Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 7. After spending a week with other principals across our diocese discussing things like Direct Instruction, Dibels assessment, NAPLAN data, and other important school-wide processes, I am very much looking forward to spending more time with our fabulous students and fantastic staff. Week 7 is dominated by our NAPLAN assessments that will begin on Wednesday. Below is the timetable for the tests. Please discuss with your child that these tests are only a point-in-time assessment and do not test every aspect of their school life. Teachers also assess students through diagnostic testing and anecdotal testing, amongst other assessments. I am already looking forward to celebrating the positive outcomes I am sure NAPLAN will deliver. These results will demonstrate the excellent work the children at St Mary’s engage in each and every day. A reminder that if a student is absent due to illness, they will be required to make up the test they missed before they can sit any future ones as ACARA stipulates the testing sequence. I will be managing the make-up testing schedule and will communicate with those students when the make-ups will take place.  We encourage you to help your child(ren) to stay calm and remind them that NAPLAN is just a snapshot of their learning and only ONE measure of their achievement. Please refer to the attached advice regarding children’s well-being during NAPLAN. Please note that your child’s iPad needs to come to school each day fully charged. If your child is using their own Bluetooth headphones or keyboard it too must be fully charged.

In Week 6 we welcomed Nicholas Quade to St Mary’s. He has settled well in Year 4. I join with everyone in welcoming him to our wonderful school and trust he will enjoy sharing his time with us.

Last week we farewelled Katrina McGrath. I thank her for her service to St Mary’s and the mark she has left on our school. Interviews for the Assistant Principal position were conducted last week and I look forward to making an announcement in the coming days.

Remember my door is always open.

Damian Collins

Acting Principal

St Mary’s NAPLAN Timetable

How to Pray the Seven Sorrows Rosary

Second Sorrow

The 2nd Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)

Prayer: Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart.
Please pray for us to have strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way.

Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves
and the suffering inflicted upon us by others.

Heavenly Mother, you, in union with Jesus, purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.

Pray the Our Father

Pray the Hail Mary seven times & Most Merciful Mother…
Most Merciful Mother, remind us always about the Sorrows of your Son, Jesus.

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers Harry Greyland, father of Diana Carne, who passed away on Friday evening.

Project Compassion brings together Australian schools, parishes and supporters to raise funds for people in vulnerable communities across the world.

Caritas boxes have been sent home. Students will be seeing which class can raise the most money!

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 13th March	NAPLAN - Writing	At School
Thursday 14th March	NAPLAN - Reading	At School
Friday 15th March	Harmony Day - student can wear orange! NAPLAN - Coventions of Language	At School
Monday 18th March	Zoomobile  NAPLAN - Numeracy	At School
Tuesday 19th March - Thursday 21st March	NAPLAN Catch up	At School
Friday 29th March	Good Friday
Monday 1st April	Easter Monday
Friday 5th April	Cross Country	K-1 At School  Years 2 - 6 At the Showgrounds
Tuesday 9th April	ACT Brumbies 10's Gala Day	Grenfell
Friday 12th April	Last Day of Term 1!	At School

Harmony Day and Harmony Week

Harmony Week is all about celebrating the amazing cultures that make up our country. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world – from the oldest continuous culture of our First Australians to the 49% of Australians who were born overseas or have a parent who was.

Our cultural diversity is a great strength and brings with it a whole host of traditions, religions, languages and of course, food! It helps us to do things in different ways, reduces discrimination and lets us accept difference. Despite this, being anything other than Anglo can sometimes be challenging in Australia. It can feel like there’s nobody else like you and people’s lack of understanding sometimes leads to conflict.

You might know this event as 'Harmony Day' – it's been renamed 'Harmony Week' to recognise the diversity and inclusion activities that take place during the week e.g. at schools and workplaces. Harmony Week includes March 21, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. We’ve put together some tips for how to make the most of Harmony Week.

- Share a meal

- Check out a local Community Event

- Share your story

- Watch/Read/Listen

- Ask others about their culture

On Friday the 15th March we will be celebrating Harmony Day as a school. Children are encouraged to wear Orange!

Our school Cross Country will be held on Friday 5th of April.

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 Zoomoible will visit St Mary's on Monday 18th of March.

This service provides a hands on, engaging learning experience for the students.  Students will have the opportunity to meet fascinating native animals and learn about roles of wildlife in the environment and their unique features that help them survive.

There will be small cost for each child of $6. A Compass event has been sent out. Please action this as soon as possible.

  Tickets Reduced to $95!!!!!