Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to begin by thanking our amazing and resilient students and families who braved the adverse weather conditions on Saturday and showed up to sing at the Apple Blossom Festival! It was very disappointing to hear the school performances had to be called off but we are still very grateful to all our families for being so willing to represent St Mary’s. I would also like to say a huge thank you to the students that participated in Pioneers Night on Tuesday night. The singing was awesome and I was extremely proud of the students as they sang their hearts out and brought many smiles to our Pioneers faces. The Batlow Community is always appreciative of the singing talents of our students.

Today, we saw many students looking their best and posing for our school photos with lovely happy smiles! We look forward to seeing the results of our photos later in the term.

I will be attending the WR Principal’s Meeting as well as the Directors Day in Canberra this week. This is where schools are provided with their staffing for 2019. Decisions about classes and teachers for the 2019 school year, will be decided after the staffing has been analysed and we put our best plan in place.

October is Mission Month and an opportunity for schools across the Archdiocese to raise much needed funds for poorer global communities. THIS FRIDAY the students are able to come in non-uniform and bring a gold coin donation. Please note-tops with sleeves, sporting shoes and hats are a must for Friday.

Wishing everyone a fabulous week,

Christine Baron

Principal

This week the Brown Family are on the cake raffle. Tickets are 20c each and sold at morning tea.

This week our home cooks are the Hockey & Irwin families. Items are sold for 50c each at morning tea. 

Next Tuesday 30th October Hazel & Liam P will be our radio announcers. Tune in a 1.45pm to hear what is happening at St Marys.

K/1 

Harry for working hard and producing excellent work in all areas.

Jack for showing great spelling strategies and persistence in writing.

2/3

Ryley for being a helpful class member, trying his best.

Ethan for excellent effort and including creative details in writing.

Rebecca for applied effort in maths and literacy.

4/5/6

Lucy for showing perserverence and skill in maths problem solving.

Liam for writing an excellent response to the video "teeth".

We wish Lucy who turns 12 & Jiemin who turns 11 a very happy birthday for this Friday when they both celebrate their special day.

Students were all looking lovely today for our school photos. Photos will be back later in the term in time for Christmas.

We have noticed many students wearing the incorrect shoes. ALL students MUST wear BLACK shoes Tuesday. Wednesday & Thursday.

JOGGERS (preferably white, navy or black) are to be worn on MONDAY & FRIDAYS.

Thank you for your support with this matter.

Parents and Carers are reminded that St Mary’s School prides itself on being an open, inclusive and welcoming community. If parents or carers have any concerns or queries we encourage you to make an appointment and discuss any issues with the appropriate staff. If it is a classroom issue, please contact the class teacher as the first point of reference and for any other issues, the school executive can be contacted ie Mrs Baron and/or Mrs Richards. We will always make time to see you and address your concerns.

Issues are addressed the following ways at school:

• Students are encouraged to raise any problems or issues with their class teacher or the teacher on duty.
• Some issues can be solved on the spot and other issues take more time
• ALL reports are investigated or followed up by the teacher it was reported to, or the Exec Staff
• All parties involved have the opportunity to explain their side of the incident
• Students are asked to record their thoughts on a ‘Hassle Log’
• A record of incidents is kept in a folder located in the staffroom
• Depending on the nature of the incident, it may be followed up again the following day with the students involved given consequences or reported to parents/carers
• Parents/Carers are always contacted if the incident is serious and a child is injured or need to be aware of the information
• Parent/Carer of the other student/s are also contacted if deemed necessary
• If a student has three recorded issues listed in the folder within a set period of time, parents are contacted and the student placed on a coloured behavioural book.
• Not all reported incidents need further follow up and it is the teacher’s discretion.

 Please note that teachers can only follow up information that is reported to us. If your child reports an incident to you at home and you have concerns, please contact Mrs Baron or Mrs Richards immediately.

Your child’s safety and happiness are very important to us. We are only too happy to listen to your concerns and work on a solution that allows all parties to feel heard and appreciated.

Catholic Missions work with many communities around the world in crucial projects. Every year we support the missions with a small activity. This Friday we are having a ‘mufti’ day for a gold coin donation. It is a small initiative to raise funds for a worthy cause. We thank you for your support.

Parents are invited to log onto www.catholicmission.org.au if they would like more information. 

