St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

This week the virtue that St Mary's will focus on is Curiosity.

Curiosity is defined as, being a strong desire to know or learn something.

Curiosity can lead us to wanting to learn and discover new things, which in turn makes us wiser and potentially more engaging to others. It is this keen desire to learn and discover, fostered by a love of learning that leads to this virtue being valued for life. Being curious keeps us sharp, knowledgeable, interesting and well-informed. Displaying curiosity about topics and how things work can help us grow and prepare for further education and life experiences.

Be cautious when displaying curiosity about other people’s business. It is this behaviour that can lead to trouble. Curiosity is being driven by gossiping or meddling in others business and it is not to gain knowledge about a specific topic. It can be malicious and hurtful.

We continue to keep the Year 3 and 5 students in our prayers and thoughts as they enter their second and final week of NAPLAN testing.

This year the parish will be undertaking the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the First Eucharist for students in Year 3 and 4. The important dates to remember are shown below, please note there will be one information night for both Sacraments.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thursday 27 April -	Welcoming and Information Night
Thursday 4 May -	Reconciliation Retreat
Thursday 11 May -	Sacrament of Reconciliation

Sacrament of Eucharist

Thursday 27 April -	Welcoming and Information Night
Sunday 28 May -	Commitment Mass @ 9.30am
Thursday 1 June -	Eucharist Retreat
Sunday 4 June -	First Eucharist @ 9.30am

Fourth Week of Lent

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Thu, who lives in Vietnam. When Thu was 12 years old, he stepped on an unexploded land mine and lost his leg.

Living with a disability in rural Vietnam presented many challenges for Thu, who worked mainly as a rice farmer. Thu also took on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.

Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD).

For Thu, the greatest impact the program has had is enabling the change in Linh’s physical and mental wellbeing. With the support of a physiotherapist, Linh can now walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick.

Watch a short film about Thu’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion:

Donate to Caritas

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

Jack Connellan	Isabelle McDonall	Frederick Miles
Elka Cuthbertson	Alex Crerar	Ridley Hutchins
George Weir	Hugh Ridley	Maive Stewart
Montana Crouch	Max Cuthbertson	Frederik Bell
	Elizabeth Sturgess

Our assembly will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoon at 1:55pm. Parents and carers are welcome to attend.

Please note that if you receive a text on Thursday regarding an award and your child is not at school on Friday, the award will be presented at the next assembly your child attends. No further texts will be sent.

Canberra Goulburn Rugby League

On Tuesday the 14th of March Jagger Lange, Billy Pettit and Eddie Tulloch were in Canberra trialling for a place in one of the Canberra Goulburn Rugby League teams.

Billy was trialling for the Under 11's Team and the other boys for the Primary Opens Team.

It was great weather for football with lots of action and tough play. Our boys showed their skills and all were chosen for the probables and possibles game. After this final game all three of our boys were chosen for the Canberra Goulburn teams. They will now play for Canberra Goulburn trialling for the MacKillop team on the 5th of May.

What a great outcome boys - well done!

Date and Day	Teacher on Leave or PD	Class	Relief
No staff changes this week.

Last week the Writing and Reading NAPLAN tests were completed by our Year 3 and 5 students.

There are two more tests to complete:

Monday 20th March - Conventions of Language
Tuesday 21st March - Numeracy

On each test day the Year 5 test will start at 9am and the Year 3 test will start at 11.30am. Any child who is away on the days above will be caught up on the next available test session.

Please ensure students know the importance of bringing their iPad to school fully charged on each day of the tests. If students would rather bring in their own headphones that is fine but they must work.

Mrs Emma McRae our counsellor will be visiting our school this week on Wednesday 22nd of March.

If you would like to make a confidential appointment for your child please contact the office.

Happy Birthday to

Annabelle Brose, Tully Hutchins, Reuben Ridley, Abbie Blampied, Montana Crouch, Emily McCoullough and Owen Browne

who celebrate their birthdays during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will travel to the Altina Wildlife Park in Darlington Point NSW on Wednesday the 29th of March.

The bus will leave the front of the school at 7am sharp and return between 3:45pm and 4:15pm. Parents will need to drop off and collect their children at the school bus stop. Arrival time will be communicated via SeeSaw and text message.

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

This excursion will cost $18 per child and permission and payment is via Compass. The cost of transport is covered by St Mary's School.

Please logon to Compass to given permission and pay for your child to attend.

Our school cross country will be held on Friday the 31st of March.

Students in Years 2 to 6 will compete at the West Wyalong Showground. Permission via Compass is now required for these students as they will be transported by bus. Volunteers are required at the showground so please nominate on the permission form if you can help.

