Yesterday we completed the final stage of our Registration and Compliance Review with Senior Officer of Family Services at CE, Brenda Foley. Brenda spent time here interviewing Executive Staff and ensuring all teaching programs for the last four terms were compliant with NESA requirements. The Compliance Review of Registration (and Accreditation) requirements are undertaken every five years by CECG. Evidence for School Management and Operation, Premises and Buildings, Facilities, Staff, Curriculum, Enrolment and Attendance, Safe and Supportive Environment and Discipline were uploaded and available for inspection. As mentioned in last week's email the School website has been updated within this process and we recommend it to you as a one-stop shop for all the links and information you need. Findings from our final report will be shared with our school community when it arrives.

https://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/

I would like to thank all my staff for the dedication and commitment they gave the process leading up to this week. 

Illness

Thank you for your cooperation with the recent bout of illness we have experienced. Figures indicate we had at least a third of our student population absent every day this week. As well as the outbreak of Influenza A, we have also noted an increase in head lice amongst students. Please help us curb this spread by checking and treating your child's hair as soon as you can. 

Attendance

When not unwell we know that every day of attendance at school adds to your child's chances of success and achievement from kindergarten to high school. You play a key role in making sure your child attends school every day, and you do this because you understand that attendance leads to success, not just at school, but later in life. Every day at school counts towards your child’s learning.

As mentioned above we realise some absences are unavoidable due to health issues or other circumstances. However, we also know that when students miss too much school, no matter the reason, it can cause them to fall behind academically. The more absences your child has, the harder it is for them to catch up on missed work and stay connected to their school community. Absences add up quickly. If your child is absent just one day every two weeks over a school year, this will add up to 20 days of lost learning. This is almost half a school term.

The following table indicates the levels of attendance.

Did you know you can check your child's attendance on Compass?

Go to your child's profile, then choose Attendance from the tab. Towards the bottom of that page can then see your child's collated absences and percentage rate.

Part of my job is to respond to all emerging absenteeism (<90% attendance) with support to improve attendance. This may involve an initial phone call, followed by letters and the creation of a Student Attendance Plan.

We want your child to succeed at school and know that you do as well. Please let us know if you require support in ensuring your child attends school on time each day. Feel free to contact me to discuss this or any other concerns.

Congratulations and best of luck

Tomorrow we have nine St Mary's students running as members of the Northern Region Cross Country Team at Mt Stromlo. We wish them all the best of luck and are very proud of this team accomplishment.

Run like the wind, Henry, Ollie, William, Tommy, Imogen, Cooper, Elizabeth, Khloe and Flynn.

Early Career Teacher Commissioning

Congratulations to our early career teacher, Miss Jayme O'Brien, who was inducted into CECG at a special Commissioning Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral last week.  Vicar General Fr Richard Thompson celebrated Mass and offered words of inspiration and encouragement. We are blessed to have such an enthusiastic and passionate teacher like Miss O'Brien in our school.

Trinity Catholic College Musical - Mamma Mia

Yesterday Yrs 5 and 6 attended the final dress rehearsal for their musical, Mamma Mia. All who attended were thoroughly entertained and could not help themselves singing along and toe-tapping!! The best part by far was knowing the stars of the show are St Mary's ex-students and how amazing they are. Pictured with Yr 5 and 6 are Yr 12 students, Rohan Gamble and Bryony McCormack. 

Enrolling now for 2025

Do you know someone interested in enrolling at St Mary's? Please direct them to our updated website for links that will allow them to access all the information they need.

https://www.stmarysc.nsw.edu.au/

The School Explorers Program

The Term 2 school fee account statements have been sent out to every family by email.

Please ensure you have received yours.

Head Office will be actively chasing families for payments, so please ensure your accounts are paid by the due date unless you have a regular payment set up via your bank.

Below is a table (based on 52 weeks) of what the repayments should be as a minimum. 

If you would like to discuss your school fee account, please do not hesitate to contact Belinda or Sally.

Weeks 3 Awards

Kindy-  Arlo Allport, Elyssia Camilleri

Year 1-  Lincoln Cummins, Chelsea Moorby

Year 2- Adeline Millett, Bailey Reeves, Hadléy Reynolds

Year 3- Abigail Crosbie, Denzil Hills, Fraser McIntosh

Year 4- Vincent Moloney, Georgia Proudman

Year 5- Jacob Hogan, Flynn Reeves, Faith Riles

Year 6- Elkie Storrier, Hayden Tarlinton

Japanese- Year 5

Performing Arts- Jesse Costello

Pentecost Sunday

The Season of Easter concludes with the celebration of Pentecost at this weekend’s Mass. After His death and Ascension into heaven Jesus appeared to the disciples. He came to them when they were terrified of being caught and persecuted for following Him. Jesus breathed His Spirit into them and filled them with a deep peace and joy – a sense that through faith, hope and the unconditional love of God, everything would be okay (even in the midst of their struggles).

With the help of the Holy Spirit, the scared and uncertain apostles became courageous and passionate preachers of God’s love for us. They continued to ‘GO OUT’ and continue the work Jesus began (spreading his message about peace, love and goodness) right up until it led to the martyrdom of every single one of them.

Pentecost is the birthday of the CHURCH - it sparked the movement of believers to carry on Jesus’ life-giving mission.

On Pentecost we pray in a special way for the Church – the people of God - throughout the world. We pray that Jesus’ Spirit may fill the hearts of all so that love, hope, faith, justice, joy, and peace may spread far and wide. As a Catholic School we are called to be Jesus’ Good News in our own place and time. When we allow ourselves to be open to the gifts of the Spirit, we can truly be GOOD NEWS for others.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for all of us. We can all use these special gifts of the Holy Spirit to:

bring us closer to God; fill our lives with a sense of meaning and purpose; guide us through life; help us make wise decisions; help us understand things and people better; give good advice, have courage in tough times.

 Family Engagement in Faith- Term 2

Northern Region Cross Country

A team of around 30 students travelled to Braidwood on Friday 3rd May to compete at the Northen Region Cross Country. In perfect running conditions, our students dug deep and performed brilliantly, with many students running personal bests.

Thank you to our amazing families for transporting the students, for your positivity and encouragement of all of our St Mary’s runners.

Big congratulations to the following students who placed top 6 in their race and are now travelling to Mount Stromlo on Friday 18 May to run as part of the Northern Region team.

U9 GIRLS

3RD: Elizabeth Walsh

6th: Khloe Pickett

U9 BOYS

2nd: Cooper Sims

8th (reserve): Denzil Hills

U10 BOYS

5th: Flynn Storrier

8th (reserve): Flynn Doran

U11 GIRLS

4th: Imogen Hewitt

7th (reserve): Harper Seaman

8th (reserve): Sophie Croker

U11 BOYS

6th: Tommy Picker

U12 BOYS

2nd: Ollie Croker

3rd: William Waldron

6th: Henry Galland

Rugby League MacKillop Trials

Last week, Chase Lucock, of Year 6 travelled to Canberra to compete in the Canberra Goulburn Rugby League team for selection into the MacKillop team. Unfortunately, Chase was injured early in the day, and unable to compete for the remainder of the trial. Well done Chase on making it to this level, a great achievement.

NSWCPS Rugby Girls

Archdio Rugby Union Trials

Term 2 Library Class Visits

Wednesday:  Year 2, Year 4, Year 5.

Thursday:  Kindergarten, Year 1, Year3, Year 6

Please ensure your child has a library bag to borrow.

For Parish and Sacramental matters please forward your enquiries to Goulburn Parish Secretary, Heather Moss. Heather 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)