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

Dear Parents and Carers, 

ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.

How to participate in ICAS 2023
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please: 

1.   read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas) 
2.   read the terms and conditions here: https://www.icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Finalised-Parents-Ts-and-Cs-2022v03-1.pdf
3.   go to Parent Portal here: (https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps
4.   enter our school’s access code – LBU762
5.   enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment. 

ICAS Assessments 2023

Parent orders close Monday 31 July 2023

Justin Bateman
Coordinator

Dear Families,

Sacrament of Confirmation
This term students in Year 6 will have the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Following are important dates in relation to the sacrament:

• Friday 19 May: Enrolment forms due to St Mary’s Primary School office or genevieve.schofield@cg.catholic.edu.au
• 6:00 pm Saturday 20 May, Sacred Heart Church - Commitment Mass (option 1)
• 10:00 am Sunday 21 May, Sacred Heart Church - Commitment Mass (option 2)
• Friday 9 June, Carroll College - Year 6 Confirmation Sacramental Retreat Day
• 10:00 am Sunday 25 June, Sacred Heart Church - Sacrament of Confirmation taking place at Mass.

A prayer for our Confirmation candidates

God of all ages, 
You send out your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people, 
Look kindly on our candidates for Confirmation as they seek to hear your voice. 
Help them to truly know the deep and abiding love you have for each of them 
and fill them with the joy of your presence 
As our community prepares these children for Confirmation, 
make us an instrument of your love, 
Teach us to reverence what is holy in others and to be 
patient with what we do not understand. 
Deepen our faith and help us to pass it on by our example 
We pray that you continue to guide and sustain us, 
and teach us the Way of Love 
We praise you through Christ our Lord 

Amen 

Gen Schofield
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

What’s happening in Year 5!

Poppy Art
In recognition of ANZAC day, Year 5 drew images of Poppies. Poppies grew on the battlefields of France in World War I. Many Australian soldiers died there during the war. The poppy sends a message about remembering people who have died in wars.

Mothers Day Art
Last week, students in Year 5 made a special gift for their Mums to celebrate Mothers Day. We decided our mums really are SUPERMUMS! To start, we brainstormed all the wonderful things that our mums do for us. We then wrote our mums a thank you note to go along with our ‘super’ cute drawings.

Mitch: I love your smile, it brightens my day and really makes it better. Thanks Mum for being my personal UBER driver!

Xavier: Mum, you are my biggest supporter and without you, I would be lost.

Poppi: Mum, you are always there for me, even when you are in the middle of something important. If you really were  able to fly like a superhero, then I know you would fly off to help others like you help me! On your special day, I will try to help you as much as you help me!

Nathan B: Mum, you wash my dirty clothes and you always put me first. 

Leo: You make my bed and take me on holidays. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you!

Jimmy H: Nobody makes my bed like you do. You make my favourite food on my birthday.

Madison: You pay for the hot water bills so I can have long hot showers, I don’t know where I would be without you. You are the brick that holds our family together.

Cooper: I love how when it’s my birthday, you buy me lots of cool and amazing presents and you let me have lots of friends over so we can have a fun time. When we go to footy and soccer, we have so much fun on the way up and back,

Melody: Mum, you give the best cuddles. Nothing beats your Carbonara!

Elka: You make me smile everyday. You are the brick that holds our home together. I’m sorry I make you yell sometimes. Thank you for supporting me and thank you for being my personal UBER driver and taking me on adventures. I love you!

Roarke: Thank you Mum for being my driver and taking me to sports. Thank you for worrying about me  and loving me, even when I am naughty. Thank you for all that you do for me.

Makaya TK: You are a super mum for so many reasons. You make me smile and you give me the best cuddles. You are so kind to me and thank you for being here when I am sad. Thank you for putting me into school so I can be a smart girl when I am older.

Good to Great Schools: Science Program
This term, we have begun to implement the Science programs as part of the Good to Great Schools initiative. With much excitement, Year 5 is investigating a Chemistry unit, which is the study of Matter - everything around us. We are learning that chemicals can be solids, liquids and gases, which all have observable properties which react and behave in different ways. The explicit instruction and slides are very familiar for the students as it is being widely used in English and Maths. This week, the students were learning about atoms and molecules.

