Dear Parents,

Thank you to the parents that were able to attend the Community Council meeting held on Wednesday. As outlined in last week's newsletter an agenda item was offerings and operation of the school canteen.

At the meeting it was decided to bring together a group of parents to examine what we are currently offering; how we can improve what we offer and how to increase patronage at the beginning of the week. They will also examine ways in which we can increase the number of volunteers. If you wish to join this committee can you please let the front office staff know.

The canteen will continue to operate five days a week.

Mrs Jennifer Harden, our canteen manager, has advised me that there are a number of students who bring large denomination notes to school and she often sees $20 notes with some of our younger students. Children only need to bring coins to school. 

MORNING DROP OFFS in CAR PARK

A gentle reminder regarding drop-offs in the morning in the car park. 

Please do not drop the children next to the totem poles on the Boothby Street side or northern side of the car park.

ALL STUDENTS MUST BE DROPPED NEXT TO SR PHIL SHELTER, on the southern side of the car park. 

All drop offs and pick ups occur from the same point which is next to the Sr Phil shelter. We do not want students, particularly our younger ones, becoming confused. Cars enter the gates and drive around the edge of the courts to the Sr Phil Shelter where they drop off, or pick up, their children.

We would greatly appreciate all parents following this protocol which is a part of our safety plans for St Mary’s. This ensures we have the correct procedures in place to keep all our students safe. 

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES: Free Online Program helps parents with Disability

We have just received the attached flyer from Triple P - Positive Parenting Program which explains an excellent program aimed at supporting parents of students with additional needs. Reality means that many families are facing long wait times to receive intervention or diagnosis, and as childhood is a crucial stage of development, support early is vital. The program is free, provides evidence-based strategies to support all family members, encourages the child’s independence and builds confidence in parents.

SACRAMENTAL REGISTRATIONS

SAFE ON SOCIAL

Are you children using platforms like Roblox and TikTok? Have you children ever been asked to share a photo of themselves? Did your child ever receive a request to friend someone online?

The increased usage of technology and exposure to social media means that your children are more frequently exposed to issues such as online grooming and sexualized behavior at an early age.

Read Kirra’s Consent - Tips for Discussion at Home, which provide some tips to help parents talk about consent at home. Open and honest conversations starting from primary school age through high school can build trust and ensure children receive accurate information.

School Cross Country

 A superb day with a welcomed cool breeze revealed itself on Monday for our Cross Country event! Well done to all our students who showed such enthusiasm and gave it their all for our various races. 

Thank you to the Young Golf Club for allowing us to use their grounds each year. We really appreciate having such a picturesque backdrop!!

Thank you so much to our small but generous team of volunteers - Chad Challen & Tony Berry for expertly driving our carts on the day, Mr Levett for transporting our students to and from school and Pete Ward for being our rev up man and starter for the day. We cannot run these events without assistance and your time is certainly appreciated.

A big thank you to Hennessy Catholic College for assisting us with some amazing Yr 11 coaching students who were simply outstanding on the day. This group was certainly one of the most entertaining we have had for Cross Country - they ran with the younger children, manned the checkpoints and encouraged every child that ran past them. Thank you so much - we love having you with us to support our students!

Thank you also to the amazing staff we have at St Mary’s who supported the students and ensured the day ran smoothly. 

Congratulations to our age champions for the day:

5/6yr old Champions: Pippa Sawyer & Hugo Deasey

Runner up: Gemma Harris & Oscar Ryan

7yr Champions: Phoebe Denniss & Myles Sullivan

Runner up: Quinn Chalker & Vincent Brown

8yr Champions: Ava Yelverton & Richie Robinson

Runner up: Aurora Gunning & Clancy O’Brien

9yr old Champions: Frankie Hardy & Henry Wright

Runner up: Poppy Murdoch & George Hill

10yr old Champions: Chloe Clark & Alex Holt

Runner up: Evie Yelverton & Ashton Callaghan

11yr old Champions: Agatha Murphy & Alex Presser

Runner up: Mehram Thind & Tate Owen

12/13yr old Champions: Marlie Oakley & Nixon Gault

Runner up: Ruby Edwards & Jye Ralph

Medals for our Age Champions will be given out at the Assembly in Week 9, along with the announcement and presentation of the winning house.

The top 5 students from the 9, 10, 11 & 12/13yr olds will progress to Western Region and more information will be sent home via a Compass event once received by the organisers. We congratulate the students below who have gained selection to attend the Western Region Cross Country to be held in Batlow (hosted by Adelong & Batlow) on Friday 2nd May. Apologies for the confusion with the different date previously advertised.

Archdiocesan Rugby League Trials

We wish Nixon Gault, Ollie Harden, Riley Walker, Jacob Hambilton, Henry Aiken & Tom McKnight the very best of luck as they compete for selection in the Archdiocesan Rugby League team in Canberra on Monday. We will certainly be cheering you on and look forward to hearing all about it!!

MacKillop Swimming Championships

We wish Evie Brodbeck the very best of luck as she represents the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese at the MacKillop Swimming Championships next Wednesday in Sydney. Evie will compete in the 9 yrs 50m freestyle and the 8-10yrs 200m Individual Medley. We look forward to watching you on the live stream and cheering you on!

PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE - online student reading records

Students have now received their PRC log in details and have commenced borrowing and reading  PRC books.  There have been a few changes to the PRC website this year and there is a new online student reading record.  Instructions on how to add books to the student reading record can be found by using the link below:

https://prcsupport.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/24000089912-how-to-add-a-book-to-your-reading-record-using-the-student-experience-site

Please let me know if there are difficulties logging on to the PRC website.

Happy reading 

Joanne Murphy

joanne.murphy@cg.catholic.edu.au

On Friday, 21^st March, the Kindergarten students had a fantastic excursion around town. Firstly, they visited the Southern Cross Cinema to view their entries in the Hilltops art competition, at the upstairs art gallery. The theme was “On the Farm.” Congratulations to Pippa Sawyer, Shae Hardy and Faith Martin for being prize winners in the Kindergarten section. There were great artworks to be seen.

The Kinders then went and visited the ambulance station where Evelyn Smith’s mum Tam, Lizzy and Nathan showed the children the inside of an ambulance vehicle, the upstairs offices and training rooms. Some children had their hearts checked to see if they were working and thankfully, they were and they received a print out for proof! All the children received a toy car ambulance to take home.

The next stop was the police station where Constable Jimmy showed the children through the station and out the back to see the police vehicles. The children had the opportunity to wear a police vest and see the lights and hear the siren of a police car.

The final destination was the fire station where Myla’s dad, Ben, and firefighter Julian, gave the children a plastic fire helmet to keep. They showed the children around the station, put on the siren and lights of the fire and rescue vehicle and how to operate a fire hose with varying sprays. The children also climbed into the back of a new fire and rescue vehicle to see what was inside the cabin.

Before the children ventured around town, they listened to a bus safety presentation at school, given by Constable Jimmy, bus driver Geoff and NRMA representative Susie. Then the children put into practice being safe near and on a bus.

A huge thank you to all the helpers who came along to ensure all the Kindergarten students were safe when out and about the town. These were Jacqui Everdell, Amy Dawe, Claudia Austen, Megan McLean, Jess Van Emmerick, Liz Wright, Rajshree Jhunjhunwala, Jean Ocampo, Krystal Sanchez and Mr Williams. Thank you also to Mr Hughes who came and picked up the tired and weary Kinders from the fire station and retuned everyone safely back to school. It was a great day.