Principal Talk with Mrs Lowe
Term 4 Key Dates
Friday 13 November |
The School Explorers Program - 'Play It' 2pm - 3pm |
Monday 16 November |
Kindergarten Orientation Day 1 - 9.30am - 2.30pm InitiaLit training Mrs Lowe, Mrs Romer and Mrs Webber |
Monday 16 - Wednesday 18 November |
Year 6 Camp |
Tuesday 17 November |
Year 5 Leadership Reflection Day - Mufti clothing InitiaLit training Mrs Lowe, Mrs Romer and Mrs Webber |
Thursday 19 November |
Aboriginal Performance - Dion Drummond InitiaLit Training - Mrs Spackman |
Friday 20 November |
InitiaLit Training - Mrs Spackman Mission Day |
Monday 23 November |
Kindergarten Orientation Day 2 - 9.30am - 2.30pm |
Friday 11 December |
Farewell Concert for Mrs McCarthy |
Monday 14 December |
Year Six Graduation Dinner & Awards Presentation |
Wednesday 16 December |
Year Six Final Assembly |
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity for the students at St Mary's to participate in a range of activities and to acknowledge our Aboriginal students.
This week our students have experienced a variety of learning activities. On Tuesday our Aboriginal students shared information about NAIDOC week with the school and Hayley explained some traditional artwork symbols that she was wearing. Jayden and Jesse shared with the school their didgeridoo, a gift from their grandmother, and Jayden even managed to play it in front of the whole school! Hayley visited each class to describe what NAIDOC Week means to her and her family. She shared video footage and engaged the students with her interesting commentary. Hayley also handed out a colouring competition to each student, which will be judged on Friday by our Aboriginal students.
Today in music each class has been exposed to traditional Aboriginal music and had the chance to make some of their own music.
As a conclusion to NAIDOC Week, next week we look forward to a visit from performer Dion Drummond (whose Aboriginal name is Moogera - meaning “storm”). Dion is of Torres Strait Islands descent on his mother’s side and Aboriginal from his father’s family. Dion was born in Mossman (Kukuyalangi) 80 km north of Cairns, Queensland. He has spent most of his life in the area and, having lived along the coast, he classes himself as one of the “saltwater people”.
Dion communicates through dance and music. In the first part of his program Dion will share with us playful Islander music including various Island dances and singing. For this section of the show, he wears traditional headdress and grass skirt.
The second part of Dion's performance is devoted to Aboriginal dance, indigenous to Far North Queensland (Cape York), the didgeridoo, clapping sticks, stories and explanations of various artefacts.
The school will cover the cost of the performance.
Remembrance Day
Yesterday, our Captains led us in a service commemorating Remembrance Day. Sienna and Jake explained Remembrance Day to the students and shared why we celebrate it each year on the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour. The service finished with The Last Post and we observed one minute silence.
COVID Update - Easing Restrictions
As you know, the situation in NSW remains very positive and as a result NSW Health has announced further easing of restrictions while some restrictions remain in place. The key points are listed below.
- From 12 November, P&F meetings, not community social events or functions, can proceed on school sites after school hours to a maximum of 20 persons and in accordance with social distancing requirements
- From 12 November, face-to-face Professional Learning for staff can proceed following relevant guidelines and to a maximum of 100 staff and NSW Health requirements for COVID-safe professional learning activities are met.
- Whole of school assemblies can recommence from 12 November. Where possible, students should remain within their relevant cohort to limit the mixing of students between cohort groups. Parents and carers are not permitted to attend school assemblies.
- Year 7 orientation can proceed from 12 November following the conclusion of the HSC.
- From 12 November, schools can proceed with end of year performances, productions, plays and concerts provided they comply with relevant guidelines and NSW Health requirements for COVID-safe events.
- Carols by candlelight events remain on hold. NSW Health is currently developing specific advice for Carols and other singing events. Further advice will be made available once NSW Health advice is published.
- School-based activities that involve large gathering of adults are still on hold. These include parent/community gatherings such as parent functions, working bees, fundraisers, school barbeques, large parent information evenings, and large on-site cultural events.
- Schools may organise an end-of-year event for students such as a picnic at a local park or a visit to a recreational venue.
End of Year Graduation Events
- From 12 November schools can now proceed with end of year awards ceremonies, speech, presentations and graduation events. Events may be held on school grounds or at external venues. Schools must have a COVID Safety Plan in place prior to these events and comply with the Plan when conducting the event. Schools must include the following in their Plans:
- A strategy to ensure that all attendees, including students, staff and visitors, including parents and carers, are well, and free of any flu-like symptoms.
- The one person per 4 square metre rule for all people participating. Schools will need to invite guests based on the total number of people (this includes staff, students, parents and carers and visitors) who are able to be accommodated under the minimum of 4 square metre rule.
- For seating arrangements ensure there is enough space for distancing of 1.5 metre between non- household members, ensure there is a maximum of 30 attendees per table if seated. This has changed from the previous requirement of 10 persons per table.
- Ensure all visitors sign the external visitors’ form.
- Ensure people remain seated as much as possible to minimise mingling outside of household or close friend groups.
- Ensure there is no self-serve or buffet-style food service. If hospitality staff are engaged to serve food or take orders, it is recommended that these staff wear a mask.
- Reduce crowding where possible and promote physical distancing with markers on the floor in areas where people are asked to queue e.g. where students are waiting to come on stage.
- Plan for how awards and certificates are distributed or handed to the recipients in a COVID-safe way.
- Special guests such as the Local Member of Parliament, one videographer or photographer may attend events. Special guests must be kept to a minimum and be included in the maximum number of participants for the 4 square metre rule.
- Singing and musical activities at the event must adhere to the guidelines
- If students are likely to want yearbooks or other items signed by their classmates, encourage them to bring their own pen to avoid sharing pens.
- Schools are required to maintain a record of names and contact details for all attendees including school staff and visitors, for at least 28 days after the event. This record must only be used for the purposes of contact tracing for COVID-19 infections and be stored confidentially and securely. If possible, create and maintain a record of the seating plan to support contact tracing.
The School Explorers - 'Make It!'
Last Friday afternoon we welcomed our Kindergarten 2021 students to St Mary's to participate in an afternoon dedicated to arts, crafts and construction.
The children met our Year 5 students and worked with them to create some lovely pasta necklaces, patterned hand fish, painted wooden apples and playdough sculptures. They also practised their cutting and manipulation skills.
We look forward to welcoming the children back tomorrow for some sport and games, if the weather is clear, and mathematics and science activities if it is raining.




