Newsletter Term 1 Week 3
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Families,
Welcome to week three! There has been plenty to keep us busy at St Mary's since last Monday’s newsletter. We had a large crowd along this morning for the Year 6 Student Leaders badge presentation, lots of happy smiles on school photo day, Meet the Teacher Chats and a beautiful sunny day for the swimming trials on Thursday. 'The students have got right behind our Greetings Blitz and in classrooms, our ‘Learning to Learn’ units have continued, providing the foundation for teachers and children to establish their routines and expectations.
Beginning of School Year Liturgy - Friday February 14th
All families are warmly invited to join us on Friday 14/2/25 at 9.15 am to celebrate the 2025 Beginning School Year Liturgy in the gym.
Ninja Playground
Exciting times as construction has begun! There has been a great deal of interest from the children as the new Ninja Playground starts to take shape on the senior oval. The next step is the installation of rubber soft fall next week.
Behaviour Blitz!
Positive greetings and taking the time to say hello and ask how you are is our first School-wide Positive Behaviour focus. It has been delightful to see and hear so many cheerful hellos and good mornings as the students interact with each other and the staff in the yard and in class.
I love this short video we put together to showcase to our students just what positive greetings look like and I want to thank our staff who volunteered their children for a few cameo appearances!
Mac, our school wellbeing Dog
Mac, our school wellbeing dog started back on the job last week and has been busy visiting different classrooms and getting used of our school grounds. Mac is certainly a very popular staff member and is well cared for by our team of students called the Mac Monitors who care for him at break times throughout the day.
Foundation Superstars
Our Foundation students have settled into life beautifully at St Mary's and are enjoying learning many new things. The Foundation and Year 6 students got together last week for their first PAL session and had an absolute blast! Check out these special friendship moments.
Save the Date - Welcome Picnic
On Tuesday February 25th, we are holding our annual welcome picnic and a chance for all families from the Foundation-Year 6 area to meet each other. Families are warmly invited to bring the picnic rug, a picnic tea and enjoy time at school from 5.30 pm-7.00pm, mixing informally, having a look around our school and enjoying some music by Tony Haley in the passive play area.
The Resilience Project
‘The Resilience Project’ is one of our pillar programs that we utilise to teach social and emotional learning, and overall wellbeing.
The Resilience Project is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity.
Teachers and students will engage in weekly lessons and activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM) and Emotional Literacy, to build resilience.
Check out their website for more information: The Resilience Project
Also check out TRP@HOME; a place filled with inspiration and activities for the whole family, to help improve your wellbeing and build resilience. TRP@HOME
Family Fee Assistance Scheme
In all Ballarat Diocesan Catholic Primary Schools, tuition fee discounts are available to families eligible for a means-tested Centrelink or Veteran Affairs concession card. The scheme offers tuition fee discounts to both Catholic and non-Catholic families, to new and current students. If you are eligible for the above concession card and require further information regarding this scheme, please contact the school office for more information.
Camps Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. $125 per year is paid for eligible primary school students. Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student. More details are available in the “News from the Office” section of the newsletter.
Have a lovely week and hope to see many of you as you drop off or pick up from school.
Kate
"Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It"
Mary MacKillop - Sisters of St Joseph Foundress
Key Dates
Wednesday February 12th
Foundation rest day
Friday February 14th
Beginning of Year Mass - School Gym at 9.15am
Monday February 17th
Division Swimming
Wednesday February 19th
Year 6 Leadership Day
Foundation Rest Day
Friday February 21st
Assembly 12.25pm - 6N
Tuesday February 25th
Welcome Picnic
Wellbeing with Mr Doran
Find article here -
https://asensitivemind.com/2023/10/13/how-to-ease-your-highly-sensitive-child-s-school-separation-anxiety/
RE with Mrs Davies
Beginning of Year Liturgy - Friday 14th February
On Friday 14th February we will be holding our Beginning of Year Liturgy in our school gym. Fr James and the school captains will be leading a lovely liturgy celebrating God’s love and the love that we can share with one another this year together at St Mary’s. All staff and students will receive a blessing and special prayers to help strengthen and guide them through the year ahead. This will begin at 9.15am - all families are more than welcome to attend.
PE with Miss Clark
Swimming Trials
On Thursday 6th of Feb, 42 St Mary’s students participated in our school swim trials at the Swan Hill Outdoor Pool.
Despite the very hot conditions, it was a great afternoon and all students involved should all be proud of their efforts. A huge thank you to the parents who volunteered their time to help with the running of the trials. Students who qualified will go to the Division Swimming held on Monday 17th of February.
