Principal Talk with Mrs. Lowe
TERM FOUR
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WEEK 7 |
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Thursday 24 November |
Combined Goulburn Mission Reconciliation Reflection Day at Trinity 9.30am - 2.30pm School Disco Yrs 3-6, 5.30pm - 7.00pm |
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Friday 25 November |
Mission Day - Mufti Day No tuckshop |
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WEEK 8 |
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Monday 28 November |
Kindergarten 2023 Orienration Day 9.15pm - 3pm Meet and Greet in the staffroom at 2pm Catholic Care Counsellor at school Tuckshop - Rechell, Elise and Kia |
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Tuesday 29 November |
Crookwell High School Orientation Day Riding with the Disabled |
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Wednesday 30 November |
Kindergarten Crookwell Library visit |
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Thursday 1 December |
Trinity Orientation Day |
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Friday 2 December |
Athletics Carnival at Todkill Oval BBQ available |
2023 Staffing
As we near the end of the term, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the staffing I have put in place for 2023.
Kindergarten - Mrs Alison Cummins
Year One (1) - Mrs Sue Branson
Year One (2) - Miss Annie Croker
Year Two - Mrs Linda Walsh
Year Three - Mrs Therese Skelly
Year Four - Mrs Sally-Anne Croker
Year 5 - Mr James Edwards
Year 6 - Mrs Nicola Spackman
Performing Arts - Mrs Ashlee Picker
Executive (AP/REC) Release - Mrs Karen O'Keefe
Teacher Librarian - Mrs Dorothea Hewitt
Classroom Support Assistants - Gwenda Romer, Elizabeth Webber, Shauna Hewitt, Rie O'Brien and Bradley Hayes
Next year we welcome Mrs Rachael Croker into the Classroom Support Teacher (CST) Role. I would like to thank Mrs Alison Davies and Mrs Lyndall Whittle for very capably filling that role over the past semester. Mrs Croker will also take on the Representative Sport Coordinator Role and Early Career Teacher Release position.
I would like to thank Sally-Anne Croker for her time and effort in managing the Representative Sports programs and Rachael Croker for managing the School Sports programs, over many years. We welcome Linda Walsh to the School Sports Coordinator role next year.
I would like to thank Nicola Spackman for teaching Year Six this semester. Nicola filled the CST role for over fifteen years at St Mary's and she has a huge wealth of knowledge and experience in that area. Nicola will continue to be a great support to our current and future CSTs. We are thankful and blessed that Nicola has decided to remain in a classroom teaching position for 2023.
Mr. O'Kane has decided to extend his Long Service Leave into 2023. We welcome Mr. James Edwards to St Mary's. James is relocating from Willoughby to the Laggan area during the holiday break. James has been teaching for six years and currently teaches at St Thomas Primary School in Willoughby. He has a particular interest in Touch Football, Cricket and Rugby Union.
I would also like to congratulate Miss Annie Croker on achieving a permanent contract. Annie has had a wonderful first year of teaching. She works extremely hard and is always willing to take on new learning opportunities.
Next year our Year One classes will sit side by side in the Mercy Building and our Year Two class will be located in the newly refurbished Parish Meeting Room.
I would like to thank our Classroom Support Assistants (CSAs) for their hard work this year. Molly Skelly, Grace Cummins and Vickie Searle have all jumped on board to fill absences due to long service leave and illness and Stephanie Knight has delivered the Intensive Learning Support program, achieved with additional COVID learning support funding. We look forward to continuing to work with all of these very competent and efficient CSAs in a causal capacity next year.
I would also like to thank our dedicated team of casual teachers, Jayme O'Brien, Claire McCormack, Jenny McCarthy, Jenny Evans, Madison Leonard, Issy Davis, Ellie Picker, Megan Picker, Dorothea Hewitt, Karen O'Keefe and Brian Howard. Having an experienced and consistent casual team makes the transition during teacher absence much easier for all.
We are excited about 2023 and look forward to a year full of learning and success.
School Fees 2023
On behalf of our school community, I wish to provide you with information regarding our 2023 School Fees and thank you for your continued support of our school. Despite the disruptions wrought by the covid pandemic, we appreciate families meeting their financial obligations in 2022 to ensure our school continues to thrive.
We are very mindful of the impacts any fee increase incurs on families and have therefore carefully considered what would be most appropriate for the year ahead. In setting 2023 fees, we have worked hard to strike an effective balance between our essential work of providing an excellent education for our students and keeping any increase manageable for families – especially given the current economic environment.
You also will notice that the fees look a little different this next year. The names associated with our school levies will change across Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn (CECG). This is to ensure consistency across all schools in support of the rollout of a new finance system which is expected to be deployed to St Mary's next March.
Our fee for a single student in 2023 will be $597 per term. Included in this amount are both Tuition and School Levies. This amount represents an increase of 5% in the Tuition Fees and up to 3.25% on our local levies, in line with rising salaries and costs required to ensure our school continues to deliver quality education. Please see attached the schedule of 2023 fees, including sibling discounts, for further detail.
