Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 10, last week of Term 1!!! There is so much still to fit in. It is going to be a busy week at St Mary’s.

Last week we held our annual Cross Country at the West Wyalong Showground. Congratulations to all students on their exemplary behaviour and fabulous efforts. In particular thank you to Wendy Connellan for her expert organisation and to all the staff and parents who helped out at various check points or at the finishing line!!

As we get closer to Holy Week and the Passion of Christ our Year 5 and Year 6 students are busily getting ready for their re-enactment of Jesus’ last moments. This will be done through our depiction of the Stations of the Cross. This is a very reverent and special occasion and I thank the students for the reverence and maturity they have shown in rehearsing for such an important event. This will be held in the school hall at 12pm on Thursday. All are invited to attend this Holy occasion.

On Sunday we had our Year 3 and 4 students attend Mass in preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday night at 5pm. A reminder for all students to be ready in the church with their parent(s) no later than 4:55. There will be cake and a photo after the ceremony in the Parish Centre. All are in invited!!

On Thursday we will collect class Caritas boxes and find out which class has raised the most money for Caritas Australia. During Lent the students have learnt a great deal about giving to those less fortunate than us and the importance of Almsgiving during the very special Lenten season.

On Thursday our last assembly for Term 1 will be held. It is a big assembly as we hand out the Cross-Country medals and our new ‘Student of the Term’ awards. For this week, these special awards will take place of our usual class awards. Each class teacher will award one class member the prestigious framed certificate to the student who has worked extremely hard this term and exhibited the mission behaviours that have become commonplace at St Mary’s.

A reminder to donate to our Easter Raffle organised and run by our Community Council. Donations can be dropped in at anytime between 8:30 and 3:30 at the front office.

As a treat for the student’s hard work in Term 1 all children will receive a Hot Cross Bun and Easter Egg on Thursday courtesy of Loaf N Around Bakery and the Community Council. Thanks for your support!!!

A reminder about the importance of attendance. It is a school’s legal obligation to report student’s non-attendance. Please read carefully the information about this later in the newsletter.

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins