From the Principal

Week 8 Term 4

Advent - hope, peace, joy, and love. Sunday 3rd December

Advent begins this Sunday.

The Church calendar begins with the Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. This period is a time of preparation, not just for Christmas gifts and meals and holidays, but for the great feast of God's revelation through the birth of Jesus Christ. How privileged we are to live in this age of salvation! For centuries before Jesus' birth, the Jewish people waited for the coming of the promised Messiah as foretold by the Scriptures. We find ourselves in a similar position as we look forward to the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Although we do not know the hour nor the day, each Advent we renew our faith in this great promise.

God of Love,

Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us. He is a sign of your love.Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,As we wait and prepare for his coming.We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior.

Amen.

P & F Christmas Carols & Picnic Friday 1st December

Friday evening St Mary's P & F is providing an opportunity for our school community to come together in a relaxed setting.  Christmas Carols with a Picnic.  Jessie Street Entrance 6pm to 8pm.  Please join the school as we continue to build our school community and celebrate out achievements for 2023.

Whole School Presentation Assembly 5th December 11:30 am School Quadrangle.

All families & friends are invited to the end-of-year Presentation Assembly. This year we will be holding the assembly at school, as the Cathedral is closed for the roof repairs.

We will have shade shelters over the seats however, we ask all those attending to please bring a hat, water bottle and an umbrella for shade. 

Entrance will be through Rusden Street, sign-in & doors will open at 11:20 am. 

We look forward to seeing you as we celebrate our students' achievements in 2023.

2024 School Leaders

Thank you to all of our Year 5 students who nominated for the 2024 leadership positions. I know the students elected will do a fantastic job.

Our 2024 School Leaders will be officially announced at the end of the Awards Assembly on Tuesday 5th of December 2023. 

Stage 3 Operetta 6: 30 pm  NECOM

All families and friends are invited to NECOM to watch the Operetta on Thursday 7th Dec. We are all looking forward to this years performance. Entry is by donation. 

Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal Wednesday 13th December

Wear Christmas Colours to school and bring a gift bag (please don't wrap gifts) with a gift for a child aged 3-12 years, girl or boy: a craft item, toy or book. For single men or women: socks, towels, beach towels or toiletries bag.

Place the gift under the Christmas tree in the playground for St Vincent de Paul to deliver to those in need this Christmas. 

CHRISTMAS ASSEMBLIES - School Hall, Enter via Rusden Street Doors.                            9:30 am Year 1 & Year 2                                            10:30 am Kindergarten                                    11:45 am Year 3 & Year 4

All families and friends are invited to attend the Christmas Assemblies presented by the children in each stage.

Year 6 End of Year Farewell Dinner Thursday 14th December

Thank you to the Year 6 Parents for organising the Yr 6 evening, Thursday 14th December. 

End of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass - Friday 15th December at 9am in the school grounds.

All of our families and friends are invited to join the staff and students to celebrate the  end of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass, 9 am in the school grounds.  Everyone is welcome to join us for this special event.

Movies & Pool Last Day 15th December

Friday 15th December the students in Year 6 will be going to the town pool after morning tea & returning after lunch. Students may purchase lunch from the canteen at the pool or bring their packed lunch.

Students in from Kindergarten to Yr 5 will be going to Belgrave Cinema for a movie.

All children must bring a packed morning tea & lunch as the school canteen will not be running on Friday 15th. 

All teachers will be attending the end-of-year excursions there will be no supervision provided at school. 

Semester 2 Reports

Teachers are currently working on Semester 2 Reports. The reports will be sent home via Compass at the end of Week 9. To view reports, parents should log into Compass and then, to view the Semester 2 report click on your child's profile and select report.

Bringing Candy Canes to School

Any Candy Canes received at school will be sent home with the children in their bags at the end of the day.  We encourage lollies to be eaten as special treats at home. 

