Mercy means Grace, Holiness and Forgiveness As a school community may we all extend mercy, be patient in offering compassion and comfort to all who we encounter. Newsletter 25 2016 25 August 2016 Dear Parents, Carers and Parishioners, August Calendar This week our school has identified a need to put some procedures in place to ensure all of our precious students are safe and adequately supervised at all times. Students who arrive at school prior to 8.20am are requested to sit in the breezeway area ( between the School Hall and the Office ) until the teacher starts playground duty at 8.20am. We have asked students not to play handball in this area until a teacher is there to supervise the game. Parents who are picking their children up from school in the afternoon, are asked to collect them from the supervised pick up zone in the breezeway. This is to ensure all children are fully supervised and safe while they are waiting to be collected. During this time, children will be seated to reduce the risk of injury to students and visitors walking through the school. Parents who find it more convenient to park in the back carpark to collect students are very welcome to do so but will need to collect their children from the breezeway. Thank you for your cooperation. Our priority is the safety of each of our students. Students in Years 3 and 5 have brought home their NAPLAN results today in their school bag. The NAPLAN data that is provided to our school gives us valuable information regarding future directions for learning and areas to celebrate. We hope that you will take some time to celebrate the successes of your child s learning. If you would like to discuss the results with your child s teacher, please contact us to make an appointment time. Kind regards Jacki Moore Assistant Principal Please support Kane McPherson, a former student of St Mary s Primary School, as he fights cancer. Please continue praying for Kane. Donations can be made via GoFundMe that has been set up in his name. Every dollar will help Kane s parents, Nat and Rick, to support him. HTTP://WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/2ECMBJTW Stay tuned for future school fundraising activities. THIS WEEK 22-26 Book Week continues 26 Whole School Liturgy in the School Hall Book Presentation For your Diary 27 Youth and Family Mass 5pm St Mary s Church 28 TOM 29 (all week) Mercy on the Move September 2 Father s Day Celebration BBQ 7:30am Liturgy 8:45am CSI applications for 2017 close at 3pm at South Grafton High 5 Dougherty Villa Visit 6 Touch Football Comp 7 Year 6 attend Mass at MCC 8:50am 8 Feast Day Mass 10:00am 12 Motivating Teenagers Parent information evening at MCC 13 P&F meeting 5:30pm Canteen Friday 26/8 Jodie Yager Amy Cheney Monday 29/8 Sarah Hunter Nichelle Whiley Friday 2/9 Kylie Shipman Belinda Chapman Louise Hall
Abby G, Saloan P Religious Education Christian Meditation Be still and know that I am God, (Ps 46:10). For more information on Christian Meditation please visit this website http://christianmeditationatstmarys.weebly.com We have many exciting events for students and their families occurring this term. This Saturday evening the Youth and Family Mass will be held at St Mary s Church and Mercy on the Move will take place next week (we will be displaying the student s achievements in the school hall late next week). The Father s Day Liturgy will be held in the school hall after the BBQ (8:45am) next Friday. On 7 September students in Year 6 will attend Mass at McAuley Catholic College. As Mass commences at 8:50am students need to make their own way to the College. They will be transported to St Mary s at the conclusion of Mass. On Thursday 8 September we will celebrate our school s Feast Day. Mass will be held in the school hall commencing at 10:00am. Details regarding the day s activities will be provided at a later date. Date Event Where Time Saturday 27 August Youth and Family Mass St Mary s Church 5pm 29 August All week Mercy on the Move St Mary s Primary 2 September Father s Day Celebration St Mary s Hall 8:45am 7 September Year 6 attend Mass at MCC MCC 8:50am 8 September Feast Day Mass St Marys Hall 10:00am God Bless, 13 September Children s Liturgy St Mary s Church 8:00am Tarnya Jones Leader of Evangelisation Sacrament of the Eucharist Please be advised that those Families and Teachers who are assisting with the provision of example and teaching of the Children of our Parish Family; will be pleased to know that the weekends of choice for Parents to present their Children for the Sacrament of the Eucharist (their First Holy Communion) will be as follows: 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Saturday 22nd October OR 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Mary s Grafton Saturday 22nd October 8.00am Mass at St Mary s Grafton Sunday 23rd October OR 9.30am Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Sunday 23rd October 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Saturday 29th October OR 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Mary s Grafton Saturday 29th October 8.00am Mass at St Mary s Grafton Sunday 30th October OR 9.30am Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Sunday 30th October 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Saturday 5th November OR 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Mary s Grafton Saturday 5th November 8.00am Mass at St Mary s Grafton Sunday 6th November OR 9.30am Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Sunday 6th November 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Saturday 12th November OR 6.00pm Vigil Mass at St Mary s Grafton Saturday 12th November 8.00am Mass at St Mary s Grafton Sunday 13th November OR 9.30am Mass at St Patrick s South Grafton Sunday 13th November Youth and Family Mass Saturday 27 August 5pm St Mary s Church Children s Liturgy 2nd Sunday of each month 8:00am Mass St Mary s Church St Mary s Church, Grafton Weekend Mass Times Saturday Vigil 6:00pm (Daylight Savings Time) 5:00pm (9 April - Winter) Sunday Mass 8:00am
FATHER S DAY BREAKFAST BBQ To all Fathers, Grandfathers and Carers of St Mary s children We would like to invite you to a Father s Day Breakfast BBQ On: Friday 2 nd September From: 7.30am in the school grounds. Come along and enjoy a bacon and egg or sausage sandwich, followed by a liturgy at 8.45am. Children may purchase something to eat for $2-00. Canteen The school canteen is closed on Monday 19 September and Friday 23 September. The Canteen Committee will consider keeping the Canteen open in the last week of term if they receive offers of assistance. Anyone who can assist is asked to contact the school. SSSSHHHHH Orders for the Father s Day gift are due no later than Tuesday 30 August. A modern musical reworking of the classic tale, including all the traditional characters: downtrodden Cinderella, Rockerfella (formerly known as Prince Charming!) Buttons, the Ugly Sisters and the Fairy Godmother, with a selection of additional characters, from music managers and paparazzi, to good and bad fairies - all placed in a world of fame and celebrity. St Mary s Primary School will be presenting Cinderella and Rockerfella in Term 4, 2016.
