2024 St Mary's Primary School Newsletter Term 4 Week 9
- Acknowledgement of Country
- Key Dates
- Prayer
- Principal's Report
- Prelude to Christmas
- Sacramental Program
- 2026 Scholarships for St Brigid's and transport
- DOBCEL Strategy 2035
- Transition Day 3 Tuesday December 10
- Term 1 rest days for Foundation Students
- Congratulations to Elli! Visit from Emma Kealy
- Students' Reports
- Child Safety at St Mary's
- Final class assemby
- We are a BARR school (Bushfire at Risk)
- Year 6 jumpers for 2025
- Thunderstorm Asthma
- End of Year Celebrations
- Fee Statements due now.
- School Transitions
- Community News
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 | Students' Last Day Wednesday 18 December |
Week 10 | Tuesday 10 December statewide transition day - whole school transition from 9-11 am, 2025 Foundation students at St Mary's until 1:45pm, for 2024 Year 6 students there are no classes at St Mary's this day until 11:45am. Wednesday 11 December Year 6 Graduation Dinner at the Creekside Hotel 6:00 pm Thursday 12 December Canola Assembly 9:00am in the library |
Week 11 | Tuesday 17 December End of Year Graduation Mass 5:30pm St Mary's Church Wednesday 18 December Students' last day, End of year pool party 10-1 at Warracknabeal Memorial Pool; BBQ lunch suppled by parent club |
2025 | Term 1 Tuesday 28 January – Friday 4 April Students return: Wednesday 29 January *Easter 18 April – 21 April School Closure: Thursday 13 February; Tuesday 22 April; Wednesday 23 April; Thursday 24 April (Monday 21 and Friday 25 are public holidays - Three Week Term 2 break for 2025) Term 2 Tuesday 22 April – Friday 4 July Term 3 Monday 21 July – Friday 19 September School Closure: Friday 19 September (Term 3 Week 10) - last day of Term 3. Term 4 Monday 6 October – Thursday 18 December (Staff finish 19 December) |
TERM 1 2025 | |
Week 1 | Tuesday January 28 Staff return, book pick up and fee payment day Wednesday January 29 All students return |
Week 2 | Tuesday February 4 Getting to Know You Meetings 3:30-5:30pm Wednesday February 5 Foundation absent Thursday February 6 Getting to Know You Meetings 3:30-5:30pm |
Week 3 | School Swimming program this week Wednesday February 12 All students present - including Foundation Thursday February 13 School Closure Day (no students this day) |
Week 4 | Wednesday February 19 Foundation absent Friday February 21 School Swimming Sports - Warracknabeal Memorial Pool |
Week 5 | Wednesday February 26 Foundation absent, Little Desert Swimming in Horsham |
Week 6 | Tuesday March 4 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day Wednesday March 5 Ash Wednesday, Foundation studwents absent but welcome with families to attend the Ash Wednesday liturgy |
Week 7 | All Foundation students now at school every day after the Long Weekend NAPLAN this week Monday March 10 Labour Day Public Holiday |
Week 8 | NAPLAN this week Tuesday March 18 Year 5 and 6 STEM day at Longernong |
Week 9 | |
Week 10 | TBC Wednesday April 2 School Athletics Field Events TBC Thursday April 3 School Athletics Track Events Friday 4 April Last day of Term 1, 2:15 finish (Three week break for students) |
TERM 2 | |
Week 1 | Tuesday 22 April; Wednesday 23 April; Thursday 24 April (Monday 21 and Friday 25 are public holidays - Three Week Term 2 break for 2025) |
Week 2 | Monday 28 April Students return |
Prayer
Almighty God, we begin this Advent Season as an ‘Advent People’ – people of hope, ready to do your will. Let your blessing come upon us as we light this wreath. May it turn our hearts to you in the days ahead. Grant us the peace and joy we long for, as we await the coming of your Son with patient hearts. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Principal's Report
Dear Families and Friends of St Mary's Community,
As the second candle, the Peace Candle, of the Advent wreath is lit, we are reminded of the deep and lasting peace that Jesus brings into our lives. Advent is a season of waiting and preparation, and in this second week, we focus on the promise of peace—a peace that goes beyond the absence of conflict. It is the peace that comes from knowing God is with us, no matter what we face.
