Newsletter Term 4- 14th November 2024
Principal Report
Dear parents and carers,
We are entering a really exciting, although busier than ever, phase of our school year. The students are sitting assessments and we are gathering data for our end of semester reports. The children are working hard on their dance presentations for our end of year concert. Having completed their transition days, the Kindergarten 2025 playgroup is in full swing. Year 6 are busy organising their graduation. The choir is working on their Orange City Centre Christmas Carols Performance. The office is working hard to get student awards ready for our school presentation day. Teachers are preparing transition information for the next grade for 2025 and the leadership team is finalising teaching positions.
Perhaps though, one of the most exciting events of all, is that we are commencing the appointment process of our Year 6 student leaders for 2025. Every year we are so blessed with student leaders who step up and provide brilliant role models for all of our students. This years' leaders have been exceptional.
Year 5 will formally commence their leadership journey next Wednesday, when the current leaders host a question and answer panel for them and I talk them through the process. Then on Friday 22 November student leaders from James Sheahan Catholic High School will work with Year 5 on what it means to be a leader. The Year 5 students will receive a detailed letter with all of the necessary dates and guidelines on how to apply if leadership is something that appeals to them. Once nominated, our students are voted in by their peers (Years 3-6 and the teachers) via google forms so that it is all very fair and transparent. My thanks to Mr Duncan who painstakingly puts this platform in place for us each year. We will announce all 16 leaders at our Presentation Day on Friday 6 December. It is a very special time for our community.
If you have a child in Year 5 they may appear anxious about this process. We stress to the whole cohort that every Year 6 student is a leader and the teachers provide opportunities for our students throughout the year, whether or not they have a badged position. The view I take with the students is that leadership comes to us at different points in our lives. This may be the time for some of them. It is also important to understand that while leadership is not for everyone, we all have an valuable contribution to make.
While there is so much to look forward to, it is important to remember that November is also the time in our church year to reflect on the lives of friends and family members who have passed away. If you haven't signed it yet, there is still time to add the names of your loved ones to the Book of Remembrance in the Church. There has been particular sadness and loss in our school family over recent weeks, affecting our families and past students. We pray for peace in the hearts of those who are suffering loss.
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Mr Meyers, the Mission Leaders and the Mini-Vinnies group have launched their Christmas Appeal. We are asking for donations of small non-perishable food items by 27 November to gift to Vinnies so that hampers can be put together. Our community is always so generous in their support for this cause, so a big thank you in advance.
Classes for next year
To avoid any confusion I thought I would reiterate at this time that it is not my practice to take requests for teachers for the next academic year. We still haven't finalised our staffing so I can't confirm which teachers are on which grades. The teachers meet to discern class configurations and friendship groups are taken into account as much as is possible. We ask for your trust as we work together to design class groups for the best possible outcomes. Thank you.
Sharing of Food and Canteen Items
We have a no sharing of food policy at St Mary's. There is a trend emerging in the warmer weather for our students to buy icy-poles for their friends. Sometimes children ask for their icy-pole to be halved so that they can share them. While this is such a kind gesture, the students are not permitted to do this. We want our parents and carers to know what food their children are consuming while in our care during the day. Thank you for your understanding.
Yarning Circle
Today we placed sandstone blocks around our Yarning Circle to define the space and provide seating for class groups. The work on the Yarning Circle is near completion. This project has been a labour of love for our Aboriginal Education Officer, Ben Benton, and we thank him for his vision in bringing this to life. We hope that the Yarning Circle brings even greater connection to culture and country for our students.
Enjoy the weekend when it arrives,
Gayle Stratton
Religious Education
Joshua Meyers
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
Remembrance Day Liturgy
I would like to express a heartfelt thanks to our Year 6 leaders, who did an exceptional job leading a reverent Remembrance Day Liturgy on Monday. Their dedication and commitment in preparing for this meaningful occasion truly reflected their leadership and respect for the significance of Remembrance Day. Through their thoughtful readings, prayers, and participation, they helped foster a sense of unity and reflection among us all, allowing our community to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our country. We are incredibly proud of their efforts in guiding this important service.
Christian Initiation Mass
Next Tuesday, we gather as a school community to lift up in prayer all our students who have received the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation this year. The Mass will be held in St Mary’s Church at 9:30am. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
The Mini Vinnies team are asking for donations of ‘Christmas type’ foods that don’t need to go in the fridge for people to enjoy on their own on Christmas day.
Mini Vinnies members will be at the gates each morning next week to collect items. Alternatively, items can be brought into the front office.
Please bring donations into school by Wednesday the 27th of November.
