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Upcoming Dates
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- 29th July: 100 Days of School Assembly led by Transition Room 7 & 8
- 1st August: Picnic Day Public Holiday
- 5th August: Primary Principal's Day, Assembly led by Year 5/6 Room 16
- 8th to 10th August: Year 5/6 Camp
- 15th August: Andrew Chinn visit & whole school Mass Feast of the Assumption
- 15th to 18th August: National Science Week
- 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 2, Term 3, 2022
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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
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Enrolments for 2022 and 2023 Intentions
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“When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them – some food, a place in our homes, our time – not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched.” Pope Francis
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At St Mary’s we strive to ignite a passion for learning in all students. We believe that we need to equip our students to take their passion combined with knowledge and skills, learning dispositions and moral and ethical frameworks based on the teachings of Jesus, to enter a world beyond school and create their own fulfilling futures.
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St Mary’s is currently accepting enrolments in all classes within our school. Our Mission and Vision statement highlights a welcoming school community. I encourage all parents to mention to friends and colleagues, as well as associates in community, sporting and other groups, that school tours and interviews can occur at any time. We would love to share the many great things that our small school offers.
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Although we have only just started our second semester we are now well into our planning and budgeting for the 2023 school year. At this stage we will be working a budget based with similar enrolments and class structures for 2023. To assist us in developing these plans, we ask any families who know they are not returning in 2023 to please let us know as soon as possible. Likewise, if you have younger children intending to enrol at St Mary’s in 2023, please call by the office and collect an enrolment pack.
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Plenary Council: Many of you will have watched with great interest the second and final assembly of the Catholic Church’s Fifth Plenary Council of Australia earlier this month, ending a four-year process. The last Plenary Council meeting occurred more than 80 years ago, so there was much to be discussed to achieve the shared goal of renewing the life and mission of the Church in Australia. Pleasingly, it was eventually agreed that the role of women in the church should be promoted, however this did not happen easily. A defining moment played out as dozens of Plenary Council members walked to the edge of the assembly floor in silent protest after two motions related to the role of women in the Church failed to gain the required majority in the vote of the Bishops. The plenary agenda was halted, emergency meetings convened, and motions redrafted, which were eventually passed decisively. The changes commit to women being appropriately represented in Church decision-making structures as well as being admitted as Church deacons, provided the Pope agrees when the decrees are sent to the Holy See. So many friends and colleagues I have spoken with expressed how affirming this outcome is as a result of the work of the Plenary Council and we look forward to following how these decisions will be enacted in new ways for women to lead within the Catholic Church.
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COVID: As we move into our 3rd wave of COVID, please continue to be diligent in ensuring social distancing and COVID save practices are being adhered to when visiting school or attending events. Please note that mask wearing is not mandatory at this stage but masks are recommended for seven days if a close contact and if they have had COVID when they return. Please continue to support the health of staff and students by not sending your child to school when sick and exhibiting symptoms, such as coughing, a runny nose or fever. Please keep members of our school community in your prayers and thoughts as they are affected by COVID.
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On a personal note I wish to extend my thanks to the staff, families and wider St Mary’s community for your thoughtfulness, support and prayers on the recent passing of my Dad. Despite this being a sad time, we are heartened by the many messages and floral tributes sent to my family in Queensland. My Mum expressed to me ‘how lucky was I to live and work with such wonderful people!’.
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Enjoy the long weekend break, and if you are going to the Darwin Cup may luck go with you 😊
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Religious Education News
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Feast of the Assumption Mass on Monday, 15th August at 8:30am
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Andrew Chinn 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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A Prayer for Trees
Creator God,
Out of chaos you brought order.
Out of nothingness you brought life.
In the middle of all life stands the tree.
Trees provide the air that nurtures all your creation.
Birds make them their homes.
Cats climb them for protection.
Trees recycle life that has come before.
Bless the trees of this word, loving God.
Remind us to serve as their caregivers and protectors.
Give them long limbs and long life.
The gift of their breath is as special to us as the breath of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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Miss Nolan and our School Captains - Lincoln and Freddie planting a tree for National Tree day.
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News from Room 8
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Curriculum Overviews Term 3
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Class Parent Information Letters for Term 3 have been sent out via School Stream and are linked below:
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Please take the time to read through these letters as they contain key dates for the term, class specific information and curriculum content highlighting the teaching and learning that is planned for this term.
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The curriculum overview provides parents with a snapshot of the key skills and knowledge that your child will be learning this term. When families are actively involved in their children’s education, children usually enjoy school and achieve better results. Finding ways to link learning at home and making connections with what is being taught at school can highly infuence your child’s learning journey.
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P&F Meeting News
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Parents and Friends' Family Portrait Fundraiser
Only 3 spaces left!
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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 8"x12” 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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For every family that completes the survey your child/ren will receive a complimentary icey-pole from the canteen as a thank you!
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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
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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Art Show Sponsorship
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An exciting opportunity exists for businesses to sponsor our Art Show!
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You can sponsor by making a monetary donation or alternatively a donation of art supplies that our students can use to help support the creation of their art pieces. If you or someone who know own a business who would like to take up this opportunity, please contact our school front office at 8981 9796 or admin.stmarys@nt.catholic.edu.au. All businesses who sponsor our Art Show will have their business logo promoted in our Art Show Digital Flyer.
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Art Smocks
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As the students work on their amazing works of Art they will be using a variety of materials such as paint, clay or glue - which can be quite messy!! We strongly encourage all students to bring into school an art smock or oversized large old shirt which can be worn to protect their school uniform.
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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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Colour Run
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Our students had so much fun at the Colour Run last week. Together we have raised $9879.55. Well done St Mary’s. We are almost at our goal of $10,000 and there is still some time to send in cash donations to help us reach our goal. If we reach our goal of $10,000 we get to soak Ms Harrison!!!!
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If you have not yet ordered your prizes, please contact Ms Walsh: sinead.walsh@nt.catholic.edu.au. If you have cash donations please return them to school by COB Tuesday, August 2nd.
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This year, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School is raising funds for much needed literacy resources for all classes across the school! Our teachers have been taking part in professional development, learning about the latest research and evidence-based practise around effective instruction and the systematic teaching of reading.
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So to support the teaching and learning of reading, we plan on purchasing a wide range of new reading resources, including take home readers, guided reading texts, shareable big books, reading intervention resources, as well as teacher resource books.
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St Mary's Sensory Garden Project
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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 represent 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, and/or 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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Spirit of St Mary's
Our Spirit of St Mary’s goal for this term is: 25,000 points!
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Week 2 point check: 4,624 points!
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Shout out this week goes to Room 16. They have showed the Four R’s and MJR and collected 1960 pints so far this term. Well done!
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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
We are so excited to be running our very own playgroup sessions at St Mary’s!
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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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Year 7 enrolments for 2023 close on the 26th August 2022.
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If you know of students and families who are thinking of attending O’Loughlin in 2023 a gentle reminder to send their enrolment forms and all supporting documents in before the 26th August.
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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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