Newsletter Term 4 Week 5

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Families,

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

There was certainly a lot happening between Market Day, the Swan Hill Basketball tournament and the last weekend of Frozen Jr to keep families on their toes!

This week we welcome Madisyn Huy and Ruby Pivetta to our school. They are both second year students from ACU (Australian Catholic University), who are on placement here as part of the  remote hub partnership we have with ACU to bring city students to the country, in the hope they may apply for a regional position upon graduation.  We also welcome Ava Seymour who is here on work experience. Finally a warm welcome to Charlea Mannix who is joining 3U tomorrow and Ruhan Varghese, who also starts on Tuesday in Foundation Green.

Junior Hub
Tuesday afternoon is handover time and it's exciting to think that we finally will have the keys to this new building! We still need the council to issue the certificate of occupancy but  we are not too far away from moving. This new building will house our Year 1 & 2 classes. This term Years 1, 2 and 6 are on the move when they get the go ahead, with Italian and Music also relocating back to their classrooms in the gym hub and some of our LSO’s and Wellbeing staff spreading out into different spaces. Once we are notified we can move in, there will be an opportunity for our school community to have a tour through the Junior Hub before our Year 1 & 2 classes settle into this wonderful new addition to our school facilities.

State BasketBall & State Athletics
From all accounts, both our boys and girls teams played some terrific basketball at the Regional Basketball competition held on Friday. The girls came away with a win in the Grand Final so have qualified for the State Basketball championships in Melbourne next month. Well done to both teams involved and a huge thank you to Tenay Fellows and Teagan Lawry for coaching on the day.

This week we wish Kayla McInerney and Mattaeus Capone all the best as they represent our school in the State Athletics held in Melbourne on Wednesday.

School Hats 
Throughout Term 4, students need to be wearing you school hat when playing outside. They should not be wearing any other hats, caps or beanies - only a St. Mary’s hat. Please make sure your child’s name is clearly labelled on the hat. We look to parents for support in reinforcing our sunsmart policy regarding hats.

SRC Fundraising
Last Friday our Crazy Hat day raised $388 in support of Catholic Mission - Mission Month. Thank you to all families for your generous support of this very worthy cause.

Book Fair
Well done to Lisa, Lou and all the helpers for another successful Book Fair.  Lisa will finish up the final orders on Friday November 10th.

Just a reminder that next week is a short week as Monday 6th November is a pupil free day and that Tuesday 7th November is a public holiday.

Enjoy the warmer weather and the chance to see Foundation Orange in action at assembly this Friday.

Kate
"We have much for which to be thankful"
St Mary MacKillop 1875

SAC Nomination Form

Key Dates

Wednesday November 1st
Armistice Day Presentation Year 5 & Year 6
State Athletics
Thursday November 2nd & Friday November 3rd
Soccer Clinic - Year 4
Friday November 3rd
Assembly 12.25pm - Foundation Orange
Monday November 6th
Pupil Free Day
Tuesday November 7th
Public Holiday
Thursday November 9th & Friday November 10th
Soccer Clinic - Year 4
Friday November 10th
Assembly 12.25pm - 2E
Year 4 Swimming Program commences

Wellbeing with Mr Prockter

In accordance with Child Safe Standard 4: Family Engagement – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

Cultivating the Habits of Positive Wellbeing: A Path to a Happier and Healthier Life
Positive wellbeing is the foundation upon which a fulfilling and meaningful life is built. It encompasses mental, emotional and physical health and is the key to experiencing happiness and contentment. While many factors contribute to one's wellbeing, habits play a significant role in shaping our daily experiences. In this article, we will explore the habits that can help you enhance your positive wellbeing and lead a more joyful and satisfying life.

• Gratitude
  Cultivating a habit of gratitude can transform the way you perceive the world. Start and end your day by listing the things you are grateful for. This practice encourages you to focus on the positive aspects of life, which, in turn, can reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve overall wellbeing.

• Mindfulness and Meditation
  In our fast-paced world, taking time for mindfulness and meditation is crucial. These practices help you stay present and reduce anxiety, enhance self-awareness, and promote emotional resilience. Regular meditation and mindfulness can lead to a more positive and balanced mental state.

• Exercise
  Regular physical activity is a fundamental habit for positive wellbeing. Exercise releases endorphins, reducing stress and boosting your mood. Whether it's a brisk walk, yoga, or intense workouts, find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your routine.

• Healthy Eating
  A balanced diet is not just essential for physical health; it significantly impacts your mental wellbeing. Nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can provide the necessary nutrients for optimal brain function and emotional stability.

• Quality Sleep
  Adequate and restful sleep is a pillar of positive wellbeing. Create a sleep routine that ensures you get enough sleep and maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Quality sleep is essential for mood regulation, stress reduction, and overall cognitive function.

