Calendar

Upcoming Events

School Disco - TONIGHT

This evening, Year 6 will host a disco.

The infants (K/1/2) disco will happen during school time from 2.15pm until 3.00pm. 

The primary (3-6) disco will commence at 5.30pm and conclude at 7.00pm. Entry is via gold coin donation, and snacks will be available for purchase. The theme for the primary disco is 'Country'.

This is a fundraising event for the Year 6 end-of-year events.

Infants Touch Carnival

Tomorrow, on Friday, 1 December, Kindergarten, Year One and Two will participate in a NRL Mini Touch Football Carnival from 9.45am-1.30pm at school on our Bottom Playground. The students will participate in skill development and a round-robin competition. 

Parents and younger siblings are invited to attend and bring a picnic lunch to share with their child at 11.15am. Or if you're not attending, your child will need a packed lunch/recess or lunch order (these will be delivered). A picnic rug or camp chair is also recommended.

The students will need their school hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Christmas Concert

Next Thursday evening, 7 December, we will host our Christmas Concert and family picnic. The P&F will provide a barbeque dinner (steak and sausage sandwiches), and the canteen will be open for window sales from 5.30 pm. Your dinner orders will need to be placed on QKR today.

The concert will commence after everyone is fed and settled in the sails area (weather permitting) at roughly 6.15 pm. Each class will present two songs led by our Performing Arts Teacher, Mrs Picker, and accompanied by Harriet Lowe.

We invite you to bring your own fold-up seats and eskys with your preferred refreshments. Drinks can also be purchased from the tuckshop.

Please face your chairs towards the MP Hall when setting up and leave the ramp and MP Hall verandah clear.

Kindergarten Showcase of Learning

On Friday, 8 December, Kindergarten will present their Showcase of Learning Assembly for Parents and Friends at 12.30pm in the Old Hall. All welcome!

End-of-Year School Mass and Leadership Changeover Ceremony

Our Year Five students are currently preparing to present themselves to our student body as possible School Captains and Sport Captains for 2024. The students will present their speeches next week from Monday to Thursday, with the voting to occur on Friday, 8 December. As is the long-held tradition, the Captains are student-elected, and staff do not vote.

The 2024 Captains will be announced at our End of Year School Mass and Changeover Ceremony held on Thursday, 14 December, at 9.30 am. Parents and carers are welcome to attend.

Please note the badges will be blessed and presented at our 2024 Welcome and Leaders Induction Mass at the beginning of Term One on Thursday, 8 February, at 9.30 am.

Refurbishment Opening and Blessing

Last Thursday, we welcomed Senator Deborah O'Neill, Mr Ross Fox, Director of Education and the General Vicar Fr Richard Thompson to Bless and Officially open the refurbished Mercy Building.

The building work was funded by the Catholic Education Office, the Australian Government and St Mary's Primary School.

Other special guests included Mr Geoff Whitnall, Planning and Facilities Officer with CECG, Sr Rosemary Hart, St Mary's Parish Associate, the Chairman of our School Board Marty Reynolds and our former Chairman Andrew Pursell, Reané Strode on behalf of the Parents and Friends Association, and Srs Gabrielle, Aileen, June, Marie and Maria Assunta, representing the Sisters of Mercy.

The children respectfully participated in the Blessing Liturgy, our school song, and the National Anthem. The Senator, a former school teacher, commented to the students that she had rarely witnessed such beautiful behaviour from a large group of students. Mr Ross Fox shared with the students that St Mary's Primary School has achieved results that have out-ranked most schools in our Archdiocese and, in many areas, all of the ACT. I would like to congratulate Year 6, our Captains, Ava and William, and all students for respectfully playing their part in this memorable occasion. 

2024 Staffing

As we near the end of the term, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you the staffing that has been put in place for 2024.

Kindergarten - Mrs Alison Cummins

Year One - Miss Jayme O'Brien (Mrs Sue Branson when she returns from leave)

Year Two - Gold - Mrs Linda Walsh

Year Two - Green - Miss Annie Croker

Year Three  - Mrs Therese Skelly

Year Four - Mrs Dana White

Year Five - Mr James Edwards

Year Six - Mrs Nicola Spackman (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday), Mrs Claire McCormack (Thursday/Friday)

Performing Arts - Mrs Ashlee Picker

Executive Release - Mrs Karen O'Keefe

Teacher Librarian - Mrs Dorothea Hewitt

Classroom Support Teacher - Mrs Rachael Croker

Classroom Support Assistants - Mrs Gwenda Romer, Mrs Shauna Hewitt, Mrs Rie O'Brien, Mrs Stephanie Knight, Miss Molly Skelly, Mrs Meg McIntosh and Mr Bradley Hayes.

A very warm welcome to Mrs Dana White and Mrs Claire McCormack into temporary teaching positions for 2024.

Dana, an ex-student of St Mary's and current classroom teacher at St Joseph's Goulburn, is looking forward to joining the staff in a full-time capacity next year. Dana is an organised and enthusiastic teacher, passionate about catering for all students.

Claire is a familiar face at St Mary's, having taught casual and temporary blocks for the past few years. Claire is excited to share a class with Nicki, and I know they will be a dynamic duo! 

I would like to congratulate Mr James Edwards on attaining a permanent contract. James has had a fantastic first year of teaching at St Mary's. He has built a great rapport with the students, and he is always willing to take on new learning opportunities. 

Next year we welcome back Miss Jayme O'Brien, who will teach in a full-time capacity until Mrs Sue Branson returns from leave. We are very fortunate that Jayme has agreed to take on this temporary role, and we thank her for her flexibility. Year One families will be kept informed prior to a change in staff. We wish Mrs Branson all the best and look forward to her return. 

