Logo

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

9 September 2022| Week 8

Upcoming Dates

  • 12th - 14th September: Life Education Van Visit
  • 15th September: P&F Gathering
  • 16th September: Year 6 Public Speaking Competition
  • 19th September: BYODD Parent Information Session
  • 23rd September: Assembly led by Room 13
  • 23rd September: Last day for term 3
  • 10th October: Students return for term 4
Event details will be updated on School Stream closer to the event date.
Please check the EVENTS tab regularly and add event details directly to your calendar!

Principal's News

Week 8, Term 3, 2022

Photo
Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The school has been a hive of busy artists over the past weeks creating art works for our Laudato Si’ themed Art show last night. Every child has prepared artwork to go on display, some are individual pieces but most classes have come up with clever collaborative pieces of artwork to display. Functions such as our Art Show are not successful without the support of our parent community. The children love to see their parents involved in school activities such as this. Thank you to our wonderful staff members for your wonderful time and energy given in preparation of the Art Show over the last couple of months in the lead up to the event. Thank you to the P and F for your assistance at the Art Show.

Yesterday morning we celebrated our school feast day - The Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Mother of Jesus. Our whole school Mass acknowledged the sacrifice and dedication Mary displayed to be Jesus’ Mother and be part of God’s plan. Mary’s birthday is recorded as being on the 8th September and is a very significant part of our faith story. Mary’s parents, Joachim and Ann, loved God very much, and they were filled with gratitude to God for the gift of a child. They raised Mary as a child of God, teaching her to love and serve God. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she had been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, she already had great faith in God. Her strong faith and trust allowed her to say yes to God’s plan for her. We cannot be certain what the future holds for any newborn infant, but we do know that the life of each person has meaning and purpose.

The Spirit of St Mary's award given to students at St Mary’s every week acknowledges and affirms children for living in the St Mary’s way. Yesterday we thanked God for the gift of life and give honour to both Mary and Jesus by showing respect and concern for one another—remembering that God has created each person with love and with a call to something very special in life.

Farewell to Kenzie (Room 8) and family who recently left our school community.
Welcome to Bailee (Room 5) and family who recently joined our school community

Peace and blessing for a wonderful week ahead,

In Faith and Love,

Rosie Harrison
Principal

Prayer

We Walk with Mary
Mary who said yes to God…Pray for us
May we trust in God… Pray for us
Mary who loved her family… Pray for us
May we be people of peace…Pray for us
Mary who gave God praise… Pray for us
May we praise God everyday… Pray for us
Mary who was kind to all… Pray for us
May we be sharers of love… Pray for us
Mary who built community… Pray for us
People of action, in simple deeds… Pray for us
We walk with Mary who shows God’s way
We open our hearts to Jesus each day
We follow his footsteps, walk hand in hand
Together with Mary, together we stand


By Andrew Chinn
mary

Religious Education News

Making Jesus Real
Today our staff, combined with Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School staff, participated in our school's Catholic Identity Day. The day focused on the Making Jesus Real (MJR) philosophy and was led by Marty Ogle Education Officer and Coordinator of the Make Jesus Real program throughout Australia.

Through MJR students learn about Gospel values and how to live the good news. MJR is a way to bring the person of Jesus (who lived more than 2000 years ago) into the here and now! Staff explored how MJR extends beyond the classroom and teaches skills to help our children fulfil their potential.

It is a unique opportunity for our staff to be able to network together in this way, and we are most grateful to Holy Spirit CPS for hosting the day.

Clare Nolan
Religious Education Co-ordinator
20220909_144858
St Mary's and Holy Spirit staff with Marty from MJR

News from Room 5

Room 5

St Mary's Art Show!

Thank you all for attending yesterday evening. We hope you ​enjoy viewing the students' creations as much as they enjoyed making ​them! Well done to our student performers who helped open our evening -Dance Troupe, Year 5/6 Rap students and Room 16.

An extra shout out to the 2022 Art Show Committee Team who have been planning this event from the very beginning of the school year. This was a real team effort and we are so grateful and blessed to be working with such inspirational and amazing staff who gave so much of their time so that our students could experience what it is like to be a professional artist.

