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Newsletter Term 2 Week 3

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Families,

This week is Catholic Education Week. We have a range of exciting activities organised to celebrate this special occasion on our school calendar. Catholic Education Week takes on special significance this year as our community of schools recognises the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat with the theme:

'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer'
(Romans 12:12)

Our finale for the week is our annual CESH (Catholic Education in Swan Hill) Mass this Friday May 3rd. St Mary Mackillop College will join us for morning tea before we celebrate Mass together in the St Mary’s gym at 11:30am. Parents are warmly invited to attend.

ANZAC Day
Last Thursday we paused to pay respect and honour to those who have given so much to the peace of our nation.

It was heartening to see over 50 students and their families join staff for the ANZAC march and service at the Cenotaph. Our School Captains did a brilliant job reading at the service and laying a wreath from our school and I received many compliments from community members about the reverence and the respectful way our students conducted themselves throughout the ceremony.

Frankie Merrett & Gracie Zucco rode in the Woorinen RSL ANZAC Dawn service representing the light horseman.

The Great Race - April 29th-May 2nd
The ever-popular Great Race begins today as a lead up to the Senior and Junior Cross Country. It is a wonderful sight to see so many children involved in this activity and parents are very welcome to come along and join us each day. Children are allowed to wear their PE uniform/runners to school each day of the Great Race week so that they can participate fully 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.

On Thursday, students can wear casual dress (active wear). Please also send your child along with an old white/light coloured shirt or T Shirt to protect their clothes in the fun run and a plastic bag to put it in afterwards.

Parents are very welcome to come and join us on Thursday and join in all the fun!

School in Action Tours
On Wednesday May 1st, we are holding our first of our School in Action tours for families with preschool aged children looking to enrol in Foundation in 2025. School in Action mornings give families the chance to see how our school operates in real time by visiting different classrooms as they go about their daily work. They really are a great opportunity for prospective parents to look around our beautiful school, particularly our vibrant junior classrooms and to gather information about St. Mary's. If you know of anyone considering St Mary’s as their school of choice for 2025, please encourage them to ring the office and register to attend.

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 Event- Friday May 10th
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.

Kate

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

Key Dates

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 (Casual Dress: Active Wear)
Friday May 3rd
CESH Mass
No Assembly
Wednesday May 8th
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
Thursday May 16th
Pupil Free Day - Staff PD

Wellbeing with Mr Prockter

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

Wellbeing Dogs
Mac is into his 2nd year with us at St Mary’s and having an extremely positive start. Mac has built a close relationship with a group of students who are playing an active role in taking care of his needs, while getting their needs met as well.

Wellbeing dogs play a slightly different role to therapy dogs as they connect with many, many people in their role as support for people in communities such as schools, correctional facilities, hospitals, and aged care settings.

Wellbeing dogs bring the same opportunities for positive impact as therapy dogs and offer the natural connection between mankind and dogs as well as eagerness to interact with many people within a program such as the Dogs Connect program.

We love to see and hear about therapy dogs and wellbeing dogs playing their role in the lives of people. If you are interested in learning more about the difference between a therapy dog and a wellbeing dog, feel free to contact us and we will happily find time to discuss this further with you.

Anxiety
We are constantly encouraged by more and more recent research findings and evidence around how dogs are supporting people who experience anxiety, trauma, and adversity in their lives.

Science tells us that when people are feeling stressed or experiencing anxiety even the act of patting and sitting with a dog they know causes a reduction in anxiety, a reduction in heart rate, and a feeling of calm.

We love that this science supports what wellbeing dogs do with so many people in schools and workplaces who experience anxiety.

Recent findings show us science has proven that when a person looks into the eyes of a wellbeing dog they are connected with, they experience a release of oxytocin and so does the dog. Can you imagine the impact this would have on people who experience anxiety, trauma, challenges in the home, school, or work life.

Of course, wellbeing dogs do so much more than just support people experiencing anxiety or trauma. When a wellbeing dog is authentically connected to a community the positive impacts are too many to list. Whether we see the interactions on a preventative level, or an intervention level, we have so much to learn about what is on offer in these moments.

