Dear Parents,

2020 will be one of those years that will be remembered forever. Educationally, we have been challenged like never before. True to the school’s reputation, we all showed (students, parents and teachers) great resilience and an ability to adapt to the changing world. As a group we maintained our commitment to offer quality learning experiences for our students. We will never forget the morning teacher read aloud, the numerous online tasks through SeeSaw and the constant struggle to stay up-to-date with marking and responding to student questions. 

Of all the challenges we have faced with COVID-19, one of the greatest to overcome was the absence of our parent community. St Mary’s has a wonderful culture of welcoming our parents into the school at every opportunity. Not having our parents on site has been a difficult adjustment to make. We look towards 2021 to re-establish the wonderful relationship we have with our parent community.

2020 will also be remembered for the year of the renovation. On top of a world pandemic, we were presented with a major renovation. Like all renovations, it has had its up and downs. While we still have a way to go, the potential of what our school will look and feel like in the future is extremely promising and we are all patiently waiting for the final product to arrive. Some exciting additions that were not part of the original plan include the new colourbond roof, the revamped drainage and storm water system and the replacement of the slab between the main building and the canteen block.

At this point I would like to thank the staff at St Mary’s for meeting the challenges that we faced this year head on and for staying focused on the reason we are here, for the students of our school. To our wonderful teachers, the hard working office staff, the dependable exec staff and our ever reliable cleaner and groundsman. Thank you to all the tremendous people that make St Mary’s what it is.

We wish Mrs Natalie Mangelsdorf and Mrs Robyn Akehurst all the best for 2021 and beyond. The school is forever indebted for their services and I personally thank them for their commitment to our fantastic school. Mrs Emma McGee will be taking a year’s leave to welcome her new baby into her family and we wish her the best of luck with the weeks and months ahead.

St Mary’s hopes you all enjoy a well deserved break over the festive season and we all look forward to a new year in 2021.

Phil Nielsen

Principal

Thank you to all our families who donated to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal.  On our last day at school our Year 5/6 students delivered the donations to Lyn Anderson at Vinnies.

Oliver Brown, Jackson Downey, Lyn Anderson, Grace Kellahan and Scarlett Connellan

Prayer for the end of the school year

At the end of this school year we give thanks to God:

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school, both in and out of the classroom.

For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced.

For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed; For the respect and care that has been given.

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.

For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles; For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days and for the love that has kept us going.

We give thanks for the community that we are, and we ask you Lord - Bless our students as they sit their exams; may your Spirit inspire them with confidence and calmness; Bless our families as we take our holidays, may our time together leave us with memories to cherish.

Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen

School Speech Day

   Class Performances and Awards

Please click on the link below to see our class lists for next year.  This was also distributed to all families via email on Tuesday.

      Happy Birthday to

Hamish Blampied, Gemma Logg, Edward Tulloch, Maive Stewart, Nixon Loudon, George Weir, Kirby Logg, Chloe Morton, Zack Gaynor, Eleanor Ramsay and Toby Nielsen.

who celebrate their birthdays during the school holidays and in the first week of school.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Our students created cards to be entered into the 2021 Catholic Education Office Christmas Card competition.

The two students who have won our school section of the competition are Amelia-Rose Blampied and Sam Koop.  They will now be entered into the Archdiocesan section.

Well done to you both.

Amelia-Rose' Entry:

Please note that the canteen is open on the first Monday of school.  The roster will be published in the first week as well.

Sample lunch bag for 2021

Next year when you send in your child's lunch order please ensure the class name is included as shown below.  If you have more than one child you can put the money in one bag and just indicate on the other bags which bag the money is in.

The lunch bags will remain until the canteen starts using QKR! ordering.

     

All students K-6 require the following items for school, clearly labeled:

art smock, box tissues

Students in Years 1-6 require the following:

Scissors, glue sticks, erasers, pencil sharpeners, black lead pencils (HB), plastic ruler (narrow), coloured pencils and/or textas

Students in Years 5 & 6 only—biros – blue and red

Students in Kinder, Years 1 & 2 require a Library Bag.

Kindergarten students are provided with all  stationery requirements by the school

Back packs are available from the school office at a cost of $50.

Please see below for the general information for next year.  Please note the change of time for our lunch break.

It is time to say goodbye to our Year 6 - 2020 students.  We wish you well in your future endeavours.

Thank you for some wonderful memories during your time at St Mary's.

The following events are in next weeks calendar.

To see the school's full calender check out the SZApp or our website.