Newsletter Term 2 Week 6

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Families,

This morning we farewelled our Year 3 staff and students as they boarded the buses to head to Camp Kookaburra near Bendigo. Check our socials for updates on all the fun to be had there!

We were very excited to have Dion Drummond an experienced Indigenous dancer and storyteller perform today. All students from Foundation to Year 6 participated in learning actions of songs and dances and Dion highlighted some important values and messages such as respect with energy and humor.

School Facebook Page and Instagram
Would you like to keep up to date with school events and see photos of our staff and students in action? YES! Then make sure you like our St. Mary’s Facebook page or follow us on Instagram by using the links below.

St Mary's Primary School Swan Hill

https://www.instagram.com/stmarysswanhill/?hl=en

Junior Cross Country -Thursday 23rd May
The St. Mary’s Junior Cross Country (Foundation to Year 2) will be held this Thursday, May 23rd on the St. Mary’s School oval between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm. Family and friends are very welcome to come along and cheer the kids on.

Please let the office know if you plan to take your child/ren at the end of the day, before the event.

The order of events are (please note these are approximate times):
2.10 pm - Foundation Girls
2.15 pm - Foundation Boys
2.20 pm - Year 1 Girls
2.25 pm - Year 1 Boys
2.30 pm - Year 2 Girls
2.40 pm - Year 2 Boys

Open Day
This Sunday 26th May is the next of our scheduled Open Days. These have been very successful with many new families taking the opportunity to look through our school, meet staff, and ask questions about aspects of school life at St Mary’s and about Flying Start  our preschool transition program we run in Late Term 2/start of Term 3 .

Flying Start
Enrolments have been steady for Flying Start and places are filling fast, especially in the 9.30 am session, so don’t forget to contact the school to confirm a place for your preschooler. 

They love the chance to experience sessions of Science, Music, Italian, PE, Art, and Technology and to meet many of our teachers along the way.

Flying Start starts on Thursday, June 13th, and runs on Thursday or Friday mornings (repeat sessions) for all interested families. Ring our friendly office on 50332541 for more information

SRC Casual Dress Day - next Friday 31st May
This month our casual theme is wearing red with all money raised going to support MS. To get into the spirit of things and support the Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser, "The May 50K" is designed to encourage people to clock up 50 kms over the month, staff and students will be walking laps from 10.30 am-11.00 am on Friday. There will also be red jelly for sale by the SRC for 50c per cup.

SAC 
It has been fantastic to have several new SAC members on board this year and I have valued their input, questions, and new ideas. We are currently refining a parent opinion survey around aspects of school life at St Mary’s to send to all families. Discussion around providing gender-neutral options for summer and winter uniforms has led to a subcommittee forming to research this further and present ideas at future meetings

Transition in Winter Uniform
As the weather is cooling down, this week marks the transition into winter uniform with all children expected to be decked out in winter uniform by Friday 24th May.

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.

Have a terrific week and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Junior Cross Country or at assembly hosted by 3Y on Friday.

Kate

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

Key Dates

Monday May 20th & Tuesday May 21st
Year 3 Camp
Monday May 20th
Dion Drummond Indigenous Performance
Wednesday May 22nd
Year 2 Level Liturgy 11.30am
Thursday May 23rd
Junior Cross Country
Friday May 24th
Assembly 3Y - 12.25pm
Sunday May 26th
Open Day
Tuesday May 28th
Regional Cross Country
Friday May 31st
Assembly 4P - 12.25pm
Saturday June 1st & Sunday June 2nd
Year 4 Eucharist Masses

Wellbeing with Mr Prockter

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

The Importance of Reading
Reading books to children, particularly at a young age, holds immense importance for their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Here are several key reasons why this practice is beneficial:

Cognitive Development

1. Language Acquisition: Reading to young children exposes them to a rich vocabulary and various sentence structures, which enhances their language skills and comprehension. Early exposure to language sounds, rhythms, and patterns aids in faster language acquisition.
2. Brain Development: Regular reading stimulates brain development, especially in areas responsible for processing language and visual images. This early stimulation can improve a child's ability to concentrate, remember, and reason.
3. Early Literacy Skills: Familiarity with books and stories helps children understand basic literacy concepts such as the alphabet, phonics, and word recognition. This foundation is crucial for their future reading and writing skills.

Emotional and Social Development

1. Emotional Bonding: Reading together provides a unique opportunity for parents and children to bond. The shared experience of storytelling fosters a sense of security and love, strengthening the parent-child relationship.
2. Empathy and Understanding: Through stories, children are introduced to diverse characters and situations, helping them develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world. They learn to see things from different perspectives and recognize various emotions.
3. Emotional Regulation: Stories often depict characters dealing with emotions and challenges, which can help children understand and manage their own emotions. They learn coping mechanisms and the importance of resilience.

Academic Success

1. School Readiness: Children who are read to regularly are better prepared for school. They are more likely to excel in literacy-related tasks and have a positive attitude towards learning.
2. Improved Concentration and Discipline: Listening to stories requires attention and patience. This practice helps children develop concentration, discipline, and the ability to focus on tasks for extended periods.

