2023 Term 4 Week 2
Dear Parents and Carers,
Term 4 promises to be a busy time!
We would like to thank the community, students and staff for their overwhelming support of the co-principal model for this term. Dale has been enjoying his time at St Mary’s particularly on the playground playing handball and soccer with the students.
As previously communicated, Matthew Green requested to take Long Service Leave for this term, and we congratulate Hannah Gorman on her appointment of Acting Assistant Principal Mission for Term 4.
On Wednesday Week 1 we received the delivery of Billy G’s Gourmet Cookie Dough orders. With so many orders of cookie dough we are sure the kitchens of Grafton will smell amazing! Thank you to our capable P&F and the Year 6 parents who volunteered to assist.
Our school participated in Socktober on Friday. This is an inspiring initiative of Catholic Mission and a meaningful way for our students to engage with social justice, and the very important work of global mission. Thank you to everyone involved.
Our tennis team competed in the Todd Woodbridge Regional Tournament at Byron Bay last week with the team taking out first place! It was a big day with 48 games, the team won 42 of these. The final round will take place in Sydney on 20 November. Thank you to Mr T and the parent helpers for supporting the students on the day.
On Tuesday night our P&F held a highly successful disco. Thank you to all the hard working volunteers who made this a successful evening.
Next Wednesday sees the commencement of our Mini Marys Program. This is always an exciting time when we welcome new faces into our school. The program will run over five weeks.
On Friday 27 October our school will participate in Day for Daniel and students are encouraged to wear red to assist in raising awareness about personal safety, and our year 5 students will gather at McAuley Catholic College for a Retreat Day - Exuro. Exuro (Latin for “on fire”) is a student discipleship formation program that strengthens the Catholic lives of students.
Please keep in mind the following dates for the Jacaranda Festival:
Saturday 28 October 9am - Parade of Youth & Banner Competition
Thursday 2 November (school closed) Jacaranda Thursday
Saturday 4 November 5pm - Float procession
A Staff Development Day will be held on Friday 3 November.
The Year 7 2024 Orientation at McAuley Catholic College will be held on Tuesday 7 November, followed by a parent information evening.
Please check COMPASS for further information about upcoming events closer to the dates.
Yours sincerely
Jas and Dale
St Mary’s Primary 2023 Important Dates
(subject to change please check our website for calendar updates)
| Friday 27 October | World Teacher’s Day in Australia |
| Day for Daniel - Red dress up day | |
| Exuro (Year 5) | |
| Thursday 2 November | Jacaranda Thursday - school closed |
| Friday 3 November | Staff PL day - Pupil Free Day |
| Tuesday 7 November | MCC Year 7 2024 orientation |
| MCC Parent Information evening | |
| Monday 13 November | Remembrance Day liturgy 10.35am start |
| Tuesday 21 November | Year 5 Leadership speeches |
| Wednesday 6 December |
Year 6 Graduation dinner (Change of Date) |
| Thursday 7 December |
End of Year Mass and Awards ceremony |
| Friday 8 December |
Stage party and colour run |
| Class rewards day |
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| Christmas Shirt day | |
| Thursday 14 December |
Year 6 fun day |
| Friday 15 December | Year 6 farewell assembly and last day of the year for students |
SPORT
Tennis - Todd Woodbridge Cup
Congratulations to our Stage 2 tennis team who won the second round of the Todd Woodbridge Cup held in Byron Bay last Friday. Next stop - Sydney!
Community Announcement
Parent Education Webinar
Parent Assembly is hosting a webinar "Nurturing Neurodiversity" on Monday, 30 October. All parents are warmly encouraged to register to understand more about how to support neurodiverse children.
Healthy Lunch Box Ideas
Child Safety Handbook
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.
St Mary's Primary School P&F
The P&F are an important group within our school. We understand that it is not always possible to attend the meetings due to time restraints of family and work. We value everyone's thoughts and ideas, and therefore invite parents to use the link below to share agenda items with us.
Please check the school calendar for the date of the next meeting.
Emergency Management Planning
eSafety Advice for Parents - thinkUKnow
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are urging families to be proactive this school year and update the privacy settings on children’s devices to help prevent predators from contacting them online.
The AFP-led ThinkUKnow program – Australia’s first and only nationally delivered, law enforcement-led online safety program – has produced guides for parents and carers.
- Gaming devices and what you need to know
- Parent and carer social media starter kit
For more information, visit this website.
Parent Guide to DIBELS Assessment (Primary)
School Fees
Road Safety
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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 in the designated parking areas and walk to the gate to collect your child. Please drive through as far as possible to allow sufficient space for other drivers in the zone. 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.
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.
Child Safe Standards
Our school as part of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL), like all child-safe organisations, is implementing the Child Safe Standards. As a part of this work, we share our Child Safeguarding Commitment Statement which reinforces our dedication to the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Child Protection
St Mary's Primary School is committed to ensuring we provide a safe environment for students. We are required to meet the statutory obligations of the legislation relating to child protection and the policies and guidelines set out by the Catholic Schools Office. The Child Protection Policy can be found on the webpage.
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.
Anti-bullying and Wellbeing
Bullying is a serious offence and is not acceptable in our school. All alleged violations and every act of bullying will be duly investigated, and parents/carers informed.
The anti-bullying policy can be found on the school's webpage.