Year 7

Leah McBryde 

Pastoral Leader Year 7

YEAR 7 NEWS…

Welcome back to Term 2!

This term we have already had some exciting events taking place and are well and truly in the swing of things at St Mary’s.

During the first week of school, we recognised and paid tribute to the ANZACs with a beautiful service held at the College on Tuesday. We also attended the Edmonton March on Sunday at 5:30 am. Unfortunately, it was very wet, and the march part of the service was called off. It was excellent to see some Year 7 students in attendance on these occasions. After all, the ANZACs were unable to stay inside a warm home during the early hours of the morning out of the rain. I look forward to more opportunities to work with the 7’s in creating this community spirit.

Last week our annual school cross country was held. This year it was only for students who were participating in the event with the rest of the College in classrooms due to the past two weeks of wet weather. It was excellent to see so many Year 7 students participating in the event. I look forward to hearing the results from the event soon. Congratulations to all who participated in the event.

Over the past few months, we have been preparing the Year 7 and 9 students or the NAPLAN test. This will take place in Week 4 (Tuesday – Thursday) in the morning sessions. Students who maybe absent from any of the test sessions will complete this on Friday. All students need to arrive to school on time with a charged laptop, headphones (not Bluetooth), pencils and a laptop charger. This week we have completed an equipment checklist, annotated the test sessions in our diaries and practised using some of the functions on the laptop to answer questions. No doubt, these tests can make students anxious or nervous. Please take the time to remind them this is simply a point in time test to support schools in their development and learning techniques to best support students.

The assessment calendars have been added to the school website for access. Please take the time to print these out and place on the fridge or cork board at home to best support your child. Students should record their draft and final due dates in their diary additionally. If you have any questions on how to access this information, please let me know.

Upcoming events in the school calendar:

• NAPLAN Tuesday – Friday (Morning sessions) – Week 4
• Open Night – Thursday May 13th – Week 4
• Bill Turner Soccer Girls Gala Day – Friday May 21st – Week 5
• UPP Pastoral Day – Tuesday June 1st – Week 7
• Student Free Day – Friday June 4th – Week 7

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our Mother’s a wonderful Mother’s Day on Sunday. This week we had a special prayer for Mother’s and people who also act in the way of a Mother on our year level assembly. Within the prayer we reflected on who Mary was to Jesus and all her community. We discussed her unconditional love – a known affection without any limitations, and love without conditions.  Pictures and paintings of Mary are displayed around the world in offices, classrooms, homes, churches, community halls and spiritual sanctuaries which depict her in a variety of ways as a loving Mother. In our own homes, we have pictures of similar people: our Mother’s depicting these same qualities on show case for all who visit to see. National Geographic have stated that Mary is the most powerful woman in the world. To the children and adults of our world I say, our Mother’s are also these people to each of us. Please enjoy your wonderful day with your family and know you are loved and thanked for all that you do.

Please see below some of the wonderful things Mother’s do for all of us around the world:

            Every time a child is born, so it a mother

            An eternal bond is formed

            As you grow, your mother is therefore you

            There to tuck you in, to cheer you up

            There to teach

            There to send you off and to listen when you call

            There to encourage you to build faith

            There by your side, when others have left you

            There in good times and hard times

            There in the details of daily life

            Life doesn’t come with a manual; it comes with a Mother

            This Mother’s Day thank the women who have, loved, mentored, and mothered you!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

God bless