Hold on to your hats! 

Welcome back for the final term of 2025!!! I hope you all enjoyed some dedicated family time over the holiday break.

We have an action-packed term planned, so please keep a close eye on the calendar and newsletter for information, dates and updates.

Upcoming Events

School Photos

Next Wednesday, 22 October, is our school photo day. Please send your child to school in the FULL SUMMER UNIFORM, with the correct school socks (grey with green and gold stripes for boys and white anklet or long socks for girls), clean shoes and tidy hair. Please ensure your child also brings or wears their school jumper, only wears hair accessories in our school colours and that their jewellery aligns with our school policy (studs or sleeper earrings and/or a simple chain with a religious medallion or cross only). Children do not have to have their hair tied back on school photo day if desired. 

If you have not ordered your package yet, please do so as soon as possible.

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival

The Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival, for ALL students in Years 2 - 6, will be held on Friday 24 October. 

Please see this newsletter's School Sports section for the latest news and details.

Year 3 and 5/6 Excursions

Next week we have three classes heading out into the community. Year 3 are heading to GPAC to a show called, "The Listies" on Tuesday 22nd,  while Years 5 and 6 will be attending the Ag Centre on Goulburn Rd for a rescheduled excursion from Term 3. Both events require students to wear their full summer uniform (including hat) and have a packed lunch and water bottle. Full details for both are available on Compass

Sporting Stars

Last Term Year Five student, Jesse Costello took part in the NSWPSSA Golf in Barooga as a member of the MacKillop Team. Jesse wrote a report to share.

On the last week of Term Three I went down to Cobram Barooga to play Golf for Mackillop.

On Day 1 of the Tournament we played Ambrose. This is a team event and we shot one over. I made three new friends, Archie, Jax and Tom. It was a great way to start the Tournament.

On Day 2 we played on a different course at Tocumwal. This was the first day of the individual stroke event. I went pretty well on a tough course, shooting 91.

That night I got to experience a cool Aboriginal show in the woods with my family and golf friends.

On Day 3 it was individual stroke again and I shot 88.

At Presentation, Team MacKillop had the most successful tournament ever being awarded Silver in the stroke event and Gold in the net event.

It was an awesome event and hopefully I can do it again next year.

We had two Year 5 students, Rory Bensley and Flynn Storrier, attend the NSWCPS - MacKillop Championships at Sydney Athletic Centre as members of the Canberra Goulburn Track and Field team. Flynn ran 100m and came 9th with a time of 14.14 and a PB, 200m and came 9th and 800m finishing 15th while Rory competed in the Discus event and came 14th with a rough distance of 19.58m

We also had three St Mary's students represent us at the Interschool Equestrian Championships in Berry over the October Long weekend. Year Three student, Tommy Culley, Year Five student, Joe McCormack and Year Six Captain Grace McCormack took part in many events over the three days and competed against many schools from NSW.

   

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO FLY OUR FLAG IN THE SPORTING ARENA

Grandparents Day 2025

Join us on Friday 31st October for our annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. The day will begin with Mass at 9:30am followed by some classroom visits and sharing of "something I'm proud of" !!

Morning tea at 11:15am with Grandparents and students under the sails will follow and then the STEM Fair will be open with every class hosting.

We look forward to this wonderful day.

 CWA Competition 

Well done to our students who entered into the CWA project competitions, and particular congratulations to those students who placed.

Important dates to note:

Tues 21 Oct - Yr 5/6 Ag Excursion & Yr 3 GPAC Excursion.

Wed 22 Oct - School Photos

Fri 24 Oct - Boorowa Touch/Netball

Fri 31 Oct Grandparents and Special Friends Day

2026 TERM DATES

The dates below are student attendance dates.

Term One - 2 February - 2 April

Term Two - 21 April - 2 July

Term Three - 21 July - 25 September

Term Four - 13 October - 17 December

School Photography Date: 22/10/2025

School photography day is coming up soon. Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment (these haven't been received at school yet) to our photographer on school photo day.

Two easy ways to purchase:

1. Visa, MasterCard or PayPal
2. Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to our photographer on photo day

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au
And enter online order code: AN3 WE9 3JZ

School photography information:

• Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school
• Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography, so no one misses out. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope first thing in the morning of the day of photography, so your school is aware you want the photo taken and can bring your children together in time for it. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school. 
• Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9 digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past

** Sibling envelopes are available from the Office if you would like one **

Do Not Photograph/Publish

If you have selected in your child's enrolment form that they must not be photographed or their photo published, these students will not be presented for traditional group photographs with their Class Or Year, nor can a separate group photo only featuring their child be taken. A portrait of the student will be taken for school records only, and a portrait package will be available for purchase by the parent, but that portrait will appear only in that student’s package and will not appear in other students’ packages, nor will the student appear in any group or composite presentations of their Class or Year.

Please contact Belinda urgently if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

JUSTICE and SERVICE at St Mary’s

Our school values for this term are JUSTICE and SERVICE, and they remind us that we are called to be…

• JESUS’ FEET – walking with others in the spirit of JUSTICE
• JESUS’ HANDS – offering SERVICE to others

WORLD MISSION MONTH – OCTOBER

All human beings are made in God’s image and are PRECIOUS and deserving of a ‘FULL’ life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).

But we do not live in a just world in which ALL have life to the full.

Life these days is very busy for most families – work, family, and all the responsibilities that come with these. It can be a huge effort to juggle everything on our plates let alone think about those in our world who are unable to lead full lives.

This is why the Catholic Church has set aside the month of October as Mission Month, a time to focus our thoughts on our global brothers and sisters who, through no fault of their own, are living in poverty, sickness, or fear.

St Mary’s students will be learning about the importance of working for justice and serving others.  They will discover how, as part of the Church, they can engage in her mission to bring about a JUST world; and how they can serve others through their prayers and actions (including helping without being asked, standing up for justice in the classroom and playground, praying the Rosary and Angelus, fundraising, Mission Day, and Mini Vinnies Christmas appeal)

Term 4 Week 9 End of Year Performance "Dare to Dream"

To help us prepare for our end of year performance can I  please ask:

• Girls in grades 4-6 will need to pack exercise clothes for Performing Arts days, starting week 2. 
• Students will need a plain white t-shirt and black pants/ tights for the week 9 performance. 

Auditions will be held in Week 2 Thursday 23 October for singers and actors. 

Thank you for your help! Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me

Boorowa Touch Football and Netball Carnival (Yr 2- 6)

The Compass event for the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival is due tomorrow! Please ensure this is completed as we need to organise teams.

• Who: Compulsory event for Years 2-6 students
• Where: Boorowa Showground, Ballyryan Road
• When: Friday 24 October 2025
• Time: Bus will leave St Mary's at 7.00am sharp

League Stars Day for students in Kindergarten to Year 2 (Optional)

• Date: Tuesday, 11th November
• Venue: North Park, Goulburn (private transport)
• Time: Students are to arrive at 9:30 am for a 10:00 am start, concluding at 2:10 pm

Please fill out the Compass event consent form at your earliest convenience if your child wishes to participate.

Upcoming Trials

31^st Oct - Cricket trials for 2026

21^st Nov - Tennis trials for 2026

21^st Nov - Basketball trials for 2026

Where can I find trial dates?

The Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage has the full calendar for Primary, Secondary and SSA events. https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Kind Regards,

Annie Cummins & James Edwards

School Sports Coordinators

Library – Term 4

Please ensure your child brings their library bag on their designated library day so they can borrow books.

• Tuesday: Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 3 GREEN, Year 4
• Thursday: Year 2, Year 3 GOLD, Year 5, Year 6

Book Club

Book Club brochures were distributed yesterday.
Please place your orders via the LOOP website by Thursday, 23rd October.

Borrowing SORA Ebooks and Audio Books!

 All students have free access to a digital library where they can borrow eBooks and audiobooks anytime, anywhere!

To get started, simply download the SORA app.
Follow the steps below to install it on your device and start exploring a world of reading.

Included is a PowerPoint for The EBOOK of the Week.

This week the recommendation is Books About Someone Else: Biographies.

