St Mary's Primary School Maffra eNewsletter

Dear Parents

It’s hard to believe we are back here again in Remote Schooling just after restrictions were eased. In the last newsletter of Term Two I highlighted all of the extra-curricular opportunities available to our students this term and already many of them have had to be rescheduled. This unfortunately is our reality at the moment. We currently live in a very unpredictable world where it is hard to plan for next week, let alone the future.

What would have been a busy weekend in my household filled with sporting events and family outings, turned into a very quiet, flat weekend. I don’t know how your children are coping with another lockdown, but I know that mine are struggling. The questions are coming that I don’t have answers to. Dad, why are we locked down again? Why is it happening in Victoria again? Why us? How long will it be for this time? Why is it every time we plan a holiday it gets ruined by COVID? I hate COVID dad. As a parent it’s hard to watch them struggling with something that is out of our control. All we can do is be there for them and let them know that it’s ok to be upset, annoyed and frustrated with what is going on. They need to know that it's affecting everyone and that their friends are most likely feeling the same as them. It’s also about trying to find a positive while being looked down, even if this means playing the playstation on a weekday or walking to McDonalds for a slurpee just to get out of the house. They need to know that it won’t be forever and we will get that holiday, or day trip one day. It is important that we continue to plan for the future despite the setbacks and disappointments as that ‘one day’ will eventually come and when it does, it will be wonderful.

A huge thank you to everyone in the school community for the way they have embraced learning from home once again. Your support and understanding as always is greatly appreciated. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing staff here at St Mary’s who enacted their remote learning plans last Friday morning with minimal notice. The staff here go above and beyond what is expected in their role description. The students are always at the forefront of every decision made and their dedication and commitment to their job is unquestionable.

Let us all hope that next Tuesday afternoon we are given the news to open up the school to everyone and that the term can go ahead without any more negative news. Maybe, our students in Grade 5 and 6 can finally get to camp!

I hope you all have a safe weekend.

Jason

July

19th Piper Bates Foundation

22nd Millie Daly 3/4

24th George Trewhella Foundation

If you would like to be our next Star of the Week, please fill in the nomination form sent home. Spare nomination forms can be found at the office. A new student will be selected for each assembly.

This is a self nominated award. Nominations are to go into the gold box located in the office.

On Thursday 15th July, Ella Higgins and Susie Coleman represented St Mary's at the SSV Gippsland Region competition held at Lardner Park. Both girls ran extremely well in very competitive fields. Well done Ella and Susie!!

By Ella Higgins - 5/6B

On Thursday I went to Lardner Park at Warragul to compete in the SSV Gippsland Region Cross Country finals. I ran in the 3km 11 year old girls race and came 11th out of 52 girls. I have now made it onto the State Crosscountry Championships on Wednesday the 5th of August at the Yarra Valley Racing Club.

The track was really muddy and had one long big hill and it was very slippery to run on. Susie also ran very well in the under 12/13 girls race, well done Susie!

Our Foundation and Grade 1 teachers are calling on anyone who has any of the items listed below and are willing to donate them for our students. These goods will be used for creative play, help to build social skills and help develop fine motor skills. All goods must be in good, clean condition. If you have any of these items, you can leave them at the front office or send them to school with your child and they will be passed on.

Thank you, your help is very much appreciated!!

dress ups
kitchen goods - pots, pans, utensils
old phones
screw driver set
gloves & gardening tools
puppets
cradles & dolls
toy cars, racing tracks
lego

School Photos have been postponed. A new date will be rescheduled.

Please advise the school office and Gum Nuts if your child is going to Gum Nuts on an afternoon when they are not usually scheduled to do so. Also, please advise the school office and Gum Nuts if your child will not be going to Gum Nuts on an afternoon when they are scheduled to do so. Your child's safety is our priority. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

There is good news and bad news about head lice…

Do you want the good news or the bad news?

The good news is:

Head lice are easy to kill.
Concentrate on the head – there is no evidence that you need to make a special effort to clean the house
There are choices about treatment – not all of them involve chemicals
There is new and accurate information available about head lice at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/searchresults?q=headlice

Head_lice_frequently_asked_questions_1111_PDF.pdf

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The bad news is head lice have been around for 10,000 years and cannot be eradicated. We have had cases reported to the school and ask you to please check your family and treat any of the family who have head lice.

New Ritchies Card Loyalty Program

Please support St Mary's Primary School Maffra

download_RITCHIES_app_banner_digital.pdf

download_RITCHIES_app_banner_digital _pdf 669.48 KB