Kinder and Year 1 will participate in cross country games on the school oval. No permission is required.

Students can wear house coloured shirts to school on this Friday.

Parents are welcome to attend.

Year 2 - 6

Cross Country Information

West Wyalong Showground

Departing the school at 9.00am, returning 12.00pm.

Students will be transported to and from the showground by bus.

Students should bring a hat, a water bottle and recess.

9.15am Students walk the course the run in the following order:

Race 1 - 8 & 9 years 2000 metres

Race 1 - 10 year 2000 metres

Race 3 - 11 year 3000 meters

Race 4 - 12 year 3000 meters

Western Region Cross Country will be held on Friday 28th April in Grenfell. Archdiocesan Cross Country will be held at Stromlo on Friday 19th May.

Kinder and Year 1

Cross Country Information

School Oval

Races will begin at approximately 9am.

The ANZAC Day public holiday is on Tuesday 25th of April, which is the day after the first day of Term 2. As usual St Mary's is participating in the march and wreath laying ceremony in West Wyalong on the morning of April 25.

Students who would like to participate in the march are asked to meet at Thom Dick & Harry's corner by 10:20am for the commencement of the march.

The students and parents are invited to stay for the wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph at the S&C Club. Students should wear winter school uniform with a tie. Jumpers will be determined on the day to suit the weather. The students will be accompanied by Mr Nielsen and teachers from our school.

TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED ONCE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN ADVISED BY THE RSL.

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 Wednesday the 5th of April.

Students will travel to Wagga by bus and contribute $10 to assist with the cost.

Parents are welcome to attend and also travel on the bus with the students. Please contact the school if you would like to take up this offer, on a first in basis.

Please logon to Compass to give permission and to pay for your child/ren to attend.

On Tuesday the 4th of April our Year 5 and 6 students have been invited to a "Taster Day" at St Anne's in Temora.

All year 5 and 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.

Students will need to take their fruit, recess, hat and water bottle.

The bus will leave at 9am and will return in time for the afternoon bell.

All parents will need to logon to Compass to complete the permission note for their hildren.

Student Easter Raffle Information

Our Community Council are running a special Easter Egg raffle for our students on Thursday 6th of April.

Tickets will be sold on the 6th of April for 50c each (to a limit of $5) and there will be three prizes per class drawn that afternoon.

Each family is asked to donate one Easter Egg for our raffle prizes. Please send these to the school office before Thursday the 30th of March.

Special Lunch Order Friday 24th of March

The canteen will be open at recess as normal however the normal lunch orders will not be available.

Drinks & Iceblock’s are available to order with the special lunch.

Ordering CLOSES on Qkr! 22^nd March at 9am.

Please remember to send your child to school with lunch if they are not having the special lunch.

Canteen Roster

Monday 20 March	Friday 24 March
Lisa Sturgess Baking: Lisa Sturgess	BUTTER CHICKEN AND RICE No other lunch orders will be available. Treats can still be purchased online or cash.
Monday 27 March	Friday 31 March
Lisa Sturgess Baking: Lisa Sturgess	2 X VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Monday 3 April	Friday 7 April
Liz Webber-Patton 1 VOLUNTEER REQUIRED Baking: Liz Webber-Patton	GOOD FRIDAY

Award Winners

Some pictures of our award winners this week.

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.

The SZAPP calendar is no longer updated, please do not refer to this calendar for important dates.

Day	Event	Location
Monday 20th March	NAPLAN Conventions of Language Year 3 & 5	At School
Tuesday 21st March	NAPLAN Numeracy Year 3 and 5	At School
Wednesday 22 March	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Monday 27 March	Andrew Plant - Author visit	At School
Tuesday 28 March	MacKillop AFL Trials	Wagga Wagga
Wednesday 29 March	Altina Wildlife Park (more information closer to the date) Kinder, Year 1, Year 2	Altina Wildlife Park
Wednesday 29 March	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Thursday 30th March	MacKillop Swimming Trials	SOPAC
Friday 31st March	School Cross Country	Showground and Perseverance Oval
Tuesday 4th April	St Anne's High School Taster Day Year 6	St Annes Temora
Wednesday 5 April	Paul Kelly Cup - Year 5/6	Jubilee Oval, Wagga
Wednesday 5 April	School Counsellor Visit	At School
Thursday 6 April	Easter Raffle for students 50c a ticket
Thursday 6 April	Last day of Term 1
Monday 24th April	First Day of Term 2
Tuesday 25 April	ANZAC Day Public Holiday. Our students participate in the march and service in West Wyalong.	Main Street and S&C Club
Thursday 27 April	Reconciliation and Sacrament of Eucharist Enrolment (Year 3/4) @ 5pm	At School