St Mary's Primary School Crookwell eNewsletter

Calendar

WEEK ONE
Friday 3 February	Opening Liturgy in St Mary's Church 9.30am Sports Uniform No tuckshop
WEEK TWO
Monday 6 February	No tuckshop
Tuesday 7 February	Catholic Care Counsellor - Madelyn Burns recommences
Wednesday 8 February	Kinder Rest Day Year Six Art Focus Day
Friday 10 February	No tuckshop
Saturday 11 February	Crookwell Show - P&F Fundraising BBQ
Sunday 12 February	Crookwell Show - P&F Fundraising BBQ
WEEK THREE
Monday 13 February	Tuckshop resumes
Wednesday 15 February	Director of Education Mr Ross Fox visiting St Mary's Kinder Rest Day Year Five Art Focus Day School Board Meeting 7.00pm
Thursday 16 February	School Swimming Carnival at Goulburn Aquatic Centre - Years 2- 6 - Buses leaving at 9.00am Kindergarten and Year One remain at school
Friday 17 February	Tuckshop open
DIARY DATES
Wednesday 22 February	P & F Meeting in the Staffroom at 7pm
Thursday 23 February	Northern Region Swimming Carnival at Yass
Friday 24 February	Family Welcome Function - Bingo Night In the Old Hall
Friday 24 March	School Cross Country Carnival K-6 Crookwell Showground
Thursday 6 April	Stage Three Showcase of Learning

Welcome to the 2023 school year!

Welcome back to the 2023 school year! I hope that you had a restful and enjoyable summer and that you are ready to embark on another exciting year of learning and growth.

This year, we are focusing on providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all of our students. We have made some changes to our facilities and classrooms, and updated our internet access over the holiday break. Thank you to Mick Cummins, Hudson Pratley, Anthony O'Connell, Scott Gamble, Lisa Barlow, Mel Grant, Andrew Kemp and Jarna Cooper for their work preparing the school during the break.

This year we are also emphasising the importance of strong relationships between teachers, students, and families. We believe that when everyone works together, we can achieve great things. We encourage you to stay involved in your child's education and to communicate with your child's teachers regularly.

In addition to our academic programs, we are also excited to offer a wide range of extracurricular activities and clubs that will give our students the opportunity to explore their passions and interests. From Pottery Club to STEM Club, there is something for everyone at our school. We are also continuing to provide a well-rounded education that includes art, music, performing arts, ICT, and physical education.

It was wonderful to welcome our students back on Tuesday. They have all had a settled start and have enjoyed getting to know their new teachers and exploring their new learning spaces.

This year we commence with 154 students. A very warm welcome is extended to the new families joining our school community; the Croker, Cummins, Montgomery, Burfitt, Riles, and Rogers families. We wish you all a happy and smooth transition into school life at St Mary's.

I would like to welcome a new member to our staff, Mr James Edwards, teaching Year Five. Mrs Webber has taken leave for this term and Miss Skelly will fulfil her duties each Monday and Tuesday.

We are excited about a great year ahead, and we are confident that our students will achieve great things. We look forward to working with you and your child.

Kindergarten 2023

Our Kindergarten class arrived at ‘big school’ on Tuesday looking very smart in their St Mary’s uniforms. They had a wonderful day, working well with Mrs Cummins and Mrs Romer/Miss Skelly. It was lovely to see them ready to engage in their learning so enthusiastically. We wish our new Kinder students a wonderful first year of school!

Opening School Liturgy

Tomorrow, Friday 3 February at 9.30am, we will hold our Opening School Liturgy in St Mary's Church. Currently, our Parish Priest, Fr Joshy, is away.

Families and friends are welcome to join us for our Opening Liturgy.

Upper Lachlan Shire Australia Day Awards

I would like to congratulate one of our talented ex-students, Bella Croker for receiving the 2022 Crookwell Junior Sports Person. Bella received this award for her outstanding sporting achievements.

