St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

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

The focus this week at St Mary’s is Curiosity. Curiosity means wanting to learn and discover new things, which makes us smarter and more interesting.

A Prayer for Curiosity

Term 1, 2025 Class and Whole School Mass Timetable

Date

Class

Week 10

Wednesday 9th April

Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4 @ 12pm.

Parents and friends are more than welcome.

This Wednesday Year 2, 3 and 4 will celebrate Mass. This will be a special Mass as Stevie Smith, Zoey Smith and Arlie Orr will receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

Reconciliation Information

A reminder the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be at 5pm on the 9^th of April. Students will be required to be at the church dressed appropriately for Mass and accompanied by their parent(s) by 4:55. There will be a cake to share at the conclusion of the Sacrament in the Parish Centre. The Ceremony should not take any longer than 50 minutes. Father Hilary will be accompanied by 2 visiting priests.

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

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.

Caritas boxes have been sent home. Students have been reminded about the importance of giving to those less fortunate than us. We will be seeing which class can raise the most money! Who will it be?!?!?!

Week 9 Award Winners

Millie Orr	Winnie Wendt	Billy Iverach
Ida Wood	Owen Browne	Zechariah Semi
Harrison Chantrill	Reuben Ridley	Ivy Wilson
Nikolai Eza'awe	Marcus Murrells	Billy Pettit
	Maive Stewart

Happy Birthday to

Isla Currie, Olivia Hoye, Milani Mortimer, Zoe Otaegui, Molly Green & Billy Iverach

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

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Mid Western Primary School 10's Gala Day

Last Wednesday we had 4 teams compete at the Mid Western Primary School Gala Day at West Wyalong Rugby Union Grounds. The students had a great day, showing fantastic sportsmanship and were lucky enough to make it through to the next round will be held in Wagga on Wednesday the 7th of May (Week 2, Term 2).

A Compass event will be sent out this week with details.

Paul Kelly Cup 2025 - Wagga Wagga

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 Friday 9th of May (Week 2, Term 2). We will field a boys team and a girls team in the non-competitive competition.

A bus has been organised by the school at the cost of $15 per student. A draw has not been finalised. Times will be confirmed closer to the date.

A Compass event has been sent out. Please action this as son as possible.

Trent Barrett & Mortimer Shield 2025

This year the NRL are hosting both Trent Barrett Shield (Year 3/4) and Mortimer Shield (Year 5/6) on Thursday 15th May at Nixon Park, Temora. This event is for Stage 2 & 3 students and consists of both tackle and League Tag teams.

A bus has been organised by the school at the cost of $15 per student. A draw has not been finalised. Times will be confirmed closer to the date.

Students must bring a hat, water bottle, sunscreen and a change of clothes plus any protective wear your child uses including head gear, mouth guards and fit for purpose football boots. (Not compulsory but highly recommended).

An operating canteen for the day has NOT yet been confirmed, therefore students will need a packed lunchbox. If more information regarding a canteen is given it will be passed on.

A Compass event has been sent out. Please action this as soon as possible.

We would love to get parent coaches for these teams. Please contact the front office or wendy.connellan@cg.catholic.edu.au if you or anyone you know would like to volunteer.

Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese Trials

If your Year 5/6 child has the ability to compete at a representative level in the following sports - Netball, Football (Soccer), Softball, Touch Football and Rugby Union - you are able to nominate them for the Archdiocesan trials.

Please note that the Archdicocesan representative sport trials are highly competitve and there is an expectation that children nominating for these trials have extensive experience in the sport and currently compete at a high level.

If you would like to nominate your child to trial for a sport please go to https://csnsw.sport

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Cross Country 2025

We held our annual Cross Country on Friday and what a morning it was! The students all did amazing and their behaviour and sportsmanship was exceptional. Congratulations to the Top 5 students in each age group who have made it away to the Western Region Cross Country in Batlow on Friday May 2nd (Week 1 Term 2).

A Compass event will be sent out soon. The cost is $10 and parents must organise transport for their child/ren.

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 8th April	St Anne's Taster Day - Year 6 students	At St Anne's, Temora
Wednesday 9th April	Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4 Class Mass @ 12pm	St Mary's Church
Wednesday 9th April	Sacrement of Reconciliation @ 5pm	St Mary's Church
Thursday 10th April	Last Day of Term 1
Friday 11th April	Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
Friday 18th April	Good Friday
Sunday 20th April	Easter Sunday
Friday 25th April	Anzac Day
Monday 28th April	Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 29th April	Students First Day of Term 2
Friday 2nd May	Western Region Cross Country	Batlow
Wednesday 7th May	Wagga Wagga Primary School 10’s Championships - Stage 2 & 3	Jubilee Park, Wagga
Friday 9th May	Paul Kelly Cup - Year 5 and 6	Jubilee Park, Wagga
Thursday 15th May	Stage 2 & 3 League Stars Gala Day - Trent Barrett & Mortimer Shield	Nixon Park, Temora
Friday 23rd May	St Mary's Athletics Carnival	McAllister Oval

Week 10

Date and Day	Teacher on Leave or PD	Class	Relief
Tuesday 8th April	Mrs Harland	n/a	n/a
Wednesday 9th April	Mrs Tulloch	n/a	n/a

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The ANZAC Day public holiday is on Friday 25th of April, which is in the second week of the school holidays. As usual St Mary's is participating in the march and wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph at the S&C Club.

Students who would like to participate in the march are asked to meet at Thom Dick & Harry's corner by 10:15am for the commencement of the march.

The students and parents are invited to stay for the wreath laying ceremony. Students should wear winter school uniform with a tie. The students will be accompanied by Mrs Harland and teachers from our school.

Ties are available to purchase at the school office.

Early Collection & Late Drop Off

Please remember that when collecting your child/ren early from school or dropping them off late to school you MUST come to the Front Office.

Parents are not permitted to go to the classroom to pick their child up. When you come to the office the office staff will contact your child's classroom teacher and have the child sent down to the office. You will also need to sign your child out on the Compass Kiosk (pictured below).

Attendances

Please remember that anytime your child is away you MUST submit an attendance note.

1. From the homepage of your Compass App, click on the blue plus Shortcuts button on the bottom taskbar.

2. Click on 'Submit Attendance Note'

3. If you have more than one child, select the child the attendance note is for

Select the reason
Enter a brief discription of the absence
Select the start and finish date and time
Click the 'Save' button

*Where possible, attendance notes should be entered prior to the absence occuring.

Full Winter Uniform, Including Ties

It is compulsory for all students to wear full winter uniform from the 1st of June.

Students are permitted to wear pants and skirts prior to June 1st 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 - sizes 4-16 - $40.

Ties (elastic zipper or tie your own) - Small & Large - $15

If you need further information please call the school office on (02) 6972 3003.

DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR ORDER IN!!

Last Day of Term Special Lunch Day - Thursday 10th of April

Orders close Wednesday 9th April @ 9am!

Canteen is closed Wednesday 9th April.

If there is anyone who wants to give the canteen a try but isn't very confident please don't hesitate to contact Casey. She is more than happy to help in any way she can.

If you would like to help in the canteen in Terms 2 please contact our canteen manager Casey Judd at casey.judd@cg.catholic.edu.au or on Facebook.

If any volunteers are unable to fill their shift please contact Casey on 0400 472 921.

Term 1, 2025 Class and Whole School Mass Timetable

Date and Day

Teacher on Leave or PD

Class

Relief