I would like to thank Mrs Rachael Croker for her time and effort in managing the Representative Sports programs and Mrs Linda Walsh for managing the School Sports programs. We welcome James Edwards to the School Sports Coordinator role next year.  

Next year, our Year Two classes will sit side-by-side in the Mercy Building, in the classrooms opposite where they are this year. In collaboration with the classroom teachers and executive staff, it was decided that it would be most beneficial for the students to remain in the same class grouping for Stage One of the student's education. 

Next year, our Year Five class will be in the newly refurbished Parish Meeting Room (the current Year 2 classroom). 

I would like to thank our dedicated team of casual teachers: Harriette Churchill, Issy Davis, Claire McCormack, Jenny McCarthy, Dorothea Hewitt, Jenny Evans, Ellie Picker, Megan Picker, Ashlee Picker, Tenille Curtois and Karen O'Keefe. Having an experienced and consistent casual team makes the transition during teacher absence much easier for all.  

I would also like to thank Meg McIntosh and Nicole Moloney (volunteer), who have been supporting students in a Classroom Support Assistant role this term.   

We are excited about 2024 and look forward to a year full of learning and success.

Kindergarten 2024 Orientation Day

It was wonderful to welcome our new Kindergarten 2024 students and their families to St Mary's on Monday for their orientation day with Mrs Cummins.

The students all worked industriously and produced work that impressed Mrs Cummins and the Year 5 students (2024 Year 6 Buddies). 

We look forward to welcoming our new students and their families to the St Mary's Community next year.

Community Christmas Carols

Our students have been invited to sing two Christmas Carols at the Crookwell Community Markets/Carols event.

On Saturday, 16 December, we have been invited to perform at the Crookwell Memorial Oval, at 6 pm.  The students will be accompanied by Mrs Alison Cummins.

If your child can participate, please complete the eform below. Nominated students will rehearse at school in Week 10.

Christmas Carols Participating

If you do not have a BPAY periodical payment plan in place, please ensure that your outstanding fees are paid as soon as possible.

It would be appreciated if these could be paid before the end of term to ensure there is no follow-up made by Head Office during the Christmas break.

Tuckshop Roster

Christmas Concert and BBQ

Cheese Toastie Day

The P&F will be having a Cheese Toastie Day on Wednesday 13 December. A full cheese toastie is $2.

Orders can be placed by Qkr.

Christmas Gift Idea

Want to get some early Christmas gifts sorted? Why not buy some of the St Mary's Recipe books? Now only $10 each!!

Books can be paid for using Qkr, under the P&F payment section or cash to the School Office.

 Advent

Getting our hearts and minds ready to celebrate Jesus at Christmas time.

The season of ADVENT, which leads us to Jesus’ birthday at Christmas, begins this Sunday.

Advent is a time for us to stop and reflect on our lives and our relationships (with God and each other). It is a time for us to consider the HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE Jesus can bring to our lives if we invite Him in and let Him reign in our hearts. The first of the Advent candles, signifying the first week of Advent, is the candle of HOPE.  Are we waiting and preparing with a hopeful heart for Jesus’ birthday and for the time he will ‘come again’? Are we in touch with our loving God, who gives us the will and the strength to be the best people we can be for each other? Make some time in your day to reflect on these questions:

• Do we know God LOVES us PERSONALLY, DEEPLY, UNCONDITIONALLY?
• Do we give real time to God in order to KNOW this deep love? What about attending Mass?
• Are we aware when and how God blesses our day/our lives? Do we give thanks?
• How do we treat others? Could we listen more carefully, be more tolerant or understanding, more patient, more honest, kinder, or less selfish?
• Do we need to say sorry and make things right?

We will be having a whole school Advent prayer in the school hall tomorrow morning at 9am

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

We are continuing to open our hearts to God by striving for justice and serving others throughout this Advent. Please help us support St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal and bring a little joy and peace to those in need in our community. Items may be placed in baskets in the foyer.

PLEASE NOTE: All donations will be collected by St Vincent De Paul on Monday 11 DECEMBER. (this only gives us 1 week)

Beach to Bush

St Mary’s enjoyed a visit from three NSW Surf Lifesavers last Friday afternoon.

The students learned about being sun smart, spotting a rip, where they should swim at the beach, marine life, asking for help if in trouble, reading and obeying signs and the roles of our surf lifesavers. Some lucky students even got to dress up as lifesavers and rescue some teachers who got caught in a rip and found themselves in need of assistance. It was a very informative and a valuable session leading into the summer school holidays. We thank Surf Lifesaving NSW for this service they offer to country schools.

Further information about this program and follow up student activities is available here: Beach to Bush - Beach Safety Hub.

NRL Mini-Touch Carnival

This Friday 1^st December, The NSW NRL Development squad will visit St Mary’s to run a short skills session, followed by a mini school round robin competition for our Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 students. We are grateful to Taylor Giggins and his team for this visit. They will be at St Mary’s from 9.45 to 1.30pm (stopping for lunch breaks). Parents and friends are more than welcome to attend.

CECG Touch Football Trials

Last Friday, Ollie Croker of Year 5 attended the CECG touch football trials in Canberra. Over 40 boys and girls attended the trials in what was rather warm conditions. The students took part in drills sessions, modified games, followed by a Possible v Probable game.

In a great result, Ollie was selected into the CECG team to trial for the MacKillop touch football team in 2024. Congratulations Ollie, we are very proud of your achievements.

CSNSW Sport- Aquadthlon

Return of books

A reminder all library books are to be returned as soon as possible.

SORA- a great holiday reading resource

Parish Office

Crookwell Summer Reading Club

Canberra Region Rugby League

Leider Theatre Company presents Roald Dahl's The Witches

Girls in Rugby

Go4Fun