Term 3 Week 9 2025

Dear Families,

It has been a busy and joy-filled few weeks at St Mary’s Bowraville, and I am continually proud of the way our students approach their learning with curiosity, persistence, and kindness. Walking through our classrooms, I see students engaged in their work, collaborating with their peers, and showing great pride in their achievements.

Recently, we received our Tell Them From Me survey results, and I am so pleased to share that our students reported very high levels of feeling safe at school. This is a wonderful reflection of the caring and respectful culture we have built together as a community. Knowing that our children feel safe, supported, and valued is the foundation for all learning and wellbeing, and it is something we are deeply proud of.

Over the past few weeks, we have also been celebrating our school values of Faith and Kindness. It has been wonderful to see so many of our students being recognised for showing these values each day — living their faith through their words and actions, and showing kindness in the way they support and include others. These moments of everyday care and thoughtfulness are what make our school such a warm and welcoming place to be.

As always, I thank you for your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership. Working together, we can ensure every child at St Mary’s Bowraville feels safe, known, and inspired to achieve their best.

Warm regards,
Nadine Slingsby
Principal

WEEK 9 AWARD WINNERS

On Friday 5th September we welcomed all Father figures to our students into the school for a Father's Day breakfast. It was a lovely morning sharing breakfast. 

Miss Mady's year 3/4 class combined with Miss Elizabeth's year 1/2 class for an informative text session. Students from 3/4 picked a tree and wrote about it, whereas 1/2 students wrote about penquins. Students then sat in small groups to discuss what they wrote.

Writing informative text for a primary school class involves explaining a topic clearly and engagingly. The goal is to present facts in a way that is easy for other students to understand, which includes the use of simple language, clear structure, interesting facts and sometimes visuals.

In Geography Year 3/4 have been learning about important buildings with in our area. As part of this learning area students went on an excursion to the Bowraville Folk Museum on Wednesday 3rd September. This provided an insight for students into some of our town's important buildings over time. Some buildings over time are still remaining in town, have burnt down or have been demolished.

While on the excursion students wrote down facts to put in their quiz when they return to school. Their quiz was a part of their "Geography Trivia" game.

On Friday 12th September Stage 2 had another excursion to the Nambucca Cinema Centre to watch the movie 'Light of the World' as part of their religious education. This movie tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of John the Apostle.

Students in 3/4 have been discussing in class the seasons of the year. At the change of season, on the first day of Spring students went for a nature walk around the school. They found the old winter leaves the trees had dropped and raked them up but also had some fun throwing the leaves around too.

Learning Club have been practicing their footy skills for the upcoming Greg Inglis Legends 7's Football gala day.

Our Stage 3 students have been making our kinder transition students feel welcome during our St Mary's transition sessions on a Thursday each week.

This week our stage 3 students had fun with a scavenger hunt helping their new kinder buddies. They had to work together to find a list of items around the school. They had to find items of colours, shape and feel.

With the change of season to spring our garden club is keeping busy. There will be some new additions of plants in the coming weeks. The soil has been prepared by our students ready for some new plants!

Every Friday 3 of our students attend Bowraville Preschool to read books to the preschoolers. Programs that pair primary school students with preschoolers for reading sessions are a wonderful way to foster literacy and community within a school. These "Reading Buddies" programs provide significant benefits for both age groups, helping to build a love of reading and develop a variety of important skills.

"Primary School Teachers Aide Appreciation Week" is often celebrated during the first week of September. This year, in 2025, it is being celebrated in Week 7 from Monday, September 1st, to Friday, September 5th.

It's a time to acknowledge and thank the hard work and dedication of teacher aides who play a vital role in classrooms. They provide essential support to both teachers and students, and are often referred to as the "backbone of classrooms".