Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe
Building Works
I would like to thank all of the staff, students and our volunteers (Billy, Sr. Rosemary, Boe, Tom, James, Michael, Alex L, Daniel, Charlie, Alex B and Kempy) for helping with the class relocation over the past week. It has been remarkable to see how quickly we have been able to transform rooms into effective learning and work spaces. The children and staff are now all settled in their new routines and we are ready for work to commence!
Staffing
This week we are very excited to welcome back Mrs. Branson and Mr. O'Kane. We thank Mrs. O'Keefe, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. McCormack for teaching Year 2 and Year 3 in their absence.
Mrs. McCormack now takes on the role of Teacher Librarian for the rest of the term.
On Tuesday, Mrs. McCarthy held her last Music lessons for 2020. Jenny's passion and dedication to develop our students' musical abilities will be missed. We hope that Jenny enjoys her Long Service Leave.
School Access
From next week, there will be no front step access to the Office. Those who need to see Belinda or myself, will need to come through the Old Hall and use the internal stairs.
Morning temperature checks will continue in the Old Hall. Students will enter through the main doors and exit through the side door. In the afternoon the bus lines will be held in the Old Hall. This will commence as soon as the builders fencing has been erected.
Please remember that whilst we are faced with COVID-19, we request that all adult access is limited in the school grounds. This means that unless you have a need to visit the office or have a pre-arranged appointment, we kindly ask that you do not come into the school grounds. This is for the health and safety of our students and staff. Thank you for respecting this request.
National Reconciliation Week 2020
In 2020 Reconciliation Australia marks twenty years of shaping Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.
Much has happened since the early days of the people’s movement for reconciliation, including greater acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to land and sea; understanding of the impact of government policies and frontier conflicts; and an embracing of stories of Indigenous success and contribution.
Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We strive towards a more just, equitable nation by championing unity and mutual respect as we come together and connect with one another.
On this journey, Australians are all In This Together, this year's theme. Every one of us has a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.
Sharing Hayley's Story...
Year Six student, Hayley Francis, is a proud daughter of the Biripi people. She comes from a long line of strong women including her mother, nans, aunties and cousins. Hayley shares stories of her family and in the following story, she tells about her Great Grandmother and how she was stolen when she was six or seven.
"I know that when aunty Pam's Pop was out playing with his friends, his sister was stolen from the house and he never saw her again for another forty years. Mum's mum was also stolen. She has not found her real family yet.
My aunty Valerie and her sister were red heads and had light skin and so were not recognised as Aboriginal, so when their parents heard cars coming they would hide the girls in a hole they made underneath their washing machine so they would be safe and not stolen. My mum's grandmother was also part of the stolen generation."
My hope for the future is for everyone to find their people and where they came from and that it never ever happens again. I am grateful for Reconciliation week and Sorry day so people can stop and think about what happened and know that it was hard and scary for them.
Included below is a recording from a Sorry Day gathering in Taree involving Hayley's family.
Read more about NRW here https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/
National Simultaneous Storytime
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. The fun event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.
The 'Chicken Divas' artworks below were created by Madeleine and Elsie in Year Two.
Borrowed Technology
Please ensure any technology borrowed from school for use with remote learning needs to be returned ASAP so our students can use this during the day at school.
Enrolling Now
Please spread the word about our School Tours. If you know someone who is interested in learning more about St Mary's or who has a child ready to start Kindergarten in 2021, we welcome their visit. Social distancing regulations will be put in place for our tours.
Enrolments can now be placed online. Go to https://enrolments.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrol/ to enrol now.
Enrolments packs are available from our School Office or can be downloaded from our website http://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment.html
The School Explorers Program
Next term our preschool friends will be visiting each Friday afternoon to participate in The School Explorers, our school readiness program.
Attached below is the amended program dates, please share this around!