Upcoming Events

The Magical Christmas Jigsaw

Tonight is our Christmas Concert with a performance of The Magical Christmas Jigsaw. This musical involves each class, piecing together the Nativity story. 

Thank you to those who attended the matinee yesterday. Our big performance tonight will commence at 6.30pm.  All students are required.

Before the evening performance, the Family BBQ will be from 5.30pm, hosted by our Year 6 families.  

We look forward to seeing you all tonight.

Crazy Hair Day

On Friday 6 December our students are invited to attend school with fun CRAZY HAIR, for a gold coin donation. This event is a fun fundraiser to assist Pat McRae's family with the many costs associated with travelling for treatments and to see specialist doctors. Pat, an ex-student of St Mary's, was diagnosed with a brain tumour this year. Pat will come along on this day to speak with Years 4-6 about his journey.

School Reports

You will receive your child's Semester Two Progress Report and Evidence of Learning Folder (ELF) on Friday 13 December.

Your child’s ELF will contain work samples taken from a variety of learning areas across the Semester. There will be a variety of draft and published pieces so that you can see your child’s everyday work standards.

If you have any questions about either of these progress documents please make an appointment to see your child’s classroom teacher.

ICAS Results

During the year we had some students opt to sit ICAS—University of NSW exams in English, Spelling, Digital Technology, Maths and Science. These ICAS Assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence.  They ask students to demonstrate a deeper, integrated and thorough level of learning.

A special congratulations to the following students for achieving outstanding results:

Saxon Greenwood - Credit: Digital Technologies

Dylan Greenwood—Credit: Spelling Bee and Mathematics  

Olivia Pursell—Credit: Mathematics

William Heffernan—Credit: Science

Appreciation Morning Tea

On Thursday morning at 10.30am we will be hosting a morning tea for all of our 2019 helpers as a way of showing our appreciation for supporting St Mary's.  Everyone who has helped in any way, no matter how large or how small, are welcome to join us. If you can join us, please let Belinda know by calling 48321 592.

Movie Excursion

As a special treat to the students for all of their hard work this year we will go to Goulburn on Monday 16 December, within school hours, to watch a movie and have a picnic lunch and play in Victoria Park.

The children will be watching the new release of “The Addams Family”, an animated comedy.

Please let the school know if your child will not be attending this excursion so that supervision can be arranged at school. 

Future Leaders

The voting for our 2020 Captain roles occurred on Monday with the announcement of our 2020 School Leaders at our End of Year School Mass and Changeover Ceremony on Thursday 12 December at 9.30am. Please note the badges will be blessed and presented at our Leaders Induction Mass on Thursday 6 February 2020.

Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot

Next year St Mary's Primary School is one of three Archdiocesan Schools participating in an Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot. This project seeks to improve student outcomes by supporting teachers to develop their classroom practice. Whilst the focus is on K–2 students, the content of the project is relevant for all teachers K–6. At the centre of the program, the model is a twelve-month professional development and instructional coaching program offered by Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond each term for four terms.

Through a combination of professional learning, lesson demonstration (modelling by an instructional coach), lesson observation and feedback, teachers are supported to improve their knowledge of the learning brain and capacity to teach students using instructional strategies that are systematic, direct and explicit. By providing practical professional learning, with follow-up instructional coaching, this program supports teachers to transfer evidence-based strategies into their own practice, in their own classroom, efficiently and effectively. Participating schools will not be required to stop any initiatives or programs currently underway – the explicit teaching and learning project is additive. 

The Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot experience is a spaced program, over four terms, that includes:

Four hands-on professional learning days
Teachers learn the why and how of explicit instruction through discussion of the evidence, lesson demonstrations with students and video exemplars. Critically, each professional learning day provides teachers with the opportunity to practice explicit lesson delivery with students and receive immediate coaching and feedback.

Multiple rounds of instructional coaching to consolidate learning
In addition to coaching during the professional learning days, teachers are supported as they implement new strategies in their own classrooms. Lorraine Hammond will travel to each school to observe teachers, offer feedback on their instruction and provide opportunities for self-reflection.

Leadership support
Leaders are supported to develop the necessary skills to sustain and embed explicit instruction in the school, including taking part in professional learning, lesson observation and instructional coaching.

Building a network and shared resources
Teachers can support one another and build a network committed to further developing their expertise and sharing resources and materials.

Who will deliver the program?
Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond is a specialist in high-impact instruction, including explicit instruction and direct instruction. She has worked with schools in numerous cities and regions across the country to support the sustainable implementation of effective instruction. She is experienced in coaching leaders, adapting to the challenges of each school’s unique context and working one on one with classroom teachers to support effective practice. Dr Lorraine Hammond will deliver the professional learning, demonstrate lessons, observe lessons and provide feedback for each participant of this project.

2020 Term Dates for Students

Term 1: Wednesday 29 January (Years 1-6) Thursday 30 January (Kindergarten) to Thursday 9 April

Term 2: Tuesday 28 April to Friday 3 July

Term 3: Tuesday 21 July to Friday 25 September

Term 4: Tuesday 13 October to Wednesday 16 December

The Student Resource Levy covers all stationery, text materials, classroom paper, art and craft materials and sundry items purchased for the children and the classes.

The Utilities/Maintenance Levy covers the costs associated with the general running of the school itself. These include cleaning, gas and electricity, phone, mowing, waste disposal, etc.

Breakdown

The following fees schedule has been approved by the School Board for the 2020 school year and is reviewed annually.

