St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

Term 1 has been another tremendous term of learning at St Mary’s. The programs that we are implementing, InitiaLit, Spelling Mastery and Connecting Maths concepts, have ensured that Hight Impact Teaching Practices are a common occurrence in our classrooms. We are also investigating the Reading Mastery program and have begun using the Writing Revolution as a pedagogy to construct writing lessons.

It was wonderful to receive feedback last week from our Catholic Education, Canberra & Goulburn Performance & Improvement Leader on how far St Mary’s has come over the term. Most importantly, over the last 7 weeks we have discovered significant growth in our student results and look forward this trend continuing into the future.

St Mary’s successful implementation of High Impact Teaching Practices was also on display last Wednesday afternoon when Mrs Taylor, Mrs Nielsen and Mrs Harland presented a Webinar to the rest of CECG system. The trio were invited by the CECG Teaching and Learning Team to share the positive outcomes St Mary’s has experienced so far with the implementation of the approach. The CECG Team believe the success we have had will assist other schools in the system with implementing High Impact Teaching Practices.

Over the last few weeks I have had some inquiries as to the advertised teaching position for terms 2, 3 and 4 in the Year 5/6 Hope class. At this point in time I am not able to announce any recruitment of staff, however I can inform you there has been very positive steps taken to ensure this position is filled before the end of the term. I will have further information on this vacancy in the not too distant future.

Kind Regards,

Phil Nielsen

Detachment means having the ability to maintain an objective perspective, without the benefit of time or hindsight. It can have negative connotations, but a healthy detachment means that your emotions are not suppressed by people and events around you. Being able to remove ourselves emotionally in order to logically solve a problem helps us think clearly and fulfill

our duty to others.

Detachment means that we can step back from a situation and see it for what it really is, without being clouded by our emotions – either positively or negatively. It also means developing a healthy independence that allows us to think critically and help others.

Detachment is a central theme in Christianity right from the start whereby Jesus states in Mattew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Our faith teaches us that we should seek out opportunities to make sacrifices enabling us to learn and grow spiritually. Essentially detaching from what doesn't nourish us.

When bad things happen, our job is not to help children avoid difficulty, but to be able to handle it well. Detachment keeps us out of trouble by helping us avoid an impulsive reaction. With detachment, we are free to do only what we choose to do. It is using our best thinking and it allows us to be our best selves.

A great guide in helping children practice the virtue of detaching is to have them:

Take time out before doing something you would be sorry for
Look at your feelings before deciding how to act
Use thinking and feeling together
Act instead of reacting
Reflect before taking action
Choose to do what is right

Fifth Week of Lent

Project Compassion brings together Australian schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for people in vulnerable communities across the world. This year, we introduced you to the story of four inspiring people whose lives have been transformed with your generous support: Laxmi, Tereesa, Priscilla and Thu.

Today, they are creating a better world for their families, their communities and for all future generations.

Project Compassion is a demonstration of the faith, empathy and generosity of our supporters. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia – without it, we could not do the vital work we do. Thank you for helping transform lives today and for all future generations.

Please support Project Compassion:

Donate to Caritas

The recipients of our Whatever You Do, Do Well awards this week:

Abbie Blampied	Clancy Blampied	Seth Coburn
Liam Davies	Mae Dean	Jessica Hardie
Olivia Hoye	Billy Iverach	Hannah McDonell
Audrey Pritchard	Stevie Smith	Adaline Stephens
Mike Uiva	Bronte Whittaker	Ruby Whyatt

Our assembly will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoon at 1:55pm. Parents and carers are welcome to attend.

Please note that if you receive a text on Thursday regarding an award and your child is not at school on Friday, the award will be presented at the next assembly your child attends. No further texts will be sent.

Date and Day	Teacher on Leave or PD	Class	Relief
No staff changes this week.

Mrs Emma McRae our counsellor will be visiting our school this week on Wednesday 29th of March.

If you would like to make a confidential appointment for your child please contact the office.

Happy Birthday to

Hunter Connellan, Isabelle McDonell and River Greenwood

who celebrate their birthdays during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Full winter uniform, including ties, is compulsory for all students to wear from June 1.

Students are permitted to wear pants and skirts prior to June 1 if the weather suits.

Parents can refer to the school handbook on our website.

Our school uniform is always to be worn with pride. It is our brand and reflects the quality of our school.

Girls Winter Skirts and Ties available from the school office

Girls winter skirts - various sizes - $40.

Ties (either zipper or tie your own) - various lengths - $16

We finished the NAPLAN testing last Thursday. All tests were completed online except Year 3 writing.

Although there were some minor technical glitches, we were fortunate as a school that these didn't affect the overall performance of our students.

