St Mary's War Memorial School West Wyalong eNewsletter

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 8. The holidays are not far away and we’re looking forward to a strong finish to the term with lots going on.

Counselling has been a common topic of conversation between the staff and within the community. After discussions with Canberra Goulburn Education and Marymead CatholicCare their advice was to continue to refer your child if you haven’t done so. They will either provide more telehealth counselling support or send someone out from Canberra if there is a need. Instructions on how to refer are outlined in the article below. Please do so if your child needs support in this area.

On Sunday we welcomed Father Hilary Rotich from Goulburn to our Parish while Father Dom enjoys a well-earned break. We look forward to Fr Dom's return albeit a short one, before he is placed somewhere in the Archdiocese as the Parish Priest. This will happen in the new year. We are unaware of who is replacement will be.

Sunday was ‘Safeguarding Sunday’. The day acknowledges the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including that done by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. St Mary’s and the Parish together make a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. We also invite all to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.

With the weather warming up it is a great time to get our school looking as fabulous as possible. To do this, our community council are holding a working bee. Unfortunately we have had to change the date that was previously published. The new date is Sunday the 22nd of September after Sunday Morning Mass (approximately 10:30). If you can spare some time to help out that would be much appreciated!!

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins

This week in BCR (Building Community and Resilience) the students continue exploring values as they prepare for Socktober Day on Friday 1st November. This week's value is Creation. The theme ties in closely with our Week 10 liturgy where we'll come together as a school community to celebrate the Season of Creation, a time when Christians around the world are invited to prayer and action to protect Earth, our common home.

“We need to see with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God’s saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person.” Pope Francis

St Mary's Socktober 2024

Socktober for Mission Month cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage their local community, and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer. It provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help, but why they will do it.

St Mary’s has signed up for Socktober and in their BCR sessions students will be learning about key Catholic Social Teaching principles and practising their soccer skills ready for our big Socktober Event on Friday 1st November 2024 - more information to come. The installation of the new soccer goal posts is very timely!

Happy Birthday to

Adaline Stephens and Aris KC

who celebrate their birthdays during this week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Week 7 Award Winners

Mirabelle Pham	Hugh Haworth	Ida Wood
Xavier Walsh	Arlie Orr	Indi Fair
Meila Fair	Ivy Wilson	Stella Murrells
Lilly Robertson	Edith Dean	Riley Greenwood

Parkes Touch Football Gala Day

Good luck to our Year 5 and 6 students who are competing in the NSW Touch Football Gala Day in Parkes. We know that you will be excellent representatives of St Mary's. Have fun!!! Students will leave St Mary's at 7:15am sharp. Students are required to be at school no later than 7:10. More information can be found on Compass.

Todd Woodbridge Cup

Good luck to our Year 3 and 4 students who will attend the Todd Woodbridge Cup in town on Thursday. Students will be participating in teams of 4 in a gala day format. They will walk both to the tennis club and back to school accompanied by their class teachers.

Students are to wear their sports uniform, bring a hat, water bottle and tennis racquet if they own one.
They must also bring a packed recess and lunch as there will be no canteen operating. More information can be found on Compass.

Date and Day	Teacher on Leave or PD	Class	Relief
Monday 9 - Friday 13 September	Mrs Breust	Year 3 Peace	Mrs Reichstein & Mr Hughes
Tuesday 10 September	Mrs Harland	n/a	n/a
Wednesday 11 September	Mr Collins	n/a	n/a

ST ANNE'S SHOWCASE OF TALENT 2024

Students will travel to Temora Town Hall on Tuesday 24th of September to attend the Temora Showcase of Talent. A Compass event has been sent out for parents to action.

Students will be travelling by bus which will be provided by the school, departure 8.55am sharp and return by 1.00 pm for lunch.

Students should wear full school uniform and bring their hat, water bottle, recess and a piece of fruit.

The performance is linked to our English and Creative arts curriculum.

If your know your child will be absent on that day please call the school so they can be removed from the event.

FOOTY COLOURS DAY!!

With footy finals on, children are encouraged to come dressed in their favourite teams colours on Thursday the 26th of September (last day of Term 3).

Please no footy boots on the day.

Dress up in your favourite football or any sporting jumper! Or just a scarf or beanie! Students can wear casual clothes with their footy colours!

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

There will be a Parent Information Session on Monday 21st October starting at 11:30am. More information on this session to come.

Reports available on Compass @ 3:30pm	TBC
Speech Night and School Play	Thursday 12th December West Wyalong S & C Club Time - 6pm
Year 6 Graduation Dinner	TBC
Year 6 Graduation Mass	TBC
Final Day of School	Wednesday 18th December

Term 3 Roster

If you would like to help in the canteen in Term 4 please contact our canteen manager Casey Judd at casey.judd@cg.catholic.edu.au or on Facebook.

If any volunteers are unable to fill their shift please contact Casey on 0400 472 921.

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
Wednesday 11th September	NSW Touch Football Gala Day - Year 5 & 6	Parkes
Thursday 12th September	Todd Woodbridge Cup - Year 3/4	West Wyalong Tennis Courts
Thursday 12th September	Little Wattle Visiiting St Mary's	St Mary's
Friday 13th September	Aspire Early Learning Centre Visiting St Mary's	St Mary's
Sunday 15th September Postponed to Sunday 22nd September	Working Bee & Battery Drive	St Mary's
Tuesday 24th September	St Anne's Catholic College Showcase	St Anne's Catholic College, Temora
Thursday 26th September	Last Day of Term 3	St Mary's
Friday 27th September	Staff Developement Day - Pupil Free Day
Monday 14th October	Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 15th October	First Day of Term 4	St Mary's
Friday 18th October	St Mary's School Fete - more information to come	St Mary's
Monday 21st October	Kinder 2025 Orientation and Parent Infomation Session 8:55am - 12pm	St Mary's