2024 Term 4 Week 7
Dear Parents and Carers,
Beginning of Advent
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, we also enter into the sacred season of Advent, a time of preparation, hope, and reflection. The four weeks of Advent offer us a special opportunity to pause, reflect on the year past, and look forward with anticipation to the joy of Christmas. As a school community, we embrace this season with reverence and excitement, focusing on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love that are central to Advent.
Each week of Advent invites us to reflect on a different aspect of this spiritual journey:
Hope – The first week of Advent reminds us of the hope that comes with the promise of Christ's coming. We reflect on the ways in which we can bring hope into the lives of others, particularly those who may be facing challenges or hardships.
Peace – During the second week, we focus on the peace that Christ offers to the world. Advent calls us to be peacemakers in our homes, schools, and communities, fostering understanding and kindness in all that we do.
Joy – The third week of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, a day of celebration as we rejoice in the nearness of Christmas. It’s a reminder to embrace the joy that comes with Christ’s presence in our lives and to share that joy with those around us.
Love – The fourth week of Advent leads us to reflect on God’s boundless love for us and the call to love one another. This week challenges us to consider how we can be a reflection of God’s love in our own families, schools, and communities.
Throughout this season, we encourage our students to embrace these themes in both their words and actions. Advent is not only a time to prepare our hearts for Christmas, but also a time to grow in gratitude, compassion, and generosity. In the coming weeks, we will be incorporating activities, prayers, and reflections into our school life to help our students deepen their understanding of this important season.
As parents, your role in nurturing the spiritual growth of your children is invaluable. We encourage you to join us in fostering an Advent spirit at home by lighting an Advent candle, reading Scripture together, and discussing the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. This is a beautiful opportunity for families to come together in preparation for the Christmas season.
We look forward to celebrating the joy of Christmas with you and your children in the weeks ahead. Thank you for your continued support, and may this Advent season bring you closer to the hope, peace, joy, and love that are at the heart of the Christmas message.
St Mary’s Church - 110 years
St Mary's Church in Grafton celebrates its 110th anniversary on 29 November 2024! This milestone is a remarkable testament to the rich history and enduring spirit of our community.
Since its founding, St Mary's Church has played a central role not only in the spiritual life of Grafton but also in the broader social and cultural fabric of our town. For over a century, the church has stood as a beacon of faith, compassion, and unity. It has been a place of worship, celebration, and support, and it continues to be a gathering point for many important events in the life of our community.
As a school, we are privileged to be closely connected with St Mary's Church, and this anniversary is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the history that binds us. Our students have enjoyed many moments of learning and growth through the church’s programs, and we look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.
Last few weeks of Primary School for our Year 6 group
As we approach the end of what has been another wonderful school year, it is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to our Year 6 students. This is a time of both celebration and reflection, as these young learners prepare to take the exciting step from primary school into high school.
The Year 6 cohort has truly been a remarkable group, demonstrating resilience, kindness, and a thirst for knowledge throughout their time at our school. As they wrap up their primary school days, we will celebrate all that they have achieved—both academically and personally—and to acknowledge the growth they have made along the way at our Year 6 farewell dinner on 11 December.
While the end of primary school is an exciting milestone, it is also a time of transition. As our Year 6 students step into the world of high school, we keep them in our prayers. This next chapter will bring new challenges, new friendships, and many opportunities for personal and academic growth. We are confident that each of them is ready for the adventure ahead, equipped with the skills, values, and confidence they need to succeed.
We encourage all of our students to embrace this time with excitement and an open heart. Whether it’s through the friendships they've made, the lessons they've learned, or the many memories they've created, their journey is just beginning. Our school community is incredibly proud of each and every one of them, and we are excited to see where their path leads.
As parents, your continued support and encouragement play an essential role in this transition. We are grateful for the partnership we share with you, and we thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of being part of your child’s education and development.
Please join us in wishing all of our Year 6 students a fun and memorable end to their primary school days. We look forward to celebrating their achievements in our upcoming graduation events and will keep them in our prayers as they move on to the next exciting chapter of their academic journey.
Neon Disco
Thank you to the organisers of our Neon Disco last night, especially our capable chef on the BBQ and helpers on the cake stall.
From 2025, school fees and levies will be billed annually and families will receive a statement in February that reflects your payment preference. Please ensure you complete the short online form to provide your preferred payment frequency - this needs to be completed no later than 30 Nov 2024. If no preference is indicated, we will assume the quarterly payment option as your default choice.
