Newsletter Term 1, 6th March 2025
Principal Report
Dear parents and carers,
This week I thought I would mix it up by sharing a newspaper article with you that has been widely circulated in the media. It's a positive news story for Catholic Schools and highlights the benefits to our young people of a Catholic School Education. This article is from the Australian Newspaper, authored by John Ferguson on 28 February 2025. With our enrolment season commencing for Kindergarten 2026, it is so good to be reminded of our shared goals for growing kind, successful people with strong foundations. If you have any neighbours or family members looking to start their child in Kindergarten next year, people invite them to attend a school tour.
"Catholic school graduates, on average, are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages and have higher life satisfaction and better general health compared with those from the government sector, according to a new analysis of national data.
The research, commissioned by the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, found the average wage difference ranged from 4 per cent to 11 per cent, and people who had attended Catholic schools were more likely to work in a job that directly benefited the community.
It also said the data, based on the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, pointed to producing people who were more likely to donate to charity.
The independent sector outranked the Catholic sector on issues such as real hourly wages.
The research was undertaken by the Centre for International Research on Education Systems at Victoria University and will be used to bolster the argument of the net positive impact of the non-government sector during the next round of school funding negotiations.
There is huge pressure on governments in Australia’s largest cities to provide new schools in growth corridors and demand among communities – many emanating from overseas – for a spiritual dimension to education.
VCEA chief executive officer Elizabeth Labone said there was a growing demand for a holistic response to education among parents looking for more affordable options.
“By educating the whole person, Catholic schools seek to support the development of well-rounded individuals who will succeed and be happy and confident in the world during and after their schooling, whatever path they choose through life,’’ Professor Labone said.
“Parents are increasingly looking for this kind of holistic approach, which is why a growing number of families are choosing one of the affordable Catholic schooling options available across the state.’’
Researchers used the HILDA survey because it tracks data across a range of key areas relating to life in Australia stretching beyond just financial success.
HILDA participants are surveyed over their lifetime and the VCEA said this had made it easier to determine the influence of the average effect of the type of school a person attends.
“Statistically significant effects were identified for all four wellbeing outcomes modelled, albeit with varying levels of significance,’’ the study found.
“Catholic sector attendance had a positive and statistically significant effect upon life satisfaction scores compared to both government and independent sector attendance.’’
The report also said it could be beneficial for further research to be undertaken, particularly drilling down into the number of years a person attended a Catholic school and in what year levels.
“This research has identified a range of outcomes where Catholic school attendance is associated with a positive effect compared to attending a government or independent sector school,’’ it said.
“From a policy perspective, it would be beneficial to understand what it is about Catholic schooling in Australia that leads to this positive effect.
I hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend when it arrives. Please keep close in your thoughts those members of the Australian community who will be impacted by cyclonic and flood conditions over the next few days.
Gayle Stratton
Assistant Principal
NAPLAN
NAPLAN will begin for Year 3 and Year 5 students on Wednesday, March 12th, and end on Friday, March 21st. Please ensure your child arrives at school with fully charged Chromebooks and working headphones that plug into their Chromebook, NOT Wireless headphones.
Timetable for NAPLAN
Wednesday 12th March -Year 3 & Year 5 Writing
Thursday 13th March - Year 3 & Year 5 Reading
Friday 14th March - Year 3 & Year 5 Conventions of Language
Monday 17th March - Year 3 & Year 5 Numeracy
Learning Support Meeting
Mrs Gemma Belmonte and Mrs Rachel Cranney attended last week's CEDB Learning Support meeting.
Presenter Jenny Cohen, worked with Sydney CSNSW, where she developed policy and practice guidelines for supporting students with complex needs. The agenda at the Learning Support meeting included:
Understanding Risk in Schools
- What is Risk
- Understanding Risk in Schools
- Mitigating risk (Duty of Care) through case management
Externally Funded Therapists in Schools
The policy for allowing any External Therapists in any Bathurst Diocese school has recently been revised by our Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst (CEDB) personnel.
