Dear Parents and Families,

As Term 2 comes to a close, we reflect on the remarkable achievements and growth of our students. Their dedication and enthusiasm have been evident across all classes, from Foundation to Grade 6. Our students have excelled in both academic and extracurricular activities, showcasing their talents and commitment to learning.

Term 3 promises to be exciting with our annual Eisteddfod, where students will have the opportunity to shine in various performing arts categories. Additionally, our Grade 5/6 students will return from their camp, where they enjoyed 3 days of outdoor adventures, team-building activities, and new friendships. Their positive experiences and stories will surely inspire their peers.

Thank you to all staff, students, and parents for your work throughout the term.

As we head into the break, we encourage everyone to have a safe and restful holiday. Recharge and prepare for another term of learning and fun. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 3!

Regards

Deputy Principal

Anthony Sheedy

We thank you Lord, for this term. For our challenges, our successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends. Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TERM 2 2024

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Happy Birthday to  Ryan McLeod and Chloe Derbyshire, who celebrate their birthdays in July. We hope you have a wonderful day!

Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents/Carers,

The last competency in the Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Wheel is responsible decision making.

Responsible decision making is having the abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behaviour and social interactions across diverse situations. This includes the capacities to consider ethical standards and safety concerns, and to evaluate the benefits and consequences of various actions for personal, social, and collective well‑being.

Skills associated with having these abilities are:

• Demonstrate curiosity and open‑mindedness
• Identify solutions for personal and social problems
• Learn to make a reasoned judgment after analysing information, data, evidence and facts
• Anticipate and evaluate the consequences of actions
• Recognise how critical thinking skills are useful both inside and outside of school
• Reflect on one’s role to promote personal, family, and community well‑being
• Evaluate personal, interpersonal and community impacts
• Make ethical decisions.

These are skills that will develop with age but it is never too early to introduce them to your children.

There is extensive evidence associating childhood social and emotional skills with enhanced outcomes at school and in later life, in relation to improved physical and mental health, increased school readiness and academic achievement, reduced propensity towards crime, and expanded employment and income prospects.

At St Mary’s we are making this a priority and we will be introducing a program into our school next year called The Resilience Project. It is a great opportunity for our school and we have been allocated funding to cover the cost of this for the next 3 years. This encompasses Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health and Wellbeing in one program. The link below will give you more details on the project.

https://theresilienceproject.com.au/

If you have any questions or queries or would like more information on any of the information provided please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

LEHP - VISION SCREENING

A big thank you to the Lion's Club who conducted a vision screening test for some of our students. We appreciate the time and effort you took, to run this program smoothly.

Religion News: Celebrate NAIDOC Week

Sunday 7th of July – 14^th of July

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Each year, the NAIDOC Week theme is chosen to highlight matters of importance, create awareness and to recognise the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The NAIDOC Week theme for 2024 –Keep the Fire Burning!  Blak, Loud  and Proud (this is not a spelling mistake from me), encourages all of us to champion and drive institutional, structural, and collaborative change while also acknowledging and celebrating those who for generations have driven positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-theme

Aboriginal Blessing by Brooke Prentis

May our footsteps, on these ancient lands, 

remind us of creation and connectedness, in our search for truth.

May the Gum Tree, from its roots to its branches, 

remind us to dig deep and reach high, in our action for justice.

May the Eagle, who soars in the sky, 

remind us of the power, in our call for love.

May the expanse of the lands and seas, of the sky and stars, 

remind us of God’s timing in our faith in hope.

May the Holy three, Creator Spirit, Lord God, Papa Jesus, 

remind us of community.

So with grace, mercy, and peace, go in truth, justice, love and hope.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday the 28^th of July.  We pray for Jikaya, Inara, Cassie and Peter as they prepare for this special Sacrament.

Kind Regards,

Sue Benc

We spent the day cleaning and tidying up the school grounds. thank you to all our staff and students for your hard work, we hope you enjoyed your hot chips!