St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

First of all I would like to thank the entire school community for ensuring that student learning was not impacted in my absence. Personally it was a very frustrating time away, not knowing exactly what the issue was. It turned out to be a partial tear in one of the muscles in my neck and it is getting stronger every day. I would also like to thank Mrs Angela Scott for seeing to all the commitments of the Principal position at the school. She did a tremendous job during a very busy period of time.

St Mary’s has also had a change of leadership in the Religious Education Coordinator (REC) position. I would like to thank Mrs Belinda Haworth for fulfilling the role since 2013. Belinda decided to step down from the position to allow for time for her family.

An expression of interest was advertised to our current staff and we congratulate Mrs Louise Daniher on being the successful applicant. Lou will fill the role for the rest of the year. Lou has experience working at executive level at St Mary’s having been acting General Co-ordinator for Term 4 in 2009 and acting REC for Term 3 in 2017. She is also a wonderful role model for our school, actively participating in a variety of parish roles. St Mary’s will advertise for the position to become permanent for 2022 later in the year.

Since taking on the Principal role at St Mary’s I have had many proud moments for the school, and the ANZAC day march yesterday will go to the top of the list. It was just wonderful to see so many of our students dressed so beautifully for the occasion. Our school captains and sports captains performed reverently in their roles and were a wonderful example of our school. The impact of not only St Mary’s but all the school’s participation, was clearly evident on all that spoke during the ceremony. A huge thank you to our parent community for supporting my request to join the march.

Phil Nielsen

Principal

We extend our sympathy to our Year 1 teacher Mrs Rebecca McPake, whose father passed away on Sunday 18th of April, and to Lauren Manchur whose grandmother passed away on Friday 16th of April. Please join me in praying for Rebecca and Lauren and their families.

The Great Great Grandfather of Jimmy, Edie and Mae Dean passed away last week and we pray for the extended family.

GOD OF JOY AND HOPE,

THANK YOU FOR THE PEACE AND FREEDOM WE ENJOY IN THIS COUNTRY.

THESE ARE GREAT BLESSINGS FROM YOUR HAND.

HELP US NOT TO TAKE THESE FOR GRANTED.

THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEMSELVES TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE IN OUR DEFENCE FORCES WHO CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME.

HELP US TODAY TO REMEMBER THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.

THANK YOU THAT JESUS HAS SET A DAY WHEN THERE WILL BE NO MORE WAR, NO MORE FIGHTING, NO MORE SUFFERING, NO MORE DEATH.

WE LONG FOR THAT DAY AND PRAY FOR HIS RETURN.

AMEN.

The recipients of our Whatever You Do, Do Well awards this week:

Hamish Braunberger	Alex Crerar	Charlie Hague
Rose Hague	Chloe Morton	Gigi Patton
Sarah Pettit	Layla Player	Charlotte Pursehouse
Alex Ridley	Will Stokes

Western Region Cross Country

We congratulate our cross country runners who competed at Western Region Cross Country in Boorowa on Tuesday 31st of March. All the children gave it their best effort.

The following students have qualified for Archdiocesan Cross Country which will be held in Stromlo on the 25th of May:

Chloe Morton, Oliver Cumming, Max Cuthbertson, Jimmy Dean, Lexi Patton, Asha McDonell, Bobby Bryant and Amelia Alchin.

A special mention to Jimmy Dean who came 3rd in his age group.

Well done to all our runners who represented our school at Borrowa.

Congratulations to Hidie and Ashley Chantrill, who with their children Adalia and Harrison, welcomed a baby brother on 20th April 2021, weighing in at 7.5lbs, Chester Jay Chantrill. How wonderful for you all!

St Mary's says farewell and good luck to our wonderful cleaner Pat. We are really going to miss her friendly face around the school.

St Mary's has employed Maree Spackman to replace Pat and we welcome her to our school and look forward to her keeping our school premises looking clean.

MOTHER'S DAY MASS and MORNING TEA

We warmly invite you to our Mother's Day Mass on Thursday the 6th of May at 10am.

Morning tea for all mothers, grandmothers and carers will be held directly after the Mass in the Parish Centre (weather permitting) otherwise in the school hall.

MOTHER'S DAY MASS - Readers

Welcome - Asha McDonell

First Reading - Amelia Alchin

Response - Charlie Murdoch

Second Reading - Hannah Campbell-Pike

Prayers of the Faithful - Evie Cuthbertson, Hunter Connellan, Zahli Cattle, Jimmy Dean and Gigi Patton.

Altar Servers - Bodhi Cattle and Hugo Harper

If your child is not available on this day please contact Mrs Daniher or the school office so a replacement can be arranged.

MOTHER'S DAY STALL at SCHOOL

The P&F will be holding a Mother's Day Stall on Friday the 7th of May for students to purchase a small gift for their mum.

Send your children to school with money to purchase a gift, the price range will be from $2- $10.

We have had a few reported cases of head lice in the school.

Could all parents please check their children’s hair and treat accordingly. It is really important to check your child's hair regularly as lice spread quickly.

Link to NSW Health - Treatment of Head Lice

Children with shoulder length hair should always tie their hair back.

Students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will travel to the Wagga Civic Theatre on Friday the 21st of May to see a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar at 1pm.

The bus will leave the front of the school at 9am sharp and return to St Mary's between 4.30pm and 5pm. Parents will be advised of the arrival time via SeeSaw.

Students should wear school uniform and bring a packed recess, fruit, lunch, water bottle and a hat.

This excursion will cost $15 per child, permission and payment via QKR!

The cost of transport is covered by St Mary's School.

Parents of Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 students please logon to QKR! and complete the form and payment.

Students in Year 3 and Year 4 will travel to the Griffith Regional Theatre on Friday the 14th of May to see a performance of The Midnight Gang at 12.30pm.

The bus will leave the front of the school at 9am sharp and return to St Mary's between 4.30pm and 5pm. Parents will be advised of the arrival time via SeeSaw.

Students should wear school uniform and bring a packed recess, fruit, lunch, water bottle and a hat.

This excursion will cost $12 per child, permission and payment via QKR!

The cost of transport is covered by St Mary's School.

Parents of Year 3 and 4 students please logon to QKR! and complete the form and payment.

Our school backpacks are now available from the school office for $35.

After purchase you can take the bag to Wendy's Embroidery to have your child's name put on.

Girls Winter Skirts

More information will be available in the next few weeks. The P&F are currently sourcing skirts from suppliers so that the purchase of skirts will be easier for parents. Once quotes are received the options will be presented to the school board and a decision finalised.

Please accept our apology for the ongoing winter skirt supply issues.

Summer uniform, or winter uniform without ties can be worn from the start of Term 2.

However full winter uniform, including ties, is compulsory for all students to wear from June 1.

Parents are asked to consider the following:

Scarves and beanies are only to be worn when a student is dressed in full winter uniform and not to be worn inside. The items need to be navy blue.
Tights worn with skorts are not a part of the summer or winter uniform.
The lightweight jackets do not replace the fleece jumper. They can be worn in addition to the jumper when playing outside.
Jumpers must be in good condition and replaced if the zipper is broken.
The top button on shirts needs to be done up when a tie is worn. The buttonhole may need to be enlarged or a larger size shirt may be required.
Singlets and T-Shirts worn under shirts need to be tucked in or at a length where they are not visible below the shirt hem.
Shoes should be polished regularly.
Ripped and very well worn and faded pants, shirts and hats needs to be replaced.
Socks should be navy for girls and grey for boys.
Canberra Goulburn representative jumpers are not school uniform and therefore should not to be worn at school.

Thank you for your efforts in keeping our students looking neat and tidy.

Our school uniform is always to be worn with pride. It is our brand and reflects the quality of our school.

On Wednesday the 28th of April our Year 6 students have been invited to a "Taster Day" at St Anne's in Temora.

All year 6 students, regardless of high school choice, will be transported to St Anne's for a fun day of high school activities, with lunch provided.

A permission note has been sent home with the Year 6 students and this should have been returned to the school.

Our Year 6 students have been invited to attend the Year Six Visits at Red Bend Catholic College on Wednesday the 5th of May.

The day will begin at 9.20am and finish at 12.30pm. The students will be placed in small groups and will participate in a variety of activities designed to give them an introduction to Secondary School. Morning tea and drinks will be provided.

If you are interested in this parents should contact Red Bend directly on 6852 2000 or by email to tiffanynicholls@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au.

As this visit is a personal choice parents will have to organise their own transport and your child will require an absence note from St Mary's.

Our Easter Raffle was drawn last term and we would like to congratulate our winners, we hope you enjoyed your prizes!

1st Place - $100 Seafood Platter and two dozen hot cross buns - Kylie Tulloch

2nd Place - Easter Egg basket - Tracey Robertson

3rd Place - Easter Egg basket - Gina Morton

Canteen Roster

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER FOR THIS WEDNESDAY, IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE CONTACT LISA STURGESS THROUGH THE P&F FACEBOOK PAGE OR CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

Monday 26 April	Wednesday 28 April	Friday 30 April
Kate Braunberger BAKING: Kate Braunberger	VOLUNTEER REQUIRED	Tiarna and Linda Fair BAKING: Tiarna Fair
Monday 3 May	Wednedsay 5 May	Friday 7 May
Kate Carey BAKING: Kate Carey	Mickayla Sams & La'shey Cattle	Allirah Stewart & Emily Watts BAKING: Allirah Stewart

Western Region Cross Country

Some lovely pictures of our cross country runners last term at Boorowa.

Passion Play

Our Passion Play was a wonderful blessing for all of us as we moved into our Easter break.

Maths Learning

St Mary's Maths PD with staff, parents and lessons with students last Monday and Tuesday was very successful. The 5/6 students were all treated to a lesson on Place Value using decimals and fractions and they played with our decimat cards. Year 1 Joy used Leonie’s new coloured counting beans to do some number busting.

Thank you to parents who came along on Monday night for Leonie’s parent session. They certainly didn’t go away disappointed and lots of fun was had!

Thank you Leonie Anstey for all your input, modelling and great ideas to ensure mathematics is engaging and differentiated at St Mary’s.

For those parents who were unable to attend but want some ideas please go to Leonie’s Facebook page, via this link.

Assembly

Our weekly award winners for the start of term 2.

ANZAC Day

St Mary's students and teachers took part in the ANZAC Day march on Sunday. It is very important for our school community to commemorate the sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand troops who have died during war and celebrate the profound legacy left by these soldiers that is still commemorated to this day.

There was a big turnout of our students and parents, with the winter uniforms and ties looking very smart. Our two school leaders, Charlie Murdoch and Amelia Alchin layed a wreath on behalf of the school.

New quadrangle

Our new quadrangle is now being used for morning assembly and games during recess and lunch. The children are very excited to have handball back on the agenda!