Term 2 Week 5

Reminder: School Closure on Friday, May 24th

We would like to remind you that this Friday, May 24th, will be a school closure day. Our staff will be engaged in professional development to continue enhancing our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) strategies.

Please note that this will be a student-free day. Regular classes will resume on Monday, May 27th.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to create a positive and effective learning environment for our students.

Safety reminder

We would like to remind everyone about the importance of traffic safety in the drop-off area in front of the school. While the new road markings have significantly improved the overall flow and safety, we need everyone to remain vigilant and cautious to ensure the safety of our children.

Key Safety Points:

Reduce Speed: Please remember to drive slowly in the school zone. There are children crossing the street, and reducing your speed can prevent accidents.

Stay Alert: Keep an eye out for children and other pedestrians at all times. Children can be unpredictable, and it’s crucial to be prepared to stop quickly if necessary.

Follow the Markings: Adhere to the new road markings and traffic signs. They are designed to facilitate a smoother and safer drop-off process.

No Double Parking: Avoid double parking as it creates hazards and disrupts the flow of traffic. Use the designated drop-off zones properly.

Be Patient: Understand that drop-off times can be busy and take a little longer. Patience and courtesy go a long way in ensuring everyone's safety.

By working together and following these guidelines, we can maintain a safe environment for all our students. Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this important matter.

School Uniform

As we enter the midpoint of the year, I wanted to take a moment to address an important aspect of our school community: the correct wearing of school uniforms.

Wearing the proper school uniform is a fundamental part of our school's identity and values. It fosters a sense of unity among our students, promotes a respectful and disciplined atmosphere, and eliminates distractions that may arise from varying attire.

It is essential for all students to adhere to the uniform guidelines outlined in our school policy. This includes wearing the designated colors, styles, and accessories as specified. I kindly ask for your support in ensuring that your child comes to school each day dressed in the correct uniform.

In addition to upholding our school's standards, wearing the correct uniform also prepares students for their future endeavors. Many workplaces and institutions have dress codes or uniform requirements, and by instilling these habits early on, we are helping our students develop important life skills.

I understand that there may be occasional reasons for deviation from the uniform policy, such as special events or unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, please communicate with us in advance so that we can address any concerns or make appropriate accommodations.

Together, let's work towards maintaining a positive and cohesive school environment. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter.

Year 2/3

Year 2/3During wellbeing lessons we have been introduced to Mr. Wibbly who was upset and stressed.We had to think about why he might be feeling this way and what coping strategies he could useto help him feel better. This was a great opportunity to build on our knowledge on wellbeing after our incursion ‘making friends with worry’.

This Sunday is Pentecost, which is the birthday of the Church and we have been learning aboutthe scripture associated with this and then putting it into context for us at St. Mary’s. We worked in small groups in which we came up with a scenario where we spread Jesus’ word, such as talking to a friend who is struggling, comforting someone who is grieving, or caring for the world around us.

We have started learning about Multiplication in Maths this week and enjoy our time gettingbetter at Chess with Harry. We also had a great time singing along with Drew Lane last Friday and will continue to use his songs in class. Here are some pictures from our week just gone.

P.E. News

Cross Country

A huge congratulations to all our students who participated in the Castlemaine District Schools Cross Country event on Friday 3rd May! It was a wonderful day and our students participated with positivity and persistence. Students achieved the goal of crossing the finish line and going the distance! You all certainly showed that you can achieve whatever you put your mind to! The support students showed for their peers was a joy to see and hear!

This Friday 17th May we have ten students from St Mary’s who have the opportunity to compete in the Goldfields Division Cross Country event-they placed highly in their group run on our District Schools Cross Country day. Congratulations to Charlotte, Senna, Quinn, Miles, Nynbol, Mitchell, Alastair, Isabelle, Indi and Livinia-an amazing effort! We wish the students who are attending this next event all the very best-enjoy the experience and be proud of your achievement! I can’t wait to cheer you on!

Divisional Netball & Football

On Friday 21st June the Goldfields Division Primary Schools Football and Netball Carnival is taking place at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve. This is an exciting opportunity for schools to enter a football and/or netball team to participate and compete in a round robin against other local school teams.

If we cast our minds back to Term One this year, you may recall our District Schools Football, Netball and Basketball day-Grade 5 and 6 students (with some Grade 3/4’s helping make up our team numbers) had the opportunity to choose a sport to participate in on the day…our Netball, Football and Basketball teams had a wonderful day competing, working as a team and further developing their skills!

Our Netball team had a particularly successful day winning 4 from 4 games, coming away with a winning netball - a great momento from the day!

Our Football team similarly enjoyed a successful day with 4 straight wins putting them into the final which was a tight battle seeing us as runners up on the day.

With this in mind, I am seeking interest in entering both a St Mary’s Football team and Netball team to participate on this day. I know our students really enjoyed themselves at the District day last term and, with your support, I’m sure they would love to compete again. In order for us to enter we require the following helpers to join us on the day:

*Football Team-coach/manager, umpire, goal umpire.

*Netball Team-umpire, scorer.

If you would like to and are able to assist, and hold a WWCC, please e mail me to let me know by Monday 27th May.

Stay tuned for further information!

Clare Grainger

PE Teacher

Upcoming Events:

Don't forget to mark your calendars for the upcoming events on the Calendar.

As always, we encourage parents and guardians to stay updated with school news and events by regularly checking Seesaw and following us on social media.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and involvement in our vibrant school community!

Warm regards,

John

St Mary's School, Castlemaine

Respect, Resilience, Responsibility

Term 2 Week 5 · 19 May 2024

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