Dear Parents and Carers,

This Sunday, 26 May, we celebrate Trinity Sunday. It is the day we celebrate the greatest mystery of all – the Holy Trinity! God is so great that Jesus taught us to understand Him as three persons in one being who is God. As we try to understand this mystery, Jesus taught us the greatest lesson of all … GOD IS LOVE and that God wants us to be a part of this love.

Let us pray, to the one God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit that our lives may bear witness to
our faith. Father, you sent your Word to bring
us truth and your Spirit to make us holy.
Through them we come to know the mystery
of your life. Help us to worship you, one God
in three Persons, By proclaiming and living our
faith in you. We ask this, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred by Archbishop Christopher Prowse on Sunday 23 June at 10:30am in our Sacred Heart Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation builds on the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion and completes the process of initiation into the Catholic community. In preparation for the sacrament some of our Year 6 students will present themselves to our community at the commitment mass this Saturday night at 5pm. Please keep these candidates and their families in your prayers.

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.

Today, our Stage 2 students represented St Mary’s and joined other school students and members of the community to acknowledge the significance of the day by 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 had morning tea and a barbeque on the Clyde River Foreshore.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2024, 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 2024, ‘Now More Than Ever’, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.
There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect.
Now more than ever, the work continues. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.  Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.

K-12 PATHWAY COMBINED SCHOOLS MASS
Next Wednesday, 29 May, all students and staff will be attending the Combined Schools Mass at Carroll College, Broulee. The Mass will take place during National Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June), and the theme for the Mass is ‘Now More Than Ever’. 

We look forward to sharing this special celebration with the St Bernard’s and Carroll College communities, as approximately 1000 students and staff come together in prayer. A consent form for students to attend is on Compass and needs to be completed by Monday 27 May. All families are warmly invited to attend this Mass.

All students are to wear their sports uniform and their school hat. They need to bring a water bottle, fruit/morning tea, which we will eat on arrival at Carroll before Mass begins. A sausage sandwich and drink will be provided for each student after the Mass.

For our Year 5 and Year 6 students who will remain at Carroll for the afternoon, they will be able to purchase additional snacks costing $1-$2 from the Carroll food alley.

GURUBANGAMBA MENTORING PROGRAM
On Monday, 3 June, our Stage 3 Aboriginal students will attend the second day of the Gurubangamba mentoring program. The theme of the day is ‘fostering resilience’ and the Carroll College mentors have prepared a range of activities that will encourage collaboration with others, solving problems and persevering to complete a challenge. 

COMPASS - WHOLE DAY ABSENCES via PARENT PORTAL
Whole Day Absences
If your child is absent from school for a whole day or longer, please submit details of the absence via the Parent Portal. This should be completed within 7 days of the absence. There is no need to adjust times for whole day absences.

If your child will only be absent for a partial day, the absence will be recorded as your child is signed in or out via the kiosk at the front office. You do not need to add an early pick up or late drop off via the Parent Portal.

Unexplained absences for your child will be displayed on your homepage when you log in to Parent Portal. If an unexplained absence appears that you believe to be incorrect, please send an email to the front office for investigation.

STUDENT REPORTS
Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn (CECG) has communicated to schools regarding semester reporting to parents/carers in 2024. 

CE has advised schools that general comments will not be required on Semester 1, 2024 reports, but to prioritise Parent/Teacher Conferences for every family in Term 2. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, their strengths, challenges and future areas of focus. A Semester Report will still be sent home as in previous Semesters providing A-E grading and attendance information. At St Mary’s, the Semester Reports will be available on Compass on Friday 21 June. This will be followed by Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday 24 June and Tuesday 25 June. 

Catholic Education has advised schools that Semester 2, 2024 reports will have a general comment for all children. This general comment will provide a summative comment for the year, areas of achievement and areas to focus on for the following year. A-E grading and attendance information will remain as normal. 

We would encourage all parents/guardians to engage regularly with their child/ren’s learning, connecting with their class teacher/s regularly to discuss learning progress.

God bless and take care

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.

Every student who participates is celebrated and recognised with a printed certificate in each subject area, and an online results report to track development each year. Top performers are eligible for one of the highly coveted ICAS medals.

