Upcoming Events

Dear Members of the St Mary's School Community,

Welcome to the 2021 school year!

It was a great privilege for me yesterday to welcome our new Kindergarten students and their families.

I would like to introduce the 2021 St Mary's teaching and support team;

Mrs Alison Cummins - Kindergarten (18 students)

Mrs Sally-Anne Croker - Year One (23 students)

Mrs Susan Branson - Year Two (18 students)

Mrs Rachael Croker - Year 3 (25 students)

Mrs Therese Skelly - Year 4 (20 students)

Mrs Linda Walsh - Year 5 (18 students)

Mr Larry O'Kane - Year 6 (15 students)

Mrs Nicola Spackman - Classroom Support Teacher

Mrs Dorothea Hewitt  - Teacher Librarian and ICT coordinator

Mrs Ashlee Picker - Performing Arts Teacher

Mrs Karen O'Keefe - Teacher release and Creative Arts Teacher

Mrs Rie O'Brien - Japanese Support Teacher and Classroom Support Assistant 

Mrs Gwenda Romer - Classroom Support Assistant 

Mrs Elizabeth Webber - Classroom Support Assistant 

Mrs Shauna Hewitt -Classroom Support Assistant 

Mrs Belinda Tarlinton - Office Manager - Monday - Friday 8.30am - 3.30pm

Mrs Sharyn Lynch - CatholicCare Counsellor - Each Monday 9am - 5pm

We are commencing the year with 137 students in total.

I particularly would like to extend a very warm welcome to the new families joining our school community; the Fraser (K), Sims (K), Cox (K), Lowe (K), Allport (K) and Beath (1) families. We wish you all a happy and smooth transition into school life at St Mary's. 

We also say a sad farewell to the Rose (Matilda) and White (Sam) families. 

I look forward to working with you this year to create the best education and learning environment possible for your child/ren and feel confident that 2021 will be a positive and productive year.

Opening School Mass

On Thursday 4 February at 9.30am, we will hold our Opening School Mass in St Mary's Church. The Captains badges will be blessed and presented to our 2021 School Leaders during this Mass. All welcome!

Thank you!

Thank you to Louise Gibbs, Barry Storrier, the Naughton and Knight families for the extra work they did in the holidays preparing our yards and gardens for the first day back.

Thank you also to Scott and Rohan Gamble, Andrew Kemp, Anita Murfitt, Nicki Spackman and all the staff, for completing many additional holiday improvements, maintenance, cleaning, watering and preparation duties. I am sure you will agree the school is looking very tidy.

School Hours

Students commence school at 9.00am (first bell) and conclude at 3:10pm. Morning Club is offered to our families as a free service from 8.00am to 8.40am each morning. This is held in the Old Meeting Room, at the end of the top playground. Any child arriving at school before 8.40am has to attend Morning Club.  Playground supervision does not commence until 8:40am and concludes at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

Each afternoon bus lines and pick up will occur from the front of the school. Students walking will wait at the gate near the end of the verandah to be walked across Colyer and Wade Streets. Bus lines will be along our front verandah and students being picked up will wait on the ramp area until they see their carer. 

Change of your child's usual end of day arrangement can be made by calling Belinda (prior to 3pm) on 48321 592 or by completing the eform on SZapp.

Contact

Teachers are your first port of call for questions and queries pertaining to the classroom. Appointments can be made with your child's classroom teacher by calling the Office.

I am also happy to support you in any way I can. Typically problems that are addressed quickly, in partnership, are the easiest to solve. I will be available on the school phone (48321 592) for calls, usually from 8.00am - 4.30pm, daily or via email within the same hours. The email address to be used to contact any staff member is office.stmarysc@cg.catholic.edu.au

Emails sent out of school hours will not be responded to until the following day.

If you wish to make an appointment to see me, please contact Belinda in the Office.

Newsletter and Social Media

Today you have received the first school newsletter for the year. Newsletters will be emailed out each Thursday afternoon and are also available on the website and Szapp app, however, if you would prefer a print copy please contact Belinda. 

If you require instructions on how to download our Szapp app please see Belinda.

We love to share our school communities news and events. Please email the office with photos and updates for inclusion in the newsletter. 

Another good way to stay abreast of what is happening, aside from this newsletter, is through our social media pages. Following or liking our pages will ensure you keep up to date with events, last-minute details and information.

Like us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Primary-School-Crookwell-200903146739911/ 

Follow us on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/st_marys_crookwell/?hl=en

Kindergarten

Our new Kindergarten students arrived at ‘big school’ yesterday looking very smart in their St Mary’s uniforms. The students had a very settled and productive day with Mrs Cummins and Mrs Romer. We wish our new Kinder students a wonderful first year of school!