In our world today, peace can feel distant. We see conflict, division, and anxiety all around us. But the light of this candle calls us to remember that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to reconcile us to God and to one another. His peace calms our fears and helps us to be peacemakers in our own lives.
This week, let us reflect on how we can share Christ’s peace with those around us. Is there someone we need to forgive or a situation where we can bring understanding? Let us also take time to quiet our hearts in prayer, asking God to fill us with His peace and to guide us in spreading it to others.
As the light of the Peace Candle grows brighter, may it remind us that God’s peace is real, powerful, and always available to us. Let us walk in that peace and share it with the world.
Travel safely with God's blessings,
Nerrida
Prelude to Christmas
Congratulations to all the students who attended the Prelude to Christmas at St Mary's Church last Sunday night. It was a lovely evening and the children did a marvelous job with their singing. The Year 5 and 6 leaders presented prayers through the eveing and spoke very well. Thank you to staff who assisted in the preparations for the evening, those who attended on the night and families in bringing the children.
Leaders reading the prayers
Sacramental Program
St Paul VI Parish is dedicated to nurturing the faith of our young people, supported by their parents/home through running of the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
The Sacramental Program for 2025 is designed to support families and students on their spiritual journey, offering meaningful preparation for these significant milestones.
St. Paul VI Parish - 2025 Sacramental Program
EARLY ENROLMENT
Reconciliation – Holy Communion – Confirmation
Reconciliation & Holy Communion preparation is available to children in Year 4 and above.
Confirmation is available for children in Year 6 and above who have completed Reconciliation & Holy Communion.
This includes those in secondary colleges who may have missed Sacramental opportunities in recent years, with COVID restrictions and beyond.
Early Enrolments help us decide where sessions are held and how many sessions are needed.
Early Enrolments close Friday 13th December at 4pm.
General Enrolment will follow and be open until February 15th, 2025
For more information or to enrol your child, please visit the Parish Office at
10 Roberts Ave, Horsham or email wimmeramallee@ballarat.catholic.org.au
Download enrolment forms using the links below, or call into the school office for a hardcopy.
2026 Scholarships for St Brigid's and transport
St Brigid's in Horsham is looking to put on transport from Warracknmabeal 2026 for any families wishing to pursue Catholic secondary education for their children. Dedicated scholarships will be available for St Mary's students to support families. Please contact Gerard Raven principal@stbc.vic.edu.au for more information.
DOBCEL Strategy 2035
Please find below a letter from Catholic Education Ballarat Executive Director, Tom Sexton and DOBCEL Board Chair Terry Harney regarding the DOBCEL Strategy 2035.
This letter introduces the new strategy that all DOBCEL schools will be working through over the next ten years.
Transition Day 3 Tuesday December 10
The final transition day for 2025 Foundation students, and transition for our current Foundation to Year 5 students is next Tuesday 10 December Statewide Transition Day. The 2025 Foundation students will be at school until 1:45pm. Parents of the 2025 Foundation children are asked to meet Louise, Jess and Sally in the Chickpeas room at 1:00pm, while the children are playing, to hear further of the daily routines and information to assist you to support your child beginning school. Students will then eat lunch with their buddies from 1:30-1:45, while parents can enjoy a cuppa in the staff room, and also meet Julie Leonard, our new principal 2025. Please ensure the Foundation students bring fruit snack, morning tea and lunch for this day. Parents will then collect their 2025 Foundation children at 1:45pm.
From 9am to 11am, the whole school will transition into their new classes and teachers for 2025. Next year we will have four classes - Chickpeas (Foundation), Wheat (Years 1 and 2), Canola (Years 3 and 4) and Lentils (Years 5 and 6). Teachers of these classes will be announced to the students on Tuesday morning. Year 6 students - there are no classes at St Mary's this day, until 11:45am. After recess regular 2024 classes will resume. Year 6 students are welcome at school from recess at 11 am.
