Dear Parents,

Thank you for all the work you are doing to support your child during remote schooling! As I have mentioned many times before, I know it is a challenge, especially when balancing your own commitments, so I appreciate all that you are doing.

Whilst I’m sure your week days are busy, I encourage you all to make the most of your weekends together as a family. With the weather being cold and wintery, one of the things that my family love to do together, is to light the fire in the backyard. The kids love toasting marshmallows and cooking damper, in between playing on the trampoline and kicking the balls around. As long as there is not too much rain about this weekend, I encourage you all to get out and create a little camp fire. I would love to see some photos of you all toasting marshmallows, cooking damper or cooking one of your own family favourites.

Another highlight of my weekends is Sunday morning scones. Whilst I’m definitely not the chef of the house, I do gladly accept a freshly cooked scone. These scones are amazing with raspberry jam and a big dollop of cream. Below is the recipe that my wife Jen swears by!

Scone Recipe

Ingredients:

3 ½ cups of S/R Flour (or 4 cups, depending how sticky your mixture is)

1 cup of soda water

1 cup of cream

 Method:

• Combine ingredients in a large bowl. (The less you mix the lighter your scones will be)
• Turn mixture out onto floured board and lightly flatten with hands. (approx. 3cm high)
• Cut out scones using a cutter and place almost touching on a lightly floured tray.
• Cook in a 220-degree oven for 15 minutes.

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe.

Kind regards,

Joel

TERM 3

Thursday 5th August - Remote Schooling Starts          

Monday 31st August - School Photos- cancelled  We are hoping to reschedule for Term 4

Friday 18th September—Last Day of Term.                                                                                                     Talk Like A Pirate Dress Up Day 

TERM 4

Monday 5th October - Term 4 Starts

Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th October - Grade 3/4 School Camp to Forest Lodge

Monday 19th - Wednesday 21st October - Grade 5/6 School Camp to Melbourne

Monday 2nd November - School Closure Day 

Tuesday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday 

Friday 18th December - Last Day of Term 4 

Please complete the attached On-Site School Intention form if your child/children will be attending school for remote learning.

This is for the following:

• students whose parents, guardians or carers are considered as permitted workers
• students with additional needs who require learning adjustment
• vulnerable students including: children in and out of home care; children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to at risk of harm; children indetified by the school as vulnerable.

Important Message About School Fees

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians

I wish to reassure families impacted financially by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that we want to assist you in every way possible to continue your child(ren)’s enrolment at St Mary's Primary School.

As many in our school community grapple with unprecedented changes to finances, emotional wellbeing and physical health, we have taken a clear position on enrolments.

Any parent, carer or guardian who wishes their child to receive a Catholic education at St Mary's Primary School will not be denied the opportunity to do so due to financial circumstances.

If you have concerns about your financial situation, please contact Heather at the school office, hleemon@stmyarram.catholic.edu.au so that we can explore confidential financial support arrangements to enable your child(ren)’s education at our school to continue.

School fees are an essential portion of resources for the operation of our school and assist our leaders and staff to enhance curriculum and teaching programs.  Therefore, we are asking, for those who can, to continue to support the school financially.

We will respond to applications for financial assistance as promptly as possible, given our own constraints during this time.  We are absolutely committed to working with our families as we all move through these challenging times.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact St Mary's Primary School.

Thank you for your continued support of our St Mary's Yarram community.

Your support will enable us to continue to provide quality learning opportunities and strong pastoral programs for all our students.

Yours sincerely

Joel Brayshaw

If you have a child or know of anyone wishing to enrol their child in 2021, please contact the school or download a Parent Handbook and Enrolment Form. Enrolment forms may be emailed to hleemon@stmyarram.catholic.edu.au

Enrolment Handbook

Enrolment Form

Parent Handbook

Bianca created this stunning sunset artwork that she has been working on during creative time, remote learning.

• Is it smaller than a mobile phone?
• Is it bigger than a watermelon?
• Could you plant it in your backyard?
• Would you see it in a house
• Would you see it in a church?
• Would you see it in a zoo?
• Could you eat it?
• Can it fly?
• Is it alive?
• Is it hard?
• Would it cost a lot of money?
• Is it made of wood?
• Would you want it for a pet?

Well, you get the idea, so you can think of your own questions.

Have fun!

Staying the course in COVID times

COVID-19 continues to test us ways that were unimaginable at the start of 2020. It's becomingthe defining event of this generation and a reference point for decades to come.........

Talk Like A Pirate Day

On Friday, 18th September St Mary's will have a swashbuckling good time!
Celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Dress up in your best pirate outfit and join your class mates in a 'Pirate Themed Google Meet'.  

Supporting Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Please View Article

Using Play to Support Children During COVID-19

Community News 

Understanding Your Childs Behaviour

ParentZone Gippsland have a number of programs to help support families in Gippsland. Current programs offered include: Please click on the following links 

Understanding Your Child's Behaviour

Building Self Esteem & Resilience

Bullying: Helping Your Child

Communication