Upcoming Events

Parent and Carers Communication

At St Mary's we welcome parents and carers communication. Please be aware our Office Hours are 8.30am - 3.30pm. 

Teachers are available for phone calls or meetings during the term, please call Belinda to arrange a suitable time.

In recognising work-life balance for our teachers, St Mary's staff may not respond to digital communication between 4.30pm and 8.00am during the week and not at all on weekends. We hope you support our endeavour to promote a healthy work-life balance for our staff.

Showcase of Learning

This year we are pleased to be able to present our Stage 3 Showcase of Learning Assemblies. Our first assembly will be presented by Year Five and Six on the last day of term, Thursday 1 April.

Due to COVID restrictions, and to comply with the 2m2 per person rule in our Hall, the assembly will be presented twice, once for the students and the second time for the parents and carers of Stage Three students. 

The parents and carers assembly will be held at 12.30pm. Please enter the Hall through the hall front doors, sign in and sanitise before taking your seat. Please also remember to social distance from others that are not part of your household. 

Stage 3 Hockey Gala Day 

On Wednesday 10 March, Year Five and Six participated in a Hockey Gala Day organised by Hockey NSW. Below is a report written by Year Six student Olivia Pursell.

"On Wednesday 10 March, last week, Year Five and Six went to the Hockey Gala Day in Goulburn. We went on the Bigga bus. There were about three other schools there. In our school there were three teams. They were Red, Yellow and Orange. I was in the Orange team with Phoebe, Elisha, Bryce, Sophia, Kiowa, Seth and Caitlyn. In our first game we versed Gunning and we won 4-nil. I scored 1 goal. The second game we versed the Yellow St Mary's team and we won 4-nil again. The third game we versed a Crookwell Public School team and we won 2-nil. It was a very enjoyable and successful day and I enjoyed it very much. Our skills were stunning thanks to our Friday Hockey clinics with Nicky".

Crookwell Community Fun Run

Only 10 days to go until the Crookwell Community Fun Run organised by our P&F Association. I would like to encourage all of our families and friends, young and not so young, to come out on the 28 March to walk, jog or run in support of this fundraising event. 

Prizes will be award to placegetters in various age groups and a barbeque lunch will be available. 

Tickets can be purchased by going to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/crookwell-community-fun-run-tickets-142454985697 

I would like to thank the families who have offered to do a job on the day or given a donation to the P&F to offset the organisation costs.

Thank you also to the businesses who have sponsored this event. 

Event proudly sponsored by...

 

BRAD AND LIBBIE STORRIER

Brad 0407 264 703

Libbie 0419 017 525

gdlandscapes@hotmail.com

2021 – The Year of St Joseph

Pope Francis has named this year THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH - Joseph - who answered God’s call to become the earthly father and protector of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, 19 March, is the Feast of St Joseph, so it is a good time to reflect on who he really was and how we can be inspired by him.

Though there is no record of any spoken word from Joseph in the Bible, all four Gospels refer to Jesus as “the son of Joseph”. And they portray Joseph as a humble but courageous man of compassion, honour and integrity. We might think of the famous quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: ‘Who you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying.’ Joseph’s actions speak louder than words and we can learn much from them.

• Joseph was a lowly carpenter and a hard worker (Mt13:55),
• He was a “just man” (Mt1:19), ever ready to carry out God’s will, no matter the hardship (Lk 2:22.27.39).
• He had the courage to marry Mary and become the legal father of Jesus (in a time when this would have been considered outrageous). He gave this child the name revealed by the angel: “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt1:21). For ancient peoples, to give a name to a person or to a thing was to establish a relationship. Joseph loved Jesus with a father’s heart.
• After a long and tiring journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Joseph, the protector of his family, played an active role in the birth of Jesus the Saviour in a stable, (since “there was no place for them” elsewhere (Lk2:7). He witnessed the adoration of the shepherds (cf. Lk 2:8-20) and the Magi – wisemen (Mt 2:1-12).
• To protect Jesus from Herod, Joseph fled with his family and became a refugee in Egypt (Mt2:13-18).
• After returning to his own country, he led a hidden life in the tiny and obscure village of Nazareth in Galilee, far from Bethlehem, his ancestral town, and from Jerusalem and the Temple. When, during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary lost track of the twelve-year-old Jesus, they anxiously sought him out and they found him in the Temple, speaking with the teachers of the Law (Lk2:41-50).

