Term 4 Week 9 2023

Giinagay families & friends of St Mary's,

  With only 6 school days left until the end of the year I would like to take this opportunity to thank our families for all your support and feedback throughout the year. It has been a huge year at St Mary's, with our school continuing to grow, reflect and improve. There have been many happy memories made with our students this year, and 2024 is looking to be an incredible year.

Staffing Updates 2024

For the 2024 year, Miss Anna Bowd will step into the role of Inclusion Leader at St Mary's. Anna has a strong background in Intervention, and will carry out this role beautifully. Mrs Jody Unterheinner will step into the role of Instructional Leader. Jody has an experienced background in Education, most recently returning from Uganda. Our class teachers for 2024  will be shared next Wednesday, after Going Up Day. 

School Fee Update

Please find the attached document from the Director of Catholic Schools Lismore, Mr Adam Spencer regarding school fees for 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly on 65 647369.

Reports

Next Wednesday, your child/ren will receive their Semester 2 reports. These reports are a new format and quite different to previous reports. There is also a word count, which means teachers are not able to write a great deal of information as in previous reports. If you require any additional information about your child, please get in touch with your child's class teacher.

I am looking forward to seeing our families next week at Presentation Day and our Day Out at Bellwood. If we don't see you then, may you all have a beautiful Christmas and New Year with your families and keep safe.

Nadine   

This week was the first week of Advent. Advent is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. 

For week One of Advent our students held a Liturgy and prayed for Hope. In the 4 weeks of Advent we pray for Hope, Peace, Joy & Love.

Chatswood St Pius X Boys Secondary College students visited St Mary's on the 27th, 28th & 29th of November. St Pius X visits our school every year. This year 12 students travelled here and spent 3 days with our students. They served breakfast & cooked lunches along with playing sports and attending classes with our students.

St Pius X students spend time with Uncle Dean and Aunty Brenda out 'On Country' learning about landmark's and culture.

At the end of their visit St Pius X students gifted our students a box of lego each 

On the 6th of December our Year 6 Students along with their families, Miss Nadine, Miss Alice and Miss Meg attended lunch at the island Golf Club in Nambucca Heads to celebrate our Year 6 students and their acheivement of reaching the end of Year 6.

On the 23rd of November our Year 6 students along with Bowraville Central School and Tallowood Steiner School travelled to Sawtell to participate in a Beach Safety Day. Students surfed, swam and learnt how to perform rescue's and CPR.

On Wednesday 6th December our whole school attended the End of Year Mass in the Catholic Church. Our Year 6 students received a Certificate for the completion of year 6 and a prayer candle.

Yesterday Harry and Jason organised a community lunch for our elders. There was lots of yummy food to share.

On Tuesday the 28th November our Year 4/5/6 students travelled to Nambucca Heads to participate in the Lifetime Connect Disco. The theme around the day was '16 Days of Activism'. Students were asked to wear orange in support.

We would like to congratulate Tyreese Chapman for graduating year 12 at the Scotts College in Sydney. Tyreese is a former student of St Mary's, his sister is Djanaambi Chapman. Proud mother Rowena Chapman travelled to Sydney for his awards night.

Tyreese received the Chris Sanford Young Entrepreneur Award Lewis Foundation Award for Indigenous Excellence.