2024 Term 1 Week 3
Dear Parents and Carers,
It’s hard to believe that we are only in Week 3 with students settling into the daily routines so quickly. It’s lovely to see so many new faces in our school. In the coming weeks, we hope there will be opportunities for our new families to meet our school community and make lasting friendships.
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent in the Catholic Church and was celebrated with a school liturgy this week. In class, the children have been discussing Lent as a time for reflection as they learn of the sacrifices Jesus made. For our students, this means encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. The Lenten season also marks the beginning of our Project Compassion appeal. Project Compassion reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come.
Classroom newsletters were sent home on Wednesday this week. These newsletters outline classroom routines, library days, units of work and contact details for classroom teachers. Anyone who did not receive a hard copy should contact their child’s teacher.
There are a number of important events coming up this month starting with the Beginning of School Mass and Induction of the Year 6 School Leaders. Parents and families are welcome to join us on Thursday 22 February in the school hall with Mass commencing at 11:15am. The Year 6 leaders and badges will be blessed by Father during the Mass.
On Wednesday 28 February, St Mary’s will hold open classrooms from 5pm to 7pm. We warmly invite parents and extended family to come to the school for this evening. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, catch up with other families while having a quick bite to eat and visit to classrooms to see the wonderful work we have already completed.
Student led interviews will be held from Thursday 29 February. Early next week you will be able to book an appointment via the Compass app for you and your child to meet with the classroom teacher. During the appointment time you will be able to discuss your child’s learning and share the hopes and goals of your child for 2024. This style of interview promotes a partnership between students, teacher and parents so it is important that you bring your child along to the interview.
Additional events coming up later this term include Incitare for our Year 6, Naplan (Year 3 and Year 5 students), Harmony Day, Cross Country, a cultural performance given by Dion Drummond and Easter.
Term 1 will finish on Friday 12 April. We have attached a calendar of events that have been locked in for Term 1, as the term progresses we will share the Term 2 overview.
We wish to share two WHS issues related to Concussion and Sun Safety. Please read the following information:
Concussion
Schools are asked to consider reminding parents through their newsletter to advise the school if their child suffers a concussion outside of school hours (e.g. while participating in community sport).
School Hat
As part of our Sun Safe Policy St Mary’s requires students to wear their blue school hat. These hats are designed for sun safety and form part of our uniform. Children who do not have a blue school hat will play under the breezeway or go to the hall to join the passive play group.
Finally, often students like to bring treasured possessions to school to show their friends and lately a number of students are bringing trading cards to school. Problems arise when items are lost or in the case of the trading cards, a dispute arises. Please encourage your children to keep their ‘treasures’ and trading cards at home.
Warmest Regards,
Jacki
Project Compassion 2024
The theme of Project Compassion 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’. It is an expression of hope and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.
During the season of Lent, students and staff are encouraged to discover the power of giving and the impact that their contribution, however big or small, can have in the lives of others.
Let us focus on how we can be people of hope in our family, our school community and with our global family – for all future generations.
Polding Try-outs
Addison Peppernell attended the Polding try-outs for tennis on Friday. The event attracted 15 girls who were divided into three pools of five. The top three in each pool moved to the next round with the winner of each pool being safe.
Addi played well and won 4-0, and was the only girl from the Lismore diocese to move to last round. In this round six girls left fighting for five positions. Unfortunately, Addi drew the top player and lost 4-1.
The three winners went through and Addi had to win her last game to make it. She was up 2 nil but the other girl fought back and made it 2 all. Addi lost 4-2.
The 5 girls who went through were from the city 3 from Broken Bay and 2 from Maitland.
We are very proud of Addi for representing our school and diocese.
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.
Covid 19
COVID-19 is still present in our community.
Students and staff CANNOT attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19.
If a student is unwell, displaying any COVID-19 or cold and flu-like symptoms at any time, they CANNOT attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test.
If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is unwell and/or experiencing any symptoms, they CANNOT attend school.
If the rapid antigen test is positive and the student is feeling well and not displaying or experiencing any symptoms, they CAN attend school but the school is to be informed of the positive test result.
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.
Road Safety
Bus Safety Week
The annual Bus Safety Week (19-25 February) raises awareness among all road users on how to stay safe on and around buses, helping to reduce injuries and fatalities. It also raises awareness among students about safe bus travel.
'Have A Say' about travel to and from school in NSW. Complete the following survey to 'Have A Say' about travel to and from school in NSW.
Seatbelts
Seatbelts double the chance of survival and reduce the risk of injury in a road crash. By law, all passengers must use the seatbelts in any bus that is fitted with them.
Bus drivers ensure passengers are made aware of the need to wear seat belts when travelling on the bus, however it is the student’s responsibility to use the seatbelts and buckle themselves in.
It would be a great assistance if you can talk to your children about the importance of wearing a seatbelt on the bus and to wear a seatbelt habitually without being asked by the bus driver. If there is a seatbelt on their seat, they need to buckle up.
If a student needs help fastening their seatbelt whilst on the bus, please remind them to ask for help from the person next to them or nearby, or a sibling or friend.
Getting to school by bus in 2024 - Bus passes
- All students catching the bus in 2024 will need a school travel pass.
- Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
- For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.
gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.
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.
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.