Welcome! 

Welcome back to all! I hope you have had a happy, restful and safe summer break.

We commence the year with 140 students. A very warm welcome is extended to the new families joining our school community; the Carlon, Day, Doran, Elsley-Mattox, Francis, McFadden, Moloney, Proudman and Mallinson families. We wish you all a happy and smooth transition into school life at St Mary's.

Welcome back to our existing students, families and staff. I am confident that 2020 will be a productive and fulfilling year for all!

Opening School Mass

On Friday 7 February at 9.30am we will hold our Opening School Mass in St Mary's Church. The Captains badges will be blessed and presented to our 2020 School Leaders during this Mass. All welcome!

Thank you!

Thank you to the Naughton and Knight families for the extra work they did in the holidays preparing our yards and gardens for the first day back.

Thank you also to Anita our cleaner, and all the staff, for completing many additional holiday improvement and preparation duties.

Thank you to Brendan Luchetti, PE teacher and former personal trainer, for donating a large supply of sporting equipment to St Mary's over the holiday break.

School Hours

Students commence school at 9.00am (first bell) and conclude at 3:10pm. Morning Club is offered to our families as a free service from 8am to 8.40am each morning. This is held in the School Library. Playground supervision does not commence until 8:40am and concludes at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

Newsletter

Today you have received the first school newsletter for the year. Newsletters will be emailed out each Thursday afternoon and are also available on the website and Szapp app, however, if you would prefer a print copy please contact Belinda. 

If you require instructions on how to download our Szapp app please see Belinda.

We love to share our school communities news and events. Please email the office with photos and updates for inclusion in the newsletter. 

Kindergarten

Our new Kindergarten students arrived at ‘big school’ yesterday looking very smart in their St Mary’s uniforms. The students had a very settled and productive day with Mrs Croker and Mrs Romer. We wish our new Kinder students a wonderful first year of school!

Contact

Teachers are your first port of call for questions and queries pertaining to the classroom. Appointments can be made with your child's classroom teacher by calling the Office.

I am also happy to support you in any way I can. Typically problems that are addressed quickly, in partnership, are the easiest to solve. I will be available on the school phone (48321 592) for calls usually from 8.00am - 4.30pm daily or via email within the same hours. The email address to be used to contact any staff member is office.stmarysc@cg.catholic.edu.au

Emails sent out of school hours will not be responded to until the following day.

If you wish to make an appointment to see me, please contact Belinda in the Office.

The Catholic Education Archdiocese Canberra Goulburn (CECG) is providing support to affected schools and families in response to the recent bushfires.
Their intention is to ensure that families and staff who have been impacted by the
bushfires are supported in this time of need and that schools are able to begin the 2020 school year and return to normal operation as far as possible. A number of
initiatives are described below to support affected schools.
The following arrangements have been made:

1. Full remission of fees and levies for 2020, paid by the system, for significantly
   affected families;
2. Additional relief teacher allocation to support additional release for staff
   affected;
3. A discretionary fund will be given to Principals of schools where communities have been affected to support the local needs created by the bushfires – spending is related to the school and students;
4. Additional counselling for staff, students and school communities.
   The system will support schools through the recovery phase ahead

Fundraising

CECG suggests that fundraising in System schools relating to the 2019-20 bushfires be directed to the following three charities:
* Vinnie’s Bushfire Appeal (St Vincent de Paul)
* Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery or
* Salvation Army Disaster appeal.

As a school community, we would like to do something for our colleagues in the affected communities in our Archdiocese. At this stage, we think a plant drive might be something of benefit later in the year. If you have any other ideas please let us know.  

Crookwell Show

The Crookwell Show will be held on 8/9 February. This year's theme is Celebrating 200 Years of Crookwell. We have decided that for our school display we would like to present the History of Catholic Education in Crookwell, in alignment with the historical theme. If you have any old St Mary's school uniforms, desks or memorabilia that you would be happy to lend to us to display at the Show please contact Belinda. 

The P & F will be running a barbeque at the Show. This event is coordinated by Craig Croker and Daniel Walsh and all families are rostered on for a shift over the two days. Please see the P&F section for more information.

Clubs

Our Maths, Lego, Chess, Writing, STEM and Games and Cards Clubs will be commencing in Week 3. All children will have the opportunity to take part in these optional break time and afternoon clubs.

Maths Club will be running on a Monday afternoon with Mrs Spackman from 3.15pm to 4pm in the Star Room.  

Term Dates