Newsletter Term 1 Week 1

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and 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 very entertaining  listening to the children's stories of all the wonderful  times they have enjoyed over the holidays.

I must acknowledge our students and staff for the fantastic start to the school year. I was really heartened at the settled and calm classrooms this morning. This really sets the scene 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 yesterday and look forward to part 2 tomorrow to learn more about the children in their 2024 classes and the children were 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.

I would like to acknowledge and welcome our newest staff members:

And welcome to our new families and students across the school:

Year 1: Charlotte Singh, Sarah McGovern
Year 2: Riva Rai
Year 3: Aditri Vardhi, Alex Singh, Harjas Janjua, Anaya Kamal, Emme Joliffe
Year 4: Conor McGovern, Bryce Porter
Year 6: James McGovern, Dayne Purcell, Lane Lynas

Congratulations to Corey Daniels and his wife Meg who celebrated their wedding over the break and we wish Isis Lu all the best with her new position at SHSC and thank her for her contribution to our school during her time here.

Holiday Update 
Our OSHC vacation care was fully subscribed, and the children attending enjoyed the many different options and activities  each day. 

Finishing touches were completed to the new junior hubs and lots of spring cleaning and maintenance work has also occurred. With these jobs completed and the rain giving our new lawn a terrific head start, our grounds are looking fabulous and ready for action!

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the P & F the much anticipated new Ninja playground will be our next project ,with student input about design and equipment being sought this term.

School Hours
Our school gates open at 8.30am each day. We have our OSHC program available for any families who need to drop children off earlier. Please phone the office to book this service if required.
Buses commences at 3.15pm and the bell goes at 3.25pm for families who travel home by car.

School Photo Day - Tuesday February 6th
Just a reminder that our school photo day is fast approaching - Tuesday 6th February.  All information has been sent out via PAM. The students' individual and class photos will be taken on this day aswell as those who have ordered family photos.
*Students with siblings at MacKillop College can order family photos which will be taken at 3.30pm on Tuesday 6th February.
*The cut off for family photo orders is 4.30pm on Monday 5th February.
*Students to wear the uniform they would normally wear to school 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.

It is wonderful to welcome you all back and I look forward to a great year working together.

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

Key Dates

Tuesday January 30th 
First day for all students
Wednesday January 31st 
Meet the Teacher Chats continue
Foundation Rest Day
Tuesday February 6th
School Photos
Wednesday February 7th
Foundation Rest Day
Thursday February 8th
Start of Year Mass
Friday February 9th
Backflips against Bullying incursion

Wellbeing with Mr Prockter

Child Safe Standard 4: Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.

WELCOME BACK! 

The beginning of a new year often brings a range of emotions, varying for each person. From excitement and joy to nervousness and fear of the unknown, it's essential to acknowledge and accept these feelings, particularly as a new school year starts. Some of us may have had a busy break, and some with no real break at all. 

Upon starting a new school year it is important to keep things uncomplicated and routine based, it's encouraged to have daily conversations with your children and household members, discussing what they're looking forward to and any worries or nervousness they might be experiencing. 

Recognising that children may not always express their questions verbally, it's crucial to be mindful of the unspoken queries they may have. At St Mary's, we take pride in our caring staff, a quality I've observed during my time here. If you believe your child might need extra wellbeing support in 2024, please contact the office who will pass you onto me and I will contact you as soon as possible.. For those whose children were already receiving wellbeing support and want to continue, ensure you collect a consent form from the office. Please remember at the start of the year we want to see how kids start off, sometimes we need less focus to see if the kids who have had the Wellbeing support can put into place the strategies which they have been taught previously. This is how we build resilience!

I'm excited about the opportunities to connect and the experiences we'll share throughout the upcoming year.

See you all around the school 🙂

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 via PAM you will receive 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

Start of Year Mass
Our Start of Year Mass will be held on Thursday February 8th at 9.10am in our school gym. Families are more than welcome to attend.

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, 8th February at the Swan Hill Town Swimming Pool (outdoor) beginning at 1.00pm 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. If your child is interested they will receive a permission slip to take home. Please ensure permission is returned asap.

Team VIC Trials
This is for highly skilled students to try out for the Victorian State teams. This is a parent driven process of registering online, paying a fee and attending trials after school. These trials are only for students who are turning 10, 11 or 12 this year. Some of the sports included are AFL, Soccer, Netball, Basketball. To check out the full list of sports and trial dates please visit the website Team Vic Sport and Registration Key Dates 

The School Sport Victoria (SSV) Team Vic representative program provides a development platform for Victoria’s emerging student athletes to participate in the annual School Sport Australia (SSA) Championships. SSV coordinates the selection process for Team Vic teams in partnership with relevant state sporting organisations.

Please read the Team Vic Information Sheet on the sport page before registering. This document contains important information on the SSV Team Vic Program, in relation to eligibility, registration, selection, participation costs, and financial assistance.

Please also read the Team Vic Principal Endorsement process for 2024.

The registration for some sports opens on February 1st and closes early March. If you are interested please make sure you register quickly. If you do register, if there are local trials they will most likely be after school.

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

Book Club - Issue 1 orders close Thursday February 15th
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

Naming of school items
Please make sure all school items are clearly labelled, in particular jumpers and hats. This ensures they can be easily returned.

Meet the Teacher Chats - continuing on Wednesday January 31st
Instructions to book your interview are outlined below

News from the Canteen

We are looking for volunteers to help in our school canteen during 2024. Volunteer hours at 11.30am - 1.30pm. If you have a Victorian WWCC and would like to assist, please contact the office on 50332541.

Birthday Wishes

Community News