Students are to remember to wear t shirts that cover their shoulders and joggers so that they can participate in sport. 

Mel our school Counsellor will be visiting fortnightly this term. Her next visit will be Thursday 1 November. Please call the office if you would like your child to see Mel.

This weeks "Summer Sizzler" is HAMBURGERS!

$3.50 per serve or two serves per person for $5.

Available each week also are Zooper Doopers 80c and icecream cones $1.

THe money raised from winter warmers and summer sizzlers this year so far has gone towards the purchase of a new white board for the K/1 room.

A reminder that students are asked to wear a school hat now that the weather has warmed up. Hats are available in the uniform shop for $10 each.

School hats are now COMPULSORY for Term 4. Please also provide sunscreen for your child to wear each day. 

No hat, No play! 

Congratulations to our students on once again their beautiful singing at Pioneers night. We have had many compliments on how well the students sang.

Footsteps dance lessons began yesterday. All classes enjoyed their first week of dancing. Footsteps will continue until week 7. 

For next week only footsteps will be on Tuesday due to the teacher being unable to attend. The program will return back to normal MONDAYS after this.

All students began golf lessons last Friday at the Batlow Golf course. An enjoyable time was had by all. A big thank you to Mr Worrick Shaw for taking the students in class groups over and back to school each week. 

Sock Puppets

This term, Years 2/3 and 4/5/6 will be making individual sock puppets, as a sewing project on Wednesday afternoons.

Please bring ONE LONG sock to school tomorrow Wednesday 24^th of October (the longer the better, as it covers more of the arm).

Other materials will be provided by the school.

Students are welcome to bring other items to decorate their puppets, but a sock is all they need.

THe next community council meeting is on Wednesday 31st October. Please email any items you would like disscussed to office.stmarysbatlow@cg.catholic.edu.au by this Friday.

This event will be held NEXT Friday 2^nd November. Once again our students have been asked to sing at the opening of the newly refurbished literary institute. Students are asked to meet staff near the Literary Institute by 6.00pm ready to be on stage to sing at 6.15pm. Students are asked to be dressed in their FULL SCHOOL SUMMER UNIFORM. Dresses for girls.

Once again this is an important community event and we are asking for our families to support. Special guests and dignitaries will be attending this event as it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school to the Batlow and local communities.

Students will attend a practice session at 11.30am on Friday.

You are invited to our Scholastic Book Fair: READING IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!

WHEN: Monday 5th November until Friday 9th November.

Books and stationery items will be available to purchase after school Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon as well as Friday morning.

WHERE: St Mary's School Library

The children will have the opportunity to look at the book fair in their library time and make a wish list!!

We are looking forward to a wonderful range of books to purchase... it might be a great chance to start some Christmas shopping!

Payment can be made by cash and eftpos is also available for the fair. 

We will welcome our 2019 kindergarten students who will begin their orientation days on Thursday 1st November. Below are the days for this term. 

                     Thursday 1st    November     8.40am-11.30pm

                      Thursday 8th    November    8.40am-11.30am 

                      Thursday 15th  November    8.40am - 3.10pm

                      Thursday 22nd  November   8.40am - 3.10pm

Year K/1 and Miss Soulsby are excited to announce that they will holding a class assembly on Friday 9^th November at 2.15pm in the school library. This will be the ONLY class assembly this term as Year K/1 missed the opportunity last term.

Mums, dads, carers, grandparent and family members all welcome to attend.

Skoolbag app for St Mary's will soon be deleted as we have now begun using the SZapp which has alerts, newsletters and all information on it. Please ensure you watch out for our Tuesday newsletter, permission notes and alerts on SZapp.

Once you have downloaded the SZapp app go to the manage section and turn on the push notifications, parents/guardians and students sections so you don't miss out on receiving any alerts.

Sunday 18th November St Mary's will be holding our school Mass for the term.

Please let the office know if your child will be attending so they can have a special job to do during Mass.

Deepest sympathy is extended to Mr and Mrs Dobbie and their families on the passing of Mr Dobbie’s father. Mrs Dobbie will be absent this week. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Date:     Saturday 27^th Oct 2018

Place:    Adelong Golf Club

Time:     11am

Contact Jess on 0269465136 to book or for more information