Upcoming Events

Catholic Schools NSW works closely with the NSW Ministry of Health and Education departments to provide advice to all schools in NSW regarding COVID - 19. 

Current advice from the NSW Government for parents and affected staff is:

• Any student or staff member who has been in, departed from, or transited through the following countries is excluded from child care services, school or work for 14 days from the date they left the country:
  • mainland China - since 1 February
  • Iran - since 1 March
  • the Republic of Korea (South Korea) - since 5 March.
  • Italy - since 11 March
• Any confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be excluded until they are medically cleared to return.
• Close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be excluded for 14 days since last contact with the confirmed case.
• Students and staff who have returned to Australia and have shown no symptoms during the 14-day home-isolation period are able to return to school or work.

The NSW Ministry of Health has processes in place to identify any close contacts of cases confirmed in Australia. A close contact is a person who has spent significant time either face to face (15 min) or in an enclosed space (two hours or more) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. It is advised these close contacts not attend work, school or early childhood and childcare services.

The Department of Education continues to work closely with NSW Ministry of Health to monitor and respond to developments and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

Consistent with current guidelines, children, students and staff who are unwell with respiratory illness should remain at home until symptoms resolve. In accordance with our current practice, if any student becomes unwell we will implement our infection control guidelines and follow the advice provided by the NSW Ministry of Health as appropriate.

For more information, visit NSW Ministry of Health

The Australian Government considers the following countries to be at moderate risk for COVID-19:

• Cambodia
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Singapore
• Thailand

It is advised that if you have recently travelled to these countries, monitor your health for 14 days after leaving that country. If you develop a fever or cough, seek medical advice urgently and isolate yourself.

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-schools-and-early-childhood-centres

As the impact of the virus on children and healthy adults can be quite mild, there may be a tendency to continue working and attending school and hence increase the risk of affecting others. The advice from Health is that schools be very strong on sending home staff and students who have the slightest sign of illness. This is not a time for soldiering on with coughs and colds.

Maintaining good hygiene standards is an important way to reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading respiratory infections using infection control guidelines. Students will be reminded to wash their hands as hand washing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of germs that cause respiratory disease.

Family Mass & St Patrick's Day Family Picnic - RSVP Required

On Sunday 22 March we will hold our school welcome function. The day will commence with a Family Mass at 9.00am in the Church followed by a fun morning of activities on our Bottom Playground. Activities, involving the whole family, will include sack races, family challenge tug-o-war, egg and spoon races and more!

Bring a packed morning tea picnic, a rug and wear green to celebrate St Patrick's Day. This event is based on an old much loved St Mary's tradition. 

Family, friends and parishioners welcome.

Please let us know by next Monday if you will be joining us for this fun morning by clicking on the link below or by calling Belinda in the School Office 48321 592.

Welcome Function - St Patrick's Day Family Picnic

National Day of Action Against Violence and Bullying

On Friday 20 March St. Mary’s students will participate in various activities that support the National Day against Bullying and Violence - Bullying. No Way!

It is a great reminder to our school community that our students’ wellbeing is our number one priority. Our Pastoral Care structures have been developed to ensure that the culture of our school is safe and supportive and that the students are educated to act responsibly and respectfully towards others.

This year our activities help our students:

• Learn what bullying is and what it is not. This is the first step in preventing or responding to bullying. 'Bullying' is a word that is used for lots of things that are not actually bullying. These other behaviours may be just as serious but may require different responses.
• Talk about the value of diversity with the community and understanding that each individual is unique and brings with them individual differences that should be valued and respected.
• Talk about bullying before it happens, through discussion, lessons and other activities.
• Provide students with opportunities to learn and practise effective strategies for responding if they are bullied and if they see bullying happening to someone else.

Harmony Day

Showcase of Learning

School Fees

The School Explorers