Filter Content
Dear Parents and Community,
This Friday we have our beginning of year Mass. Our Years 3 to 6 students will be going to the church while our Junior students will be having a Liturgy at the school. This allows us to fit in the church under their restrictions.
On Tuesday we had a Prep information evening for our new families. Thanks to Charlotte and Brittany for putting this together. It is around this time that the new Preps start getting a bit teary as their bodies adjust to coming to school regularly. Yes, new prep parents, it is normal, the novelty has worn off.
This week the staff meetings have been on two important topics. On Tuesday we looked at our Behavioural Management practices across the school. What is working well, what needs some adjustment and what do we need to learn more about. I must commend the staff as the school has been very settled overall and when I visit classrooms, the students are on task and working well. Not everything is perfect of course, but we quickly follow our procedures for when students need more support. Our other staff meeting, we have two, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, starts to look more formally at our review process. Staff will break into teams and look at a rubric of success across the 5 spheres of review. We will then use these self assessments as a starting point. At the end of the review we have our next strategic plan for the school for 2022 to 2026.
Our school has moved over to a new program to mark attendance. All late arrivals need to check in at reception to acknowledge their arrival. Parents who need to take their child out of school early for an appointment need to please send an email to info@smwilliamstown.catholic.
Holidays during School Time. We do ask that families do try to avoid during school time, however we are also aware that that is not always possible. School Principals are meant to approve if a family is requesting to be away during school time. It is part of the requirements for schools. If you are going to be away during school time please send an email to principal@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au so we can note this. Otherwise it must be marked as unapproved absence from school.
Swimming trials begin are on Thursday. Good luck to all our students hoping to make the representative team.
Shrove Tuesday is next week and that is always the signals for our preparation into Easter and the Lenten period. Lent is a time for alms-giving (giving to the poor), increasing our prayer and fasting. With our students, fasting is replaced by asking our students to perhaps give up something, whether that be not eating lollies, or using the computer less or taking action, making sure their bed is made every day or even helping to clear the table. Perhaps this a good time for all of us to do that little bit extra during Lent.
Ash Wednesday. Following Shrove Tuesday will be Ash Wednesday. This year the students will be sprinkled with ashes instead of getting a cross of ashes on their forehead. Thanks Michelle Ebinger for all her work in preparing the beginning of school year and Ash Wednesday Masses and Liturgies.
Parent Meet and Greet. Our staff are looking forward to meeting you all next week for our Meet and Greet. It is a chance for parents to tell the teachers a little bit more about your child. You will always know more about your child than we do and there is only so much a teacher can learn by reading a report and talking to another teacher, so we really appreciate your efforts for coming to these meetings. Face masks will need to be worn on the night.
Evacuation Drill. The school will do an evacuation drill next week as we have new staff and students, so it is important that everyone is familiar with the processes in the rare case of an emergency. The emergency management companies tell us the most common emergency in schools is an animal on site. I guess that is a good reminder that dogs should not be brought into school grounds and should be left at the school fence.
Update on Laura Graham. You may have noticed that Laura has not returned. She really did an excellent job at breaking her ankle. She is still a couple of weeks away and then she may return part time. We have made the decision to appoint Teresa Prismall full time to the grade one classroom. Teresa was due to start in Week nine, but it makes more sense for her to stay rather than Michelle Ristovski to return for a few weeks. Michelle is doing a marvellous job as acting Deputy in Laura's absence.
MacLean's Reserve Upgrade. Don't forget, Hobson City Bay Council is in the reserve today, Wednesday, to speak with families about the upgrade. I met with them on Monday and even got a chance for some students to speak to them about their ideas for the park.
School Captains. Today I had the privilege of hearing our Year Six students do their School Captain speeches. They were certainly impressive. Year 6 and Year 5 students will vote on who they think will make the best representatives for our school. Other leadership opportunities will be available for the other Year 6 students, however, the School Captains is a more formal process.
God Bless and stay safe
Anthony
2021 Dates
Please find some important dates for the year regarding Sacraments and other initiatives related to Religious Education for Term One:
**Please note**
For 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. No parents!
(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.
Date/ Time |
Event |
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
Class Representatives Term 1
PL |
Olivia Anastasi |
PR |
Estelle Sarkady |
1K |
Noah Del Re |
1P |
Matilda McInerney |
2C |
Elyssa Eid |
2S |
Emily Cassell |
3E |
Hamish Garner |
3S |
Emily Cassar |
4D |
Amira Pino |
4B |
Max Axiak |
5M |
Massimo Zangari |
5C |
Max Glasic |
6G |
Lucas Zun |
6B |
Orlando Joseph |
The first P&F Meeting will be held on Monday 15th February at 7pm in the school staff room. We welcome all our families to come along and learn more about what we do, get involved and share ideas. To manage attendance we ask that you pre-register via vicepresident@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au as we may need to move spaces to accommodate appropriate social distancing.
The first meeting of the year we will present the President’s Report and all positions will be open for nomination and election.
We hope to see you there. If you have any questions please email through to vicepresident@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
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 only need you to return the slip for consent if you DO NOT want your child to have a pancake or if your child has any allergies.
We are seeking donations for:
- Plain/Original pancake mixture (Green’s Brand only)
- Greens Maple Flavoured 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 or return the bottom of the green notice that was sent home yesterday.
Second Hand Uniform Pop Up Shop – Monday
Due to popular demand second hand uniforms will now be available every Monday from 8.30am, in the School Hall Stage. If you have any spare coat hangers or clothes racks that you can donate can you, please leave these at the office.
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.
Jemima Bowen
Vice-President