What a big term!

We think our children at St Mary's are very special and this was acknowledged to us recently by the contractors working on the new playground. They told us that they have done a lot of work in schools across NSW and the ACT and that never before have they experienced children as polite, well mannered and well behaved as ours. They said that they were a credit to the school and staff and what a pleasure it had been to complete this work at St Mary's.

This was wonderful feedback for us and we commend the students for the respect they show to each other and to visitors to our school. Well done boys and girls!

As Term 3 comes to a close, we like to reflect upon the effort and achievements of our students and celebrate all the wonderful opportunities and experiences we have had in recent weeks and during this term.

First Eucharist
On Saturday 9 September, nine of our Year 4 students celebrated their First Holy Communion. Thank you to Fr George, Mrs Gen Schofield, Mr Justin Bateman and Mrs Sophie Kenny who prepared the students for the sacrament and organised the First Eucharist Mass.

First Eucharist is a significant religious event in the lives of our young students and our Catholic church. It represents our deep spiritual connection with God and the continuation of one’s faith journey. It also reinforces a sense of belonging to a faith community and helps our children feel connected to a larger group of believers who share similar beliefs and values. We congratulate all the children and their families in continuing the sacramental journey of living a Catholic life.

We look forward to welcoming our 2024 Kindergarten students next term for the Kindergarten Orientation sessions to be held on
Wednesday November 8 and Wednesday November 22

If you know of parents considering enrolling their children at St Mary’s, please ask them to contact the school office as soon as possible. 

All Year 5 and Year 6 students are really looking forward to the Stage 3 Camp in Term 4 to Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre. We know that they will have an unforgettable time as they continue to develop their skills in leadership, resilience and self-confidence.

Thank you to our Year 6 students who on Wednesday organised a ‘Show Your Colours’ fundraising event and ran a very successful cake stall that all our students enjoyed. Today, our Year 6 students have been at a sports and activity day at St Bernard’s, Batemans Bay. This was a good opportunity for the students to again meet and continue to build relationships with their peers from our K-12 Pathway as they transition together to Carroll College.

CyberSafety
Last week we had Donna Clark, Police Youth Engagement Officer, deliver an important presentation to our Stage 3 students about the safe use of social media and the internet. She spoke about the importance of being safe online, using the internet and social media responsibly and the things students should consider to keep them safe while they are online. Donna explained the importance of keeping our identity safe when uploading things like photos, ensuring that information such as where we live, where we go to school and our phone numbers are not shared online. Cyberbullying was also discussed and Donna explained to the students the importance of them 'speaking up' and talking with their families/trusted adults if someone is being mean to them online and if they know about other people being mean to others online.

For more information and support about CyberSafety, please visit the eSafety website parent page. There are a lot of useful resources to support parents and families navigate the use of social media and the internet with their children.

Looking Back at Term 3
There have been so many highlights for our school this term including: the Regional NAIDOC Mass held at St Mary’s, Kindergarten celebrating 100 days at school!, the K-12 Yuin Banaan Cultural Day, the visit from Ibu Yuni and Ibu Lina from Indonesia, Little Investigators Playgroup, our representation at the Southern Region and Archdiocesan Public Speaking Competitions, the Binin.gala Workshops in Stage 2, the Book Week Parade, Book Quiz and Book Swap during Book Week, celebrating our Dad’s and father figures at the Father’s Day Breakfast, our representation in the Little Bas Art Show, the Gurubangamba Mentoring program with our K-12 Pathway, a visit from the Director of Catholic Education - Mr Ross Fox, the celebration of the Sacrament of First Eucharist, Kinder and Year 1 visiting Mogo Zoo, multiple sport opportunities from athletics, to hockey and many students representing St Mary's, our Southern Region and the Archdiocese at sporting events, whole school assemblies, special class masses and class picnics! 

Along with all of this, is of course, daily learning. Our students have continued to learn and grow and build on their skills and knowledge. We are very impressed with their effort and commitment to reaching their learning goals.

