Principal Talk with Mrs. Lowe
Term One Dates
| WEEK ONE | |
| Thursday 3 February |
Years 2-6 Swimming Carnival at the Goulburn Pool (Sports Uniform) Kinder/Year One at school (Normal Summer Uniform) |
| Friday 4 February |
Sports Uniform No tuckshop |
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WEEK TWO |
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Monday 7 February |
Catholic Care Counsellor - Madelyn Burns commences No tuckshop |
| Tuesday 8 February |
Year Six Art Focus Day |
| Thursday 10 February |
Opening Mass and Leadership Induction 9.30am Yrs 3-6 |
| Friday 11 February |
No tuckshop |
Welcome to the 2022 school year!
It was wonderful to welcome our students back on Tuesday. They have all had a settled start and have enjoyed getting to know their new teachers and exploring their new learning spaces.
This year we commence with 153 students. A very warm welcome is extended to the new families joining our school community; the Bush, Camilleri, Hannan, Hewitt, Kennedy, McDonald, McIntosh, McWilliam, Pickett, Stephenson, Whittle, Wicks and Edwards families. We wish you all a happy and smooth transition into school life at St Mary's.
I would like to welcome two new members to our staff, Miss Annie Croker, teaching Year Two, and Mrs Alison Davies, our Performing Arts teacher. (Fun fact... Since Year Two started at St Mary's they have had three different class teachers each with the surname 'Croker'.)
Annie was an ex-student of St Mary's who completed her final teaching practicum with us last year.
Alison use to work part-time at St Mary's many years ago and her children- Cameron, Molly and Tasmin attended St Mary's. Alison has recently moved back to Crookwell after four years in Jerrabomberra.
Welcome back to our new and existing students, families and staff. I am confident that 2022 will be a productive and fulfilling year for all!
Kindergarten 2022
Our Kindergarten class arrived at ‘big school’ on Tuesday looking very smart in their St Mary’s uniforms. They had a wonderful day, working well for Mrs Sally-Anne Croker, Mrs Cummins and Mrs Webber. It was lovely to see them ready to engage in their learning so enthusiastically. We wish our new Kinder students a wonderful first year of school!
Opening School Mass
On Thursday 10 February at 9.30am (please note the time has changed), we will hold our Opening School Mass in St Mary's Church for our primary students only. The Captains badges will be blessed and presented to our 2022 School Leaders during this Mass. Due to restrictions, only families of the students receiving badges are able to attend and unfortunately, the morning tea that normally follows, cannot proceed.
Upper Lachlan Shire Australia Day Awards
I would like to congratulate two of our talented ex-students, Lachlan Croker and Jack Page for receiving Upper Lachlan Shire Australia Day awards. Lachlan was awarded the 2021 Sportsperson of the Year and Jack the 2021 Junior Sportsperson of the Year for their outstanding sporting achievements. The awards were presented by the Governor-General.
Holiday Improvements
Over the break, our old 'Meeting Room/Performing Arts Room', now used for an additional Kindergarten learning space, was painted by Mick Cummins. It has come up beautifully. Further improvements to this room will include the installation of a reverse cycle air-conditioning unit and interactive panel.
Thank you also to Scott our maintenance man and Anita our cleaner, and all the staff, for completing many additional holiday improvement and preparation duties.
School Hours
Students commence school at 9.00 am (first bell) and conclude at 3:10 pm (unless they are picked up from 3 pm). Morning Playground supervision does not commence until 8:40am. Please ensure your children are not at school before 8.40am. Afternoon supervision concludes at 3:30pm.
Newsletter
Today you have received the first school newsletter for the year. Newsletters will be emailed out each Thursday afternoon and are also available on the website and Szapp app, however, if you would prefer a print copy, please contact Belinda.
If you require instructions on how to download our Szapp app, please see Belinda.
We love to share our school communities news and events. Please email the office with photos and updates for inclusion in the newsletter.
Contact
Teachers are your first port of call for questions and queries pertaining to the classroom. Appointments can be made with your child's classroom teacher by calling the Office.
I am also happy to support you in any way I can. Typically problems that are addressed quickly, in partnership, are the easiest to solve. I will be available on the school phone (48321 592) for calls usually from 8.00am - 4.30pm daily or via email within the same hours. The email address to be used to contact any staff member is office.stmarysc@cg.catholic.edu.au
Emails sent out of school hours may not be responded to until the following day.
If you wish to make an appointment to see me, please contact Belinda in the Office.
Risk of COVID-19
Through Schoolzine, our school will advise you daily when members of our school community who have been onsite at school, test positive to COVID-19.
NSW Health has provided advice on testing and isolation recommendations for the community following exposure to COVID-19. For school students, parents are encouraged to monitor for symptoms and use the provided RAT kits.
You are reminded that staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. These include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell/taste, muscle/joint pains, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, extreme tiredness, unexplained chest pain or conjunctivitis (eye infection).
If symptoms occur at any time, your child should not attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test. If a rapid antigen test is positive you/your child should isolate and report this to NSW Health and the school. If you cannot access a rapid antigen test, you get a PCR (nose and throat swab) test.
Advice and further resources are available on the NSW Health website including COVID-19 guidelines and fact sheets for People who tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19. Additional resources are also available on the NSW Government website.
The safety and wellbeing of our staff and students are paramount at all times. As such, we will continue to ensure that all necessary health advice is closely followed.
Absence from School
A reminder that any time your child/ren are away from school, that you do ONE of the following: fill in the Schoolzine absentee form, send in a note as soon as possible or notify the Office via email or phone.
Morning Club
Unfortunately, as we have not moved out of Level 3 restrictions for schools and cannot mix student cohorts inside, Morning Club will be unable to resume until further notice.
2022 Term Dates for Students
Term 1: Tuesday 1 February to Friday 8 April
Term 2: Wednesday 27 April - Friday 1 July
Term 3: Tuesday 19 July to Friday 23 September
Term 4: Tuesday 11 October to Thursday 15 December