2025 Dates
Friday 31 January Admin Day for teachers (Student Free Day)
Monday 3rd February MAI Day
Tuesday 4th February Year 1 - 6 return to school
Monday 10 February Kinder start
Warmest regards,
Jas, Dominique and Jacki
Upcoming Student Free Days
Just a reminder - The remaining student free days for 2024 are:
- Thursday 19 and Friday 20 December (Week 10, Term 4)
Term 4 Events Calendar
Learning and Teaching
Semester 2 Report Card Update
We are incredibly proud of the achievements of all our students this year. As part of our commitment to providing meaningful feedback, teachers have been working diligently on Semester 2 report cards, which will be made available to parents at the beginning of Week 9.
In recent years, there have been several important changes to the report card format. These changes ensure that our reports meet the requirements of the New South Wales Education Standards Authority and align with the new English and Mathematics syllabuses.
The focus of the report card is on student learning and engagement. The new report card format, now standard across all schools in the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools, provides a clear and comprehensive summary of each student’s progress.
The report not only outlines the achievements of students throughout the semester, but also identifies their next steps for continued growth through personalised Learning Goals. These goals are designed to guide students in their ongoing development and help them reach their full potential.
If you would like to discuss your child’s report card in more detail, or if you would like further information regarding your child’s behavior, commitment, and overall progress at school, we encourage you to reach out to the teacher to organise a time to meet to address any questions or provide additional insights into your child’s experience and development.
We thank you for your continued involvement in supporting your child’s education.
Mrs Stuart
Graduation Mass
Our Graduation Mass will be held on Wednesday, 11 December.
St Vincent De Paul Christmas Hampers
As the festive season approaches, we're excited to share that the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal has officially begun, and St Mary's is supporting our local St Vincent De Paul conference.
Classes are seeking donations of non-perishable food items to help fill Christmas hampers for families in need.
- Canned goods (soup, vegetables, fruit, tuna)
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Rice and noodles
- Breakfast cereals
- Tea and coffee
- Biscuits and snacks
- Christmas Biscuits/ Christmas Pudding
Sport
Summer Sports
Tennis
Sophia Hearfield and Addison Peppernell represented our School and the Clarence Zone in tennis on Tuesday at Lismore. Both played exceptionally well and displayed great sportsmanship throughout the day. Addison was successful in being selected to represent our Diocese at the next level of representative tennis in Tamworth in 2025. Congratulations Addison on a tremendous effort.
Touch Football
Braxn Nipperess and Harry Whyte also travelled to Lismore on Thursday to represent our school and zone at the Diocesan Touch Football trials. Both boys played exceptionally well but unfortunately were not selected for the Diocesan team.
Congratulations to all our Summer Sports trialist who represented our school so well.
OOSH
CVCON 2025 enrolment forms
CAPS Try Out Day 1 December
Bricks4Kidz Northern Rivers
Uniforms
St Mary's School uniforms are available to purchase from Lowes in Grafton Shopping World. The sports uniform is worn on Wednesday and Friday each week.
Attendance
- If your child is arriving to the school after 8:45am please sign them in at the office.
- Please use Compass to record full day absentees. Partial absences are recorded by staff when students are signed in and out of the office.
- Students who leave a school event early will have a partial absence recorded.
- A medical certificate or other documentation may be requested where frequent absences due to illness occur.
- Generally, extended leave (greater than 10 days) during the school term would not be approved. These absences are recorded on the roll as unjustified and a completed Form 01 Extended Leave Notification Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days is required.
- In exceptional circumstances parents may complete an Form 02 Approved Extended Leave Application - Travel/Other Greater than 10 Days for consideration by the Principal, explaining why an absence for extended leave is in the best educational interest of the student. The Principal may decline or accept this application.
School Fees
Parking in Hoof Street
There are a small number of parking spaces near the Sunrise Shop (corner of Hoof and Turf Streets) for use by their customers. To assist this small business, we suggest parking away from the corner.
Overseas Visa Details
Reminder: Parents and Carers are to keep the school informed of any change in residency/visa status during the course of their child's enrolment, with
evidence of new visa status provided. Parents should be made aware that
the school must be informed of any change in residency status;
Working With Children Check (WWCC)
At St Mary's we are committed to creating and supporting a culture of safety for children and ensuring that children are protected. All employees and volunteers are required to have a current WWCC.
NB - The vast majority of volunteers in schools are parents of a child attending the school at which they are volunteering (eg reading groups, fetes, camps, excursions and canteen) and therefore do not require a WWCC. Exceptions to this are
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volunteers interacting one-on-one with a child not their own,
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working with children who have a disability,
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offering mentoring services,
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when the volunteer is not a parent or close relative.