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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- FROM THE REC
- SCHOOL COUNSELLOR
- COMMUNICATION
- ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE POLICY
- SIGN IN / SIGN OUT
- PARENT PICK UP
- COMMONWEALTH BANK BUSHFIRE RECOVERY GRANT
- HOME COOKING AND CAKE RAFFLE
- SWIMMING CARNIVAL
- RADIO NEWS
- STUDENT INFORMATION CHECKLIST / STUDENT ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT
- SZAPP COMMUNICATION
- 2021STUDENT RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS COLLECTION
- COMMUNITY COUNCIL CHAT
- WATER BOTTLES
- TISSUES
- SCHOOL BANKING
- OPENING SCHOOL MASS
- YEAR SIX SHIRTS AND HATS
- REMINDERS
- TUMUT BASKETBALL AUTUMN COMPETITION
- THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
- THIS WEEK AT ST MARY'S
Dear Parents,
We have begun our learning journey for 2021 with very settled students last week, especially our Kindergarten students. Thank you parents for preparing students with equipment and uniforms prior to day one.
Opening Mass
Our Opening Mass was held last Thursday and thank you to Father George for presiding and Ms Hotham for her preparation and gentle touch in our beautiful St Mary’s church. It was lovely to be able to welcome some parents back into our school setting for this occasion. Our Year 6 leaders were inducted in Mass and their leadership roles are:
- Hospitality Host-Zayn Bartlett
- Media Leader-Annabelle Smith
- Sport Leaders-Ryley Bartlett and Liam Wilkinson
Congratulations Year 6 on reaching this milestone. I am confident that all four leaders will be great role models, work as a team and support environment initiatives and fundraising projects over 2021.
Swimming Carnival
Our swimming carnival will be held tomorrow from 9:30 to 12pm and Hume and Hovell will battle it out for the house trophy. Good luck to both red and green teams.
Three Way Interviews
Three way Interviews are being conducted next week on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons as a way to start our learning conversations with students, parents and teachers to establish learning goals. Could parents please select a time via the link that suits them best. If you would prefer a different time please contact the school for this to be arranged with class teachers.
Three Way Interviews Booking Link
Vale: Doreen Holland
On a final note I would like to acknowledge the sad passing of Doreen Holland 30 December 2020. Doreen was involved at St Mary’s as a mother, a grandmother to Daniel and Thomas, a P & F representative, a special guest at awards night and a big supporter of the school & parish for over forty years. She will be sadly missed by family and friends. To eternal rest lay her soul.
Have a lovely week everyone.
Jannine
Opening School Mass
Our Opening Mass was held last week and was a lovely way to begin the school year. Thank you to Father George and congratulations to our Year 6 students on being formally inducted as leaders at our school. It was also a beautiful opportunity to welcome our new students. We look forward to a fantastic 2021 as a school community.
Staff Spirituality Day
On the last staff development day, before the commencement of the term, staff participated in a Spirituality Day. The theme of the day was for staff to contemplate the face of Jesus, and identifying what others saw in Jesus and how these same qualities can be seen in all of us today. The understanding that teachers are the face of Jesus allows us to work towards achieving the mission of the Church. In his Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, His Holiness John Paul II tells us: “’We wish to see Jesus’ (Jn 12:21) and it is through contemplating the face of Jesus that we are able to discover the loving face of God.
The aim of the day was to begin, reignite or continue a spiritual journey of discovery, reflecting on the face of Christ over time, how we relate to His face and how through renewal of prayer and realisation we can identify, or be identified as, the face of Christ in our everyday lives and as teachers at St Mary’s.
As part of the pastoral care program for students, St Mary's have access to a Student and Family Counselling service provided by CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn (CCG). CCG are contracted to St Mary's to provide a counselling service to students and their families. There is no fee to access this service.
The role of the counsellor is to focus on the emotional, social and educational well-being of the students. Counsellors welcome contact with students having difficulty with some part of their life, whether or not it affects their school work. The problem does not have to be a big one. It is better to seek help sooner than later. Some typical concerns that counsellors work with include: anger, anxiety, behavioural problems, depression, eating problems, family breakdown and family conflict, grief and loss, learning and educational challenges, parenting challenges, peer and other social relationships, school avoidance, stress and study skills. As well as individual sessions with students, counsellors can run groups, do family work, consult with parents and teachers and make referrals to other services and supports.
