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SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
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10th December 2021| Week 9
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Important Dates
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- 13th December: End of Year Mass and Awards Presentation
- 14th December: Student Step Up Day, Welcome to our School Liturgy & Parent Information Session for 2022 Families
- 15th December: Year 6 Big Day Out
- 16th December: Last day for students
- 27th January 2022: School Uniform and Book Shop open
- Wednesday, 2nd February 2022: Students return for 2022 school year
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All Term 4 events and details are published on SchoolStream. Please check the EVENTS tab to add event details direct to your calendar!
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Principal's News
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Week 9, Term 4, 2021
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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
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What a beautiful Carols evening the children of St Mary’s presented to our school community last night. It was delightful to see the children adapt to our alternate Cathedral venue so well and their final song performance was spectacular. It was also lovely to see a few of our new families join our St Mary’s Community last night for the first time. Thank you to the St Mary’s Parish community and Fr Ched for your help in the use of the Cathedral at very short notice.
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We begin our final week for 2021 with our Thanksgiving Mass on Monday morning in the Cathedral. All parents and extended families are invited to share in this Mass of thanksgiving for all the blessings that 2021 has been for our school community. 2022 School Leaders will be announced at this Mass as well as acknowledgement and thanks to those leaving St Mary’s.
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On Tuesday morning we welcome all new 2022 students to St Mary’s for our Step Up Day. Together with the current students they will have the opportunity to spend a session with their new class teacher for 2022. During this time our new Transition parents will be invited to an information session to support their child’s Transition enrolment. The Step Up Day will commence with a Welcome Liturgy in the Mary MacKillop Hall at 8.30am. Included in this week’s newsletter are some tips for students transitioning to school.
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Below is an outline of staffing for 2022 and we have had some changes in relation to staff returning to work and 2022 roles within our school.
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Frankie Duncan is continuing leave from St Mary’s next year. Tara Venn, Rachita Jain, Grace Johnson and Belinda Hicks are leaving St Mary’s for new adventures. We welcome Michele Jia, Nakita Staines and Jacqui Krek to St Mary’s teaching staff. Michele and Nakita as classroom teachers and Jacqui as Inclusion Support Practitioner and Casey Frew as our Literacy Support Teacher.
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Staff for 2022 at St Mary’s
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Deputy Principal Christine Ferreira
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Curriculum Leader - Maths Shannon Feldtman
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Inclusion Support Coordinator Sinead Walsh
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Inclusion Support Coordinator Sinead Walsh
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Inclusion Support Practitioner Jacqui Krek
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Literacy Intervention Casey Frew
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Numeracy Intervention Shannon Feldtman
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New Teaching Staff appointments
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Our enrolment numbers are sound and we have developed a class structure for 2022 which will allow for the school’s continued growth.
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We have two very small Transition class groups of less than 15 students in each class.
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Transition: Pascale Zufferey, Molly Kalchbauer and Kate Carew
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Year 1/2 : Chloe Tiss and Nikolah Kenny
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Year 3 /4: Kelli Coccetti and Nakita Staines
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Year 5/6 : Clare Nolan and Tracey Lucas
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Kate Carew – Reading Recovery
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Liana Panasewycz – AUSLAN
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Derrick Cheong – Performing Arts
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Inclusion Support Assistants:
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Karen Jerrett, Briony Bastin, Paula Raaschou, Emmylou Ivinson, Christina Trikoilis, Robyn Noble, Janelle Chin, Amanda Kilpatrick, Ben Humphrey, Stephen Lyons, Gurpreet Kaur, Julie Kenny and Courtney O'Mara.
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Indigenous Education Worker: Stephen Lyons.
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I would like to end by saying a big thank you to all of the amazing staff at St Mary’s and the support they give students and families, each and every day. There is an exceptional spirit within our school community and we are so very blessed.
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Farewell to Izaac and family and Clara and family who leave our school community this week and welcome back to Patrick and family who rejoined our school community this week.
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Uniform Reminder
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Please ensure that your child has the correct uniform requirements including the correct footwear, socks and school hat. Please support us in our endeavour to adhere to our uniform guidelines, which can be found in our Parent Handbook or school webpage.
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Tips for Transitioning into School
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BE PREPPED FOR SCHOOL: TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING
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Your little one’s introduction to Transition can seem equal parts anxiety-inducing and exciting – and it’s important to be prepared for a range of emotions from both yourself as parents and carers as well as from your child. Finding the right school for your family and being prepared to support your little one’s emotional needs can make the process much easier than you may think.
