Newsletter Term 2 Week 2

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Families,

It was lovely to welcome prospective new families to our school yesterday and show them around our school, particularly our vibrant junior classrooms and beautiful outdoor play areas. A huge thank you to the Foundation team and specialist teachers who came along to showcase all the many wonderful things we have on offer at St Mary’s. 

This week the Diocese of Ballarat turns 150!  We are celebrating this significant milestone at all parish masses this weekend and throughout Catholic Education Week in May. Many of our children and families also attended Mass over the weekend as part of their preparation for receiving the sacrament of the Eucharist.

This week is the last for a while for Rachel Edwards who is taking extended leave and on her return will be moving into a new role for the remainder of 2024. 1H has been very lucky to have Rachel team teaching with Miss McLean throughout the first term and we will all be excited to hear about her break on her return.

ANZAC Day
This week we pause to pay respect and honour to those who have given so much to the peace of our nation. Students have been learning about the meaning of ANZAC Day and we hope that many students will join staff and our student leaders for the ANZAC march and service at the cenotaph. For those attending we meet by 10.15 at Beaurepaires corner (opposite The Big Cod) and march to the cenotaph for the 11 am service.

School Closure April 26th- Learner Agency PD
Staff will join presenter James Anderson to continue to deepen their understanding of strategies and ways to provide meaningful opportunities for students to have agency over their learning. This means both Thursday April 25th and Friday April 26th  are student free days.  

The Great Race - April 29th-May 2nd
The kids are starting to get excited about this special event already!! The Great Race is truly one of the highlights of the school year. This very popular event starts on April 29th as a lead-up to the Senior and Junior Cross Country races. Children and staff earn points for their teams by walking or running laps of the school oval at lunchtime.

As our final school fundraiser for our new Ninja Playground and as a fun way to conclude the Great Race we see the return of the extremely popular COLOUR RUN, on Thursday, May 2nd (minus the slime this year!) This fantastic P & F fundraising initiative will run from 12:00-1:00 pm.  It certainly is a fundraiser that provides a lot of laughs as well as promotes the benefits of physical activity. More detailed information about the Colour Run has been shared via PAM last week. 

Enrolments for 2025
Enrolments are now open for children who start Foundation in 2025. Interviews for new and existing families will take place later in Term 2 and continue in Term 3. Parents of existing families who have a child to start in 2025 please ring the office so an enrolment form can be forwarded to you.

Mothers & Special Friends Morning tea - Friday, May 10th 
Advance Notice: On Friday May 10th, all Mums and special friends are invited to school between 10:30 and 11:30 to visit their child's classroom, receive a special treat for morning tea and then have the opportunity to share recess with their loved ones. We hope lots of you can join us at that time to celebrate and acknowledge how special you are to your families!

Another Free Little Library!
Due to the popularity of our first little free library which is located near our main gates, we have installed a second one near the OSHC gates. Families from St Mary’s, OSHC and Shamrock Park Kinder can borrow a book and/or bring a book to leave in the library for all to enjoy.

School Uniform
It seems we have our last burst of sunny weather this week before things start to cool down. The beginning of Term 2 is a transition period from Summer to Winter uniform. At the moment, students can wear either Summer or Winter uniforms based on the weather for that day. Further notice will be given in the newsletter when the full transition to Winter uniform is required. Hats or beanies are both acceptable as we transition into Winter uniforms. To avoid a phone call home or a uniform notice, please ensure your child is only wearing their sports uniform on the day they have PE with Miss Clark or their level sports day. Thank you for your support in ensuring your child is in the correct uniform each day.

Enjoy this beautiful Autumn weather and hope to see many of you  throughout the week,

Kate

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

Key Dates

Thursday April 25th
ANZAC Day - Public Holiday
Friday April 26th
Pupil Free Day - Staff PD 
Monday April 29th
Great Race commences
Tuesday April 30th
GRIP Student Leadership Day
Wednesday May 1st
School in Action Tour
Thursday May 2nd
Colour Run
Friday May 3rd
CESH Mass
No Assembly
Tuesday May 7th
Senior Cross Country
Thursday May 9th
MacKillop College Transition Day 1
School in Action Tour
Year 2 Camp
Friday May 10th
Mother's & Special Friends event

Wellbeing with Mr Prockter

The Importance of Mental Health Awareness
(Resource: Pine Rest Christian Menal Helath Services)

Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers and 13% of children each year. People struggling with their mental health may be in your family, live next door, teach your children, work in the next cubicle or sit in the same church pew.

However, only half of those affected receive treatment, often because of the stigma attached to mental health. Untreated, mental illness can contribute to higher medical expenses, poorer performance at school and work, fewer employment opportunities and increased risk of suicide.

