Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 4. After such a busy start to the year with so many celebrations and extracurricular activities it is time to focus on the most important thing at St Mary’s, learning. This week will see Michael Roberts and Kaitlyn Minahan from COGlearn travel from sunny Queensland to work with our teachers in implementing our Direct Instruction programs. Michael is quite familiar to the staff here at St Mary’s and his experience and knowledge is always welcome. I look forward to sharing our beautiful school with him.

It was lovely to see so many parents around the school last week for the ‘Meet the Teacher’ conferences. This was a wonderful opportunity to talk to your child’s teacher and discuss any needs or concerns. If you didn’t get a chance to participate in these interviews please phone the office or contact your child’s teacher for a chat. Our teachers at St Mary’s are always keen to listen.

Well done to all our swimmers who received ribbons or were named age champion at assembly on Friday. Good luck to the 22 students who have qualified for the Western Region Swimming Carnival in Cootamundra. We are so very proud of you.

A few parents have been using the old high school oval as a carpark to collect their children. Please refrain from doing this, as it is a safety concern. There are children who walk home via the oval and we do not want an accident. Please use the church carpark for collecting your children.  

Last week we began the season of Lent with a beautiful Mass organised by our Religious Education Coordinator Nickey Harland. The Mass was a lovely celebration and the students behaviour, reverence and singing was amazing. It was a fabulous occasion to begin our journey through Lent as we prepare for Easter.

Next Monday, we will welcome important government and Catholic Education dignitaries to St Mary’s as we officially open our new building. We have been in our new building for 18 months and finally we have the opportunity to officially open our refurbished classrooms and administration area. I personally don’t know any different as the new building was in use when I arrived in June 2022. I look forward to welcoming our guests who were a part of the building project and showing them our beautiful school.  

My door is always open!!! 

Regards,

Damian Collins

Assistant Principal

 Merciful God,

source of all that is good, wash us clean of all that prevents us from seeing you in each of our sisters and brothers around the world.

Transform our hearts this Lent,
through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving, to be open to the needs of all those who thirst.

Spirit of compassion,
move us to share with all people the water of life.

We ask this through Christ our Lord,

Amen

Events

Changing your child/ren's profile

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- Hit update Profile

      Happy Birthday to

marcus Murrells, Cooper Miles and Amity Speedy

who celebrate their birthday's during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

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.

Day	Event	Location
Wednesday 21st February	Kinder Rest Day and Best Start Testing
Thursday 22nd February	Western Region Swimming For athletes who qualified only.	Cootamundra
Monday 26th February	Opening and Blessing of Refubishments	At School
Wednesday 28th February	Kinder Rest Day and Best Start Testing
Tuesday 5th March	Author Visit - Dub Leffler	At School
Wednesday 6th March	Kinder Rest Day and Best Start Testing - Last One!
Monday 18th March	Zoomobile	At School

• Medical Form (Blue) - All Years - Please complete and return the form to the school office.  A new form is required for each student every year.  If you indicate your child has asthma, even if seasonal, an action plan from your doctor is required to be held at the school office along with a puffer and spacer labelled with your child's name.

   

At times during the school year your child/ren will participate in off premises cultural and sporting learning activities within walking distance of the school.

For example Book Week at the Bland Shire Library, performances at the S&C Club, training at the stadium or Perseverance Oval.

As part of St Mary's "duty of care" responsibility, risk assessment documents must be submitted to Catholic Education, Canberra & Goulburn for these events.  As most of these excursions are low key, for a short duration and do not require monetary payment, parents are notified of the actual date, time and event via the newsletter.

This permission note covers your child/ren attending these events for the 2024 school  year.

If at any time you do not wish your child to attend an event off premises, after specific notification, please contact the school.

Please give permission for your child/ren on Compass.

    

Parents of Kinder students are reminded that there are 2 more rest days - Wednesday 21st and 28th of February.

Our Kinder students get very tired and this break will help them to remain keen and focused.