From the Deputies 

We hope that the month of August has started well for each of your families. It is quite hard to believe we are in the eighth month of 2021 already. It is terrific to see the children and staff back onsite after the recent stint of remote learning. They are settled back into routine and enjoying the time learning face to face as well as the social aspects that are very much missed during lockdowns. We thank all families for their support this term - both during remote learning and upon return to school. 

As the children settle back to collaborative tasks and playing together, they are reminded of our School Norms: Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. 

Policies

As a school we are committed to updating our policies regularly and sharing them with the community via the school website. 

We recently updated our Head Lice policy and draw your attention the following  key points of this policy:

• Hair below collar length is to be tied up (hair accessories are to be in school colours).
• Information about the treatment for Head Lice will be included periodically in the school newsletter.
• If there is an outbreak of Head Lice at St Mary’s a letter will be sent home to the relevant class/year level, informing parents/guardians to check and treat their child(ren) hair.
• Students with a confirmed case of head lice return to school the day after appropriate treatment has started.

To read the policy in full, please access it via the school website policy page. 

Wellbeing

Happiness matters for each of us. You may already be aware of the site Action for Happiness and their monthly calendars which show us that small actions can make a difference to our lives and the lives of others. . This month is Altruistic August.  From the Action for Happiness website: Altruism is vital for the human race to survive and thrive; and each of our lives is supported by countless kind acts from other people. Yet in our world today, so much is directing us to think only about ourselves - and we often forget the happiness that comes by caring for others. We want to change that. This August Action for Happiness asking everyone to take one kind act per day. Let's create a wave of kindness to spread around the world. 

Here is the August calendar as well as a link to the site here. 

• Can we embed the document here? I have it saved for us if we can.

Musical with St Mary’s College - Update 

Rehearsals have begun for the students in Years 3 - 6 that have chosen to take part in the musical. Rehearsals are held in Presentation Hall at St Mary’s College on allocated Thursdays and Sundays, as well as on a Wednesday lunchtime. It is a fantastic opportunity for our students to take part in the musical with the older students and be directed by Mr O’Meara (Musical Director at St Mary’s College) and Ms Emily Wheaton (a talented actor on TV and stage and experienced director).  For the students involved, further communication with details of production week will be sent home via Operoo in the next couple of weeks.

A big thank you to parents and teachers for their support, the students wouldn’t be able to take part without this.

Dates for the Diary: Production week, week commencing Monday 30th August, 2021.

Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday 31st August, 2021

Performances: 

Wednesday 1st September, 2021

Thursday 2nd September, 2021

Friday 3rd September, 2021

Saturday 4th September, 2021

Ruth Callery and Mary Craven