Dear Parents

 With the closure of the school due to COVID you have the opportunity to reflect on how the school can support families. It has been a very challenging time and reviewing procedures we are mandated to follow a number of learnings have been evident during lockdown. We have our individual concerns in the family household: 

• Impact on employment
• Impact on mental health
• Impact on our children’s relationships (or lack of) with friends
• Impact on our community
• Impact on those organisations, sporting clubs, churches that we attend

We don’t know when this will be over, but I know that we have been very resilient.

From an educational perspective reports coming from UNESCO state that by the end of March, 2020 over 1.5 billion students or 87% of the world's student population across 165 counties had been affected by school closures caused by COVID-19. In early May, only 3% of children in Victorian schools were in attendance, whereas the Northern Territory had returned to normal levels of 79%.

Teachers have also had challenges with COVID-19. We have all missed the children. Nothing seems to beat face-to-face teaching. The following points have been noted as major hurdles that have affected the lives of students:

• Reduced one-to-one engagement levels of students
• Difficulty in ascertaining engagement levels of students
• Restricted ability to monitor individual progress
• Increased social isolation and reduced ability to support student wellbeing

At St Mary’s we are committed to supporting all families. We want to see light at the end of the ‘tunnel’. We want to invite parents to attend our school assembly, look forward to having spectators and helpers at the school athletics and a BBQ celebration at the junior athletics. We still hope that this will be able to occur.

Thank you to all of our families. Look after your loved ones. The school is here as a support to you all.

Jason

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.  

Sacrament of Eucharist - Year 4 & 5

Commitment Mass regrettably has been postponed until further notice.  Please feel free to contact Di Austin if you have any questions.  Mrs Austin will be in contact as we navigate our way through this time.

100 DAYS of School

Due to COVID-19 we have had to postpone our '100 days of school'. We encourage students to dress up in a 100 themed t shirt but it is not compulsory and free casual dress will be allowed. I have attached some examples of what you may like to attempt!!

Teachers will advise a rescheduled date when possible.

School Photos 2021 – St Mary’s Primary School

Annual school photos including sibling photos will be taken at St Mary’s Primary School by Arthur Reed Photos on Monday September 6th, 2021.

There is no need to return any forms or money to school.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the webshop. 

Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.

Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do it again this year using your child’s 2021 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.

When images are ready to view and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.

Once registered, please wait for notification that 2021 images are online to view before making your purchase. 

Notice to all families that School Photos will take place on Monday 6th September 2021.

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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

Stretton Park:

2nd Friday  10:00am

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

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