Modified Swimming Carnival/ Trials

As you may be aware, the Crookwell Swimming Pool is closed for the 2020/2021 swimming season due to the upgrading of the facilities. This has resulted in us having to make some adjustments to our 2021 Swimming Carnival.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to secure a booking at the Goulburn Swimming Pool before the Northern Region Swimming Carnival on 12 February 2021, as the pool is heavily booked.  We have made the decision to book the Yass Swimming Pool to hold a shorter, modified carnival, with the purpose of selecting a team for the Northern Region Carnival.  This will be held on MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2021.

Please see the School Sport section for more information.

Current COVID Restrictions

The following is a list of the current COVID restrictions for schools.

Latest Hotspot Advice

If you arrived in NSW from Western Australia by air on or after 10.12 pm on 31 January 2021 you will be required to undergo COVID-19 screening on arrival which includes temperature and symptom screening and completing a self-declaration form.

If you arrived or are arriving in NSW from a WA affected area on or after 25 January 2021 you should get tested and quarantine until 9.00 pm, Friday 5 February 2021 if you have a COVID-19 test between 31 January and 5 February, or otherwise until 9.00 pm, Sunday 14 February.

Please contact the school if you would like further information about WA hotspots.

The NSW Health website (link below) has an up to date list of COVID hotspots.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/case-locations-and-alerts.aspx

Gathering size: visitor numbers must not exceed 100 people - this does not include students and staff.

Density requirements: visitor numbers must not exceed one person per 2 square metres in indoor or outdoor spaces.

Physical distancing: staff and visitors should keep 1.5 metres apart from each other where possible unless they are from the same family group.

Checking in: all visitors to schools should check in using established school processes.

Health and hygiene: staff and students should stay home if they are unwell and get tested if they are exhibiting cold and flu (COVID) symptoms. Students who have received a COVID test are required to stay at home until the results have been received and emailed to the school.

Regular cleaning and disinfecting of commonly touched or frequently shared surfaces will occur throughout the day and routine cleaning will occur each night. Students and staff are encouraged to wash their hands throughout the day. Hand sanitiser will be provided for staff and students.

Incursions, events, fundraising activities and volunteer activities: these may continue in schools if gathering, density, distancing and check-in requirements are met.

Hiring of school facilities: this may continue if gathering, density, distancing, hygiene, cleaning and check-in requirements are met.

School playgrounds and bubblers: Bubblers can be used and should be cleaned regularly. Playgrounds may also remain open for school use and to the community outside of school hours.

Entry Procedures: For the next two weeks, we ask all students arriving at school after 8.40am to enter  via the Old Hall for sanitising and temperature checking for the first two weeks of school. If the COVID numbers remain as they are now, small and well-traced, we will cease this practice in Week Four.  This procedure is to provide extra assurance to our families.

Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to assist in the implementation of our Personalised Reading Intervention Program, our Spelling Intervention Program, or our Maths Intervention Program.

Our Reading Program aims to provide some students from Years 2-6, individual time to consolidate letter-sound correspondences and build confidence in decoding unfamiliar words. The Spelling Program is building the ability to write and apply these sounds to their individual writing. The Maths program is focused on building and supporting some students with basic skill concepts.

The Reading and Spelling programs will run from Monday to Thursday from 9.30am until 11.15am. The Maths Intervention program will run from 12 midday until 1pm. All programs will commence in Week 4 from Monday 15th February.

You do not have to be available every day. Your support on any of these days would be greatly appreciated. We also understand that some weeks you may be unable to attend and that is okay. Volunteers will need to have a current Working with Children check.

Please see the Classroom Support section for more information.

Clubs

Our Maths, Chess, Lego, Chess, Writing, STEM and Games and Cards Clubs will be commencing soon. All children will have the opportunity to take part in these optional break time and afternoon clubs.

Our Maths Club will be running on a Monday afternoon from Week 4 with Mrs Spackman from 3.15pm to 4pm for Year 4 - 6 students.  

On Thursday St Mary's teaching staff participated in 'Catalyst', a professional learning day with all of the staff from the fifty-six schools in our Archdiocese. The day, hosted by Genevieve Jacobs from the ABC - Canberra, consisted of addresses from the Director of Education Ross Fox, Archbishop Christopher Prowse, and keynote addresses from educational experts, Ollie Lovell, Toni-Ann Zroom, Tom Sherrington and Micahel Roberts.  

'Catalyst' a system-wide initiative focuses on two bold goals; 

1 - Every child will be a competent reader

2 - High impact teaching practices will be visible in every classroom

These goals will be achieved through our K-2 literacy initiative (InitiaLit and Explicit Instruction) and through professional learning modules on High Impact Teaching Practices, based on principles outlined by Barak Rosenshines.

The professional learning this year based on the research around the Science of Reading fit very nicely with our school's improvement plan. Our three goals are:

1 - Focus on teaching and learning

2 - Strengthen engagement

3 - Focus on health and wellbeing

The following will give you a snap-shot of how our key improvement goals and strategies.

