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Upcoming Dates
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- 22nd October: P&F Bunnings BBQ
- 28th October: World Teachers' Day; Assembly led by Year 4/5 Room 9; Defence Family gathering afternoon
- 31st October: Mission Stalls Fundraiser
- 1st November: All Saints Day
- 2nd November: All Souls Day
- 3rd November: Soktober Activities
- 4th November: Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival, 9 - 1.30 pm Parap Pool
- 10th November: P&F Gathering 3 pm Library
- 11th November: Remembrance Day Liturgy, Led by DSM and Defence students, 8.30 am Mackillop Hall
- 15th December: Last day for students for 2023
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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 regularly and add event details directly to your calendar!
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Acting Principal's News
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Week 2, Term 4, 2022
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Hello St Mary’s Families,
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World Mission Month: This morning our Year 3/4 students led us in a very reverent liturgy celebrating World Mission Month. This month at St Mary’s we are focusing on how we can contribute to the work of Catholic Mission - focusing particularly on supporting communities in Ethiopa. Pope Francis, in his 2022 World Mission Sunday message, invites everyone to answer the call to be missionary, sharing that "Mission is carried out together, not individually...". Here at St Mary’s, although we are very far away from Ethiopia, we can take some small steps to help make a difference. In a few weeks time we will hold Mission Month stalls where each class will lead a fundraising stall to support the work of Catholic Missions. More information about this is in this newsletter.
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Maker's Empire Showcase: Today an excited group of select students represented St Mary’s at the Maker’s Empire showcase day at Wanguri Primary School. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase some of the work they have been doing in Digital Technologies this semester with the Maker’s Empire program. This digital tool encourages students to be creators, innovators and problem-solvers by creating their own 3D designs to print off using 3D printers. We look forward to seeing more of these creative designs later in the term. Thank you to Miss Kathryn Fisher for planning this day for the students and leading this area of Digital Technologies at St Mary’s.
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Farewell to Mr Greg O’Mullane - Director of Catholic Education NT: Last Friday I was fortunate to attend the Thanksgiving Mass and celebrations for Greg O’Mullane, Director of Catholic Education who is retiring at the end of 2022. It was a very heart-felt celebration of his time and significant contributions to Catholic Education NT. We have invited Greg to a morning tea celebration at St Mary’s on Thursday 24th November and we extend this invitation to our parent community who may wish to attend. Please RSVP to the front office. In this newsletter we have shared the appointment of Mr Paul Greaves to the position of Director of Catholic Education for 2023. We look forward to welcoming Paul to our school system.
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Staff achievements: This week we acknowledged and celebrated some of the achievements of our teachers and staff. Congratulations to Mrs Feldtman for being awarded her Advanced Skilled Teacher (AST) Status and to Mrs Mel Bolwell, Ms Pascale Zufferey and Ms Julie Haydon who were recognised for their years of service to Catholic Education NT. Thank you to Jacqui Langdon, former Principal of St Mary’s and current Deputy Director of Catholic Education NT, who came out to present them with their awards. We are truly blessed to have these amazing staff at St Mary’s.
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New Speed Signs on Cavenagh Street: This week we were pleased to see the installation of electronic “Your Speed” flashing signs installed by Darwin City Council on Cavenagh Street. This has already made a significant impact and shown improvement in slowing down traffic around our school on this busy road. A reminder to families when using the Kiss and Go designated pick-up and drop-off zone to be mindful not to block off the Lindsay Street cross over. It's always best to do another lap around the school, if it is not safe to enter the line up. If you need extra time to help your child during drop-off and pick-up time we recommend using the Lindsay Street gate, so that you can exit your car and accompany your child to the gate.
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P&F Bunnings BBQ: If you are out and about Darwin this Saturday be sure to drop into Bunnings Bagot Road and say hello to our wonderful P&F volunteers who will be running the Sausage Sizzle. All money raised from this event will be used to support purchasing additional IT resources in the school. Thank you to our dedicated P&F for supporting our school. I'll be there all day so come on down and say hello!
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This week we welcome Sanesh in Room 6 and Chahel in Room 9 to our school community.
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Prayer
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Announcement - New Director of Catholic Education NT
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Religious Education News
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Our school is participating in Socktober, a fun and educational program for our students to learn about key issues of mission and social justice and make a difference for young people in need around the world. Here at St Mary’s we will be holding Mission Stalls and a Socktober Shoot Out.
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Mission Stalls will be held on Monday 31st October. In the middle session, classes will set up their own fundraising stalls where children can bring money to participate in the stalls. We ask that students bring no more than $10 and preferably coins. Individual classes may be seeking donation of items to help support their fundraising stalls.
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Socktober Shootout - Thursday 3rd November
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Students will learn how to make a ‘Sock Ball’, and take part in a penalty style shootout as a way of understanding the challenges faced by children around the world. Students are encouraged to wear crazy socks for this day and bring a gold coin donation.
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You can help support this day by sending in any recyclable items we can use to make our Sock Balls such as: clean old socks, t-shirts or other fabrics, plastic bags, string, newspapers etc.
