Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 5, as we begin another jam packed week at St Mary’s. It is hard to believe we’re almost halfway through Term 3. Today, saw our Year 5 students walk to the Bland Shire Preschool to share in their book week celebrations and meet their potential buddies for 2025. Year 3 and 4 students will travel to Temora on Thursday for the Trent Barrett Shield. I am sure the students will be fine ambassadors of St Mary’s. Year 1 and Year 2 students will travel to West Wyalong High School on Friday to visit the donkeys that are part of the High School’s wellness program.

While the weather is on the improve, we’re still experiencing cold mornings. However, by the afternoon students are taking their jumpers off. Please ensure your child’s uniform is clearly labelled so we can ensure it returns to its owner.

In the Canberra Times recently, an article was published acknowledging the excellent NAPLAN results of St Michael’s in Kaleen a school in our diocese that has implemented similar teaching pedagogies (teaching methods) as St Mary’s. The most impressive result they referred to was their Year 3 reading results, which had 87 per cent of students placed in the Strong or Exceeding category. I can proudly say that St Mary’s had a huge 89 per cent in those two categories. This is an excellent result and a true testament to the hard work of the students and their teachers.    

At the community council meeting last night, the matter of parent/family volunteers was raised again. We warmly welcome any parents or grandparents who are willing to help out with anything in the classroom whether it be creative arts, reading or other Key Learning Areas where teachers see a need. If you want to volunteer your time in your child or grandchild’s class please contact their teacher to make arrangements. This will begin in Term 3. Volunteers will need a current Working with Children Check (WWCC). The process for applying for your WWCC can be found following this website. https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-working-with-children-check 

The Working with Children Check (WWCC) is a requirement for anyone in paid or volunteer child-related work in NSW.

A reminder about that the “Tell them from Me” survey. If you have not completed it yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. The survey can be accessed via this link or the QR code below.

http://tellthemfromme.com/sx

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins

  

Term 3, 2024 Class and Whole School Mass Timetable

Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 class Mass

All family and friends of our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 classes are invited to our special class mass tomorrow, Wednesday 21st August at 12pm. The theme of the Mass is ‘God Loves Me.’

Special Mass for our Grandparents and Special Elderly friends - Wednesday 14th August

Due to technical reasons we were unable to play our Grandparents slide show at last Wednesday's Grandparents and Special Elderly friends Mass. We hope you enjoy the slide show as much as we did!

    

Charlotte Pursehouse

who celebrates her birthday during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Species Survival - More than just sustainability

Last Wednesday Kinder Kind, Year 1 Joy and Year 2 Mercy were lucky to have Sally Russell visit from LCCC. Sally brings a wealth of knowledge and informed the students all about native and feral animals and their habitates.

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.

Day	Event	Location
Monday 19th August - Friday 23rd August	ICAS - Science & Spelling	At School
Thursday 22nd August	Trent Barrett Shield - Year 3/4	Nixon Park, Temora
Monday 26th August - Friday 30th	ICAS - Maths	At School
Wednesday 28th August	- more information to come	At School
Tuesday 27th August	Canberra-Goulburn Athletics	AIS, Canberra
Wednesday 4th September	West Wyalong Show Day - Public Holiday
Thursday 12th September	Todd Woodbridge Cup - Year 3/4	West Wyalong Tennis Courts
Sunday 15th September	Working Bee & Battery Drive	At School
Thursday 26th September	Last Day of Term 3	At School
Friday 27th September	Staff Developement Day - Pupil Free Day
Friday 18th October	St Mary's School Fete - more information to come	At School

• Science - Monday 19th - Friday 23rd August
• Spelling Bee - Monday 19th - Friday 23rd August
• Mathematics - Monday 26th - Friday 30th August