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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
This week we celebrate the Confirmation of our Year 6 Students with Bishop Martin Ashe. The ceremony has taken place on Tuesday and tonight. We wish all our students all the best for their Confirmations and thank the efforts of their Teachers, Daryl Marmion and Laura Banks, Charlotte Lipnicki and Father Greg. Tuesday's night ceremony was very peaceful and students did our school proud. I know tonight's ceremony will be similar. Please keep our candidates in your prayers.
School Disco. What a success and what fun the students had. A huge thank you to Erin and Ebony for all your organisation and thanks to all the parent volunteers. The students loved it. The walls were shaking.
Sleepover: Wow, did I see some tired faces when I arrived at school on Friday morning. Once again, the students had a fantastic time. A huge thank you to the staff for going out of their way to provide this opportunity for the students.
Laura Banks: This week we say good bye to Laura Banks as she moves to a school closer to home. In only a short time Laura has shown us what an excellent teacher she is and will be missed by the community. We wish her all the best at her new school and thank her for she has contributed to the school. The good news is that we have found a replacement for Laura. Paul Bender will be with us in a couple of weeks as he finishes up at his last position. I am sure you will make Paul feel welcome in our community.
It was interesting today with the release of National Naplan results a lot of the conversation was about schools needing to use the Science of Learning strategies to improve National results. St Mary's has been on the journey of the Science of Learning for the past few years. Little Learners Love Literacy, a program we use in our Prep to Year 2 classes, is one example of a program that follows the philosophy of the Science of Learning. The Science of Learning is using what we have learnt from Science about how student learns. Some are strategies we already use, some are ones we need to learn and some are ones we need to refine. At the moment staff are learning about the Science of Learning and aspects such as Cognitive Load Theory, Rosenshine's Principals of Practice and other Science of Learning theories and practices. Tomorrow, some staff are visiting another school which is a further ahead of us on this journey and we are also taking part in a Flourishing Learning Project with Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools based on the Science of Learning. One of the things you will see as parents is a new spelling program/ strategies in the school. We do not want to rush it, so it may take us a little time as we get all things right. I have added this short video for parents that will teach them another aspect of the Science of Learning, in this case an aspect of reading. about one of the big 5 of Reading on Phonemic Awareness. For a student to be good at Reading they need the Big 5. Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary and Comprehension.
If you learn ore about the big 5 https://fivefromfive.com.au/educator-resources/
Preps Werribee Zoo This week very excited Year Prep students visited Werribee Zoo to learn more about animals and habitats. They were full of chatter when they got back, although some were a bit sleepy from a sleep on the bus on the way back to school.
Book Week This week we also celebrate Book Week. Book Week parade is this Friday at the start of the day (some of our costumes have a short life!) we hope you can join us for the parade. Next week we have book fair where we have a focus on books. We have reduced the amount of cheap rubbers etc that we have sold in the past as we think these just contribute to landfill and is not the right environmental thing to do.
Hoop Time: Good luck to all our students participating in Hoop Time tomorrow. Hoop Time is a big basketball tournament that many schools enter and enjoy. Thanks to Mrs Cooke and Mr Lovett for your organisation.
Things coming up to note in your diaries.
Father's Day Stall: Friday August 25
Classroom Open Morning: Wednesday August 30th 8:30 to 9:15 ish
Father's Day Mass: Friday September 1st 9:15am
Parent Learning Walk: Friday September 1st 11:40 am Come and see how our teachers are teaching Maths... how do they cater for a wide variety of ability levels.
God Bless
Anthony
2024 School Fair Update
Thank you to everyone who responded to our School Fair Expression of Interest Survey.
We had 25 responses. 20 from current families and 5 from new families entering the school in 2024
How would you like to help? How many people responded in brackets.
Work on a stall (10) Run a stall (2) Set Up (3) Help coordinating (1) Volunteer on the day (1) Bake/ donate food (6) Electricity (2) Finance (1 ) raffle (2) Bar (2) Dj/Entertainment (4) Social Media/ advertising Boards/sign-age (3) Sponsor (1)
Comments suggestions
Open Movie night would be great, either at or in place of fair. Hire bean bags, buy popcorn, food vans, drinks, bar, movie tix etc.
Do it on the weekend
A night market with lots of food and a band and entertainment (kids dance singing etc). We can make a fair profit on food and some games with prizes. Each grade or class could come up with a Game that they can run on the day. Things similar to fishing the ducks or knocking bottles down or balls going into glass bottles. Also some paid activities like painting a paper umbrella or making sand bottles etc. This is a good way for the classes to do something as a whole. I personally don't like the rides and their safety and you detract people from the actual fair. Let's not do a copy and paste of something we did before. Its getting tired. Should you be willing to do a format similar to this I would be happy to be involved in coordinating the classroom games or activities
I’d suggest a different format and stall type just to create some interest/difference. Perhaps a ‘sustainable’ themed ‘country’ fair. More farmers market style of stalls with a focus on well-being, health, sustainability. It could just create a point of difference to what we have always done and interest for local community.
