch order form has been sent home in the children's bags and emailed. Please return these to St Mary's by Tuesday 6th August

We will need helpers, including measuring and recording the shot put and long jump events. We are hoping some secondary college students will be able to help too, but an adult is needed for running the events. Your help is incredibly important for this day to go ahead. There will be a shuttle bus to bring the children from school to ANZAC Park closer to their event time.

Please check your emails and if you can assist on the day please contact Nerrida.

Book Week Parade Mon August 19 at 9:15 am

Book week this year runs from August 17th to August 23rd, 2024. During this time all classes spend time each day celebrating books, Australian children's authors and illustrators. The theme for book week this year is: Reading is Magic.

“We're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building.”
The Children’s Book Council, Australia.

We will begin Book with our Book Week Parade on Monday 19 August at 9:15 am, where students are invited to dress as their favourite book character for the whole school parade. Warracknabeal Kinder will attend and all families are warmly invited. After the parade the students will be involved in Book Week activities.

Class Assemblies

Thursday Aug 15 Wheat Assembly

Thursday Aug 29 Chickpeas Assembly

Father's Day Breakfast Thursday 29 August

All dads, grandads and special male family members are welcome to attend our Father's Day breakfast of ham and cheese croissant on Thursday 29 August from 8:15 am. Please bring a travel mug for a cuppa. Forms have been sent home for orders and dietary requirements. Please note the Chickpea's assembly will follow the Father's Day breakfast.

SAC meeting Wednesday 14 August 6pm

Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday 14 August at 6pm.

Camps and Excursions

Organisation and activity planning is well underway for our camps at the end of the term. The final costing is still to be determined, but the camp costs will be cheaper than last year as the camps are shorter. Also, the camp in Melbourne this year is further subsidised by the camp provider.

Our Grade 5/6 Melbourne experience will be from Wednesday September 11 through to Friday September 13. We will now travel by bus to Melbourne, leaving St Mary's at 7:45 am. From there we will be met by the Camp coordinators to stay the heart of Melbourne and use public transport to reach our destinations. It will be a true Melbourne experience for our students! DOXA staff will be with us at all times, including travelling on public transport. Returning home we will catch the train to Ararat, be met by the bus and have tea at the Ararat RSL and be back at St Mary's by approximately 7:30 pm

If you would like to know more about the Melbourne camp we are attending go to https://doxa.org.au/city-camp/.

The Grade 3/4 students Halls Gap overnight camp at the Halls Gap Baptist Centre is Monday 16 September to Tuesday 17 September. Students will leave St Mary's at 9:15 am Monday and will be back at St Mary's at approximately 5:30 pm on Tuesday

The F-2 students will have a day trip to the Halls Gap zoo on Friday 18 October.

Further details with costs, camp itinerary, what to bring, dietary and medical needs will be sent home shortly.

Warracknabeal Show Day Thursday Oct 10

The 136^th Warracknabeal Show is being held on Thursday 10^th October 2024 at the Warracknabeal Showgrounds Reserve. There are several competitions which students are encouraged to compete in. The theme being everyone is good at something, so the organisers are particularly interested in encouraging first time participants.

The competitions include:

Cooking
Craft Work
Lego Construction
Photography
Art
Other
The Warracknabeal Community Garden Scarecrow Competition

At the end of the newsletter are attachments which outline the details of the competitions. The organisers expect to have the Show Schedule printed for circulation early during the week beginning Monday August 5.

All students are encouraged to participate in the Show and enter some of the competitions.

School TV - Eating Anxiety

The complexity of eating anxiety stems from a combination of social, psychological, and environmental factors. Young people may develop this anxiety due to social pressures related to eating in front of others, fears about body image, or due to more ingrained issues such as eating disorders. Additionally, cultural norms or dietary restrictions can also play significant roles, as can direct experiences like bullying or teasing related to food choices or eating habits.

Whilst not a formally recognised condition, eating anxiety is a genuine and often overwhelming experience that can significantly hinder a young person's ability to participate in everyday activities comfortably. This condition can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and social withdrawal, impacting overall health and academic performance.

Recognising and addressing eating anxiety is crucial for parents, carer, and educators. Through education, policy changes, and community support, we can help young people manage their anxieties and improve their relationship with food, thereby enhancing their overall well-being and social interactions.

This Special Report will help you understand how best to support a child experiencing anxiety around eating.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://smwarracknabeal.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-eating-anxiety-au

2024_Census_privacy_collection_notice.pdf

Diocesan Newsletter

Please click on the link below for the July edition of the Diocesan newsletter

ODC_July_2024_web.pdf

Child Safe Standards - What are they?

The new Child Safe Standards came into effect in July 2022 and are a vital part of what we do here at St Mary's. What do these standards look like in practice? Each newsletter we will look at a standard in closer detail.

Standard 1
Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
At St Mary’s we display the Acknowledgement to Country at the main entrance of our school. We proudly fly the Aboriginal Flag and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags, alongside the

For more information please visit this link Child Safe Standards