Newsletter Term 1 2025 20th March
Principal Report
Dear parents and carers,
On Tuesday 18 March we proudly and officially opened the St Mary's Orange Yarning Circle. It was a solemn occasion of great respect, with Uncle Neil Ingram, Mr Tony Mileto (Mayor of Orange), Mr Gerald Power, Fr Greg, Fr Duong and many other distinguished guests in attendance. We were pleased to see so many CaFE parents there, representing our families and of course our beautiful students and staff.
The ceremony was marked by a welcome to country by Uncle Neil, a prayer and blessing from Fr Greg, an address by Mr Mileto, a traditional smoking ceremony and a performance from the Aboriginal Dance Group from James Sheahan High School. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr Benton thanked everyone for their contributions in bringing the Yarning Circle to life.
For those who may not be familiar with the term, an Aboriginal yarning circle is a traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practice where people gather in a circle to share stories, knowledge and experiences in a safe, respectful and non-judgemental environment. Moving forward, our Yarning Circle will be a place of quiet contemplation. Teachers and students will use the space for reflection and Mr Benton will engage classes there in lessons about culture, aligning with syllabus outcomes.
I am including part of my address, to share with you just how much I feel the Yarning Circle brings to us at St Mary's:
"About one year ago Ben Benton our Aboriginal Education Officer, Matt Downey our former groundsman and I stood here dreaming of the possibilities of a Yarning Circle for St Mary’s. I thank Mr Benton for this place which has been his labour of love and for reaching out to work with our wider community to build this yarning circle.
At St Mary's we are a community of great diversity. There is both beauty and strength in that. The fact that we are officially opening our Yarning Circle during Harmony week is not coincidental. As leader of the St Mary’s community my great wish is that we always love to learn and learn to love. May we always have deep respect for the dignity of every person regardless of their cultural heritage.
I stand before you today with humility. I am not an Aboriginal woman. I am a descendant of Irish Catholic convicts and refugees from the Irish Great Potato Famine in the mid 19th century.
My knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and dreaming is gathered from what I have learned and the questions I continually seek answers to. I still have so far to go.
I do share, though, because I can feel it, a sense of deep spiritual connection to the land. I felt it from the time I first drove through the Blue Mountains into Wiradjuri land. There is magic here, nestled in the shadow of Gaanha Bula - Mt Canobolas .
Long after we have all left this place, perhaps even after St Mary’s is gone, the yarning that will take place in this circle will be heard in the whisper of the gums, the call of the magpie and in the dust of the earth.
May we all come to know and love this Yarning Circle as a place of faith, truth, peace and reconciliation. And may we always bear in mind, regardless of our heritage and cultural backgrounds, the wise words of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop. We are but travellers here."
Gayle Stratton
Assistant Principal
Parent Student Teacher Interviews
Parent Student Teacher interviews will be held on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th April in our school hall. Parents and students are both welcome to attend this interview. The interview times allow for 10 minutes to talk to your child's teacher. If your child is present at the interview, they may discuss their English and Maths goals for Term 1. All teachers will follow a structured format in the interview which may include discussing your child's behaviour, their ability to follow instructions, social and emotional wellbeing, progress across all Key Learning Areas, areas for development, and possible samples of your child's work. This is also a time to celebrate your child's achievements for term 1. Please make sure you make an appointment through compass for a meeting time.
We are also hosting a talk from our Police Liaison Officer to parents prior to interviews at 2.30pm at St Mary's music room, near the school hall. This will include keeping our children safe online as well as other topics.
Religious Education
Claire Nicholson
Religious Education Coordinator
During the second week of Lent Christ invites all of us to go up a Lenten mountain with him, to take a journey away from the noise of the world below, and to rise above our normal lives. We are asked to willingly journey with Christ and embrace God’s grace to deepen our faith.
Project Compassion 2025: Thank you to those who have contributed to Project compassion so far. You can support Project Compassion 2025 through the donation boxes, by scanning the QR code or visiting the link. Project Compassion boxes need to be returned to your child’s teacher in Week 10 of this term.
Altar Servers : Thank you to the many Year 4 and 5 students who have registered to become an altar server.