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Starting Transition is not just about the first day of school, but rather setting your child up for a smooth transition from early learning to a life of education. Parents should work in partnership with their chosen school to make this big step much less daunting. According to the Victorian Education Department, “successful transition programs contribute to 60 per cent of student learning improvement in academic and social development”. With this in mind, the school’s transition program is imperative to not only your little one’s adjustment into Transition, but also their long-term academic outcomes so be sure to attend information sessions and educate yourself on the school’s transition period and how it can assist your little one is to insert text.
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Finding the Right Fit for a new school
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Choosing a school with a successful transition program offers families and schools the opportunity to get to know one another and brings the entire family on the journey from enrolment right through to the first year. It gives your child the chance to build relationships with teachers and peers, as well as feel comfortable, confident and supported in their new learning environment.
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Common objections: “I don’t want to go to that school!”
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Make sure your child has the chance to be heard. Get down on their level or bring them up to your level so you are eye-to-eye. Ask them what they are concerned about and reassure them that their feelings are valid rather than dismissing how they are feeling. It is likely they are worried about not knowing anyone or not fitting in, so you can comfort them by letting them know their classmates will be feeling the same way and will want to make new friends, too. You could also reassure them by explaining their pre-transition days will give them the chance to meet new friends.
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Offer plenty of opportunities for communication prior to their first official day so your little one has an understanding of what to expect. You can start to mention big school, school uniforms and how proud you are of them or involve school talk in playtime at home. The Queensland Government offer a ‘Starting School Game’, which is available to download online and includes games and information encouraging parents and kids to talk about starting school in a playful way. If you find your child is overwhelmed or worried about starting school, this is a fun way to get them accustomed to the idea.
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Common objections: “I want to stay home with you!”
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It can be so difficult to see your little one upset at drop off, but reassuring them and being prepared for how they may react will help you to respond to the situation. Kids Matter recommends learning from other transition periods and tailoring an approach that suits your little one’s temperament. For example, think about a time your child experienced another transition period. What approach helped them through this stage? Use this experience and tailor it to this situation.
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Transition class and Beyond
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Once your child is settled into school, clear communication with the school is crucial for ongoing success. Schools see education as a partnership between schools and families and parents and carers are welcomed as members of the school community.
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Religious Education News
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Advent: With the start of this third week of the season of Advent, we are halfway to Christmas. So, as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ, we light the third candle, the rose candle which represents joy. We remember what was dark is getting brighter, and joy is on its way. We can hardly wait to rejoice and sing at Christmas. We know that the wonder of the season tends to push all our sadness and sorrow away, so we start to feel that special feeling already.
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Prayer at the lighting of the third candle
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We light this candle to remind us that Mary accepted your invitation to be the mother of God.
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We pray that you may deepen our spirit of joy so that we may carry the light of hope into the dark places of our world.
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End of Year Mass: As we come to the end of another wonderful year at St Mary’s we celebrate with our End of Year Mass with Bishop Charles. Our End of Year Mass is always a special celebration and parents are warmly invited to join us in the Cathedral at 8:30am Monday 13th December.
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Nativity: Thank you to all the students involved in the Nativity at our Christmas Carols evening. They set the stage for a wonderful evening.
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As always, our community has been very generous with donations for the annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Caring for the vulnerable is such an important part of our faith, and we thank you for demonstrating this Christian value to your children. Our contribution to the appeal will be collected by a member of St Vincent de Paul at our End of Year Mass on Monday 13th December. Thank you for helping bring the joy of Christmas into the lives of those who need it most.
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Monday, 13th December (Week Ten): End of School Year Mass 8:30am in the Cathedral.
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Tuesday, 14th December - Welcome to New families Liturgy 8.30 am.
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Religious Education Co-ordinator
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Start of the 2022 School Year
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The 2022 school year begins on Wednesday, 2 February 2022 at 8.15 am for all students. Children are asked to be at school at least ten minutes before classes begin in order that they may find their classrooms and be ready to begin classes at 8.20 am. Please remember to pack lunch and recess separately as lunch goes in a container in the cool room. The children are also able to have a water bottle in the classroom with them each day.