We are committed to our policy in the Archdiocese that no student should be refused enrolment, excluded, or disadvantaged because of their inability to afford the fees. If you are experiencing financial hardship and the 2023 fees concern your family, I encourage you to arrange a meeting with me to discuss how we can help and the financial assistance available. Any discussion on fees would be strictly confidential.
The School Board has approved the following fee structure for 2023.
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Family per term CEO fee |
$ 357.00 |
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Family per term CEO fee-if older child/ren attends Trinity |
$ 178.50 |
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Family per term- Utilities/Maintenance/Building Levy |
$ 174.00 |
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Student per term- IT Levy |
$ 33.00 |
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Student per term– Student Resource Levy |
$ 33.00 |
If you have any questions regarding school fees for 2023, please contact me.
No Morning Club on Fridays
Just a reminder that there is no Morning Club held on Fridays. Please ensure that your children do not arrive at school before 8.40 am, in time for the commencement of morning playground supervision.
Mission Day
This Friday, 25 November, we will be holding our Mission Day. This day allows us to raise funds for the Catholic Mission, whilst also having fun!
The Mission Day timetable will be as follows:
9:05am – Mission Prayer Celebration
11.15am – Lunch - Hot dogs ($2) Poppers ($1) Icecreams ($1)
1:00pm – 1.15pm – Second Break - K/1 Cake Stall (50c) Icecreams ($1)
1:15pm – 2.30pm - Mission Day activities
Kindergarten/Year One - Donations of cakes, please
Yr 2 – Lucky Dip
Yr 3 –Ice-creams *available at lunch and from 2nd break onwards
Yr 4 - White Elephant Stall
Yr 5 – Lunch and novelty activities
Yr 6 – Novelty activities including the Haunted House, Hair Spray, Nail Polish, Obstacle Course, Putt-Putt Golf and more!
Activities range from 20c to $1. Please send in small change (10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2) with your children. All money raised goes to Catholic Missions.
It is a uniform-free day. If possible, we encourage staff and students to come on this day 'Dressed by Vinnies.' We look forward to seeing the stylish and wacky treasures students can find at our local and nearby St Vincent de Paul stores. This could be a full outfit, part of an outfit or an accessory. No thongs or shoestring straps are permitted. If you are unable to organise this, mufti clothing is fine.
It's not too late; donations of pre-loved items in very good condition for the White Elephant Stall and new small toys and treats for the Lucky Dips would be appreciated.
Week 6 Excursions
Last week we had many of our students out and about experiencing wonderful things.
Year Six spent an action-packed week at Narrabeen Academy of Sport with Mrs Spackman, Mrs Tarlinton and Mr Price. Their instructor for the program was Molly Davies, one of our ex-students and Mrs Davies' daughter. From all accounts, the students had a fantastic time.
Please stay tuned for some Year Six Camp recounts and photographs in next week's newsletter.
Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two students enjoyed their picnic in Victoria Park and played on the Adventure Playground, after the disappointing news that the performance of 'Edward the Emu' at the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre was cancelled due to one of the puppeteers contracting COVID. Regardless of this, the students still had a great day.
Last Friday our Year Five students participated in an incursion at the St Mary's Parish Centre. The day focused on developing some of the necessary skills for leadership. I would like to thank Mrs Walsh for her planning and coordination of this event.
Athletics Carnival
The School Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 2 December. Students are asked to come directly to Todkill Oval on this day. The buses have been organised to drop off and pick up students from this venue.
A barbeque lunch will be available. This is the Year One 2022 fundraising event. Year One families are encouraged to contact Daniel Walsh and Reané Strode if they are able to assist.
Sheep Muster
As you will read in the P&F section, if any families have a sheep they are able to donate to be sold at SELX next Wednesday 30 November, please contact Catherine Culley. We appreciate any assistance you can provide with this fundraiser! P&F funds this term will be contributing to the refurbishment of our Performing Arts room.
School Disco
Our end-of-year school disco for Years Three-Six is scheduled for tonight - Thursday 24 November from 5.30pm to 7.00pm in the Old Hall. Year Six organised and run the disco. This year, Year Six have chosen the theme Movie or TV Character. Entry to the disco is $2.00 and drinks and snacks will be available.
Year Six will run a mini disco for Kinder-Two during the afternoon session.
Orientation
Next Monday, 28 November, we look forward to welcoming our new 2023 Kindergarten students to St Mary's for a full Orientation Day.
The children are to arrive at 9.15am dressed in play clothes with a packed lunch, drink bottle and hat. Upon arrival, the students will go to the Kindergarten classroom where they will be greeted by their Year Six buddy and Mrs Cummins. They will then have a short morning play before moving to the classroom for learning activities.
At 2pm parents and carers are invited to attend a ‘Meet and Greet' afternoon tea in the Staffroom. During this, our Parents and Friends Association (P&F) Secretary, Reané Strode, will present some information about the P&F Association and how you can get involved.
At 2.40pm parents are invited to attend an information session in the Kindergarten classroom before departing at 3.00pm.
