Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that all fathers and father figures in the lives of our children enjoyed a happy Father’s Day last Sunday. Thank you to our office staff and LSOs who organised our Father’s Day gift stall last Friday.
External School Review – Thank You to Our Community
On Monday and Tuesday this week, our school took part in an external review as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. The review panel met with groups of staff, students and parents to reflect on the achievements of the past five years and help shape our strategic direction for the next five.
It was a valuable and collaborative process that will support us in building on our strengths and identifying key areas for growth.
A heartfelt thank you to the parents who generously gave their time to be involved. Your input is truly appreciated and plays an important role in shaping the future of our school.
RUOK Day
Today is RUOK Day. This is a day that encourages responsible public discussion of social isolation and its negative consequences. The key message is that social connectedness and positive help seeking can assist people in crisis and is the responsibility of the whole of community. Please see the link below for a special report and short video on RUOK Day from our School TV website.
https://smcolac.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-r-u-ok-day
Footy Colours Day
Next Friday will be the last day of term and children are invited to wear their favourite footy colours. They will also be served ‘fun food’ for lunch on this day, with school finishing at 2.15.
Hats
It has been great to see many children wearing their hats this week, however there are still quite a few children who are yet to bring their hat. I ask that all children bring their hats to school clearly named by the start of next week.
Toys for Our Sandpit
The toys in our sandpit are getting very worn out and tired due to the popularity of our beautiful big sandpit. If you have any toys at home such as trucks, cars, buckets, spades etc. that are no longer being used, donations would be greatly appreciated. A big thank you to Lorraine and Michael Woods who donated some trucks today. The children were very excited when I took them out at break time!
Thank you Gemma and Best Wishes
Next week Gemma will finish up for the year to commence her parental leave. We wish Gemma and Matt all the best with the birth of their first child. We thank Gemma for all the wonderful work she has done in our Prep classroom. Next term we look forward to Liza replacing Gemma.
Congratulations Wendy
Next Wednesday will be Wendy Walters last day as our teacher librarian. Wendy will join her husband Rob in a well-earned retirement. Wendy has been a part of the St. Mary’s community as both a teacher and librarian since 1990. On behalf of the school community I wish to thank Wendy for her wonderful contributions to our school and in particular our beautiful library. Next Wednesday we will farewell Wendy with a morning tea in the school library at 10.45am. All are welcome to attend.
Last Newsletter
This will be the last newsletter for Term 3. On behalf of all the staff at St. Mary’s, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for a fantastic term. It has certainly been a very busy term with various sporting events, Book Week, Write A Book in A Day, P-2 swimming program and School Review. Thus we look forward to a restful and relaxing break, ready for a great fourth term.
We thank you Lord, for this term. For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. Guide us to be peacemakers in our family, and to always be conscious of You in our lives. Keep us safe in our activities and travels; give us ample rest and help to bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.
Amen
A reminder that the first day of next term, 6th October, is a pupil free day.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Michael Mahoney
(Principal)