We love and are constantly grateful for what wellbeing dogs are offering as support in schools and workplaces!’

Have a great week everyone!

Mr Prockter :)

Curriculum with Mrs Hall

2024 Premiers' Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge is now open and encourages children and students to read a set number of books over the year and record their efforts online. Since the Challenge first began in 2005, more than 4.3 million students have read over 60 million books. This year’s Challenge is a chance for all of us to explore new books and find new favourites, with the theme ‘explore, learn, enjoy”.

If you're a student in Foundation to Year 6 you need to:

Read a certain number of books during the Challenge, as shown below. Students in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 can read books by themselves or with someone else.

Make sure all your information is completed online by the closing date of the Challenge (6th Sept) if you're a home-based reader.

Number of books you need to read:

Foundation to Year 2
Number of books: 30
Number of books from the Challenge book list: 20 or more

Year 3 to Year 6
Number of books: 15
Number of books from the Challenge book list: 10 or more

What you can read
Most of the books you read should be from the Challenge book lists. The rest can be any book you choose. You can read books on the book list for your year level or a level above and they'll count towards your Challenge total. You can also count the books you read for the MS Readathon in the Challenge.

RE with Mrs Davies

CESH Mass 2024 - 150 Year Celebrations
The logo for the 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Ballarat was prepared by a committee convened by Bishop Paul. The design incorporates the diocesan logo and the bough of a tree drawn by Sr Anne McMillan in 1985. The words Anne had used with this drawing were, “If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come”. It is an old Chinese proverb, which could be interpreted as a reminder to keep hope alive and a call to open our hearts to all. The bough of a tree symbolises growth, interconnectedness and life. The leaves could symbolise the communities, the parishes, the people of the diocese.

The text Communities: Remember, Revitalise, Hope reflects various aspects of the anniversary. The word “Community” highlights the fact that a diocese is essentially a community drawn together by Christ, a large community made up of many local communities. The word “Remember” refers us to the history of the diocese. In this remembering, we acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of that history, celebrating the achievements and recognising the failures to live our Christian faith to the full. The word “Revitalise” calls us to invest ourselves in bringing new life to the community today. The word “Hope” encourages us to look forward to the future with confidence in God.

The Scripture verse chosen for our 150th anniversary year reflects various elements of our vocation as a Christian community. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). The words are drawn from a passage in St Paul’s letter to the Romans in which the apostle lists qualities appropriate for a community inspired by Christ. As the years go by, the community experiences times of trial as well as times of gladness. Through it all, their trust in Christ makes them joyful in hope and patient in affliction. They recognise that they need God’s help in all they do and so they are faithful in prayer, seeking God’s help day by day.

May this anniversary year be a season of renewal for our diocese, our community of communities from the Murray to the sea.

We warmly invite all our families and wider school community to attend our CESH Mass at 11.30am on Friday 3rd May in our St Mary’s School Gym.

PE with Miss Clark

The Great Race and Colour Run
The much anticipated Great Race begins this week from Monday 29th of April - Wednesday 1st of May. This year will the Dingoes win back to back or will Bandicoots, Bunyips or Wombats steal the victory?!

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, 2nd of May 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.

Good luck to all houses!

Senior Cross Country
Next week students in Years 3-6 will participate in the Senior Cross Country at Riverside Park.

Due to unforeseen circumstances PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE TO WEDNESDAY THE 8TH OF MAY.

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)

Family and friends are welcome to come down to support the students. The top students for their age group can go on to represent the school at the Division Cross Country on Tuesday, 16th May. If your child/ren has qualified for the next stage they will be notified and information regarding this event will be sent home via PAM.

PMP
As part of the PE curriculum, our Foundation and Year One students will participate in a PMP program (Perceptual Motor Program) to help promote fundamental motor skills in fun small group station activities. This program will start this term in week 6 and will run for 4 weeks during their PE lesson time.
This program requires parental assistance to operate successfully.

If there are any parents who can assist during the program, look out for information sent home with your student if you would like to volunteer to help run station activities.

@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.

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

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