Dear Parents,

Our Year 6 students are looking very smart today in their school uniforms.

They are already taking leadership steps in their new roles and impressing us all with their approach to their important year at St Mary’s.

Three Way Interviews

This Tuesday or Thursday afternoon, parents have the opportunity to meet teachers with their child. It is rare that a student has dedicated time with parent and teacher together in the same room. It’s a chance to have everyone on the same page in terms of students goals for this year and also allows parents to see where their child learns everyday! Covid restrictions will be in place : parents are to sign in, do not come if experiencing cold/flu like symptoms and 1.5 m social distancing will be in place.

If you haven’t made an appointment yet, please follow the link below to see what times are still available.

Three Way Interview Booking Link

Sculpture by the Sea Workshop

Tomorrow we have three artists visiting our school to conduct a workshop with all students. Students are invited to bring along any recycled materials , especially long thin items for weaving e.g. material strips, cables, string, plastic, cardboard etc if they have some available. Otherwise all items will be provided. As photos will be taken to promote the workshop parents are asked to sign a media release form.

Media Release Form

Western Region Swimming Carnival

Well done to Annabelle, Ethan and Dylan who represented St Mary’s at the Western Region Swimming Carnival at West Wyalong yesterday. Ms Crozier reports that you all performed so well in your individual events and that you were a pleasure to support. A big thank you to your parents for transporting you and also Ms Crozier for helping you on the day. Our next Western Region Carnival will be for Cross Country scheduled for Tuesday 30 March in Boorowa. St Mary’s will be holding Cross Country trials soon.

Have a lovely week everyone,

Jannine

Shrove Tuesday

Today we celebrated Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday) as a way to prepare for the beginning of Lent tomorrow. Dating back to 1000 AD, over the years Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast. Not only was Shrove Tuesday a last chance to gorge on such foods but it was also a way to use them up before the fast began in what is commonly the use of pancakes.

To celebrate Shrove Tuesday at home as a family you could make up a batch of pancakes. Here’s a basic recipe which I love making for my family.

PANCAKES FOR FOUR OR SIX

Ingredients:

2 cups self raising flour

2 eggs

2 cups of milk

Method:

Place all ingredients bar the butter in a bowl and mix until combined. Using cooking spray or butter on the pan, then using large spoonfuls begin making pancakes one by one. Drop a decent sized spoonful of batter into the hot pan. Move the pan about so the batter spreads across the bottom in a wide circle. Then once bubbles burst to the surfaces and the edges start to go dry, flip the pancake and cook the other side until it is also golden brown.

Serve at once with your favourite toppings. Enjoy!

Ms Justine Hughes is our Classroom Support Teacher. She works every Monday to support students who need extra support in their learning, by working directly with students or class teachers. By coordinating the administration of Personalised Plans  PP’s, Ms Hughes plays a vital role at St Mary’s.

Personalised Plans require goals to be set each semester with parents, teachers and the student. PP’s will be forwarded to parents following Three way Interviews for their reference.

Year 3/4 enjoyed making pancakes today as part of Shrove Tuesday. Students learnt about sequencing and measuring.

STUDENT OF THE WEEK - WEEK 3

White Cross Mobile Dental with visit St Mary's on Wednesday 17th March Week 8, Term 1. Forms were sent home today with each student. If you would like your child to participate please fill in the form and return to school.

Many students complain they are tired when they come to school for a variety of reasons e.g. siblings keeping them awake, unusual noises, bad dreams, and late nights. Establish a sleep routine using some of these tips:

Follow the same routine every day: bath or shower, change into pyjamas, brush teeth, read or spend quiet time in their bedroom, lights out and go to sleep.

For more tips follow the link for some advice and speak to health professionals if you are concerned.

Health Direct Link

Only WATER in drink bottles please.

Batlow Show is on this year! Saturday 27 March. St Mary’s will be putting on their school display for this community event which will be an amazing celebration after our COVID year! Students are also invited to enter the many sections for all our budding artists, cooks, lego masters and gardeners. More information coming shortly.

School Fee Statements were emailed home last week. If you did not receive yours please phone the school. Fees can be paid by Direct Deposit, Cash or Cheque. Full payment is due by week 6 of each term unless paying by Direct Deposit or prior arrangements have been made with the school. Please contact the school if you have any queries on 02 69491270.

The WOODLAND & SALMON families will be our first home cooks for 2021

Home cooking is sold on Friday's for 50c per item.

A reminder that PARKING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL GATE IS NOT PERMITTED at any time.

This is a NO PARKING area and the police will issue fines if you are caught there.

This is also a safety issue with children being dropped off and picked up.

Last week was Safer Internet Day. When your child reaches 10 – 11yrs (or even earlier), they may start asking for their first smartphone and to use social media. So here are ten things to keep your Tweens safe online:

If your child is asking for a phone, make sure that you get them to do a little presentation, or write a small project sheet, on a topic of cyber safety every week in the lead up to getting their phone.

1. Think about the age recommendations; it is not illegal for a child to use social media under the age of 13yrs with their parents’ permission. But they need to remember to update their age on any site that has asked for it when they actually turn 13yrs. Like Facebook, for example. This way, the app will not think they are older. As an extreme example…if your child signs up to use Facebook when they are 10yrs, and they have to lie and say they are 13yrs…so by the time they are 15yrs if they haven’t adjusted the year they were born, the app will think they are 18yrs. Then they can get a Tinder account as it relies on Facebook for verification!
2. Teach your kids to think twice before they accept a friend request. Just because someone is a friend of their big brother or sister or cousin who goes to another school does not mean they should let them into their life.
3. Engage with them about their favourite social media app and get them to teach you about it so you can at least know the basics. Get them to show you how to block and report so you can be sure they know what to do.
4. Be a good role model. Keep your screen time in check. There is no use banning the phones from bedrooms if you go to bed with yours each night, for example.
5. Help them to check and manage privacy settings. This is something you can do together when they are younger by making it a shared experience.
6. Think twice before “sharenting.” Do not post photos of your kids in school uniform or school events or holding certificates with their full name and school name on it. You are letting the whole world know where they go to school. This can happen by “checking in” or geotagging a school as well.
7. Ask them first when you are about to share their photo. Let your kids be involved in the decision making on whether they are ok with you posting a photo of them or not as young as possible. This will teach them to ask others first before they post pictures as they grow up.
8. Put healthy boundaries in place. Don’t ban them from their device if they forget to do a household chore or are naughty for something totally unrelated to their device. Do not take it off them if they speak up about something that has happened online because you are scared either. This is the quickest way to drive all the conversations that you want to be having underground. Instead, if you have a healthy boundary like all devices are banned from the bathroom or bedroom. So then if they are caught with their device in either place, you ban them for a week. This way, they will learn that it is safe to speak up about what is going on online without punishment unless they break the rules about device use.
9. Respect the classifications. The average age of a gamer is 35yrs old. Classifications are there for a reason. It is not ok for a child under the age of 18yrs to be playing R Rated games…even with their parents!!! If your child is playing online games, set healthy boundaries around time playing as well. All of the other tips above also apply to gaming.

What a great day of fun and competition. Congratulations to all students on their participation in the swiming carnival. The winning house was HUME.

Literacy across the school at 9.15am

Fun at recess

Pancake Tuesday Lunch