Congratulations Isaac Riches

Isaac recently competed at the Nationals Golf Titles.  He finished in 3rd place across all of Australia in his age group.  Congratulations to Isaac for this wonderful achievement. I look forward to hearing of your continued successes.

Thank you 2023 School Leaders

Thank you Year 6 School Leaders for leading the Prayer at the Diocesan Principals' meeting held in Armidale at the CSO on Thursday 30th.

Planning for 2024

Please see the Staff List for 2024. The classes teachers are on next year have not yet been confirmed.

Miss Emily Adams - Class Teacher

Mrs Leesa Bible - Release from Face-to-Face Teacher

Mrs Laura Bournes - Class Teacher

Mrs Belinda Burton - Principal

Mrs Dale Cain - AP Curriculum /Library

Mrs Kym Didlick-Godwin - Inclusion Support Teacher

Ms Tabitha Dowse - Class Teacher

Mrs Carolyn Fittler - Class Teacher

Mrs Jessie Fletcher - Class Teacher

Mr Marcel Garraud - Class Teacher

Mrs Emma Johnson -  Release from Face-to-Face Teacher

Mr Darren Lester - Class Teacher

Miss Shani Marshall - Class Teacher

Ms Sara McNeall - Release from Face-to-Face Teacher

Ms Sarah O'Brien - Class Teacher

Mr Alec Power - Class Teacher

Mrs Louise Reinke - AP Welfare/MaST

Mrs Cathy Ross - Class Teacher

Mrs Jessica Scully - REC Religious Education Coordinator

Mrs Catherine Stephen - LOP Leader of Pedagogy 

Ms Pascale Sturzenegger - Class Teacher

Mrs Dorote Suluma - Class Teacher

Mrs Kelly Walters - Class Teacher

Educational Assistants & Aboriginal Education Assistants

Mr Joshua Cain 

Miss Caitlin Honeysett

Mrs Liz Stahlhut 

Miss Gen Tavener

Mrs Jenny Teege

Mrs Jodi Troon

Mrs Felicity Turnbull

Miss Emma Widders

Office Staff

Mrs Judi Hansen

Mrs Barb Hosking

Mrs Rebecca McCann

Mrs Penny Patricks

Canteen

Mrs Jodi Kratz

Mrs Sonja Symons

Grounds

Mr Tim Murray 

ICT

Mr Andrew Watt

I would like to THANK  Miss Lucy Harman for her work at St Mary's over the past two years. We look forward to seeing Miss Harman at St Mary's in 2024 as one of our valued casual teachers. 

In 2024 Mr Alec Power will be joining the teaching team at St Mary's.  Alec has had experience teaching at the Central Coast, Wilcanna & Armidale.  Welcome to St Mary's Mr Power.

Please let the school know if your child is not returning to St Mary's in 2024 for planning purposes. Some of our classes have a waiting list so it would be helpful if we know our numbers accurately. 

Kindergarten 2024 Transition 

Congratulations to the Transition students who completed their seven-week program.

Their parents and teachers were very proud of their achievements at the Assemblies last week. 

End of Year Dates

Please make sure you check the Diary Dates page in the newsletter for all of the end-of-year celebrations. 

P & F Carols & Picnic - 1st December 6pm School Playground

Whole School Awards Presentation - 5th December - 11:30 am School Quadrangle

Stage 3 Operetta - 7th December 6:30 pm NECOM

ES1 S1 S2 Christmas Assemblies - 14th December Yr 1 & 2 9:30am, KINDERGARTEN 10:30am, Yr 3 & 4 11:45am School Hall 

Year 6 Dinner - 14th December

End of year Mass - 15th December 9 am School Grounds 

The last day of school for students this year is Friday 15th December. 

Return Dates for Term 1 2024

Tuesday  30th January - Staff Development Day

Wednesday 31st January - Staff Development Day

Thursday 1st February - Students in Years 1 - 6 Return to School  Term 1

Thursday 1st February - Tuesday 6th February - Best Start Assessments for Kindergarten students

Wednesday 7th February - Kindergarten students commence