School Hours

Student supervision commences at 8.40am and concludes at 3.30pm. The first morning bell rings at 9.00am and the students are dismissed, at the end of the school day, at 3.10pm. For students requiring earlier morning supervision, Morning Club is available from 8.00am in the Year Six classroom. Please complete the following booking form if your child will be attending Morning Club.

https://smpscrookwell.schoolzineplus.com/form/25

Absence from School

If your child is away from school due to illness, an appointment or other pressing family necessity, you do one of the following: fill in the absentee form via the website or SZapp app, notify the Office via email or phone, or send in a note as soon as possible.

Change of Arrangement

Please notify our Office Manager Belinda via a phone call, email or note if there are any changes in routine, such as how your child is travelling home, day-time appointments, etc. This information will be passed on to your child’s teacher and placed in the 'Bus Book'. This notification can also occur via the Schoolzine (Szapp) app or Compass portal.

Crossing

Over the holidays a team contracted by the Upper Lachlan Council has been busy building a wombat crossing on Wade Street. This pedestrian crossing will assist with safer movement between our playgrounds during break time and accessing parents' parked cars at drop-off and the end of the school day. We strongly encourage you to use this crossing with your children when moving to and from your parked vehicle each morning and afternoon. Crossing in the bus zone is very dangerous.

I would like to thank Daniel Walsh, President of the St Mary's P&F Association, for pursuing government funding for this work.

Newsletter

Today you 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 community's news and events. Please email the office with photos and updates for inclusion in the newsletter.

Back-to-School Vouchers

You can now use the NSW Back-to-School Vouchers at our school uniform shop. To use the vouchers, simply bring them to the uniform shop when you are ready to make your purchase. Belinda will be happy to assist you in finding the right items for your child. The uniform shop is open each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12.00pm – 1.00pm, or other times by arrangement. Orders can also be placed through the QKR! app at any time however, they will only be filled during opening hours.

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 8.30am - 4.30pm daily or via email within similar hours. The email address to be used to contact any staff member is office.stmarysc@cg.catholic.edu.au

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

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

2023 Term Dates for Students

Term 1: Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 6 April

Term 2: Wednesday 26 April - Friday 30 June 2023

Term 3: Tuesday 18 July to Friday 22 September

Term 4: Monday 9 October to Friday 15 December

A warm welcome to St Mary’s School for 2023 to all parents, students and staff. A special welcome to our new Kindies and new families. Jesus always welcomed EVERYONE without exception. “When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them ...” (Luke 9:11). With Jesus as our example, we should never be shy about welcoming others, whether it’s welcoming friends into our home, visitors into our school and church, or saying hello to a stranger.

In 2023 let us all strive to keep up St Mary’s tradition of being a welcoming community.

Go out of your way to smile or wave or say G’DAY

OUR SCHOOL VISION, MOTTO, MISSION and VALUES

Our School Vision, Motto, mission and values remind us to always reach out to each other and to others with a warm, welcoming and loving heart.

Our Vision:

Jesus Christ calls us as an inclusive community to

live our faith,

engage in quality learning

and enrich our world for the future.

Our Motto: TOGETHER AS ONE in TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE encourages us to work together for the good of all

Our Mission is to be…

Jesus’ hands - offering SERVICE to others
Jesus’ eyes - seeing the needs of others with COMPASSION
Jesus’ heart - sharing RESPECT for everyone
Jesus’ feet - walking the road of JUSTICE
Jesus’ mind - persevering and striving for EXCELLENCE

Welcome Back Prayer Celebration

All are welcome to join us for our ‘Welcome Back’ Prayer Celebration tomorrow at 9.30am in St Mary’s Church.

