Newsletter Term 1 Week 1
Principal's Message
Dear Parents & Families,
Welcome back to you all! I hope that you were all able to enjoy some rest and relaxation during the holidays and were able to spend some quality time with your family and friends. It has been wonderful listening to the children's stories of all the fabulous times they have enjoyed over the holidays.
I must acknowledge our students and staff for the fantastic start to the school year; Mr. Perry and I were impressed with the settled and calm classrooms after just one hour at school. This bodes well for a year of fun and learning for all of our students and we can’t underestimate the positive impact on learning that a calm and orderly environment brings. Along with all the staff, I look forward to working closely with you in providing your child with a learning environment that is engaging, allowing each child to further grow in their passion for learning, and encouraging them to strive to give 100% every day. Our teachers enjoyed the opportunity to meet with families on Friday and learn more about the children in their 2023 classes and the children are very excited to be in their new rooms and to start the new year.
This is a particularly special time for the children who are beginning school in Foundation and those joining us from other schools and their families. I hope that during this transition into our school community that you feel warmly welcomed and trust that through our strong partnerships with families you will feel connected with your children’s development as they begin their learning journey at St Mary’s.
Welcome to our new staff.....
Tagan Koschitzki -Year 4 Teacher
LeeAnn Clarke- Music Teacher
Evie Jennings- Year 1 Teacher
Michael Herily -Year 3 Teacher
Ellen Brose- LSO
Melissa O’Toole -LSO
And welcome to our new families and students across the school...
Year 1: Bede Murdoch, Mikhayla Atmaja, River Morris
Year 3: Dylan Ricare, Ivan McNeill, Seth Trenfield
Year 4: Miyana Baber, Marcia Moore
Year 6: Guntaksh Singh
Congratulations
Congratulations to Olivia Scarce and Jared Halligan on their engagement. We are all thrilled for you.
Holiday Update
We have been busy over the summer break with new projects and maintenance work being undertaken across the school. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the P & F the much anticipated sensory garden area is ready for action and has proved popular today, with many children spending time there with their friends.
There has been progress made with our building works and lots of spring cleaning and maintenance work has also occurred so our grounds are looking fabulous and ready for action!
Preliminary works have also commenced allowing for the installation of a fence between the parish block on Murlong Street and the school site.
School Photo Day
Just a reminder that our school photo day is fast approaching - Tuesday 7th February. Please see information below about ordering your school photos. A hard copy has also been sent home. Individual and class photos will be taken on this day. If you have any concerns or queries regarding your school photo order please give the office a call.
There is much news to share with you and I ask that you take the time to read this newsletter and continue to do so throughout the year. Each week you will receive a general newsletter and for the duration of the building program , a regular update on the junior hub progress.
It is wonderful to welcome you all back and I look forward to a great year working together.
Kate
"Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It"
Mary MacKillop - Sisters of St Joseph Foundress
Key Dates
Tuesday January 31st
First day for all students
Wednesday February 1st
Foundation rest day
(Foundation students have a rest day on Wednesdays
for the first 6 weeks)
Tuesday February 7th
School photos
Wednesday February 8th
Open Water Swimming - Year 4
Thursday February 9th
Start of Year Mass - 9.15am (Gym)
Friday February 10th
Backflips against Bullying Incursion
Swimming Trials - 1pm-3pm
Tuesday Febraury 14th
Regional Swimming
Monday February 20th - Wednesday Febraury 22nd
History Box Incursion
Tuesday Febraury 21st
Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday February 22nd
Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9.15am
Monday Febraury 27th
Pupil Free Day - Staff PD Day
Monday March 13th
Public Holiday
Tuesday March 14th - Friday March 17th
Year 6 Camp
Wednesday March 15th
NAPLAN Testing Period commences
Monday March 27th & Tuesday March 28th
Year 4 Reconciliation
Wednesday March 29th
Italian Day
Thursday April 5th
Holy Week Liturgy 9.15am
Thursday April 6th
End of Term 1
Wellbeing with Mr Prockter
Welcome back to 2023 🙂
The start of a new year can be a time of lots of various emotions, however, it’s important to understand it’s different for us all.
From feelings of excitement, eagerness and joy to feelings of nerves, anxiety and fear of the unknown. It’s important that we treat each other and most importantly our children to acknowledge that these emotions are completely normal and happen to us all, in particular at the start of a new school year.
I encourage you to keep it simple. Talk to your own children and others in your household daily about things that they are looking forward to about school or the next day ahead and things they may be a bit worried or nervous about as well.
I’m sure you’re all aware that kids ask 100s of questions a day…but it’s important to think to ourselves- how many are they not asking??
We have an incredibly caring staff here at St Mary’s and that’s something I’ve seen clearly in my last 12 months at this school.
If you feel like your child will need extra wellbeing support in 2023 then please contact the office and I or another team member will touch base with you as soon as we can. If your child was getting wellbeing support and you would like this to continue you still need to collect a consent form from the office.
I look forward to seeing you all throughout the year.
Cheers, Mr Prockter
Curriculum with Mrs Hall
DNA: Dreams, Needs and Abilities
With the excitement of a new year we begin with a whole school focus around our ‘Learning to Learning’ Units. As a school we value the strong focus of positive relationships, building connections amongst students and staff and fostering resilience which is built from strong relationships. This week our students will share their DNA (dreams, needs and abilities), as a way of building relationships and making new connections with their peers and teachers. We believe that every child is a success story waiting to be told and that “Every Child Matters Every Day”.