Looking Ahead to Term 4
Term 4 promises to be just as busy and exciting as this one. Some important dates coming up include:

• Gurubangamba Mentoring Program - Monday 16 October
• Andrew Chinn visit - Wednesday 18 October (Concert 2pm)
• Mission Week Mass and Market Day - Friday 20 October
• Swimming Program Assessment - Tuesday 24 October
• Whole School Assembly (Year 1) - Tuesday 24 October (2pm)
• Staff Professional Learning (Pupil Free Day) - Wednesday 25 October
• Stage 2 Canberra Excursion - Thursday 26 October-Friday 27 October
• Stage 3 Camp Jindabyne - Monday 30 October - Wednesday 1 November
• Kindergarten 2024 Orientation Days - Wednesday 8 November, Wednesday 22 November (9:30-11:30)
• Swimming Program - Wednesdays Weeks 5,6,7,8.
• Year 2 Excursion to Tilba - Thursday 9 November
• Mass and Picnic to celebrate the teaching career of Mrs Marg Croese - Friday 17 November
• Year 7 Orientation Day Carroll College - Friday 24 November
• Kindergarten 2024 Parent Information Evening - 27 November (6-7pm)
• K-6 Awards Night - Tuesday 5 December
• Year 6 Graduation Mass (12pm) and Graduation Dinner (6pm) - Tuesday 12 December
• Final Day of Term 4 - Friday 15 December

Classroom Mastery
Next year, Catholic Education is introducing a well-being program called ‘Classroom Mastery’ to a number of selected schools who will pilot the program for gradual implementation across the system.

Our three K-12 Catholic schools on the coast have been selected in the first wave of schools to participate in 2024. Our three schools were chosen recognising the importance of a common approach for the K-12 Pathway.

Initial training is commencing next term with Dr Tim McDonald to upskill staff. To enable this to occur, an additional Pupil Free Day has been approved by CE for Wednesday 25 October (Week 3). This training complements Catalyst initiatives, particularly High Impact Teaching Practices.

Our involvement in this program is exciting as it supports our continual promotion of high expectations for learning.

Follow the website link for further information about the program.

Students return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday 10 October, and will be wearing their summer school uniform. Monday 9 October is a pupil free day as the St Mary’s and St Bernard’s staff will be holding our Staff Spirituality Day here at St Mary’s. Luke Maher, Religious Education and CSYMA Officer, is facilitating the day with a focus on deepening our understanding of 'The Year of the Holy Spirit'. 

We would like to thank all our families for your continued support this term. Your children have worked incredibly hard and we wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable holiday break .

God’s blessings on your families

Leadership Team

Dear Families,

It is difficult to believe we have reached the end of Term 3 already. I hope all families have the opportunity to relax and recharge together over the next two weeks. 

CONGRATULATIONS ABBIE H
This weekend Abbie H (Year 4) will be celebrating her first First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart Church. May the strength of Jesus' love and the joy of this holy day remain forever in your heart Abbie.

CLASS MASSES
Each Friday a class attends the parish mass at Sacred Heart. It has been wonderful to see many families joining their child’s class for mass and a picnic afterwards.

We will be continuing with this next term. Please keep an eye on your child’s class memo next term for more information. 

ANDREW CHINN
On Wednesday 18 October, we are very fortunate to have singer and songwriter Andrew Chinn visiting St Mary’s. Since 2000 Andrew has been recording Christian music for children (and some for adults too) for use in Religious Education and liturgy. He has visited over 1000 Catholic Schools around Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and the Cook Islands, sharing his music in concerts and workshops with children, teachers and parents.

During the day, Andrew will conduct workshops with our students. At 2pm we invite all families to attend an afternoon concert with Andrew and our students in the PAC.

TERM 4 DATES
Below are key dates for Term 4, specifically related to the religious life of our school:

Wednesday 18 October: Andrew Chinn workshops & concert.

Friday 20 October - 9:15am: Whole School Mass, followed by Mission Market stalls at St Mary's.

Monday 13 November - 11:45am: Remembrance Day Liturgy, St Mary’s Performing Arts Centre.

Friday 17 November - 11:00am: Whole School Mass and picnic to celebrate Mrs. Marg Croese’s career at St Mary’s.

Tuesday 5 December: K-6 Awards Night and Kinder Nativity, St Mary's Performing Arts Centre

Tuesday 12 December - 12:00pm: Year 6 Graduation Mass. 

Sunday 24 December: Christmas Eve Mass at Sacred Heart (St Mary's students invited to participate)

End of term prayer
May the school holidays be for us a time of rest and recreation to help restore us and re-create us in your image and likeness. May we enjoy more of the love and presence of our families, on whom we ask your blessing. Amen 

Genevieve Schofield
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

It is hard to believe we are at the end of another wonderful term. It certainly has been jam packed with lots of learning taking place and a little bit of fun thrown in too.