Transition Day 2 Tuesday 3 December
Term 1 rest days for Foundation Students
Starting school is very tiring both mentally and physically for our new little people. There will be scheduled rest days for the Foundation students starting Week 2 leading to full weeks at school after the Long Weekend in March. These rest days are usually on a Wedesday. As we will have a school closure day on Thursday 13 February, this will be the rest day for Week 3.
On these days, Louise Kemp and Jess Lang will be conducting literacy and numeracy assessments of the children, so the teachers can plan for the stuidents' individulaised learning, Families will be sent information inviting them to bring their child in for a literacy and numeracy assessment (1 hour each) over two of these days. Please see the dates below for your planning and family organisaion for the Foundation students for Term 1 2025.
Week 1 Wednesday January 29 - All students return
Week 2 Wednesday February 5 - Foundation students absent
Week 3 Wednesday February 12 - all students present; Thursday February 12 - all students absent School Closure
Week 4 Wednesday February 19 - Foundation students absent
Week 5 Wednesday February 26 - Foundation students absent
Week 6 Wednesday March 5 - Foundations student absent, Ash Wednesday - all welcome to the liturgy
Week 7 From Tuesday March 11 - Foundation students now at school every day
Congratulations to Elli! Visit from Emma Kealy
Congratulations Elli for receiving an Honorable Mention in the Emma Kealy Christmas Card competition. Emma (Member for the Legislative Assembly) came to St Mary's on Friday to present Elli with her prizes.
Students' Reports
Students’ End of Semester Reports will be available through the Parent Access Module (PAM) from Thursday 19 December. Parents wanting printed versions of the report will be able to download copies from PAM. If you have any questions about your child’s report, teachers will be at school on Thursday 19 December and Friday 20 December, before commencing their Christmas breaks. After that date you would need to wait until school returns in late January.
Child Safety at St Mary's
St Mary's is committed to zero tolerance of child abuse, committed to listening to and empowering children and young people and keeping children and young people safe. We are committed to being proactive in the care, wellbeing and protection of children and young people. Child Safe Standard 10 as below highlights what we as an organisation must do. If you ever have any concerns, regarding the safety and wellbeing of your child please contact the Principal. Your information makes us more aware of what needs to be addressed and how we can improve.
For more information please visit this link Child Safe Standards
Final class assemby
The final assembly for the year will be hosted by Canola on Thursday 12 December 9:00am in the library.
We are a BARR school (Bushfire at Risk)
Pleae read the communication below. As a Bushfire at Risk school, on days there is a Catastrophic fire danger forcasted in our district, the school will close. Other educational providers in our area will also close, and there will be no school byses running. We need to receive notification from the Department if Education and also DOBCEL in order to close. The school will always endeavour to notify families as soon as practical. We did have two Catastrophic school closure days earlier this year.
Please ensure you have downloaded the SIMON everywhere app to receive the first notification of a sudden school closure through PAM, as this is the official school emergency notification platform.
Then emails will be sent to families, followed by a Facebook update.
Year 6 jumpers for 2025
The design is completed and jumpers have been ordered. We anticipate these will be ready for collection early 2025.
Thunderstorm Asthma
End of Year Celebrations
Wednesday 11 December Year 6 Graduation Dinner at the Creekside Hotel
Thursday 12 December Canola Assembly
Tuesday 17 December End of Year Graduation Mass 5:30pm St Mary's Church.
Wednesday 18 December Students' last day, End of year pool party 10am -1pm at Warracknabeal Memorial Pool; BBQ lunch suppled by parent club
Fee Statements due now.
Families, please be aware all fees should now be finalised. Camp and excursion payments should already be paid prior to this date. If you are experiencing difficulties paying your fees please contact Nerrida. For direct debit and payment plan availability, please contact Paula at the office.
School Transitions
Community News
