Newsletter Term 1 Week 7

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and had a chance to relax. That extra day certainly makes a difference, giving us all a chance to recharge for the weeks ahead.

We had a fantastic response to our first Open Day last Wednesday, with many excited preschoolers and their families enjoying the chance to meet teachers, see programs in action and enjoy some time in our beautiful grounds. We also welcomed Janessa and Jewell Joby tour school on Thursday, and it was lovely to see how students in 3F and 5D made them feel very at home.

This week, our Foundation students begin attending school on Wednesdays, marking another big step in their school journey. Today, we have students representing our school at Regional Swimming, and on Wednesday, we have the Backlips Against Bullying incursion. We also look forward to our first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting this evening.

It may be a short week, but there’s certainly plenty happening to keep us active and on the go.

NAPLAN  March 13th- 22nd
Students in Years 3 and 5 will complete four assessments as part of NAPLAN: Writing (narrative or persuasive), Reading, Conventions of Language, and Mathematics. Each online session will run between 40-50 minutes, depending on the topic and year level.

NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that provides parents with insights into their child's progress in Literacy and Mathematics, comparing their performance against national standards and peers across Australia. For teachers, it offers additional information to support professional judgments about student learning.

The best way to support your child is to reassure them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program and encourage them to simply do their best. Ensuring they get plenty of rest and have a healthy snack and lunch will also help them feel prepared on the day.

Students with funded Special Needs may be exempt from participating in NAPLAN. If parents/guardians do not wish their child to sit the test, please contact the school to arrange an Exemption Form.

Join us for the St. Pat’s Cup Family Race Day!
This Sunday, March 16th, the annual St Patrick’s Cup Family Race Day is happening in Swan Hill—an exciting event and a major fundraiser for our school!

With free children's activities provided by Hart Sports, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including face painting, foot races, kick-the-footy-in-the-ute, a jumping castle, and pony rides—not to mention the thrill of the races themselves! 100% of proceeds from gate entry and raffle sales go directly towards our school’s fundraising efforts. This year, all funds raised will help us purchase Lego Spike kits to enhance our STEM program. It’s a fantastic day out for the whole family—we’d love to see you there!

Tickets can be purchased online;

Click this link to purchase tickets

Parent Teacher Interviews and Student Led Conferences
We are looking forward to our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews and Student-Led Conferences, scheduled for Wednesday, 19th March, and Tuesday, 25th March. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for parents to connect with their child’s teacher and discuss progress.

• Year 5 & 6 students will lead Student-Led Conferences with their families.
• Year 2-4 students will participate in Three-Way Chats. At these meetings children attend with their parents.
• Foundation and Year 1 students will have Parent-Teacher Interviews, with children not required to attend.

Bookings have opened, and details on how to book have been shared via PAM. We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity to engage in their child's learning journey.

You can log on and choose your preferred time or contact the office and we can do this for you. The allocated time is 10 mins per chat.

Parent / Teacher Interviews will be held at:                                                         

3.30pm – 7.00 pm on Wednesday, 19th  March 

3.40pm  – 6.00 pm on Tuesday 25th March

The web address for booking is http://www.schoolinterviews.com.au 
Logon code is : edd9n

Italian Day - Wednesday, 26th March
It only happens every second year - this highly anticipated event is back on  Wednesday, 26th March!

The day will begin with a whole school parade at 9.15 am in the outside assembly area. All families are welcome to come along and see all the wonderful costumes and the sea of green, white and red. Gelati and cannoli will be available at recess and lunch for $1 and there will be Italian food available for lunch (available through CDF pay). You are most welcome to join us at any time during the day. A big thank you to Megan & Melita for all the work they have put in to prepare for this day!

Lifelong benefits of attending a Catholic School
I'm pleased to share new research based on data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, which reveals that individuals who attended Catholic schools are likely to experience lifelong benefits in employment, general health, and overall life satisfaction.

The study highlights that Catholic schooling offers both personal and community advantages. On average, those who attended Catholic school are more likely to be employed and earn higher wages compared to those who attended government schools, with wage differences ranging from 4% to 11%. Additionally, former Catholic school students are more inclined to work in public-serving industries and sectors, and they are more likely to donate to charity. The research also shows that Catholic school attendance positively influences personal health and life satisfaction scores. The evidence supports what staff and our school community have likely known instinctively – that an education focused on developing the whole person leads to well-rounded individuals who are prepared to succeed, thrive, and navigate life with confidence, regardless of the path they choose.

Assembly and SOW
It has been fantastic to see so many families attending our weekly celebration and it is the smiles of delight when children see their parents or special friends there to witness their involvement in assembly prayer or receive a Student of the Week award. Congratulations to all award recipients who are always so proud of their achievements. We look forward to 2S leading us at our assembly this Friday.

Kate

"Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It"
Mary MacKillop - Sisters of St Joseph Foundress

Key Dates

Tuesday March 11th
Regional Swimming
Wednesday March 12th
NAPLAN Period commences
Backflips Against Bullying incursion
Friday March 14th
Assembly 12.25pm - 2S
Sunday March 16th
St Pat's Race Day Event
Wednesday March 19th
Parent Teacher Interviews
Friday March 21st
Assembly 12.25pm - 1T

Sustainability - Nude Food Day

Wellbeing with Mr Doran

RE with Mrs Davies

Shrove Tuesday/Ash Wednesday
It was a lovely week of celebrations last week with us entering into the beginning of our Lenten Season for 2025. All classrooms really enjoy making pancakes for Shrove Tuesday and learning about the importance of this special day. On Wednesday morning we gathered as a whole school community to mark the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. Thank you to Fr James and the Year 5 students who led us in prayer and reflection about the meaning of Lent.

PE with Miss Clark

Regional Swimming
All the best to these eight awesome students Ivy P, Heidi H, Aarav B, Harrison, B, George M, Jayla P, Jai P and Lachlan L who will be representing St Mary’s at the Regional Swimming Championships this afternoon at the Swan Hill outdoor pool. We hope you all swim your very best and what an amazing effort it is to make this level!

@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 do I let the school know if my child is absent from school?
PAM is our preferred notification method for absences. Absences must be entered prior to 9.25am on the day your child will be absent. Absences can also be entered in advance.

On PAM, you can add an absence if:

• Your child is going to be absent for the day (All Day)
• Your child is going to be late to school (Arriving Late)
• Your child is going to be leaving early from school (Leaving Early)
• Your child will be leaving school and returning eg. for an appointment (Partial)
• Your child is going to be absent for more than one day (Multi-day max of 7 days)

To add an absence:

• Log in to your PAM account 
• Select “Parent Notified Absences” listed under “Students”. This can also be accessed by selecting the 3 line menu bar on the top right hand corner of the screen and selecting “Parent Notified Absence”.
• Select “Add Absence”
• Select the child who will be absent
• Select the reason for your child’s absence
• Select the appropriate absence period
• Select the absence date
• Notes can be added if required
• You can edit or delete current and future absences, by clicking on your child and amending it if required

News from the Canteen

Volunteers Needed:
We are looking for canteen helpers 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 to Wednesdays!
Available through CDF Pay, Niko Niko Sushi is available on Wednesdays!!
Order now!! Limited amount available.

Happy Birthday!

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