Dear families,

Welcome to all of our new families and welcome back to our returning families. I hope that everyone enjoyed some family time over the Christmas break. It was great to see so many families coming into school for a coffee and a chat on Monday. It once again reminded me of what a wonderful community we have here at St Mary’s. 

The year has started off amazingly with lots of smiling faces and great learning happening already. There is a real buzz as I walk around the school with all classes seeming very settled and happy and ready to learn. A big thank you to all of our staff who have worked so hard to prepare for the beginning of the year, which has allowed for such a successful start. 

It has been a very busy start to the year with swimming lessons for year 1-6 beginning this week and continuing for the next two weeks. Every student who comes back from swimming is smiling and happy and always ready to tell me about the great time they have had. It takes a lot of organisation from our PE teacher Mrs Bec Stobie and work from our staff to help this run so smoothly, so thank you to all.

Please remember that my door is always open or I’m just an email or phone call away if you ever have anything you want to discuss about your child or the school. Everything we do here is to keep your child safe, happy and learning and open communication between families and the school helps us to do this.

Please have a great weekend.

Kind regards,

Julian

Welcome to our 2023 Foundation Students:

Foundation A

Tillie, Jobie, Teddy, Ivy, Sienna, Artie, Ana, Valerie, Zac, Nate, Jas, Jundamurrah, Albie, Levi, Eddie and Hudson.

Foundation B

Tex, Conni, Hamish, Sunny, Ireland, Macy, Judson, Willow, Asher, Leevi, Hudson, Parker, Aidan, Mia, Addie and Seb.

Welcome to Our New Families:

Sarsha (1/2A)

Darby (1/2B) and Mack (3/4A)

SCHOOL CAPTAINS

Maggie Kelly & Jack Murphy

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MACKILLOP (GOLD) HOUSE CAPTAINS

Indyanna Hunt & Peyton Lambourn

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CURRAN (RED) HOUSE CAPTAINS

Archie Fulford & Georgia Rawson

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CORBETT (GREEN) HOUSE CAPTAINS

Jay Lee & Ella Smith

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POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR CAPTAINS

Mackayla Hickling, Hannah Bagguley & Jess Rowley

To celebrate student's achievements, we will be presenting children with Star Of The Week awards.  This is a self nominated award of something a student is proud of.  It could be something academic, sports related, or a personal achievement. Have you learnt to ride a bike?  Won 1st place in a dance competition?  Read a book by yourself?  Anything that makes you proud!

Forms can be found on the link below.

Week 1

Students have made an excellent start to PE lessons this year. This week we focused on: 

• establishing our values and expectations in PE 
• personal fitness/sport goals for 2023 
• cooperative games 

The main focus in PE this term is swimming. Students have completed 2 of their 6 swimming lessons with Kemps Aquatics. 

Our major sporting event will be the swimming carnival which will be held on Monday the 20th of February at the Maffra Pool. The carnival is for all students in grades 1-6. There will be a range of formal events and novelty races, so it will be a fun day for all. 

In order for the carnival to be a success, we will require parents/guardians to assist. If you are able to help on the day, please send me a Dojo message. Any support would be greatly appreciated. More information on the carnival will be sent out in the next week. 

The beginning of the year is a great time to get your child involved in a sporting activity/club. We are very lucky that our community has a range of sports for students to become involved in. At the end of the newsletter there is information on some clubs students might be interested in. 

School begins:  9am 

Recess: 11am - 11:20am

Lunch Playtime:  1:40pm - 2:20pm

Dismissal:  3:20pm

Children are not to enter or leave the school via the front office entrance unless accompanied by an adult.  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.

To ensure the safety and accountability for each child we have an ipad located on the counter at the office.  Children arriving late are to be signed in and parents wanting to take their child/children from school during the day e.g. for an appointment, must also sign out at the office.  If they are returning to school, they must sign them back in. 

If someone other than yourself is to pick up your child from school, or if bus or car arrangements have changed for the day, please notify the school or your child's classroom teacher.

If your child is absent from school please call or use the school app to let us know by 9:30am each morning.  We have very strict procedures to account for all children each day.

• Call the school on 5147 1334
• Use the Absent Form on the school app
• Via PAM (Parent Access Module)

If you have not contacted the office by 9:30am, our administration staff will contact parents.  Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Lunch orders will resume MONDAY 27TH FEBRUARY.  This is due to swimming lessons & swimming carnival.  Also, an updated price list will be sent home before this date.  Thank you.

If there is a change to your child's attendance please advise the office and Gumnuts so there is no confusion.

Please find the dates below for 2023 Foundation rest days;

• Wednesday 1st February
• Wednesday 8th February
• Wednesday 15th February
• Wednesday 22nd February

St Mary's School takes pride in its official uniform.  It has been established over many years and is recognised as an economical and practical code of dress.  Parents are required to ensure that the full uniform is worn at all times. 

The school uniform identifies students as members of the St. Mary's School Community.  The children are encouraged to wear their uniform with pride and behave in a manner, which reflects creditably on themselves, their families and their school.

Stobies Land and Surf, Maffra, stock St Mary's uniform.  Their friendly staff are on hand to assist with your uniform needs.

SPORTS UNIFORM - BOYS AND GIRLS:

School Polo Shirt – navy and pale blue with school emblem                               

Shorts - navy blue mid thigh length                  

Tracksuit - navy blue pants or navy with blue stripe pants to match sports jacket

              - windcheater top or jacket with school emblem                                     

White ankle length socks                                                      

• New uniforms are now available from “Stobie’s land and Surf”, a local business in Johnson Street Maffra
• Second- hand uniforms are available through the Second-hand Uniform Shop run through the P&F.
• Thongs are only to be worn to and from the swimming pool
• Sneakers only to be worn on sports days
• For health reasons long hair must be tied back and hair colouring in natural colours
• Nail polish and jewellery (other than watch) must not be worn. If ears are pierced, only one set of studs or sleepers must be worn
• The girls’ winter uniform is the navy and grey tartan tunic. Navy gabardine slacks are an optional extra for warmth and do not replace the tunic as the official uniform

• If for any reason children cannot wear the correct uniform parents are asked to send their child to school with a note. Uniform must be worn for all official school functions e.g. excursions, concerts, school photos, sporting events. Failure to comply may result in exclusion from the event

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, Maffra.

Any prescription medication that a child must take during school hours must be signed in at the school office.  NOTE:  All medication must be prescribed by a Medical Practicioner and have the child's name and dosage on the bottle/package.  Any other medication or creams are not permitted at school.

CAMPS SPORTS EXCURSION FUNDING (CSEF)

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the cost of camps and sporting activities.  If you hold a valid means-tested concession card, you may be eligible for CSEF.

The closing date for Camps Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) applications is 23 June 2023.

Please pick up an application from the school office if you believe you are eligible.

No need to complete a new application if you previously held an eligible concession card.  

TERM 1

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

**  Please go to our school website for the full year of calendar dates.

Please note 2023 school fees will be issued via email on Monday 6th February.  Please check your spam.

Thank you.

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   12:00noon

WEEKDAY MASSES

Heyfield:

Tuesday      9:30am

Maffra:

Wednesday   9:30am

Thursday      9:30am

Friday          9:30am

Saturday      9:30am