Term 1 Week 3 2025

Welcome back families and friends of St Mary's,

  2025 has already been very busy for all of us here at St Mary's. It has been a joy to welcome our new Kindergarten children into our St Mary's family. We are so excited to support and nourish them on their journey from the early years to Year 6. We would also like to welcome some new students, Yininnidee & Keziayah into our Dungaarr-biin class. 

2025 is shaping up to be another amazing year of learning and laughter. Our three core themes for us and our school community this year are:

Faith and Identity in Education

Data-Informed Teaching and Student Learning, and

Community Engagement and Inclusion

We look forward to working with all of our families, and strengthening our relationships throughout the year.

Some general reminders for our families to start the year off in the right way:

School Bus

Our school bus is a supportive services that we run to ensure our children come to school on time. Please let Uncle Dean and the school know in advance if there is a change to your drop off/pick up arrangements. Uncle Dean's number is 0484870574. The bus is not intended to drop children off at sporting practices, and/or venues where there is no adult supervision.

Compass

Compass is the platform we use for parent communication and school events. Please ensure that you have the App and it is up to date. If you are having any issues, please let Aunty George or Leia know and they can assist you.

Technology Agreements

The link for our new Technology Agreements for parents and students to sign have been sent to families via compass. Please complete the online form before Week 5.

Uniforms

Uniforms are available from our front office. Please note, we are not a cash based school and these can be paid for through direct transfer to our bank (please refer to the school website or call the school office for details).

Parent group

This year we will continue with our Parent group Barrmarrany Girrwaa, please keep an eye out for more information to come. During week 5 of this Term, on the 4th of March, you will have an opportunity to touch base with your child's teacher about how your child or children have settled into the school year. This information will be coming through on Compass also. 

Looking forward to seeing our families very soon. As always, if you need anything, my door is always open.

Nadine

Reconciliation:
 Available at all times by appointment

A big welcome to our new Kindergarten students! Oaklynn, Deborah, Kalen, Callum, Mekhi, Daniel and Cade.

Our Kinders have settled in well. We would like to thank our Kinder parents for attending our Transition to School program last year. Our kinders have 'hit the ground running' from their first day of school feeling comfortable with their teachers and the school already.

Our Kindergarten teachers are Miss Simone (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) and Miss Kathryn (Wednesday). Aunty Brenda is the AEW in the Kinder class.

Miss Elizabeth is our Year 1/2 Class teacher. Miss Elizabeth has started with St Mary's full time this year as our Year 1/2 class teacher, however we all know Miss Elizabeth well as she has previously come to St Mary's as a teacher for all of our classes when our class teachers were away. Welcome miss Elizabeth!

Also, in our 1/2 class is our TA's Mr Troy & Miss Eden and AEW Aunty Clarice.

Miss Mady is our Year 3/4 teacher. We welcomed Miss Mady to our St Mary's team last year.

Also in this class on different days are our TA's Meg, Jackie and Uncle Jason.

Learning club have shown a keen interest in our new baby calves. Students had some one on one time with the claves while in class with Miss Sam, learning how to feed and look after them.

Mr Pascoe is the Learning Club class teacher with AEW Miss Brooke and Uncle Jason.

Miss Alice is our class teacher for our year 5/6 class. The TA's in our 5/6 class are Miss Bonnie and Miss Skyla. Our 5/6 class students this year are Aaliyah, Ariana, Alexis, Adrian, Anna, Charlotte, Cory, Emily, Harry, Jacob, Lilly, Natasha, Ochre, Sofia and Tayven. 

Some of our 5/6 class showing their Art creations

Thank you to the McKay's for donating our new school farm calves! Two Speckled Park calves have joined the St Mary's farm. Students have been enjoying feeding and petting the new little calves. There has been a lot of discussion between students around what the calves should be named.

At St Mary's we have lunch clubs that run every day for our students. On offer this term is:

Monday: Meditation with Aunty Brenda

Tuesday: Book Club with Miss Jody

Wednesday: Gardening Club with Miss Rachael

Thursday: Games Club with Miss Anna

Friday: Canva Club with Miss Mady

Canva Club

The 1965 Freedom Ride was instrumental in raising awareness of racial injustice and building momentum for reconciliation action in Australia. This year marks 60 years since the initial freedom ride where the Freedom ride trail is being recreated/followed and remembered.

This years Freedom Ride Trail will capture the stories and events that took place at the key stops on the Freedom Ride journey. The stops include Wellington, Gulargambone, Walgett, Moree, Boggabilla, Tenterfield, Lismore, Grafton, Bowraville and Kempsey.

Our very own Aunty George attended a the Freedom Ride Ball, A special gathering in Sydney to mark this milestone. Aunty George watched family members including her mother, daughter and nephews stand and speak in front of the gathering in regards to their experiences. Aunty George's mother Ann spoke of how this journey has allowed the generations after her to succeed after bringing these issues to light.

The Freedom Ride will be celebrated in Bowraville on Monday 24th February, which our Stage 3 students and staff will be attending. Please see the flyer below for further details of the day.

February 13th was National Apology Day. The morning started with readings from our year 6 students at morning assembly. Then students moved to class and discussed Apology day with in their class and completed activities in their classroom. 

It's been a busy start to the year for some of our students with sports.

On Friday 7th of February students Thomas, William, Aaliyah, Lexi, Joe and Harry attended the St Patrick's Swimming Carnival at the Macskville pool. 

Thomas and Harry made it through to the Zone carnival which was held on the 18th February at the Macskville pool. Mr Troy our sports co-ordinator was there to organise all the zone swimmers ready for their races but was able to cheer our students on from the end of the pool.  

On Monday 17th Tayven and Harry attened St Joseph's College sports fields in Port Macquarie for Soccer and Rugby league trials.

Well done to our students having the courage the attend sporting events with the bigger schools with in our sporting zone.