Welcome to Week 6. We have a massive week ahead of us as we prepare for our Christmas Fete, run and organised by our school’s Community Council.

You would have seen on Facebook or in previous newsletters the numerous stalls included in the fete. Please note that the Year 2 stall previously advertised has been changed to Christmas family photos and lucky dip! These stalls are run completely by parents and will be open to all to visit. Many thanks to Sarah Curry and her helpers for giving up their time to raise money for our school and to give the students an excellent out-of-school experience. A special thanks to those who have donated to the trash and treasure stall. At present we have enough donations for that stall. If you could please donate toward kindergarten’s chocolate stall we would very much appreciate it. If you are able to donate any fresh produce, please contact Sarah Curry, or if you would prefer to bake some yummy cakes or slices, please contact Anna Player by 3pm on Friday.  If anyone is available to give up any time on Friday to assist in setting up for the fete, please contact Sarah Curry. She will be at school from 9am. As previously advised, students are invited to come to school on the day in casual clothes. The fete will run from 3pm to 7pm, however, students will be dismissed from school as normal. If students wish to stay around, they MUST be accompanied by an adult. THERE WILL BE NO SUPERVISION FROM TEACHERS. The colour run, which is part of the fete, will begin at 6pm and students are invited to wear a white shirt and old shorts for the event. Students who come to school and are met by their parent at 3.20pm, and wish to stay until the colour run, can wear their white t-shirt and old shorts for the day. This is a cash free event. You can purchase tokens via QKR that can be used as money. Eftpos and cash will also be accepted to purchase tokens and will be available at the ‘welcome table’. There will be no refund of tokens unspent. Tokens bought via QKR need to be purchased by 10am on Thursday. They will be sent home with your child on Thursday afternoon.

Next week we will hold our intensive swimming program. Water safety is a vital skill for all children to learn as swimming is a major part of Australian culture. We thank our school community council for funding the majority of this cost.

On the 10^th of December we will hold the speeches for our new leaders of St Mary’s in 2025. We will begin the process this week where I will talk to Year 5 and outline how this will take place. 

Our staffing for 2025 is coming together. I am very excited about sharing this news with you and I look forward to doing so as soon as possible. I pass on my enormous thanks to our current staff for their flexibility and professionalism as we plan for 2025.  

Due to the setting up of the fete we have had to move assembly to Friday morning at 10:30.   

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins