Save the date! Grandparents Day 25th October

Save the date! Angela Lockwood - Thriving in the Age of Distraction 6-8pm  11th November 

WEEK 8

School Camps this week

Year 4 Cascade

Year 5-6 Coffs Coast Adventure Camp

Tuesday 10th - Marybells 9-11

Wednesday 11th - Basketball Clinic

Wednesday 11th - Webinar Justin Coulson see in Newsletter for details

Thursday 12th - RU OK Day

Thursday 12th - Mission Assistants at school

Friday 13th - Coffee and Connect 9.00-9.45 all welcome

Week 9

Parent Teacher Interview Week (except Year 3)

Tuesday 17th - Marybells 9-11

Wednesday 18th - Basketball Clinic

Friday 20th - Year 6 Careers Day (Ignite with Bellingen High School) 

Week 10

Parent Teacher Interviews Year 3

Tuesday 24th - Marybells 9-11

Thursday 26th  - Last day of term 3 for students

James 2: 1-5

My brothers, do not let class distinction enter into your faith in Jesus Christ, our glorified Lord.

Now suppose a man comes into your synagogue, well-dressed and with a gold ring on, and at the same time a poor man comes in, in shabby clothes, and you take notice of the well-dressed man, and say, 'Come this way to the best seats'; then you tell the poor man, 'Stand over there' or 'You can sit on the floor by my foot-rest.'In making this distinction among yourselves have you not used a corrupt standard?

Please do not stop in the bus zone to drop off or pick up children - you will be booked by the ranger.

The Kiss and Drop in Watson St (behind the school) is very successful and people move through very quickly. Try it out.

If your child is not returning to St Mary's School next year could you advise the office as soon as possible please.

Angela Lockwood

Thriving in the Age of Distraction 

Monday November 11th 6pm-8pm

The Council of Catholic School Parents is hosting a FREE parenting webinar with parenting speaker and author, Justin Coulson. This webinar will unpack:

• The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible.
• The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children.
• Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child's wellbeing.
• Creating margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness.

Please register by scanning the QR code on the flyer.

Students from Years 4-6 are living their best lives at camp this week.  Mrs Derrin reported joyous shouting on the river, lovely leaders and wonderful accommodation. 

Our monthly P&F meeting was held last week and was well attended. Some of the topics discussed  included:

The formal vote on the P&F Model will take place 16th October.

Classes have been going to the church each week.

Marybells starts 10/09/2024 for 6 weeks.

Parent Assembly money for 2024 - Angela Lockwood ‘Thriving in the Age of Distraction’ was recommended.

Options for uniform swaps.

Child Safe Standards will be discussed next meeting and can be viewed here Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 16th October at 5.00pm.

To submit a topic for discussion please email P&F secretary Victoria Harper: mrsvictoriaharper@gmail.com

This term our P&F Committee engaged in a thorough process to determine which of the two new models of parent representation available to schools in the Diocese of Lismore was appropriate for our school. During this process we had two information sessions presented to the P&F and we provided parents with the opportunity to voice their preference through a survey. Thank you to the many parents who completed it. The final decision regarding which of the two models will be adopted for our school take place at our P&F meeting to be held at 5.00pm Wednesday October 16. All welcome to attend.

Congratulations to all students who took part in our 3-6 Public Speaking Competition.  We were so proud of everyone and were impressed with the confidence and talent all students showed. Congratulations to the winners in each year - Juliet, Ailidh, Solomon and Elliot who now go to SJPC on September 23rd to represent St Mary’s at the Regional Competition.  Congratulations and best of luck in your preparations.

This year's theme is Ask R U OK? Any day, highlighting the importance of building trust and normalising conversations around mental health and wellbeing by checking in regularly with friends, family, or colleagues.

Checking in regularly lets the people in your life know that you're someone they can talk to when times are tough. We all have what it takes to ask, listen and support one another. But checking in with others, even a close friend, can sometimes feel like a daunting task.

The R U OK? mission is to equip everyone with the resources and confidence to navigate a conversation with someone who might be struggling. 