Upcoming Events Items being sent home previously: Items being sent home today: Naplan results - Year 3 and Year 5 Book Fair Book Week Monday 22 August to Friday 26 August Please come along to view the great range of books and purchase books at this major fundraiser for our library. The library will be open from 8:30am to 9:00am each day for the children to purchase books. There will be other times throughout the day for viewing and purchasing, depending on Mrs Cannon s classroom commitments. Please check on Facebook or with the Office before visiting the library. Book Week Presentation As it is the 70 th anniversary of the Children s Book Council of Australia Awards we are highlighting a book from each decade of the 70 years by reading and presenting that book in some way. Each class teacher has chosen a book and is talking to the class about how to present. This includes dressing up as characters from the book facilitating a celebratory presentation of 7 quality stories! The presentation of the books will occur on Friday 26 August at 8:45am in the School Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the presentation. SCHOOL BELL TIMES Morning Bell First lunch break Second lunch break Dismissal 8:45am 10:45am 11:35am 1:35pm 2:05pm 3:05pm National Literacy and Numeracy Week 29 August to 4 September https://www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au/parents Kindergarten 2017 Interviews with parents of children commencing Kindergarten in 2017 have almost been completed. Families who intend to enrol their child at St Mary s Primary next year can arrange an appointment time by contacting the school office. Transition activities continued this week.
St Mary s Primary School Sensory Wall We have received positive feedback from far and wide regarding our Sensory Wall. Teaching professionals have become aware of our wall via Facebook and have contacted the school requesting information so that they can replicate the wall in their own schools. Our appreciation is extended to all those who have assisted with this project. Life Education NSW can recommend the following resources to aid parents in discussions around cyber safety: http://www.lifeeducation.org.au/ parents/cyber-safety https://www.esafety.gov.au/ education-resources/iparent/ staying-safe/photos-videos-andsocial-media
On Tuesday, 23 August our Stage 3 students, were invited to participate in the McAuley Discovery Learning Day, which celebrated science. During the day they were involved in Science, Sport and Book week activities.
P and F News The students of St Mary s will be getting some new Chromebooks thanks to the fundraising of the P and F. We didn t quite reach our goal of raising enough funds for ten Chromebooks but should be able to purchase around six. Can t wait to see them in use. FATHER S DAY Our year 5 parents have the Father s Day Gift bag well under control and need the Gift Bag slips returned by Tuesday 30th August. It is a fantastic service offered by our parents and the students always love to grab something for a special person in their lives. Please check what other celebrations St Mary s in conjunction with the P and F have planned for Father s Day in this newsletter. P AND F MEETING The last P and F meeting was held on Tuesday 16th August, 2016. Within the next week the minutes of this meeting will be added to the school s website. It was decided at the meeting that meetings should be held on the second Tuesday of every month during term time and the constitution will be changed to reflect this. It was thought that if meeting times could be reduced to an hour then more parents might be able to attend. To help this process each agenda item will have a recommended time placed on them and any reports that need to be tabled will be circulated the week before the next meeting. The next meeting will be held on the 13th September at 5.30 pm. It would be great if you could join us! The P and F have agreed to try fundraising with the THAT S MINE label company. This should be up and running in the next few weeks and the school can earn up to 30% commission for orders placed. There will be more information coming. ACCESSING THE P and F MINUTES THROUGH THE WEBSITE
Minnie-Water Wooli- Nippers Minnie Water-Wooli Nippers will be holding our first sign up day at Grafton Shopping World from 8:30am-12pm Saturday 17 th September and again along with proficiency swims at the South Grafton Pool Sunday 18 th and Saturday 24 th September from 2-4pm. Our first Nipper activity day will be at Minnie Water Main Beach Sunday 25 th September. For further information please contact Angela Hinterholzl jac@mwwslsc.org.au or call 0421 778 072. Brothers Cricket Club Sign On Day Brothers Cricket Club will be conducting a sign on day on Saturday 3 September at Ellem Oval nets. Sign on will be from 10am onwards. If you would like more information or a registration form sent to you prior to this date please contact Lynn Rudder on 0427676614. Cricket News South Services Cricket Club are having a sign on afternoon on Wednesday 7th September from 4pm-5pm at JJ Lawrence Nets, Ryan Street. If you would like to play, the age groups are Under 10s, Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s and senior grades. For more information contact Dave Atherton on 0419 615 789 or Tom Kroehnert on 0488 096 707 or contact the club through Facebook. Clarence Science Initiative 2017 Children from Year 4 and Year 5 are invited to apply for the 2017 CSI Program which is held at South Grafton High School. Key dates are shown below and the flyers and application forms are available from class teachers and the school office. 24/8/2016 Information evening held at SGHS Library from 5.30pm to 6.00pm. 2/9/2016 Applications for CSI 2017 close at 3.00pm. 9/9/2016 Entry testing day SGHS Hall 9am to 12noon. 23/9/2016 Teacher nomination forms required back at SGHS (week 10). 07/11/2016 CSI 2017 offers mailed.