St Mary's Primary School Newsletter Term 3 Week 5
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.
Enrolment 2023 – Personalised or group Tours available anytime!
Enrolments for 2023 are open! We invite all prospective families to come to St Mary's school for a visit to see for themselves our great school and learning in action. New and existing families are invited to contact principal@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au or phone 5398 2001 to arrange a personal or small group tour of our school and learn more about how St Mary's Primary school can be your first choice for your child’s primary education.
Our well-organized transition program working with Warracknabeal Memorial Kindergarten aims to ensure that your child starts their education at St Mary's Primary feeling confident and happy. For our Foundation children, we have many opportunities for your child to become familiar with their teachers, peers, and buddies.
Students enrolling in all year levels will be invited to attend the State-wide Transition Day which is usually held in early December. This date will be confirmed closer to the time.
Principal's Report
Welcome to Term 3 Week 5
Dear families, we have been lucky to have had two week of non- COVID notifications and now have virtually all members back at school again which is wonderful. We have been lucky to have whole school events occur and our trip to Horsham to see Aladdin was a lovely activity to look forward to after our rocky start to the term. I do hope we are over our 'hump' as we are starting to see slightly warmer weather and lighter longer days now starting to appear. The crops look lush and many canola paddocks are in bloom, which does make one feel like spring is virtually here.
Change is always around us and can takes us out of our comfort zone. Below is a prayer as we head towards Spring and ongoing changes in our lives:
Dear Lord
Spring is a metaphor for change. Some changes we eagerly await, and some we abhor. Some changes we plan and others arrive uninvited. To all these changes we ask the gift of Your perspective beckoning us to expectation, hope, and rebirth.
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 out 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
As you are reading this we are having our Circuit Breaker long weekend. The letter explaining the purpose of this weekend has been sent to families. If you need another copy of this please contact the school. As this weekend has added pressure to families for care for their children we have decided to not hold our school closure day this term. As such, our final school closure days for 2023 will be next term - Tuesday 25th October for our Fullness of Life Religious Education program (Sexuality and Puberty) and Thursday December 1st Learner Agency whole school implemention. I hope this early notice gives families plenty of notice for their organisation and planning for these days.
Travel safely with God's blessings
Nerrida Holland
Principal
Kindergarten/ Foundation Information Evening
We will be holding our information evening for our Fondation students from new and current families on Monday 22nd August from 5:00 pm for a 5:30 start. There will be a light supper provided and child minding available. We are very much looking forward to sharing with you the exciting opportunities St Mary's can offer your child and why St Mary's should be your first choice for primary education for your children.
Staff Vacancies for 2022 and 2023
We have staff vacancies Term 4 and into 2023, and have advertised through Catholic Education Ballarat/ Victoria and regional media. Please let your networks know we are seeking staff for 2022/2023 and casual relief teachers.
Father's Day Breakfast Friday September 2
All fathers and significant adult male family members are invited to breakfast from 8:00am on Friday September 2. If you would like to attend, for catering purposes, please complete the google form below or email principal@smwarracknabeal.catholic.edu.au
Student Well Being (School TV)
Dont forget our schoool subcribes to School TV which provide a broad range of articles, videos and reports to support families. There is an article relating to Father's Day, in the special report section.
Key Dates
| Week 6 | Monday 15th August Circuit Breaker Weekend - school closed Tuesday 16th August Soccer Clinic (all students wear sports uniform) Thursday 18th August WWSSA Interschool Athletics ANZAC Park |
| Week 7 | Monday 22nd August Foundation Student 2023 Information afternoon 5:00pm for 5:30 start Tuesday 23rd August Book Week dress up day and parade Wednesday 24th August Golf Clinics Barley and Lentils (sports uniform) |
| Week 8 | Wednesday 31st August Golf Clinic Barley and Lentils (sports uniform) Friday 2nd September Fathers Day Breakfast 8:00am |
| Week 9 | Friday 9th September Little Desert Athletics - Horsham |
| Week 10 | Friday 16th September - last of of term Finish 2:15pm |
Curriculum
Book Week - Dress Up Day and Parade 23rd August
Dont forget Book Week is during the Week 22nd-26th August. \We have some special events planneed. The theme for this week is 'Dreaming with eyes open We will be having our Book Week Parade On TUESDAY 23rd AUGUST at 9:15 am. Students are asked to come to school dressed as their favorite book character or something related to the Book Week theme.
CEP Performance - Aladdin, Myth Making Exhibition and Lantern Designs
The students had a fabulous time at the Aladdin show in Horsham. They are all to be congratulated for their exemplary behaviour and being terrific ambassadors for St Mary's.
This was performed by the Alpha Theatre Company from Melbourne. The show brought together the classic tale with a modern take, culturally appropriate storytelling and casting, as well as integrating magical and important messages that help to raise understanding and awareness to all in the audience. The show focused on what blocks people from their dreams – their unhealed emotional injuries from their environment. As a homeless boy on the street, we can use Aladdin as an example of how to overcome adversity even from the lowest of existences.
After the show students were able to view the exhibition "Myth Making" where they saw colour filled installations of sculptural works and wallpaper designs - the artists have taken cues from the landscape, the vibrant colours of our big sky, the Pink Lake, the golden grain fields, and the green gorges and dark caves of the Grampians.
Inspired by Aladdin's lamp, Chickpeas have been busy creating their own lamps, where they can make their own wishes!
Barley Energy Research Designs
Barley are in the process of designing and testing their own roller coasters to observe first hand potential energy (stored energy) and kinetic energy (the energy of motion)
Soccer Clinics - return 19th August
Thank you to Jason and the Positive Start Program supported by the Department of Education and Training Victoria for free our soccer clinics Jason will return on Tuesday 19th August for our next session.
Catholic School Parents Australia 2022 Parent Survey Now Live
Have your say on what matters regarding the wellbeing and learning of your child.
For example, has COVID-19 or your partnership with the school affected your child’s wellbeing and learning?
If you are a parent or carer with a child in a Catholic school, CSPA would love to hear from you.
Click on the survey link and share your feedback to assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic education.
Your feedback will remain anonymous.
Child Safety
Child safety and wellbeing at St Mary's Primary School: information for families and the school community
Below is the updated Statement of Commitment to Child Safety from the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV). This statement has been updated in light of the revised Child Safe
Standards that came into effect from July 1st. Please take the time to read the updated statement.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further
strengthen our child safety policies, procedures and practices.
If you have any suggestions, comments or questions, please contact Nerrida
Diocesan Bulletin
Please find below the link for the July 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”
https://www.ballarat.catholic.