-Second Session: 1:30pm to 3:00pm Sunday 23rd March at St Mary’s Church
-Third Session: 1:30pm to 3:00pm Sunday 30th March at St Mary’s Church
-Commissioning and Robing Mass: 10:00am Sunday 6th April at St Mary’s Church
Grade Parish Masses: Parish Masses occur at 9:30 am on Tuesdays. The parish Masses for this term are as follows:
-Tuesday 1st April - Year 6
Christian Leadership Awards
George Isbil, Otis Pikari, Samuel Stock, Boah Lee, Willow Pickering-Reeve, Cooper Morrison, Jack Wilson, Maleah Hare, Zaidan Bieler, Grace Pearson, Ebubenna Odoemene, Oliver Jones | In recognition of "Positive View of Life" |
Isla Halstead, Roseanne Maria Dany, Levi Trembath, Hayley Konza, Iza Joseph, Aria Edwards, Rhys Thomas, Vidula Liyanage, Otterly Graystone, Sophie Chalker, Kathleen Sharp, Madeline Gouge, Evie Bunworth, Charlie McDonell, Luka Fishlock, Millie Boulton, Nash Gentles, Arden Hinchcliff, Ava Aherne, Hudson Day-Gorham, Marley Weekes, Oscar Weily, Rowan Mason-Kerr, Heidi McCarthy, James Kinross, Grace Pearson. Eloise Quinn, Ammar Shaikh, Frankie Bunworth, Lillian Venner, Rose Duffy, Primrose Edwards, Madeline Gouge, Ava Wilson, Dublin Brown, Addison Hopkins, Eden Carrusca, Ivy O'Donnell | In recognition of "Community & Common Good" |
Aria Ahearne, Isabel Boardman, Sadie McGrath, Levi Stedman | In recognition of "God's presence in the world" |
| Finn Duffy, Harriet Vogler | In recognition of "Search for Truth and Wisdom" |
Curriculum News
INTERNATIONAL MATHS DAY
Last Friday, 14th March, was International Mathematics Day. At St Mary's we LOVE Maths. Our lessons are filled with fun and engaging activities to help develop and skills and understanding. Here are some photos of Year One students measuring length using informal units, Year Two counting large quantities by grouping in tens, Year Four playing games to build mathematical fluency and Year Six working with decimals and explaining their thinking in written form.
School 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.)
Class News
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 4 (Summer )
NO HAT , PLAY IN THE SHADE
(any changes to the uniform days will be sent out via Compass)
Kindergarten - Mondays & Thursday
Year One - Friday
Year Two - Friday
Year Three - Friday
Year Four - Friday
Year Five - Thursday & Friday
Year Six - Friday
School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPB4L)
SPB4L
ASSEMBLY EXPECTATIONS
I will:
- walk quietly into the hall with the teacher
- sit in rows with my class
- listen quietly and use my best manners
- say ‘thank you’, shake hands with and look at the presenter when I receive an award and stand quietly, while holding the award
- wait quietly after the presentation
- follow directions from the teachers
- display responsible behaviour for the occasion: eg. respect and/or reverence
BREACHES OF EXPECTED BEHAVIOURS
CONSEQUENCES OF CLASSROOM OR PLAYGROUND BEHAVIOUR
I will:
- be reminded of the expected behaviours
- be redirected
- be re-taught the rule
- apologise to the person/people affected by my behaviour
- possibly have time out
MINOR BREACHES - CONSEQUENCES
I will:
- be reminded of the rules and redirected
- be removed from an activity/to an alternate space or
- have time out of play or go to a buddy class
- complete a ‘behaviour reflection sheet’
- have a ‘minor’ recorded on my Compass record
- be reminded of the expectations (by the teacher on duty or classroom teacher)
- apologise to the person/people affected by my behaviour
MAJOR BREACHES - CONSEQUENCES
I will:
- attend a thinking time session with Mrs Cranney or Mrs Stratton
- complete a ‘behaviour reflection sheet’
- understand that my parents will be contacted
- have time out in the office
- be reminded of the expectations (by Mrs Cranney or Mrs Stratton)
- apologise to the person/people affected by my behaviour (written or verbal)
- Three minor breaches = one major breach
- Three major. breaches in a term = in-school suspension
- Repetitive ‘minor’ behaviours are considered a ‘major’ breach
I may be:
- removed from play or activities
- excluded from school activities
- excluded from representative or leadership opportunities
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