St Mary of the Angels Scoop

Principal's Panorama

Zoe Nugent 

Welcome Back

We have hit the ground running at St Mary of the Angels.  It has been heartwarming to see all of our young people as they headed back into their classes on Monday for this new academic year.  We offer a huge welcome to all of our new families and know that you will love being a part of our community. 

 

Thankfully the stories we have heard from our young people mean that most of you have had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas and summer holiday break.  With a number of you being able to spend some of that precious time with extended family and friends. 

 

Here at St Mary of the Angels, all of our Skilled Helpful Adults returned last Thursday to a number of large scale works having been completed. 

  • I cannot thank the dynamic team of Candace, Owen and Tom enough for their incredible work in; moving the classrooms and Library (a mammoth job), repairs and maintenance and of course the beautification of our grounds.

  • Thank you to Brad and the team at CT Electric for installing our new reverse cycle air conditioners and air influx system at the Parochial Hall.

  • Two weeks of painting in the Parochial Hall and Resource Room

  • Armidale Catholic Schools ICT Team and a couple of our students for their efforts in the ICT roll over of 1:1 devices across the school.

 

Our staff have undertaken two busy days of professional learning which began with whole staff full First Aid Training, with Chris from Guyra Community College and Ambulance NSW.  We then explored the Armidale Catholic Schools Improvement Plan and St Mary of the Angels 2025 Annual Improvement Plan, Mission Statement, Code of Conduct, NSW Government Child Safety Standards, Emergency Procedures, our first 90 day cycle of learning for our educators which is centred around the co-teaching model, working through completing educators Personal Learning Plans and finally classroom set ups in accordance with our St Mary of the Angels non-negotiables.

 

Our Skilled Helpful Adults were very ready to see Year 1 to 6 on Monday and of course Early Stage One for the Best Start Assessments on Monday and Tuesday and commencing their primary school learning journey.. today! Starting school is such a big milestone and we look forward to supporting our new students and their families as they embark on their learning journey with us.

Volunteer Inductions

Speaking of learning journeys, I would like to thank the three eager participants of our first Volunteer Induction for 2025.  

Parent/Carer involvement in your child's education provides the best opportunity for fostering the vital partnerships between home and school for your child. If you would like to be involved in assisting/being involved in your child's journey through;

  • Assisting at Sports carnivals; time keeping, marshalling
  • Helping out in classrooms reading
  • Parents and Friends Association
  • Assisting on excursions

If you would like to be a part of any of these or other school activities and committees, please contact the Office to express your interest in completing your induction. Please note a WWC check is a compulsory aspect of any work with young people in NSW.

Parent Information Night, Welcome Breakfast and Commissioning Mass

Thank you to those parents and carers who attended our; Parent information Night (last night) and the Welcome Breakfast and Commissioning Mass today. Thank you to 'Why Knot Catering' for our delicious hot beverages and to Mr Dan Sisson for helping out on the BBQ and clean up whilst SHA's were preparing the church. Greatly appreciated!

It was a delight to see you here as we commence this new academic year, working in partnership, so that our young people are given every opportunity for a hope-filled future.

Parents and Friends AGM

Notice of the Annual General Meeting of St Mary of the Angels Parents and Friends Committee 2025 

As stated in COMPASS on the 29th January 2025, we wish to advise you of the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the members of the St Mary of the Angels Parents and Friends Committee.

Date:

Wednesday 12th Feb

Time:

18:00 (6:00pm)

Place:

St Mary of the Angels School

 

2024 Parents and Friends Association Members were as follows:

Ex-officio Members

Principal: Zoe Nugent

Parish Priest (Administrator): Father Stephen O’Shea

Executive Committee:

President: Leisa Jones

Vice President: Anne Lane

Secretary: Amanda Waters

Treasurer: Rebecca Cochrane        

 

At the 2025 AGM meeting, members present will be asked to receive nominations and elect an executive committee in the following positions; 

Executive Committee:

President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

Please note, those wishing to nominate for the Parents and Friends Association will be required to complete a nomination form (attached on COMPASS AGM notification) which is also available from the front office.

Please note; anybody wishing to nominate for the Parents and Friends Association will also be required to complete an information session regarding the constitution, code of conduct, role and responsibilities of Parents and Friends Associations in Catholic Schools and in particular to St Mary of the Angels, Guyra.

Reminder  of School Fee Changes

Last year, we detailed to parents/carers the change in the way that Armidale Catholic Schools as a system were billing School Fees.

A reminder:

  • This new billing system commences this year (2025). 
  • Included above is an increase to fees for 2025 that is in line with the 3.5% Consumer Price Index.
  • School Fees are billed on an annual basis at the commencement of the School Year. Parents are issued an annual Tax Invoice/Statement in Term one with monthly statements issued thereafter.

The fees charged includes all aspects of your child's:

  • Learning resources and subscriptions
  • Technology usage
  • Textbooks
  • School incursions
  • Insurance and maintenance levy

Diocesan sport and major excursions are not included in school fees.

 

Family discounts:

Please see the COMPASS notification regarding the 2025 Fee Schedule. 

 

Method of Payment

Payment of Fees and other charges may be made in cash, through Compass App,

by cheque, EFTPOS or by Credit Card (Bankcard, Visa, Mastercard), whilst BPay

option is the preferred method of payment. The Biller Code and your individual

reference number can be found on your school fee statement.

 

School Fees & Assistance 

As we are a Systemic Catholic school, we receive less government funding than

public schools. This means we have to charge school fees to ensure that we provide

our students with a similar or superior educational experience. Therefore, the school

fees must be paid, as these funds are used to support your children in their

schooling.

 

If you are having financial difficulty, and our school fees are an issue, please make

contact with the office and we will schedule a meeting to discuss this and ensure that

we can make a successful pathway forward.

 

Our office staff will be in touch with families that have a balance owed from previous years. It is important that this is addressed so that we can make an arrangement that works for you.

 

 

 

Until next time, may the road rise up to meet you.

 

Zoe