Pope Francis describes Joseph as having ‘A FATHER’S HEART’. Joseph was:

• The beloved father of Jesus
• A tender and loving father to Jesus
• An obedient and faithful father
• An accepting father
• A courageous father

Pope Francis reminds us that today (especially during the devastation of COVID 19) there are many people like St Joseph… ‘who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines, or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. They understand that no one is saved alone… How many people daily exercise patience and offer hope, taking care to spread not panic, but shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead and encouraging the practice of prayer. How many are [quietly and without fanfare] praying, making sacrifices and interceding for the good of all”.

Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play a significant role in the lives of others. Each of us can discover in Joseph a wonderful role model– the person who goes unnoticed, but who is a daily, discreet and hidden presence –a support and a guide in times of trouble.

Over the years many people have created images that can help us to reflect on what kind of person Joseph was.

How Can You Set Your Child Up for Successful Learning?

https://www.inspiringgirls.info/post/set-child-up-for-successful-learning

Some kids move through their school years happily slurping up learning and challenges. They are genuinely interested and look at new ideas and skills with a sense of wonder and awe. Meanwhile, other kids are disengaged and it’s a daily battle. Often, there is no difference in ability, so what’s going on?

Kids are like us… complicated! They take their experiences, expectations, and emotions to school. Those three ‘Es’ can be holding them back or propelling them forward. However, parents are not powerless, you can set your children up for more successful learning.

How do we do that?

1. Support positive relationships with teachers

Quality learning is powered by trust, respect, and mutual high regard between a student and teacher. Teachers do a lot of the heavy lifting in establishing these relationships, however, over time a child needs to ‘buy in’.

Empower your child to be an active participant in their relationship with their teacher. They may not like asking questions in class, but they can talk to their teacher after class. They can say hello and look their teacher in the eye.

Model empathy when talking about your child’s teacher and help kids understand that people are different and that’s okay. Kath Perrier is Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning at Lourdes Hill College. She says, “We need to build positive mindsets towards teachers and school. Teach children to communicate with their teachers from a young age when the stakes feel low. Help them understand that teachers are people just like them, and sometimes they even have bad days just like them.”

Encourage your children to speak up when there’s a problem, rather than letting issues grow or pulling you in straight away. They need to have some sense of control in their relationship.

Practical tip: Teach children to communicate with their teachers from a young age when the stakes feel low.

2. Cultivate a growth mindset

Many of us were brought up with the idea of fixed ability. We believe our brains can learn some things but not others. For example, we might say things like, “I’m good at English but hopeless at Maths.” Well hold onto your hats, things have changed! Research now tells us such hard and fast judgements are not only false but hold our kids back.

These days we talk about the ‘growth mindset’ trait. This is the deeply held belief that given enough time, instruction, and effort we can learn anything. Carol Dweck is a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. She is the world’s most recognised student of the growth mindset trait. Dweck talks about it in terms of, ‘The power of yet’. When your child says, “I can’t do this”, then you need to add, “Yet. I can’t do this yet”. Brain imaging of students shows new neural pathways are formed simply by reframing their experience in this way. It sounds wild, but it is simple, and it works.

Practical tip: When your child says, “I can’t do this”, add, “Yet”.

3. Make home reflect your values

Our children inherit our value of education. If you think learning is important, talk about it positively rather than as a chore. Show its relevance. The home-school partnership is at its most powerful when parents and teachers are all showing the value of education and linking learning to real life.

Ms Perrier says, “If you want to show learning and study is important, have designated, inviting areas for studying. A bed is not a desk, and a desk is not a bed.”

If developing ideas and opinions is important to you, make sure you model that by having interesting discussions about events and ideas over the dinner table, or while you’re travelling in the car.

Surround your child with books. Extensive research shows growing up with books has a profound impact on attitudes to learning. A library of just 80 books in the home has more impact than a parent’s own education level. For those of us using kindles, this might be a wake-up call to unpack a few of those book boxes in the back shed. Free the books and let them work their magic!

Practical tip: Create a designated study space and ensure you have books. Lots of books!

4. Flip the way your family responds to failure

It is easy to say, “Failure is a wonderful teacher,” or, “We shouldn’t be afraid of failure, we should embrace it.” However, the fact is, failure hurts! We can’t ignore the shame, disappointment, and upset that usually accompanies failure. If we commit to something and invest effort and soul, of course, it will hurt and it is little wonder that our kids retreat and think twice next time.

