2021 Term 1 Week 2
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to a new year of learning. We hope that you have all settled into the routine of school and that our year will be faith-filled and productive. Mr Green prepared a liturgy which was held on Wednesday and attended by all students and staff. It was a fitting way to begin the day with prayer. His message for us all was that Jesus welcomes us, especially the little children. As Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14
It was pleasing to see the Year 1 - 6 students eagerly return to school on Monday showing a wonderful commitment to their learning journey. They have all had a fabulous week of games and getting to know their new classroom space, teachers and friends.
The kindergarten students began a new era on Wednesday when they started big school. We warmly welcome the new families and look forward to sharing social gatherings when possible so that we can get to know each other. Thank you for entrusting your child to our care and we commit to ensuring that each child has opportunities to grow in faith, to achieve in learning and to be safe in our vibrant school.
We would like to thank you for your cooperation in bringing your children to school for the MAI and BEST Start meetings last week. These assessments allow the teachers to gain insights into the learning requirements for each child.
The Year 6 school leaders participated in the Rotary Centenary Baton Walk today. The opportunity to be involved in the community of Grafton is important to us and we would like to thank Mrs Leila Thompson, member of Grafton Midday Rotary, for the kind invitation. Mr Green escorted our leaders, Kane Patricks, Sieanna Sutherland, Jed Rediger and Steffany Nudo, to the event where they proudly represented our school. We thank these students for being great ambassadors for St Mary’s. We hope there will be more opportunities like this during the year.
I would like to encourage you to keep informed by accessing the school app, newsletters, school calendar and the Facebook page. These mediums are the official forms of communication within the school.
Sincerely
Jacki Moore
Principal
Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Bishop Gregory has advised that he will be visiting our Parish for the Sacrament of Confirmation on the weekend of 24 and 25 July. Specific times and dates for the Sacrament will be shared once confirmed. The students who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin their preparation with Mrs Myson during Term 2.
A date for the Sacrament of Holy Communion this year will be set in the coming weeks. This will be shared with our school community once confirmed.
Stage 3 Newsletter
2021 - A year to shine!
What a great start we have had!
A warm welcome to Georgia Skeels and her family to Stage 3 and the wonderful community of St Mary's.
Our focus this first week back is building positive relationships and embedding safe and efficient learning routines.
Welcoming circle.
We asked the students what they loved most about the new year:
"I love how we are learning" - Mia C
"School is one of the places I like to be" - Keaira
"Seeing all my friends again" - Kennedy
"It's hard to choose one great thing because there are so many" - Ellie & Wyn
This term in English our Stage 3 concept is ‘Characterisation’. Students will be immersed in a variety of stories and films and use reading and comprehension skills to gain an understanding of how and why we make connections with characters within texts and how our personal experiences contribute to these connections. We will explore how authors develop their characters using different techniques and devices that create vivid mental and visual pictures that enhance their stories. Our learning in this unit will culminate in the creation of characters and settings for an imaginative story in small groups which each individual student will then write their own endings. These stories will be compiled into a book where the reader can then choose their own adventure.
In Maths, Year 5 students are currently learning to use a range of mental and written strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems. All students are enjoying the opportunity to be Mathematicians and investigate and explain their mathematical thinking.
In Mathematics, Year 6 students are learning the vocabulary and processes used with integers and negative numbers. Students will be working with and interpreting negative numbers on number lines and how they are used today e.g, thermometers. We are building on our speed and fluency with basic operations using a variety of strategies.
In Religious Education, Year 5 will be focusing on how Jesus influences the way we make decisions. Students will be investigating how the Church and The Word helps people in need. With this learning students will then attempt to respond to Jesus’ call for justice and how this looks in their day to day lives.
'The Reign of God' is our first Religious Education unit this term for Year 6. This unit explores how Jesus broke down barriers that prevented right relationships. It looks at concepts such as personal and social sin, and how our behaviour and relationships can advance or hinder the reign of God. Students will explore issues of prejudice, discrimination, rejection and acceptance, exclusion and inclusion.
In Creative and Practical Arts this term the focus in Stage 3 will be on the Visual Arts. The students will be learning about how artists create and organise designs and assemble materials to suit a particular purpose, idea or message. The students will begin the term investigating logos, crests, emblems and designs that represent and identify products, companies, countries, schools etc. This information will then be used by the students to design and create a banner on material using symbols, pictures and colours that represents themselves. The students will then be writing a response explaining their choices. Later in the term the students will investigate some modern contemporary artists such as Adam Hillman, who create artworks from everyday objects. We are looking forward to creating a gallery of our Term 1 banners and photographs of our designs.
