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Dear, Parents, Guardians and Community,
In this second Sunday in Lent, we continue to be strengthened in our faith journey as we are reminded again and again of God’s faithfulness and love. It is within a relationship of mutual unconditional love that we can be truly transformed.
Firstly, thank you to all the parents who are out telling people about our school, applications for 2025 are coming in fast and I am doing lots of tours. We will be visiting all local kindergartens soon, we have an enrolment board going up soon and we are doing some local advertising through the local papers and letterbox drops. We already have enough enrolments for one full class!! We also have 2025 Prep Parent Information Sessions on March 26th at 9:30 am and 7:00 pm.
For some talking points, that you can tell your friends when they ask about our school.
What we Pride ourselves on!
Our Calm Classrooms
Our Excellent Academic results
Our Community
Our History
Our Faith
The main thing is to let them know they can book a tour with the Principal so they can see all our classrooms and ask any questions they want. Thanks to everyone, we really do appreciate what you are doing.
District Swimmers: Well done to our District Swimmers who did a fantastic job representing our school this week. They not only swam as fast as they could, they were respectful, well behaved and supported each other. Exactly what we want our students to be!
Launch of our new school uniform top. March 26th 2:30 the school will be having a ceremony to acknowledge the new Indigenous design. There will be a Welcome and Smoking ceremony from the Bunurong Council on the day. We invite all members of our community to our event. We would like as many students as possible wearing the top on the day as we will also have media present.
Some of our Garden Crew
School Fair Meeting: The time has come to get the ball rolling on our school Fair. We are still finalising dates as we are working on with Amusement Rides availability. This meeting will be in person, but most of the meetings will be online in the future. So please join us Wednesday Feb 28 in the staffroom at the school. Looking forward in creating another Fabulous Fair for St Mary's.
House Captains
Bayview |
Portland |
Winella |
Penola |
Mila Batur Tate Stanley |
Dominic Crowe Jacob Randell |
Georgie Bolle Harvey Mandado |
Poppy Loftus Samuel Winter
|
Charism Captains Sustainability Captains
Harry Mitchell Charlotte Hussey Xavier O’ Keefe Stevie Hudson |
Leo McCann Harry Rinaldi Zara Collett William Godde |
St Mary’s Faith News
School and Parish Connections
Gospel: Mark 1: 12-15
And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert.
And he was in the desert forty days and forty nights, and was tempted by Satan; and he was with beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.
Introducing the Charism Team for 2024
Congratulations to Charlotte Hussey, Stevie Hudson, Harry Mitchell and Xavier O’Keefe on being selected for their role as Charism Team leaders for 2024.
They have already stepped into their role as school leaders by leading last Friday’s first Lenten Liturgy.
I look forward to working with this amazing team. I know they have so much to offer St Mary’s as a school and a community.
Reconciliation
Bookings open today
Please use the following link to make your booking:
https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/eejq6
Reconciliation Information evening
Maria Forde will be running the session.
This session will be held online, on Monday the 26th February from 7pm to 8pm
This week your child will bring home a small tea light candle and further information about the evening, including the link.
The link to join the session is:
https://meet.google.com/ixd-hoxe-tpr?hs=122&authuser=0
I will open the link 5 -10 minutes before the session begins.
I am also adding the link to the calendar on Friday.
I look forward to seeing you and your child at the session.
Project Compassion
‘Working together for justice and dignity. Walking together in hope. Building together a thriving future for all.’
Caritas Australia is an international aid and development agency of the Australian Catholic Church.
They strive to seek social justice and dignity for every person.
They work with local communities in Australia and overseas, listening to concerns and assessing the needs of communities.
With help, compassion and our support, Caritas hopes to work towards a world where all people may thrive!
In every classroom there is a project compassion box. During this time of Lent, the children are being encouraged to be compassionate and think of others in need. As part of our Lenten journey we think of those less fortunate and consider ways we can help.
We would like to fill the boxes as much as we can - ways the children can contribute are:
- Put some of their pocket money into the box.
- Choose to donate icy pole money.
- If the children have given up a treat - try and donate the cost, so the children can see their abstaining is benefiting someone else.
You will see posters around the school encouraging participation, but also letting you know how the school’s contributions will support those less fortunate that us!
Lenten Liturgies
As part of our school Lenten journey we will be holding a Lenten Liturgy in the Hall every Friday during the season of Lent.
This will be part of the Friday school assembly.
All are welcome to attend
Lenten Liturgy |
Date |
Year Level Leading |
2 |
23rd February |
Year 3 /4 |
3 |
1st March |
Charism Team |
4 |
8th March |
Year 2 |
5 |
15th March |
Year 1 |
6 |
22nd March |
Prep with the support of Charism Team |
Children’s Mass - Sunday 25th February
We have our first St Mary’s Children’s Liturgy on Sunday the 25th February at 10:30 am.
Flyers were sent home last week asking for volunteers to read and sing in the choir.
Thank you to all the families and children who have already returned their form and volunteered.
For Families new to the school, the 10:30 Mass on the last Sunday of each month is dedicated to the children at St Mary’s.
The children lead the Mass with the support of the Charism team. Children at the school can volunteer to read and /or sing with the choir.
Both Monique, the pastoral care officer for the parish and myself, Charlotte Lipnicki, attend the Mass and support the children.
The numbers are growing and the children are keen to be involved.
Thank you to all the families who are encouraging their children to get involved. It is wonderful to see and as a school this is something we hope more families will take up the invitation to join.
Some important Dates to Remember for Term 1
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
St Mary’s Children’s Liturgy |
25th February |
10:30 am |
Church |
Feast of St Joseph - led by Yr 3/4 |
19th March |
9:15 am |
Church |
Sacramental Program 2024
If you have any queries can you please contact me directly at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
Sacrament |
Term |
Date |
Where |
Notes |
Reconciliation Bookings Open |
1 |
Wednesday 21st February |
|
Look for email sent |
Reconciliation Information session |
1 |
Monday 26th February Time - TBA |
online |
Student and at least 1 parent to attend. |
Reconciliation Year 3 students |
1 |
Tuesday 5th Wednesday 6th Friday 8th March Time: 4:00-6:00 and Saturday 9th March Time: 10:00-12:00 am |
Church |
Will need to book a time early in Term 2 |
Eucharist - 3 / 4 RM |
2 |
Saturday 18th May 6:00 pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Eucharist - 3 / 4 C |
2 |
Saturday 25th May 6:00 pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Eucharist - 3 / 4 T |
2 |
Saturday 1st June 6:00 pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 5 /6 D |
3 |
Tuesday 27th August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 5 /6 S |
3 |
Wednesday 28th August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 5/ 6 A/K |
3 |
Thursday 29th August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
This week Interschool sports:
Versing: Seaholme Primary School
Location: Seaholme primary school grounds and SG McIntosh reserve.
Time: 9:30-10:30
Transport: Bus
****Parents please be aware that CDFPay for the raffle tickets is being prepared. We will let you know as soon as you able to purchase tickets*****