Dear Parents,

I have been working with several small groups in Literacy and Numeracy over the past few weeks with Year 2 and Year 3 in particular. The new literacy tool we are implementing at St Mary’s is called InitiaLit and it emphasises phonemic awareness and developing skills in decoding unknown words. Teachers received training in InitiaLit at the end of last year and now the programme is being ‘rolled out’ across our archdiocese this year. We are very pleased with student responses and engagement already and look forward to sharing details with parents soon.

Parents are invited to come in for a barbecue on Friday 12 March after school. It is an initiative of our Community Council to support parent involvement especially now that Covid restrictions have eased. Parents are welcome to come in, take a look at our playground and new equipment and have a sausage sizzle whilst chatting to staff and other parents. Families may like to sit a while, so bring your picnic rug and simply enjoy our space as a family. We’ll even get out the cricket bat to have a game if weather permits. It will be a great way to start the weekend. Please RSVP via the link below to assist with catering.

https://stmarysbatlow.schoolzineplus.com/form/55

On a final note I will be away this Wednesday to Friday at a Catholic Education Principal’s Conference and Retreat. This is an annual meeting of the 56 principals across our archdiocese and supportive of the current programs in education. In my absence Ms Hotham will be in charge.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Jannine

Celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia

On Wednesday our Year 6 leaders and Ms Richards represented St Mary’s at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Canberra for a special Mass to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. Many other schools from our diocese also attended this special and holy celebration led by Archbishop Christopher Prowse.

Lent

Lent  is  a  time  to  rediscover  the  meaning  of  life  and  prioritise  what  is  important  in how  we  live  our  lives.  We  try  to  simplify  our  lives, take  time  out  to reflect  and  pray,  and  listen  and  respond  to  those  in  need. Prayer,  fasting  and  almsgiving  are  concrete  ways  in  which  can  demonstrate  our relationship  with  God.  In  prayer  we  speak  through  language  and  action,  and  in fasting  through  abstinence,  and  in  giving  we  reach  out  to  others.  Lent  is  a  period of preparation  for and renewal of baptism.

Melissa Hotham - Religious Education Coordinator

SUNDAY CHILDREN'S LEAD PARISH MASS

All student's and families are invited to join the Parish community at our first Sunday Children's lead Mass on Sunday 14th March at 8.30am.

After Mass all are welcome to join in a cuppa. Please bring a small plate of food to share.

Please let the office know if your child will be attending so they can be given a job to do.

School Photo Day is Wednesday 24th March. Envelopes will be sent home soon.

St Mary's Community Council are holding a family barbeque get together on FRIDAY 12th March at 5pm.

Bring along your fold up chair and drinks (Non Alcoholic) and the barbeque will be provided.

(Backup date is Friday 19th March)

Please fill out the online form below and submit by MONDAY for catering NUMBERS. 

Sausage sizzle Family Order

LIAM & AMARA will be our radio announcers next Tuesday.

Tune in to FM96.3 each Tuesday to hear the latest news from St Mary's.

The BROWN family will be on cake raffle this Friday.

Tickets are sold for 20c each.

The HOCKEY & KORN family are our home cooks this Friday.

Items are sold for 50c each.

WHITE CROSS DENTAL will visit on WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH.

Please return your form that went home early in the term as soon as possible

if you would like to have your child seen on this day. 

Contact the office if you require another form.

From this week until the end of term meal breaks will be:

LUNCH 1: 11.00am - 11.30am 

(Sandwiches & lunch orders will be eaten)

LUNCH 2: 1.00pm -1.40pm 

(Recess food will be eaten) 

MONDAY & THURSDAY Lunch orders MUST be in to the

OFFICE or BAKERY by 9am

A reminder that PLAIN BLACK SHOES are to be worn Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday with GREY socks for BOYS and WHITE socks for GIRLS.

Monday & Friday JOGGERS are to be worn with WHITE socks for both BOYS & GIRLS.

Thank you for following our uniform policy. 

Saturday 27th March.