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The school book and uniform shop will be operating from Thursday, 27 January 2022 from 9 am to 3 pm each day. All uniform and book packs can be purchased from the office from this date.
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Please note, book packs can be paid for at this time and will be distributed to teachers for use in the classroom.
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21st Century Dance Concert USB
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Re-live the fun of our 21st Century Dance concert!
You can order your copy of the concert which was professionally recorded by Dreamedia. To order now online, click the button below or complete the "Concert USB Order Form" found in the FORMS tab on School Stream.
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There are only a handful of remaining USBs available - please order soon to avoid disappointment!
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Healthy Harold's visit to St Mary's!
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Educator Suzi Spedding and Healthy Harold visited our school this week! Many parents may have memories of visiting the giraffe Healthy Harold in the Life Education Van when they were at school. This is a highlight that we look forward to each year at St Mary's. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 restrictions, our visit was pushed back this year, and Harold was not able to bring his van either - however the students all thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and learning how they can keep themselves safe and healthy!
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Life Education have a range of online resources to help support parents and carers continue the learning at home. Visit the link below to learn more!
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2022 School Book and Levy Fees
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Parents & Friends Christmas Raffle Winners!
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Congratulations to our winners of the P&F Christmas Raffle! Six families took home an amazing prize this morning. What a way to kick start the holidays!
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We are so grateful to all our sponsors who very generously donated prizes for our raffle.
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- Bridge Toyota Darwin
- F45 Training Gym Darwin
- Blue Gum Photography
- Our local doTERRA Wellness Advocate - Lisa Di Donato
Additionally, we extend a thank you to two St Mary’s Families who donated prizes and wish to stay anonymous. We greatly appreciate your very generous donations and for sponsoring our raffle this year!
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On behalf of the Parents and Friends Committee a big thank you for all of your wonderful support this year for our events and fundraising. We have lots planned for 2022. If you are interested in joining our P&F next year, please complete the Volunteer Form found on SchoolStream.
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BYODD Program
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Technology is an educational tool to support learning... it does not replace the learning of key fundamental skills!
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Devices can still be ordered for our BYODD - Bring Your Own Designated Device program. To ensure delivery for Day 1, Term 1 the order cut off date is 6th January 2022. Ordering is made easy via our dedicated online portal.
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Additionally, we know of an 'as new' second hand designated device, which a family is looking to sell - price negotiable. If interested please contact our Deputy Principal Christine Ferreira via email christine.ferreira@nt.catholic.edu.au.
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Ordering is made easy via our dedicated online portal. All information can be found in the BYODD Parent Information and device specification guide, which was sent home to all Year 3/4 students and those without a designated school device in Year 5. We encourage you to learn more about our device supplier Edunet by watching the short video linked below.
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Outstanding School Fees
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Thank you to the many families who have already finalised their school accounts for 2021. To those families who still have fees outstanding please be aware
that payment is now due and fees need to be paid assoon as possible.
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If you believe that that you will not be able to pay your school fees account by the end of the school year (16th Dec, 2021) or are having difficulties making payments, please contact the office and make an appointment to arrange a payment plan. Payments can be made at the School office by cash or EFT. Credit Card payments can be made over the phone or electronic payments can be made directly to the school.
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Our account details are as follows:
Account Name: St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Branch Number: 085-933
Account Number: 39 686 0268
Reference when processing your payment:
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School Fees: Please quote your Family Ref (at the bottom right of the statement).
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Out of School Hours Fees: Please quote your Family Name and OSHC
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Community of Learners: Please quote your Family Name and COL
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To request an updated statement for School Fees please contact our finance officer Louise Higgins on louise.higgins@nt.catholic.edu.au.
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OSHC and COL statements are processed and sent out weekly by our Bookkeeper Kathy Zerafa.
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Semester Two Academic Reports
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Semester Two reports are emailed to parents during the last week of Term 4. If you would like to request a printed report, please email the front office. Please ensure that we have the most up to date email address on file to ensure you receive your child’s report. Please advise the office if you have not received your child's report by Thursday 16th December.
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MindUp For Life
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In 2022, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School will continue to implement and imbed the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum. To support the roll-out of this curriculum and further promote wellbeing in our school community we will use the MindUP for Life program. MindUP for Life was developed not only to expand students’ social and emotional awareness but also to improve their academic performance. The concepts and vocabulary associated with MindUP for Life will expand the scope of students’ thinking in all academic disciplines.