My name is Sharyn Lynch and I am very pleased to be returning to my role as the School Counsellor for St Mary’s Crookwell in 2021. I am a Social Worker with postgraduate qualifications in social health and family therapy, and over 15 years’ experience working with children and families in both government and non-government settings. My previous roles have included providing parenting training, case work, advocacy, research and counselling services for both individuals and groups. Should you wish to refer your child to our Student Counselling program then please request a permission form from the front office, or speak with your class teacher. We are introducing a new referral system which will enable parents to access the referral form on the school website and families will be advised as soon as this is available. I am at the school each Monday and can be contacted directly at the school or via email Sharyn.Lynch@catholiccare.cg.org.au.

All the best for settling into the new school year and I look forward to working with the community of St Mary’s Crookwell again in 2021.

Regards,

Sharyn

The Term 1 School Fees will be allocated in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye out in your email inbox for your fee statement.

If you have an existing direct debit arrangement in place, it may be time to review this to ensure you are covering the minimum amount required with the increase of school fees. A breakdown of the 2021 fees are:

1 Child: Total per term $556.00. Weekly $42.77, Fortnightly $85.54, Monthly $185.00

2 Children: Total per term $618.00. Weekly $47.54, Fortnightly $95.08, Monthly $206.00

3 or more Children: Total per term $680.00. Weekly $52.31, Fortnightly $104.62, Monthly $226.67

A warm welcome to St Mary’s School for 2021 to all parents, students and staff. A special welcome to our new Kindy students and new families. Jesus always welcomed EVERYONE without exception. “When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them ...” (Luke 9:11).  With Jesus as our example, we should never be shy about welcoming others, whether it’s welcoming friends into our home, visitors into our school and church, or saying hello to a stranger.

In 2021 let us all strive to keep up St Mary’s tradition of being a welcoming community.

Go out of your way to say G’DAY.

Our School Motto and Values

Our School Motto and values remind us to always reach out to each other and to others with a warm, welcoming and loving heart.

Our motto encourages us to work TOGETHER AS ONE in TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE.

Our Mission is to be…

Jesus’ hands - offering SERVICE to others

Jesus’ eyes - seeing the needs of others with COMPASSION

Jesus’ heart - sharing RESPECT for everyone

Jesus’ feet - walking the road of JUSTICE

Jesus’ mind - persevering and striving for EXCELLENCE

This term, we will be focusing especially on our school value of RESPECT. Stay tuned to hear more about how we are striving to show respect in all we think and say and do at St Mary’s School.

School Swimming Carnival

As you may be aware, the Crookwell Swimming Pool is closed for the 2020/2021 swimming season due to the upgrading of the facilities. This has resulted in us having to make some decisions about a swimming carnival for 2021.

We were unable to secure a booking at the Goulburn Swimming Pool before the Northern Region Swimming Carnival as the pool is heavily booked. Hence, we have had to make the decision to book the Yass Swimming Pool.

The St Mary’s Swimming Carnival will be held on MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2021, at the Yass Swimming Pool.

Secondly due to the length of the pool and taking into account travelling time, we have made some major amendments to the structure of the carnival as follows;

• The carnival will be for students 8yrs and over (students who have turned or are turning 8 in 2021)
• All stroke events will be held over 50m (we will not be able to accommodate 10m, 25m or 33m events)
• We are giving students the option to participate on the day or not, if they chose not to there will be supervision for those students at school
• Age champion points will be tallied and age champions for students 8yrs-12yrs will be awarded at the following Monday school assembly
• We will be able to provide bus transport for students competing with departure and arrival times to be confirmed

Kindergarten and Year One: Students will come to school as normal on Monday 8 February ready for a regular school day in the classroom.  

Age Champions

Announcement and presentation of the Age Champion medallions will be made at our Morning assembly on Monday 10 February at 9:05am.

Northern Region Representative Swimming

Our Northern Region Representative Team will be selected from children turning 8 years, or older, in 2020, who participate in the 66m Freestyle and the other 33m races. Students must also demonstrate a reasonable ability and finishing time.  Children will be selected in each age group for the Freestyle events and in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior age divisions for events using the other strokes. 

IS YOUR CHILD ATTENDING?

If your child is attending the carnival you should have completed an online form that was emailed to all families. If you have not completed this form please email me at rachael.croker@cg.catholic.edu.au ASAP so that the program can be finalised.

IMPORTANT

An email will be sent out to all participating students families on Thursday with the following information:

1. Times and order of events
2. Transport Arrangements
3. Helpers roles

Registrations for the following NSW Primary Sports Canberra Goulburn Trials are now OPEN;

Basketball - Close 2nd Feb

Tennis - Close 2nd Feb

Football (Soccer) - Close 5th March

Hockey - Close 15th March

Cricket - Close 15th March

Rugby League - Close 23rd March

Netball - Close 23rd March

Touch Football - Close 27th April

Please head to the Canberra Goulburn Sport Webpage for information regarding the trials and the link for registration.

