St Mary's Newsletter

Term 3 - Week 6 (27 August, 2021)

Dear St Mary's School Community

Value in Focus: Leadership

We set a positive example in the classroom, playground and community.  

Mark 7: 1-23

In Sunday’s Gospel, the Pharisees saw that the disciples were eating their food with unwashed hands.  So they asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the teaching handed down by our ancestors?”  Jesus said, “It is what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.  For it is from a person’s heart that evil ideas come, and which lead him to do all sorts of evil.”  Children generally obey their parents’ rules for fear of being punished.  As they mature, they recognise the love behind the rules and they embrace them.  Jesus also challenges to do more than obey through blind obedience; he calls us to purify our hearts so that some outer deeds may arise from heartfelt values.

Thank you

Thank you to Mrs O’Malley for ‘holding the fort’ while I was on long service leave.  Although I enjoyed my time in Perth, I missed everyone and thank you all for welcoming me back so warmly – the St Mary’s School community is such a special one to be a part of!

Book Week/Science Week

What a wonderful, combined Book Week/Science Week we had on Wednesday!  We started the day with the traditional Book Week Parade and then the students moved off into their groups where the students were read one of the shortlisted books and then completed a related activity.  I am sure that you heard everything about them on Wednesday afternoon!  Thank you to all the staff for making the day such a success – especially Mrs McCormack and Mrs Discenza for their coordination.  And a big thank you to all the parents for their support in organising costumes  for their children and in joining us for the parade!

Faction Athletics Carnival

The St Mary’s Athletics Carnival was a big success today despite the overcast and cool conditions.  The students as always showed leadership, sportsmanship and passion for their faction.  Congratulations St Joseph faction who won the marching and to  Salvatorians faction who won the overall shield.  The day went smoothly due to everyone’s hard work and commitment.  Thank you must go to the P&F for organising the coffee van (thanks Brad) and the sausage sizzle lunch (thank you David, Vanessa and Marcia), the parent volunteers, the staff for their hard work in practising the students and being in the bays, parents, families and friends for cheering the students on, the students themselves for being so amazing and last, but not least, Mrs Criddle for coordinating another successful carnival.  The Interschool Athletics Carnival will now take place on Thursday, 9 September for those students who have made the team.  Today's full results will be in next week's bulletin.

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy will be held this Sunday, 29th August at 10.30am, everyone is most welcome to attend.

Father’s Day Liturgy and Breakfast

On Friday, 3rd September we will be holding our Father’s Day Liturgy and Breakfast, all fathers, grand fathers and father figures are most welcome to attend. The day will start with a Liturgy in the Hall at 7.30am and then breakfast will be served in the undercover area.

For catering purposes, please make sure that you have replied to the Skoolbag post by Tuesday, 31 August.

Surf Safe Online

Please see the attached flyer about the Surf Safe Online session to be held on Wednesday, 15 September at 7.00pm in the Hall.  Paul Litherland is an excellent speaker on a very relevant topic – I encourage all families to send at least one representative.

Parent Cyber Safety Presentation Information Poster
Download

Staffing News

Mrs Louise Discenza is on leave until the end of the term as she is supporting her daughter Sarah, in Perth.  Rylee Della Bosca and Kate Crees are replacing Louise during this time.  Please keep Mrs Discenza and her family in your prayers.

God Bless and have a lovely weekend with your families,

Ms Adriana Coniglio

Principal

Religious News

First Holy Communion

Please keep these children in your prayers as they prepare for the sacrament of First Holy Communion on 19th September;

Chloe Bartlett, Caitlin Bisset, Korben Cooper, Beau Criddle, Maya Dean, Jack Kermode, Angelica Kraske Beck, Mitchell O‘Neill

Food Hamper Donation

We are collecting donations of food to contribute to the parish Church Foyer Food Box which supports those in need in our community. Food can include canned food such as baked beans and spaghetti, packets of pasta mixes, long life milk, pasta sauce, pasta, two minute noodles or basically any items that are quick and easy to prepare.

Have you donated yet?

Please drop your contributions off to the box in the Library. Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Mrs Pauline Riethmuller

Assistant Principal

Class News

Year Three/Four Class News

We have been very busy in Year 3/4 and can’t believe it is Week Six already! We have learnt lots of fantastic new words – if you are curious to know what they are, come and ask us!! We would love to mystify you with our tremendous knowledge.  

We’ve been busy writing information reports about animals which very specific language, a variety of pronouns and engaging sentence structures. We can’t wait to share our knowledge about animals! Our reading stamina has also increased and we’re really enjoying reading with a partner each day and giving them feedback. 

Kindy RE Corner

In Religion we have been focusing on all of the wonderful creatures that God created in the ocean. We have had many group discussions using ‘I Wonder’ questions from our program ‘Let the Little Children Follow Me’ and read a range of Bible stories. The Kindy’s have worked collaboratively and independently to create our beautiful ocean display that includes our fine motor weaving fish, seahorse collage, pattern octopus and making collections using buttons for our number of the week.

Values in Focus Awards

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the Values Certificate for Responsibility.

Responsibility We have a duty to be accountable to ourselves and to others.

Pre-Primary: Lily Kenward

Year One: Koby Scarrott

Year Two: Kayla Smith

Year Three/Four: Greta Gethin

Year Four/Five: Chloe Bartlett

Year Six:  Ava Downsborough

Other News & Important Dates

St Mary's Footy Tipping

Our 2021 St Mary's Footy Tipping Comp has finally come to an end. What a final week! Our long time ladder leader just couldn't hang in there and so the winner of our $5000 is Alex Settineri and second place of $500 goes to Jim Ransom1. Thanks to all 166 tippers for playing this year and all our amazing sponsors who made it all possible.

Round 22 winner was Chad'e with 9/9 tips and 1 point off the margin. Your $50 prize is courtesy of Sportspower.

Our comp made our school $6110 this year. Thank you to the 23 round sponsors and the following 8 second prize sponsors for their amazing support this year: Tupperware, Transplus, Colin Hartley, Eileen Brereton, BSS Agspray, RSM, All Round Maintenance and Trapeze Nutrition. Please try and support our local businesses that support us.

Skoolbag App

If you are having trouble with the Skoolbag App, please contact Ms Holmes. Below are some quick tips with using the app!

St Mary's Parish Merredin - Mass Times

Saturday - 6.30pm

Sunday - 10.30am

Kellerberrin: Sunday 8am

Let Us Pray

Lord God,

Every good thing comes from you.

Fill our hearts with goodness.

Amen.

Community Notices