|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Dates
|
- 17th February 2023: Assembly 8.30 am led by Room 13
- 21st February 2023: Shrove Tuesday, Caritas Pancake Fundraiser
- 22nd February 2023: Ash Wednesday, 8.30 am liturgy led by Room 11
- 23rd February 2023: Parents and Friends Gathering, 3 pm in the hall
- 3rd March 2023: Assembly 8.30 am led by Room 6
- 10th March 2023: Assembly 8.30 am led by Room 14
|
|
Event details will be updated on SchoolStream closer to the event date.
|
|
Please check the EVENTS tab regularly and add event details directly to your calendar!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal's News
|
Week 3, Term 1, 2023
|
As we now enter into our third week of term school days are becoming more routine occasions. Our school year has begun very smoothly, with lots of enthusiastic children and teachers making a very happy start to the year. Our Transition students have settled in well and have already learnt so much. After visiting classes through the week, I have noticed that heads are down and there is much thinking and written activity taking place. It is my hope that this enthusiasm will flow on throughout the year and that all students will embrace this new school year with enthusiasm, determination, and a positive mindset.
|
We know that the success of our school comes from a successful partnership with our families. To ensure this, there are a few keys things for us both to follow here at St Mary's:
|
Communication is an important vehicle between the family and the school, and I ask that you take the time to read the weekly Newsletter and SchoolStream updates sent home. These forms of communication are our main means of keeping you informed with what is happening around the school.
|
If you have an issue or a concern, please know that we will try and deal with this together. If you need to discuss a concern with the teacher please take the time to make an appointment, as the mornings and afternoons can be busy for teachers. It is also important to know that the teacher is the first point of contact in dealing with your concerns. You are always welcome to speak with a member of the leadership team after speaking with your child’s teacher. Feedback is also always welcome.
|
School begins at 8.20am with morning duty commencing at 8.00am. All students are supervised in the courtyard area and Gym. If you are late or need to pick up your child from school early, you are required to call into the office to sign your child in or out. All visitors to the school are required to sign in/out at the office whenever they are in the school grounds. This can seem an onerous task; however, this procedure allows us to be aware of who is on the school grounds at all times.
|
Drop Off and Pick Up: School concludes at 2.50pm and supervision is provided at our designated pick-up areas, which include the Drop Off and Pick Up and the Bus Zone. Parents who park on the opposite side of Lindsay St need to cross over to collect their children. Teachers are on duty to ensure that your child is safe at all times. Using the Cavanagh St Kiss and Go area correctly is vital to the children’s safety. Patience is important at all times as we know children can be impulsive. If the zone is full, please do not illegally park in Bus or driveway zones; go for a lap around the block or find a park. Thank you to those families who faithfully follow our parking procedures and always do the right thing in and around the school. It is such a busy place and your patience is always appreciated.
|
School Uniform: At the beginning of each school year students present themselves in correct school uniform. This year is no different in that parents have gone to great lengths to ensure that children are outfitted appropriately. I appreciate and thank you for your efforts in ensuring that the school uniform is worn correctly each day. If for any reason your child is out of uniform, I ask that you send a message to your child’s teacher to explain the reason for not being in correct school uniform. Please clearly name all items of clothing and property with your child’s name – this enables us to return lost items to the owners. Remember that long hair must be tied back each day, hair ties to be school colours only, one set of studs or sleepers, a wristwatch and a crucifix/cross are the only jewellery to be worn. Please note we kindly request that students do not come to school wearing nail polish. Please ensure that your child is not wearing coloured shoes with both their formal and sports uniform. All Black shoes is the requirement each day. No colours, stripes or white soles please.
|
The easiest way to remember is “black soles, black uppers and black stripes”.
|
I thank you for assisting us with these procedures.
|
Farewell to Jett and family who leave our school community this week.
|
Have a wonderful week ahead.
|
|
|
|
Prayer
|
God, Lord of all creation, of life and of everything, please help us to love in our very small way what You love infinitely and everywhere.
|
|
We thank You that we can offer just this one prayer and that will be more than enough.
|
|
Help us each day to stand for love, for healing, for the good, and all creation.
|
|
We offer our prayer together with all the holy names of God.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Religious Education News
|
|
Opening School Mass: Last Friday we celebrated our Opening School Mass with St John’s Catholic Collage. Thank you to everyone involved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ash Wednesday – 22 February 2023
This week coming, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
|
|
The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving in support of Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at:
|
|
We ask that boxes are returned by the end of Week 1 of Term 2.
|
|
Thank you for your support.
|
|
|
|
Shrove Tuesday Fundraiser - Tuesday 21st February
|
|
Ash Wednesday Liturgy - Wednesday 22nd February at 8.30 am
|
Holy Week Liturgy - Friday 31st March in the Mary MacKillop Hall
|
|
Clare Nolan Religious Education Co-ordinator
|
|
|
|
Classroom News from Room 5
|
|
|
|
Parents and Friends News
St Mary's Parents and Friends (P&F) Committee is a friendly, social group of parents and guardians who meet regularly to help our school in a variety of ways. We invite and welcome those in the school community to join our Parents and Friends committee for the first meeting of the year on Thursday February 23 @ 3pm in the Mary MacKillop Hall.
|
- Contribute to the well-being of the students, staff and other members of the school community.