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations

The full 2021 NSW Primary and Secondary Sports Calendar is now available. It includes dates and information or links to further information for Canberra Goulburn, MacKillop, CCC, NSW All Schools, NSWPSSA and School Sport Australia trials and Championships.

Available at: https://sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar

2021 Classroom Support News

Welcome back!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday with friends and family.

We are excited to be working with your children in both learning support and learning enrichment.

Our 2021 Classroom Support team is:

Mrs Gwenda Romer: Classroom Support Assistant (CSA)

Mrs Shauna Hewitt: CSA

Mrs Rie O’Brien: CSA

Mrs Elizabeth Webber: CSA

Mrs Nicki Spackman: Classroom Support Teacher (CST)

Volunteers Needed for our Intervention Programs

If you would like to assist with any of our intervention programs at school, please complete the form below or contact Belinda at the office. Grandparents and other community members are very welcome to help. We would like to offer intervention programs in Spelling, Reading and Numeracy. Volunteers will need a Working with Children Check.

Please click here: Intervention Program Volunteer Form

Morning Club

Following the success of morning club for the last two years, it is available again each day from 8.00am-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 service is available for all children from K-6 and will be held in the Old Meeting Room at the end of the playground.

The children will be required to participate in quiet activities during this time, reading, writing, drawing, colouring, board games, card games, puzzles and/or homework tasks.  The children may bring games to play and share if they wish, however they will not be able to use electronic devices. 

At 8.40am the children who attend will move to the playground for morning supervision by a staff member. No student is to be in the playground unsupervised before 8.40am.

Personalised Plan Meetings

Each semester, and sometimes more often depending on student need, we hold scheduled Personalised Plan meetings for students with a disability or an additional need requiring intervention or adjustments. These meetings will occur in Week 3, February 15-18 in the afternoon. Information has been sent to those parents via Schoolzine already with a link to Session Keeper where you will be able to choose a date and a time suited to you online. If you are having trouble accessing this, please contact Belinda in the Office.

Safer Internet Day

Over the past year, the internet has brought us together to work, learn, socialise and share more than ever.

Safer Internet Day on 9 February 2021 is a great opportunity to start the chat about being safer online – at home, at school, at work and in our communities.

Next week the students will engage in learning tasks that raise awareness about online issues and share strategies for staying safe.

The Australian Government E-Safety Commissioner has a webpage, “The sSafetyparents” that advises parents and carers how to help children have safe experiences online.

The website address is: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Let's make it safer, so everyone can enjoy the benefits of being connected!

Road Safety Around Schools

Library Lessons

All classes visit the library each week.

Term 1

Tuesday:  Year 2, Year 4 and Year 5.

Wednesday: Kinder, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6.

Please ensure your child has a library bag to borrow.

Book Club

This year Scholastic Book Club will need to be ordered online through LOOP.

Scholastic Book Club will be issued in Terms 1, 2 and 4.

The web address is:

scholastic.com.au/LOOP

LOOP enables parents to order and pay for your child’s order online using a credit card or voucher if you have one. Catalogues will still be handed out at school and books will be distributed at school. The school will continue to receive rewards.

• For a quick start, just click on ORDER
• OR Register first to save your details for next time
• Select your school and your child's class 
• Add your child's first name & last initial (so the school knows who the book is for) 
• Enter the item number from the Book Club catalogue
• Follow the instructions for payment and submit
• All orders are sent directly to the school for submission to Scholastic. Books will still be delivered to your child's classroom if you order by the close date
• Afterwards, there's no need to return paper order forms or payment receipt details back to your school! 

Please contact me if you have no internet access at home and would like to order or if you experience any difficulties.

ICT

To have access to the Information and Communication Technologies at St Mary’s, children in Years 3-6 are requested to read and sign the Acceptable Use by Students Policy Form sent home today. Parents/Guardians please sign the Acknowledgement section and return to the office.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to cover books for the Library. Plastic covering is supplied and you are able to do this at home in your own time. If you are able to assist, please complete the form and I will contact you.

Please click here: Library helpers

Thank you,

Dorothea Hewitt

Baptism - Welcome Alfie

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to 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)

Go 4 Fun Online

League Stars Crookwell Program

Cricket Blast

Crookwell Garden Festival Calendar- REDUCED TO $5.00!

Available at the School Office. Cash only please.

KAOS Muster

KAOS (Kids Acting On Stage) muster has been postponed. Further details will be provided when received.

Goulburn Show 2021- Junior Section

More information can be obtained from the School Office or the Goulburn Show Society directly.