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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
Poetry Slam: An exciting week at school with our Year 6 students taking part in the Williamstown Literary festival this Friday at 11:40. Some of our students are also taking part in a Sunday event as part of the festival, "It's not too late!" where some of our poets will be fetured as part of a show.
Staffing News: Brittany Rickman will be leaving us at the end of the term to take up an opportunity at another school. Sometimes when a position comes up you just have to go for it. We wish Brittany all the best as she has been a valued staff member, teacher, leader and one who helped out wherever she could. Brittany's last day is this Friday as she has long service leave next week.
Fight MND: Families would be interested to know that the school has a connection to the FIGHT MND campaign which was featured in the football on the weekend. Our cleaning company is Danihers. Originally started by three of the Danihers brothers it is now managed and owned by Anthony Daniher and another partner. I know many of our families support the cause through the purchase of a beanie, socks or other merchandise.
Some dates to note.
School Finishes Friday 23rd June 1:30pm .. end of the term Reports will be sent home on this day
Monday july 10 is a School Closure day. Staff will be working on one of School Improvement Goals which is centred around Behaviour Mangement.
Students returm Tuesday July 11
Term 2 - 24th April - 23rd June (1.30pm finish)
Term 3 - 11th July (10th July school closure day)- 15th September (1.30pm finish)
Term 4 - 2nd October - Friday 15th December (1.30pm) (Previously it was Tuesday the 19th.)
St Mary’s Faith News
School and Parish Connections
Gospel – John 6:51-58
Feast of Corpus Christi
Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. The bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.”
This started an angry argument among them. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
The living Father sent me, and because of him I live also. In the same way whoever eats me will live because of me.
This, then, is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread that your ancestors ate. They later died, but those who eat this bread will live for ever.”
Making the sign of the Cross
It has come to my attention that there are a number children who are not making the sign of the cross correctly. Some children are using their left hand instead of their right hand or are not crossing themselves properly.
As a school we will be making this a focus, ensuring that all students from Catholic families are making the sign of the cross correctly.
We are aware that there are families attending St Mary’s who follow the Greek Orthodox faith and that they make the sign of the cross differently. This will of course be taken into consideration.
I am linking a video that we are using successfully in the Prep classroom. This video is targeted at the younger children.
Desperately needed - Altar Servers
Year 3 and 4 Meeting
We are seeking boys and girls in Year 3 and 4 to train as Alter servers. On Saturday the 8th July, there will be an alter server practice for students who would like to sign up.
Any student that signs up will be rostered on for a Mass once a fortnight and will paired with an existing altar server to support them as they find their way.
Students in Years 3, 4, 5 or 6 who would like to train as an Altar server, please contact with Fr Greg at greg.trythall@cam.org.au or Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au.
Training will be organised by Fr Greg. Fr Greg will also put together a roster which he will share with families
Some important Dates to Remember for Term 2
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
Year 3 Family Mass |
18th June |
10:30 am |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Tuesday 20th June |
4:00 - 6pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Wednesday 21stJune |
4:00 - 6pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Friday 23rd June |
4:00 - 6 pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Saturday 24th June |
10am -12:pm |
Church |
2nd Children’s Mass |
Sunday 25th June |
10:30 - 11:30 |
Church |
Important information for year Three Families
Bookings have opened for Reconciliation
Looking at the bookings, I can see that most families have made a time.
For families that have not made a time, the link is as follows:
https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/f5ux3
Sacramental Program 2023
All dates and times for the Sacrament Masses are outlined in the table below. Year 6 students will be making their Eucharist and Confirmation as a class this year.
Sacrament |
Term |
Date |
Where |
Notes |
Reconciliation |
2 |
Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st, Friday 23rd June Time: 4:00-6:00 and Saturday 24th June Time: 10:00-12:00 am |
Church |
Will need to book a time early in Term 2 |
Confirmation - 6D |
3 |
Tuesday 22nd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 6B |
3 |
Wednesday 23rd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Information Sessions for the Sacramental Program
Sacrament |
Date and Time |
Location |
Presenter |
Confirmation |
Thursday 20th July 6:30 pm |
School Hall |
Fr Elio Capra |
Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia
The ‘Way of the West’ Group have sought our help with this new program to help refugees on permanent visas to assimilate in Australia. We are seeking the help of Parishioners to join this endeavour. The Program is called CRISP! This stands for COMMUNITY REFUGEE INTEGRATION AND SETTLEMENT PILOT.
There is further information in the Parish bulletin.
Alternatively if you want more information you can email sandyandpeter@gmail.com . They have been at the forefront of this potential program.
St Mary’s is pleased to share that we have registered our school for a parent seminar series as part of the Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project.
The Thriving Kids and Parents Schools Project (TKPSP) – Seminar Series is a post-COVID-19 initiative that aims to strengthen partnerships between schools and families by offering three FREE, highly relevant Triple P – Positive Parenting seminars for parents.
The interactive, online seminar package for parents includes:
- Power of Positive Parenting (Triple P Seminar)
Practical strategies to support children’s social and emotional development and to guide their behaviour.
- Helping Your Child to Manage Anxiety (Fear-Less Triple P Seminar)
Skills and strategies to support children manage their emotions and overcome challenges.
- Keeping Your Child Safe from Bullying (Resilience Triple P Seminar)
How to maintain good communication with the children, develop positive relationships, and address conflict and bullying.
Dates for the webinars will be shared with the school soon. Below is a poster with some more information about the project.
P&F update – calling for volunteers
The new P&F Coordination Group met for the first time recently and discussed activities and events for 2023.
We are looking for parents interested in getting more involved in the St Mary’s school community – specifically we need volunteers to run an event or activity for our school.
The below list outlines some of the proposed P&F activities for Term 3 and 4 – some new ideas and some we’ve done before – where we are looking for a Project Lead, either a single person or group who will take ownership of an event/activity and bring it to life.
Activity | Dates | Project Lead(s) |
Term 3 | ||
School disco | Friday 4 August | |
Father’s evening | Friday 1 September | |
Term 4 | ||
Colour Run |
Friday 27 October |
|
Cocktail party | Friday 24 November [TBC] |
In order for these events to go ahead, we need your help! Please email cg@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au if interested.
The volunteers who are part of the P&F Coordination group include Sophie Carter, David Velardo, Claire Beckton, Amanda Osuchowski, Ben Zammit, Bianca Bull and Erin Macdonald. If you have ideas for different events, would like to help in some other way, or have a question please email us.
Thanks
P&F Coordination Group
Code Camp is back at ST MARYS PRIMARY SCHOOL WILLIAMSTOWN these holidays!
With DJ Camp, Animation Camp, YouTube Creators, Coding Camps, Drone Camp and BRAND-NEW Minions Animation Camp, there's something fun for everyone! [please use camps booked for your location]
To learn more and book head to www.codecamp.com.au/fb