Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 7. Mrs Baron will be away this week as her mother is very unwell. Please keep Mrs Ryan and her family in your prayers. In Mrs Baron's absence please see Miss Buckmaster if you have any concerns.

We thank Catholic Education for sending Mrs Lisa Wilson to cover staffing on Tuesday and Thursday. We welcome Mrs Wilson to St Mary’s.

The Batlow Community were made aware last week of changes happening at St Mary’s. Mrs Baron has been appointed as Acting Principal of St Patrick’s Primary School Gundagai for the 2019 school year. Mrs Richards has been appointed as Acting Principal of St Mary’s Batlow. We congratulate Mrs Baron and Mrs Richards on their appointments.

Today we welcomed Kaye Lowe, Catholic Education Canberra/Goulburn Literacy consultant. Ms Lowe worked closely with teachers and students offering insightful information to assist student progress in Literacy.

Our school counsellor Mel will be here Thursday 29^th November.

K/1 swimming lessons will begin on next Monday 3^rd December and go through to Friday 7^th December from 2.00pm to 2.45pm. Please make sure notes and money are returned to school by THIS Friday 30^TH November. Thank you to Mrs Renae Smith for conducting the lessons and Mr Worrick Shaw for transporting the students.

Intensive swimming for Year 2 to Year 6 will be conducted on Friday the 7^th and Friday 14^th December from 2.00pm to 2.45pm.

Have a wonderful week.

K/1 - Nace for displaying excellent spelling strategies and assisting others.

Calee-Bree for being a positive team member in group activities.

Year 2/3 - Demianna for using excellent strategies to solve mathematical word problems.

Annie for using great strategies to read unknown words and working hard to improve her reading.

Year 4/5/6 - Hazel for continuing her positive attitude to all aspects of learning and leadership.

Nadamary for enthusiastic participation and her ability to follow the movements in Footsteps.

This week the HOWES family will be on the cake raffle. Tickets are sold for 20c each on Friday.

Our home cooks this week will be the BROWN & SULLIVAN families. Cooking is sold for 50c per piece on Friday.

Next Tuesday 4th December our radio announcers will be Lucy & Liam P Tune in to FM 96.3 at 1.45pm to hear all the exciting things happening at St Mary's.

This Wednesday our "Summer Sizzlers" will be "MINI PIZZAS" choice of Hawaiian or vegetarian $3.50 per serve or two serves per person for $5.00.

A big thank you to Sue Lomas (Emily's nan) for assisting with the summer sizzlers during her time visiting family. Thank you Sue!

On Tuesday 4th December we will be holding an "All you need to know before starting kindergarten" session for parents of the 2019 kindergarten children. The session will be at 10am and another seeion at 5pm if needed for parents unable to attend the morning sesion. Parents are encouraged to come along and see what is needed to begin the school year. 

Lessons begin next Monday 3rd December and continue through to Friday 7th December. Mrs Renae Smith will take the K/1 students for water confidence and swimming lessons. Please return otes to school by THIS Friday. A huge thank you to Worrick Shaw who will transport the students to and from the pool.

St Mary's are looking for a handy man to do work as needed around the school. 

If you are intersted in this position please email office.stmarysbatlow@cg.catholic.edu.au  ATTENTION COMMUNITY COUNCIL SECRETARY by Monday 3rd December.

The successful applicant MUST have a working with children check, ABN and insurance to do this position.

This week we are launching St Vincent De Paul Christmas appeal. Families are asked to support this appeal to help the many family and community members who need our help to make Christmas a bit more special in 2018.

Donations of non- perishable items include biscuits, tinned goods, Christmas goodies, gift vouchers, lollies and toys are greatly appreciated.

The hampers will be collected in week 9 by a representative from St Vinnies.

Thank you in anticipation for your generosity. 

Kris Kringle

This year we are once again asking that the final gifts are kept to a maximum of $10 and that smaller items are homemade cards, handmade trinkets or simple gifts e.g pencils, novelty sharpeners, key rings etc. Food items will be allowed, but please keep them to only one or two of the items. 

 Finer Details are:

• Friday 7 December - Students will select the name of the KK. All students are to keep this name secret.
• Monday 10  to Thursday 13 December- Students are to provide a small gift for their KK every day and secretly place it in their class basket in the front foyer. Gifts will be distributed later in the day.
• Friday 14 December- Students are to bring in their final gift for their KK, to the maximum value of $10. Each class will have a special gifting time during the day where KK's are revealed. 

This very special activity places emphasis on the action of giving, and gracefully receiving. It reflects our christian values especially in the time of advent as we prepare for the Christmas event. 

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