Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy
Last Friday we celebrated our beautiful Mums! It was wonderful to see so many mums and grandmothers come along to join us for a delicious breakfast. We are blessed to have such a lovely community and the opportunity to gather once more to celebrate. This was followed by a lovely liturgy in honour of our mums, presented by Kinder. Thank you to Mrs Schofield for your preparations with the Kinder children as well as the wonderful help from their Year 6 buddies. You all did a wonderful job leading us in music and prayer.

School Visit to West Wyalong
Last week Mr Bateman and Mrs Heffernan travelled to West Wyalong to visit St Mary’s War Memorial School. The school is currently implementing a maths program called Connecting Maths Concepts and a reading program called Reading Mastery. As part of our partnership with Good to Great Schools Australia, we will be introducing these programs at St Mary’s later in Term 2 and early Term 3. 

While at West Wyalong, Mr Bateman and Mrs Heffernan were able to see these Direct Instruction programs being taught in classrooms and we were able to speak to the staff about the programs and their implementation.  

Direct Instruction is a model for teaching that emphasises well-developed and carefully planned lessons designed around small learning increments and clearly defined teaching tasks. It is based on the theory that clear instruction eliminating misinterpretations can greatly improve and accelerate learning.

This teaching approach is a High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP), and guides the way in which teachers across our school as well as the Archdiocese plan, deliver and support learning for every student. This visit was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with colleagues as we continue our system wide CATALYST journey.

NSW Curriculum Working Party
On Tuesday Mrs White attended a curriculum meeting with teachers from St Bernard’s Batemans Bay and St Bede’s Braidwood. This meeting was facilitated by two members of the Canberra Goulburn Teaching and Learning team. This group of educators meet four times a year to discuss the implementation of the new NSW English and Mathematics syllabus documents. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the outstanding teaching and learning practices that are occurring at St Mary’s on a daily basis. 

Landscaping and Playground Update
The landscapers have been busy this term prepping the site ready for the up-coming cement pour. They have been amused by some of the comments from our children on their “skills” with the excavator and truck. Our beautiful view across the Moruya River to the mountains has been enhanced even further. This is a feature of our school that is quite often commented on by visitors. Discussions will soon start in regards to what plants, grasses and shrubs we will be planting in the new space.

Reports and Parent Teacher Meetings
Semester One reports will be available to you through Compass on Friday 16 June. Parent teacher meetings will be held in Week 9 on Monday 19 June, Tuesday 20 June and Wednesday 21 June. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

National Sorry Day, 26 May 
National Sorry Day, 26 May, is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and the nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is commemorated by Australians right around the country.

Next Friday, 26 May, some of our Aboriginal students and their friends will be walking across the Batemans Bay Bridge in unity to recognise Australia’s traditional owners and pay respect to the Stolen Generation. Following the walk they will have morning tea and a barbeque on the Clyde River Foreshore.

National Reconciliation Week 2022, 27 May-3 June
Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is the ideal 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.

The dates for National Reconciliation Week remain the same each year: 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2023, ‘Be a Voice for Generations’, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives - where we live, work and socialise.

For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.

During Reconciliation Week, we will continue to promote and celebrate the cultural identity of our local Aboriginal community, the Yuin people, and develop our knowledge of their sustainability approaches to caring for Country and explore ways that our school community can play a role in caring for country/place. 

Personalised Learning Pathways (PLP)
A Personalised Learning Pathway is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and maps the pathway that our Aboriginal students follow to achieve learning goals. 

In the coming weeks a note will go home inviting you to attend a meeting. In attendance at the meeting will be various stakeholders in your child's education and anyone you or your child nominates to attend who will assist in the collaborative planning for your child.

A PLP is a working document, designed in collaboration with teachers, parents and students, which informs the best way for the student to achieve their goals and aspirations. To develop PLPs, teachers start with assessment and use evidence of learning and other relevant school data about each student. In developing the PLP, specific goals will be set and clear strategies put in place to support your child in meeting the agreed learning and cultural goals.

The meeting will focus on the strengths and challenges of your child and how the school can best support them to achieve their goals. This process helps students grow in confidence, and gives parents the opportunity to work together with the school to help make their child's experience at school a success. We look forward to working with you.

Gurumbangamba Mentoring and Transition Program
The first session of the Carroll College Gurubangamba Mentoring and Transition Program for Indigenous students in Year 5 and Year 6 will be held on Friday, June 2. This program is delivered over three sessions, during the school year. The purpose of this program is for students to develop a connection to the College and form relationships with staff and other ATSI students. These important connections can provide guidance and support to help students as they transition from Primary school to Secondary school.

Students participate in a variety of activities that focus on the following themes:

• Building Relationships
• Fostering Resilience
• Respecting Yourself & Others 

These days not only help prepare students for the high school environment, they provide opportunities for students to make friends through positive social activities and join a community of students to share Aboriginal culture. 

St Mary's Leadership Team