Principals Message
WELCOME
It was so uplifting yesterday to see our students return to school ready for learning and to see so many parents coming into the school to meet their child’s teacher or just to ensure their child was safe and happy. Our students were beautifully presented and their manners and behaviour throughout the day was a credit to you, their parents. The staff room was buzzing with the happy voices of our parents as a big number stayed for a cuppa and a lively and inclusive chat. It was such a positive start to our school year and I’m sure that the remainder of the 2023 school year will continue to be one of new learnings, friendships, challenges, successes and good fun. Our Foundation students Scarlett, Poppy, Eliza and Mackenzie have settled into their class and had a very productive day.
NEW FAMILIES
We welcome Scarlett Badgery and her parents Prue and Steven, Eliza Hunt and her parents Emma and Adrian both in foundation. We also welcome Karter Dunn in grade 4 and his mother Alexandra. We hope that our new families enjoy many positive years at St Mary’s and that their children flourish in our school environment.
LEARNING in 2023
This year we are excited to be offering 4 specialist classes: Art, Science, Auslan and Respectful Relationships. In addition to these subjects we will also participate in Bluearth with Kade O’Dwyer and The Resilience Project which will be facilitated by Hugh vanCuylenburg, as well as the classroom teachers. Your children are privileged to be able to engage in these extra-curricular activities which will upskill them for life. Literacy, Numeracy, Religious Education and Cross Curriculum will be capably taught by their classroom teacher.
STAFFING 2023
We welcome Mrs Prue Barlow to St Mary’s in 2023. Mrs Barlow is well known to our students as she has worked as a CRT at St Mary’s over the past few years.
Principal: Mrs Catherine Fraser
F/1/2: Mrs Thea Parry and F/1/2 Plus 1 teacher: Mrs Kerry Morse
3/4: Mrs Bianca Brook
5/6: Mrs Ange Brockett
Art & Science: Mrs Katherine Jamieson
Auslan: Ms Chris Marshall
Respectful Relationships: Mrs Prue Barlow
Education Support Officers (ESOs) Ms Jenny Hayes, Ms Kate Stewart & Miss Laura Martin Maintenance: Mr Simon Fraser
Administration: Mrs Georgia Francis & Ms Peta Williams
BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL MASS
Our Beginning of the School Year Mass will be held on Friday February 10th at 12.00pm in St Mary’s Church. We invite our parents, grandparents and friends to our Mass and to the sausage sizzle in the school grounds afterwards.
CASUAL RELIEF TEACHERS
If you know of a teacher who would be able to support our school through casual relief teaching (CRT) please advise the school. We will have difficulty filling our teaching positions in the event of a teacher being sick or on leave.
PARENTS & FRIENDS
The first meeting of the P&F committee will be held on Friday February 10th at 1.30. This meeting will be held in the Art/Science room.
SCHOOL ADVIDSORY COUNCIL
The first meeting of the School Advisory Council will be held on Monday March 6 th at 6.00pmin the Staff room.
SR NELLIE LEAVING
On Sunday parishioners of St Mary’s Parish including Murchison, Stanhope, Cornella and Rushworth gathered to say farewell to Sr Nellie. Sr Nellie has been in St Mary’s parish since 2010 and during that time she has walked with us in our good times and not so good times. She has reached out to those in need and given
them hope in times of difficulty. Nellie has always showed a keen interest in all the happenings at our school and each year has presented the Mackillop Awards to our successful candidates. Nellies departure from Rushworth is the end of the Josephite connection in our parish after 69 years. The Josephite sisters were invited to come to Rushworth and the parishioners built the school. The sisters began teaching at St Mary’s in 1954. Over the years buildings were added and refurbished and the one constant was our Josephite charism. Sr Nellie is leaving by the end of February so there will be a farewell from our staff and students in the next few weeks.
NAMING the SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Our buildings will be named to honour our Josephite heritage. The newly refurbished building has been named the “Mackillop Learning Centre” and the other building is the “Josephite Building”. These names for our buildings have been approved by Catholic Education Sandhurst.
THANK YOU
Thank you to William Ogden for caring for the chooks over the break. I’m sure that granddad Denis probably did most of the feeding and gathering of eggs!
JOBS OVER THE HOLIDAYS
Lachlan Scott and his team of painters completed the painting of the interior of the Josephite building during the break. Travis Gilby identified and repaired the leak on the roof of the Josephite building. AJD Plastering repaired the damaged plaster in the Josephite building. Rod Spiewak installed the projectors in the classrooms and finished the ampitheatre projector today. Ky Cleaners cleaned the carpets and windows in the MacKillop Learning Centre and the Josephite building. Tatura Lawn Mowing and Landscaping tidied the garden and spread the mulch. Unfortunately, our watering system was turned off over the holidays so the oval grass has dried out. Hopefully they will green up soon.
PRAYERS
We pray for all our students today that their year is successful. We pray for those families who have lost loved ones during the holidays. We pray for those who are experiencing hardship.
Catherine Fraser