Dear Parents and Carers,

Since our last newsletter, St Mary’s has been a hive of activity, with our students taking the lead and our dedicated staff, whose efforts are always commendable, supporting them in various engaging activities.

Last week, the school was a vibrant canvas of colours and costumes as our students, filled with joy and excitement, celebrated our Book Week Dress-up Day. Their love for their favourite book characters was evident, and it was a sight that surely filled you with pride as parents.

Yesterday, we celebrated another successful event in our school calendar: Father's Day breakfast. Our dads, granddads, and special people were treated to a delightful breakfast and received abundant love and attention from their children.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff who, once again, went above and beyond to create a wonderful morning celebration. Your efforts are truly appreciated and do not go unnoticed.

 I wish all our Dads a wonderful Father's Day this Sunday.

 

In September 2024, the Diocese of Sale and Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd

(DOSCEL) will jointly celebrate Child Safety Week. Child Safety Week in the Diocese of Sale will run from 1 to 7 September and will coincide with National Child Protection Week and Safeguarding Sunday (September 8).

The theme for Child Safety Week 2024 is: Every child in every community needs a fair go.

Every conversation matters.

 

Maria

 

Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents/Carers,

Last Wednesday the Grade 4/5/6 students participated in a Positive Peer Relationships Program which consisted of 2 one-hour sessions with people from UPP (Unleashing Personal Potential). It was a very interactive program that the students engaged in beautifully. We were able to gain some fantastic strategies and ideas to help the students within their relationships. The students were able to look at their personal friendship skills, how to build friendships, what empathy and active listening are and how to deal with bullying. We looked at how we respond to our friends and whether we were bulls or jellyfish. Bulls are people who intimidate with force to get what they want, threaten, yell and argue with other people and are classed as aggressive.  Jellyfish are people who won't explain their own wants or needs, will try to agree to please other people and do what other people want, they are classed as passive. The students were able to put themselves into which group they thought they came under. It was quite confronting but very eye-opening for them. They were then given information on what it is like to be an Owl, this is the optimum type of person we should all aim to be. An owl is a person who will share their needs or opinion and also listen to others to hear about their needs or opinions, they are classed as assertive.

We looked at being bucket fillers or bucket dippers, which we thought was a great analogy to bring into each classroom in our school. Bucket Fillers are people who help to pick up mess, smile, friendly, do as they are asked, nice, share, help people, say please and thank you, tell the truth and care about others. Fantastic qualities to have and ones we definitely encourage at St Mary’s. Bucket dippers are people who fight, use mean words, lie, cut in line, interrupt others, don't care, hurt feelings, punch, kick and push, do not listen, pretend they can't do something and leave a mess. Your children may come home using these terms, if they do please encourage them to explain what their understanding of them is. They are terms that can certainly be used at home.

 

We will be doing follow-up lesson in the Grade 4/5/6 class and some will be used in the Junior and Middle rooms as well

If you would like further information about this please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader.

Congratulations to Inara Girton, who was awarded with the Tarra Award for her performance at the Yarram Eisteddfod.

BOOK WEEK: August 20th - 26th

Our school was a riot of beautiful colour last week, as children and staff walked in wearing creative costumes, inspired by their favourite book characters.

Our staff and choir members got together to prepare a special morning tea and decorated beautiful cards to say 'Thank You' to our talented musical coaches: Julie, Mary and Valentina. Thank you for being so dedicated to working with our students, their wonderful performance was a testament to your hard work.

It was such a lovely sight to see our students with their Dads, Grandpas and loved ones enjoying a beautiful Fathers' Day Breakfast. Thank you to all the special people who were able to join us. Thank you to all our staff members who helped make the morning so special.

Book Club orders are due back on Friday, 6th September.

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthdays this fortnight. We hope you have a wonderful day.

Amelia Mumford - 31st August

Maliah Becker - 1st September.

Child Safety Week in the Diocese of Sale will run from 1-7 September and will coincide with National Child Protection Week, and Safeguarding Sunday (September 8).
The theme for Child Safety Week 2024 is: 'Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. Every conversation matters.'

Please click on the video below for a special message from Bishop Greg Bennet and Director of Catholic Education - Paul Velten.

Important dates:

• Child Safety Week in the Diocese of Sale will run from 1-7 September 2024.

• The dates coincide with Safeguarding Sunday and National Child Protection Week.

Religion News: Thursday the 29th of August 2024

Vietnam Veteran’s Day - Sunday, August 18.

On 18 August, we commemorate Vietnam Veterans' Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. We remember the sacrifices of those who died and say thank you to almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War.

Thank you to Jikaya and Kaiden who represented our school at the ceremony.

Fathers’ Day

Happy Fathers’ Day to all our dads, granddads, uncles and special people who take on the role of dad to our children.  There will be a Prayer Service at 2:00pm on Friday the 30^th of August.  Everyone is welcome to join us in the Grade 2/3/4/ classroom.

 

Sunday September 1^st is World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. 

This annual day, established by Pope Francis in 2015, is an opportunity to pray, reflect and act to care for God’s creation.  All of us, both those who most contribute to climate change and those whom it most affects, pray today for better stewardship of the Earth.

This World Day of Prayer also falls at the beginning of the Season of Creation, which runs until 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. This is an ecumenical season (all Christian Churches worldwide), dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles. 

There are many ways we can respond to Pope Francis’ call to care for the gift of God’s creation – why not take some time out of your day to walk in your local park or take a few moments to thank God for the flowers growing in your garden? Or, take time to sit quietly or read a book or a prayer in a special place of God’s Creation.  Or take time to look at the faces of your beautiful children and see the love they have for you.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September the 8^th

The Catholic Church celebrates the birth of Mary, Jesus’ mother on its traditional fixed date of September the 8^th, as the child of Saints Joachim and Anne.

Blessed Mary, is the patroness of St. Mary’s Parish, Yarram.  At the Parish Assembly, held in 2022 it was decided to take the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary as our Parish Feast Day, to be celebrated on the Sunday that comes closest to the actual Feast Day.  This year we are fortunate as the Feast Day falls on a Sunday. Therefore, as a Parish and School, we will celebrate the Feast Day on September the 8^th at 11:00am Mass.

Please come along and join together to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Mary’s Parish.  Please bring a plate of food to share.

Kind Regards,

Sue Benc