- Promote the development of facilities for education and support the school leadership team.
- Raise funds for the purpose of providing amenities and enhancements for St Mary's Catholic Primary School for use by the whole school community.
- Endeavour to Promote St Mary's Catholic Primary School within the wider community.
- Promote interaction between all members of the school community.
|
We look forward to meeting loads of new people, children are always welcome at our meetings too.
|
|
|
|
|
Parent Information Letters
|
Thank you to families who came to our Parent Information Night last week! There was a lovely buzz as new and existing families had an opportunity to visit classrooms and meet your child's teacher for 2023.
|
Below you can access a digital copy of the Parent Information Letters which were handed out at the Information Sessions:
|
|
|
|
The Science of Reading
|
At St Mary's Catholic Primary School our educators are very passionate about developing students literacy skills. This year we are shifting our teaching practise and developing our approach to teaching reading at our school. We believe that reading is one of the most important skills that we can teach our students, and we want to make sure that they have the tools they need to become skilled and confident readers.
|
|
This shift in our approach is grounded in the latest research on the Science of Reading which emphasizes the importance of developing a range of skills that work together to support reading development. This approach is often represented by Hollis Scarborough's "Reading Rope," which shows the different strands of reading that need to be developed in order for someone to become a skilled reader. As you can see there are so many skills that our learners need to develop in order to be confident and successful readers.
|
|
|
At St Mary's Catholic Primary School, we focus on developing these strands of reading in the following ways:
|
-
|
Phonological awareness: We provide opportunities for students to hear and manipulate the sounds in language, through activities such as rhyming games, sound blending, and segmenting.
|
-
|
Phonics: We teach students the relationship between letters and sounds, so that they can decode words accurately and efficiently.
|
-
|
Fluency: We help students build fluency by providing opportunities for them to practice reading with accuracy, speed, and expression.
|
-
|
Vocabulary: We provide opportunities for students to learn new words and understand their meanings, through activities such as read-alouds, word walls, and context-based learning.
|
-
|
Comprehension: We teach students strategies for understanding and making meaning from what they read, such as asking questions, making predictions, and summarising.
|
We know that reading can be a complex and challenging skill to learn, but we believe that by developing these strands in a coordinated and systematic way, we can help all of our students become skilled and confident readers.
|
|
If you have any questions about our approach to Reading, or if you would like to learn more about how you can support your child's reading development at home, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's classroom teacher.
|
|
|
|
BYODD Program 2023
|
|
|
|
PORTAL IS STILL TAKING ORDERS FOR BYODD
In 2023, we have expanded the BYODD program to students in Years 3 to 6 and it is a requirement that students in these year groups have their own designated device for school use.
|
|
Please find linked below the documents and information for BYODD. These documents contain all the information that you need to know regarding our 2023 BYODD program:
|
Ordering your child's device is quick and easy through our supplier Edunet. You can learn more about our supplier Edunet by watching this video.
|
|
We know of a previous St Mary's family seeking to sell their existing BYODD device as they have needed to upgrade for Middle School.
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming PE opportunities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Music News
|
|
|
|
New School and Library Bags
|
|
|
We are very excited to share that in 2023 we will be introducing a St Mary’s school bag! We will have two sizes available to accommodate our younger and older students. The new school bag is made of a lightweight yet durable fabric. We will also have waterproof library bags available for purchase in the new year as well.
|
|
Cost of the school back packs will be $45 and $10 for the library bags, both will be available for purchase at the start of the school year.
|
|
|
|
2023 School Terms
|
Term 1, 2023 Monday, 30 January 2023 - staff return
|
|
Wednesday, 1 February 2023 - students return
|
Thursday, 6 April 2023 - last day term one
|
Term 2, 2023 Monday, 17 April to Friday, 23 June 2023
|
|
Term 3, 2023 Monday, 17 July 2023 - staff return
|
|
Tuesday, 18 July 2023 - students return
|
Friday, 22 September 2023 - last day term three
|
|
Term 4, 2023 Monday, 9 October 2023
|
|
Thursday, 14 December 2023 - last day for students
|
|
Friday, 15 December 2023 - last day for staff
|
|
|
|
2023 School Fees
|
|
Early Bird Discount!
Pay your school fees in full before the end of
Term 1 for a 5% discount!
|
Payments can be made at the Front Office or via Direct Deposit:
|
|
Name of Account: St Mary's Catholic Primary School
|
|
Account Number: 39 686 0268
|
|
Please quote your Family Ref (at the bottom of the invoice) as the reference when processing your payment. Invoices will be sent out by the end of Week 3.
|
|
|
|
|
Outside School Hours Care and Early Learning Centre Fees
|
|
|
|
Download School Stream
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Want to avoid fees when topping up your Flexischools account?
|
Click below to download a step-by-step guide on how to top up your Flexischools account without a surcharge via Electronic Bank Transfer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To streamline processes across the school, in 2023 we are only accepting online orders for lunches.
|
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.
|
|
You can find the 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cyclone Season
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 school stream, but this will be dependent on the availability of power and personnel.
|
|
Visit www.securent.nt.gov.au for more information.
|
|
For up to date weather alerts please refer to www.bom.gov.au . (http://www.bom.gov.au/)
|
|
|
|
|
What is happening in Darwin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