The Principal has the discretion to decide whether or not an external service provider can enter the school and how arrangements will be managed for the provider's activity with students, where access is agreed.
Application Process
The following 4 steps MUST be undertaken if a parent/carer wants an externally funded therapist to provide services in the school:
1. The parent/guardian must make the request to the school in writing. This is so there is a record of the request and reinforcing that the school has a duty of care of the student with the parent/guardian, not a therapist.
2. Parents/guardians meet with the school staff to discuss the details. This may be during a personalised planning meeting to discuss the goals and adjustments for the students. Therapists could attend this meeting to provide expert advice and support the personalised planning process.
3. The Principal will consider the request, taking into account:
- The school's duty of care to all students and staff
- How the therapy relates to the students needs
- Impacts on the student e.g if they will need to leave the classroom to receive the therapy
- If the student will be adequately supervised by the provider when receiving the service
- The willingness of the provider to work with the school by providing the goals of the therapy and outlines the program being delivered
- Effects on other students if the service needs to be provided in the classroom
- Whether provision of the service at school is for the benefit of the student or more for the convenience of the provider
- When the service needs to be delivered
4. The Principal will let the parents know whether or not the therapist can deliver the service in the school.
Schools may withdraw external provider access to a school where it has been determined that the service being delivered is no longer in the student's educational interest. Schools should discuss the matter with the student's parents or carers prior to a decision to withdraw provider access.
External providers are subject to the same code of conduct and complaints processes and requirements as school staff when they are at school.
Year 6 Peer Assisted Leadership Squad (PALS) training
This week Year 6 participated in a Leadership morning. The students learnt about Leadership, What are the qualities of a good leader, and examples of people in leadership. Next week, students will continue the next phase of their training, learning how to effectively manage and lead a group of students for our PALS program. Our PALS program is about showing kindness and caring for each other in our school community, empathy, forming and maintaining relationships, having a positive mindset, what do we value and positive role models.
My New Gallery
Religious Education
Claire Nicholson
Religious Education Coordinator
Thank you to those who joined us in celebrating the beginning of Lent at either our combined mass with students from Catherine McAuley or our infants Liturgy.
Project Compassion 2025
This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity. The transformative work of Caritas Australia is only possible thanks to supporters like you and the dedication, passion, and resilience of our local partners, who tirelessly work to empower communities and create brighter futures.
You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, envelopes or by scanning the QR code. Project Compassion boxes have been sent home with students. Donations collected from these boxes need to be returned to your child’s teacher in Week 10 of this term.
Altar Servers
Fr Duong recently visited our school and spoke to our Year 4 and 5 students in regard to altar serving. Interested students have received a registration form. Students who wish to altar serve this year can collect a form from myself.
Altar serving training sessions:
-First Session: 1:30pm to 3:00pm Sunday 25th February at St Mary’s Church
-Second Session: 1:30pm to 3:00pm Sunday 3rd March at St Mary’s Church
-Third Session: 1:30pm to 3:00pm Sunday 10th March at St Mary’s Church
-Commissioning and Robing Mass: 10:00am Sunday 17th March at St Mary’s Church
Grade Parish Masses
On Tuesdays we celebrate grade Mass at St Mary’s Church with Year 3. Parish Masses occur at 9:30 am on Tuesdays. The parish Masses for this term are as follows:
-Tuesday 11th March - Year 5
-Tuesday 1st April - Year 6
Ash Wednesday
Christian Leadership Awards
Izak Joseph
| In recognition of "Positive View of Life" |
Bhadri Sreejith Lewis Borg William Piper Fraser Vogler Molly Zwiers Georgie Pearson Lara Soley Roza Pargur Nelson Schofield Mila Wright
| In recognition of "Community & Common Good" |
Alexis Gaeta
| In recognition of " God's presence in the world" |
Hazel Morris Maisy Heywood Melaleuca Pickering-Reeve | In recognition of "Search for Truth & Wisdom" |
Curriculum News
WEBINAR WEEK
Next week, St Mary's teachers will be participating in professional learning through CEDB webinars. Some of the topics they will have to select from are:
- K-6 Essential Assessment
- Adjusting Assessment for Students with Disability K-10
- Cyber Security
- Years K-3 Science and Technology Programs
- Evidence for Personalised Plans
- Cultural Safety Guidelines for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Students
- Compass 101 CeNet
School News
Tell us about your experiences as a Catholic school parent and what you'd like to know more about
We value every parent's thoughts and opinions!
