School Registration

This week we welcomed a panel of six people at St Mary's for our five-yearly School Re-registration. The panel, consisting of Chair Katrina McGrath, Peer Principals Anne Staines and Nicky Trinder, Performance Improvement Leader Noel Hurley, Curriculum Officer Anne Spence and Catholic Identity Officer Nathan Gallea, viewed our policy documentation, teaching, facilities and programs. They visited classrooms and interviewed staff and students.

Yesterday afternoon the panel fed back a draft overview of their Commendations, Affirmations and Recommendations. We felt encouraged by the comments the panel made. Their observations included the respectful relationships and trust between, staff, students and parents, the positive 'feel' of the school environment, the dedication of the staff, the quiet and settled working environment and the engaged students. I will share more detail about the findings of the panel with you when we receive the final report.

Tomorrow, Friday 29 March from 11.45am - 1.30pm we will be holding our school Cross Country Carnival on our bottom playground. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE OF VENUE AND TIME.

A map of the course and details about the running of the carnival have been included in the School Sports section of this newsletter. 

Work Commencement

This week work has commenced on our bottom playground. Kent Writer and Bayden Selmes have removed the fence and begun cutting and filling the surface to create a 1% fall for water runoff. 

We are selling the steel fence posts, basketball posts and backboards so if you are interested in purchasing these, for a donation, please contact me.

Showcase of Learning

Our first Showcase of Learning Assembly will be hosted by Stage 3 on Friday 5 April at 12.30pm. 

Nut Aware School

We have an increasing number of children attending St Mary’s who suffer from a severe anaphylactic reaction to peanuts/tree nuts and sesame seeds. These reactions can be serious and even life-threatening. 

As caregivers, we need to take all precautions necessary to minimise risk of life-threatening anaphylaxis.

As a community, we can work together to minimise risk associated with being exposed to these foods that act as a trigger to such attacks.

Management at School

• Parents/caregivers being encouraged not to send food that contains nuts to school with their children. This includes peanut paste, Nutella, Muesli Bars, all nuts and cooking oil containing peanut oil, as well as foods containing nuts (but does not extend to ‘foods that may contain traces of nuts’)
• Staff supervising students whilst they eat their lunch.
• The Tuckshop will not have ‘for sale’ food items that contain nuts, but does not apply to food labelled ‘may contain traces of nuts’.
• No food sharing between children.
• Staff participate in annual First Aid training to assist with understanding and dealing with anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).
• Awards of food/sweets will not be given that contain nut ingredients e.g. chocolates.

For Parents

• Parents are asked not to send peanut butter or nutella on sandwiches, biscuits etc. (to minimise the risk from person to person contact).
• Emphasise the importance of washing hands when eating food at home and at school.

Year 6 Camp

Year 6 are currently preparing for camp, which will be held in the last week of school, Tuesday 9-12 April at The Academy of Sport, Narrabeen. Year 6 have been fundraising to offset the cost of this excursion. There are approximately 9 tickets left in the 100 Club Raffle. If you would like to purchase a $10 ticket, with the possibility of winning $500, please contact Belinda.

Uniform Reminder

As our weather starts to cool the students are able to wear their full winter uniform, if required. Please do not do a mix of our summer and winter uniforms. 

Also please note that our school coat, which is a warm bottle green parker style coat, is the only acceptable coat. This is only available at our uniform shop.

Bottle green gloves and beanies can be purchased elsewhere. 

Houses for Rent or Buy?

We currently have two families waiting to move to our area who are looking to rent or buy. If you have something suitable for a large family could you please let us, or an agent, know so we can pass this information on.

School Fees

Reminder invoices have been sent out this week to families with outstanding accounts. We would appreciate it if your account could be finalised immediately. It is expected that unless there is an arrangement already in place, that all other fee accounts are finalised to a $0 balance.

Lent- and God's Love

This weekend we are half way through the Church season of Lent. It’s a good time to stop and reflect on our relationship with God. Yes… relationship! God is all about relationship. ‘He’ created us in ‘His’ own image to be in relationship with Him and each other. He sent Jesus to show us how to relate to Him. Jesus died for our sins to restore our relationship with God.

The story Jesus told about the ‘prodigal son’ is all about relationships. It will be read at this weekend’s masses. A loving father had two sons. The younger son asked for his family inheritance (unheard of while his father was still living!). The father nonetheless divided his inheritance between his sons and the younger son went away and squandered his money. Poor and destitute, he returned to his father asking for a place as a servant. The father, seeing his son coming, rushes to embrace him with love and mercy. The son then realises how selfish and hurtful he has been. The father does not admonish him but gives him gifts and a welcome home celebration. There is a second part to this story. The older brother complains about his ‘undeserving‘ brother being welcomed home. He is angry with his father and resentful, judgemental and envious (even though he has already received his own inheritance and been treated with nothing but love). The father pleads with his son to join the celebration but we are left wondering whether he will accept this invitation or not.

