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Dear Parents, Community and Guardians,
A quieter week at school as our Year 5 and 6 Students are off on their Canberra trip have a wonderful time. For many students it is their first big trip away from family, so it can be a nervous time, however, as soon as the bus gets moving most student just love it. As much as it is a huge commitment from staff, staff love it too. This week they are visiting Parliament House, Geoscience Australia, The Mint and The War Memorial to name a few.
200 Years of Catholic education: This year marks 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. For those who do not know, Catholic education did not start in Australia to teach Catholic students, it actually started in response to children who were living in poverty who were not allowed to attend school because they could not afford the fees. In many cases it was our Catholic Orders of Sisters and Nuns who arrived and set up schools to cater to the poor. St Mary's being the oldest continuously operating Catholic School In Victoria is playing a big part in this celebration and we have been asked to supply pictures and history to the central office. On Monday May 24th, there is a Bicentennial Mass at the Cathedral where all schools can send ten students. St Mary's will also be sending extra students as we will also have students reading on the day in front of all the other schools. A great day to showcase the wonderful students we have here.
Speaking of wonderful students, I was approached by our School Captain, Manuela a few weeks ago about a number of issues she had been talking to students about. One of the issues that students had spoken to her about is the state of our toilets. I always like it when someone comes along not only with the problems, but also a solution. Manuela had seen an idea of painting school toilets in a colourful ways to make them more attractive and inviting. We approached Mount St Joseph's with the idea and they have jumped on board. This week the Year 12 V-cal students have come back to us with several design ideas. We will now take these designs to the student leadership groups for a decision. We hope to see the designs up on our cubicle walls soon.
Congratulations.
Two Congratulations. Firstly to Laura Graham and Adam. Welcome to Matilda Grace Moedt Born 25-4-2021 6:19pm 3.42kg All going well.
Term 2 |
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Friday 7th May 9.15am Friday 14th May |
Mother’s Day Mass Prep - 4 Mothers and significant female relatives welcome
Please register your details at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys
Mother’s Day Liturgy (for children who were away on camp this week) Years 5- 6 only Mothers and significant female relatives welcome. All welcome for a cup of tea after in the Parish Centre Please scan QR code in church on the day
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Wednesday 19th May 6.30pm
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE!! |
Year 4 & 5 Combined Eucharist Parent Night in the school hall
*** Parents Only***
Covid QR code will be provided on the night |
Wednesday 26th May 9.15am |
200 Years of Catholic School Education Whole School Mass School event only - due to numbers in the church No parents please! |
Saturday 29th May, 6pm Sunday 30th May, 8.30am & 10.30am |
Year 5 First Eucharist
To attend Mass, everyone will need to register their details at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys
Numbers will be limited to 10 people per family (including the candidate)
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Tuesday 1st June 4pm |
Year 4 First Eucharist bookings open: Log in code TBA |
Saturday 5th June 6pm |
Year 4 Family Mass
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Saturday 19th June, 6pm Sunday 20th June, 8.30am & 10.30am |
Year 4 First Eucharist |
Sacrament Dates for Term
Confirmation (Year 6)
Tuesday 27th July, 6pm
Wednesday 28th July, 6pm
Thursday 29th July, 6pm
As the school continues to work in partnership with families to help students negotiate the digital world, we continue to find resources that may provide support and guidance with this challenge.
This webinar is run by the Australian Government’s eSafety Commissioner and is offered on the following sessions.
- Wednesday, the 5th of May at 12:30 – 1:30
- Tuesday, the 8th of June at 12:30 – 1:30
- Wednesday, the 16th of June at 7:30 – 8:30
eSafety’s guide to parental controlsThis webinar will look at how parents and carers can set up devices and apps to help keep young people safer online. Audience Parents and carers of children aged 4-13 The webinar will cover: · The benefits and limitations of parental controls · How to set up iOS and Android devices for safety · How to set up popular games and apps like YouTube and Roblox for safety · Using family tech agreements and other parenting strategies to manage online risks · How eSafety can help when things go wrong
The webinar will include practical tips, demonstrations and advice for parents and carers to help keep young people safer online.
https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/9188680659348918543
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The Sustainability Team Is Growing
This term we have seen a number of students choose to join the sustainability team.
This is wonderful!
To see so many children taking an interest in the environment and want to be involved and take action is fantastic!
I am hoping this term is going to be a very productive term for the sustainability team and see a lot of ideas really take hold this term
Nude Food
Just a reminder to everyone that ‘Nude Food’ Wednesday is every Wednesday.
Last week 6G were the winners of the ‘Golden Lunchbox’, much to the delight of Ms Gunn. Well done 6G and thank you Ms Gunn for support and encouragement.
Recycling Hub
St Mary’s has a recycling hub. It is located inside the school, opposite the entrance to the school canteen.
Items that can be collected are:
Batteries, Plastic bottle tops, pens, toothbrushes and empty toothpaste tubes, mobile phones and glasses.
Garden Club
A big thank you to Mr Burke and the Year 6 students for their efforts in weeding the garden and clearing all the beds.
The plan for the garden is to grow produce that can be used to make meals to support “Reaching out in The Inner West of Melbourne’.
This is an organisation supported by Mr Burke, 6B. If you would like more information you can find them on facebook.
Our vision is to grow produce needed, harvest it, and involve the children in making meals that can be frozen and supplied to the people in need.