In History this term students will be investigating Australian Colonies. Throughout the unit students will explore, describe and explain different experiences of people living in the Australian colonies and then in Australia as a nation. Mrs Brown is leading us in this unit of work.
In Science and Technology this term we are investigating the unit, ‘Adapting to Survive’. Students will examine how environmental conditions affect the growth, adaptations, structural features and survival of living things. Mrs Niethe is leading us in this unit of work.
In Physical Education this week saw the start of our NSW NRL clinics. The students enjoyed the many skills and drills from their coach.
We thank all of our families for assisting us in such a smooth and enthusiastic start to our much anticipated year of learning.
Sport & PE
Physical Education Term 1
During term 1, students from K-6 will be participating in coaching sessions lead by NRL NSW. We have been very lucky to secure funding as part of the Sporting Schools Grant to help fund this opportunity for our students.
Sessions commenced this week and the feedback so far is very positive. All students enjoyed running around with the football and learning new skills. Coach Wazza was a hit with the kids and they can't wait to learn more from him over the next few weeks.
Zone Swimming
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following students on making the St. Mary's Zone Swimming Team for 2021. These students will compete against the other Clarence Zone school next Thursday 11 Feb in Maclean.
Braxn Nipperss, Addison Peppernal, Sophia Hearfield, Tomas Green, Serge Lobsey, Peyton Davies, Jamieson Allen, Oliver Gallaher, Emily Archer, Stella Skeels, Sophie Sutherland, Olivia Peppernal, Callum Cameron, Sonny Davies, Georgia Skeels, Mabel Mula, Zaden Nipperess, Archie Pope, Wyn Brown Sienna Sutherland, Stephanie Nudo, Kane Patricks, Caleb Cox and Anastasia Blanch.
For parents wanting to attend the carnival next week please note that some COVID restrictions are still in place. Please read the following guidelines that need to be followed
- The pool can have a maximum of 300 people as it is an outdoor space.
- Parents may attend but will not be permitted to sit with their children.
- Parents may need to bring their own seats and shade as there may not be enough seating available with the restrictions in place.
If you are coming along for the day and are able to assist with timekeeping, please let me know as soon as possible via email or leave a message at the office.
Please also ensure that all notes and money are returned to the office by Monday 8 February.
CanDo Cancer Trust 2021
Notes were sent home earlier in the week asking for students to participate in the annual CanDo Cancer Swim. Thank you to the students who have said they will take part in this important event. There are still spaces left on all three teams for students still wanting to join.
The teachers have also decided to enter a team this year and are very excited about competing against the students for this great cause!
If you are a swimmer and would more information or would like to enter a team, please see the details below.
Julie Jardine
Chairperson
CanDo Cancer Trust
0419227498
Transition to the Schoolzine App
Over the coming weeks we will begin to transition to our new school app hosted by Schoolzine. This app better aligns with our other platforms for our newsletters and school web page.
Below you will find a step by step guide for installing the Schoolzine app on your device. When prompted for a passcode please use 2460.
Please contact the office if you require any assistance in setting up the app.
Kiss and Drop Zone in Turf Street
Just a reminder that the Kiss and Drop Zone is currently signed as a one minute parking zone. This means that you cannot park your car in the kiss and drop zone for an extended period. The students arrive at Kiss and Drop at 3pm and are supervised in this zone until 3.20pm. Please consider arriving closer to 3pm for collection.
The Kiss and Drop is designed for you to stay in your car while your child enters the car. If your child cannot open the car door and secure their own seatbelt, you need to park your car and walk to the gate to collect your child. The Kiss and Drop Zone does not function effectively and becomes congested if there are any hold ups or delays.
The school does not request the presence of the Grafton Police to manage traffic at the front of the school. However, there is a regular police presence on Turf Street monitoring the safety of the school zone. Please ensure that you adhere to all traffic signs in the area to avoid fines.
Please check out our school Safe Travel webpage that details all the processes for travel to and from school.
Parent Resourses
The Council of Catholic School Parents have provided staff and families with a number of online resources. The link to a guide titled 'Supporting Diverse Learning in catholic Schools' may be found below. It can be viewed in sections or its entirety.
https://ccsp.catholic.edu.au/students-with-diverse-learning-needs
Free Webinars to help you protect children online
In partnership with the esaftey Commissioner, the Council of Cathlic School Parents will be holding two free webinars to provide parents and carers with strategies to establish a safe online environment for their children.
