Goodbye 2020!

Once again, I am going to start with a comment about how quickly this year has gone! It’s hard to believe that we only have four days of school remaining.

This year has been like no other with twists and turns that I certainly could not have predicted this time last year.

Even considering our year, it is wonderful to note that we have still achieved a lot. I feel that our imposed reduction of events and activities has increased the number of teaching hours. The students have been settled and productive with their learning.

I would like to present a summary of some of our developments and achievements over the past year.

• Refurbished Mercy Building
• New furnishings in our renovated building
• Further interest and development clubs – Drawing, Lego, Garden, Chess
• Continued Spelling, Reading, Maths and Comprehension Intervention Programs
• Whole Staff Professional Learning in the explicit instruction teaching strategy
• Clever Touch Interactive Panels in Years K – 5
• Remote Learning Procedures
• InitiaLit Training - a literacy program that develops phonemic awareness, phonological knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension and phonics.

Our future improvement plans moving into 2021 include:

• Further planning for physical developments to facilities and resources including an electronic notice board, interactive panel for the lab/library, new teacher laptops and a toilet block at the bottom oval.
• Continued focus on the development of high impact teaching practices (modelled on Barak Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction)
• Development of parent information sessions to support wellbeing and knowledge of school programs.
• A relationship with Royal Far West and access to Telecare for Speech and Occupational Therapy. 

In a year that has presented many challenges, I would like to thank you all for your unwavering support!

I would also like to thank Daniel Walsh and the P&F Executive Committee (Catherine Culley, Rechell Naughton, Allison Hewitt, Melissa Haynes and Craig Croker) for the P&F's additional financial support this year and their creativity with devising COVID safe fundraising activities. I also thank our event coordinators.

I would also like to acknowledge our hard-working and flexible staff. In a year that has provided change after change, they have stayed positive and upbeat and have consistently modelled resilience and optimism to our students.

Thank you!

2021 Leaders

In Week 7, our Year 5 students presented speeches outlining why they wanted to be our 2021 School and House Captains. The quality of speeches that the students presented was remarkable, they showed insight into what leadership means and represents. The students also were able to articulate clearly why they felt they would be a suitable candidate.

Thank you to the students who nominated themselves for positions. Although there are only six elected positions, there are many other leadership opportunities for each and every one of our Year 6 students next year.

On Monday 2 December, each child at St Mary’s voted for the students they would like to see fill our Captain roles. The staff did not vote and have not done so for many years.

Congratulations to the following students who will help lead our school in an official capacity next year:

School Captains

Bridie Croker and Sethan Grove

Lawrence Captains

Phoebe Selmes and George Skelly

Aloysius Captains

Lucy Gamble and Patrick Walsh

We congratulate all the students who ran for roles and congratulate them on their wonderful display of sportspersonship and resilience. 

Our new Captains will receive their badges and be inducted into their roles at our Opening Mass on Thursday 4 February.

School Reports

You will receive your child's Semester Two Progress Report and Work Sample Folder tomorrow.

Your child’s Work Sample Folder will contain work samples taken from a variety of learning areas across the Semester. There will be a variety of draft and published pieces so that you can see your child’s everyday work standards.

If you have any questions about either of these progress documents please make an appointment to see your child’s classroom teacher.

School Fees 2021

The School Board has approved the following fee structure for 2021.

Your consistent approach to fee paying is very much appreciated and ensures your children always have access to the best educational resources available and learning environment available.

If paying fees is challenging, at any point in time during a school year, for your family, please do not hesitate to make an appointment to see me. Fee remissions are available for families experiencing hardship.

New Goals!

A huge thank you to Brian Blowes for making two sets of soccer goals for our bottom playground. The goals made from aluminium will allow us to spread the soccer games more evenly over our playground space. Thank you also to Briana, who helped her clever dad with the delivery on Saturday. 

Thank you to the P&F Association for providing financial support for these goals and for your unwavering support this year. 

Term 1: Friday 29 January (Years 1-6), Monday 1 February (Kindergarten) to Thursday 1 April

Term 2: Tuesday 20 April to Friday 25 June

Term 3: Tuesday 13 July to Friday 17 September

Term 4: Wednesday 6 October to Wednesday 15 December

Farewell and God Bless

On Monday our Year 6 class, along with their parents, guest and staff will share the Year 6 Farewell Dinner at the Crookwell Services Club. Thank you to Mrs. Sally Croker and all the parents for the organisation of the event.

The Year 6 Final Assembly and Awards presentation will also be held at this event.

The evening will commence with Mass at 5.30pm. All members of our School Community, family and friends, are invited to share this Mass with Year 6. 

Year 6 will be missed from our School Community and they will always hold a special place in our hearts. We would like all of our leaving students and families to know they are always welcome at St Mary’s.

We wish all of our departing students, including Georgina Culley in Year 5, a wonderful future ahead full of love, happiness and fulfilment. 

Merry Christmas!

On a final note, may I wish all of our School Community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the time spent together during this special time, have an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break and I look forward to welcoming you all back in 2021.