To learn more about this year’s exciting ICAS competition, visit: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)

How to participate in ICAS  

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

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas/)  
2. Read the Privacy Collection Statement below.
3. Read the terms and conditions here: (icasassessments.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-ICAS-Assessments-Schools-TsCs_S2023.V6-1.pdf) 
4. Go to the Parent Portal to sign up to chosen subject areas here: (shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps)  
5. Enter our school’s access code – SJE888 
6. Enter your child’s details, select the subject areas your child would like to participate in, then proceed to payment.

ICAS results and certificates
All assessments will be conducted online, at school. We will notify you of the date(s) that we will run ICAS assessments, and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. Your child’s ICAS certificates will be delivered to school. Once we have received them, we will present them to your child to bring home. The back of the certificate will show your child’s ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”. - Use these to enter the Results Portal orti.icasassessments.com/ortiStudent

Privacy collection statement  
The following information is a privacy notification about how your child’s data is kept private and secure.

ICAS Assessment is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd (We, Us, Our).

To deliver assessment products, Janison will require your child’s School to obtain your consent to provide Janison with certain personal information of students. Janison will collect, store, use, disclose and otherwise deal with such personal information in accordance with its privacy policy (below). We are aware of our responsibility to protect personal information related to children and students from being disclosed when we deliver an ICAS Assessments product. Unless you, as the child’s legal guardian consents, we will not:

• collect any personal information or data of children other than the information we need for the successful completion of an assessment, test, or exam. 

• transfer any personal information we obtain from a child in the delivery of assessments and tests to any jurisdiction outside of Australia. 

• share any personal information relating to children with any third parties (except for those third parties necessary for us to carry out our Services or provide our Products e.g., medal engraving). 

• use any personal information or data relating to children for marketing purposes. 

You can view our full privacy policy at https://www.janison.com/privacy-policy/. 

We may retain personal information and data relevant to a child for their future purposes or for research purposes by Janison for the duration of the school life cycle of the child. However, if you or your child at any time wish to have their personal information or data removed from our systems, they or you may opt out by simply contacting our Privacy Officer at privacy@janison.com or by contacting icasassessments@janison.com.

We are excited to be offering ICAS to our students this year and look forward to celebrating their achievements.

 ICAS Assessments 2024

Parent orders close Monday 29 July 2024

Mrs Jessie White 
Coordinator (Acting)

In Year 5/6, we've hit the ground running with many exciting learning opportunities to kick off the new term. From delving into the wonders of physics in science to unravelling the mysteries of our class novel, and from our detailed mastery lessons to unleashing creativity through the arts, we're prioritising the importance of keeping our bodies healthy and fit. There's something for every curious mind to explore in our Years 5/6 classroom.

I am proud of my learning growth

• Jaykob -  I am proud of my reading fluency and pace.
• Melody - I am proud of my artwork, in particular my optical illusion drawing and portrait.
• Callum -  I am proud of my mathematics and I have learnt more about elements and atoms.

Religion
This term in Religion, our students have been studying the importance of community in sharing and strengthening the faith of believers, both past and present, including followers of Catholicism and Judaism. Recently, they completed their first assessment task, which focused on exploring Shabbat and its significance in representing the Jewish relationship with God. The students gained insights into the rituals and traditions that hold deep meaning within the Jewish faith, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for religious diversity.

Felicity: I am excited about my Confirmation and being a strong and loving leader at St Mary’s.
Billie: I have enjoyed making Google Slides and researching the Jewish tradition “Shabbat” and learningabou t the history of Psalms.

English
In Years 5/6, students are making great progress in their reading and spelling mastery programs. Our current class novel, "The Black Cockatoo" by Dirrarn, follows Mia, a 13-year-old Aboriginal girl from a remote Kimberley community. Mia grapples with the loss of her brother's connection to their family and culture. However, her journey takes a turn when she rescues her totem animal, the dirran black cockatoo. Through this experience, Mia discovers her inner strength and the importance of standing up for herself, her culture, and her family. "The Black Cockatoo" is a powerful story about empowerment and the enduring bonds of family and heritage.

Sophie: I have enjoyed listening to our class novel the Black Cockatoo & Dirran, because the Aboriginal vocabulary words are interesting.
Nathan: In Reading Mastery I have loved reading the story The Wizard of Oz.

