St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 10. It is hard to believe that it is almost school holidays again!! The students and their teachers have worked extra hard this term and are looking forward to a restful break. Please take note of the activities at the end of the newsletter that are conducted by the Bland Shire Youth Centre, these activities are sure to keep your children occupied during the holidays. If your child is spending excess time on mobile devices during the holidays please take note of the online safety brochure attached to the newsletter. If you are travelling away please travel safely and we look forward to your return for a busy Term 4.

Please remember that your child cannot be collected at the end of the day from the Church Street Carpark. This is a safety issue!!! Please collect your child from the grass area adjacent to the learning support building. Students are not to be waiting for collection in the carpark.

On Thursday, the weekly assembly will be held at the special time of 12:00. After assembly we will gather as a school community to celebrate the Season of Creation, a time when Christians around the world are invited to prayer and action to protect Earth, our common home. All are invited to attend.

After reflecting on the answers from the ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey there was a consistent response. Many parents were unsure of some of the language staff use for assessment e.g PAT Testing = Progressive Achievement Testing or Dibels data = Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills. Many parents were also interested in receiving feedback on how their child had performed in these tests. Whilst all teachers refer to this data in parent conferences, moving forward they will also endeavour to provide this information to parents via seesaw or other communications.

On Sunday we held our working bee planned by Sarah Curry and our Community Council. Many thanks for those who gave up their time to help with the removal of the old asphalt and the planting of the new gardens. It was even great to see some students getting in and helping out!!! Particular thanks to Andrew Connellan and Matt Nicholson for their assistance in providing the earthmoving equipment. I can’t wait to see it finished!!!

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins

Prayer

Loving God,

We know that you are with us when we meet.

Help us to remember that you are present.

Guide our conversation

Give us ears to hear what the other is saying.

Give us eyes to look beyond our needs to the bigger picture.

Open our hearts so that you may dwell at the centre of all that we do and say here today.

WE pray that we may listen to your spirit in our hearts

When facing the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Thank you for the Spirit of right judgement

The Spirit of discernment and courage

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord

Amen

BCR (Building Community and Resilience)

This week in BCR the students continue exploring values as they prepare for Socktober Day on Friday 1st November. This week's value is Opportunity. Inquiry question discussed during the session:

What opportunity have you taken advantage of that has impacted you and others the most?

“If we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.” Pope Francis

Liturgy Week 10

This Thursday 26th, we will come together as a school community to celebrate the Season of Creation, a time when Christians around the world are invited to prayer and action to protect Earth, our common home. This will be at approximately 12:30 at the conclusion of assembly. All are invited to attend.

St Mary's Socktober 2024

Socktober for Mission Month cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage their local community, and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer. It provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help, but why they will do it.

St Mary’s has signed up for Socktober and in their BCR sessions students will be learning about key Catholic Social Teaching principles and practising their soccer skills ready for our big Socktober Event on Friday 1st November 2024 - more information to come. The installation of the new soccer goal posts is very timely!

Happy Birthday to

Mirabelle Pham and Anderson Blampied

who celebrate their birthdays during this week and the school holidays.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Week 9 Award Winners

Bailey Walsh	Jack Connellan	Bronte Whittaker
Owen Browne	Ciara O'Meley	Adaline Stephens
Ricky Smith	Abbie Blampied	Charlotte Carne

Mackillop Athletics Trials - Sydney

Good luck to Will McDonell in 5/6 Faith and Meila Fair in 3 Peace who will represent Canberra Goulburn at the Mackillop Athletics Trials in Sydney tomorrow (Wednesday 25th). Will will compete in the 11 year boys 200m and Meila will compete in the 9 year girls 100m. The whole of St Mary's will be cheering you on!! Below is the times and link to watch!

https://sidelinesport.tv/catholic-schools-nsw/

Canberra Goulburn Sports Trials - Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Canberra Goulburn Boys and Girls sports trials. If your child is currently in Year 4 or 5 and would like to trial for any of these sports please log on to https://csnsw.sport and follow the nomination instructions.

Sport	Closing Date	Trials
Tennis	28th November	Thursday 28th November (Please note the change of date)
Basketball	22nd November	Tuesday 26th November
Cricket	12th November	Tuesday 19th November

Date and Day	Teacher on Leave or PD	Class	Relief
9th - 27th September	Mrs Breust	Year 3 Peace	Mr Hughes & Mrs Reichstein
Tuesday 24th September	Mrs Manchur	Year 4 Trust	Mrs Tulloch
Thursday 26th September	Miss Thomas	Year 2 Mercy	Mrs Browne (am) & Mrs Speedy (pm)

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
Tuesday 24th September	St Anne's Catholic College Showcase	St Anne's Catholic College, Temora
Wednesday 25th September	Mackillop Athletics Trials - Good Luck Will & Meilas!!	Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney
Thursday 26th September	Last Day of Term 3 for students	St Mary's
Friday 27th September	Staff Developement Day - Pupil Free Day
Monday 14th October	Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 15th October	First Day of Term 4 for students	St Mary's
Friday 18th October	St Mary's School Fete - more information to come	St Mary's
Monday 21st October	Kinder 2025 Orientation and Parent Infomation Session 8:55am - 12pm	St Mary's
Monday 28th October	Kinder 2025 Orientation - Full Day	St Mary's
Monday 4th November	Kinder 2025 Orientation - Full Day	St Mary's
Monday 11th November	Kinder 2025 Orientation - Full Day	St Mary's
Monday 11th - Wednesday 13th November	Year 5/6 Canberra Excursion	Canberra, ACT

St Anne's Catholic College Showcase of Talent 2024

Today, our whole school attended the St Anne's Catholic College Showcase. The students had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

FOOTY COLOURS DAY!!

With footy finals on, children are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite teams colours on Thursday the 26th of September (last day of Term 3).

Please no footy boots on the day.

Dress up in your favourite football or any sporting jumper! Or just a scarf or beanie! Students can wear casual clothes with their footy colours!

Children should wear comfortable clothes and a hat. They will need a piece of fruit, recess and a drink for the half day. On the full days they will need their lunch as well.

There will be a Parent Information Session on Monday 21st October starting at 11:30am. More information on this session to come.