Well done to all our Year 3 and Year 5 students.

Also thank you to Mr Collins, Mrs Harland and Mrs Taylor who were our online Test Administrators.

Students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will travel to the Altina Wildlife Park in Darlington Point NSW on Wednesday the 29th of March.

The bus will leave the front of the school at 7am sharp and return between 3:45pm and 4:15pm. Parents will need to drop off and collect their children at the school bus stop. Arrival time will be communicated via SeeSaw and text message.

Students should wear sport uniform and bring recess, fruit, lunch, water bottle and a hat.

Our school cross country will be held on Friday the 31st of March.

Students in Years 2 to 6 will compete at the West Wyalong Showground from 9am.

Kinder and Year 1 will participate in cross country games on the school oval from 9am.

All students can wear house coloured shirts to school on this Friday.

We are looking for parent volunteers at the showground. If you can help please call the school office.

Parents are welcome to attend.

The ANZAC Day public holiday is on Tuesday 25th of April, which is the day after the first day of Term 2. As usual St Mary's is participating in the march and wreath laying ceremony in West Wyalong on the morning of April 25.

Students who would like to participate in the march are asked to meet at Thom Dick & Harry's corner by 10:20am for the commencement of the march.

The students and parents are invited to stay for the wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph at the S&C Club. Students should wear winter school uniform with a tie. Jumpers will be determined on the day to suit the weather. The students will be accompanied by Mr Nielsen and teachers from our school.

TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED ONCE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE RSL.

On Tuesday the 4th of April our Year 5 and 6 students have been invited to a "Taster Day" at St Anne's in Temora.

All year 5 and 6 students, regardless of high school choice, will be transported to St Anne's for a fun day of high school activities, with lunch provided.

Students will need to take their fruit, recess, hat and water bottle.

The bus will leave at 9am and will return in time for the afternoon bell.

All parents will need to logon to Compass to complete the permission note for their hildren.

The Paul Kelly Cup is the largest AFL primary school competition in New South Wales and the ACT and is open to students in Years 5 and 6. The Paul Kelly Cup consists of 12 player teams competing in round robin gala days. Games are played on a smaller field using modified rules.

Our Year 5/6 students are competing in Wagga on Wednesday the 5th of April.

Students will travel to Wagga by bus and contribute $10 to assist with the cost.

Parents are welcome to attend and also travel on the bus with the students. Please contact the school if you would like to take up this offer, on a first in basis.

Please logon to Compass to give permission and to pay for your child/ren to attend.

Link to seminar

Student Easter Raffle Information

Our Community Council are running a special Easter Egg raffle for our students on Thursday 6th of April.

Tickets will be sold on the 6th of April for 50c each (to a limit of $5) and there will be three prizes per class drawn that afternoon.

Each family is asked to donate one Easter Egg for our raffle prizes. Please send these to the school office before Thursday the 30th of March.

End of Term - Canteen Opening Information

Award Winners

Some pictures of our award winners this week.

CECG Education Webinar Week

Mrs Taylor, Mrs Nielsen and Mrs Harland pictured presenting High Impact Teaching Practices at St Mary's to other schools in the Canberra Goulburn diocese.

The following events are in the calendar in the next few weeks.

The Compass Calendar is updated to show Mass times, sporting events, important events.

The SZAPP calendar is no longer updated, please do not refer to this calendar for important dates.

Day	Event	Location
Monday 20th March	NAPLAN Conventions of Language Year 3 & 5	At School
Tuesday 21st March	NAPLAN Numeracy Year 3 and 5	At School
Wednesday 22 March	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Monday 27 March	Andrew Plant - Author visit	At School
Tuesday 28 March	MacKillop AFL Trials	Wagga Wagga
Wednesday 29 March	Altina Wildlife Park (more information closer to the date) Kinder, Year 1, Year 2	Altina Wildlife Park
Wednesday 29 March	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Thursday 30th March	MacKillop Swimming Trials	SOPAC
Friday 31st March	School Cross Country	Showground and Perseverance Oval
Tuesday 4th April	St Anne's High School Taster Day Year 6	St Annes Temora
Wednesday 5 April	Paul Kelly Cup - Year 5/6	Jubilee Oval, Wagga
Wednesday 5 April	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Thursday 6 April	Easter Raffle for students 50c a ticket
Thursday 6 April	Last day of Term 1
Monday 24th April	First Day of Term 2
Tuesday 25 April	ANZAC Day Public Holiday. Our students participate in the march and service in West Wyalong.	Main Street and S&C Club
Thursday 27 April	Reconciliation and Sacrament of Eucharist Enrolment (Year 3/4) @ 5pm	At School