HISTORY
Australia as a Nation: Prime Ministers Profile
In History, Year 5 has been researching the Australian Prime Ministers since Federation in 1901. We have learnt that a Prime Minister is:the head of an elected Government and leads the country. We have identified that Australia has had 31 Prime Ministers throughout history since Federation.

Take a look at some of the profiles and art works the students have prepared as part of presenting their Prime Minister profiles.

If I was Prime Minister…

PM Benji P: If I was Prime Minister I would extend the lunch break to an hour and every Wednesday must be a footy day. I would let all school children get paid for going to school.

PM Callum T: If I was Prime Minister for the day then I would extend the weekend and make Friday a weekend day. I think just 2 day weekends are just not enough. I would make hunting and killing animals illegal.

PM Jimmy D: If I was Prime Minister I would give more money to the poor and homeless that live on the streets.

PM Nathan W: If I was Prime Minister I would make sure that each school had a footy coach so that we could play footy at break. I would stop spending heaps of money on stadiums as we don’t need any more and put that money into making buildings for the homeless where they can be warm and cosy during the cold winter nights. I’d spend a lot of money on hospitals and curing diseases.

PM Billy I: If I was Prime Minister I would make a rule that every kid has to play a sport. I would make it that kids only had to go to school for 4 days and have a 3 day weekend each week. I would help all of the homeless and give them money and food and clothes and somewhere to live. I would also have a McDonalds in every town!

PM Aria S: If I was Prime Minister, I would ban hunting and killing of animals. I would extend the weekend by one day but each school day ends at 4pm not 3pm and UBER eats at schools as a treat.

PM Leo S: If I was Prime Minister I would make it that school ends at 2:30 each day. If kids can’t get home to their parents then they stay at school with the teachers who would only be at work until 3pm. I think having an extra day of the weekend like a Monday would be good too so then if kids are sore from football and sport then they can recover.

PM Levi D: If I was Prime Minister I would put a gym in every school to help make children fit and healthy. I would make hunting and killing animals illegal, but keep fishing legal, and have more protected species in the oceans. I will make it illegal to throw rubbish on the ground or in the ocean and put more bins around - and if you get caught littering, it will mean jail time. 

PM Blake R: If I was Prime Minister, I'd have every school have a push bike obstacle course so that kids can ride their bikes at lunchtimes. If children worked hard, then they got the rewards of finishing school early. I would donate to nursing homes and childrens hospitals too.

PM Liam F: If I was Prime Minister, I'd make the government pay for a holiday for each family, and the best part is the Government pays for it.

PM Jaykob G: If I was Prime Minister, I would make it that you legally only had to go to school for 3 days per week and every fifth Saturday, everyone would get something for free!

PM Felicity P: I would make everything cheaper and that way the poor could afford a shelter. I would donate food and meals as well. I would ban cars that run on fuel and only allow electric vehicles. I would donate lots of money to children’s hospitals and nursing homes. I would also make every school have a pool or a pretend beach.

Weyman Shield
Last Thursday, Students in year 5 enjoyed participating in the Weyman Shield League and League Tag Gala Day at Ack Weyman Oval. The boys who competently play tackle football were able to join in the competitive tackle games against teams from Moruya Primary and Batemans Bay. The Year 5 team showed great sportsmanship and played within the spirit of the day, guided by the very skilled coach Tim Weyman. Students could also play league tag  - where many of our boys and girls excelled in dodging and weaving. 

My Body My Life Program
Last Tuesday, we welcomed Cathy from Catholic Education and the My Body, My Life team to Stage 3. The boys and girls were split into small groups where they discussed a wide range of topics and information about personal development. Apart from a few giggles and jokes, the children were very engaged and were very curious to learn how their bodies change during puberty. They also covered topics such as peer pressure, qualities of a good friend and how to be respectful about other people’s bodies. 