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All donations will go directly to supporting the works of Catholic Mission.
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World Mission Day Liturgy
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Thank you to Room 14 for leading us in liturgy today.
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Key events and dates for term:
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World Mission Day Liturgy – Friday 21st October at 8:30 in the Mary Mackillop hall
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Mission stalls – Monday 31st October
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Socktober Day – Thursday 3rd November
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Remembrance Day Liturgy – Friday 11th November at 8:30 in the Mary Mackillop hall
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Advent Liturgy - Friday 25th November at 8:30 in the Mary Mackillop hall
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End of Year Mass – Monday 12th December at 8:30 in the Cathedral.
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Acting Deputy Principal/Religious Education Co-ordinator
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Deacon Dean visiting Year 5/6 classes today
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News from Room 8
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Family Intentions for 2023
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It is that time of year again when we are looking towards planning for 2023, and seeking information from families regarding intentions for next year.
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We ask that families please complete the from on School Stream titled “2023 Intentions” under the FORMS tab in the App or clicking the link below. If prompted the school code is: smcps
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To assist with our planning of class structures, we appreciate your responses by Monday, 24 October 2022.
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2023 Transition Enrolments
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We find the best form of advertising is word of mouth and we often have families enrol at St Mary's based on your recommendation! If you know of anyone still considering schools for next year, we are aiming to finalise our Transition 2023 enrolments in the coming weeks.
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Our Transition Orientation program commences on 15th of November. Students can only attend these sessions once they have been enrolled into the school for next year. Children who turn 5 before June 30th 2023 are eligible to begin Transition in 2023.
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BYODD Program 2023
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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.
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Please find linked below the documents that were shared at our Parent Information Session last term:
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These documents contain all the information that you need to know regarding our 2023 BYODD program.
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Our BYODD purchase portal is now open and taking orders for devices for pre-Christmas delivery. You can learn more about our supplier Edunet by watching this video.
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In the chance that you have purchased a previous BYODD device for an older child who will be moving into Middle School next year and will not be requiring the device, it can be passed on to the younger sibling. If you have any further questions regarding the BYODD program, please do not hesitate to contact Christine Ferreira christine.ferreira@nt.catholic.edu.au
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P&F Bunnings BBQ Volunteers Needed
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Bunnings Bagot Road - Saturday 22nd October
There is one more slot needed to fill for volunteers.
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Please come down and show your support!
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Thank you Coles Darwin and Smith Street Supermarket for your generous donations towards this event.
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Year 3 to 6 Swimming Carnival
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The annual St Mary’s Swimming Carnival is being held on Friday 4th November- Week 4 at Parap Pool. The carnival will run from approximately 9.00am to 1:30pm and is a fun intra-school competition for students in Years 3-6.
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Students will need to bring:
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- Sun protection (sunscreen, hat and shirt)
- Drink bottle
- Recess/Snacks/Lunch- no refrigeration available
- Towel
- Sun Safe bathers (rash shirts recommended)
- Sports Uniform (to change back into after the event)
Parents are most welcome to come along and join us for the carnival. Volunteers will also be needed on the day (if you have a current OCHRE card) to assist students and staff in the running of the carnival. If interested please email zara.pearson@nt.catholic.edu.au
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Permission forms will be collected online through the School Stream App. Please select the ‘Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival Permission Form’ under the FORMS tab on the homepage. Alternatively, you can complete the form by clicking the button below.
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If prompted the school code is smcps. We appreciate you completing this by Friday 28th October.
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Pastoral Care and Wellbeing News
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Apple for the Teacher
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Do you know a primary school teacher who you feel is the best of the best?
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Well, make sure you let us know, and nominate your top teacher as we look to crown the Top End’s favourite primary school teacher!
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YOUR TEACHER, CLASS & SCHOOL COULD WIN:
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A brand new Apple Mac Computer for the winning teacher
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A Harvey Norman goodie bag for the entire class
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A School Disco for the entire school
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Nominations will close at 7am on Friday 28 October and voting will be open from Monday 31 October at 5.30am to Thursday 17 November at midday.
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Taking the stress out of going to Middle School
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Optimistic October
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Spirit of St Mary's
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Our Spirit of St Mary’s goal for this term is: 50,000 points!
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Week 2 point check: 33,274 points!
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Shout out this week goes to Samar Cheema for showing responsible leadership and Making Jesus Real by greeting students and staff every morning using their name and taking the time to ask people of they are OK. Shout-out to Mrs Feldtman for being Ready to Learn and mastering her Advanced Skilled Teacher recognition. Shout-out to Mrs B, Ms Zufferey and Ms Julie for showing the four Rs through their commitment of service to Catholic Education Northern Territory. They share over 70 years of service between them!!
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Today we celebrated our Spirit Cup Fun Day. The students had great fun taking part in activities with their classes. See below some snapshots of the day.
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Outside School Hours Care and Early Learning Centre Fees
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Year 7, 2023
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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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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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