St Mary's Primary School Crookwell eNewsletter

Term One Dates

WEEK FOUR
Friday 25 February	Gymnastics Program Tuckshop - Eleanor, Catherine F, Volunteer needed
WEEK FIVE
Monday 28 February	Tuckshop - Elise, Belinda and Tennille Counsellor visit
Tuesday 1 March	Year Four Art Focus Day
Wednesday 2 March	Ash Wednesday Mass 12pm
Friday 4 March	Gymnastics Program Tuckshop -Claire, Pip and Rebecca

Leadership Induction

Last week we held our Opening School Mass and Presentation of our Captains' badges. I would like to congratulate all our student leaders, including all the Year Six students, on the exemplary way they have started the year.

Northern Region Swimming

Congratulations to the St Mary's team of swimmers who competed at Yass today. Thank you to Mrs. Sally-Anne Croker for her team coordination and to Mrs. Rie O'Brien and our parent helpers who jumped in as the St Mary's timekeepers on the day.

I would like to congratulate Harry Price, Sophie Culley and Rory Bensley who will now be representing the Northern Region at the Archdiocesan Swimming Championships on 8 March in Queanbeyan.

Restrictions for Schools - Update

As Premier Dominic Perrottet announced yesterday, COVID Smart settings in NSW schools have been revised.

Core COVID Smart measures will remain in place, including enhanced cleaning and maximising natural and mechanical ventilation in line with health advice.

From Monday 28 February:

Cohorting requirements and activity restrictions will be relaxed - enabling students to engage and interact more freely across classes and year groups.
Schools will be able to welcome more visitors onto school grounds, including parents, and will resume activities such as assemblies and school camps.

From Monday, 7 March:

Mask requirements will be lifted for primary school and early education staff.

Three-Way Conversations and Interim Reports

You are invited to attend a ten-minute face-to-face or telephone three-way (parent/student/teacher) conversation on Monday 14 or Tuesday 15 March. This conversation will provide you with an opportunity to discuss how your child has settled into the new school year, their social development and engagement with learning.

At this meeting, the teacher will also provide you with your child's Interim Report. The Interim Report gives you an indication of your child's enjoyment and interest in learning new things, ability to ask and answer questions, perseverance with tasks, work habits, ability to avoid distractions, follow school rules and collaborate with others.

Students in Years One - Six are to attend the meeting with their parents. Kindergarten students are not required to be part of the interview process.

If you have any concerns before these Three-Way Conversations please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher.

To book a time slot please use the link below. If you have trouble booking through the digital Session Keeper please contact Belinda. Likewise, if none of the appointment times suit, please contact Belinda to arrange a more suitable time.

https://smpscrookwell.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/22

At the end of Term Two, you will receive your child's Academic Report.

P&F Meeting & AGM

Thank you to all the parents who came along to the P & F AGM and General Meeting on Tuesday night. Once again a strong P & F Executive team has been formed.

Congratulations to Daniel Walsh who has been re-elected to the position of President and Reané Strode, who has accepted the role of Secretary. We thank our outgoing secretary Mel Haynes for her years of dedication to the role. We also welcome back Allison Hewitt, who is continuing in the Treasurer position.

We welcome Rechell Naughton, Catherine Culley, Mel Haynes, Sally Galland, Paul Millet and Jolene Grove to the Executive Committee. Our sub-committee coordinators are James McCormack- Cattle Committee, Catherine Culley, Jolene Grove, Dave Culley and Daniel Tarlinton - Sheep and Wool Committee and Alison Hewitt, Pip Frost and Tennille McIntosh- Tuckshop coordinators.

At this meeting, classes were allocated a fundraising event for the year. (See the 'P&F News' section in this newsletter.) You will receive information about your class event from the coordinator as the year progresses.

Thank you to all our parents for your consistent support of St Mary’s P & F events.

Local Excursion Consent

This afternoon you will receive a Local Excursion Consent Form. This general consent form allows your child/children to take part in local excursions. Examples of a 'Local Excursion' could include going to the showground for our Cross Country Carnival or Todkill park for our Athletics Carnival, a visit to the Senior Citizens centre, planting with Landcare at Kiamma Creek, and the like.