Mathematics
The students are thoroughly enjoying our Friday Mathematics sessions. Recently, we've been exploring the topic of Chance, focusing on key vocabulary words such as "impossible" and "certain". Our lessons have been filled with engaging probability games, including heads and tails, bingo, spinner games, and card games. One particularly popular activity has been the Jelly beans in the jar game, where students guess how many jellybeans are in the jar. They then record their guesses and analyse the data to determine the closest guess and the probability of guessing the correct number. 

Anikah: I really like using the new maths textbooks and I love how Ms Lock includes everyone. 
Finn: I am enjoying learning about number families and speed maths.

Science
This term's science unit is Chemical Science, focusing on the distinctive properties and behaviours of solids, liquids, and gases. Through hands-on experiments and engaging activities,the students have been exploring the fundamental nature of matter. The students have been captivated by The Big Idea, which explores stars, supernovae and the dramatic events within it. Moreover, students are actively learning about the periodic table, gaining insights into the organisation and characteristics of elements.

Declan: Science is cool, because we are learning about atoms and what makes up the universe.
Leo: Science is fun, I really enjoy doing the hands-on experiments with Mr Harpley.

The Arts
This semester, our art journey has been truly inspiring! We've explored the vibrant world of pop art, optical illusions, and building the students' knowledge about influential artists like M.C. Escher. Pop art's vivid colours and bold imagery drawn from popular culture have ignited our creativity, while optical illusions have challenged our perceptions of space and reality. Through the creation of self-portraits, we've embarked on a personal journey of exploration and expression. Also excitement fills the air as we delve into the world of the ukulele. Our lessons encompass both theory, practice, and for students to craft their own musical piece in collaboration with a partner.

Liam: I am really enjoying art with Mrs Lock and I am proud of my portrait drawing.
Poppi: I enjoy art as it has challenged me to take my time and do my best.

Health
During health class this term, students have been focusing on learning how to maintain a healthy diet. One of the key activities involves planning a balanced eating plan that ensures adequate intake of vitamins and minerals from each food group. This activity encouraged students to consider the nutritional value of various foods and how they contribute to overall health and well-being.

Blake: It’s important for me to eat healthy with all the sports I play to keep my energy levels up.
Mackenzie: I have enjoyed learning about keeping a healthy lifestyle and caring for our bodies. 

Sport
In addition to focusing on maintaining a healthy body and mind, this term has been filled with fun and exciting activities. Students have had the opportunity to develop their hockey skills with Cheryl, focusing on safety first and skill development. Students have also enjoyed learning about the skills of AFL. Participating in the AFL Paul Kelly Cup was a highlight, as it consists of a series of non-competitive games. In our class, teamwork, sportsmanship, and a sense of camaraderie among students is always a top priority. As a class we believe that these values are essential for a safe learning environment.

Oliver: I have really enjoyed perfecting my basketball skills with Mr Hill in PE.
Madison: I have been loving all the sport opportunities here at St Mary’s, and showing others how to keep your body fit.

Ms Allison Lock
5/6 Maroon Teacher

Mary Poppins: Assistance with class dance items
Rehearsals are well underway as the children in the cast are busy learning their lines, rehearsing songs and becoming familiar with the traits of their characters. We are embracing the magic of the script and the cast are becoming very familiar with English accents, which at times is proving a challenge!

Please place the following dates into your calendars as Mary Poppins is flying into St Mary’s on 5 and 6 of November. 

Mary Poppins is a whole school production, which means that all students, Kindergarten to Year 6 will be involved. Each class will have a dance item that they will rehearse during class time in Term 3. Our school musical is always a wonderful community event and this year we are asking for as many parent volunteers to assist us to bring our magical dream to life! 

We are asking for parents who would like to assist with the dance component of the class items. Each class will be allocated a song and we are requesting that parent helpers join us during school hours to assist with simple dance choreography. This will take place during Term 3 and will require visiting the school once a week. If you are a dance teacher or someone who loves to move and groove we are seeking your assistance. You will work in collaboration with a class teacher and the production team. If you are interested please contact Mrs White. jessica.white@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Please keep your eyes on the Newsletter and Compass, as we will soon be requesting parents to assist with backdrop painting, set and prop design. 

Many thanks in advance. 
The Production Team

Dear Parents and Carers,

Canteen will not be available on Friday 31 May and Friday 7 June. 
It will resume on Friday 14 June.

Kind regards,
Community Council