Dear Parents

It has been great to see the students working so well in class. When walking through the student building the children are actively engaged in learning. Our refurbishment of the building has allowed for a variety of activities to be completed in a flexible working environment. It is interesting to note that the walk throughs held this week at Catholic College Sale have similar furniture. POD learning and flexible learning spaces. The Grade Six students moving to CCS in 2022 will definitely benefit from the experiences in our new building at St Mary’s.

With restrictions being eased in Victoria we would like to take this opportunity for families to come into school to walk through our building. Parents will need to sign in at the front office and maintain safe distancing during the visit. We encourage the children to walk with their parents to show the changes at our school. The following times have been set aside for visits:

Foundation / Year 1- Thursday, 11th March from 3.20pm

Year 2/3 and 3/4 - Thursday, 18th March from 3.20pm

Year 5/6 - Monday, 15th March from 3.20pm

We hope you can spend some time in the building, the children have not had the opportunity to show visitors around. Please enter via the front office and remember to sign in. Masks do not need to be worn but can if this is preferred by individual visitors.

The students in Grade 4 are looking forward to Forest Lodge School Camp. Again, this is fantastic as all camps were cancelled due to COVID last year. Information and a parent meeting has been organised for Monday, 15th March at 5.30pm in the Grade 2/3/4 Learning POD. Details about this meeting have been distributed this week.

Sometimes students need to be affirmed and acknowledged of the good they do both inside and outside of school. This week a member of the public rang the school to say they saw two children picking up rubbish on the way to school. They asked if this could be passed onto the students. We also have had students raising money through baking for our One Planet Classrooms fundraising and recently a student has asked to make bookmarks to sell after seeing a Caritas documentary at mass last Sunday. What outstanding young students we have who are trying to make a difference. Congratulations! 

Please remember we have a long weekend with a public holiday on Monday, 8th March.

I hope you all have an enjoyable long weekend.

Jason

Our school assemblies at St Mary's Maffra are held every Friday morning at 10:40am. We would like to take this opportunity to invite parents, guardians and friends to come along. If you would like to come to assembly, you will need to enter via the front office and sign in as per our COVID guidelines.  We look forward to seeing you!

We want to celebrate all of our student's achievements, both in school and out.

It could be something academic, sports related, or a personal achievement that the student is so proud of having achieved.  

Have you learnt to ride a bike?  Won 1st place in a dance comp?  Read a book by yourself?  Anything that makes you proud!

The chosen Star of the Week will be presented with a medal at school assembly, and further celebrated in the school newsletter and on our P&F Facebook page (with permission).

This is a self nominated award.  Nominations are to go into the gold box located in the office.  Spare nomination forms can be found at the office.

26th February Recipient: Erin Multani

Congratulations to Erin who used her independence, determination and focus to read a whole book by herself.  How exciting that she will now be able to expand her knowledge and broaden her imagination.

  Well done!!

5th March Recipient: Olivia Nicolaci

Congratulations to Olivia who is extremely proud of her personal achievements.  Olivia has earned her first blue ribbon at swimming in our school swimming sports in 2020.  She loves learning, especially reading and uses her voice to read to her sisters.

Olivia sees herself as a kind, entertaining person who loves to make people smile "and their heart sing".

Well Done!!

Please remember St Mary's has a 'No Hat - No Play' policy.  All children must wear hats until 30th April.  If they do not have a hat they will have to spend recess or lunchtime under the shade of the gazebo. 

Hats can be purchased from Stobie's Land & Surf for $19.

We are happy to announce the annual Easter Raffle is back up and running for 2021.  A raffle book will be sent home to each family next week.  The P&F Committee kindly ask for you to write on both sides and for raffle tickets to be returned by Monday 29th March.  Tickets are $1 each. 

The raffle will be drawn Wednesday 31st March.

SACRAMENTAL NEWS

Children are not to enter or leave the school via the front office entrance. The front office can be a very busy time before and after school, so we would appreciate you encouraging your children to follow this rule.

Children are asked to assemble at designated stations before leaving the school grounds.  Children leaving with parents by car or walking are to wait at the gate in Laura Street.  Town Bus children, Before and After school care and bike riders are asked to use Duke Street gate.

Children are not to leave the school grounds unless dismissed by a teacher.  All children being picked up are asked to be accompanied across the road by an adult.  Country Bus children are to use the back gate located on Laura Street.  Again, children are not to leave the grounds unless dismissed by their teacher.

WEEKEND MASSES

Heyfield:

Saturday    6:00pm

Maffra:

Sunday    9:00am 

Cowwarr:

1st and 3rd Sunday   11:00am

Newry:

2nd and 4th Sunday  11:00am

Dargo:

5th Sunday   12:00pm

WEEKDAY MASSES

Heyfield:

Tuesday      9:30am

Maffra:

Wednesday   9:30am

Thursday      9:30am

Friday          9:30am

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF.  The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

If you applied for the CSEF at this school in 2020, you do not need to complete and Application Form in 2021.  If any changes have occurred during 2020, and you and unsure of your eligibility, please contact kjbennett@stmmaffra.catholic.edu.au

Application forms are available from the Office.

Concession is available for CSEF recipients.

TERM 1 - Thursday  28th January - Thursday 1st April

(students return Monday 1st February)

TERM 2 - Monday 19th April - Friday 25th June

TERM 3 - Monday 12th July - Friday 17th September

TERM 4 - Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December