The father in the story of course is God. And he has two problem sons whose issues are different. The sons are not to be dismissed as either good or bad. Simply, they are like us – sinners.

Maybe we squander our time on worrying about or accumulating material things, rather than turning to and trusting in God – from whom all good things come (faith, hope, love, patience, compassion, mercy, forgiveness)

Maybe we try to lead a good, moral life – but sit in judgement on others rather than seeing Jesus’ face in all those we meet and loving our neighbour as ourselves.

The father loved both sons with all his heart, no matter what they did with their lives. Nothing they did could diminish his love for them. Our father lavishes us with love and is always waiting for us with open arms. Will we accept this invitation and ‘join in the celebration?’

Never doubt for a single moment the sustained love God has for us. It is perfect and constant and it never fails and never gives up.  Believing in this love can bring us hope, courage and peace.

Project Compassion

Our Mini Vinnies committee would like to report that so far we have raised $238 for our brothers and sisters in need. Thank you for your continuing support.

Cross Country

Arrangements for the St Mary’s Cross Country Carnival are as follows –

Venue:                        St Mary's Primary Bottom Playground

Date:                           Friday 29 March 2019

Time:                          11:45am- first event

Age Division/Distances (in order of running)

            12 years boys/girls                   3000m

            7 years boys/girls                     600m

            6 years boys/girls                     600m

            5 years boys/girls                     600m

            8 years boys/girls                     1000m

            9 years boys/girls                     2000m

            10 years boys/girls                   2000m

            11 years boys/girls                   3000m

Children from 9 years age division and above, will be chosen to represent the school at the Northern Region Carnival.

There is no 8 years division at representative level. 8 years children of exceptional talent may compete in the 9 years age group at school level if they wish to be considered for representation.  Please notify the school if you wish this to be the case.

On the day of Cross Country, children will eat lunch at school at 11.15am, followed by a short play. The children will then move to the bottom playground for the Cross Country races. There will be a viewing area set up in the middle of the oval so that spectators will have a 360-degree view. Please feel free to bring picnic rugs and fold up chairs. Children will go back to school to eat afternoon tea, or if we have gone over time this will be brought across to us. Please note we are just trialling this as a Cross Country venue this year. Feedback from parents, staff and students will be sought after the event.

Please bring clothing appropriate to the weather forecast. The carnival will go ahead even in light rain. If it is lightly raining the students will be able to return to the shelter of their classroom after their event.

Volunteers – thanks to all who have offered their assistance. 

Track

Donation from Cricket NSW

A huge thank you to Michael Minns from Cricket NSW who generously donated a big ball full of plastic cricket stumps and balls for our children to use.

Representative Sport- Canberra/Goulburn Archdiocese

This year there is a new format for registration of students at Diocesan and Archdiocesan level and for individual nominations for Sports, eg. Rugby Union

The website is up and running and all trial nominations for Archdiocese Representative sports trial must be completed by the parents/carers by the due date advertised on the website.

www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au

THOSE WHO HAVE PROGRESSED FOR HOCKEY AND SOCCER (10 MAY) ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO LOG ONTO https://www.csss.nsw.edu.au/nswcps-home.aspx TO FINALISE THEIR CHILD’S REGISTRATION and pay via Tean App https://www.teamapp.com/

Registrations received and Principal approved to date:

Dates to Note for Cross Country

Northern Region Cross Country – Braidwood FRIDAY 3 APRIL

Archdiocesan Cross Country – Mt Stromlo TUESDAY 4 JUNE

Mackillop Cross Country – Eastern Creek  FRIDAY 15 JUNE

Pencil Grip

Today I have attached an article showing the correct methods of holding a pencil.

There are also some images shown of inefficient methods of grasping a pencil. It is important to try to correct this grip to enable children to become more efficient writers as they get older.

Eyesight/Hearing

If you are concerned about your child’s learning, a good place to start is ensuring you have their eyesight and hearing checked. Attached is a vision checklist that could be used as a guide.