CHILD SAFE ADVOCATE ROLE

I would like to introduce myself and let you know a little about this role. I have been trained and am familiar with the Child Safe Standards which have been designed by the Office of the Children's Guardian. This role is close to my heart and sits comfortably with my role as AP and Yr 4 teacher. Please reach out if you would like more information or have any concerns or issues you would like to discuss

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) shone a spotlight on thousands of cases where organisations in Australia failed to protect children in their care from abuse. It highlighted that abuse that occurs within an organisational context is not just a problem of the past, it continues today. Many victims and survivors were motivated to tell their stories to the inquiry, to prevent harm to children now and into the future.

The Child Safe Standards recommended by the Royal Commission provide a framework for making organisations safer for children. They have been accepted by the NSW government. Based on extensive research and consultation, the Standards provide tangible guidance for organisations to create cultures, adopt strategies and act to put the interests of children first, to keep them safe from harm.

The Standards have been designed to:
• help drive cultural change in organisations
• be principle-based and outcome-focused
• be flexible enough that they can be adapted by
organisations of varying sizes and characteristics
• avoid placing undue burden on organisations
• help organisations address multiple risks
• balance caution and caring
• be a benchmark against which organisations
can assess their child safe capability and set
performance targets
• be of equal importance and interrelated.

A child safe culture is a set of values and practices that guide the attitudes and behaviour of all staff.
Good leaders champion these values and embed them in organisational governance.

The following values should be at the heart of any approach that prioritises
children’s safety:
• The best interests of children and their protection from harm is paramount.
• Child abuse is not tolerated and must not happen.
• Children’s rights are understood and respected.
• Concerns about child safety raised by children and their parents and carers are acted on.
• Reporting abuse is not obstructed or prevented.

Our school shares a responsibility with everyone working in NSW to care for and keep children safe. In this space I plan to share strategies and tips as to how you can keep your children safe from harm.

Where do I Find Trial Dates

The Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage now has the full calendar for Primary, Secondary and SSA events. Please click on the link below:

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar

Upcoming Trials

Canberra Goulburn/ Wollongong AFL Trials- Boys, Year 5 and 6
Date:Tuesday 21st February, 2023
Venue: South Dalton Park, Fairy Meadow
Registrations close Friday 3^rd February

Canberra Goulburn U11’s and U12’s Rugby League Trials 2023
Date:14 March 2023
Venue: Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham
Registrations close Monday 6^th March

Canberra Goulburn Netball Championships and Trials- Boys and Girls
Date:Tuesday 14th March 2023
Location: Southwell Park - CNA Netball
Registrations close Monday 6^th March

Canberra Goulburn Hockey Trials- Boys and Girls
Date: Trial date will be confirmed based on registration numbers
Registrations close Friday 10^th March

How To You Register Your Child for Trials

SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT

If you had an account on the previous website (www.csss.nsw.edu.au) type in the new website login address https://csnsw.sport/cmlogin.aspx. Once you are on this page click on ‘Forgotten Password’, enter your email address and a link to reset your password will be emailed to you.

If you have NOT previously had an account you will be required to set one up to be enabled to register your child for both Canberra Goulburn AND NSWCCC/CPS sporting events and trials. 1. Type in the website address www.csnsw.sport

Click on Register which is located in the blue box on the top right-hand side of the page
Click on Setup Parent Account
Complete all of the fields and click on Create Account. You will receive a confirmation email

ADDING A CHILD

Click on Add Child
Complete all fields. Click Next
Complete all fields on the next page then click on Add Child

REGISTER FOR A SPORT

Once logged in scroll to your child’s Profile
Click on Register for a Sport
Select the Sport you are registering for from ‘Available Sport Registration’ -

This will be the registration process for Canberra Goulburn Trials/ Championships/Carnivals

Click Next
Review your child’s details and if they are correct tick the ‘Acknowledgement’ box then click Next
Sport Specific Details—These will display the Diocesan events your child has previously attended. Click Next
Consent to Participate—Complete all fields and click on Finish

Once these steps are completed an email will be generated and sent to your school Principal for approval.

