St Mary's Newsletter

Term 4 - Week 6 (19 November, 2021)

Dear St Mary's School Community

Values in Focus: Honesty

We tell the truth and act truthfully.

Gospel: Mark 13: 24-32

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus explains to his followers that they need to be ready and prepare for the Kingdom of God.  “No one knows, however, when that day or hour will come.”  The Gospel tells us that our earthly life will pass to make room for the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God will one day be brought to completion with the second coming of Christ.  We cannot know when, but we can prepare ourselves for it.

Swimming Lessons

The Pre-primary – Year Two students finished their swimming lessons today.  Despite some less than desirable weather over the two weeks all the students persevered and showed determination to learn new water skills.  As always our youngest students represented our school well.

ACM

I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Community Meeting on Monday evening, at 7.00pm in the Hall.

Head Boy/Head Girl Speeches 2022

Our current Year Five students will be presenting their Head Boy/Girl speeches on Monday in the Hall to the Year Three to Six children, staff and Year Five parents. The students and staff will then have the chance to vote for one boy and one girl who they believe will be a suitable Head Boy/Girl for St Mary’s in 2022.  The 2022 Head Boy and Head Girl will be announced at the Year Three to Year Six half of the School Concert on Wednesday, 1 December.

Parish Busy Bee

The Parish will be holding a Busy Bee on the morning of Saturday, 18 December beginning at 8.00am.  If you are able to help with this, please contact Fr Andrew directly at the Parish.

God Bless and have a lovely weekend with your families.

Ms Adriana Coniglio

Principal

Religious News

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy on Sunday, 28th November has been cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Reconciliation

Congratulations to these students who made their Reconciliation on Sunday 14 November. Patrick O‘Neill, Zac Crees, Greta Gethin, Hamish Carr and Wilson Mason.

Food and Gifts for Christmas Hampers

Each year the Churches Fraternal collects food items and gifts that are made into Christmas Hampers and distributed to people and families in the community. Once again, families at St Mary’s are encouraged to support this very worthwhile cause. Each classroom will have a basket in which students can place their donations. Gifts can be for children or adults, please note do not wrap gifts. All donations are required by 15th December.

Thank you for your support

Kind regards,

Mrs Pauline Riethmuller

Assistant Principal

Class News

Year Six RE Corner

Penance Unit: The Year Six class have just finished a unit about Penance. We have revised what it means to ask for forgiveness and the steps undertaken during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We have studied the parable of the Lost Sheep and how this story teaches us about God’s forgiveness. Students have reflected on some questions and conducted an Examination of Conscience. We are now moving onto our Advent unit for the remainder of the term.  

Year Two Class News

In Year Two this term, we have been practising our reading fluency and expression. We have also been exploring the use of different reading strategies to understand a text. It has been very exciting because we have Kindy Reading Buddies! We practise reading a picture book with fluency and expression and then think of some questions we could ask our buddies about the book. Tuesday afternoons are our favourite time of the week at the moment, as we get to find a new spot around the school and read to our Kindy buddies. This also gives us a chance to practise our speaking and listening skills. We have become so confident in reading to other people and you would not believe how many books we have read in only six weeks!

Design and Technology

We have been designing, investigating and planning many different projects this term!

The Pre Primary class listened to the story, ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and then chose a material to design and construct a model of a house.  They presented their house and described it and why they chose the materials they did.  We had some excellent and very detailed presentations!

The Year One class have been investigating how different materials can be used for different purposes.  They designed and then constructed a scene similar to a ‘Claymation video.’ The groups presented their final outcome.

The Year Two class have been looking at how to best insulate a bottle.  They worked within a group to choose a material that they thought would insulate a bottle for the longest time.  We then carried out the experiment, by putting ice in each bottle to see which bottle had the best insulation! 

Year Three and Four class were asked to design and construct a toy that uses ‘elastic’ properties.  The toy is to be age appropriate and similar to the design.  They have been asked to create an advertisement showcasing their toy.  The students will then present it to the class, persuading the students to buy their toy. 

The Year Four and Five classes have been busy designing a product that can be re-purposed from a chosen material.  They are to present their product to the class and give reasons as to why it is a practical product that is needed by all households.

The Year Six class have been investigating ‘bike safety.’  They explored different bike helmets and the materials that they are made of.  Then we investigated how tough they were by using a rockmelon inside a helmet and dropping another melon without a helmet!  We decided it is best to use a helmet when riding a bike or skateboard or scooter!

Values in Focus Awards

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Values Certificates;

Respect - We value others, their property, the environment and ourselves.

Pre-Primary: Ava Webb

Year One: Thomas Dolton

Year Two: Andrew Wilson

Year Three/Four: Wilson Mason

Year Four/Five: Isabella Stones

Year Six: Jack Kudas

Trust - We rely on each other to do the right thing.

Pre-Primary: Harry Hohaia

Year One: Georgia Caldwell

Year Two: Kayla Smith

Year Three/Four: Matilda Carr

Year Four/Five: Mitchell O'Neill

Year Six: Ava Downsborough

Award Winners

Christian Values Award

Pre-Primary - Corey Wadsworth

Year One - Jacob McGellin

Year Two - Andrew Wilson

Year Three/Four - Michayla Maiolo

Year Four/Five - Isabella Stones

Year Six - Charlotte Criddle

Excellence Award

Pre-Primary - Yuvraj Mann

Year One - Fimi Okeowo

Year Two - Seth Cooper

Year Three/Four - Lilith Gilmore

Year Four/Five - Sky Wilson

Year Six - Olumiji Onikola

STEM Award

Pre-Primary - Lily Kenward

Year One - Kaylee Jacobson

Year Two - Audrey Mason

Year Three/Four - Patrick O'Neill

Year Four/Five - Chloe Bartlett

Year Six - Ava Downsborough

PE Award

Pre-Primary - Hayley Growden

Year One - Norah Swarts

Year Two - Logan Thompson

Year Three/Four - Tayla Montgomery

Year Four/Five - Jaxon Hohaia

Year Six - Olivia Geier

Other News & Important Dates

Recycling

Each class is currently collecting different types of recycling.

These are:

Room/GroupProject
KindyMobile phones/Printer Cartridges
Pre-PrimaryCollecting tin top, eg milo lids
Year OneAluminum ring pulls and cans
Year TwoBatteries
Year Three/FourCoffee Pods
Year Four/FivePlastics and packaging, eg Juice boxes
Year SixGlass Bottles
St Mary's are still collecting Bread Tags and they can be handed into Mrs McCormack. 

St Mary's Parish Merredin - Mass Times

Merredin: Saturday 6.30pm & Sunday 10.30am

Kellerberrin: Sunday 8.00am

Let Us Pray

Lord God,

Your plans for us are peace and joy with you for eternity.

Help us to be ready for your coming.

Amen.

Community Notices

Junior Tennis Tournament - Entry Form

To download the Tournament Entry Form, please click on the below link.
Download