Vision Checklist

If you are concerned about your child’s learning and/or vision be aware of the following signs and symptoms:

• one eye drifts or aims in a different direction than the other. This can be very subtle
• turns or tilts head while reading or during other visual activities
• head is frequently tilted to one side or one shoulder is noticeably higher
• squinting or closing of one eye
• excessive blinking or squinting
• poor visual/motor coordination skills (often called, "hand-eye coordination")
• problems judging distances while moving in space, frequently bumps into things or drops things
• becomes easily confused when in motion
• frequently loses things

While reading or doing close work your child:

• holds the reading material or object too close
• closes one eye or covers eye with hand
• twists or tilts head toward book or object so as to favour one eye
• uses finger or ruler to read
• frequently loses place and/or skips or repeats lines
• fatigues easily and/or becomes drowsy
• rubs eyes during or after periods of the reading or close work
• reports that words move on page or run together
• has a tendency to knock things over on a desk or table
• exhibits avoidance behaviours

Child demonstrates or reports:

• headaches or eyestrain
• nausea or dizziness
• motion sickness or car sickness

DOUBLE VISION!

If your child reports seeing double, please take your child for a binocular vision evaluation.

Early detection of visual problems is vital for successful learning!

Autism Workshop Postponed

Please be advised that the "Two for One Workshop" advertised in an earlier newsletter that was supposed to be on April 6, has been postponed.

Year 4 – Patrick Walsh

Year 5 - Jake Cosgrove & Darcy Simmons

Year 6 - Paige Croker & Billie Skelly

School Spirit Awards

The School Spirit Award recipients this week are:

Addin Grove-  For showing respect for our environment

Lachlan Kilborn- For showing respect for our environment

Harper Seaman- For showing respect for our environment

Marli Selmes- For showing respect for our environment

Awards are presented at our Monday morning Assembly in the Old Hall at 9.05am.

All are welcome to attend.

Friday 29 March: Jane Fraser, Katherine Fraser, Angela Cuskelly

Monday 1 April: Nicola Pursell, Nat Cosgrove, Angela Cuskelly

Friday 5 April: Jackie Blowes, Angella Cuskelly, Claire McCormack

Monday 8 April: Jenifer Heffernan, Dave Culley, Jo Grove

Please remember it is your responsibility to find a replacement if you cannot do your allocated shift.

Term 2 roster will soon be completed by Rechell. If you have dates you are or aren't available, please let her know as soon as possible to minimise changes.

New Tuckshop Monthly Specials!

The tuckshop will be intoducing once-a-month specials. For the remainder of Term 1, the items available will be:

Friday 29 March- Homemade mini sausage rolls, $1 each 

Monday 1 April- Spaghetti Bolognaise.

Yummy!

***** Frozen Yoghurt: due to supplier issues, there will be no frozen yoghurt available until Term 2.

DID YOU KNOW??

Many of our Primary students have access to Social media outlets and apps. Interestingly Snapchat is one of the most popular but also an app that can open up a world your child may not be emotionally prepared for.

Snapchat is a photo sharing app for mobile phones, ipads, ipods and tablets. The app allows users to share images, videos and chat with friends. Users can share images and videos directly to specific friends, or through a ‘story’ shared with their entire friend list, which documents the previous 24 hours.

In a study, Snapchat was ranked the 4th most negative app in terms of having an impact on young people’s health and wellbeing, with children feeling that they can use the app Snapchat to “make you look pretty” or make your life seem always good.

Are you aware of who your child is sharing with and what your child is using Snapchat for?

Musica Viva

Next Thursday 4 April, the children will be entertained by the wonderful performers of Musica Viva who will be showcasing "Taikoz", the art of Japanese drumming.

Crookwell Dogs Rugby BBQ roster

Thanks to all who have volunteered time to help with the P&F BBQ at the Crookwell Dated Dogs vs Cauliflower Club XV this coming Saturday 30 March.

Please see the roster below. If you are able to help and you haven't put your name down, please contact Catherine Culley or Mel Haynes.

Parish Office

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to Parish Secretary, Janet Haynes or Pastoral Associate Sr Rosemary via email or call into the Parish Office at the Old Convent Building on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

Email: Crookwell@cg.org.au

Phone: 48321 633

Address: 55 Wade Street (the Old Convent Building)

Altar Roster

31 March- Lillian & Paige Croker, Regan Picker

7 April- Ashleigh Bachta & Olivia Anderson

14 April- Nathaniel Waters & Oliver Gray

21 April- Bella Croker

28 April- Eliza & Chloe Kemp

Please arrive 15 minutes before Mass to help Father prepare.

AOGKF NSW State Gasshuku in Crookwell on 17 March

Attached is an article about Scoliosis in Schoolgirls and the National Self-Detection Program for Scoliosis in 2019. A copy is available from the Office if required.