Division Swimming
The Division Swimming competition is not too far away on Monday the 17th of February. Students that have qualified for this level will be notified and will compete against other local schools in our area. There are individual events as well as Freestyle relays and medleys. Parents and friends of students that have qualified are welcome to come and support them at the Swan Hill Outdoor pool. Goodluck to all St Mary’s swimmers!
House Captain Badges
The 2025 House Captains were presented with their badges this morning. The house captains are;
Bunyips - Isabel F, Scarlett F, Mattaeus C, Otto P
Bandicoots - Eliza M, Charlotte M, Patrick K, Levi C
Dingoes - Elouise M, Madison D, Brodey C, Aarav B
Wombats - Rubi K, Indi P, Will P, Charles M
All these students did a fantastic job in their written letter and group interview and I am very much looking forward to working alongside these students for the year!
Team Vic State registrations
https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/team-vic
If you have a student in Grade 4-6 who is HIGHLY SKILLED in a sport or two. Parents can register them for School Sport Victoria State trials.
- There is a fee of course paid by parents, about $25 per sport.
- These trials are run by School Sport Victoria not schools
- If interested, parents need to register via the website https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/team-vic
- Registrations close on February 28th 2025.
- Sports included in the trials are:
- Australian Football 12 Years and Under Boys
- Basketball 12 Years and Under Girls
- Basketball 12 Years and Under Boys
- Cricket 12 Years and Under Boys
- Football (Soccer) 12 Years and Under Boys
- Netball 12 Years and Under Girls
For further information please feel free to contact Tim Croft 0439032354 or Max Carroll 03 50321336 (Swan Hill PS)
@2 Murlong Before & After School Care
The Out of School Hours Care program, @ 2 Murlong, is operating out of the gym hub and provides before and after school care for school age children in the Swan Hill area. Please express your interest via the following link;
https://prodadmin.myxplor.com/enrollment/index/dHdBOThsSW9JeHUxYTEwaHNxZlMrdz0
News from the Office
Working with Children Check
A reminder to bring your Working with Children Check with you if you are coming on to the school grounds for volunteer purposes. If you would like to apply for a Working with Children's Check, please follow the link below;
https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/work-and-volunteering/working-with-children-check
PAM (Parent Access Module) - How to make bus changes on PAM
We encourage you to make bus changes via your PAM account. This includes bus passes, not on bus, change of bus etc.
- Log in to your PAM account.
- From the three line menu in the top right hand corner, select “Transport Passes”.
- Ensure the date is correct, displayed above the student schedule table.
- Click on the “Edit” button of the child you wish to add/remove from a bus.
- “Select New Route” will allow you to add your child to a bus, add your child to a different bus or select “No transport needed” if your child is not to travel on the bus on that particular day.
Scheduled Transport - this is for children who are on a regular bus schedule. It is the bus that your child would usually catch on that day.
Actual Transport - the bus that your child is catching on that particular day eg. if a change has been made.
Bus changes via PAM must be made by 2.30pm. For last minute changes, contact the office on 50332541. You can action bus changes up to 7 days in advance. If your child requires a permanent schedule change, please contact the office. Need assistance? Please contact the office 50332541.
Book Fair
Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school in Week 4 (Monday 17th of February - Friday the 21st of February). The books will be displayed in the library where the children will complete a wish list in their normal library time. This will be sent home with an order form, if you wish to make any purchases. 30 -40 % of the sales from Book Fair will be used to purchase new books for our school library. Last orders are due in by Friday the 28th of February.
Book Club - Issue 1 orders close Monday February 17th
Scholastic Book Club Issue 1 has been sent home. We will not be accepting cash payments for orders. Please order online following the instructions below. This is the link for LOOP, which will allow you to make an online order and payment;
https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx If you are not registered for LOOP, click on the link above and create a new account. You will need to enter your details, add children and select our school (typed as is here); St. Mary's SWAN HILL
If you have any questions or are having trouble with the LOOP ordering system, please contact the office via email office@smswanhill.catholic.edu.au
News from the Canteen
Volunteers Needed:
We are looking for canteen helpers on Fridays in 2025!
You will need your VIC WWCC. Volunteer hours at 11.30am-1.30pm.
Please email office@smswanhill.catholic.edu.au if you are able assist.
Sushi special coming soon!!
Available through CDF Pay, Niko Niko Sushi will be available on Wednesdays from February 19th. Order now!! Limited amount available.
Happy Birthday!
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