What Exactly is a Mental Illness

A mental illness is a physical illness of the brain that causes disturbances in thinking, behavior, energy or emotion that make it difficult to cope with the ordinary demands of life. Research is starting to uncover the complicated causes of these diseases which can include genetics, brain chemistry, brain structure, experiencing trauma and/or having another medical condition, like heart disease.

The two most common mental health conditions are:

Anxiety Disorders
More than 19% of adults each year struggle with some type of anxiety disorder, including: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (panic attacks), generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias

Mood Disorders
Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar depression, affect nearly 10% of adults each year and are characterized by difficulties in regulating one’s mood.

What You Can Do to Help

Although the general perception of mental illness has improved over the past decades, studies show that stigma against mental illness is still powerful, largely due to media stereotypes and lack of education, and that people tend to attach negative stigmas to mental health conditions at a far higher rate than to other diseases and disabilities, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease.

Stigma affects not only the number seeking treatment, but also the number of resources available for proper treatment. Stigma and misinformation can feel like overwhelming obstacles for someone who is struggling with a mental health condition. Here a few powerful things you can do to help:

• Showing individuals respect and acceptance removes a significant barrier to successfully coping with their illness. Having people see you as an individual and not as your illness can make the biggest difference for someone who is struggling with their mental health.
• Advocating within our circles of influence helps ensure these individuals have the same rights and opportunities as other members of your church, school and community.
• Learning more about mental health allows us to provide helpful support to those affected in our families and communities.

RE with Mrs Davies

First Eucharist Enrolment Sessions
Over the weekend a large number of our Year 4 children attended their First Eucharist Enrolment session in preparation for receiving this sacrament in a few weeks time. A big thank you to Father James and Mary for leading such engaging and informative sessions for the children and their families. There will be a final session held on Wednesday 24th April at 4pm at the Parish.

PE with Miss Clark

Great Race and Colour Run
The much anticipated Great Race begins next week on Monday April 29th- Wednesday May 1st. Both staff and students are encouraged to participate at lunchtime by running or walking laps of our school oval to gain points for their house. Students can wear their sports uniform for the week. We will then celebrate the conclusion of the Great Race on Thursday May 2nd from 12-1pm by having a COLOUR RUN.  This is a chance for the students to have some fun with their classmates and be proud of their efforts during the week.

Senior Cross Country
The Senior Cross Country will be held on Tuesday the 7th of May for the Year 3 – 6 students at Riverside Park.  The top students for their age group qualify to represent the school at the Division Cross Country on 17th May.  The 9 and 10 year olds will run 2km and the 11, 12 and 13 year olds will run 3km. The first race will be starting at 11:30am. Information regarding this event has been sent home via PAM. Please ensure your child/ren have permission to attend this event. Family and friends are invited to come down and support the children.

The following is approximate times of each event; 
10 year girls and boys starting at 11.30am (2km run)
8/9 year girls and boys starting at 11.50am (2km run)
11 year girls and boys starting at 12.10pm (3km run)
12/13 year girls and boys starting at 12.30pm (3km run)

@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

Breakfast Club - donations of fresh fruit
Donations of fresh fruit eg. watermelon, oranges, stonefruit etc would be welcomed next term to be served at Breakfast Club. Donations can be left at the office.

Camps, Sports & Excursions Fund (CSEF)
Applications for CSEF close on 28th June 2024

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child. The annual CSEF amount per student is $150 for primary school students.

HOW TO APPLY:
New applicants should contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form or download from the CSEF website www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

If you applied for the CSEF at your child’s school in 2023, you do not need to complete an application form in 2024 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:
* New student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools in 2024 or you did not apply in 2023 
* Changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing at the school in 2024.
 If you are unsure please contact the school office on 50332541.

If you are eligible for CSEF you are also eligible for the Family Fee Assistance Scheme. The FFAS amount for 2024 is $860.00. This amount is credited against your school fee account once your CSEF application has been validated.

Buses - Town & Country bus reminders
Just a reminder that casual travel on our town bus service is $3 per day/per family. We kindly ask that this is sent to the office on the day that travel in required.

We are unable to issue bus passes for Country Buses. These buses are State Government funded and are for registered travellers only to travel to and from their place of residence.

Book Club - Issue 3 orders close Monday May 6th
Scholastic Book Club Issue 3 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

ANZAC Day
We have a range of ANZAC Day Appeal items available to purchase from the front offices. prices range from 50 cents to$5.00.

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.

Ordering from the canteen:
Recess and lunch orders are placed online only via CDF Pay. The orders close at 9.30am each day, so it is recommended you place your order the night before. Our canteen is a very busy, so late orders will be offered limited options. Please contact the office if you need help with CDF Pay.

https://smswanhill.cdfpay.org.au

Canteen Roster

Happy Birthday!

Student of the Week

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