• Social Connections
  Strong social connections are vital for happiness and positive wellbeing. Regularly spending time with friends and family, sharing experiences, and fostering supportive relationships can reduce stress and loneliness and boost feelings of happiness.

• Self-compassion
  Being kind to yourself is an often-overlooked habit for positive wellbeing. Acknowledge your imperfections and be gentle with yourself in times of failure or struggle. Practicing self-compassion can lead to improved self-esteem and resilience.

• Learning and Personal Growth
  Never stop learning and challenging yourself. Engaging in continuous personal growth and acquiring new skills or knowledge can provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose, contributing to overall wellbeing.

• Giving and Acts of Kindness
  Engaging in acts of kindness, whether small or significant, can boost your happiness and satisfaction. Helping others fosters a sense of connection and purpose, which are integral to positive wellbeing.

• Embrace Positivity
  Adopt a positive outlook on life. Focus on solutions instead of problems and challenge negative thought patterns. Practicing optimism can lead to better resilience in the face of adversity and overall life satisfaction.

Positive wellbeing is attainable through a combination of daily habits and practices. By incorporating the habits mentioned above into your daily routine, you can promote emotional and physical health, reduce stress, and increase your overall satisfaction with life. Remember that building these habits takes time and effort, so be patient with yourself as you work towards a more positive and fulfilling life.

Crazy to think we are already in the middle of the final term of 2023.

Have a great week 🙂
Mr Prockter

Curriculum News with Mrs Hall

Young Writers Award
As a school we are very proud of ALL our shortlisted finalists and are proud to announce the following;

Winner:  Ellie Woodburn - Year 3/4
Highly Commendable:  Arlo Thamm - Foundation

You can read Ellie and Arlo's award winning storied below.

RE with Mrs Davies

Confirmation Retreat
Last Thursday a large group of our Year 3 students travelled down to the Parish for their Confirmation Retreat. This was a wonderful day for them to learn all about this special sacrament and to begin preparing themselves for receiving their Confirmation on the weekend of 18/19th November. A big thank you to Fr James, Mary, Sr Rosie & Sr Mel as well as Kathleen, Nhan and Noa who went along as helpers for the day.

PE with Miss Clark

Regional Hot Shot Tennis
Well we have certainly had some windy weather in Swan Hill during last week and on Thursday the 26th of November the conditions were less than ideal for the Regional Tennis Hot Shots competition with horrendous winds at the tennis courts!

We had 8 boys participate on the day (Hot Shots Tennis can best be described as tennis on a smaller scale- smaller courts, smaller racquets, drop and underarm hit for a serve and first to 21 points to score)

Despite the weather conditions our boys can be really proud of their efforts having some great rallies playing singles and doubles but other schools from Rochester, Irymple and Echuca were too strong overall. Our boys showed great honesty and sportsmanship and conducted themselves really well especially in singles when the 1 V 1 situation can be a bit daunting for those who play team sports!

Best on the day was Oliver S and Rueben C who won the most sets for the team.

Regional Basketball
On Friday the 27th of November, both our St Mary's girls and boys team played at the Regional Basketball competition at the Basketball Stadium in Swan Hill.

Firstly, a huge thank you to Teagan Lawry who coached the boys and Tenay Fellows for coaching the girls.

The boys drew their first game and lost the next 2 games which meant they missed out on finals. They went down fighting and played some great quality basketball but unfortunately came up against some teams that had height and size on their side.

The girls won all 4 games to take them into the grand final and came away with the win which means they have qualified for State Basketball in Melbourne. They also played some great quality basketball and really got around each other to make sure their efforts lasted until the end of each game (they played 3 games in a row at the end with only 5 minute breaks in between each game!)   

A big thank you to all the parents and family who were able to come down to support our students on the day.

Well done to the following students;
Prue O, Lola P, Charli W, Daisy M, Lily N, Asha N, Mayla C and Evie K
Henry O, Archie O, Hamish L, Leo K, Lucas O, Oliver S and Rory M

State Athletics
We have two superstar students that will be participating at State Athletics in Melbourne this week on Wednesday November the 1st. St Mary’s will be cheering on Kayla M who is competing in the 100m sprint and Mattaeus C in the 100m and the 200m sprint. It is a fantastic effort from both of these students to be competing at 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

Poppy Appeal
We have Poppy Appeal merchandise availble to purchase in 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. 

Hats & Jumpers
Just a reminder to clearly label all school items, in particular jumpers and hats.

News from the Canteen

How to order:
Ordering from our canteen for recess or lunch is online via CDF Pay
https://smswanhill.cdfpay.org.au/
Orders are to be placed by 9.30am. We recommend ordering the night before.

If you are able to help in the canteen during Term 4 on any of the dates in yellow, please contact the office on 50332541 or email office@smswanhill.catholic.edu.au

Student of the Week

Birthday Wishes

Grandparents & Friends Day Highlights