English
Over the course of the term, Year 5 has been incredibly busy writing information texts and refining our skills in researching and refining facts, necessary for developing an interesting and engaging text. The students have started off by looking at the features of different informative texts, then choosing their theme or topic. We are looking forward to seeing their final products at the end of the week. Here are a few works in progress….

This term, Year 5 has been reading the novel Tom Appleby: Convict Boy, by Jackie French. The story is set in England in the late 1700’s and is about a boy named Tom, who was orphaned and sent to be a chimney sweep at the young age of 8. During his time as a sweep, he was caught stealing and was sentenced to leave England, deported to Botany Bay and convict life. The story then outlines the challenges faced by Tom and the other convicts on their journey to Australia and the meeting of the Aboriginal people.The students have very much enjoyed the story so far and making connections between Tom’s life and their own and how much more freedom and luxury we have nowadays. During our shared reading, the year 5 students enjoy sketching some of the images they can picture and jotting down key words and vocabulary from the text.

Predictions: What do I think will happen in the rest of the story…

Sophie V: ‘I think that Tom and Rob will become great hunters because the indigenous lady taught them hunting skills. They won’t starve like some of the other convicts. They’ll be healthy and have lots of food and will barter veggies and meat they catch so they can become wealthy.’

Levi D: ‘I predict that Tom will leave to go to a better area in Australia with Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob. I think he will find his own land at Murraroo and have a family and be happy, which is good because his life as a young boy was very sad.’

Felicity P: ‘I think that all of the convicts who didn’t want to eat the fruit and vegetables from their stores will possibly starve. Tom and Rob will survive because they have been taught to grow their own food and hunt, from Sergeant Stanley and the Aboriginal lady. I think the Aboriginal people will teach the boys more skills about how to survive in Australia by living from the land, without having to buy food and water. I think that Tom and Rob will learn to build things and be able to sell their hunted foods so that they can buy land.’

Leo and Elka: ‘We think that Tom and Rob will learn lots of new things from the Indigenous woman, like heaps of survival skills and how to find food. We think that Tom will work hard and Sergeant Stanley will reward him with a fair share of land, to build a house and have a family.’

Poppi E: ‘I think that Tom and Rob will learn a lot from the Aboriginals and use the skills to defend themselves from anyone who tries to hurt them. I think a disease might spread throughout the convict camp and wipe lots of people out. I wonder how Tom ends up living in a big house on lots of land as an old man.’

Mitchell and Nathan W: ‘We predict that they might run out of gunpowder and many resources. I don’t think they will starve because Tom knows what starving is like from when he lived with Master Jack and when he was on the convict ship, The Scarborough. They will find a property at Murraroo and become very wealthy.’

What I have liked about the story….

Melody T: ‘I like that Tom has been taken in by Sergeant Stanley and he is giving him shelter and teaching him things. He gives him christmas presents and food and looks after him.’

Jimmy H: ‘I like that Sergeant Stanley looks after Tom, he took him in to be a friend to his son Rob. I like how the Aboriginal woman taught them how to live off the land and taught them how to hunt and lots of tricks.’

Blake R and Benji P: ‘I liked when a maid felt sorry for Tom and gave him some food when he was cleaning the chimney because he was starving. It is good that Tom lives with the sergeant and Rob, since he was let off the convict ship.’

Callum T and Liam F: ‘I liked that Tom was given a home with Rob and his Dad, Sergeant Stanley. They all look after each other in a new land.’

Aria S: ‘I liked that Sergeant Stanley looks after him now - even though he’s higher up than him. Sergeant Stanley and Rob look after him and love him now that he has made it to Australia. He's now growing up on a farm at Botany Bay.’

What I haven’t liked so much about the story….

Madi C and Makaya T: ‘We didn’t like that Tom had to be a chimney sweep at 8 years old and that he was sent to Australia on a convict ship. We are sad they are running out of food supplies and rations and they don;t know when the next ship will arrive with supplies. It was very sad when Tom’s friends Jem and Sailor Sam died.’

Xavier L: ‘I didn’t like how so many people close to Tom have died, like his Dad, Jem and Sailor Sam. It would have been very emotional and he had no one else to turn to to look after him.’

Cooper C and Roarke C: ‘We don’t like that Tom had to be a chimney sweep at age 8 because his Dad died in the stocks. Master Jack didn’t treat him very well and didn’t give him much food or warmth.. He stole money and then became a convict and now they are running out of supplies at Botany Bay.’

