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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
This week marks the end of Term 2. School Reports have gone home, we had our 'learning conversations,' and we had an incursion, an excursion and a sport's gala, so we certainly finished the term with a bang. I thank everyone for their effort's this term and wish them a restful break.
I had many conversations with families last night and we got some really good feedback on the school reports and our new arrangements with remote learning. Families indicated that they were very interested in the student reflections and we had some indication that families are finding our comments better to read. We continue to try to improve each time we do something.
As much as it has been a disrupted term with another lock-down, we have not sat on our laurels. Sometimes I think a school is like a duck floating smoothly on the water with legs going at a thousand miles an hour underneath out of sight. One of the comments we hear in school when someone first starts working in a school is they never realised how much happens in a school on a daily basis.
This term alone we have
- Sent around 100 students to Canberra with 12 staff
- Using Data for Continuous School Improvement Project (4 staff involved)
- District Cross Country
- Excursions to Dream City, Green Gully Reserve, Emmanuel College
- Incursions
- Training - Engaging Learners with iPad's (4 staff)
- Agile School Leadership Project
- National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) Training - 3 staff
- Mother's day Event
- Inter-school Sports
- Paul Swan Mathematical Training - all staff
- Parent Helper Training
- Well being day
- Religious Education Collective ( 3 staff)
- Attended the Bicentenary Mass plus had our own Mass at the school
- Training for the Respectful Relationships Program
- Had a movie filmed at the front of the school
- Training in Behaviour Management
- Training for all our Learning Support Officer in phonemic awareness
- Plus two weeks of Remote Learning.
What strikes me in this list that most of this does not mention the students. We still have the normal, weekly teaching, planning, parent support group meetings, meetings with specialists, paediatricians, psychologists, OT's, speech pathologists, behavioural specialists and a many more that I do not instantly recall.
It really is a whole village that raises a child and it really only happens when that village comes together.
Staffing Changes in Term 3
Lucy McCarthy-Hill returns to us from maternity leave in Term 3. She will be returning two days per week. Melissa Edmunds, who works three days per week, will drop back to one day per week because of this. Lucy will be working one day in Grade Prep R and one day in our tutoring program in response to the Covid lock downs.
Thank you to the Parents and Friends and everyone who contributes to our fundraising. This week our new Marquees arrived. We had a quick go at putting one together. These can now be used at sport's carnival, the school fair and other events.
Finally, please make sure you book your ticket for our presentation from Parenting expert Michael Grose on August 3rd. This is a unique opportunity to have someone like Michael available to our community directly. Tickets are $20 available through CDF Pay.
God bless and have a great break.
Anthony
Upcoming Events
TERM 3 |
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Tuesday 13th July, 4pm |
Year 6 Confirmation when bookings open: Please log into : https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/
Code: ffkq3
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Wednesday 21st July, 6pm |
Year 6 Confirmation Evening in the school hall **** Parents Only**** |
Year 6 Confirmation Liturgies
Tuesday 27th July, 6pm Wednesday 28th July, 6pm Thursday 29th July, 6pm |
To attend a liturgy, everyone will need to register their details at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys
*** numbers for this event will be announced closer to the date****
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Saturday 4th September 6pm
Sunday 5th September 8.30 & 10.30am
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Year 5 First Eucharist
Bookings will be transferred from the original date and time to the new date and times
*** numbers for this event will be announced closer to the date****
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TERM 4 |
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Saturday 16th October 6pm
Sunday 17th October 8.30 & 10.30am
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Year 4 First Eucharist
Bookings will be transferred from the original date and time to the new date and times
If these new dates create any problems, then please feel free to contact Father Greg directly. |
Here is a link for families that provides Wellbeing activity ideas and conversation starters for parents of primary school-aged children
In continuation of supporting families with guiding students in the online world, please find the following resources to support your family through navigating the world of technology safely with your family.
Aus edition - Global online safety advice for parents and carers (PDF, 1.13MB)
A reminder that there are the following interactive webinars are being offered online by the Australian Government’s e-safety Commissioner to help parents and carers.
eSafety's parent guide to popular apps
Learn how to help young people safely use popular apps including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
This webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people aged 8-13.
It will cover:
- an explanation of the popular apps used by young people
- case studies, research, and targeted advice
- ways you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.
Dates (Australian Eastern Standard Time)
Monday 16 August 12.30 to 1.30 pm
Tuesday 31 August 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Thank you to our amazing crew within the P&F group that have worked so hard this term to deliver activities and events in Term 2, including incorporating changes to align with COVID-19 safe practices.
The new marquees have arrived at school, thank you to our community in supporting our fundraising activities, it will be great to see these being used for a variety of purposes.
Being part of the P&F is a great way to meet new people across all year levels of the school and wonderful opportunity to give back to our school. If you have been thinking you would like to learn more or get involved, it is never too late. Please email president@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au if you would like to join us for our next meeting on Monday 12th July at 7pm.
St Mary’s Ball
It’s moving – please note a change of date for the St Mary’s Ball which has been moved to 9th October. Please make sure to pencil the date in your calendar and we will circulate an update in Term 3 regarding ticket sales.
Chocolate Drive
Don’t forget that a Cadbury Chocolate Fundraising Box filled with assorted chocolates, will be sent home with your eldest child on Thursday 24th June, last day of term 2. If your children ride or walk to school and can’t carry home the box, please note that these can be collected from the School Office on Thursday or Friday (non-pupil day).
Money raised helps us to improve the facilities and resources at our school, we appreciate your continued support.
For each fully paid box, your family will receive an entry into the golden raffle to win a $150 voucher to Santorini's. Thanks to Craig and the team at Santorini's for their support.
Due to COVID-19 and the need to reduce cash handling, payment for the boxes will be via the CDF platform. No cash payments.
Jemima Bowen
P&F President (president@smwiliamstown.catholic.edu.au)
St Mary's School is a Child Safe School and as such complies with all aspects and legal obligations that relate to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 (VIC)