Dear Parents and Friends of St Mary’s,

We have had a busy start to the term, with the students settling into the routines and expectations of a new term.

Our Integrated Unit this Term is “Living Things”, and our students will concentrate on the Life Cycles of Plants and Beautiful Butterflies and the Behavioural, Physiological and Structural adaptations of plants and animals. In my classroom visits, I have seen the students enthusiastically engage in the topic, and I look forward to sharing their learning.

We welcome back Mrs Owens, who has enjoyed a wonderful six weeks Long Service Leave travelling far and wide. Deb will return to work on Monday, October 16th, and we look forward to hearing about her many adventures.

Maria

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ST. MARY'S BOOK FAIR

To celebrate Book Week, St. Mary's Library is organising a Book Fair from Monday 23rd October - Tuesday, 31st October.

Payments can be made with card, cash or can be done online.

If you intend to pay online, a receipt payment slip will need to be returned to the library for the item to be collected.

The QR code and the wish list for you to scan for payments are on the back of the flyers that will be handed out next week.

Students will be able to fill out a wish list when they come to visit the fair.

The times for the Book Fair are below, if you cannot make any of these times, please contact a school and organise a time with Sharon.

MON 23rd : 2:00 - 3:15

TUES 24th: 2:00 - 3:15

WED 25th: 2:00 - 3:45

THURS 26th 2:00 - 3:45

FRI 27th: 8:15 - 9:00 AM AND 2:00 - 3:45 PM

MON 30th: 8:15 - 9:00 AM AND 2:00 - 3:15 PM

TUES 31st: 8:15 - 9:00 AM AND 2:00 - 3:45 PM

A percentage of sales goes back into resources for our school library. We thank you for your support.

SOCKTOBER FUNDRAISER

On Tuesday, the 24th of October, we are having a crazy sock day to raise money for Socktober Missions: This year's focus is on Timor-Leste In exchange for a gold coin donation, students can wear socks in any way they choose, mismatched, as hair ties, as gloves, wear them around their neck, or make a colourful belt. Have fun and be as creative as possible. It's for a good cause.

Please note that students still need to be in school

 uniform.

Get to know Timor-Leste. 

One of Australia's closest neighbours, Timor-Leste is a small island republic just under 700kms from Darwin, which shares its western border with Indonesia. The country secured its independence from Indonesia in 2001, after an oppressive and violent occupation. Today, the scars still linger as the people grapple with the effects of poverty, low-quality healthcare and infrastructure, corruption and inequality.

Click here for details on Timor Leste and how your donations can help

Held annually on the last Friday of October, Day for Daniel honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe, who tragically went missing in December 2003; he was wearing a red T-shirt.

The  Day for Daniel Foundation aims to build a future, where children are free from harm and abuse. We encourage parents, carers and to start a conversation with children and young people about personal safety.

We have registered our school to be a part of this fundraising day. On Friday, 27th October 2023, students can wear red clothes and we will be conducting child safety activities.

If you would like to make a donation to the foundation, the link is below.

Click on this link to donate to the Day for Daniel campaign

Religion News:  12th October 2023

We celebrated our First Mass for Term Four with Father Antony on Tuesday.  Thank you to all our students and teachers.

World Mission Month:  In Australia, October marks World Mission Month.  It is a celebration of the global work of the Church and its dedication of missionaries, both religious and non-religious, as they reach out and support children and communities in need around the world.

‘Socktober’ provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help but why they do it.

Traditionally, at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we have a Crazy Sock Day to raise awareness and money for these programs. 

On Tuesday the 24^th of October our students are invited to be part of ‘Crazy Sock Day.’ You wear them in your hair, on your feet, around your waist, around your wrist.  Colourful, not matching etc.  Children are also asked to bring a gold coin donation on that day.

Each year ‘Socktober’ focuses on a country and the focus is on assisting them to be sustainable.  This year the focus is on Timor-Leste.

One of Australia's closest neighbours, Timor-Leste is a small island republic just under 700kms from Darwin, which shares its western border with Indonesia. The country secured its independence from Indonesia in 2001, after an oppressive and violent occupation. Today, the scars still linger as the people grapple with the effects of poverty, low-quality healthcare and infrastructure, corruption and inequality. It is why the presence of missionaries like the Salesian Sisters, especially in regional parts of the country, is so important.  We can help the work of the Salesian Sisters by raising money throughout October.  Some of the ways our money can assist the work of the missionaries is listed below.

Fifty dollars can provide milk and food for children with malnutrition.

Eighty dollars can help provide life-saving medication for sick children.

One hundred and fifty dollars can help provide nutritious meals at the Children’s homes.

World Mission Sunday is on October 22, 2023. Pope Francis, in his message for World Mission Sunday 2023, reflects on the theme “Hearts on fire, feet on the move," based on the story of the disciples who encounter Jesus on their way to Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35).

So let us set out once more, illumined by our encounter with the risen Lord and prompted by his Spirit.

Let us set out again with burning hearts, with our eyes open and our feet in motion.

Let us set out to make other hearts burn with the word of God, to open the eyes of others to Jesus in the Eucharist, and to invite everyone to walk together on the path of peace and salvation that God, in Christ, has bestowed upon all humanity.

Kind Regards,

Sue Benc

The new date for school photos is Monday 30th October 2023.

All current orders will be honoured and we would like to encourage you to place an order if you haven't already done so.

Forms have been sent home with students. Please contact the school office if you would like a form. If you would prefer to order online, please use the links below:

School Photo Order Form

QR Code:

Click on this link for the QR code

Please note that we are making the transition into our Summer uniforms. All students will be expected to come to school wearing their full Summer uniforms from 16th October 2023.

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays- Summer Uniform

(Middle-Grade students: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - Summer Uniform)

Girls' Summer Uniform:

• Blue check dress
• Short white socks 
• Grey Skorts
• White short-sleeved polo shirt with emblem
• Royal blue school jumper
• White socks
• Black leather school shoes
• Blue/white or grey ribbons

Boys' Summer Uniform :

• Grey school shorts
• White short-sleeved polo shirt with emblem
• Blue school jumper
• Grey socks, black leather school shoes or boots

Tuesdays & Thursdays / Fridays for Middle-Grade students - Sports Uniform

Girls' Sports Uniform:

• Royal blue track pants/ shorts or sports skorts
• Royal blue sports polo with emblem
• Royal blue sports jacket or polo fleece jumper
• White socks
• Sneakers

Boys' Sports Uniform:

• Royal blue track pants or shorts
• Royal blue sports polo with emblem
• Royal blue sports jacket or polo fleece jumper 
• White socks
• Sneakers

Leggings are not part of the school uniform and are not to be worn under school dresses or skorts.

School Hats must be worn at recess and lunch times in Term 4. 

Sneakers are only to be worn on Sports days (Tuesdays and Thursdays/ Fridays for the Middle-Grade students)

Grade 6 Students may wear their Grade 6 Polo on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The Design a Plate fundraiser is still ongoing, this fundraiser gets children to draw an original painting onto a plate, which they can bring home as a personalised piece of artwork.

Each plate is $10.00. 

We appreciate your help in making this program fun for the kids and thank you for your continued support.

Please note that we are limited to one plate per student.