From the Principal

Welcome to Term 4

Term 4 underway!

Welcome back to Term 4. 

Last week the students returned ready for a very busy Term 4. There was a lovely buzz around the playground and classrooms as the students were happy to be back with their friends and classmates.   

Term 4 is an exciting term with many events to look forward to. The beginning of the term   has a strong focus on learning. "I am a learner", is very important. Not only do we encourage all our students to focus and try their best, but we also expect that they do not stop others from learning and doing their best. We ask our families to help our students be at their best for learning by helping them get a good night's sleep and eating a good breakfast. Having healthy food, fresh air, and plenty of physical activity for great learning!

At the end of the term, we celebrate the achievements of the year in a variety of ways. Planning is underway for the annual Christmas Concerts, Operetta, Presentation Assembly, Year 6 Graduation Mass and many more events. See the Term 4 Dates for when events are on.

To our P & F thank you for the fabulous work you are doing for this years Fete. 

We have a P & F & Fete Meeting on Wednesday next week, P & F 5 pm & Fete 6 pm in the Staffroom. 

Prayer & Blessing for the Anniversary of the Smith Children 

On Monday, 28th October at 5.00pm we as a school community will be holding an anniversary prayer here on the school grounds celebrating the lives of Raphael, Philomena and Evita Smith. The Year 6 2023 gift forms part of the funding for statues being placed in the school garden and blessed in memory of the Smith children by Fr Damien Locke.

We warmly invite you and your child to join our school community for this occasion.

Entry via Dangar Street gate.

Mrs Fletcher's Maternity Leave 

Please see the letter sent home to the Kindergarten Families about Mrs Jessie Fletcher's leave. 

Dear Kindergarten Families,

As we prepare for Mrs Jessie Fletcher’s Maternity Leave beginning in Week 3 (28.10.24), I would like to thank her for all of her work this year in Kindergarten. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this exciting new adventure. I know she will embrace her new role of motherhood with the same love and commitment she has shown in the classroom. Everyone is anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby Fletcher.

We are excited to welcome Mrs Emma Johnson, who will teach Kindergarten Gold from Monday to Thursday, and Mrs Felicity Turnbull on Friday for the remainder of the 2024 school year. Mrs Johnson and Mrs Turnbull have taught in Kindergarten throughout the year and have been educators at St Mary’s for several years. These two teachers will ensure a smooth transition for the children and their learning for the remainder of the term. 

Thank you for your continued support, and please join me in wishing Mr & Mrs Fletcher all the best for the safe arrival of their baby in December. 

Kind regards,

Mrs Belinda Burton

Principal

THANK YOU - World Teachers Day 

A heartfelt thank you to the Parents & Friends for providing a wonderful morning tea in celebration of World Teachers' Day.

St Mary's is truly blessed with such dedicated and amazing teachers, and I am very grateful for all they do for the children.

Transition

We are very excited to have our Transition students starting school this week. Transition begins in Week 2  and goes until Week 6.

Thank you to Mrs. Felicity Turnbull, Mrs. Kym Didlick-Godwin, Mrs. Emma Le Messurier

and the leadership team running the transition program. 

CONGRATULATIONS 

Year 6 Prayer & Morning Tea

Thank you Year 6 for the Mary Prayer and for hosting Morning Tea on Monday for the important women in your lives. It was lovely to reflect on Mary the mother of our Lord and her strengths and to acknowledge the gifts of the women in your lives.   

Sporting Achievements 

Congratulations to the Polding athletes, Sophie Schmude, Molly Schmude, Sophie Harris & Ally Robson for their excellent running this week in Sydney. We are extremely proud of your achievements.

Congratulations to Sageeth Jayawardena and Patrick Duff who made it through to Polding Cricket.

NSW Catholic Schools Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference

This week, along with Mrs Liz Stahlhut, Miss Emma Widders, Mrs Kelly Walters, and Mrs Jessica Scully, we attended the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Education Conference which was hosted by the Armidale Catholic Schools Office in Tamworth.  

Throughout the three-day event, varied presentations, workshops, and on-country experiences advance attendees’ professional knowledge and skills through an understanding of Aboriginal culture and how its rich well of resources can advance the educational, cultural, and economic well being of Aboriginal peoples.

Tied together under the theme Spirit on Country—Learning Together Then, Now and Always, the conference highlights include a deep dive into the practical implications of NSW Curriculum Reform’s explicit inclusion of Aboriginal histories and cultures across all syllabuses, a visit to the Myall Creek Massacre site, and keynote presentations from leading Aboriginal voices.

Guest speakers included award-winning author Dr Anita Heiss, Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland and an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Nathan Towney, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership at the University of Newcastle, and Greg Inglis, former NRL star and founder of the Goanna Academy, Australia’s first Indigenous owned and designed mental health education provider. 

New England Sings

Best wishes to the children singing in New England Sing this weekend. A very big thank you to Ms McNeal for preparing the children and accompanying them this weekend. 

Real Talk Workshop for Years 4 and 6 

On Thursday 31st October, St Mary's will welcome the Real Talk Workshop.  Real Talk is all about getting real about the topics of relationships and personal identity. Based on Christian values and using personal sharing from a team of dynamic presenters.  Real Talk provides presentations, programs, and up-to-date resources and wants all young people to know their true value, worth, and dignity and to experience love for all it was created to be.

Musica-Viva

On Wednesday 30th October, St Mary's will welcome Musica-Vivia to the school, all children K-6 will attend the musica-viva concert. 

P & F & Fete Committee Dates Term 4

The P & F & Fete Committee have set the following dates & events:

Fete Donation Days - 

25th October Gift Cards, 

8th November Christmas Items

22nd November Plants & Cakes

Next P & F Meeting followed by a Fete Meeting is Wednesday, 30th October.

 P & F 5pm & Fete 6 pm in the Staff Room. 

BBQ & Opening of the GaGa Pit

Rain caused the end of Term Sausage Sizzle and Opening of the GaGa Pit to be postponed. A new date will be set at the P & F meeting next week, Wednesday 5pm, Staffroom.