Dear Parents,

And we are back! It is a pleasure to see your children walk into school in their full winter uniform. They look smart and warm. Thank you for your attention to ensuring students look proud of being at our school.

Upgrades

We have returned to some upgrades to our facilities. New carpet has been installed in some classrooms and the hallway. Acoustic walls have been installed in the K/1/2 space, and a new epoxy surface has been installed in our wet area. We are looking pretty ‘schmick’!

Centenary Celebrations

We launched our 100^th Centenary Celebrations on Tuesday with a mini assembly. Our Year 6 students lead the assembly and students were informed of the many events we are going to have over the next 100 days to mark this significant occasion. Please see the photos in the newsletter and like us on Facebook as we share more details.

Attendance

Parents are advised that students attendance is a legal requirement of parents. All absences need to be explained and this can be done in the Parent Portal of Compass. Absences for medical appointments, illness and urgent family matters are acceptable reasons for absences.

 Attendance rates should be maintained above 90%.

Please check absences listed on your child’s semester reports. The impact of poor attendance affects learning significantly, especially in Reading and Maths which are explicitly taught at a fast pace, every day at St Mary’s. Poor attendance also affects a student’s social relationships. If a student is not around regularly, they will often lose ‘bonds’ with students who have good attendance. I will be in contact with families of students with low attendance rates shortly to discuss the best way to support regular attendance.

Morning arrival at school

Parents are reminded that students should not be arriving at school before 8.40am in the morning when a teacher is on duty.

New Principal 2024

On a final note, all parents should now be aware that Mr Ryan Forsyth will be the new principal of St Mary’s Batlow at the start of the 2024 school year. This is really great news! I will be working with Ryan over the next semester to support a smooth transition for staff, students and families.

Have a lovely week everyone.

Jannine

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope you had a nice Winter break where you took some time to rest and be with family and friends.

Our term has started with great excitement as we begin our countdown to turning 100 in early Term 4. I am looking forward to all of our upcoming events this term!

Some special dates to note for the religious life of the school in Term 3 include:

• Mary McKillop feast day - Tuesday 8th of August

• Assumption of Mary feast day - Tuesday 15th of August

• Children’s Mass presented by St Mary’s students at our local parish Mass on Sunday 27th August at 5pm.

• St Mary’s Feast Day - Friday 8th September with St Mary’s Feast Day celebrations.

Stay tuned for more information about which feast days will be presented with a liturgy or Mass. This is still in conversation with our parish priest and surrounding parishes. 

Let us pray for our term ahead…

Dear God,

Thank you for the gift of education in every form. We ask you for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to help us pursue our learning. Help us be a shining light in our school so that we may be role models to others in all that we do.

Amen.   

Have a splendid week everyone

Amy Buckmaster - REC.

This terms school fees will be emailed out soon!

For any outstanding fees, please continue on with your payment plan!

Please see Tracee in the office Mon, Thurs & Fri with any questions.

Be sure to tell your friends and family about our amazing school!

Families will be advised via a note tomorrow of balnces owing for the trip.

PLEASE HAVE YOUR PAYMENTS FINALISED BY NEXT FRIDAY 28 JULY!

Cake raffle returns this week with the SALMON family!

Next week the SCHWARZROCK family are on cake raffle!

Tickets are sold for 50c each!

This week the GARNER family are doing HOME COOKING!!

Next week the WALLACE family are our HOME COOKS

Tickets are sold for 50c each!

Radio News is back on next Tuesday with

LACEY & JACK

Tune into FM96.3 from 1:45pm

to hear all the latest news from our school!

WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH BREAKFAST TOP UP FOR THIS TERM!!

EACH WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 8.40-8.55AM

PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE IF YOU CAN ASSIST!!

We are turning 100 and would love you to help us celebrate!

More details to come!

Our uniform shop is now stocked up and open during school hours

Please see Tracee or Bernadette in the office to purchase!

We are having our annual trivia night on

Saturday 4 November 2023!!

More details to come .....

LUNCH ORDERS START BACK TOMORROW!!

FRIDAY 21 JULY

Please have the correct money and place your order on a paper bag!

Lunch orders are every Monday & Friday!

Healthy Yoghurt and Oat Muffins!

Ingredients

 1 cup low-fat vanilla yoghurt

 1 cup rolled oats

 1 egg

 1/2 cup olive oil

 1/4 cup raw sugar

 3/4 cup banana (mashed)

 1 1/4 cups self-raising flour

Method

Amiee Zabbia is offering piano and vocal lessons in Batlow for all ages. 

Weekly and fortnightly lessons available.