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Upcoming Dates
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- 26th July: National Tree Day
- 27th July: School Board Meeting
- 28th July: P&F Gathering
- 29th July: 100 Days of School Assembly led by Transition Room 7 & 8
- 28th & 29th July: Year 4 Camp
- 1st August: Picnic Day Public Holiday
- 5th August: Primary Principals Day, Assembly led by Year 5/6 Room 16
- 8th to 10th August: Year 5/6 Camp
- 8th September: St Mary's Feast Day & Art Show
- 9th September: Pupil Free Day
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Event details will be updated on School Stream closer to the event date.
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Please check the EVENTS tab regurarly and add event details directly to your calendar!
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Principal's News
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Week 1, Term 3, 2022
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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
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I hope you all had a wonderful break and had the opportunity to spend time making memories with loved ones. The shorter first week back has been a nice way for students to ease back into the routine of school life.
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It was straight back into it for our amazing staff, who hit the ground running! On Monday, they all participated in training to use an assessment tool that will enable them to assess and evaluate how best to plan class lessons that will enhance our students' learning. On Tuesday and Wednesday, this training and assessment continued with both staff and students. The students will be able to measure their success and track their learning using real-time data. The tool used is called Essential Assessment and will assist in improving the teaching, learning and assessment of Numeracy and Literacy within our school. We would like to thank Jacqueline Clark and Jacinta Browning from Essential Assessment for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with us.
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As we commence the second semester, our youngest learners, our Transition students are preparing to celebrate 100 days of being at school! This milestone and achievement is a fun way to reflect on and acknowledge all of the achievements our students have achieved in their first year of school. The first year of school sets the foundation for lifelong learning and the development of skills needed to succeed in life. We often see the most growth in these little ones as they grow and develop vital learning skills such as fine and gross motor skills, social and self-care skills, as well as early literacy and numeracy acquisition. The Transition teachers are planning lots of fun activities for the students, and we look forward to their assembly next Friday!
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On Thursday, we kicked off the term with a Welcome Back to Term Coffee Morning! Families, staff and students came together to catch up and enjoy some sweet breakfast treats. Thank you to our canteen staff for preparing these delicious treats for us and to Just Coffee Darwin for being on site to provide our morning coffee buzz.
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This was just the start of the many exciting events planned for Term 3! Our school calendar can be downloaded above. Worth noting in your calendars is our school Feast Day and Art Show on 8th September. Students have already started producing some fabulous visual and media art pieces for this event. The following day the 9th September is a Pupil Free Day. On this day our COL and OSHC services will still be operational. The easiest way to keep up to date with all our school event details is to refer to the 'EVENTS' tab in our school App School Stream. From the App you can add school event details directly to your personal calendars.
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As we enjoy the cooler weather, a reminder that while we do not currently have a school jacket, we encourage students to wear only plain navy blue jackets, jumpers or cardigans to school. Our School Board is currently reviewing our School Uniform Policy and we hope to have this ratified and shared with you later this term.
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Welcome back to Zachary G (Room 9) and Elijah M (Room 11) who have both rejoined our school community this term. Welcome also to Faith and her family who have joined our school community in Room 8.
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Enrolments for 2023 Transition: Enrolments outside of our existing families are now open for 2023. Existing families of St Mary’s are encouraged to return enrolment forms as soon as possible to ensure places are kept for our existing families. The best form of advertising is word of mouth, so please help us spread the word amongst your networks.
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An enrolment pack is available online from our website or alternatively from the front office in Lindsay Street. Children who are born between 1st July 2017 to 30th June 2018, are eligible for entry into the 2023 Transition class.
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Religious Education News
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Welcome Back to the Start of Term Three
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I trust that all families had an enjoyable break over the holidays away from the routine and busyness of school life. We move forward into Term Three with renewed excitement about a few enjoyable big school events. Our celebration of the Feast of the Assumption with musician Andrew Chin and our school feast day on September 8th celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of Mary are just some of the things happening this term. These days promise to be a day of community and joy.
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As we move into Term Three, my hope is that all children grow in love and light and that they continue to make you as proud as they did on the day they turned up for their first taste of school, holding your hand, ready to begin their schooling journey.
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Feast of the Assumption Mass on Monday, 15th August at 8:30am
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Andrew Chin School visit and performance Monday, 15th August
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School Feast day Mass on Thursday, 8th September at 8:30am
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I pray that you be with my child today as they return to school.
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Bless their going and coming.
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Bless their learning and playing.
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Please protect their hearts from fear and keep them safe.
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Please give them good friends.
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Let them feel joy and thank you for loving them always.
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News from Room 6
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P&F Meeting News
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Parents and Friends' Family Portrait Fundraiser
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Is it time to update your precious family photos?
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The St Mary's P&F have organised a Family Portrait fundraiser. Bede from Laura Jean Photography will be taking family portraits (with a crème backdrop) at St Mary’s CPS on Sunday 21st August.
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You will receive an 8x12” family photo plus keyring for just $20.00 (available once per family). This year, these funds will go towards technology upgrades across our school. Additional images or package options are also available on the day, at great prices.
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Please invite your local friends along to our lovely fundraising event, they do not need to attend our school.
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Canteen Survey
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The St Mary’s P&F is committed to supporting our school community to have their voices heard on a range of matters. We are currently conducting a review of the St Mary’s School Canteen to determine if it is meeting the needs of students and families. We would really appreciate it if you could please spare a few minutes to fill out our survey in the link below. The information gathered in the survey will be reviewed by the School Board and will help support the school in planning for the future direction of our school canteen.
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St Mary's Art Show!
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The theme for our Art Show this year is Laudato Si' - Care for Our Common Home. This is inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical, published in May 2015, which focuses on environmental and human rights issues, as well as the overarching question of how humans, God, and the Earth are interconnected. As they prepare for the Art Show, students will be exploring the various principles presented in Laudato Si' and using this to help direct their art inspiration. We will continue to unpack this theme in future newsletters.
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Shout out for Recyclables:
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The staff and students of St Mary's have been busy preparing some beautiful art for our upcoming Art Show, but we need a few recyclable things to help us along the way.
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This week we are calling out for:
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- soft drink bottles.
- Glass jars of all shapes and sizes, including the large Macona Coffee jars.
- Magazines
Students can place the items in the box outside the staff room. Thank you for your assistance in collecting these items, we hope to put them together to create some amazing art pieces.
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If you have a business who might like to sponsor our Art Show or make a donation towards art supplies that our students can use to help support the creation of their art pieces, please contact our school front office at 8981 9796 or admin.stmarys@nt.catholic.edu.au.
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PlayZone
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Welcome to PlayZone for Term 3, our lunchtime play space that encourages students to build their social skills in a fun, supported play-based environment.
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Our theme this term is “St Mary’s Village." We will be incorporating different aspects of everyday life into our activities, giving students an opportunity to role play, think about their own place in a community and practice their communication skills.
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Students of all ages are already loving the centerpiece of our village, the cubby house!
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We would love to include a baby center in our village. If anyone has any dolls that are no longer being used at home, our students can definitely provide them with some love, attention and care. Also, if anyone has any toy cars, matchbox or other size that need a new home we can also use them to practice our road awareness and negotiation skills whilst driving around St Mary’s Village.
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Donations will be gratefully accepted through the front office. Otherwise you can contact Jacqui Krek via email at jacqueline.krek@nt.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions.
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Pastoral Care and Wellbeing News
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Dry Season has arrived which means time to get gardening at St Mary’s. Thanks to the generous giving of our families in our Colour Run last year, we are ready to begin creating a wonderful outdoor space for our students. The sensory garden will offer students an outdoor space to learn, play and be mindful. Sensory gardens improve physical fitness, health, mood and cognition.
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A sensory garden is a garden environment that is designed with the purpose of stimulating the senses. This stimulation occurs courtesy of plants and the use of materials that engage one’s senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound. These types of gardens are popular with and beneficial to both children and adults.
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At St Mary’s we want our sensory garden to be a community space for students and families to enjoy. We want to embed the principles of Laudato ‘Si by caring for our common home with a space where students can learn to care for nature. We plan to sustainably source materials for the garden and grow herbs to be used in our canteen and shared with families. We are lucky to live in such a multicultural community, and we plan to celebrate that in our garden by exploring native plants, bush tucker and visually representing our diverse community.
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If you or someone you know would like to be involved in this community project we ask that you please contact Ms Walsh. You may have a particular skill, be a keen gardener, have some spare time to give or know a local business that may wish to be involved. We hope to form a committee with family, staff and student representatives to help with the planning and building of our garden. Ms Walsh can be contacted through the school office or via e-mail: sinead.walsh@nt.catholic.edu.au
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We are excited to see this space unfold!
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Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
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Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with a disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
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We encourage you to take the time to read the NCCD Parent Fact Sheet linked below. Further information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.
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St Mary's Playgroup
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We are so excited to be running our very own playgroup sessions at St Mary’s!
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Playgroup commences for Term 3 on Wednesday 27th July - we hope to see you all then!
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When: Wednesday 9.30 – 11.30 am (Term weeks)
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Where: Mary MacKillop Hall
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St Mary’s playgroup is the only playgroup in the Darwin CBD registered with Playgroup Northern Territory. Our playgroup sessions allow children to explore through play, enjoy story time, morning tea and create a masterpiece too!
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These sessions are open to families outside of the school and cater for babies and toddlers of all ages. You can find us every Wednesday (school terms only) in the Mary MacKillop Hall, please enter via the Parish entrance from Smith Street.
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Year 7 - 2023
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Download School Stream
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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 & Update
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To streamline processes across the school, in 2022 we are now only accepting online orders for lunches.
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All families need 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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For those with an existing account, you will need to update your child's class and room number for 2022 before placing your first order. Please refer to the instructions in School Stream.
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You can find the updated 2022 Canteen menu in School Stream. 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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What is happening in Darwin
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