Term 3 Week 9 2023

Giinagay!

What a busy term we have had! I always feel so blessed when I walk into the school gates of our beautiful little school. Our students show such resilience and determination, and our staff show so much care and dedication.

When I reflect on the events of this term, I can see so many positive changes for our school such as the establishment of the Farm, the beautiful Yarning Circle, and the final touches on our new playground. I can also see the work of Lyn Sharatt alive in each classroom with students and teachers discussing learning intentions, success criteria, and their learning goals. Our students are so engaged in their learning and it is such a joy to see.

As always, our students have proudly represented us when out in community. Touch Football was a success this week, and some of our students from Years 3-6 will be representing our school in NRL next Wednesday. Our Cultural Camp this Thursday and Friday displayed how connected to country our students are, and how important it is to be out in nature. Staff and students were so excited to share their recounts and stories from camp.

We have been so blessed to welcome so many lovely new students to our school this term, and today three of our future kindergarten students began their transition to school. They will visit us four more times throughout the rest of the year and we look forward to welcoming them back next week.

During the holidays, staff and students from Kincoppal- Rosebay school of the Sacred Heart in Sydney, and staff and volunteers from our school and community will be running a school holiday program for our students here at school. This will be operating from Monday the 25 th of September until Thursday the 28 th of September. Students can arrive at school from 8:30am and be collected at 3pm on those days. There is no cost for this program and some of the activities included are cupcake decorating, making lava lamps, and visiting the Big Banana. We would love to see as many students there as possible! We thank Kincoppal for their time and organisation into putting this wonderful experience together.

We hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday and we look forward to seeing our students back at school on Tuesday the 10 th of October. 

Amy Chapman

Acting Assistant Principal

Today and yesterday St Mary's held a Cultural School Camp for Years 3-6 Students at Valla Beach resort. It was a full 2 days for students doing fun activities such as beach worming, paddle boarding, yabbi pumping and group cultural learnings.

Students from Stages 2 and 3 particpated in a Touch Football Gala Day in Macksville on the 13th of September. The competition was tough as our teams played against Tallowood, St Pat's and St Joseph's. Both teams did very well and improved with every game. Some amazing tries were scored and the kids had a great time, especially at the end of the day when the canteen started giving away free drinks, hotdogs and fruit, a welcome reward for a tired group of players.

K/1 spent some time in our school canteen making playdough creations, we saw creations from Faces to Worms. 

In Science with Miss Rachael K/1 students talked about buildings and what makes them stable. They then made some structures using matchsticks and blu tack, making them stable enough to hold a matchbox car.

Our 2/3 class having a class photo. Such lovely smiling faces

On Thursday 31st August our stage 3 students held a fundraiser car wash. Our dedicated students washed a large number of cars throughout the afternoon. Some students washed while others held signs up for passing motorists to pull in for a car wash. We are very proud of our students raising money to help fund their school camp.

On the 30th Of August our teachers and students welcomed a special guest to our school, Dr. Lyn Sharratt from Canada is a highly accomplished practitioner, researcher, author, and presenter in the teaching realm.

Lyn spent time talking to our Teaching Staff and Students. Lyn visited each classroom along with Principal's from St Patrick's- Macksville, Mt St John's- Dorrigo, St mary's- Bellingen and CSO staff. They spoke to students about their learning goals. Lyn also spoke to Teacher's about their learning journey through Lyn's work.

On Thursday the 31st our students had Dad's, Pop's, Uncles and special people in their lives come to St Mary's for a Fathers Day Breakfast - egg & bacon rolls. 

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week 2023 was 28th August - 1st September. It is held every year on the last week of August, and it's a great opportunity to thank our teacher aides for everything that they do!

Teacher aides work really hard all year round, and Teacher Aide Appreciation Week is here to show appreciation for them and all the hard work they do.

Our Teachers Aides/Indigenous Education Workers and support staff:

Back Row- (L to R) Uncle Cameron Blair, Bonnie Collison, Uncle Dean Buchanan, Aunty George Smart, Uncle Jason Jarrett, Aunty Brenda Buchanan, Meg Laverty & Eden Kenny

Front Row- Taylah Martin, Carlie Fitzgerald & Leia Duncan

Absent: Aunty Clarice Greenup, Uncle Mark Smith, Brooke Lonergan & Bonni Sambrook.

Kincoppal will be holding a school holiday camp at St Mary's Primary School these school holidays. 

If you have family visiting we may have extra spaces for them to come along too. Give us a call for availability.