From the Director of Junior School 

"Respect yourself and others will respect you." – Confucious

This fortnight in the Junior School, we will focus on reinforcing our School-Wide Behaviour Expectation of Respect. This means not just respect for those around us but also for ourselves and the environment we inhabit. 

We will be encouraging our students to look at why others deserve respect and the importance of self–respect. Self–respect can include:  

• Being honest with yourself and others  
• Valuing education  
• Valuing exercise and nutrition 
• Learning to listen well  
• Understanding the importance of manners  
• Understanding the impact of SORRY 
• Taking responsibility for your actions 

At school, following our expectations in the classroom and on the playground shows respect. This includes wearing the uniform correctly, such as blazers to and from school, correct hair ties, and appropriate earrings. Over the next fortnight, teachers will be monitoring uniform compliance and will submit names to Mrs Thirgood for our correct uniform draw. This draw occurs at every lineup, rewarding students who consistently wear the correct uniform to and from school.

We ask for your support in encouraging your children to think about how they can show respect in all areas of their lives, both at home and at school!

Year 4 Spirit of Jesus with Mitch

On Thursday 6 March, our Year 4 students were visited by Peter Mitchell, who delivered the Spirit of Jesus program to both classes. This program explores how we can follow and recognise the Spirit of Jesus in every part of our lives. Mitch was incredibly impressed with the participation of both classes and was excited to share some of the responses he gathered from Year 4 students when he asked them a few questions about ‘The Spirit of Jesus’ in their own lives...

Question 1: Who showed you the spirit of Jesus this week? 

• When Isabelle and I were playing hockey, Beau needed help as a goalie, and we went back and helped her (Giving support).
• When I fell over, Charlotte ran over to help me get up (Compassion).
• When Amity gave me squishes from the canteen (Generosity).
• When Annabella was picking up other people's rubbish off the floor.
• When Lillian gave me a hug and a smile when I came to school today (Welcoming).
• When Caitlin picked up my blazer for me yesterday (Thoughtful).
• When Lola took my place in “Tag” as she knew I didn’t like to do it (Helpful).
• When Miss Laning gave us pancakes (Giving).

Question 2: What did you do to show the spirit of Jesus to others? 

• When I sat next to Amy, and after a while, we became “besties” (Friendship).
• When I helped my mum bring in all the shopping and unpacked all the bags.
• When I saw a little girl sitting all alone at lunch, so I sat with her (Empathy).
• When I was encouraging and supportive of the other gymnasts I was competing against (Encouraging).
• When I said hello to my teacher and my friends Maddie and Frankie (Greeting).
• When I went and helped my grandmother and grandfather when they were ill (Support).

Question 3: What can you do to be a better team member in your home?

• To be more positive and cheerful at home and be a grinner and a winner at home.
• To say "THANKS" at least three times a day at home, every day.
• Less moaning, groaning and complaining at home.
• By giving more compliments and encouraging words to family members.
• To try and mention the Spirit of Jesus moments in my family when they happen.
• To thank my parents for the time, love and sacrifices they have made for me.
• To do my jobs more cheerfully and without being reminded to do them each day.
• To be more pleasant to my siblings.
• Offer to do the dishes more and keep my room tidy.

Question 4: What can you do to be a better team member of your Year 4 class? 

• By saying a personal “good morning” and a personal “good afternoon” to my teacher. 
• By thanking a person and using their name. 
• Ask others to join in games if they are not playing with anyone. 
• By being more “switched on to the Spirit of Jesus” in our class and naming it when it happens. 
• Be more encouraging and pleasant when speaking to class members. 
• Be more of a “giver” than a “taker” in my class to others. 
• Come to school with a smile on my face and speak to more class members. 
• By being kinder and more aware of others' feelings. 
• By cooperating more when working in groups to become a better team member in Year 4.

Question 5: Name something you can take into your life from today's SOJ lessons. 

• To be more aware of the Spirit of Jesus at home and at school.
• The two wolves story... it depends on which spirit I feed: positive or negative.
• Oh yeah, it is easy to say to someone else, "You have been doing SOJ today."
• SOJ is in the little things we do and say every day.
• I really liked journaling in my SOJ, the video about SOJ and the glow-in-the-dark sticker.
• If you do good things for other people, it helps them and good things come back to you.
• I like that Jesus works through me every day in the little things I do and say.
• If you live SOJ, it is all about having a happy environment.
• SOJ is 24/7... everywhere, and I can be kinder to others than I already am.

Celebrating birthdays

At St Mary’s we are a Move Well Eat Well School. To support this, we kindly ask that families refrain from bringing in cakes or other treats to share with the class for your child’s birthday. This also assists us in supporting our students who have allergies as students are not to share food whilst at school.  

We celebrate every student's birthday at our weekly lineups by presenting them with a chocolate freckle and singing them Happy Birthday.  

School-Wide Behaviour Award Recipients for Years 3–6

We congratulate the following students who have received awards over the past fortnight in our Junior School lineups: 

School-Wide Behaviour Award Recipients for Early Years

We congratulate the following students who have received awards at our first Early Years Assembly: 

Early Years Assembly

On Friday 7 March our Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 students gathered in our milangkani room for their first Early Years Assembly led by Year 2 Wombats. Our Year 2s opened our assembly with an acknowledgement of country and a beautiful prayer followed by sharing some of their artwork on wombats. Mrs Hanstein then presented certificates on behalf of the teachers, to those students who had been reflecting one of our four whole school expectations: Responsibility, Respect, Resilience and Relationships. We are so proud of how all our early years students have begun the year and were incredibly impressed with how supportive and encouraging they were of our award recipients!  

Year 1 take on Marine Discovery Centre

Last Thursday, the Year 1 students enjoyed a fantastic day of hands-on learning at the Marine Discovery Centre in Woodbridge as part of their Science unit on habitats. They explored sea urchins, hermit crabs, sea anemones and sea stars in touch tanks; patted and fed sharks and skates; made dioramas of underwater habitats; observed life at the bottom of the jetty via an underwater camera; learned about bioluminescence and how some sea animals use it to catch their prey or protect themselves; and finished their visit with a walk along the shore, finding sea stars, shellfish and crabs. Thank you to Andrew and the team at MDC for providing such an engaging learning experience, and to our parent helpers for accompanying us.