Principal's Report

Dear Parents
WELCOME TO 2020!
I start the year as I did Last year by quoting Albert Einstein . He once said ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten whatone has been taught at school.’ Take a moment to think about this and you will soon realise that life’s lessons are usually learnt outside of the school. However, a good school is one that recognises this and prepares its children for all the challenges life has to offer in an ever changing world. It is my hope, prayer and wish that we in partnership with you,
provide our children an education that leads them to question, to think, to motivate and inspire so that they may make a valuable contribution to tomorrow’s world.
Now is the time for you to be involved in your child's education. Tomorrow is too late! Blink and you will miss the opportunity. It is my hope that parents will be involved in any way they can, not just helping out with lunches, but in the classrooms, excursions, concert, sporting activities and the list goes on. So please take this invitation seriously and be involved. Approach your classroom teacher and they will be delighted to here from you. There will be a workshop for families (new families a must) on Tuesday 3 March at 9.15am or 2.30pm to explain how to be a fabulous classroom helper.
On Monday 10 February at 7pm, we will hold our first Parents and Friends Meeting for 2020. We welcome everyone and encourage you to attend,
especially new families. No school no matter how big or small, how rich or poor can survive without the fundraising dollar. Last year, our P&F raised over $40,000 and every cent goes back to resourcing our school. I hope to see everyone at this important meeting. It doesn't mean if you
attend that there will be things you must do, you can be involved in anyway you wish, but your ideas to make it a successful year is what we need.
CORONAVIRUS
Parents, if you or your child travelled to or were in transit in the Chinese mainland in January, I shall require notification immediately via email.
A special welcome to our Prep children who commence a 13 year journey of schooling:
Maxx & Izayah Benedetti, Edward Aiello, Natalia Boctor, Estelle Borg, Matthew Britten, Isaiah Byrne, Arthur Carron, Grace Charles, Aarav Dahiya, Emily Donald, Archie Di Lorenzo, Ava Fieschi, Daisy Harris, Matilda Grant, Milana Grilli, Tony Kairouz, Emilia Kantzavelos, Sienna Interdonato Fletcher Mason, Yel Mayom, Massimo Pezzimenti, Samantha Ngo, Beau Threader, Paige Ralston, Phoenix Shouman, Ayaan Sood, Sienna Vernucci, Mason Vilar, Abigail Whelan, Hugh Wilson Sybilla Wong, Ellva Zhou.
I wish to acknowledge our Year 6 children. This will be their final year of primary schooling and we hope and pray that they have a very enjoyable year. May they leave St. Mary’s as independent, strong and courageous children so that they embrace with confidence, all that life holds before them.
Advanced notice is given regarding School Closure Days for this Term. School will be closed on Thursday 27 Feb and Friday 28 Feb to allow staff to work on developing new curriculum initiatives. OSCH Club will run a program on both days providing there are sufficient numbers.
Have you downloaded the Skoolbag App? All communication is via the school app. All you need to is type in our school name in the app store. A reminder, newsletters are very fortnight. Hence the importance of using the app for reminders,
notices and newsletters. There will be no printed newsletters in the future.
I encourage you to cut out the Dates to Remember and use them as a reference for planning your year ahead. Special note: Keep FRIDAY 20th November free for our school concert!
Have a wonderful week ahead, regards
Dino