We really hope this is a project that the whole school can get behind and support in any way possible.
I will be calling for all children interested in Gardening club to come along to a meeting on Friday.
Buongiorno, (This is how we welcome all our classes to the library this year),
What a fantastic day we had at the Mother’s Day Stall last Friday.
A big thank you to Tanya Dias coordinating this activity, a special thank you to Victoria Crowe for helping to coordinate, and to our wonderful parent helpers Nat Densley, Lora Winter, Tia Cotter and Christine Walter.
The stall was not run for fundraising purposes but something special for the kids. It was lovely to hear all the beautiful stories about our mums, grandmothers, aunts and other special women in our children’s lives. We hope you all enjoy those carefully selected gifts on Mother’s Day.
Reminder if you are wanting to attend the Mother’s Day breakfast, afternoon tea or Mass you will need to ensure that you have registered, see more details below. The breakfast will be a little different this year as we manage that event within COVID-19 safe practices, but we are very happy to be able to host the event this year.
Join us on Friday 7th May at 8am in the school hall, followed by Mother’s Day Mass at 9am for Prep through to Grade 4 families.
Due to COVID-19 Safe practices we do have a capacity limit within the hall of 125, which includes students, for this event. We will need to limit to one special woman in our lives per family, and you will need to complete the registration form prior to attending.
Please don’t forget to also complete the online registration form for Mass if you will be attending, this is a separate form that is managed via the Parish and not the school
As we reach capacity in the hall we will move into the courtyard between the school and church ahead of Mass.
In keeping with sustainable practices, we ask that you bring along your keep cup, with a lid, on the day for tea and coffee service.
We will be putting together our Mother’s Day Slideshow, so we’d love to invite all families to submit a family photo with the special women in your lives. Please add your image into this google drive folder Mother's Day Slide Show Photos
Please remember that photos must be in no later than today (Wednesday) at 5pm.
St Marys Disco!
Bring your comfy shoes and your best dancing moves to our school disco on Friday the 4th of June, from 6.00 – 9.00pm. There will be a junior and senior sessions scheduled to help the little ones not feel too overwhelmed.
- Grades Prep, One & Two will start the night off from 6pm - 7:15pm.
- Grades Three, Four, Five & Six will have their turn from 7:30 - 9pm.
Boogie with your friends in the school hall and have some fun!
The cost per child is $10 and tickets will be available via CDF Pay, and students will be allocated a wristband on the night that will include their emergency contact details. A notice when ticket sales will be available will be sent via Schoolzine App so keep an eye out for that one.
As we're still living within COVID-19 normal, the hall is restricted to how many people we can have at one time so there will be a limited, first in, first served, number of kids allowed per session.
More details will come through in the next week, but for now, mark the date and stretch those dancing legs!
Parent helpers
The kids love it when parents come to help out and this is one of the most fun nights to do so! A few extra parents are needed to help clear the mosh pit and you may even get a chance to have a boogie with them too - if they don't think you're too embarrassing!
All parent helpers must hold a valid working with children check. We have list of volunteers however we do need a few additional helpers from the Grade 4 to 6 families that will be available from 5pm – 10pm. If you are available and interested please email our Volunteer Coordinator Katherine McQuinn and please include your WCC details.
See you there!
IMPORTANT NOTES
What if I forget to buy a ticket and miss the cut-off date?
Unfortunately we won’t be able to accommodate any late payments, you will have over three weeks to purchase your ticket, unless they are sold out prior. If your child really wants to go please make sure to purchase as early as possible.
We had a change of plans so now we can come on the night?
There will be NO walk up sales this year, this is both to help us manage within COVID-19 safe practices, we have enough staff and parent helpers and so that we are not handling money on the evening. Please don’t ask because we don’t want to say NO on the night.
This is anyone’s game. So many classes so close to the finish line but not quite there yet. Has your family submitted your Jogathon donations via CDFPay so that your child’s class can win the hot chicken and chips lunch proudly sponsored by TreeHaus Williamstown as well as an afternoon of Kelly Sports fun?”
Many thanks to Nicole Bennett for coordinating this on behalf of the school community, and thanks to all those who volunteer. Roster details below. If you are unable to make your shift please endeavor to organise someone to take your shift.
- Thursday 6th May – Megan Burke
- Friday 7th May – Katherine Collett
- Monday 10th May – Holly Gultam
- Tuesday 11th May – Sue Laws
- Wednesday 12th May – Michelle Knezevic
- Thursday 13th May – Sheridan McCuthcheon
- Friday 14th May – Eilin Taylor
Jemima Bowen
P&F President (president@smwiliamstown.catholic.edu.au)
The College Open Day is quickly approaching with details as follows:
Date Sunday 23 May 2021
St Paul’s Campus: 10.30 am – 1.30 pm
Notre Dame Campus: 11.00 am – 2.00 pm
Bookings are essential and can be made at the Tours & Events tab on the right hand side of the homepage of the College website, www.ecmelb.catholic.edu.au We would love to see you there.
It is important to note that applications for Year 7, 2023 are now being accepted. These applications close on Friday 20 August 2021. A Prospectus Pack containing an application form can be requested from the enrolment information tab on the College website, www.ecmelb.catholic.edu.au or by emailing enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au or calling the College Registrar on 8325 5119.