A very successful Northern Region Public Speaking competition was held at St Mary's on Wednesday. The competition, attended by students from St Gregory's Queanbeyan, St Bede's Braidwood, Mt Carmel Yass, St Joseph's Goulburn and Ss Peter and Paul's Goulburn, was fierce, making the adjudicator's decision very difficult. Thank you to our adjudicators Mrs Anne Cleary, Miss Jess Penny, Mrs Alexandra Dunwoodie and Mrs Patrice Rowe.

Congratulations to Sophia Galland and Lucy Gamble for both coming Runner-Up in their class sections. Lucy and Sophia now head to the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Competition which will be held on 20 September at St Joseph's in Boorowa.

Our visitors were served a beautiful morning tea prepared and provided by our Year 5 families. Thank you to our helpers Meg, Fraser, Jenifer, Katherine, Tash and Bridie and to all of our parents who sent in delicious treats - it was amazing!

CWA Project Presentation  

On Wednesday afternoon our CWA Project winners were presented with their certificates and enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea at the Country Women's Association rooms.

Congratulations to all of our placegetters:

Year 6: 1st place: Paige Croker, 2nd Place: Archie Pursell; 3rd Place: Ashleigh Bachta; Highly Commended: Isabelle Galland

Year 5: 1st Place: Sienna Charnock; 2nd Place: William Heffernan; 3rd Place: Bree Hearne; Highly Commended: Regan Picker and Ellie McCormack

Year 5 Postcards: 1st Place: Jake Cosgrove; 2nd Place: Sienna Charnock; 3rd Place: Alec McIntosh; Highly Commended: Marnie McCormack

Year 4: 1st Place: Georgina Culley

Year 3: 1st Place: Ava Nicholson, 2nd Place: Toby Charnock

Year 2: 1st Place: Phoebe Fannin

Year 1: 1st Place: Sophie Culley; 2nd Place: Sophia Foran; 3rd Place: Alex Storrier; Highly Commended: Hayden Tarlinton, Lucas Plumb, Emmett McIntosh, Leo Knight.

Kindy: 1st Place: Riley O'Brien; 2nd Place: Imogen Hewitt; 3rd Place: Jacob Hogan; Highly Commended: Quade Haynes, Sophie Croker, Grace McCormack, Ruby Pappalardo

These certificates will be presented at our Monday morning assembly.

P&F Meeting

Thank you to the parents who attended the P&F Meeting on Tuesday. The meeting was well attended and very productive. Thank you to our parents and friends who continue to do so much to offer support and raise funds for our wonderful school.

Today - August 15 - we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Assumption means that God takes the individual's body and soul into heaven without him or her suffering death. Images of Mary's assumption depict the Holy Mother in the sky, with saints and believers praying underneath her. These images show that God separated Mary from the rest of the world and assumed her into heaven.

The Assumption is the main celebration of Mary's life and ministry and a fitting feast day to celebrate our school - St Mary’s.

All of Mary's roles - Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Lady of Sorrows - are tied in with her position in heaven, guiding, watching, and caring for God's children.

As the Holy Mother, Mary's assumption reflects God's promise to all his children. All who obey God and believe, as Mary did, will join God in heaven. All devout Christians live in the hope of new life after death, just as Jesus was raised from the dead on the first Easter.

Catholics hold Mary's assumption as a reminder that God loves them and yearns for them to join Jesus, Mary, and all the saints in heaven.

Prayer for the Assumption of Mary

Father in heaven,

all creation rightly gives You praise,

for all life and all holiness come from You.

In the plan of your wisdom

she who bore Christ in her womb

was raised body and soul in glory

to be with Him in heaven.

May we follow her example

in reflecting your holiness

and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Helpers Needed For Our Intervention Programs

Archdiocesan Athletics

Next Thursday, we have five students competing at the AIS as members of the Northern Region Athletics Team.

Fynella Parsons -12 yr Girls 100m

Lachlan Nagle - 12 yr Boys 100m & Senior Long Jump.

Rosa Blowes - Intermediate Shot Put

Bridie Croker- 10 yr Girls 100m

Ava Nicholson - 9yr Girls 100m.

They will be required to wear Sports Uniform and will receive a Northern Region team shirt to compete in for the day.

Team members are to check in with Team Manager Mrs McCarthy (St Peter & Pauls) upon arrival.

We wish them all the best of luck!

Representative Duties

SSA-School Sport Australia 12 years and under Hockey Championship

This week both Isabelle and Bella attended training sessions at Maitland in preparation for their Representative duties next week.

As members of the NSW U12 team they will compete against other National Teams from Sunday 18th to Friday 23rd August at Hockey Central Victoria, Bendigo.

This huge achievement is sure to be a wonderful experience for both the girls and their families and one they will not easily forget.

We eagerly await results and possible livestream opportunities next week. Best of luck.

The draw for NSW Team is as follows.

MON 19 -   9:30am vs QLD

                  3:30pm vs TAS

TUES 20 -  10:15am vs VIC

                   4:15pm vs ACT

WED 21 –  Educational Excursion/rest day

THU 22  -  1:00pm vs WA

FRI 23    - 8:45am vs SA

Friday 16 August- Mandy Kemp, Jenny Skelly & VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Monday 19 August SPECIAL LUNCH ORDER DAY-  Allison Hewitt, Maureen Lucock, Elise Croker

Friday 23 August-  Mary-Ann Kilborn, Pip Frost, Sally Gamble

Monday 26 August- Tash McCormack, Elizabeth Egan, Tania Croker

Friday 30 August-  Nicola Pursell, Rebecca Scott, Sally Galland

Social Function- POSTPONED

Unfortunately, the P&F Social Event "Gatsby Night", has had to be postponed until further notice due to circumstances beyond our control.

If you have already purchased tickets, please hold onto these as the function will still go ahead at a later date, which will be advised.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.