Different ways to ask your child “How was school today?”
Here are some great questions and conversation starters to get your children talking about school. Remember it is also the perfect opportunity for you to share your own answers too and as a family.
- What is your DNA? (Dreams, needs, abilities)
- What is something that went well today?
- What made you smile today?
- Can you tell me an example of kindness you saw/showed?
- Tell me something that made your teacher laugh today.
- Tell me something you know today that you didn't know yesterday.
- What did you do that was creative?
- If you could choose, who would you like to sit next to in class?
- Where is the coolest place at the school?
- How did you help somebody today? Did anyone help you?
- Who would you give student of the day to today? Why?
- Which playground is your favourite and why?
- If you got to be the teacher tomorrow what would you do?
- What are you looking forward to this week/term/year at school?
- Tell what Lego club looks like?
Curriculum Newsletters
This week, your child will bring home a copy of their Term 1 curriculum newsletter that outlines the key learning that will take place in their classroom and when they attend specialist classes. This newsletter assists you to know what is happening at school so you can chat more knowledgeably with your child about the many exciting things they are involved with at St Mary’s.
RE with Mrs Davies
Staff Commissioning Mass - Sunday 5th February
This Sunday we look forward to welcoming all of our staff from St Mary’s and St Mary Mackillop College to our Staff Commissioning Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome in the new year ahead and to give blessing for the amazing work and dedication that our staff have within our schools. All families are welcome to attend this mass at 10.30am Sunday 5th February.
Prayer for the Beginning of 2023 School Year
We give you praise, O God,
Bless us as we start this new year with our friends and teachers
Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.
May we show love to one another and to all.
May the new beginning of this school year remind us that you give us chances to start over again and again.
Help us to learn and to work together.
Help us to listen when we should and to know the best words when we speak.
Bless our school and keep us safe-welcome all our new teachers and students from other schools.
Help us to be aware of your love shown to us in the people around us.
Bless all those who care for us in school and at home.
May the Blessed Mother Mary protect us and help us to live as well as we can, giving thanks and glory to God as she did.
Amen.
PE with Miss Clark
Welcome back everyone! I hope you all enjoyed your summer break. It was great to see lots of our students keeping active during the holidays. I am really looking forward to seeing all the students again and to have some fun in our PE lessons and sporting school events.
Swimming Trials- Years 3-6
We kick the year off with the St. Mary’s Swimming Trials which will be held on Thursday, 9th February at the Swan Hill Town Swimming Pool (outdoor) beginning at 1.15pm for students 9 years and older.
This is an OPTIONAL event and students who participate must be able to swim 50m (1 lap) non stop in order to try out. On the day, each child who wishes to participate will be given the opportunity to swim in the stroke(s) that they have nominated. All strokes will be 50m. We will record their time for each nominated stroke to determine the fastest 2 swimmers for each event in each age group to qualify for the DIVISION SWIMMING competition held later in the month. I will also be asking for parent volunteers for timing and recording results. Please ensure permission is returned asap.
Team VIC State Team Trials
The Team Vic Registration period has opened again for students wishing to trial for the 2023 Team Vic teams.
This is a parent driven process of registering online, paying a fee and attending trials after school. If you have a child who is highly skilled in AFL, Basketball, Soccer or Netball and would like to trial for any of these sports please register via an online portal https://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/team-vic
(there is a $25 registration fee payable for each sport. (Unfortunately, no trials in Cricket this year) *Registrations close late February early March and no late entries will be accepted so please register early.
Students need to be turning 12, 11 or 10 this year. However it is recommended that students have high skills in their chosen sport/s as the trials are not come and try events.
Once you have registered you will be notified of trial dates occurring in Swan Hill in late April early May 2023. (TBC 4 – 5pm)
For further information please feel free to contact Tim Croft 0439032354 or Max Carroll 03 50321336.
Sustainability with Mrs Ward
How to enjoy a greener, budget-friendly start to the new school year:
Do a Stock Take
Before you rush out to buy everything shiny and new, it’s important to take a look at what you already have.
Eco-Friendly School Supplies
There will always be some things you’ll have to buy new at the beginning of the school year, but we can all play our part by looking for eco-friendly or recycled materials.
Walking or Cycling to School
We all know cars are bad for the environment. Why not encourage children to walk or cycle to school instead of being driven?
Preloved School Uniforms
Items in good condition that have been worn by older siblings or friends can easily be passed down to younger ones.
@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
Upgrade to PAM (Parent Access Module)
We are aware that families are unable to access their PAM accounts. PAM is undergoing a major upgrade to provide greater security and other improved functionality.
You will soon receive an email asking you to create new credentials for a new PAM account. Please check your junk mail. Your username will be your email address.
This will be as simple as:
- Clicking on the link provided in the email
- Following the prompts to create a new password for your new account.
Breakfast Club
Our Breakfast Club program is in need of vegemite, honey and jam. Donations can be left at the office.
Rapid Antigen Tests
We have excess supply of Rapid Antigen Tests available for families. You can collect test kits from the office between 8.30am and 4pm.
Book Club Issue 1 - due Thursday Febraury 16th
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
Ordering from our canteen for recess or lunch is online via CDF Pay
www.swswanhill.cdfpay.org.au
Orders are to be placed by 9.30am. We recommend ordering the night before.
We need your help in the canteen in 2023. Volunteer hours are 11.30am-1.30pm and all you need is your VIC WWCC.
Please contact the office via phone 50332541 or via email office@smswanhill.catholic.edu.au if you would like to be added to the roster.