Swimming Carnival

Date: Thursday 16 February

Classes: Years 2-6 (Compulsory for all Students)

Where: Goulburn Aquatic Centre

A permission note for the 2023 school swimming carnival has been sent home with students in Years 2-6 today.

The form outlines all the important details such as student transport (private car or bus), procedure for entry into events, list of events, canteen facilities and availability of family helpers on the day.

Please complete this permission note and return with the student’s entry money ($3.50) by Monday 6 February. This will provide us with student numbers requiring transport on the day.

Thank you in advance for your assistance with this. Looking forward to a great day!

Mrs. Linda Walsh

Art Focus Day Term One

To all my amazing little artists at St Mary's, be prepared for your next art day with a medium sized cardboard box (look in your recycling bin! cereal box, tissue box)

Not too large or too small as we will be painting it!

Looking forward to sharing my latest artist with you all.

Mrs O'Keefe

Library visits

All classes visit the library each week.

Term 1

Wednesday: Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and Kindergarten.

Thursday: Year 1, Year 5 and Year 6

Please ensure your child has a library bag to borrow.

Book Club

Scholastic Book Club will be distributed twice each term.

Book Club will need to be ordered online through LOOP.

We are NOT accepting CASH payments.

The web address is:

scholastic.com.au/LOOP

LOOP enables parents to order and pay for your child’s order online using a credit card or voucher if you have one. Catalogues will still be handed out at school and books will be distributed at school. The school will continue to receive rewards.

For a quick start, just click on ORDER
OR Register first to save your details for next time
Select your school and your child's class
Add your child's first name & last initial (so the school knows who the book is for)
Enter the item number from the Book Club catalogue
Follow the instructions for payment and submit
All orders are sent directly to the school for submission to Scholastic. Books will still be delivered to your child's classroom if you order by the close date.

Please contact me if you experience any difficulties.

ICT

To have access to the Information and Communication Technologies at St Mary’s, children in Years 3-6 are requested to read and sign the Acceptable Use by Students Policy Form sent home. Parents/Guardians please sign the Acknowledgement section and return to the office. This is an annual requirement.

Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to cover books for the Library. Plastic covering is supplied and you are able to do this at home in your own time. If you are able to assist, please complete the form via the following link

Library helpers

Thank you,

Dorothea Hewitt

Crookwell Show- BBQ

Each year, the P&F have a BBQ at the Crookwell Show. Each family is rostered on for a time to help on the BBQ.

This roster has been sent out in a separate email. Please check the roster carefully and let Craig Croker know ASAP if you need to swap your day/time.

This is a great fundraising opportunity for the school, so we appreciate your assistance.

Tuckshop Roster Term 1

Tuckshop is open on Monday and Friday throughout the term. Orders are placed by the Qkr! app.

Please note- hot food must be ordered and can't be bought over the counter. This ensures we do not have food wastage.

Over the counter cash sales can be placed for dry food items (packets of chips, eucalyptus drops, etc) and cold food (icecreams, zooper doopers,etc) and drinks.

If you require assistance with the Qkr app, please see Belinda.

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.

If you are keen to help, please click on the following link to complete the form. More hands mean less work! Tuckshop is a great way to meet other parents.

Tuckshop Helpers

Parish Office

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to Goulburn Parish Secretary, Natasha Polzin. Natasha works Tuesday to Friday 9am to 1pm in Goulburn.

Email: Crookwell@cg.org.au

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

Phone: 0403 631 797

Address: 55 Wade Street (the Old Convent Building)

2023 Sacraments

Netball

Calling 10 - 12year old Girls & Boys

Interested in playing Netball??

We are hoping to field a Crookwell Netball team in the Goulburn Junior Competition this year!

Competition starts 29^th of April 2023

Games are played on Saturday mornings at 10:20am in Goulburn.

Please contact: Reané (0439 785 746) or Katie (0417 025 967) if your child is interested in playing!