Rather than trivialising failure and telling kids to ‘get back on the horse”, first address the emotional experience. It needs to be acknowledged and discussed before its power can subside. Only then can you talk about the cost-gain equation of having another go.

Practical tip: Talk about your own failures and how they feel. Then model picking yourself up and starting again.

5. Organise time and environment

Ms Perrier says, “Students who are most successful every year are the ones who are most organised. Not the brightest, but the ones who use their teachers, use homework club and have a great ability to organise time.”

Help your child develop their time management skills by creating a study timetable together and then sticking to it. Routine in study is very powerful. It also helps to chunk time. For example, 50 minutes of solid study followed by 10 minutes of relaxation.

Another interesting approach Ms Perrier advocates is, “Learning as a team sport”. She says we should tap into the social nature of many of our teens. Forming study groups and learning together can be very effective.

Practical tip: Create a workable study timetable and routine with your child.

6. Grow brave kids

A brave student is one who will leave their comfort zone and accept challenges. They take learning risks that lead to lateral, out-of-the-box thinking rather than ensuring they always give the teacher exactly what they want. The world needs that kind of thinker. They are also the students who will extend themselves. Too many of our young people balk at taking on new challenges if there is a chance they won’t be perfect, or they may appear silly.

Teaching positive self-talk is a good start. If you could get into the minds of brave people, you wouldn’t find them thinking, ‘This is too hard’ or ‘There is no way I can do this’. You would hear, ‘Yes! C’mon! I can do this!’. What we tell ourselves can be very powerful when it comes to risk assessment and risk-taking.

Practical tip: Model and encourage positive self-talk

Final thought

When they leave school, our children will forget the vast majority of what they’ve learnt, just like we did. What they will retain is how they felt about learning. Learning needs to feel satisfying. It needs to feel empowering. And if we can help kids associate learning with wonder and awe, we’ve won. We’ve created a life-long learner

Friday Hockey Program

Tomorrow will see the final session with Nicky from Hockey NSW. Over the five sessions, the students have developed their skills of passing, trapping, dribbling, ball movement and spatial awareness. We would like to thank Nicky for her expertise coaching, and we hope to work with her again.  

Athletics Carnival

We are getting very close to our school Athletics carnival, which is exciting, considering we were unable to hold this last year. Details for the day are as follows:

Date: Friday March 26

Venue: Todkill Park, Crookwell

Times: The carnival will commence at 9:15am and conclude at 2:45pm

Travel: If your child travels by bus, the buses will drop off and pick up at Todkill Park. If your child walks to school or gets dropped off, they will need to be taken to Todkill Park from 8:40am, when supervision starts.

Canteen: There will be canteen facilities available on the day. Year Two will be coordinating this as their fundraising event for the year.

URGENT- We need your help….

At this stage our volunteer numbers are low, meaning that we do not have enough timekeepers or team managers. The role of the manager is to ensure their group is at the correct activity and to record lengths or times.

If you are able to assist with either of these, please email Belinda in the office by Friday, March 19.

Monaro Rugby Union Primary Schools Gala Day

Students in Years 3-6, who expressed an interest took notes home for Rugby Union Gala Day last week. Consent and medical forms are due back to school as soon as possible, please. This will determine if we have sufficient numbers to enter teams for the event.

Save The Dates

• Monaro Rugby Union Primary Schools Gala Day:  Friday, April 23, Years 3-6, Carr Confoy Fields, Goulburn
• Cross Country Carnival K-6:  Friday 30 April, Years K-6, Crookwell Showground
• Gilbert/ Croker Rugby League Gala Day: Tuesday, May 4, Years 3-6, North Park Goulburn 

The month of March is a busy one for Representative Sport Trials. 

ANY STUDENTS WISHING TO TRIAL FOR ANY SPORTS IN 2021 ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.

Congratulations to Charlie Cramp and Ava Nicholson who were successful at the Canberra/Goulburn Soccer Trials and now move to the MacKillop Trials. Well done girls!

Registrations received to date include:

Best wishes for those trialling for Cricket tomorrow. 