Megan Grant
Year 5 teacher

Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese Rugby League and Netball
On Friday May 5, six students from stage 3 travelled to Canberra to play for the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocesan Rugby League and Netball teams. Oscar G, Noah D, Axel S, Frank D and Mitchell W all played against some highly skilled ( and HUGE) players from the Sydney, Parramatta, Wagga and Wollongong Diocese. The 12’s team held their own in most of the games and came away with the win against the Wagga team. All the boys showed off their strengths and positively took on the coaching and advice of their coach Paul. Noah D was impressive in his position and was called up into the possible/probable team. Mitchell and the 11’s  team all played incredibly well also against some tough competitors. Despite it being their first time at trials, they all played well. I was very proud of all the boys and their humble displays of sportsmanship and teamwork, with children they had only met the day before at training. Well done boys!

Mitchell: The hardest game we played was the Parramatta team. They were really big, much bigger than our team. I played half back, first receiver and wing but I like being first receiver the best. It was fun!

Frank: The Canberra Goulburn Rugby League team was great. I got to play with my friends that I play football with here. It was a great opportunity to play football at a level I haven’t yet been to. The hardest team was the Wollongong and Sydney teams, they were really good. I played in the front row. 

Axel: It was exciting and enjoyable at the league trials in Canberra. I knew what to expect as I had been there before last year. I made some new friends. I played Dummy Half which I really liked. It was fun staying at the hotel with my friends the night before as well.

Oscar: The Rugby League MacKillop trials were great. I got to meet new friends and play against some other good players. I think the hardest team was the Sydney team. They had the biggest kid on their team- like 6ft 4 already! He was hard to tackle. Our win against the Wagga team was good. I nearly scored a try in that game. I knew how hard it would be because I went there last year.

Noah D: Going to Canberra was so fun. I loved meeting new mates and playing against some of the best Under 12’s around Canberra/Goulburn. I learnt so much from my teammates and coaches that I will bring into my game now. Making it into the possible/probable team was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. Everything had to be on point, passking, kicking and tackling. It was amazing to be part of.

Congratulations boys on reaching this tricky level of competition and doing your very best.

Betty DB: also had a successful day across the road at the Netball event. Betty was combined with a team of Canberra/Goulburn students, in particular from St Bernard's. Despite some tough competition, Betty also showed off her skills and had a great day. 

Betty DB: It was really competitive and high standard Netball. I connected well with the CG team and I had some friends from St Bernard's who I played with. Our coach Megan Herghanan from LC was great. The hardest team was the Sydney team - they had such good players.

Weyman Shield
Last Thursday May 11, Stage 3 students participated in the Weyman Shield Rugby League and League Tag Day. It was fantastic fun. All the students played with great sportsmanship and showed off their impressive skills. Many of our students played multiple games throughout the day as they switched to help out teams that were a few players short. A highlight of the day was watching many students who have never played League tag, pick up the skills and continue to improve over the course of the day. Lots of photos from the day can be found on the school Facebook page. 

Rugby Union Trials
On Monday, Asher B competed at the Rugby Union Trials in Canberra. Asher had a great morning trialling against other students across the diocese to be considered for a place in the CG Rugby Union Team and from all accounts, the quality of rugby was fantastic. We congratulate Asher on his selection into the team to be playing at the MacKillop trials in Forbes on Monday 26 June.

Asher B: It was great fun at the trials on Monday. I got to spend some time with my friend Angus from Braidwood who used to be in my Dolphins team. I played with and against some other good players and learnt some new skills from them to make my game better. There were lots of kids there - about 60. It was a great day.

Archdiocesan Cross Country
This Friday, 15 students will be joining in the running fun at the Archdiocesan Cross Country at Mt Stromlo. No doubt it will be a cold and frosty morning in Canberra, but their 2k and 3k run will warm them up. I look forward to sharing their results in coming weeks. 

Archdiocesan Cross Country Team

MacKillop Soccer
Next Friday, 26 May, Betty DB is travelling to Goulburn for the MacKillop Girls Soccer Trials. We wish Betty lots of luck at this level. Betty is certainly keeping herself and family busy travelling and competing at all these sport trials.

Term 2 is always an incredibly busy time with many sports and gala days on the calendar and community sport starting up again. It is wonderful to see the students back into all things winter sport.

Have a wonderful week ahead.

Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator