Dear Parents and Carers,

With the end of year fast approaching the following information gives updates to students reports, COVID-19 and Speech Day.  Important information on class structure for 2022 can be found in the article following this message.

Student Reports

Traditionally at St Mary’s student reports have been printed and handed out to students at the end of Term 2 and Term 4.  This semester will see a change to paperless reporting.  All student reports will be made available through our Compass Parent Portal after 10am on Friday 10 December.

To access your child’s report, log onto the Compass Parent Portal, select your student and press the report tab at the top.  You will see that the semester 1 report has already been added and the semester 2 report will appear on December 10.

Please contact the school office if you are experiencing any difficulties logging in.

COVID-19 Restriction update

All COVID-19 restriction procedures come directly from the Catholic Education Canberra & Goulburn.  At the moment we are operating under level 3 restrictions and this will stay in place until the end of term.  A summary of restrictions include:

• For drop off and pick up parents and carers maintain physical distancing measures and stay as close to cars as safely possible.
• All volunteers and those helping or working at school must show proof of vaccination.
• Masks must be worn indoors by all staff and visitors.
• We continue to have the students separated in cohorts as best we can and encourage good hand hygiene and physical distancing where we need to.
• Please continue to supply your child/ren with a drink bottle each day to avoid the need to use bubblers. 
• It is still not possible to hold assemblies or presentations in the school grounds with parents in attendance.

Speech Day

Our speech day celebration on Thursday 9th of December at the S&C Club is beginning to take shape.  The club has indicated that we will be operating under a 200 person limit in the auditorium and all that attend must be double vaccinated, which the club staff will check upon arrival.  To prevent an excess of 200 people the day will be broken into 5 different sections.

The event will begin at 9.20am with the special awards and Year 6 graduation certificates.  Class awards and performances will begin at 11.20am starting with Year 5/6 and progressing though each stage finishing with Kindergarten.  There will be a short break between each stage to allow for parents to leave and arrive to ensure we stay within the club limits.  Specific times and details will be communicated next week.

I am looking forward to an action packed few weeks as we close in on the end of 2021.

Regards

Phil Nielsen

It is time to focus on plans for continuing to provide quality education and a happy and nurturing learning environment for next year.  I am very pleased to announce that our staffing allocation for 2022 will allow us to continue to operate seven class groups. St Mary’s will also maintain the high level of learning support that we currently provide.

As you can see below our student enrolment numbers are not consistent across stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) and I believe there are still advantages of having staged classes in the older years.

In consideration for our InitiaLit English program from Kinder to Year 2 and the above class sizes the class structure for 2022 will be:

Educationally, the combined classes will be just as effective as stand alone classes as the NSW syllabus is organised in Stages: Years 3 and 4 are Stage Two and Years 5 and 6 are Stage Three.

In organising the Year 3 to 6 class groups the focus will be centred on creating a positive learning environment for all students.  The classes will be of mixed academic ability and attention will also be given to placing students with peers that they work and cooperate best with.  The year levels will be split evenly.  If families have two siblings in the same stage group they will be placed in separate classes, however if parents would like siblings together that can be arranged.

In Years 3 to 6 the school will continue the process implemented last year. This Thursday 25 November, students will be given the opportunity to nominate, through secret ballot, 4 students who they consider would be positive class mates for 2022.  The peers the student nominates can come from their year group or the year group they will be partnered with.  The school will ensure that at least one of these students will be in the same class.  I encourage all parents to discuss this process with their children and to emphasise the importance of identifying class peers who will be a positive influence on their learning.

I invite any parent who has concerns about the placement of their child in a particular class to contact myself by Monday 29 November 2021. All requested will be considered and provisions made where possible. Please ensure all requests are communicate by next Monday, as once classes are published in week 11 it will be extremely unlikely that students will be moved between classes.

Christ the King Gospel Focus – Truth

Jesus says to Pilate that he came into the world ‘to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’ That is where yesterday’s gospel passage finishes but as the gospel continues on, Pilate famously asks Jesus ‘What is truth?’ and the question is left dangling; unanswered. The truth Jesus has borne witness to is the truth of his whole life – the revelation of God’s love for humanity. It is for proclaiming this truth that Jesus is placed on trial and is brought before Pilate.

We pray:

Christ our King, help us to be like you, to listen to your truth and to see that all people are important, no matter who they are or where they come from. May we understand deeply your message of God’s unending love for all humanity.

We ask this prayer in faith

Amen.

The Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn has created a family friendly Advent resource.  Advent is the season to prepare for the birth of Jesus.  Each class at St Mary's will be focussing on the four weeks of Advent with an Advent candle wreath in each room.

Families are invited to join with other families from the Archdiocese in preparing for Christmas.

Jesus. The vision and work of the Archdiocese starts and ends with the person of Jesus Christ. We invite you to encounter God's love through Jesus.

Three people associated with each year 6 child are invited to attend.  Please inform the school office of attendees by Thursday the 10th of December.  If numbers allow, families may be given the option to invite one extra guest.

The following students will have a part in the Mass:

Please find a link here to the readings so you can practice with your child.

Friday 26 November - 8.55am to 3.20pm

Friday 3 December - 8.55am to 3.20pm

Children should wear comfortable clothes and a hat.  They will need a piece of fruit, recess, lunch and a drink.

Please drop your children at the Parish Centre from 8:45am so please park in the church carpark.  Mrs Meincke will be there to greet your children.  As per our current COVID regulations parents are not allowed into the school grounds, please wear your mask and leave the church carpark immediately after dropoff.

   

SWIMMING ARRANGEMENTS—WEEKS 7  and 8

Thursday 18 November to Wednesday 24 November

Students will leave the school in the morning to walk to the pool.

Instructions have changed due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Please read the information below carefully to ensure your child is dressed correctly.

PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD IS DRESSED IN THEIR SWIMMERS:

DUE TO THE POOL'S COVID PLAN ALL CHILDREN NEED TO COME TO SCHOOL IN THEIR SWIMMERS WITH CASUAL CLOTHES OVER THE TOP.  Students are permitted  to wear joggers on the swimming days due to the walking required.

PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD HAS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH THEM:

School uniform and underwear in a bag. In a seperate swim bag a swim shirt if they require one, towel, plastic bag to put wet belongings in, drink bottle, goggles (if they require them), and if at the squad level they will need their flippers and kickboard.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU APPLY SUNCREEN:

Students need to apply sunscreen before coming to school and to bring it to school with them.  Due to COVID-19 teachers are not able to apply sunscreen.

Assembly

Our award winners this week.