We are all so excited about our upcoming School Production. Our Year 3-6 students have been working really hard to learn their songs and dances for our first official production in two years, The Greatest Show. They are so excited to show you their great work, so it is time to invite you along to the performances in our Brigidine Centre on September, 13th and 14th.

Tickets will be available from Monday, August 29th and can be purchased at the following Trybooking link for $15 per ticket. https://www.trybooking.com/CBRZU

Ant Productions will be attending both night sessions to record the production. Families have the option to purchase a DVD/video link combo for $25. If you wish to purchase a DVD/video link combo, add this to your basket when purchasing tickets. Please note, you will need to select the correct night of recording.

Payment must be made to TryBooking at the time of purchase. All ticket sales will close 1 hour prior to the session commencing. Please note, seats are not allocated for Matinee sessions. This will work on a first come, first choice.

The following classes will be performing on the following nights:

Tuesday 3HMA, 3HVI, 4MDI, 4KCR

Wednesday 3TBU 3GMC 4JCH 4HKO

Year 5 & 6 children will be performing on both nights

Further details regarding The Greatest Show will be communicated in the coming weeks.

We can’t wait to see you in the audience.

Kristi Larkin & Judy Stewart

Pedestrian Crossing @ Twin Rivers

Twin Rivers has generated a petition which welcomes our community support. Students from both schools would benefit from safer crossing provisions on Wilkinson Drive. Please show your support by accessing the link: https://chng.it/Pdzh7Xxppr

SOCIAL MEDIA - Snap Chat

St Mary’s is an eSmart school which is continually reteaching and reminding our students how to be actively safe online and on devices while at school. We strive to keep our families informed also, so that you too can partner with us in this area. At times our students make mistakes when online and as a school we are informed, typically these mistakes are made on social platforms and outsode school hours. As a school we are happy to educate at any opportunity in this area but encourage our parents to also monitor, converse and educate at home also.

This week we have had a few incidents reported to the school around the misuse of the social media platform Snapchat. Unfortunately Snapchat does not save or store communication and therefore evidence is not kept.

Snapcaht is a social media platform recommended for people 13 years and over and no child in primary school is of this age. A fact sheet has been included in this week's newsletter to build our parents' understanding. We also took the opportunity this week to have our local police educate our senior year levels on the dangers of social media if used inappropriately. We hope our families will support this conversation in your homes.

Book Week

Friday 26th August at 9am St Mary’s will hold their Book Week Parade in the Brigidine Centre. Families are welcome to attend!

Sports News

Last week we have both our Grade 6 Girls and Boys go down to represent our school at State Football. Both had an outstanding day, winning 2 out of 3 games. We are very proud of the determination and commitment they showed through this outstanding process and extremely proud that they both finished 3rd in the state! Thank you to all teachers who gave up their time to coach, support and help them achieve this.

Graduate outcome winners.

Direct Debit

Please note that the reference for our direct debits have changed as we have changed accounting system. You may notice the reference on your bank statement when a direct debit is drawn is now: CDF 0157115905 Drawer: Atlas Trend.

Medication

If your child requires medication to be administered at school, please ensure that it is in it’s original packaging and with a label from the pharmacy (with name and dosage attached). Ongoing long term medication needs to be provided in a webster pack with directions attached. Thank you for your understanding. All medication administered must have a signed consent form- available from the front office.

Presentation at school

A reminder to all students and families that there are unified expectations of how we present for school. It is important that we wear our uniform and present proudly. In light of disrupted years, please find below the expectations of our school as stated in our Family School handbook.

THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES REGARDING PERSONAL GROOMING ARE EXPECTED TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALL STUDENTS AT ST MARY'S SCHOOL.

It is considered unnecessary to have extremes in hairstyles e.g. spray colouring, excessive spiking, colour dye.

Long hair should be tied back while at school. Children should wear the school colours blue or yellow for ribbons, clips etc.

Jewellery such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings should not be worn to school. Children with pierced ears are permitted to wear studs or sleepers.

Nail polish must be removed prior to attending school.

If for any reason your child cannot wear any part of the uniform, a note of explanation is to be sent to the class teacher. Our uniform standard is as stated.

If you have any queries, please contact the School Office.

BP service station and crossing on Bridlington Ave.

We are noticing an increase in students crossing the roads to use the new BP service station. Whilst we recognise the convenience, we ask that you remind students to use the crossing and are accompanied by an adult to the service station. We are not able to supervise traffic in this area and our students safety is of highest priority. Thank you for your understanding.

Communication

Please see attached our Communication Road Map. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, queries or concerns. We are thrilled to be able to connect more regularly with families and look forward to having families in classrooms and in attendance at whole-school gatherings. We hope this road map, supports you on the most effective ways to communicate, depending on your area of concern, thank you.

Lunch Orders

Students are able to order their lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We encourage you to order online but if you decide to send money and order to school in a brown paper bag please note no change is given.

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR CHILD'S YEAR LEVEL TO AVOID YOUR CHILD'S LUNCH GOING TO THE WRONG CLASS.

Online details and price list will be shared with families once received.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)

If you have a current Health Care Card or Pension Card, you may be eligible for the Camps/ Sports/ Excursions Fund (CSEF) payment.

The CSEF is an annual payment of $125 to the school to be used towards camps, sports and / or excursion expenses for the benefit of the eligible student.

If you have applied for the CSEF last year, you do not need to complete an application form in 2022 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. e.g. New student enrolment, your child has started or changed schools, or you did not apply at the same school in 2021.

Please click on the button below and return the form to the office.

Bus Passes

If you are travelling on an Echuca town bus (Blue and Yellow bus), you do not need a bus pass but you must pay $1.20 each way. (It is best to have correct money)
If you live in Victoria and are on the town bus network (blue and yellow bus) and are residing more than 4.8km from St Mary's Primary School you are entitled to a conveyance bus pass. Please complete the 2 forms below and return to the office with a photo attached.

If you are in Victoria and live outside the township of Echuca, your child will be on a country bus and will need to fill in the below form and return to the office.

If you live in Moama, you require a bus pass please go to the below website to apply.

www.transportnsw.info/school-students

Under Name of school the student is attending in 2022 please type Echuca, then select

St Marys from the list.

If you live outside Moama - Dyson (eg Wimbi, Perricoota Run)

If you live within town - James Newton Bus Service

Family and Community News

Coffee and chat is back!