Welcome back to St Mary of the Angels

Welcome to the new school year, I trust you all had a brilliant Christmas/ New Year and are excited to have school return.

I am looking forward to a wonderful year with our SMOTA community and pray that 2023 brings learning, fun and joy to all.

Having only been back for five days, the newsletter will be much shorter and is intended to welcome everyone back and highlight some of our upcoming events and important information.

Welcome to our new families and new students

A huge welcome to our new families at St Mary of the Angels this Year. I trust that your time at St Mary of the Angels is a happy one for you and your children.

Welcome to the following new families; Orchard, Sawaski-Gillard, Nugent, Foster, Niemerg, Deeves, Hoy, Towells, Yates, Farrell.

Additionally I would like to welcome our newest staff member Mr Daniel Niemerg. It has been a pleasure to get to know you over the past two weeks and I hope that you enjoy SMOTA, Guyra and our surrounding areas as much as we all do.

First Day for Kindergarten Students

How gorgeous are these faces! This is why we are educators, and why we work so hard at SMOTA, so students like this can receive the best care and education that we can provide.

First Day for Transition Students Wednesday 8th February

We are looking forward to seeing Roy, Amarlie, Kane, Lane, Avery, Nash, Fred, Hudson, Orlando, Frazer, Paityn, Jacob and Lawson on Wednesday. I know you will thoroughly enjoy your time with Mrs Grills!

Classes for 2023

Kindergarten: Mrs Ahumada

Year 1/2: Mrs Hayes

Year 3/4: Mrs Cox

Year 5/6: Mr Niemerg

Release From Face to Face Teachers

Miss Archibald and Mrs Nugent

Leadership Team

Mrs Z Nugent

Mrs T Grills

Mr D Niemerg

Mrs T Ahumada

Educational Assistants

Mrs C Gaddes

Mrs K Faint

Miss C Lennon

Miss A Jackson

School Office Administrators

Miss A Ogilvie

Mrs S Ward

Grounds & Maintenance

Mr S Youman

Parish Administrator

Fr S O'Shea

UPCOMING EVENTS at SMOTA

Please note that although we make every effort not to alter dates throughout the year, it is inevitable that change will occur, we apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may occur.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL - Thursday 9th February

Thank you to staff for organising our swimming carnival. I am looking forward to seeing the children participate in their events and joining in the spirit of school fun. Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to help with the running of the carnival. Please return your child's permission note ASAP via Compass.

BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR MASS K-6 Wednesday 15th February 9am St Mary of the Angels Church

Beginning of the School Year Mass and presentation of school badges to the student leaders for 2023, will be on Friday 15th February at 9am Mass in the St Mary of the Angels Parish Church.

All parents/carers & friends are welcome to join the school for Mass.

School Uniform and Expectations

Uniform is also an important part of who we are. What our school looks like and how we show respect for the community we are part of is reflected in how we wear our uniform, both individually and as a whole school.

I ask all parents to please support the staff by ensuring your child/children are fully dressed in their correct uniform each day. This includes the correct hat, shorts, socks and black shoes.

We have a high expectation around the school uniform and it is an expectation that everyone wears the uniform with pride. The expectation is the correct uniform is worn everyday.

If your child is not able to wear the correct uniform please send a note to school explaining the reason.

If a child is out of uniform without an explanation a uniform ticket will be sent home the parents.

Jewellery, Nail Polish, accessories & hair need to meet the school policy. No makeup or nail polish to be worn at school. Minimal jewellery is to be worn to school: Signet ring, watch, studs or small sleepers are acceptable. Hair ribbons are to be school colours. Hair is to be neat and tidy. If hair is past collar length then it all needs to be tied back. (Boys & Girls)

Thank you parents for your support to ensure that the children are in the correct school uniform in a neat and tidy manner each day. This is a very important aspect of school, it teaches the children to understand that standards are important in their lives, as well as respecting the community they belong to.

No mobile phones for students at school. If for some reason your child needs to have a phone before or after school, they must hand their phone in at the front office before they go to class and pick it up again before they leave in the afternoon. During the school day students can always be contacted by a phone call to the front office. If students are found with a phone during the school day, the phone will be confiscated and parents will be notified.

A reminder also that all phone capabilities of smart watches need to be disabled or sim cards taken out while students are at school. If students are found to be using their smart watch in this way they will also be confiscated and parents notified.

These procedures are in place for the safety and well-being of all our students and we thank you for your ongoing support.

We thank you for your support in maintaining the standards across our school.

STATEMENT FROM BISHOP MICHAEL KENNEDY TRANSFER TO THE DIOCESE OF MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE

Contacting Your Child's Teacher

Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 67791661 or email the school on guyadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

The School Office hours are 8:10 am - 3.30 pm Monday- Friday.

COVID Information

At the end of 2022, National Cabinet announced that people who test positive to COVID-19 do not need to isolate. In line with this announcement, schools will continue to follow guidance issued by NSW Health to support the safety and wellbeing of our school communities.

Staff and students with COVID-19 symptoms

If a student or staff member is unwell and has any symptoms they should always test for COVID-19 and not attend school until they are well/symptom free.

Positive COVID-19 cases

If a student or staff member receives a positive result on with a RAT or PCR test they should:

Record the positive result through the Services NSW website or app.

Notify the school of the positive results as soon as possible.

Schools are required to continue to inform the school community of positive cases in the school.

Catholic Identity

Mr Daniel Niemerg

BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR MASS K-6 Wednesday 15th February 9am St Mary of the Angels Church