From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 2

A warm welcome back to Term 2 to all our students and families. I hope you all enjoyed a happy, holy Easter break with family and friends, and are ready for another exciting term. 

Last Wednesday it was lovely to welcome our students back for Term 2. 

I was very proud of our students who supported the ANZAC Day march and service. Thank you to our school captains and vice captains for their a role in the service. Thank you to our families and staff for their support. 

Congratulations to all of the children K-6 for their outstanding effort inthe Cross Country last term.  Also thank you to the children for the Easter Prayer Liturgies, it was truly a lovely way to reflect on Holy Week and the importance of Easter in our Catholic faith.

CONGRATULATIONS  to Mrs Jessica Scully on the arrival of Molly Joan Scully on the 19th of April.

WELCOME to Mrs Laura Bournes to Year 2 Gold while Mrs Fittler is on leave.  

Monday 8th May PUPIL FREE DAY

All teachers and educational assistants will be attending a professional development day on Monday. The children do not attend school on Monday.

ART SHOW - 4th May

What a wonderful display of the children's creative talents at last night annual Art Show. 

Each child displayed two pieces of work for a place in two art competitions, Operation Art at the Children's Hospital Westmead and Let's Hang It UNE Art competition. 

Congratulations to the Operation Art Winners -Infants - Stella Whalley & Primary - Grace Kentwell.

The following 14 students have been selected for the Let's Hang It competition.

Kindergarten - Lily Mason & Isla Bournes

Year 1 - Ava Stroud & Harper Wang

Year 2 - Pippi Hoy & David Valente

Year 3 - Nate Snape & Alice Mitchell-Tawhai

Year 4 - Sophia Garratt & Connor Coffey

Year 5 - Natasha Cawley & Kaitlin Kirk

Year 6 - Shari Sabry & Eliza Rose

A very big thank you to the teachers, students and Mrs Stephen for organising the Art Show. 

MUSICIA VIVA

Thank you Ms McNeall for organising the music concert for the school on Wednesday 10th May. 

Dr Cameron Stelzer Author & Illustrator Visit Friday 12th May

Thank you Mrs Cain for organising the Author visit on Friday the 12th. 

Whole School Assembly - Friday 12th May 2:40pm, School Hall.

All parents & friends are invited to join us for our first Term 2 assembly. 

Mass - Year 6 & Kindergarten

The Year 6 students took their Kindergarten Buddies to Mass this morning. The Year 6 students were wonderful teachers and witnesses to the importance of Mass and the rituals of the eucharistic celebration.

KINDERGARTEN 2024 OPEN MORNING - 23rd May

OPEN MORNING for 2024 Kindergarten Students - Tuesday 23rd May 9:30am-11am

The Open Morning is an opportunity for 2024 parents to listen to what St Mary's offers its students & families. Parents will be able to speak with the staff, have a guided tour of the school and enjoy morning tea. The 2024 Kindergarten students are invited to join in with the current Kindergarten class for a morning of activities. 

If you know of anyone with a child ready to start school next year, or anyone who would like to have a look at our school and what we have to offer, please invite them along for our Open Morning.

Catholic Schools Week - Week 5

The Week 22-26th May we will be celebrating Catholic School Week. We would like to invite our families to join the Diocese for Mass on the 25th May at 11am in the Cathedral. 

EISTEDDFOD DATES & TIMES

May 24th Stage One Choir at 9:45am Lazenby Hall UNE 

May 24th Stage Two Choir 12:45pm at Lazenby Hall UNE

May 25th Stage Three Choir 10am NECOM

June 6th School Orchestra

June 7th School Percussion Group

P & F  Are supporting the following events: 

Art Show - 4th May

Thank you P & F for providing the refreshments at the school Art Show.

DISCO - 11th May

Thursday 11th May Infants 5:30-6:15pm & Primary 6:30-7:30pm. School Hall, $2.00 entry fee. Entrance via Jessie Street, parents to drop off and pick up.

Parent Volunteers are required for supervision on the night. 

Mother's Day High Tea Sunday 21st May

The P & F are hosting a Mother's Day High Tea on SUnday 21st May.  We would love to see all our Mums, Nans, Grandmas or special ladies in our student's life on Sunday the 21st May. Please RSVP by Tuesday 16th May for catering purposes. 

Athletics Carnival - 9th June

P & F are running the canteen & BBQ for the carnival

Volunteers are required to assist on the day. Ph Jo Ward President on 0402 433 787

Trivia Night - 17th June

The P & F are holding a Trivia evening on Saturday the 17th June at 7pm in the School Hall. Save the date.

TG's Kindergarten 2024 Information Evening

Rebecca McCann & I attended the Pre-School Information Evening on Tuesday with our display for parents to find out about St Mary's School. 

Thank you to TG's for the invitation to have a table at the Information Evening. 

NCCD

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). Information fact sheet.

GENERAL REMINDERS 

School expectations

1. Term 2 Winter Uniform
2. Clean tidy hair.  Hair that is long must be tied back (general rule if it touches your shirt collar) 
3. Uniforms are to be worn correctly and appropriately daily (if circumstances prevent this communication with your teacher is required). 
4. General rule is no jewellery except for: watch, earrings studs or sleepers
5. No fingernail polish
6. No writing or drawing on self - arms, legs, hands
7. No writing or drawing on school hats
8. No chewing gum at school

Rusden Street Traffic Rules

Please remember the traffic rules for our Drop Off & Pick Up Zone from 8:00am until 9:30am and 2:30pm to 4:00pm:

A driver of a vehicle must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a No Parking sign applies unless the driver is;

Dropping off, or picking up passengers or goods

Does not leave the vehicle unattended (vehicle unattended means that the driver can leave the vehicle however the driver cannot be any more than 3 metres from the closest point of the vehicle)

Completes the dropping off or picking up of passengers or goods, and drives on as soon as possible (generally in a 2 minute time frame)

The No Parking rule is simple.  Between the time mentioned, drivers cannot leave their vehicles in these zones and walk into the school to collect their children.  If you park in these zones between the times listed, you must remain in or near your vehicle (within 3 metres). Motorists detected breaching these road rule signs will be issued with a traffic infringement notice totalling $311.00 and two demerit points. 

Absences, Illness & Notifications

It is that time of year - cold and flu season plus COVID-19! Please let the school know if your child has tested positive to COVID so we can alert our families of COVID in the school.  

Parents please let the school know the reason for your child's absence by responding to the SMS or by contacting the school by phone, 67724441 or email smaadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au 

Government legislation states, notification of your child's absence must be received no later than 7 days after your child's last day of absence. 

School Hours

8:20am Doors Open & Student Supervision begins.

8:50am Classes start.

Students who arrive after 8:50 am will need to be signed in by Parents at the Front Office, if this doesn't occur parents will receive an unexplained notification for late attendance.

Thank you for signing your child in if they are late as this ensures our attendance records are accurate. 

10:50am-11:30am First Break

1:30am-2:10pm Second Break

3:10pm Classes end

3:15pm Buses are loaded

3.10-3.20pm Pick up top gate Dangar Street

3:15-3:30pm Pick up Rusden Street. 

All students are to be collected by 3:30pm.

After School Care is available for families from 3:10-6pm on site at school.

School Office Hours

The School Office hours are 8:20am - 4pm Monday- Friday. 

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year's theme: Be a Voice for Generations. The theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives- where we live, work and socialise. 

https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/

NATIONAL SORRY DAY  

National Sorry Day (May  26) Saying "sorry" is considered an important step in the process of reconciliation.