A dance or singing or talent contest would be fun and entertaining - could have judges with buzzers etc
Looking at the responses. Some Conclusions
We have had quite a few responses to help, however, not many to coordinate the event
The majority of parents/families did not respond to the survey roughly 89%
Some suggestions that it may be time to re-look at whether we have a fair, or a fair this size, does it need a refresh
So... Where to now?
We can give one last call out for Expressions on Interest so we can gauge do we have the interest to have a Fair
or, as some people have already done.. is it time to create a new event or change our current Fair for St Mary's that becomes our signature event and the major fund-raiser for the school??
If it is time for a new Signature event what ideas do you have? for example Do we have a simplified Fair with a theme, Do we have a night-time event where students do a fire lantern parade (charging an admission fee) with Food and some entertainment. Do we dress the students like 1942 and have a historical re-enactment throughout the school. Do we have a car show? Music Festival? Is it an open movie Night?... these are only suggestions to get people thinking, these are not the final options... whatever it is, simple is good and it should be something that benefits our students.
So, please complete our Expressions of Interest Survey and I have added a couple of more questions if you would like suggest a new idea for a big event or have another suggestion/idea.
I look forward to your ideas, thoughtsa and suggestions
Anthony
Raising Children Network Film Reviews
Did you know that the Raising Children Network website has a film review section to tell you whether a film is child friendly has violence, content that may disturb children, sexual references, alcohol and drugs, nudity and sexual activity, product placement and coarse Language.
If you are not sure, it may be worth a visit.
St Mary’s Faith News
School and Parish Connections
Gospel – Matthew 15:21-28
At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Way of the West Program
This is the last week of the “Way of the West’ Program.
Thank you for all your bountiful donations over the past few weeks. Everyone has been so kind and generous and your contributions have been very much well received.
Please continue to drop off your donations with your child - there are boxes in each room.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Week 4: 20th - 27th August - other household items
- Dishwashing detergents
- Washing powder for clothes
- Household cleaning products
- Nappies - especially the larger sizes.
- Gift cards - Target, Big W, Kmart
Some important dates to Remember for Term 3
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
Confirmation - 6B |
Wednesday 23rd August |
6:00 pm |
Church |
Children’s Liturgy |
Sunday 27th August |
10:30 am |
Church |
Father’s Day Mass |
Friday 1st Spetember |
9:15 am |
Church |
Seniors Mass |
Friday 1st September |
11:30 am |
Church |
Sacramental Program 2023 - Confirmation
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 |
Confirmation - 6D |
3 |
Tuesday 22nd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 6B |
3 |
Wednesday 23rd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Some important dates to Remember for Term 4
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
Seniors Mass |
Friday 6th October |
11:30 am |
Church |
Year 1/2 Family Mass |
Sunday 29th October |
10:30 am |
Church |
Remembrance Day |
Friday 10th October |
10:45 am |
School Playground |
Advent Liturgy 1 |
Friday 24th November |
3:00 pm |
School Hall |
Prep family Mass |
Sunday 26th November |
10:30 am |
Church |
Seniors Mass |
Friday 1st December |
11:30 am |
Church |
Advent Liturgy 2 |
Friday 1st December |
3:00 pm |
School Hall |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
Friday 8th December |
9:15 am |
Church |
Advent Liturgy 3 |
Friday 8th December |
3:00 pm |
School Hall |
Advent Liturgy 4 |
Friday 15th December |
3:00 pm |
School Hall |
End of Year Mass |
TBA |
TBA |
Church |
SPORTS UPDATE
Are you stashing away old mobile
phones in your bottom drawer?
You're not alone!
Only 1 in 3 of us have recycled a mobile device and it's estimated Australians are collectively holding on to more than 4.9 million old phones, with an average of two unused mobiles in every household.
So let's change that! By simply sending in an old mobile phone (any make, any model, working or not) for recycling (and postage is free!)
Did you know over 95% of the materials in a mobile phone can be recovered for reuse?
It means that fewer raw materials need to be extracted and processed to make new products.
Drop off your old phones in the box in the office to be recycled.
Only until the 6th October 2023.
P&F update – calling for volunteers
We are looking for parents interested in becoming involved in the running of the Colour Run (27 October) or the Cocktail Party (24 November [TBC]).
If you are interested in being a Project Lead (either a single person or group) and taking ownership of either of these events, please email cg@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!