Dear Parents and Carers,

As I write this newsletter from the sunny Camp Rumbug, I am thrilled to share that the Grade 3 and 4 students are not just enjoying various activities. These experiences also foster their personal growth and resilience, which we all value and encourage. Their positive attitude towards each other's achievements is commendable and a testament to their character.

The hills have certainly challenged us and made us rethink our fitness levels, but the camp food and the warm, friendly staff have been our constant support. They have also been unwavering in their commitment to ensuring the student's well-being and safety, a top priority at all times.

The students have been actively engaging in raft building, archery, flying fox and mud run, to name a few. Their infectious enthusiasm and joy in these activities are truly heartwarming. After a first night filled with excited chitter-chatter, the students are beginning to show signs of slowing down, so after our fire and marshmallows tonight, I am predicting a quieter group of intrepid campers, content and fulfilled from their day's adventures. A huge thank you to Anthony Sheedy and Jamie Badham for supporting the students on camp and giving up their time. 

Last Wednesday, we celebrated a fantastic Mothers’ Day Breakfast. Our hall was full of smiles and conversations, and Mums and special people enjoyed a breakfast prepared by the St Mary’s staff. I hope your Mothers’ Day was relaxing and memorable for all our wonderful Mums.

Tomorrow marks the launch of Catholic Education Week. We eagerly anticipate celebrating the achievements and values that make us a Catholic Primary School.

We hold Ivy and Lachlan in our thoughts and prayers as they make the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this Sunday. I have enjoyed working with Ivy and Lachlan while preparing for Sunday, and we look forward to celebrating with them.

Maria

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TERM 2 2024

May 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Happy birthday to Grade Mumford, who celebrates her birthday on 20th May. We hope you have a wonderful day!

The Yarram & Districts Athletics got off to a good start, but was interrupted, due to bad weather.

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY 2024

Thank you to all the students and staff who walked to school on Friday, 10th May 2024.

SCHOOL DISCO

The SRC has chosen to organise a School Disco on Thursday, 23rd May to start their fund-raising for this year.

Timings are as follows:

Foundation - Grade 1 - 11:15 - 11:45 am

Grades 2/3/4 - 12:00 - 12:30 pm

Grades 5/6 - 2:00 - 2:30pm (after lunch)

Students can wear free dress, glitter is encouraged.

Entry is $5 per child which includes a bag of chips, a bag of lollies and glow sticks.

After the class discos, students will have a chance to buy a hot-dog (in bread) lunch for $3.00

All proceeds will go to the Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal.

Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents/Carers,

Following on from our last newsletter and the Social and Emotional Learning Competencies the next area to look at is Social Awareness.

Social awareness refers to the ability to understand the perspective of others and empathise. In the early years of life, students are naturally more egocentric and more inclined to think about themselves and their own needs. Understanding the perspectives of others and developing a sense of empathy are considered fundamental building blocks for the positive development and mental health of students.

Below are some of the strategies that will be incorporated within the classrooms and they can be used at home.

• Use literature, poetry, film and real‑life accounts to help your children understand the feelings of those who feel different, or lonely, or what it feels like to experience difficult events. Ask if they have ever felt the same way.
• Encourage self‑reflective questioning—such as, ‘What would I have done in that situation?’ This is a metacognitive technique that allows children to evaluate actions, promotes self‑reflection, and develops their use of self‑talk.

In the next newsletter we will look at the benefits and impacts of self-talk. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

Religion News: Thursday the 16^th of May 2024

Sacrament of First Holy Communion.

Congratulations to Lachlan and Ivy who will celebrate their First Holy Communion this Sunday.  Thank you to the children who have volunteered to be part of the choir to help celebrate their Sacrament.  It is always special to come together as a community with staff, parents, students and parish.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday.  The word Pentecost means fiftieth day in Greek.  Pentecost marks the end of the Easter Season and is called the birthday of the Church as it was from this event that the disciples went forth to spread the good news and establish the Church.

Some videos for reflection on Pentecost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNNZO9i1Gjc&t=45s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtXwnx4o9_U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4EiXCUAmDo

 The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday the 28th of July at 11:00am Mass. 

Peace Mass

Next Friday, we will travel together to Sale to participate in the annual Peace Mass. Primary and Secondary School come together to pray for Peace in our world.  The Mass is celebrated by Bishop Greg Bennet and other priest from around the Diocese of Sale.  Each year all schools create a display for the Sale Catholic College Stadium where the Mass is celebrated.  This year we have been busy making cranes.

The paper crane became a symbol of hope and peace through the story of a little Japanese girl. 

Sadako Sasaki was exposed to radiation as an infant when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima during World War II. Although she survived the bomb, she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12. Some say she decided to fold 1,000 cranes, hoping that her wish to live would come true, but sadly, Sadako never reached her goal, and later passed that year. She was buried with a wreath of 1,000 paper cranes, and she became a symbol of hope and peace. At the Hiroshima Peace Park, where a statue of her holding a giant crane called the Children’s Peace Monument, Sadako is forever memorialized. 

Her story of hope spread throughout the world, and her paper cranes became known as a symbol of peace. These paper cranes bring hope to the world as every year, children from around the world will fold cranes and send them to Hiroshima where they are placed around a statue of Sadako.

Kind Regards

Sue Benc

Catholic Education Week