Catholic Schools Week Tours

It was wonderful to show many families around during Catholic Schools Week.

If you know of anyone who would like to learn more about St Mary's please encourage them to contact the Office to arrange a tour, our doors are always open.

Our School Explorer’s Program will commence on Friday 31 May. Our school readiness program aims to increase the children's familiarity with the primary school setting. Copies of the program are available from the School Office.

Enrolling Now

Enrolments can now be placed online. Go to https://enrolments.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrol/ to enrol now.

Enrolments packs have been sent home with students who have siblings commencing in 2020. If you did not receive your bag please contact Belinda in the School Office.

Information can also be downloaded from our website http://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/enrolment.html

School Photos- Further Change of Date

Due to St Mary's having our largest ever number of MacKillop Hockey Representatives, we have had to change our photo date again so as not to clash. Please note that our school photos will now be taken during Week 10 on Monday 1 July.  Ordering can be done online by inputting the 9 digit code AN3 WE9 3JZ on the Advanced Life website http://www.advancedlife.com.au/ . Envelopes were sent home last term.

Student/Parent/Teacher Conversations

Our Three-Way interviews will be held on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 May. These conversations are a chance for your child and their teacher to share with you some of their achievements and educational goals. Conversations last for ten minutes and will be held in the Multipurpose Hall. Please be mindful of families waiting after you for their interview. If you feel that your conversation is not finished within the allocated ten minutes please arrange another time to meet with your child's teacher. This year bookings will be done online by using the following link.

Student/Parent/Teacher/Conversation Bookings

Our website also has a link to the Three-Way Interviews booking site on the top navigation menu bar.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Bella, Isabelle G, Billie, Bree, Regan, Ellie and George who have been selected in the MacKillop Hockey teams at the trials last Friday.

Catholic Education and the Upcoming Federal Election

As you will be aware the Federal election will be held this Saturday 18 May 2019.

As always Catholic education does not advocate or direct votes for any party. We do seek to ensure everyone who is interested is well informed on policies relevant to education.

School funding has not been a focus of the election campaign to date and is not expected to feature further in the days remaining in the campaign. In contrast, the policy positions of the major parties with respect to Early Childhood education are substantially different.

Much information is available through each party’s website and through news outlets. Alongside this, specific to Catholic education the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) has prepared a guide to the federal election on their website with a number of resources. The guide can be accessed at:

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/news-events/2019-federal-election

The links below (and attached) are available through the NCEC federal election page and provide further information including Facts on School Funding and FAQs documents for the 2019 Federal Election. 

2019 federal election overview provided by NCEC

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/news-events/2019-federal-election

Facts on school funding

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/images/2019_NCEC_Facts_on_School_Funding.pdf

Frequently asked questions

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/images/2019_NCEC_FAQs.pdf

Party responses to questions from NCEC regarding Catholic education

https://www.ncec.catholic.edu.au/images/2019_NCEC_Election_Party_Responses.pdf

Baby news

Congratulations to Mrs Jenny McCarthy who has become a grandmother, welcoming Eleanor Florence, into the family.

NAPLAN

As you are aware, Tuesday was the first day of NAPLAN, which our school is doing online. Unfortunately, we have experienced many connectivity issues during the test and these issues are currently being investigated. This seems to be reflected nationally.

Please be assured we have procedures to follow to minimise any impacts on our students, including rescheduling the tests if required.
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National test authorities have advised they regret any inconvenience this has caused to schools and students, and are working to rectify the issue as soon as possible.

In the Scripture reading for this Sunday’s Mass, Jesus puts before each of us the great command; ‘love one another, just as I love you.’ Jesus is not describing a sentimental view of love and he is not asking us to simply like each other. We are asked to love each other as Jesus showed us; the type of love that is shown in service and sacrifice. The season of Easter reminds us of the lengths Jesus went to so could he physically demonstrate his love for each of us. On Holy Thursday, he got down on his knees to wash our feet. On Good Friday, he was ridiculed, tortured and lifted up on the cross for us. And on Easter Sunday, he burst out of the tomb with the gift of new life.

Jesus tells the disciples that all will know that they are his disciples because of the love they show for one another. This kind of love is the hallmark of Christianity. We see it lived in the witness of the martyrs. We see it in the example of the lives of the saints – like Mary Mackillop and Mother Teresa - and we see it in the holy women and men around us who live and love daily, making small and large sacrifices for others.

Followers of Jesus are called not simply to believe in His resurrection and the promise of new life, but to live it through the quality of their daily lives, through how they treat each other and speak to each other. Actions will speak louder than our words.

As St John of the Cross reminds us, ‘at the end of our lives, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and our human achievements but on how much we have loved.’

Let us strive for excellence in taking up Jesus’ call to truly love one another – as He loved us!

Term 2 School Fees

The Term 2 school fee accounts were emailed out last Friday 10 May. If you have not received yours try checking your Junk mailbox, or if you would like a paper copy, please contact Belinda.

We would appreciate if you could please organise payment in a timely fashion.

There are many different payment options available- Qkr, setting up a direct deposit, cash or cheque. Belinda is able to help you with any of these options if you need.

Is reading a struggle for your child?

If so, remember to have their eyes and hearing checked!

The following link explains how to download an app to do a FREE HEARING CHECK for your school aged child. Information is also provided on this website about what to do next.

https://www.soundscouts.com/applications/schools/#

Reading problems arise for a variety of reasons. Every child is different and progresses at a different rate. However, ALL children need lots of practice to improve their reading. If your child is struggling, don’t give up and stay positive! Research shows a strong link between reading every day, reading at home and academic performance.