 Library_Wk_1_Biographies.pptx

It was Tuesday the 16th of September and year 5 and 4 left at 9.00am to go on a 2-hour bus ride to Canberra. We went to Questacon and the national portrait gallery. Then we got back at 5.00pm.

We got to Canberra at 11.00am and first we went to have a quick snack outside of Questacon. Then, we started going to the galleries. We first went to the gallery with the gravity free-fall slide and almost everyone went on it, even Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. White! The slide angles you perfectly so for a second you experience zero gravity. I went up to go down the slide and I froze then I made the decision to go down the slide. I hung on the bar for dear life and then I let go, my heart skipped a beat. We went to a temporary exhibition called “ZAP! CLANK! POW!” Where we played with pulley systems, magnets and electricity. Then we went to the earth science gallery with a lightning strike experience and an earthquake simulation room. After that we went to a gallery with microscopes, animal skulls and more. Then we finished up our time at Questacon in the Moon Room. My favourite gallery was the Free-fall gravity slide gallery because it was super fun but also super scary.

Then we had a lunch break at 1.00pm at a nearby park. We ate our lunch and then headed to another park to play games like memory tag and footy. It was really fun. Then Mrs. Walsh blew the whistle and we headed to the next destination.

The third thing we did was go to the National Portrait Gallery. We arrived there at 2.00pm and we were so lucky to be able to do a really fun activity called “Head Hunt”. Head Hunt is an activity where we get into a group of three where we were given an iPad with an app that gave us a gallery number to go to. My team's first number was 3 and our pick was a photo called “Wesley Enoch and David McAllister” which we first had to inspect the photo, say what was interesting and then take a photo. Then we had to record ourselves talking about what was interesting.  My team picked 2 other portraits called “Maggie” and “Romance was Born”. 

Then we all climbed onto the bus for a 2-hour bus ride back to Crookwell. Our bus driver told us about all the statues and landmarks out of and in the city center. We were taught about why America gifted us an eagle and where the army people live and learn. We were allowed to watch a movie We took a quick stop at Goulburn to drop off people and for a bathroom break. We finally arrived in Crookwell at 5.00. Then the excursion was finished. My favourite part of the trip was going to Questacon and going on the slide. I loved this excursion. 

By Isobel Tran

School student travel information for parents and students

Applications are now open for 2026 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students who require a travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply for a new card or update their existing card as soon as possible. Students who receive a notification that their School Opal card is expiring need to re-submit their details. 

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Email: Crookwell@cg.org.au

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

Phone: 0403 631 797 

For just over a quarter of a century, Convoy for Kids Goulburn has brought the community together in a powerful show of generosity and heart. This annual charity fundraiser unites truckies, truck lovers, families, and businesses to raise vital funds for children in need across the Goulburn region. With a colourful convoy of trucks and cars winding through town, fun-filled family events, and community spirit on full display, Convoy for Kids Goulburn continues to drive change and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local kids. Join us as we celebrate of giving back — because every child deserves a brighter future.

Theres plenty of fun for the day including the trucksdriving down the Main Street (Aubarn Street), Carnival Day at the Recreation Area, food stalls, live entertainment, kids’ rides and activities, raffles, charity auction, and plenty of community fun for the whole family.

Trucks muster from 8:30am at Gateway Service Station, with the Lead Truck drawn at 9:30am. The convoy departs at 10:30am sharp, proceeding down Auburn Street. Truck registration is $100 (includes entry into the Lead Truck draw). Cars and other vehicles are $60. At 11:00am, the Carnival Day will commence at the Goulburn Recreation Area—adult entry $10, children under 18 free. Register online at www.convoyforkidsgoulburn.com.au (http://www.convoyforkidsgoulburn.com.au/

). Terms and conditions apply—see website for details.

Brain Cancer Foundation- Devonshire Tea

Upper Lachlan Shire Performing Arts

Save the Date- International Day of People with Disablity Community Event

Nomination Form- Sportsperson

Nomination Form- Sportsperson 198.16 KB

Nomination Form Event of the Year

Nomination Form Event of the Year 210.09 KB

Nomination Form Citizen & Young Citizen

Nomination Form Citizen &amp 198.47 KB

Nomination Guidelines

Nomination Guidelines 1,017.45 KB