Please complete and return the form to school as soon as you are able.

Medical Action Plans

If your child has an Anaphylaxis or Asthma Action Plan, please ensure Belinda has the most up to date copy.

A "Consent to Dispense Medicine" form must also be completed for students who require regular medicine. If you haven't completed one of these, please see Belinda or go to the Parent Page of our website to find the form.

All medicine must be kept at the office, not in students' bags, please.

Commonwealth Bank National Teaching Awards

The Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards are open to teachers and school leaders in all Australian schools until 27March. Nominating an inspirational and dedicated teacher is a great way to recognise and celebrate their efforts. The nomination process is fast and simple and anyone in your community can nominate a teacher or teachers can self-nominate. The Catholic Education Office has encouraged all Principals to share this opportunity with our communities. Further information, including the steps for nomination, can be accessed via https://teachingawards.com.au/#about.

Farewell Stevie

It is with sadness that we bid farewell to ex-student, Stevie Hunt. Stevie was a student at St Mary's from 2002.

We remember Stevie for his determination. He always tried his hardest regardless of the serious health conditions he battled every day. Stevie never gave up.

A ceremony of Christian burial will be held at St Mary's Church on Friday at 12pm. Our senior students (Year 5 and Year 6) are invited to take part in a Guard of Honour at the end of Mass. If you would prefer your child not to participate in this, please contact the school.

Introducing Mrs Sarah Lowe

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to our new families. I am the Principal of St Mary's Primary School and I love my job. This is my sixth year as Principal. Prior to that, I held the Assistant Principal role and classroom teaching positions.

I have a Bachelor in Teaching (Primary), Master of Religious Education and Graduate Certificate in Information and Communication Technology in Education.

I have been blessed to be part of the St Mary's School Community, off and on, for twenty-six years. Over my child-raising years, I taught in a part-time and casual capacity at both St Mary's and St Joseph's in Goulburn.

My passion lies in inclusive education. I believe that all children deserve equal opportunities to succeed as learners. I also enjoy examining evidence-based practice and learning about high impact teaching strategies. I feel blessed to be part of a strong team that embraces new learning and strives for exemplary practice.

I have four children, aged sixteen, seventeen, nineteen and twenty-one, and I live on a sheep and cattle farm just outside of Crookwell. Currently, my hobbies include travel, pottery, silversmithing and waterskiing.

This is my favourite education cartoon, it demonstrates what I mean when I talk about inclusive education.

Please know that my door is always open. It is important that we work as a team to achieve the best educational outcomes for our students.

Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Church Season of LENT

Next Wednesday our school and Parish community gather for Ash Wednesday Mass in the Church. We will receive a cross symbol with ash on our heads. Ash Wednesday begins the Church season of Lent, when for 40 days, we are called to take stock of our lives and our relationship with God. The ash cross on our foreheads reminds us that we are God’s children, called to follow Jesus and live his way of love, peace, justice, compassion and mercy. The ashes remind us that we need to ask God’s forgiveness for the times we don’t act as Jesus calls us to; and we need to have a change of heart, so that we can live in good relationship with God and each other.

We are now in The Church Season of LENT

Following Ash Wednesday, we enter into the Church season of LENT. The word Lent means springtime – the time of lengthening days. For Catholics, this 40 day period has always been a time for self-reflection and turning back to God. The number 40 is significant because it is how long Jesus fasted and prayed for in the desert (cf. Luke 4:1-13) to prepare for his upcoming mission to spread God’s Word.

During LENT we are called to take a good hard look at ourselves… How are we living our lives? Are we really trying to be like Jesus? Do we practise… compassion, mercy, Justice, humility, forgiveness, prayerfulness?