Students will be participating in activities on the day here at school.  Resources and further information can be found here

The Council of Catholic School Parents has developed this valuable resource to assist parents of children with diverse learning needs.

This can be downloaded here.

Speaking is already in our genes. But reading is not. Until about 100 years ago most people didn't do it all. When we read fiction especially, we create new pathways in our brain. Reading 30 pages of fiction every night gets the pathways thicker and thicker. Our brain needs a workout just like our body. Rita Carter is a writer, broadcaster and journalist who specializes in the workings of the human brain.This 14 minutes TED Talk is worth a viewing.

TED Talk - Why Reading Matters

Consent and online boundaries: How to support your primary-aged child
Suitable for parents and carers of children in primary school.

Wednesday, 11 September, 12.30 pm
Register here

Parent Assembly currently has a subscription with Real Talk.  Check it out - there are resources that are relevant for all ages and stages.

Year 6 parents please note, there is an event on Compass you need to approve for your child to attend this. This event has been organised by Bellingen High School. Please see below for details that have been provided to us;

This is a day that is celebrated every year to celebrate creativity, courage, and collaboration.For our school community, it is a timely reminder of the importance of the power of encouragement and praise to help increase someone's self-belief and confidence.

Week 6

Year 1 - Jax Maher & Jack Barne

Year 2 - Oscar Wynter

Year 3 - Sienna Kiddle & Phineas Boshier

Year 4 - Banjo Baylis

Year 6 - Freddy Dunn

PBS - I am a bucket filler

Year 1 - Phoenix Lane

Year 2 - Florence Frost

Year 3 - Evie Murcott

Year 4 - Yahmarii Andrews

Year 6 - Pascal Oliver

Week 7

Year 1 - Florence Leslie & Tasman Day

Year 2 - Daisy Tarrant & Meilani Taylor

Year 3 - LuLu Northcott & Maddie Gibson

Year 4 - Ailidh Lewis

Year 5 - Miley Waugh & Neerav Pratap

Year 6 Ethan O'Neill

PBS - I think before I act

Year 1 - Dusk Connelly

Year 2 - Tully de Jong

Year 3 - Ivy Ellis-Cluff

Year 4 - Aaliyah Gale

Year 5 - Ishani Hannah

Year 6 - Isla-Rose McLennan

Happy Birthday to Lauchy Hogarth 09/09, Pip Wadick 10/09, Florence Leslie 12/09, Florence Frost 12/09, Elliot Eckersley 14/09, Nitesh Grimson 22/09.

Last Friday we supported OzGREEN’s ‘Dress up as an animal for threatened species’ day. OzGREEN do a fabulous job in our community and our students have been fortunate enough to work with them on various community projects. The funds raised support OzGREEN’s ongoing efforts to connect young people with the environment, build skills in sustainable living, and take action together to reduce our community’s footprint.

This day connects with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the Season of Creation which began last Sunday, inspired by Pope Francis, calling on ‘every person living on this planet’ to care for our shared Earth.

Powerful God,

You hold us and everything you have made in your loving care.

You are in the whole universe and in every tiny creature.

Pour out on us, God, the power of your love.

And teach us to care for life and for beauty.

We ask you to change us so that we protect your world, not destroy it.

Change the hearts of people who only care about themselves,

instead of caring about people and the Earth.

Show us how even small things matter,

help us see that we are all connected to each other and to the earth.

We thank you God for being with us each day,

fill us up with wonder and light,

and help us to bring peace to our beautiful world.

Amen.

Camp Creative Scholarships for 2025

Scholarships are once again open to students who would:

⦁ Benefit from the enriching experience that attending Camp Creative would bring.

⦁ Not otherwise be able to participate in a Camp Creative course due to family financial constraints.

⦁ Willingly attend for the five-day duration of the course and enjoy participating in a group.

N.B. Applications close at 5pm Friday 13th September. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the second week in October. If you want to nominate your child, please email lisa.doolan@lism.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 11th September.

Piano = Victoria Christie 6655 8782

Brass/Piano = Kate Butcher 0419 789 078

Guitar = Katie Crane 0431 151 987