Dear Parents,

This week we celebrate literature with Book Week!

All students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character or dress as a character using this year's Children's Book Council of Australia's 2020 theme Curious Creatures, Wild Minds. It is always a fun day as we become extra creative and talk about our favourite books. Students will be able to parade in their classroom as we follow COVID restrictions of no long assemblies and no parent gatherings permitted on site. Students will enjoy a library lesson with Ms Murray as they continue to focus on the shortlisted CBCA books for 2020. We hope all students get involved and celebrate on the day with teachers who will also be dressed in costume as well. We'll have updates on our Facebook page and plenty of photos in our newsletter next week.

Please send in any recyclable boxes or containers for students to create a Curious Creature at lunch time this week. This lunchtime activity will  give students the chance to create their own book character for their writing because we know that our students are authors too. Creatures will be placed on display for all to see and once again we will share the pictures on facebook and in our newsletter next week.

PE- Development Officers

As weekend sport returns in the region it has been wonderful for our students to also return to some PE activities with external visitors in gymnastics and cricket. Ben (Little Champions) and Gayan (Cricket NSW) were with us last week and each provided COVID Safe Plans. Both have commented on our students enthusiasm and energy after such a long spell. All sessions were well run and class teachers enjoyed the professional support as well. Gymnastics will continue every Monday till the end of term.

Satisfaction Survey

Thank you to parents who completed the 2020 Satisfaction Survey recently. The feedback from parents and students has been very positive about the caring nature of our school and the education programs we have in place. Some concerns were mentioned and they will be taken up by the leadership team as we plan into Term 4 and 2021.

Virtual Excursion

On a final note, Year 2/3 and Ms Gould went on an excursion this morning! It was a virtual museum tour with the National Museum of Australia titled the  Endeavour Voyage Digital Program. We are grateful that this type of opportunity is becoming more readily available for our students even though a day trip to Canberra would have been super exciting! Fingers crossed that we can enjoy some day excursions next term if venues open for school groups.

 Have a lovely week everyone.

 Jannine

Today we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary our St. Mary’s Feast Day.  We honour her on this day, remembering the words of the Angelus prayer.

The Resilience Project

The Resilience Project curriculum was designed by teachers for teachers and aligns with NSW and Australian Curriculum standards and framework in the areas of Personal and Social Capabilities and the Health and Physical Education.

The program is based on the philosophy that, in order to live a happier more fulfilling life, we need to regularly practise Gratitude, Empathy (kindness) and Mindfulness. Emotional literacy – having self-awareness and recognition of one's own feelings and knowing how to manage them – is also an integral part of the program. 

GEM Award Week 7

Each week we teachers conduct a formal lesson based on one of these practises and the students complete an entry into their Resilience Journals.

Day 1 of Term 4 Monday 12th October will be a PUPIL FREE DAY. Staff have professional development. First day for students in Term 4 will be Tuesday 13th October.

Student of the Week - Week 7

A reminder for students not to come to school if unwell. Parents are to keep students at home if they are presenting with cold/flu like symptoms and seek a COVID test. Students are not to return to school until a negative result of the test is sighted by the front office.

We appreciate parent support in this guideline for the safety of all students and teachers at St Mary’s.

CALEB & JADE

will be our radio presenters next Tuesday 15th September

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

This morning 2/3 went on a 'digital excursion' to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. We met online with the team who guided us through the museum, showing us artefacts, telling us stories and asking questions. We were looking at the 'Endeavour Voyage' exhibition that tells us all about the arrival of Europeans in Australia and the impact it had on the first Australians. We learnt a lot about how the first Australians sent messages to each other and the interactions between the two groups.

What a great experience. We are grateful to have this opportunity.

Megan Gould 2/3 Teacher.

Please send in any recyclable boxes or containers for students to create a Curious Creature at lunch time this week. This lunch time activity will  give students the chance to create their own book character for their writing.

All students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character or dress as a character using this year's Children's Book Council of Australia's 2020 theme Curious Creatures, Wild Minds.

Students will be able to parade in their classroom as we follow COVID restrictions of no long assemblies and no parent gatherings permitted on site.

We hope all students get involved and celebrate on the day with teachers who will also be dressed in costume as well.

Please remember to pack a drink bottle everyday, bubblers are out of use due to COVID restrictions. Staff will refill bottles as required.

Years 2/3 they have been looking at lines of symmetry and how each side of the line must have identical parts. As a hands on activity they made their own shapes and pictures of symmetry. 

Please be advised that from this week bakery lunches will now be on MONDAYS & THURSDAYS and no longer on a Friday.

This change is due to the bakery being extremely busy on a Friday.

Lisa has asked that FRIED FOOD not be ordered on lunch order day as this is time consuming and not on the school price list.

A reminder to also put names on bags and if you are owed something from a previous lunch day to put a note in the lunch box.

ORDERS NEED TO BE IN TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE BY 9am OR BAKERY BY 10am.

Thank you for your support with these matters.

Please click on the link for the price list. 

BATLOW_BAKERY_Price_list_2020.pdf

BLACK SHOES ARE TO BE WORN TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY.

JOGGERS AND TRACK PANTS ARE ONLY TO BE WORN ON SPORTS DAYS WHICH ARE MONDAY & FRIDAY.

St Joseph's ADELONG is excited to present Maggie Dent - Live in your Lounge Room on Wednesday 23rd September - 7:00pm - 8:15pm.

Maggie Dent is commonly known as the 'queen of common sense', she has become one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence, and resilience.

St Joseph's have been successful in receiving a grant from Catholic Care to bring this webinar to their community and would also like to invite other schools in the region who have been affected by the bushfires.  

The topic chosen for the webinar is 'Real Kids in an Unreal World'.  Real children need real experiences with real people to grow up happy, healthy, strong, kind and resilient.  Maggie explores the 10 essential building blocks that help children build resilience and self-esteem in our chaotic, uncertain world.

If you would like to participate please let the office know, and we will forward your email address to St Joseph's and a link will be forwarded to participants closer to the event.

If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact our school.

MASS TIMES IN BATLOW FROM THIS WEEK 

8.30am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.

Liturgy is held on the other Sundays.

ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND.