TERM THREE

End of Term 3

As Term 3 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students for their hard work. With relatively few interruptions to our learning this term, the students have had the opportunity to make great strides.

I would like to thank the staff for their continued dedication and flexibility. A special thank you to Miss Madison Leonard for teaching Year One this term. I know that the students have enjoyed having her and we have been appreciative of her commitment to the role. I would also like to thank Mrs Claire McCormack for taking Library in Mrs Hewitt's absence. The students have thoroughly enjoyed the books and activities you have shared with them.

Lastly, thank you to all our parents and volunteers who have supported the school in any way. The P&F Executive, our canteen volunteers, our cattle committee and families hosting our stock, our book coverers and our classroom support volunteers,  without your assistance, our school would not be as well resourced and supported as we are.

Please note the following Term 4 school dates.

I wish all our students a restful and happy break and I look forward to seeing them, in their summer uniform, on Tuesday 11 October. Of course, if it is cold, they may continue to wear their winter uniform for the first few weeks.

If there are any changes to the current restrictions and protocols you will receive further communication over the break. 

Public Speaking Competition

Tomorrow we hold our school Public Speaking Competition for selected students in Years 3-6. I would like to congratulate all the students who presented in front of their class and wish the following class representatives the best of luck;

Year 3 -  Grace McCormack, Sophie Croker, Flynn Reeves, Jacob Hogan and Tommy Picker

Year 4 - Charlotte Crosby, Sophie Culley, Sophie Kilborn, Elsie McIntosh, Gabrielle Price

Year 5 - Chloe Bensley, Angus Foley, Addin Grove, Patrick Croker and Ava Hewitt

Year 6 - Ava Nicholson, Toby Charnock, Saxon Greenwood, Finn McCormack, William Millet and Jack Peden

The Northern Region Competition, hosted by St Bede's, Braidwood, will be held on Friday 14 October. Information about this will be sent home with the selected students as soon as it becomes available. 

The students who are successful at the Northern Region level will then speak at the Archdiocesan Competition hosted by St Anne's Temora, on Wednesday 26 October.

Attendance Stats

Each year, we are required to report attendance to the Australian Government. The first submission covers Semester 1 and the second, Term 3.

This week unexplained absence letters were sent home to be completed and returned to school so we can update our records to reflect the correct absentee types.

Please let the school know as soon as possible of any absences. We appreciate your timely assistance with this.

Fun Run

Don't forget the Term 4 P&F Fundraiser, the Crookwell Community Fun Run will be held on Sunday 16 October. Your support of this event will be greatly appreciated. 

To sponsor the event, make a donation or buy tickets please follow this Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/crookwell-community-fun-run-2022-tickets-296169409677 

Social Media

The importance of being aware of your child’s activity on social media websites.

Whilst Kids Messenger and similar apps have been created for kids and appear to be safe online tools, it is important to be aware of the potential problems that might arise from unsupervised use of these at home. Your child is learning how to navigate social interactions all day at school in a safe supervised environment. They are guided in their development of vital social and interpersonal skills including cooperation, empathy, patience, resilience, kindness, and forgiveness. It is important to remember that children do not have the fully developed psychological or social tools to navigate online social interaction on their own. Online ‘chat’ can be easily misinterpreted. If unmonitored, negative ‘chat’ can occur, which children do not have the capacity to deal with on their own. This can lead to psychological and emotional distress. In addition, ‘chat’ does not just ‘go away’ which means the negativity is reinforced. Important questions to ask about allowing access to online chat apps are:

• Am I aware of what interaction is occurring in the online chat?
• What purpose does it serve my child?
• Is it assisting in the emotional/social well-being of my child?
• Does my child need this device as a social tool?
• Is my child getting the downtime he/she needs at home from the emotional/social school environment?
• Would my child really be disadvantaged without it?

Uniform

In term 4, students may return to wearing our summer uniform. There is a 2-week grace period to allow for cold weather, the students may wear the full winter uniform.

Below is an outline of the summer uniform. All items must be purchased from the uniform shop.

School Fees are due

A reminder that our Term 3 school fees are now due unless you have a direct debit arrangement in place.

Showcase of Learning

Next Wednesday 21 September, the last day of Term Three, Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two will present their Showcase of Learning. Parents and friends are very welcome to join us for the 12.15pm performance in the Old Hall.

We encourage visitors to wear a mask and to refrain from attending if they are feeling unwell. 

CWA Projects

Congratulations to Emmett McIntosh whose Latvia Project was awarded first place at the Southern Tablelands judging in the Year 4 group. Well done Emmett! 

Samaritan's Purse - LAST CHANCE

Each year, St Mary's supports the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Box by asking for donations to help fill shoeboxes with various items such as gifts, clothes, something for school and hygiene products to send to children overseas.

If you are able to help with donating items, or money to assist with the postage of the boxes, please send these items in with your child by WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER.

Enrolments can now be placed online. Go to https://enrolments.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrol/ to enrol now.

Enrolments packs are available from our School Office or can be downloaded from our website http://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment.html