Christian Leadership Awards
Sarah Jyothish Lyla O"Donnell Keegan Bowie Alexis Fragar Peyton Zweirs Tessa Wilson | In recognition of "Positive View of Life" |
Ebubenna Odoemene Imogen Morrish Sanushi Maddumahewa
| In recognition of "Community & Common Good" |
Ahryah Keogh Saaisha Rijah Jack Wilson Daniel Son
| In recognition of " God's presence in the world" |
Frankie Bunworth | In recognition of "Search for Truth & Wisdom" |
Curriculum News
Diverse learning experiences
As part of our various Key Learning Areas, our teachers often organise wonderful opportunities for our students to enhance their learning experience. These include guest speakers, incursions and excursions. This past week, we have had Gerald Power teach Year 2 as part of the Health, Geography and Science curriculum. Year 5 enjoyed a fantastic day at Wellington Caves as part of their Geography unit. Year 3 visited Mount and Lake Canobolas and Kindergarten travelled to Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo!
School News
2024 CaFE Grade Reps
Kinder: Alicia Holmes, Stacey Tracey (Kinder Orientation Night, Set up Kinder FB group)
Yr 1: Olivia Day-Gorham, Amy Hinchcliff (Kinder Welcome Morning Tea)
Yr 2: Renee Davis, Alicia Holmes (Mother’s Day gifts)
Yr 3: Mel Balchin, Olivia Day-Gorham (Mother's Day breakfast)
Yr 4: Jess McGrath and Katrina Holway (Father's Day gifts)
Yr 5: Kym Flitcroft, Kellie Pickering (Father's Day breakfast)
Yr 6: Kate Pulbrook, Sharon Collins (Easter Egg raffle and eggs. Organise Yr 6 2024 end of year event)
Important Library News
As we approach the end of term and year I would like to encourage the return of overdue books .
Library borrowing will conclude at the end of week 7, to allow for an end of year library stock take of books.
Book club issue 8 is due 21 November.
Thankyou
Anne Fredericksen
Teacher/Librarian
Sports News
Our Amazing Athletes
Elwyn and Bonnie travelled to the Homebush Athletics Centre to compete at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships. We are very proud to announce that Bonnie finished 4th in the state in the Senior Girls High Jump and 8th in the state in the Senior Girls Long Jump event; Elwyn finished 7th in the state in the Senior Girls 200m Final. Both girls performed so well and achieved personal bests in their events. Well done girls! Congratulations on your achievements this year. #brightfuturesstarthere #nswpssaathletics
2024 has been the year for Netball success for St Mary's.
First St Mary's Blue and St Mary's Maroon traveled to Penrith on the 3rd of September for the NSWCPS netball carnival. Both teams played well throughout the day and showed amazing sportsmanship to all teams. A big congratulations to the St Mary's Blue team on taking out the day and being crowned the winners of the NSWCPS championship division! To finish off the big year of netball, St Mary's Blue traveled down to Homebush on the 12th of November to compete in NGS super netball state finals. The team was very excited to compete against different teams and put their skills to the test. The girls played amazingly well throughout the day and worked as a team in every single game which led them to the semi finals! The girls played against some fierce competitors and were awarded 3rd in the state!! This is an amazing achievement for St Mary's and for our St Mary's Blue team! Thank you to the parents for getting the girls to all of the carnivals and cheering on the girls throughout all of their successes!
Coach Miss Holmes
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 4 (Summer )
NO HAT NO PLAY
(any changes to the uniform days will be sent out via Compass)
Kindergarten - Thursday &Friday
Year One - Thursday & Friday
Year Two - Thursday & Friday
Year Three - Thursday
Year Four - Thursday
Year Five - Wednesday & Thursday
Year Six - Thursday & Friday
Class News
Beetle
On Friday 1st November, Kinder, Year 1 and Year 3 attended the brilliant performance of Beetle at the Orange Civic Theatre. We watched a mesmerising show of puppets, laser lights, actors and rock climbing come to life on the stage. What a treat!!
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
Positive Levels
Our focus for the week has been on positive behaviour. Our students are recognised for demonstrating safe, respectful and responsible behaviours in the classroom with 'dojo' points. These points accumulate and students receive a reward and certificate for reaching milestones. These are Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. We are excited that we have already had a few students receive the highest award of St Mary's Level! Congratulations Eli, Angus, Laura, Jack, Chankeerth, Jacob, Molly and Matipaishe!
Reporting Unsafe Behaviour
We review the behaviours for being safe, respectful and responsible and remind students of how important it is to report any unsafe behaviours. The expectation is that we will speak up about our safety and the safety of our friends.
- When we speak up about safety, we are being responsible.
- When we report problems after trying to solve them, we are being responsible.
I can use the 3-step telling rule if I don’t like what someone is doing.
- “Stop it. I don’t like it.”
- “Please stop or I’ll tell the teacher”
- “I’m telling the teacher.”
Publications & Privacy Information
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
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.
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