CCSP would like to know how involved/engaged you feel you are in your child's learning at a NSW/ACT Catholic school, how connected you feel in your child's school, and your thoughts on how schools could enhance family-school partnerships.
This data informs our parent learning program and provides us with valuable information about how our dioceses and schools are engaging with families.
Thank you so much for taking time out to give us your feedback.
Please click the link to go to the survey:
Sports News
Bathurst Diocesan Community Sport
Dear Parents,
Keep up to date with sporting events and achievements across the Bathurst Diocese. Search CEBD community sport or use the following link.
https://sites.google.com/bth.catholic.edu.au/cedbsportcommunity/
SPORTS UNIFORM Term 1 (Summer )
NO HAT , PLAY IN THE SHADE
(any changes to the uniform days will be sent out via Compass)
Kindergarten - Mondays & Thursdays
Year One - Friday
Year Two - Friday
Year Three - Friday
Year Four - Friday
Year Five - Thursday & Friday
Year Six - Friday
Class News
Library News
Canteen News
SEVERE REACTIONS TO ‘NUTS’ & ‘EGGS’
As some of our students have a ‘nut’ and/or ‘egg’ allergy, we ask that nuts, nut
products and eggs NOT be packed as part of school snacks and lunches.
Sometimes even contact with nuts or eggs can trigger the severe reaction. This
severe allergy is called ANAPHYLAXIS and can be life-threatening.
Please, NO eggs, peanut butter, Nutella, nut products, etc.
(Check those labels to see that products do not contain nuts.)
School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPB4L)
SPB4L
This week, our focus is:
We will engage in our learning
When we engage in our learning, we are being responsible.
Engaging in our learning means we want to take part in what is happening in class.
When we engage in our learning we -
* look at the teacher
* listen to the teacher
* focus our attention
* try our best
* we complete all our work
Next week, our focus will be:
POSITIVE LEVELS
Students are rewarded for demonstrating positive behaviours in the classroom.
The behaviours for which students can accrue 'dojo' points align with our SPB4L expectations and with the Behaviours for Learning on our semester reports.
50 points - Bronze Level Award
150 points - Silver Level Award
250 points - Gold Level Award
350 points - St Mary's Level Award
At each level, students are able to select their choice of reward. At the end of the year, students who have achieved the St Mary's Level, receive their choice of a book shop or movie voucher or a movie at the cinema.
Health Matters
Medication at School- Parental Advice
If your child requires medication that needs to be administered during school hours, please bring the medication to the school office, where it is stored safely. This includes asthma inhalers.
Medication must be authorised by a Medical practitioner with a letter
Students can come to the office at an arranged time to have the medication administered by trained First Aid Officers.
The office does not have Panadol, unless parents supply and complete a form for their child only.
Thank you
Student Wellbeing
Children with communication devices such as iPhones and Smart Watches must be handed to the school office in the morning before class and collected at the end of the day. This includes any device capable of taking photos.
Please support your child to meet this school requirement.
If you need to contact your child during school hours please call the school office.
Community News
Dear Parents & Carers
Please label students' clothing , so we can return them from lost property with ease.
Clothes that don't have names will be returned to the clothing pool, if not collected by the end of term.
Thank you
NO Parking in the Bowling Alley car park
the bowling alley car park is for their patrons so please park elsewhere when dropping or picking up your children.
The PCYC has many parks that can be used for dropping off and picking up
Thankyou
St Mary's Uniform Shop
is run by Parent Volunteers and is open from 8:45 am for an hour on Friday Mornings.
If you have put your order through Flexi schools it will be packed the following Friday and sent home with your child.
