Dear Parents and Carers,

It has certainly been an interesting past week with news of Covid-19 escalating. This morning I have emailed all parents regarding St Mary’s response to the outbreak including a second email from Catholic Education Director, Ross Fox. Although the virus transmission is low in our area at present, the evidence indicates that we will experience the impact of the virus at some stage, so we need to be prepared with up to date information and best practice in managing our daily routines to ensure our health and safety. All schools have an operational plan in place to support our response to this growing emergency.

Another email was sent today to parents of students in Year 3 and Year 5, regarding NAPLAN practise tests next week. Practise tests using the online environment, will occur from Monday to Wednesday.

A final email has been forwarded today regarding the Life Education visit this Thursday.

On a happy note we received an amazing gift of books, sporting equipment, board games and Lego Mindstorm packs. The school community of Kincoppal, Rose Bay have generously reached out to us to support our recovery from a difficult January. We are most grateful for their kindness and will enjoy the equipment for some time. Also donated were some near new black school shoes in various sizes. If you need a pair for your child, please see Tricia Marsh or Tracee Holland who can help with sizing.

And finally, this Friday students are invited to wear bright coloured clothes (as bright as possible!) to raise awareness for the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. Students will be involved in lessons from the "Bullying, No Way" website on the day.

What a bright way to finish a busy week.

Have a great week everyone,

Jannine

Third week of Lent.

Take a moment to settle.  Take a deep breath.  Like a rock settling on the bottom of a lake after it’s thrown…settle.

Public health issues have a way of making us recognize how interwoven our lives are with others in society. Take time to connect to others this week.  If you are a person of faith, take a moment to pray.

Project Compassion fundraiser this week is donated by Miss Buckmaster and Miss Crozier; ice cream cones with topping.  Money raised will go toward supporting the world’s most vulnerable.

Happy St Patrick's Day

God is wisdom.

Sometimes what happens on earth seems crazy!

People kill, wound and imprison other people;

They destroy the animals and ruin the planet.

And yet, the earth and the heavens are so beautiful!

People are beautiful when they work together

to make life good for one another.

Then they bear the image of God,

Who created the world with his wisdom.

 Take a deep breath…

Anne Saunderson- REC

St Mary's would like to welcome Ms Courtnee Leigh to our school community. Courtnee will be teaching Year 2/3 and comes with a wealth of experience including a Degree in Drama and a Masters in Teaching. She is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Teacher Librarianship.

Years 4,5,6 have been completing a research task in their Library lessons.
They completed an Author Study on an author of their choice.
Students enjoyed finding out interesting facts about their author and created posters which are displayed in the Library.

PLEASE ensure your contact details are up to date in our school administration system.

We communicate general information several ways to our community.

• Schoolzine email
• School Newsletter (Tuesday)
• Facebook.

K/1 - Theo and Jessica

2/3 - Liam C and Morgan

4/5/6 - EJ and Liam W

This Thursday all students from K-6 will participate in a Life Education session. Classes will be covering the following topics:

 K/1 Ready, Steady, Go -Students discover the benefits of healthy eating, physical activity, and how our body reacts in different situations.

 2/3 All Systems Go -Students join the Captain and his crew inside ‘The Venture’ machine on a tour of the human body.

 4/5/6 BCyberwise- Helping students to be wise when it comes to relationships - both off and online.

The cost of the program is covered in school fees. The sessions will be conducted in our classrooms, not in the van, due to the space being too confining in the van.

Next Tuesday our radio announcers are 

JADE & RYLEY

Tune in to FM96.3 Tuesday at 1.45pm to hear what is happening at St Mary's.

The SCHWARZROCK family are our cake raffle family this Friday.

Our home cooks this week are the

BARTLETT & HOCKEY families

Cooking is sold on Friday for 50c per item.

School photos are next Wednesday 24th March.

FULL SUMMER UNIFORM with dresses for girls.

You can return your envelopes ahead of time or bring into school on the day.

MONDAY & FRIDAY Sports uniform with white socks and joggers for all students. Polo shirt and red jumper have the logo on them.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Full summer uniform with black school shoes NO JOGGERS. White socks for girls and grey for boys. Navy jumper with the logo on it. 

BLACK SHOES (near new) are currently available in the uniform shop. They have been kindly donated so can be collected for no charge.

The uniform shop always has stock and we also have a lot of good seconds for a donation.

Come and see Tracee Thursday or Friday for all your needs. 

Year 2/3 have been learning 2 digit addition and had to show evidence of two ways to solve the problem. 

Happy birthday to Harley who turns 5 next Tuesday 24th March. Have a great day.

The first Community Council meeting for the year will be held  

Next Tuesday 24th March at 6pm.

If you have any items you would like raised please email 

office@stmarysbatlow.cg.catholic.edu.au attention SECRETARY by tonight Tuesday 17th March.

The first two days of Term 2 are still scheduled for Professional Development. They have not been cancelled at this stage. Parents will be notified immediately if this occurs.

Thank you to the parents who volunteered time to help 'man' the back gate at the Batlow Show. Unfortunately the event has been postponed. Our school was preparing a display in tribute of our "Batlow Heroes". We intend to still put this together here at school and share it with parents and carers via Facebook and the Newsletter.

FRIDAY 20TH MARCH - NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING & VIOLENCE

WEDNESDAY 25th MARCH - SCHOOL PHOTOS

SATURDAY 28th MARCH - BATLOW SHOW - CANCELLED

THURSDAY 2ND APRIL - GRANDPARENTS DAY CANCELLED

THURSDAY 9th APRIL - TERM 1 ENDS 

TERM 2 PUPIL FREE DAYS - MON 27th & TUES 28th APRIL

TERM 2 BEGINS - WEDNESDAY 29th APRIL

NAPLAN -  Between Tuesday 12th AND THURSDAY 21ST MAY

Snowy Valleys Council are asking for everyone not to enter any fire damaged sites due to asbestos concerns and fear for the safety of anyone entering these sites.