CRICKET - 19 March Gundagai

Saxon Greenwood

Sophia Galland

Max’e Reynolds

Nate Kemp

Toby Charnock

Ava Nicholson

HOCKEY - 29 March- Venue TBA

Henry Galland

Sophia Galland

Nate Kemp

George Skelly

Bridie Croker

Will Croker

Kiowa Morning

Patrick Walsh

Thomas Walsh

Olivia Pursell

RUGBY LEAGUE - 29 March Queanbeyan

Saxon Greenwood

TOUCH FOOTBALL- 3 May Lyneham

Bridie Croker

Will Croker

GOLF - 26 July Blackheath

Nate Kemp

Jaydan Costello

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

Rugby League - Close 23rd March

https://csnsw.sport/sports/mackillop/rugby-league

Touch Football - Close 27th April

https://csnsw.sport/sports/mackillop/touch

RUGBY PRIMARY GIRL'S 7's

https://csnsw.sport/sports/mackillop/rugby-union

GOLF - PRIMARY

https://csnsw.sport/sports/mackillop/golf

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

Handwriting Pencil Grip

Occupational_therapy_pencil_grip.pdf

Occupational_therapy_pencil_grip _pdf 167.03 KB

Class Awards

Easter Masses

Parish Office

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)

What is ‘co-regulation’?

Children are born with many emotions but without the language or ability to understand and manage them. We teach them how to be calm by doing it with them: rocking, patting, hugging, and quiet talking.

Children have good days and bad days when managing their feelings – just like the rest of us. They are sensitive to stress, lack of sleep, noise, arguments, etc.  This can make paying attention to teachers and parents very difficult at times.

When a calm adult helps a child to stay calm and provides support for the child’s emotional experiences, they become ‘in tune’ with each other. Being ‘in tune’ is important because children need to learn to co-regulate their emotions (manage their emotions with their parents help) before they can self-regulate (manage their emotions without help).

Here are a couple of suggestions of Apps families have found helpful, or you may like to search for something similar.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street (free app). This app provides breathing and problem solving practice for children.

Settle Your Glitter by Momentous Institute (free app). This app guides children through deep breathing exercises that allow them to regain control of emotions.

Activity: Feelings Chart

You may like to print out the attached feelings chart and use the template to brainstorm with your child:

• What signs they show on the outside to reflect how they feel on the inside?
• What activity or strategy they could use to help them to feel calmer?
• What activity or strategy could others use to help them to feel calmer?

Tip: Keep it on your fridge to use as a daily reference for how to manage big feelings

Anne Reeve's SDN Farewell

We know that a lot of the St Mary's families have had the pleasure of knowing Anne Reeves through Crookwell SDN Preschool. After 22 years of service with firstly Crookwell Preschool and then SDN Crookwell Preschool, Anne is moving on to an exciting opportunity for her. If you would like to attend the planned farewell:

When:     Thursday 25^th March, 2021

Where:    Cafe Zestt

Time:       6.30pm

Cost:        $35 per person (please place in envelope with your name  and drop at preschool prior to the night)

RSVP:      0427464286 (Helen – or text message) by Friday 19th March

CWA Potato Festival- Decorated Potato Competition

The Festival of Place

Crookwell Junior Soccer

Registrations are NOW OPEN. You can print off the attached Registration Form and drop to Rebecca George at D & R Tyres with payment/ printed Active Kids Voucher.

PLEASE NOTE - Registrations CLOSE on the 20th MARCH

2021_Junior_Registration_Form_Crookwell_Soccer_Club.pdf

2021_Junior_Registration_Form_Crookwell_Soccer_Club _pdf 380.80 KB

Rugby League

Crookwell Junior Hockey

Registration day 20/3/21 at Todkill Park, 11am-12.
Competition starts in Term 2.
Fees $20

Guitar Supplies

Dallas and Bonnie Atkins have a stock of guitar strings in their shop - Country Treasure.  Other instrument supplies and advice are also available.

Cystic Fibrosis 64 Roses Charity Dinner

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common, life-shortening genetic condition in Australia. A child with CF is born every four days and whilst medical research is improving – there is no cure.

Cystic Fibrosis Goulburn and District, is a not for profit local charity. For 50 years our dedicated team of volunteers has been providing financial assistance to local families affected by Cystic Fibrosis to help with ongoing treatment costs and equipment expenses. We also continue to raise awareness and contribute to much needed medical research to help reach our goal of : ZERO LIVES AFFECTED BY CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

ON SATURDAY 29^th MAY 2021, we are hosting our annual major fundraiser:

“65 ROSES” CHARITY DINNER. At the GOULBURN WORKERS CLUB.

If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Sylvana Aliffi on 0447 655 194.

Parkinson's Disease Support Group Fundraiser

Festival of Democracy- Holiday Fun

Rising Sun Health School Holiday Program