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Dear Parents and Community,
Welcome back. We are now right back in the swing of things. The students are very settled back in the classrooms and great learning is happening. We noticed after Covid, the students were not as settled, so we have been putting much effort into getting them into routines and focusing on our four themes of "Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Kind."
Parent Meet and Greet with the Teacher: The Parent 'Meet and Greet' is scheduled for Tuesday the 16th of February from 2 pm to 7pm. Students will finish at 1:40 on this day. If you unable to pick up your child the remaining students will be supervised until 3:30 when after school care begins. An online booking form will be set up soon for families to book a time with a teacher.
Uniform Update: Please see attached our Uniform list, especially the information around haircuts and socks. Most of the students are wearing perfect uniform, so thank you very much. Our main issue seems to be students wearing black socks or branded socks with the sport's uniform. All students should be wearing plain white socks with their sport's uniform.
Absenteeism: Thank you to the families who are notifying the school of when your child is absent. Can we ask that families do this early in the day as teachers are required by law to mark the roll at the start of the day. We are setting up a text system where families will receive a text if your child is absent and we have not received notice.
QR CODE: Nick, our Tech guy, set up our QR Code on Monday so we are now right to go with parents attending assembly. We ask that Parents socially distance themselves during the assembly. You only need to use the QR Code if you in the school for longer for 15 minutes. Assemblies are Mondays and Thursdays. We are avoiding Fridays due to the clash with Inter school Sports and other events.
Annual Improvement Plan and School Review. We have three main goals this year with our school. Mathematics, Behaviour Management and we are also involved in a project with our Senior Students aimed at helping to identify and support those students of high potential who may otherwise go unnoticed - in particular students who may not have the language required to accurately complete the reading or maths assessments or those whose ability may not be reflected in reading or maths assessments (e.g.: twice exceptional). This last project sees us working with renowned educationalist John Munro who will be working directly with our teachers. For Mathematics we will be working with Paul Swan, who is one of the authors of Teaching Primary Mathematics. Zoom has allowed us to work with some of the best people in the world. Our School Review is officially in Weeks 1 to 3 of Term 3 and I was informed that Fiona Mackenzie will be working with us. In the school we have already started to form School Review Teams and are looking at ways to involves students and parents in the process. The five review spheres are Religious Dimension, Learning and Teaching, Student Well Being, School Community and Leadership and Management.
International Women's Day Breakfast: Sadly our plans to have an official International Women's Day Breakfast have had to be put off until next year. Covid has caught us out and we do not have enough lead into time. We were talking to a venue and we were going to have a guest speaker and it was going to brilliant....... but.... next year.... so mark in your calendars for next year March 11 2022!! If anyone has a good contact for a good speaker ..please let me know.
Update on my son: Many have asked me how my son is going. We have moved into the maintenance stage of his cancer treatment. (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma) Which means we now only go to the hospital once a month and most of those visits are only really short. His hair has grown back so people do not notice him as much which makes him much happier. He is still a bit unsteady on his legs, but slowly but surely his legs and getting stronger. He started at new school this week which is a little closer to our home, so things are slowly returning to a bit of normality. Although we still have a long way to go, things are much better. His biggest decision at the moment is finalising his 'Make a Wish," idea.... it looks like the Hockey family will be added a dog to the list.
God Bless and Stay Safe
Anthony
Prayer of Dedication of the School Year
Almighty God, you provide me with all that I need,
My very life is a gift from you,
and without you I could do nothing.
And yet, still more, you give me the freedom
to do as I choose.
Accept from me now, the work of this year.
I dedicate to you all my difficulties and joys,
my irritations and rewards,
my disappointments and successes.
Help me to work to the best of my ability,
with a big heart,
and good humour.
Lord, you have placed us together, this year,
at this school,
adults among a rising generation,
and you have entrusted to us a part
in their mysterious growth to maturity.
Work in us,
Work through us,
Let our hands be your hands,
Our words be your words,
Our work be your work.
And then, when our tasks are done,
give us the grace to let them go,
happy in the knowledge,
that they belong,
somewhere in your much bigger plan.
Into your hands Lord we commend this year,
You who are God, forever and ever,
Amen.
Welcome to 2021
Please find some important dates for the year regarding Sacraments and other initiatives related to Religious Education for Term One:
Date/ Time |
Event |
**** Please Note**** Term One
Father Greg has requested that the amount of people in the church will need to be kept to a minimum. As a result of this, any Masses or liturgies held in the upcoming weeks will be limited to the children, teachers and support staff only.
(Reconciliation is excluded from this as it takes place in small family groups).
We will keep you updated on when parents / family members will be able to join us in school celebrations.