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The MindUP For Life’s core practices can become a staple routine for the opening and closing of each school day as well as at the moments of transition: settling down after recess, waiting for lunch, moving from one subject to the next. The MindUp For Life parent book offers a number of activities and insights into social and emotional learning, wellbeing, mindfulness and neuroscience.
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MindUP For Life is grounded upon four pillars of research to practice foster children’s well-being and resiliency:
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- MindUP For Life teaches children about the brain with a specific focus on how the brain regulates emotions and stress.
- Understanding the structure of the brain and how it functions gives children a sense of control and empowerment that supports their abilities for self-regulation and learning readiness.
- Mindful awareness:
- Children learn mindful awareness practices that facilitate attention, self-regulation, and well-being.
- Research has found that people who can regulate their emotions are more likely to show empathy and to act pro-socially towards others.
- Positive Psychology:
- MindUP For Life infuses strategies derived from the science of happiness to provide children with skills to foster well-being.
- Research has revealed that positive emotions lead to a broader scope of attention and greater motivation.
- Social and Emotional Learning (SEL):
- SEL is the process by which individuals attain and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to: identify and manage their emotions, understand another’s perspective and show empathy for others, set and achieve positive goals, develop and sustain positive relationships;, and make responsible decisions.
- SEL skills are malleable and can be taught. These skills are predictive of not only school success but also of future life success including educational attainment and mental health
The MindUP For Life program is currently being implemented in hundreds of schools across the US, Canada, the UK and Latin America. The research results on these programs, and associated research is excellent http://www.thehawnfoundation.org/research
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Recently a MindUP For Life parent/carer webinar was organised through the foundation and the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Leader for Catholic Education Northern Territory, Cheryl Edward has shared a recording of this webinar for families to access. If you would like to access the recording of the webinar or would like a copy of the parent workbook, please e-mail: sinead.walsh@nt.catholic.edu.au
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Enrolments for 2022
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Help spread the word! Enrolments for 2022 are now open
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If you would like an enrolment package, please contact the school office. If you have already received an enrolment package for your Transition 2022 child, please complete and return to the school office as soon as possible so your enrolment interview can be scheduled. If your child is currently enrolled in the St Mary’s Community of Learners Pre-school program you will still need to complete a School enrolment form for Transition.
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As a result of our current enrolment numbers for Transition in 2022 we are delighted to share with our school community that we will have two small Transition classes of around 15 students. This will give 2022 Transition students an optimal learning environment for their first year at school.
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Please note, that until enrolment paperwork is received at the school office, we cannot hold places for Transition 2022. Therefore, if you currently have a child at St Mary's and have a younger sibling starting Transition next year, please let the school office know as soon as possible.
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In the Event of a Cyclone
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As we are now in the cyclone season in the Top End, families are reminded of our school procedures in the event of a cyclone. School closures are announced by the Department of Education and are broadcast to the public on the local TV and radio stations. In the event that government schools are closed, Catholic schools will also be closed. Please listen to the radio or TV for updates in relation to school closures and reopening. We will endeavour to keep families informed via our school app – school stream, facebook and email, but this will be dependent on the availability of power and personnel.
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December Kindness 2021
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Download our School App
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Why download the App?
- Receive instant notifications for important news and classroom updates.
- Complete permission and absentee forms.
- Keep up to date with events and save event details directly to your own calendar.
- Order from our school canteen.
Don’t forget to turn your notifications on – so you don’t miss any important notices!
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Canteen Online Orders
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To streamline processes across the school, this term we will be phasing out paper bag lunch orders from our canteen in an attempt to be only online from 2022.
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We encourage families to set up an account for online ordering through Flexischools, which is linked directly in the School Stream App. Details on how to set up an account can be found in the “CANTEEN” tab of School Stream. There is no need to download the Flexischools App, it can all be accessed from the School Stream App.
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Please note daily orders close at 8.40am. Any orders received after this time, will be fulfilled subject to availability of stock and may be substituted for a basic sandwich.
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Final playgroup session for the year will be on Friday 10th December
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Thank you all so much for making our first year of Playgroup sessions at St Mary's a huge success! Please continue to spread the word... we look forward to seeing you all back in 2022.
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St John's Catholic College, Darwin
Year 7 2022
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Information regarding Year 7 2022 at St John's Catholic College.
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What is happening in Darwin
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