The sessions will be presented by Greg Gebhart, one of Australia's leading online safety presenters. Greg has provided presentations to more than 800,000 participants at state, national and international events.
Tech, teens and time online
One hour webinar suitable for parents and carers of young people aged 12-18 years old.
7:30 - 8:30pmn Tuesday 23 March 2021
Register at ccsp.catholic.edu.au/webinar
Helping kids thrive online
One hour webinar for parents and carers of children aged 5-12 years old.
12:30 - 1:30pm Thursday 25 March 2021
Register at ccsp.catholic.edu.au/webinar
Canteen
Visitors to the school and morning arrivals
Thank you to those parents and carers who are following the guidelines regarding visiting the school. It is important that we are following the directions of the Catholic Schools Office to assist in keeping our children safe. Parents are requested not to enter the school site unless they need to visit the front office.
All visitors to the school need to sign in the school office.
If you need your child to be greeted and walked to their classroom by staff and year 6, can you please assist us by using the Turf Street entrances of the school - the main gate or the Kiss and Drop zone.
Fees
School fees for 2021 will be applied next week and statements should be emailed shortly afterwards. Please note fees are to be fully paid before the end of each school year.
Please note: Payment plans are reviewed each year. Families intending to pay weekly or fortnightly; change fee payer details or split fees are requested to contact the school to discuss their payment plan details. The email address is: grafp@lism.catholic.edu.au
Health Update
Due to the current health restrictions we would like to remind families of the following:
- Students are not permitted to share food at break times. This also includes food items to celebrate birthdays eg cakes, icy poles etc.
- Cake raffles at school will be suspended.
- Students are not permitted to share class resources such as pencils, erasers, rules, glue sticks etc and therefore we request each student have their own items. Personal toys should be kept at home.
Bus App
Regular attendance at school for every student is essential if students are to achieve their potential and increase their career and life options.
Students arriving to school late are signed in at the school office. Office staff will provide the student with a late slip to be given to the classroom teacher.
Students leaving before the last bell will be called to the school office for collection.
Detailed information for changes to attendance are to be provided to staff.
PROCEDURES FOR ABSENT STUDENTS
Planned: Families may provide staff with details concerning planned events beforehand eg medical appointments, allowing the attendance roll to be updated. Documentation is required when students go on extended leave. Please contact the school to arrange the application.
Unplanned: Families may use the skoolbag app to notify the school of an absent student. After the roll is marked by the class teacher an SMS will be sent to the nominated parent. Please reply to the sms with the reason as soon as possible.
Further information: https://bit.ly/2XzEkyt
CODE OF CONDUCT
Staff
This Code of Conduct Policy applies to all those employed by the CSO and Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lismore. It outlines the obligations, responsibilities and standard of behaviour required of all employees to uphold the values, integrity and reputation of the Catholic Church, the CSO and all parish schools.
Employees are required to be familiar with the requirements of this document and ensure they comply with the behaviours and obligations outlined within it.
Student
A Code of Conduct applies to students at St Mary's Primary School based on four broad bands:
- RESPECT
- SELF RESPONSIBILITY
- SAFETY
- EFFORT
CHILD PROTECTION
Children and young people have a fundamental right to grow, develop and feel safe in environments that are free from violence, exploitation and harm. The Catholic Schools Office Lismore has clear expectations that all students in Catholic systemic schools in the Diocese of Lismore will be protected from all forms of harm including sexual, physical and psychological harm as well as ill-treatment and neglect. The Catholic Schools Office and Catholic systemic schools in the Diocese have certain responsibilities and expectations to ensure the safety and protection of children in their care, including supporting measures to ensure that children and young people will be taught how to protect themselves and to seek help if they are concerned about their safety.
Employees are required to be familiar and comply with child protection legislation as varied from time to time, including but not limited to:
● Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
● Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW)
● Crimes Act 1900 (NSW)
● Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW)
Failure to comply with the child protection responsibilities and obligations required by legislation or the Policy will result in disciplinary action being taken, up to and including immediate termination of employment, termination of contractor agreement, notification to external agencies and/or criminal charges.
An employee who becomes aware of a possible breach of the policy or legislation by another employee must report this to their Principal or Human Services at the Catholic Schools Office. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
COMMUNICATION
Open communication is very important to us. This link outlines the different ways to 'stay in touch' at St Mary's: https://bit.ly/2RlDSBp
If you have a concern please contact your child’s teacher directly. Should you require additional assistance concerning the matter, please make an appointment with the Principal.
Further information: https://bit.ly/2yERBNZ https://bit.ly/3dcEORY