Catholics are asked to practise three things during Lent to get them back on track

PRAYING – Catholics believe in the need to be spiritually fed/nourished with prayer, God’s Word (in Scripture) and the Sacraments. Praying is spending quality time with God. Pray the ‘Our Father’ or ‘Hail Mary’ really thinking about the words in the prayer; have a conversation with God; reflect on the Scriptures; or simply sit in a quiet place and BE with God. Take time to just BE in God’s presence, experience His love and receive His blessing by attending Mass. There are many websites dedicated to short daily prayer and meditation. Sign up for free and receive daily emails. A couple of great ones are:

3 minute retreat; and Lenten Moments of Mercy loyolapress.com
Daily prayers and Scripture; pray.com.au

FASTING – fast from those things that keep us from being close to God and from being the best person we can be (favourite treats, TV, computer, overindulgence, gossiping, selfishness).

For Catholics, fasting is a reminder that food and material things alone cannot make us happy. Fasting from things we enjoy can build will-power for the times in our lives when we need it most.

ALMSGIVING – Reach out to help the poor - support Project Compassion; look for works of love and mercy you can do every day; go out of your comfort zone, go over and beyond to spread Jesus’ message of hope, love and joy.

PROJECT COMPASSION … Showing RESPECT through Almsgiving

Lent also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. As a school community, during the six weeks of Lent, we will be learning about the needs of these communities and giving to this appeal. You can learn more about Project Compassion here - www.lent.caritas.org.au

Our Mini Vinnies team will be working to help us answer Jesus’ call to give alms (almsgiving). Let us all support PROJECT COMPASSION through raising money for ‘the least of our brothers and sisters’.

Please support PROJECT COMPASSION by sending along ANY coin change you can spare for the classroom Project Compassion boxes.

Sporting Schools Gymnastics Program

All our students from Kindergarten to Year Six, have enjoyed the first few sessions of their gymnastics sports program. The lessons are run by Vaughn from Invert Gymnastics, Goulburn.

Students have focused on core gross-motor skills of balancing, stretching, movement at different heights and hand-eye coordination.

Hayden getting ready for a full body stretch

Anna demonstrating her high level of skill using the low beam

Students warming up under the guidance of Vaughn

Save The Date

School Cross Country-	When: Friday 18 March
	Time: 11am-1pm
	Where: Crookwell Showground
	Who: K-6

School Athletics Carnival-	When: Friday 6 May
	Time: 9am-3pm
	Where: Todkill Park
	Who: K-6

Sport Trials

Mackillop Cricket Trial is scheduled for March 11 in Gundagai. Nominations close 4 March. Registered students to date include: Sophia Galland, Henry Galland, Saxon Greenwood, Ava Nicholson and Toby Charnock
Mackillop Hockey Trial is paper only at this stage. Nominations close 10 March. Registered students to date include: Henry Galland, Sophia Galland and Naomi Picker
Mackillop Rugby League Trial is scheduled for April 1. Nominations close 10 March. Registered students to date include: Saxon Greenwood.
Mackilllop Soccer Trial is scheduled for March 14. Nominations close March 7. Registered students to date include: Saxon Greenwood and Ava Nicholson
Mackillop Rugby Union Trial is scheduled for 30 May. Registered students to date include: Finn McCormack
Golf - NSWCPS18 Hole Tournament (Pathway to MacKillop Selection) and 9 Hole Tournament (non-pathway participation). Register through the portal. Monday 1st August at Blackheath. (Ages 8 - 13)
Girls Rugby 7s - MacKillop and Polding selections. Students nominate individually. Complete online registration. 9th August Santa Sabina College, Strathfield (Ages 11 & 12 Years only)

MacKillop_Girls_Rugby_7s_2022.pdf

MacKillop_Girls_Rugby_7s_2022 _pdf 90.18 KB

NSW AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL PRIMARY ALL SCHOOLS GIRLS 12 YEARS & UNDER SELECTIONS

Students in NSW Catholic Primary Schools are invited to register to trial for the Primary All Schools regional teams. These are cross-sector.

To register - To apply for the Primary All Schools Selection Trial in your area, complete the relevant online registration form (https://csnswsport.dashapp.com.au/auth/login) and payment by the closing date, Friday 11 March 2022.

Southern Inland - 24 March 2022 - Bolton Park, Wagga Wagga

Teams selected will attend the All Schools Selection at Coffs Harbour International Stadium 23 & 24 May 2022.

