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Dear Parents, Guardian and Community,
This week our Grade 5 and 6 students take part in the Beach Program at Williamstown Beach. This course is run by the Surf Lifesaving Club and is based on the successful Nippers program. One of the many great features of the school is access to the water and this program is just another example of how the school takes advantage of this.
Another sign we are getting closer to the end of the year is Prep Orientation. This week we are holding our first sessions for the new students and parents. Our new students have several sessions at the school and we have sessions for the parents as well. The transition into school is one of the more significant times for a student.
Shades Sails Update. We have now had three companies visit the school to quote for the new shade sails to create more outdoor teaching space. This is an initiative from the Australian Government in response to Covid. The area that is most suited for this is the area just outside the current Year 6 room. I had a conversation with our landscape architect who we are working with next year and he also advised this to be the best place. The shade sail needs to get a permit through council and the timeline states it must be installed by the end of April next year.
School Improvement Plan 2022 to 2025. Just a reminder that we are having a session in the staffroom Dec 3rd 9am, for families who want to know more about our School Improvement Plan, that being our four big goals 1. Instructional Coaching, 2. Behavioural Support 3. Data Literacy and 4. Student Agency
14 Days. We have been trying to work through some of our events to make sure we are at least 14 days away from Christmas. We have done this to aviod any families having to isolate over Christmas. As you can imagine this has been quite challenging and restrictions are regularly changing. Trying to work out how to do many things in a Covid Safe way is still an ongoing challenge, so please bear with us as we work around this and wonder why we have changed how things are being done.
This Friday we have our 2022 planning day. We will be joined by new staff and do some groundwork for 2022. One staffing move that do wish to share is that Danielle Salpigtidis is moving to Grade Prep next year. We have Prep Orientation this week so we Danielle will be part of the orientation. Brittney Rickman is not leaving us, but is changing roles at the school next year.
God Bless and Stay safe
Anthony
Father, let your hope arise in our hearts! Lift our eyes up to see that you alone are where our hope comes from. Help us to shake off the anxiety, discouragements, and distractions that have filled this year.
May we pause to remember that we have hope in you.
You know the end of our stories, and we give thanks because you have promised that it will be a victorious ending. Give us the grace we need to wrap up this year joyfully.
We invite your Spirit into this beautiful Advent season. Renew our sense of holy anticipation! Let us be those who are waiting eagerly for Jesus to come again.
More than anything, we ask that you be glorified in this season of expectation.
Amen.
The Meaning of Advent
The word ‘Advent’ comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” Advent in the 4th and 5th centuries was a time of preparation for the baptism of new Christians. Christians would spend 40 days in prayer and fasting to prepare for the celebration that accompanied the baptism of new believers.
Over time, advent was connected to the coming of Christ. Originally Christians used this term to reference Christ’s second coming, but by the Middle Ages, Advent was connected to Christ’s first coming that we celebrate at Christmas.
Today, we celebrate Advent over the four weeks leading up to Christmas each year. This year we begin advent on November 29th and end this season of prayerful anticipation on December 24th.
Advent season is an invitation to set your mind off of the stresses of the year. We can take our focus off of the crazy hustle that can be associated with the Christmas season that often threatens to produce more hassle than delight. Advent is a chance to focus our thoughts on the gift God has given us in his son Jesus who stepped down from Heaven and took the form of a man so that we might believe.
The tradition for the first Sunday of Advent includes lighting the candle of hope.
Upcoming Events
TERM 4 |
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Sunday 28th November 8.30am & 10.30am
*spaces for the 10.30am Mass are now full * |
Prep Family Masses
To accommodate the large number of people and families attending this event, 2 Masses will be offered to families.
Please note that the following restrictions will be in place for this event: ● 5 members per family (including prep child) ● Every attendee will be required to register for Mass at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys ● Masks to be worn by attendees over 12 years of age ● Sign in to Mass using a QR code ● Government mandates require that church adult attendees be fully vaccinated. |
Saturday 4th December 6pm Sunday 5th December 8.30am, 10.30am & 5pm |
Year 5 First Eucharist
Please note that the following restrictions will be in place for this event: ● 5 members per family (including the communicant) ● Every attendee will be required to register for Mass at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/stmarys ● Masks to be worn by attendees over 12 years of age ● Sign in to Mass using a QR code ● Government mandates require that church adult attendees be fully vaccinated. |
2022 |
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Saturday 19th February 6pm
Sunday 20th February 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 after December 6th.
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Enhancing Your Child's Wellbeing
Wellbeing comes from physical, mental and emotional health. For children and young people, there are many things that build positive wellbeing.
Wellbeing can come from:
- understanding and managing emotions
- having good relationships
- experiencing a sense of accomplishment
- using their strengths
- taking part in healthy activities, getting lots of sleep and eating well.
Click here for more information
St Mary’s Lego Station
St Mary’s School is gratefully asking for donations of any unwanted lego, particularly Lego Mini- Figures you might have at home.
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.
A reminder that the following interactive webinars are being offered online by the Australian Government’s e-safety Commissioner to help parents and carers.
Perhaps your child has received unfriendly or mean messages online, sent or received an intimate image, or come across inappropriate images online. Conversations about experiences like these can be difficult.
When you talk to your child about personal subjects, you are trying to balance a number of different things:
- respecting your child’s privacy while still making sure they are safe and happy
- giving them space to test their own problem-solving skills online but supporting them as they make their own way
- educating them about people’s different personalities but knowing you can’t make their choices for them
- establishing boundaries while being understanding and open
2022 will be the return of the St Mary’s Fabulous Family Fair, tentatively booked for Sunday 13th November. This all-day event, held in the school and Maclean Reserve, that we run every two years. The Fair is a brilliant way to showcase our school within the community, raise funds for the school and most importantly have some fun!!
Planning will commence this year and we are eager to hear from anyone interested in getting involved in any capacity. There are probably lots of families that haven’t had an opportunity to participate or contribute to a Fair due to the impact of the pandemic which meant we had to cancel the Fair in 2020. Please don’t be shy …if you have event management, sponsorship, planning, logistics or happy to get stuck in and help out please reach out to president@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
School Lunches are back!
Lunch orders are available every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
We are trialing a new supplier - Beaver’s Tail. Everything will be managed directly with Beaver’s Tail (ordering, payment, queries) and not through CDF Pay. This is a change to how lunch orders worked previously, and you need to have orders in the night before.
We will be seeking feedback from the school community towards the end of term. Happy ordering!
Maclean Reserve
Roster details for next week are below, if you are unable to make your shift please endeavor to organise someone to take your shift.
- Monday – Suzannah Andrews
- Tuesday – Nicole Bennett
- Wednesday – Jacinta Sagona
- Thursday – Yolanda Andrews
- Friday – Jemima Bowen
Secondhand Uniforms & Donations
Reminder to parents that Secondhand Uniforms can now be ordered for click-and-collect by emailing uniformspf@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au
We are also seeking secondhand uniform donations. They are greatly appreciated and can be left at the school office. Please ensure items are clean and in a sellable condition.
Jemima Bowen
P&F President (president@smwiliamstown.catholic.edu.au)