Try using the 3Ps: PAUSE, PROMPT and PRAISE!

1. PAUSE: Give your child time to work out the word before you help or tell them.
2. PROMPT: Offer a prompt to your child, eg. ‘it begins with the sound…’; ‘ends with the sound…’; ‘rhymes with ….’; ‘try that again…’; ‘cover part of the word with your finger and see if you can work it out…; ‘read to the end of the sentence and see if you can work it out…’; ‘read the sentence again…’;
3. PRAISE: Make reading an enjoyable experience and always praise your child for their efforts!

READ EVERY NIGHT!

Reading Helpers Needed                      

We still need a few more volunteers for our READING INTERVENTION programs. If you have 45 minutes available on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, we would love your help!

Morning Club

Morning club continues each day from 8am-8.40am. It is an opportunity for children to arrive at school early when it is difficult for parents who need to be at work early or have appointments. This is available for all children from K-6 and is in the library. The children will be required to participate in quiet activities during this time, reading, writing, drawing, colouring, homework tasks and computer tasks. They may bring games to play. At 8.40am the children who attend will then go to the playground for morning supervision.

Maths Club

Maths Club continues after school on a Tuesday afternoon from 3.15-4.00pm, in the Star room. Children from Year 2-6 are welcome to attend. Maths tuition can be extension, revision, one-on-one assistance or to complete homework with help.

Athletics Carnival Reminders

WHEN: Friday 17 May (tomorrow)

WHERE:Todkill Park, Crookwell

WHO: All students k-6

TIME: First event at 9:10am, carnival will conclude by approximately 2.40pm               

TRANSPORT: Morning buses will deliver and collect students at Todkill Park. There will be supervision there from 8:40am for students who are being dropped off by parents

CANTEEN FACILITIES:  there will be canteen facilities available on the day

 #Age champions will be announced at our Monday morning assembly

#Please ensure that your child has a hat, adequate water, as well as warm clothing as Todkill Park is notoriously cold

www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au

Congratulations to all of our students who Represented Canberra Goulburn in the MacKillop trials for Soccer and Hockey last week. Although the weather was not favourable everyone still gave it everything they had and made our diocese proud.

A big congratulations to our students who made Possible vs Probables and a massive congratulations to our students who were selected in the MacKillop teams to compete at the upcoming NSWPSSA Championships;

MACKILLOP GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM 2019 Tues 25 – 27 June in NEWCASTLE

Isabelle Galland, Bella Croker, Billie Skelly, Ellie McCormack, Bree Hearne, Regan Picker.

MACKILLOP BOYS HOCKEY TEAM 2019 Tues 4 – 6 June in LISMORE

George Skelly 

Rugby Union Trials

A reminder that Primary Rugby Union trials are happening on Friday the 7th of June with online nominations closing on the 31st of May. If your son or daughter in Year 5 or 6  is wishing to trial please complete the online 'Expression of Interest' form asap. 

https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSdqOsZ3bGp6D69Fl…/viewform

Year 4 – Bridie Croker & Lucy Gamble

Year 5 - Will Heffernan & Olivia Wong

Year 6 - Taj Cooper & Bradley Nagle

School Spirit Awards

Sophie Croker for being humble and kind

Jacob Hogan for consistently striving for excellence

Hayden Tarlinton for showing compassion and understanding.

Awards are presented at our Monday morning Assembly in the Old Hall at 9.05am.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Students will be taking part of the National Simulataneous Storytime which will be next Wednesday 22 May.

All classes will listen to Alpacas with Maracas by Matt Cosgrove at 11.00 a.m

This is a National event and encourages young Australians to read and enjoy books.

May is National Family Reading Month.

All children are encouraged to read for 10 minutes every day in May.

A Reading Log was sent home on Tuesday and children are to colour in the pages on the Reading Log each day they read.

Go online to scholastic.com.au/nfrm and enter into the prize draw to win 1 of 50 $100 book vouchers. 

P & F Meeting

The term 2 P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 May in the staffroom starting at 7.00pm. Hope to see as many there as possible.

Tuckshop

Friday 17 May- Jayde Costello, Angela Cuskelly, Jenny Skelly- note this is the Athletics carnival

Monday 20 May- Tania Croker, Candice Millett, Tash McCormack

Friday 24 May- Amanda Kemp, Jane Fraser, VOLUNTEER REQUIRED

Monday 27 May-  Elise Croker, Elizabeth Egan, Belinda Foley

Friday 31 May-  Claire McCormack, Jackie Blowes, Angela Cuskelly

Please arrive at 9.15am.

Parish Office

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to Parish Secretary, Janet Haynes or Pastoral Associate Sr Rosemary via email or call into the Parish Office at the Old Convent Building on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

Email: Crookwell@cg.org.au

Website: http://cg.org.au/crookwell/Home.aspx 

Phone: 48321 633 

Address: 55 Wade Street (the Old Convent Building)

Altar Roster

19 May- Bella Croker

26 May- Eliza & Chloe Kemp

2 June- Regan Picker

9 June- Ashleigh Bachta & Olivia Anderson

16 June- Nathaniel Waters & Oliver Gray

23 June- Bella Croker

Please arrive 15 minutes before Mass to help Father prepare.

We would love it if some more children could join our Altar Serving team. Please contact the Parish Office if your child is interested. Training is provided and new children are rostered on with experienced servers.

Crookwell Pups Junior Rugby

Australian Government Mobile Service Centre in Crookwell

Go 4 Fun Online- Healthy Active Happy Kids

Go4Fun Online is a free 10 week healthy lifestype program for children. See details below.

Rugby League Stars