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Dear Parents and Friends of St Mary’s,
What a wonderful week at St Mary’s with our Clean up St Mary’s Day and our Grandparents and Special person morning, making it a very busy and exciting week.
Although not present at both due to COVID, I was in constant contact with the staff as our St Mary’s school community came together for these two special occasions. The feedback was incredibly positive as the children worked diligently to prepare garden beds, sweep, weed, and generally tidy up our grounds to welcome all our visitors into our beautiful school.
I would like to thank all staff for their creativity and flexibility during these times when COVID and influenza are a prominent part of our day to day interactions. Please continue to RAT test and keep children at home if they exhibit flu-like symptoms; they will not learn if they feel unwell and require rest to overcome lurgies.
With three weeks to go until the end of Term Two, staff are busily completing assessments and writing reports. We look forward to reporting on students' successes in all curriculum areas now that we have returned to normality with our school routines and face to face learning.
Stay safe and warm.
Kind Regards,
Maria
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 1st | 2nd |
3rd Hot Lunch Day - Orders to be in by 9:00 |
||
| 6th | 7th | 8th |
9th Philip Green - Ugly Bugs and Mini Beasts Performance |
10th Hot Lunch Day - Orders to be in by 9:00 |
| 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th |
17th Hot Lunch Day - Orders to be in by 9:00 Winter Sports: Grades 3-6 |
| 20th | 21st | 22nd |
23rd Last day for Students
|
24th End of Term Two. Term Three begins on July 11th. |
The staff and students of St. Mary’s Primary gathered together on Monday, 3oth May for a ‘Clean up St. Mary’s Day’. It was special to see staff and students actively work together to improve the school that is so important to them all.
Smiles and giggles accompanied happy singing while little hands went to work, weeding, tidying up the wood chips and sweeping the garden paths.
While the senior kids were busy pruning branches, staining wooden tables and picking up rubbish the teachers were also trimming hedges and planting new flowers with their students.
After working hard all morning, the students and staff were treated to a hotdog lunch.
We were so happy and excited to welcome all the lovely visitors on Tuesday, 31st May for our Grandparents and Special People Morning. After getting comfortable in their classrooms, they all did some special schoolwork and fun art activities. Everyone got to know each other a little bit better over a hot cuppa and some delicious scones and slices, thanks to Tracey and Sharon.
Religion News
Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week – 27th May – 3rd June is a way to celebrate Indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster reconciliation discussion and activities. It started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993, developing into National Reconciliation Week in 1996.
“It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia."
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This week our Grades Three and Four will led our Friday Liturgy. The theme for our Liturgy is Catholic Education Week and Reconciliation Week. Thank You to Mr. Sheedy and Grades Three and Four.
Pentecost
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost. The word Pentecost means fiftieth day in Greek. It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as tongues of fire. It also marks the end of the Season of Easter. It is often called the Birthday of the Church as it is from this event that the disciples went forth to spread the good news.
Jesus told his Apostles at the Last Supper many things about the Holy Spirit, and some of these are included in the readings at this time, such as: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth…” (Jn 14:16-17). In another moment during the Last Supper discourse, Jesus even said to the Apostles, “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (Jn 16:7). The Holy Spirit’s presence with the Apostles, disciples and with the entire Church throughout the centuries is always meant to be a comfort, a consolation, a leader and a guide to Jesus’ friends.
Happy Birthday
Kind Regards,
Sue Benc
SCHOOL TV SPECIAL REPORT
In today’s world, it is becoming apparent that some young people are being influenced by the language around them. It is becoming more common for them to hear derogatory terms or offensive language on the streets, on social media channels, streaming services and in some forms of modern music. Proliferating the use of such language can sometimes normalise, glamorise and sanitise their impact, taking their meaning out of context. Words can be misconstrued to be hurtful, racist, homophobic, mysogynistic or even discriminatory. Using disrespectful language is considered socially unacceptable, and if not addressed early, can become a serious problem.