We are looking forward to reading the end of the novel to see how Tom ends up as an old man at Murraroo Station.

Cyber Safety with Donna Clarke: Youth Engagement Officer
On Friday, Police Youth Engagement Officer Donna Clark spoke to Stage 3 about the use of social media and the internet. It was a very informative talk and the students should now have a much clearer understanding of some things to consider when using social media and the internet to ensure they are being safe and responsible.

Footy Colours Day
On Wednesday, we dressed in our favourite footy colours to celebrate the end of term and help raise money for the Year 6 end of year gift to the school. It was a great way to end our busy term and enjoy cupcakes which were on sale too. Thank you to the Year 6 bakers for organising such a fun day.

Geography
In Geography this term, we have been learning about Asia, through our unit titled A Diverse and Connected World. Recently, we have been investigating the vast differences of jobs and rural lifestyles of people across Asia, which include being a rice farmer, sherpa in the Himalayas, a sulphur miner and a market stall holder in Thailand. It has definitely opened our eyes to the very different lifestyles of people across the world.

Science
This term in Science, the students have been learning about Earth and Space. More recently, the students have been designing and creating a spacecraft to showcase their learning, using materials like cardboard, plastic cups/containers, paddle pop sticks, foil and straws. There has been lots of creativity and some plan alterations in aim to create their designs.

Dance
This term, the students have loved investigating the elements of dance and creating a dance routine based on a particular dance type. This week, the students are busily rehearsing their dance steps with Ms Teggart in preparation for their in class performances. 

Mrs Megan Grant
Year 5 Teacher

MacKillop Athletics Championships
On Monday, Anikah H, Mackenzie H and Asher B competed at the MacKillop Athletics Championships at The Athletics Centre at Sydney Olympic Park. From all accounts, it was a great day - albeit in very hot conditions. Congratulations to these three students on reaching this level of competition and representing both St Mary’s and the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese with great pride and sportsmanship,

Anikah H: ‘I had fun in Sydney even though it was hot. My favourite part of the day was in the middle of the race, the others I was racing against made me want to run faster. I came 15th out of the 20 kids in the race, but I don’t really mind where I came because I ran 15 seconds which is fast for me, especially because I was sick in the morning.’

Mackenzie H: ‘It was a hot day in Sydney. I jumped 1.64m in the long jump and it was the most fun when I was competing. I came 5th out of the 20 others in my event.’

Asher B: ‘When I went to the MacKillop Athletics in Sydney on Monday, it was 33 degrees and SO hot! I placed 6th in high jump with a jump of 1.35m. I came 9th in long jump with 4.30m so both were PB’s for me. I liked spending time with my friends from other schools at my last MacKillop competition for Primary School.

Best you can Be St George Dragons visit
Last Thursday, Courtney Crawford, Community Officer from the St George Illawarra Dragons along with Blake Wallace and Tara (St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW player) visited Stage 3 students to talk about all things health and well being. As well as promoting healthy choices and lifestyles, the team presented the students with practical ways to keep fit and strategies to maintain healthy habits, both mentally and physically. The students took part in some fun games based on resilience and support. One activity was passing a football over/under and side-side throughout the teams to simulate the ups and downs of life and making sure we have someone to turn to.

Swimming Program
Thanks to a generous donation from the St Mary’s Community Council, we are pleased to be offering our school swimming program again next term. This is always a highlight for the students at the end of a busy year. We will begin the program with a swimming assessment session in Week 3 (24 October) and then swimming sessions for all students K-6 will begin on Wednesday of Week 5. More details and consent will be communicated with families via the COMPASS portal early next term. All students will need to have parent permission to participate and parents will be required to indicate their child's swimming ability.

Swimming Dates: (All times to be advised)
Week 3: Swim assessment session (Tuesday 24 October)
Week 5: Wednesday 8 November
Week 6: Wednesday 15 November
Week 7: Wednesday 22 November
Week 8: Wednesday 29 November
Week 9: Wednesday 6 December (back up)

Upcoming Sports dates
Interest and registrations for the Canberra Goulburn Touch Football, Basketball and Tennis trials are scheduled for term 4 in readiness for the 2024 sporting year. Students in Years 4 and 5 (this year) are eligible to register. For further information, please be in contact with me via email megan.grant@cg.catholic.edu.au or alternatively, jump onto the CSNSW website. It is recommended that the students trialling have a high level of skill and experience in these sports already.

Have a safe and restful break with your families.

Mrs Megan Grant
Sports Coordinator