From the Principal

Mrs Belinda Burton

Term 4

As we fast approach the midway point of Term 4 the children are very busy working on their Term 4 assessments and beginning preparation for all of the end of year events. Every day is certainly busy in the classrooms.

Year 5 Excursion to Coffs Adventure Centre

Year 5 are busy getting ready for the excursion to Coffs on Monday. Thank you to the parents & teachers accompanying the children next week. I am looking forward to sharing all the fun adventures with Year 5!

Term 4 Important Dates

23 November Fete 10am-2pm

28 November St Joseph's Cup Final

1 December Advent begins

5 December P & F Disco

6 December Colour Run Catholic Missions & RE Project Fundraising Event

9 December Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal Gifts for MEN or Non-perishable food.

11 December Stage 3 Operetta 6:30pm

12 December Opening of the Cathedral 11am Mass &15th December 10am Mass

13 December Presentation Assembly 11:30-1:30pm Cathedral

16 December Whole School Mass / Year 6 Farewell Mass 9:15

17 December Christmas Assemblies ES1 - 10:30 S1 - 9:30 S2 -12:00

18 December Pool & Movies LAST DAY of School.

Survey My School

Thank you for participating in the Parent Satisfaction Survey in September 2024. Parents were asked to express their satisfaction in response to a number of statements. Their responses were scored as follows:

Their responses are included as -

I would like to thank our parents for taking the time to respond to our Parent Survey. We will continue to work together to improve our school and ensure that our students are given the best opportunity to achieve success with learning.

New England Sings Performance

On Sunday, I had the honour of attending the New England Sings Performance at Lazenby Hall. Firstly I would like to thank Ms McNeall for her amazing effort, organisation & dedication to music for our students at St Mary's. To the students who participated in the performance, they should be very proud in their exceptional performances and their role as exemplary representatives of our school. The organisers of this concert deserve commendation for orchestrating such an outstanding event, showcasing the remarkable talent present in our region. A heartfelt gratitude to the parents who dedicated their time and effort to ensure their children could attend the rehearsals on both Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the performance. Congratulations to all involved!

Operation Art 2024 Winner Emerson Neary

CONGRATULATIONS TO - Emerson Neary for her winning artwork Picasso's Pet Fish in Operation Art 2024.

Student’s work will be exhibited next year at a gallery in your region. The 2025 gallery dates and locations are listed on the website. https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/operation-art

The Operation Art Award selections are now published on the website for you to view.

https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/operation-arts/exhibition-award-selections-2024

Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition Awards

In early Term 3 we had 23 students from years 5 and 6 participate in the 44th installment of the annual Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition. This year saw over 300 schools and 15,000 students participate.

The Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition is an annual maths competition that gives students from across regional NSW the opportunity to test their numeracy and problem-solving skills. It is one of Australia’s longest running annual mathematics competitions.

I am excited to announce the results. In total our students were awarded;

6 x Distinction Awards

13 x Merit Awards

4 x Participation Awards

Prayer & Blessing for the Anniversary of the Smith Children

Thank you David, Elise, Eamon, Reuben, Father Damien, children, parents, staff & friends who came together on Monday, 28th October for the blessing of the statues in memory of the lives of Raphael, Philomena and Evita Smith.

Transition

Our Transition children have settled well into 'Big School', three weeks down & two to go!

Real Talk Workshops

Last week Years 4 and 6 students participated in a series of workshops led by the Real Talk team. The students participated in a number of tasks based on exploring self-image, making good choices, cyber safety and the impact that social media can have on our lives.

The presenter left us with a challenge - that we ensure that our young male students are always expected to show respect about and towards all women in their world.

Beach to Bush Workshop

This week we welcomed Surf Life Saving NSW for the highly informative Beach to Bush Presentation. This annual event is part of an important educational initiative aimed at teaching students essential water safety skills and increasing awareness about beach and water hazards. As one of the state’s largest surf education programs, Beach to Bush has reached thousands of students across New South Wales, focusing on beach safety, first aid, and emergency response. Our students will be better prepared to safely enjoy Australia’s beautiful waters, especially now that the Christmas holidays are just around the corner!