Dear families,

We have continued to have a fantastic (and busy) start to the school year. All of our classrooms are alive with learning as our staff are working hard to get the very best out of our students. Our school values RESPECT, ACT and LEARN can be seen being lived in the classroom, the corridors and the yard. I have been particularly proud of the respect that our students have been showing to one another. Students are often going out of their way to make sure others are feeling safe and happy.

What has been most impressive about these first two weeks is how smoothly the school has continued to run while students have been enjoying their swimming lessons. Again, thank you to all our staff for their hard work to make this happen and thank you to our families for helping the students be ready for swimming each day. We can’t wait for the swimming carnival on Monday, it is going to be a great day.

On Tuesday it is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Tuesday, this is the Catholic feast day before the beginning of Lent. Thank you to our lovely Parents and Friends Group for cooking the pancakes for the children on Tuesday. If you are free and would like to help on Tuesday, you are most welcome, pancakes will be cooked from 9:30 until recess. 

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and we will be celebrating Mass with the parish at 12pm at the church. All families are invited to join us for this very special celebration. Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter Sunday and marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is the important time in the Church calendar where we pray, repent and do good deeds in preparation for the holy celebration of Easter.

I hope all our families enjoy the weekend with some (not too hot) nice weather.

Kind regards,

Julian

Congratulations and well done to all students who were nominated this fortnight for their wonderful choices in the classroom or on the playground.  This is a weekly award and all nominted children should be very proud of themselves.  

Congratulations to the following students who were drawn out of a box of nominees for this fortnights Positive Behaviour Awards.  St Mary's have introduced this reward system to acknowledge the wonderful behaviour of students who regonise our school values of Respect, Act and Learn.

10/2/2023

Mia Vardy

Bay Oldham

Darby Howard

17/2/2023

Marley Robson

Summer Domaille

Hudson Stubbs

10th February ~ Hudson Stubbs

Congratulations to Hudson who has shown great adaptation when he came to school this year.  Hudson started the school year not knowing anyone here at St Mary's and has demonstrated his flexibility commencing a new year with a new school and new classmates.  He is making new friendships and connections with students and teachers.  Hudson has demonstrated great resilience and made a wonderful start to a new year and a new school.

Well done Hudson!!

17th February ~ Jude Hekman

Congratulations to Jude who helped to build his Pa's veranda. Jude showed impressive enthusiasm to help build a veranda for his Pa.  When building a veranda you need to listen carefully to instructions because you are working around some dangerous tools.  Jude has shown how responsible and helpful he can be and has demonstrated how many hands make light work.  I'm sure his family are very grateful for his help.

Well done Jude!!  

17th February ~ Estelle Chilton

Congratulations to Estelle who participated in her first gymnastics camp over the summer holidays.  Estelle was extremely brave and got out of her comfort zone when performing in front of an audience.  She has shown herself that by overcoming her stage fright she has allowed herself to fully enjoy something she loves.  Showing such courage will build resilience to open more doors I'm sure.

Well done Estelle!!

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 2&3

What an enjoyable week of PE classes we have had. We started our frisbee unit and students learnt the correct technique of a backhand frisbee throw and how to catch a frisbee. Students put their frisbee skills into action by completing a range of target throwing activities. It has been great to see some students practising their frisbee throws at recess and lunchtime. 

Yesterday students from Grades 1-6 finished their swimming lessons at the Maffra Pool. A big thank you to staff for being flexible with their learning timetables to enable the lessons to happen. Thank you to the great swimming teachers from Kemp Aquatics for conducting our swimming program. 

This Monday, the 20th of February, students from Grades 1-6 will participate in our school swimming carnival. The carnival will start at 9:30am and will involve students participating in swimming stroke events and novelty events. A big thanks to the parents who have offered to help on the day. Without parental support, school sporting carnivals could not take place, so we appreciate your support. 

Please refer to previous Dojo posts for more information on the swimming carnival or feel free to send me a Dojo message if you have any questions. 

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.

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.

Please use the Ipad at the front office to sign your child in if they are late to school.  Also, please sign your child out if they leave school early.  This is a school requirement.  Thank you.

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

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.

Please find the dates below for 2023 Foundation rest days;

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

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.

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.

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

30th January - 6th April

TERM 2

26th April - 23rd June

TERM 3

10th July - 14th September

TERM 4

2nd October - 15th December

TERM 1

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

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

Silver signet ring, 2 hearts with stone.  This ring was lost at the Maffra pool during swimming lessons, if you have seen it, please hand it in to the office.  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

AFL Victoria will be hosting 2 all Girls Events at Stephenson’s Park rotary reserve oval.

Firstly, a FREE Junior Girls Footy4Fun on Wednesday the 22^nd of February from 4.00pm – 5.00pm.

Second event is a 5 week all Girls Auskick Program at Stephenson’s Park rotary reserve oval. Wednesday 1^st of March till the 29^th of March from 4:00pm – 5:00pm.

These programs are targeting the young girls who are not currently involved in community Auskick or Football aged 5-12yrs. Keeping in mind the aim of these programs is to boost participation in the local community Auskick centres and junior football streams. 

Register via the QR code in the attached Flyer or via the Link Below

Junior Girls Footy4Fun -  https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/9f3b60

All Girls Auskick -  https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/82ca73