We look forward to sharing more of the lovely images from the night with you!
sponsors
This is just a snapshot of some of the amazing galleries that were put together!
IMG_3665
IMG_3661
IMG_3667
IMG_3687
IMG_3671
IMG_3674

Healthy Harold is visiting St Mary's!

download (1)
Healthy Harold and the Life Education Teacher Suzi Spedding will visit St Mary's from the 12th-14th of September.
Over the three days St Mary’s school and CoL students will visit the Life Education Van and take part in an interactive curriculum based program aimed at their year level. The Life Education website has lots of resources for parents and carers designed to help you speak to your children about various health-related topics.

BYODD Parent Information Session

parent info session
Since 2020, St Mary’s has implemented a BYODD (Bring Your Own Designated Device) Program for students in Years 4 to 6 in line with our goal to enrich and enhance learning through the integration of Information Communication and Technology.

The transition to BYODD at St. Mary’s has proven to be extremely successful and popular - providing opportunities for teachers to integrate technology meaningfully into the learning and teaching program and for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom. As a result of this success, in 2023 we will be expanding the BYODD program to students in Years 3 to 6. Children moving into Year 3 next year are eligible to join the BYODD program.

A parent information session is being held on Monday 19th September at 5pm in the Mary MacKillop Hall. Further information will be sent out via School Stream. We encourage all families whose students do not currently have a BYODD device to attend.

Pastoral Care and Wellbeing News

Inclusion Support Assistant Appreciation Week

Last week we celebrated Inclusion Support Assistant (ISA) Appreciation Week. We are blessed at St Mary’s to have such an amazing team of caring, dedicated, kind, enthusiastic and conscientious professionals working with our students.


Thank you: Mrs Paula, Mrs Robyn, Mrs Janelle, Miss Amanda, Mrs Carmel, Miss Bree, Mrs Christina, Miss O’Mara, Mrs Gurpreet, Mr Lyons, Mrs Alesha, Mrs Karen and Mrs Emmylou.
ISA

Welcome Sister In and Sister Berti

We have been very blessed to have had Sister In and Sister Berti volunteering at our school over the past two weeks. The sisters have been helping the teachers and students in the classroom. We thank them for the generous giving of their time and welcome them as part of our St Mary’s Community.
Sisters
raising children
Article source: https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/entertainment-technology/cyberbullying-online-safety/internet-safety-9-11-years

Identifying and managing internet safety risks with pre-teens

You won’t always be around to supervise your child when they’re online, so it’s important to teach your child to manage internet safety risks. This will help your child build digital resilience, which is the ability to respond positively and deal with online risks.
You can do this by:
  • being a role model for safe internet use
  • talking with your child about internet use and online content
  • guiding the way your child builds their online reputation
  • teaching your child to be careful with personal information
  • teaching your child about online purchases
It’s all about helping your child become a responsible digital citizen.

Role-modelling internet use

    You can model safe and healthy internet use by using digital media and the internet in the way you want your child to use it now and in the future. For
    example, you might keep internet-connected devices out of bedrooms, and use technology for positive purposes like sending supportive messages to friends.

    To be continued next week.

    Self-Care September

    September

    Spirit of St Mary's

    Our Spirit of St Mary’s goal for this term is: 25,000 points!
    Week 8 point check: 24,276 points!

    Shout out this week goes to all of the Year 6 students who participated in our in-school Public Speaking Competition.

    You showed courage and a contagious positive attitude by taking part.

    Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
    Philippians 2:5
    pirit of St Marys 29-7-22

    O'Loughlin Catholic College

    Year 7, 2023

    OCC 6-9-22

    St Mary's Playgroup


    We are so excited to be running our very own playgroup sessions at St Mary’s!

    When: Wednesday 9.30 – 11.30 am (Term weeks)

    Where: Mary MacKillop Hall

    Cost: $2 per family

    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!

    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.
    Playgroup

    Download School Stream

    APP

    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!

    Canteen Online Orders & Update

    download
    To streamline processes across the school, in 2022 we are now 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.

    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.

    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.

    What is happening in Darwin

    Sky barre 8-9-22
    Week 6
    Warratha 6-9-22
    Banks 26-8-22
    Warratha 5-8-22
    music
    Cupcakes 1
    facebook website email