Newsletter Term 4 Week 11
Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Families,
As we approach the final week of the school year, there’s a wonderful sense of celebration and gratitude in the air. Advent reminds us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, and this special season invites us to reflect on the year that has been, while looking forward with hope to the joy of Christmas.
The end of the year is always a time to say farewell to members of our school community. For our Year 6 families who have the last of their children finishing at St Mary’s, we wish you all the very best for the future and thank you for all your contributions over the years.
This week we say farewell to some of our staff:
Paige Warburton
Exciting time for Paige as she takes up her first teaching role in 2025. While we will greatly miss her great work ethic and easygoing nature as an LSO, we are thrilled to see her embark on this next step in her career. We have no doubt that Paige will shine in her new class and thoroughly enjoy bringing her teacher training to life.
Lorren Bezuidenhout
It has been a real pleasure to have Lorren working firstly as an LSO and then as a teacher at St Mary’s over the past 18 months and we wish her all the very best as she takes up a new role teaching Prep/One at the Swan Hill Christian College.
We also say farewell to Nate Purtill and his family. We have loved having you at St Mary’s and wish you all the very best at your new school.
While it is hard to believe we have only a few days of school left, there is certainly plenty happening between now and Wednesday.
Year 6 Graduation - Monday December 16th
Tonight, we are farewelling our Year 6 students at school The Year 6 Graduation Night commences with an award ceremony that will begin at 7.00pm. We look forward to seeing family and friends gathering to wish them all the very best before heading to secondary school. A special thanks to our Year 6 team for their organisation of this event.
St Mary’s End of Year Mass
This Tuesday, 17th December at 11.00am, we celebrate our school year with a Mass at St Mary’s Church. This Mass is our way to formally reflect upon and celebrate all we have achieved this year and to say farewell to our Year 6 students and any departing staff. We hope many families can attend this Mass as it is such a special occasion for our school community.
Break Up Day - Wednesday, 18th December
Wednesday promises to be an action-packed day with all year levels enjoying an array of break up parties and celebrations. While the weather forecast is pleasant, please ensure your child is wearing sunscreen, has their hat and plenty of drinks with them. Please refer to the various notes sent home via PAM by each year level with information about what to wear and bring. This is the last day of school for students in 2024.
2025 Start of Year Meet the Teacher Chats
It has been terrific to see so many parents logging in and booking at time for our annual 'Meet the Teacher Chats' which are conducted at the start of the school year. Last week, you received instructions and a code on how to log in to select your preferred time on Wednesday 28th January or Tuesday 4th February.
http://www.schoolinterviews.com.au
Login Code: 94wpn
Reports
Reports will be posted early this week and should arrive in the next few days. They are a formal way of communicating with you about your children’s learning and indicate progress and effort made over the last semester in all areas of the curriculum
Brekky Club
This has once again been a very popular service provided by the school for those children who need something to eat before they begin the day. We have many bus children who begin their day extremely early and this gives them the chance to refuel ready for learning. We thank Trudy and the staff who work in Brekky Club each day and also the parent volunteers who help run this program. Special thanks goes to Bakers Delight, who donated the bread for the toast each day.
Canteen
Just a reminder that the last day for canteen this year is Tuesday, 17th December.
Finally, on behalf of the staff of St Mary’s, I thank you for your continued support and partnership throughout this year. May the peace and joy of the Christmas season fill your homes and hearts. Wishing you all a safe, restful, and blessed holiday season.
Happy Christmas and take care over the holiday season!
Kate
"Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It"
Mary MacKillop - Sisters of St Joseph Foundress
Key Dates
Monday December 16th
Year 6 Graduation
Tuesday December 17th
End of Year Mass - 11am St Mary's Church
Wednesday December 18th
Break up day activities
Casual dress day
Final day for students (normal finish time)
Wednesday January 29th
Meet the Teacher chats
Thursday January 30th
First day of the 2025 school year for all students
Tuesday February 4th
Meet the Teacher chats
Friday February 8th
School Photos
Wellbeing with Mr Prockter
Surviving the School Holidays
School holidays are usually a welcome break from the busy term time routines; uniforms, lunches and after school activities-- but we all know there is never a break from parenting.
Hopefully, the tips below will help you to make the school holidays a little more fun, create time to connect with your kids and make memories.
Plan
Get the kids involved in making a list of things they would like to do. Look for local events on around town. Plan for good and bad weather, rainy days are good days to have a Pyjama day. Remember not everything will go to plan--as they never do when kids are involved-- but that’s ok!
Do something out of the ordinary
The best memories can sometimes come from the small, free activities you schedule into the school holidays. A picnic, camping, bike rides, trips to the beach or local library are all great activities that won’t break the bank.
Gather your Village
Don’t be afraid to ask for help to share the load. Asking a friend to care for your kids during the holidays can be a great way for the kids to spend time with their friends while it frees you up to work or run errands. Repaying the favour on another day helps them out too!
Boredom is good
We all know that tearing kids away from their screens is the hardest challenge of the holidays. Unstructured time away from electronic devices is good for young minds. Consider trying a screen time contract (image to your left) to encourage your kids to be creative and help around the house before they sit in front of the screen. There are plenty of other examples online.
Adjust Expectations
We may like to all keep the house clean and tidy, but the reality is that with the kids home it will get messy! Let them have fun and play, but at the end of the day take some time to get them to pick up their toys and tidy up. A few minutes each day will save your sanity.
School holidays can provide the opportunities to slow down, relax and recover from a busy school term. Don’t forget to make time for yourself as well, even half an hour with a cuppa and a good book can be re-energising.
By Nyree Buchanan
Curriculum Adviser
Townsville Catholic Education
RE with Mrs Davies
Holy Family Parish - Christmas Mass Times 2024
Christmas Eve (Tues 24th): 7pm Swan Hill (With Nativity Play) &
9:30pm Swan Hill
Christmas Day (Wed 25th): 10:30am Swan Hill
Christmas Eve Nativity Play
Thank you to those families who have expressed interest in participating in the annual Christmas Eve Nativity Play at Mass beginning at 7pm on the 24th December. We will have a few practices at the Church later this/next week - more details will be provided via email.
End of Year Mass
On Tuesday 17th December at 11am we will be holding our whole school End of Year Mass to be held at St Mary’s Church. Family and friends are more than welcome to join us for this special celebration.
@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. If you would like to apply for a Working with Children's Check, please follow the link below;
https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/work-and-volunteering/working-with-children-check
Coming in 2025 - Changes to CDFpay
Keep an eye on PAM during the holidays as there will be changes to CDF Pay for 2025!
News from the Canteen
Volunteers Needed:
We are looking for canteen helpers on Fridays in 2025!
You will need your VIC WWCC. Volunteer hours at 11.30am-1.30pm.
Please email office@smswanhill.catholic.edu.au if you are able assist.
Happy Birthday!
Goodbye & Goodluck!