12_Yrs_Girls_Australian_Football_Flyer_2022.pdf

12_Yrs_Girls_Australian_Football_Flyer_2022 _pdf 131.02 KB

Class Awards

The Student of the Week Award recipients this week are..

Kindergarten: Jack McCulloch, Hendrix McWilliam and Hadléy Reynolds

Year 1- Joshua Fraser, Cooper Sims and Elizabeth Walsh

Year 2- Harry Frost and Flynn Storrier

Year 3- Sophie Croker and Harley White

Year 4- Henry Galland and Lucas Plumb

Year 5- Riley Haynes and Ava Hewitt

Year 6- Caitlyn Hogan and William Millett

Japanese Award:

Year 6 for being actively involved in learning

School Spirit Award:

Owen Moorby for caring for the environment

Harper Seaman for caring for the environment

Xavier Stallard for great responsibility taken with his jobs

Rory Bensley for being a great role model to our Kindergarten students

Joe McCormack, Jesse Costello, Flynn Storrier, Connor Plumb and Donovan Francis for caring for the environment

Term One P&F Meeting

Thank you to our parents and carers who attended our Term One AGM and General Meeting last night. It was a very productive meeting. Our 2022 events and dates are drafted below.

Date	Event	Coordinator
Term 1
12/13 February	Crookwell Show BBQ	Craig & Elise Croker Brendan & Allison Hewitt Daniel Walsh
22 February	P&F Meeting & AGM
End T1 Date TBC	Family Fun Run & BBQ	Year 3 Coordinator - Craig Croker & Allison Hewitt
Term 2
29 April	NR Cross Country Carnival	Year 2 Coordinators - Reané Strode & Rechell Naughton
6 May	Mother’s Day Raffle	Donna McGeechan
6 May	Athletics Carnival BBQ	Year 1 Coordinators- Reané Strode Daniel Walsh
17 May	P&F Meeting
June Date TBC	Woodraffle and Street Stall (Wood donations McWilliams & McIntosh)	Kindergarten Coordinator required
Term 3
9 August	P&F Meeting
Date TBC	Pie Drive	Rechell Naughton
Date TBC	Social Event - Recycled Ball & Auction	Year 4/5 Jo Grove, Sally Galland, Rechell Naughton & Catherine Culley
Term 4
Sept/Oct Date TBC	Sheep/Wool Muster	Sheep & Wool Committee Catherine Culley, Jo Grove, Daniel Tarlinton, Dave Culley
1 November	P&F Meeting

This year our fundraising will contribute to key learning area resources, twenty new student chromebooks, an interactive panel and possibly a cover for the walkway between the two kindergarten rooms.

As in the past, Year Six will host their own fundraising activities during the year to offset the expense of their end of year graduation celebration.

Tuckshop Roster Term 1

Please note all volunteers must be double-vaccinated and will be asked for proof upon signing in.

Please note, there will be no over-the-counter sales to eliminate interaction with students to remain Covid safe.

If you cannot do your date, please organise your replacement yourself and advise Belinda of the update to ensure we have a correct copy of the roster.

Friday 25 Feb: Eleanor Fraser, Catherine Fraser, VOLUNTEER REQUIRED

Monday 28 Feb: Elise Croker, Belinda Foley, Tennille McIntosh

Friday 4 Mar: Claire McCormack, Pip Frost, Rebecca Scott

Monday 7 Mar: Reané Strode, Danielle Crosbie, Elizabeth Egan

Friday 11 Mar: Rachael Selmes, Maureen Lucock, Nicole Moloney

2022 Sacramental Dates

Sacrament enrolment night Wednesday 9 March

Sacramental Program dates

Parish Office

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to Goulburn Parish Secretary, Sharon Cashman, via email or call into the Parish Office at the Old Convent Building. Sharon is available in Crookwell on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 11.30am-3.30pm

Email: Crookwell@cg.org.au

Website: http://cg.org.au/crookwell/Home.aspx

Phone: 48321 633

Address: 55 Wade Street (the Old Convent Building)