Dear Parents

Welcome to Week 4 of Term. As you would be aware, Phil Nielsen is currently on leave and I have come from the Catholic Education Office to support the school for a few weeks.

My current role is as a Performance Improvement Leader and I support 14 Catholic Schools in our Archdiocese, some in Canberra but the majority are in NSW. Prior to this role, I was a principal in 4 schools, so hopefully come with some experience to assist the team here for the next few weeks. I am married to a school teacher and have 3 adult children who work in Sydney or are living overseas.

I am a frequent visitor to St Mary’s and it is one of my favourite schools. The staff are amazing, the buildings refreshed, the grounds look incredible, and the students are so polite and friendly!

Last week external teaching and learning coaches came to the school to observe the staff and model lessons as part of Catholic Education’s Catalyst program. Both coaches commented to me on how advanced the teaching and learning is at St Mary’s and how the school is one of the leading direct and explicit instruction schools in our Archdiocese. Well done!

I look forward to meeting and getting to know all of you. Please do not hesitate to come and meet me.

Cheers

Brad

Catholic Education

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Week 4 already! Wow we’re flying through the term. Well done to all the students on their settled approach to their learning so far this term. With so much going on in Term 4 we look forward to this continuing. Last week we welcomed Mr Brad Gaynor to the school community whilst Mr Nielsen is on leave. Students are familiar with Mr Gaynor as he has visited the school previously. Mr Gaynor is the Performance Improvement Leader from Catholic Education who supports Catholic Schools in our region. Mr Gaynor is a frequent visitor to St Mary’s, is known to staff and is looking forward to getting to know the students. If you see him around, please introduce yourself to him and make him feel welcome.  

MODUPLAY finished constructing our new playground on Friday. It looks fantastic and I’m sure the students will love the new addition to their school. Thanks again to everyone who raised money in our Colour Run last year and to our community council for its generous donation toward our project.  

Have a great week everyone and remember my door is always open!! 

Regards 

Damian Collins  

Assistant Principal 

Reverence

In partnership with families, we are dedicated to educating children who are:

Reverent - Reverence is a gift of the Holy Spirit we receive in Confirmation that gives us confidence in God. The gift of reverence inspires you to joyfully want to serve and show respect for God, for one another and for yourself. 

A Prayer for the virtue of Reverence

Dear Lord, 

Please let Your ears always be attentive to our prayers.  

Holy Spirit, continue to teach us to be reverent, to love You, to love Jesus and to love our brothers and sisters.  

Please touch the hearts of those who do not adore the Lord, and forget to show reverence in their prayers. 

Help them to love Him with all their heart and soul.  

Please remind each of us of the many things that God does for us daily and help us to spend more time in reverent prayer and adoration.  

 Holy Spirit, help us to always be mindful of Your presence in our daily lives and help us to be quick to respond when You quicken us to action.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Condolences 

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers Jim Mayberry, Grandfather of Carlie Iverach, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening surrounded by family.

    

Ashton Barber

who celebrates his birthday during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Friday 3 November - 8.55am to 3.20pm

Children should wear comfortable clothes and a hat.  They will need a piece of fruit, recess and a drink for the two half days.  On the full days they will need their lunch as well.

Kinder Orientation Day 2

St Mary’s held its second Kinder Orientation Day for our 2024 kindergarten class. The students loved their morning with Mrs Nielsen and even joined us at assembly! The students are eager to return next week and play on the new playground equipment!!

   Possum Magic - Thursday 2nd Nov 2023

THIS THURSDAY

Students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will travel to the Wagga Civic Theatre on Thursday the 2nd November to see a performance of Possum Magic at 1pm.

A reminder that the race that stops a nation is tomorrow! Each student is invited to wear a hat or a fascintor to school for the day. There will be a prize in each class for the best hat!!! We will be holding a whole school sweep and be watching the broadcast of the race in the hall at 3pm.  

Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle especially now the weather is warming up.

If your child intends to use the free bus travel scheme, either in town for Years K to 2 or from a rural location for Years K to 6, please plan ahead and apply before the end of Term 4 via the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS).  In rural areas it is recommended parents also contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

If you have received an expiry notice from Transport for NSW you should update the details before the end of Term 4 to ensure that St Mary's can endorse the application and entitlements remain valid.