I want to thank our families for making St Mary’s a wonderful place to teach and learn. Your commitment to your children and the school is greatly appreciated. On a personal note, I am extremely grateful for the warm welcome my family has received - I am very much looking forward to 2025!

Awards Evening

I want to thank our school community for their participation in and attendance at our awards night on Monday. Congratulations to Jack for his stellar job hosting the night and to all the staff and students who made the Nativity Play such a joyful celebration of the true meaning of Christmas. We have some future actors and actresses in the making! Congratulations team and well done to our award recipients.

Graduation Mass

I would like to thank everyone who played a part in our Graduation Mass. Thank you to Miss Collins for the slideshow of Jack’s years at St Mary’s and to Mrs Dumbrell for organising such a wonderful celebration.

Pool Celebration

Tomorrow, students will walk down to the Batlow Pool at 10.45am to complete their swimming program that has been running over the past three weeks. Following this, they will have a pool fun day to celebrate the end of the school year. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch or have a lunch order, however, the school will provide some hot chips, potato scallops, a fruit box and packet of chips on the day. Unfortunately the canteen is not up and running yet so students won’t need spare change. We will return to school at 2:45pm.

Prayer for those Travelling

St. Christopher is widely regarded as the patron saint of travelers because of the legendary story of his service. He is said to have carried travelers across a dangerous river as an act of charity. By invoking his intercession, travelers ask for protection, safety, and guidance. I wish all of our community members a safe Christmas break that is shared with family and friends.

"Dear St. Christopher, protect me today in all my travels along the road’s way. Give your warning sign if danger is near, so that I may stop while the path is clear. Be at my side and guide me through, so I may reach my destination safe and true. Amen."

Enjoy the break,

Ryan

This is our final full week of school and what a busy week it has been! Monday evening saw us celebrate all the wonderful achievements of our students at our annual Awards Ceremony. The students thoroughly enjoyed presenting our Nativity play to our families and guests. They worked hard to remember all of their lines and it was so wonderful to see their smiling faces when they were able to share this with you all. 

Today we celebrated our Thanksgiving Mass and farewell for Jack Shang. Thank you to all of our families who generously donated goods for our St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal, these donations will go to many families in our region over Christmas.

This Sunday also marks the third week of Advent.

The theme of Advent's third Sunday is the joy of the shepherds seeing the newborn Christ.

The Advent wreath has four candles, one is lit each Sunday of the four weeks of Advent. Each candle represents a new focus and time of reflection. The third week of Advent is the candle of joy. Also known as the "shepherd candle," it is in this third week of advent that we rejoice for the coming King. The shepherds experienced joy at the good news of the birth of the Messiah.

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)

Jeanette Dumbrell

Religious Education Coordinator

We ask those families who are paying fees by instalments to continue to do so during the holidays so fees are up to date for the beginning of next year.

Congratulaions to our Christmas raffle winners:
Ist Prize: IGA card & goodies ELLIE DODDS

2nd Prize: Wine & Chocolates MATT FLENLEY

Thank you to everyone who supported the raffle 

If you would like to go on the home cooking roster once a term next year, please contact the office.

Lunch of hot chips, scallops & a fruit box will be provided for all students free of charge.

On Tuesday we will be having a sausage sizzle at school for lunch to end the term.

Term 4 ends on Tuesday for students.

Term 1 2025 begins for students on Tuesday 4th of February