CEO Tuition Fee                    $321.00 per family per term

Utilities/Maintenance Fee       $132.00 per family per term

Building Levy                        $28.00 per family per term   

Student Resource Levy          $31.00 per student per term

ICT Levy                              $31.00 per student per term 

This means the total cost for one child per term is $543.00

The total cost for two children or more per term is $605.00

The total cost for three children or more per term is $667.00

Please note that the Tuition Fee, Utilities Maintenance Fee and Building Levy, as listed above, are a ‘per family price’ meaning that subsequent children enrolled at St Mary’s do not pay these fees/levies.

There is a 50% discount on the Tuition Fee if a sibling attends an Archdiocesan Systemic secondary school and no charge for a 4th, or subsequent, child attending a Systemic primary, central or secondary school.

In accordance with Archdiocesan Policy no child will be denied a Catholic Education on the basis of a family’s inability to pay fees. Circumstances of genuine financial hardship should be discussed with the Principal.

Options available to pay:

Fees can be paid in a number of ways- direct debit, BPAY, utilising our Qkr! app, cash, cheque or credit card via BPoint. Fees can be paid per term, monthly, fortnightly or weekly.

Direct debit payment can be organised by completing paperwork collected from the School Office which requires your account details and the amount to be debited per week. Please remember when using this option, payments are based on a 52-week, 26 fortnight or 12 monthly period. Therefore, to ensure your fees are up to date at the end of the school year, the following minimum amounts should be considered:

                        One child       Two children        Three or more children

Weekly:           $41.77            $46.54                $51.31

Fortnightly:      $83.54            $93.08                $102.62

Monthly:          $181.00          $201.67               $222.33

If you have any questions regarding the fees, more information on how they are used or queries regarding payment amounts, please do not hesitate to contact the School Office for more information.

If one of your children will be attending a Catholic systemic school in 2020, please let Belinda know so the sibling discount can be applied.

Advent

A time of …watchful waiting, preparation, and justice

Get ready for the coming of the Lord

This Sunday marks the beginning of the second week of Advent. John the Baptist preaches of the coming of the Lord. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus, we too are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by reflecting on how we fail to follow Jesus and by trying to reform our lives. At school the students have been trying to think of ways they can become better people – this is the best present we can give Jesus - and it has the extra benefit of making our world a better place to live in. Year 4’s Advent tasks this week were: to spend a few extra minutes in prayer; do their work well and with joy for God; secretly do a kind act for someone; and be kind to people they don’t usually get along with (not an easy task for anyone!). What have you been doing to prepare for Jesus’ birthday?

TAKE TIME THIS ADVENT

Take time to THINK…it is the source of power

Take time to PLAY…it is the secret of perpetual youth

Take time to READ…it is the fountain of wisdom

Take time to PRAY…it is the greatest power on earth

Take time to LOVE…and be LOVED…it is a God-given privilege

Take time to be FRIENDLY…it is the road to happiness

Take time to LAUGH…it is the music of the soul

Take time to GIVE…it is too short a day to be selfish

Take time to WORK…it is the price of success

Take time for CHARITY…it is the key to heaven.

Advent Prayer

You are welcome to join us on Monday morning at 9am in the school hall for our prayer celebration to welcome the second week of Advent.

 St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal           

One way we can open our hearts to God this Advent is by doing everything we can to help the less fortunate in our community and in the wider world. Give some real thought to what you could donate to this year’s St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Items can be placed beneath the Christmas tree in St Mary’s school foyer.

End of School year Mass - 9:30am Thursday 12 December

Come along and help us give thanks for our school year. Our outgoing Year 6 students will also hand over their leadership role to next year’s Year 6 students.

Rep Sport Dates 2020

***Please note change of dates***

Year 4 – Naomi Picker and Harry Price

Year 5 - Georgina Culley and Olivia Pursell

Year 6 - Ellie McCormack and Nathaniel Waters

Please be aware that next Tuesday 10 December, is the last banking day for 2019.

Thank you.

Opening Days

The uniform shop will open as normal every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of term.

We will have the uniform shop open for appointments only on Wednesday 22 January from 10am-2pm, however bookings must be made via: https://smpscrookwell.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/7

It will also be open on Tuesday 28 January from 12.00pm to 3.00pm. No appointments are necessary.

Size 8 Girls Summer Dresses

Please be advised there will be a small delay with size 8 girls summer dresses. Once they are available, they will again be visible on Qkr. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

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

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

Phone: 48321 633 

Address: 55 Wade Street (the Old Convent Building)

Altar Roster

1 December- Regan Picker

8 December- Phoebe Selmes & Oliver Gray

15 December- Regan Picker, Nathaniel Waters & Seth Grove

22 December- Oliver Gray, Skyelah Gray & Abigail Gray

24 December- Nathaniel Waters, Abigail Gray

25 December- Seth Grove, Oliver Gray, Skyelah Gray

29 December- Nathaniel Waters

Please arrive 15 minutes before Mass to help Father prepare.

It is important that you contact another server to arrange a swap if you are unable to make it on your rostered day.

We would love it if some more children could join our Altar Serving team. Please contact the Parish Office if your child is interested. Training is provided and new children are rostered on with experienced servers.

Christmas Masses

Christmas in Crookwell- Late Night Shopping

The Crookwell Progress Association invites everyone to join in the festivities on Thursday, December 12.

Local businesses will stay open until 7pm.

Santa will be in Gouburn Street from 5.30 to 6.30pm

Face painting at the amenities block from 5.00 to 7pm

Lions Raffle with multiple prize draws from 5pm to 7pm

Christmas Carols in the Uniting Church forecourt from 5.30pm

Photos with Santa at the Services Club from 6.30pm - gold coin donation

Crookwell Golf Club Kids Clinic

Crookwell Library Holiday Fun

Crookwell Junior Green Devils 2020