If the Counsellor believes the support for the student is beyond their scope of expertise, they will suggest referrals for specialist services. Counsellors also do not provide cognitive or learning assessments or court reports. Families requiring these will be referred to another service.
Student and Family Counsellors subscribe to a set of professional ethics that include duty of care and respect for the individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. The counsellors’ obligation is to ensure the safety, wellbeing and confidentiality of the student they are working with. All counsellors are mandated to report any disclosure or sign of abuse (including self-harm) or neglect to Child Protection Services. Outside of our mandated requirements, all counselling sessions are confidential and the details will not be discussed with other parties unless written consent is given by the client.
2021 has seen some changes to the school counselling service. Referrals and requests can be made by completing the online referral form accessed via Referral Form.
Facebook is used weekly to celebrate events and student learning. Not all parents are on Facebook and we like to use it as a way to showcase our school. Please let us know you are there by liking our posts. In the interest of professional boundaries it is recommended by Catholic Education that teachers do not accept parent friend requests via Facebook. Parent contact by other means is preferred e.g. phone, email and face to face interviews.
At the beginning of the school year it is timely for all parents to be aware of the St Mary’s Attendance and Absence Policy. The key points for parents to know are that this policy is guided by the Education Act, 1990, and that parents are responsible for ensuring students attend school and that absences are explained in writing. Reasons for students not attending school are listed in the policy.
Please note, in the interest of student safety that any students arriving late to school i.e. after 9:00am need to be signed in by parents. Parents must also sign students out in the afternoon if leaving early. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Selwyn Street becomes super busy at 3:00-3:10. It is Batlow’s rush hour! Please take care to meet your children at the gate and walk them safely to your vehicles. Staff are always there to assist if you are running late.
The Top Room refurbishment is now in full swing and should be completed later this term. Builder Josh Smith and his team have been contracted to complete the works.
Home cooking and cake raffle will begin in Week 4 at recess.
Friday 19th February
Cooking items are sold for 50c each
Tickets are sold for 20c each
Next Tuesday our first radio announcers for the year will be
RYLEY & LIAM
Tune in each Tuesday at 1.45pm to hear what is happening at St Mary's.
The student / family information check lists were sent home last week. Please check all information carefully and update any details. It is important that we have all correct information. Please send back into school even if there have been no changes to your details.
Also Student Acceptable Use Agreement forms for Years 3 - 6 were sent home.
Please complete the form and return to school, as your child will be unable to use the schol's network or the internet until the form is returned.
A reminder that to receive alerts, newsletters, forms and all communication
please ensure you have downloaded the SZAPP APP on your phone, computer or ipad
and that the push notification and parent buttons are on.
Communication is also sent via email.
The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (the department) would like to advise you that a request has been made for St Mary's Primary School to provide residential address and other information as required under the Australian Education Regulation 2013.
Please see attached document with this information.
The first Community Council meeting for this year will be held next Tuesday 16th February at 6pm.
Please email the office by close of business Friday if you have any items you would like put on the agenda.
Students are asked to bring a pop top bottle each day containing water only for the classroom.
Each student is asked to donate a box of tissues each term.
Please send in to the office.
ST MARY'S SCHOOL BANKING DAY IS WEDNESDAY
Please drop your banking in to the office each week.
- COVID - Students are not to attend school if experiencing cold/flu like symptoms. Parents are permitted to enter school for short visits (15 min), sign in at the front office, and follow socially distancing recommendations 1.5m.
- Black school shoes Tuesday to Thursday.
- Sunglasses (optional) are available from the uniform shop.
- Drink bottles are to contain water only.
TUMUT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Team Nomination forms for the 2021 Autumn Competition are available from Pie in the Sky Bakery and Sportspower or www.tumut.basketball.net.au. Active Kids Vouchers can be redeemed for Miniball and Basketball.
Team Nominations from Kindergarten aged boys and girls through to Mens and Womens teams close on Thursday 18 February. Please submit by email tumutbasketball@gmail.com
Any registration enquiries can be made to the Registrar, Debbie Webb on 0427 647027 or through the Tumut Basketball Facebook page. Further information for the upcoming comp can be found on the website or on our Facebook page.
NOTICEBOARD