Thanks for your understanding.
|
Friday 12th February, 9.15am |
Beginning of Year School Mass |
|
Wednesday 17th February, 9.15 am |
Ash Wednesday Mass |
|
Friday 26th February, 3.15pm |
Lenten Liturgy |
|
Sunday 28th, 10:30am |
Year 2 Family Mass |
|
Friday 12th March, 3.15pm |
Lenten Liturgy |
|
Sunday 14th March 10:30am |
Year 3 Family Mass |
|
Friday 19th March, 9:15am |
Feast of St Joseph |
|
Friday 19th March, 2.30pm |
Lenten Liturgy |
|
Reconciliation
Tuesday 23rd March, Wednesday 24th March, Thursday 25th March 3.50 - 6.30pm
Friday 26th March, 3.50 - 5.30pm |
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 3 children and their families). |
|
Friday 26th March, 3.15pm |
Lenten Liturgy |
Sacrament Dates for 2021
Reconciliation (Year 3)
Tuesday 23rd March, 3.50 - 6.30pm
Wednesday 24th March, 3.50 - 6.30pm
Thursday 25th March, 3.50 - 6.30pm
Friday 26th March, 3.50 - 5.30pm
First Eucharist (Year 5)
Saturday 29th May, 6pm
Sunday 30th May, 8.30am & 10.30am
First Eucharist (Year 4)
Saturday 19th June, 6pm
Sunday 20th June, 8.30am & 10.30am
Confirmation (Year 6)
Tuesday 27th July, 6pm
Wednesday 28th July, 6pm
Thursday 29th July, 6pm
St Mary’s - Parish Mass Times
Saturday 6pm
Sunday 8:30am and 10:30am
Ps 1. Due to covid situation there is a need to sign up for any Mass: signupgenius.com/go/stmarys
Ps 2. All are welcome for Working Bee at side of Church, in front of Parish Centre and in front and side of presbytery on Saturday February 13th between 9-11:00am
Fr Greg
Please find below the Term One Newsletter for each year level. This has information about the learning and any important information for Term One.
Teachers will also be communicating via email with any updates or news specific to your child’s class. The Classroom Blogs will now be replaced with Google Classrooms. This will be a place where teachers can share photos and videos of student learning and special events such as excursions or school events. Teachers will send you an email when they have posted work to the Google Classroom.
*Please ensure your email is up to date with the school office.
A focus at St Mary’s this year is Behaviour Management. We are beginning the year with exploring our 4 School Expectations. These are Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Kind. The students will be discussing what this looks like in our school and we are working towards creating a shared school expectations poster. Below is the St Mary’s School Expectations poster which is displayed in our classrooms and around our school.
Welcome back from our Parent and Friends Committee to our community at St Mary’s, we hope that all our families had a great break over the summer holidays and that the kids are enjoying being back at school and settling in well.
Thank you for all your support last year and we hope that some of the activities we ran throughout the year helped everyone through a difficult and crazy year.
The Parent and Friends Committee will be hosting our first meeting in February, we are just finalising dates so keep an eye out via the Schoolzine App.
If you have been holding off joining this fun and committed group, we would appreciate you coming along to perhaps learn a little more about what we do or maybe you have some ideas that you would like to share. We welcome everyone and hope to see some new and old faces in 2021.
We hope to update you all on our schedule later this month, but in the meantime, here are some upcoming events and activities to take note of.
Shrove Tuesday – 16 February
To celebrate Shrove Tuesday the Parent’s and Friends Committee will be offering pancakes to all students on Tuesday 16th February 2021. We are seeking donations for:
- Plain/Original pancake mixture (Green’s Brand only)
- Greens Maple Flavored Syrup
- Lemons
- Cottee’s strawberry Jam, Pure maple syrup
To be dropped off at the school office by Friday 12th February
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact vicepresident@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au and for those of you that submitted your details through the online volunteer form last year we recently sent you an email (please check your junk mail) or contact us using the email address above.
Second Hand Uniform Pop Up Shop – Monday 8th February
There will be a second hand uniform sale next week, Monday 8th February from 8.30 just outside the glass doors where all the recycling is held. There will be summer and winter uniforms available and nothing is over $10. Please bring your own bag or purchase a school calico bag for $5. Thank you.
Icy Poles
A reminder icy poles sales have now commenced and students will be able to purchase Berri Fruit Stick Icy Poles for $1 and will be limited to one icy pole each. These will be sold at lunchtime.
Prep Information Evening – Tuesday 9th February
The P&F will be hosting light refreshments on Tuesday 9th February for the Prep Parent Information Evening. If you can volunteer to help with set-up, serving and/or pack up please contact vicepresident@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au