Imagination and Creativity

1. Stimulating Imagination: Stories take children to different worlds, sparking their imagination and creativity. This imaginative play is crucial for cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
2. Cultural Awareness: Books expose children to various cultures, traditions, and ways of life, broadening their horizons and fostering an appreciation for diversity.

Practical Tips for Reading to Children

1. Consistency: Make reading a daily habit, even if it's just for a few minutes. Consistency helps build a routine and emphasizes the importance of reading.
2. Interactive Reading: Engage children by asking questions about the story, discussing the illustrations, and encouraging them to predict what happens next. This interaction makes reading more enjoyable and educational.
3. Choosing Age-Appropriate Books: Select books that are appropriate for the child's age and interests. This ensures that the content is both engaging and comprehensible.

In conclusion, reading books to children from a young age is a powerful tool that supports their overall development. It lays a strong foundation for cognitive abilities, emotional well-being, social skills, and academic success. By making reading a regular and enjoyable part of their lives, parents and caregivers can help children develop essential skills and a lifelong love for books. 

Have a good week everyone 🙂

Mr Prockter

RE with Mrs Davies

Eucharist Retreat
Last Tuesday a large group of excited Year 4 students headed down to the Parish Centre for a day of learning and reflection about receiving their First Eucharist next weekend. A big thank you to Fr James, Mary and our student helpers Evie, Maddie and Kathleen for support over the day. These students are really looking forward to celebrating this special sacrament over next weekend’s masses - Saturday 1st June 6pm and Sunday 2nd June 10.30am. All of our school community is more than welcome to come along and celebrate with them.

PE with Miss Clark

Division Cross Country
On Tuesday 14th of May, the Division Cross Country was held down at Riverside Park. It was ideal  running conditions for the event. Well done to all St Mary’s students for your amazing efforts on the day. It was a very successful event with St Mary’s even starring in a few podium place finishers. Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for Regional Cross Country; 

Henry O, Ryder W, Zavier F, Jax S, Belle L, Lily N, Bella S, Patrick K, Mia H, Ivy P, Rubi K, Heidi H, Wilhem F, Raf F, Willow C, Arlee P, Lewis K, Joseph K and Conor M.

Regional Cross Country will be held in St Arnaud on Tuesday the 28th of May. We look forward to cheering on these students and hearing about the day. Thank you to all the parents, family and friends who were able to come down to show your support.

Junior Cross Country
The St. Mary’s Junior Cross Country (Foundation to Year 2) is this week on Thursday the 23rd of May on the St. Mary’s School oval between 2:00pm and 3:00pm. All family and friends are welcome to attend to support their child/ren. All children are encouraged to participate with the aim of having fun and trying your best. The following are approximate times of the events;

2.10pm - Foundation Girls
2.15pm - Foundation Boys
2.20pm - Year 1 Girls
2.25pm - Year 1 Boys
2.30pm - Year 2 Girls
2.40pm - Year 2 Boys

The Great Race individual laps
The individual award winners for the Great Race were announced over the speaker at the Monday morning announcements and were presented with their certificate. Well done to the following staff and students who achieved the most laps for their year level:

Foundation: Bowie G and Sylvie C 
Year 1: Archie M and Sarah M
Year 2: Jamison C and Elise K
Year 3: Joseph K and Nylah K
Year 4: Raf F, Wilhelm F and Maeve M
Year 5: Mattaeus C, Leo E and Mia H
Year 6: Lucas F and Arie W
Staff: Jo Rogers, Mrs Hall and Mrs Bannam

PMP volunteers
A final call out for any parent volunteers to help with Foundation and Year One PMP this term starting in week 7! All Foundation and Year One classes still need parent volunteers to help run station activities with a small group of the students during their PE specialist time. If you are interested please return your child/ren’s note or contact the office. Below are the following dates and times of each of the 4 sessions;

Foundation YELLOW       1:40pm - 2:25pm (Tuesday), 28th of May and 4th, 11th, 18th of June

Foundation ORANGE       2:30pm – 3:10pm (Tuesday), 28th of May and 4th, 11th, 18th of June

Foundation BLUE              11:30am - 12:10pm (Thursday), 30th of May and 6th, 13th, 20th of June

Foundation GREEN           12:15pm - 12:55pm (Thursday), 30th of May and 6th, 13th, 20th of June

1H       1:40pm - 2:25pm (Monday) 27th of May and 3rd, 17th, 24th of June (catch up session for                       King’s Birthday public holiday)

1G        2:25pm – 3:10pm (Monday) 27th of May and 3rd, 17th, 24th of June (catch up session for                       King’s Birthday public holiday)

1F        9:00pm - 9:50am (Friday) 31st of May and 7th, 14th, 21st of June

1E        9:55am - 10:30am (Friday) 31st of May and 7th, 14th, 21st of June

@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.

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

Just a reminder to sign in at the office when you are on canteen duty

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