St Mary's Primary School Yarram eNewsletter

Dear Parents,

Today we had our 2020 St Mary’s Primary School End of Year Graduation Mass. Thank you to those families that attended, it was nice to be able to welcome you back into the school community. Below is my principal’s address and farewell from the mass.

2020 has been a year unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us and provided many challenges along the way. Despite these challenges, our school community has displayed great resilience and has emerged with greater knowledge, new skills and an overwhelming sense that we can get through anything together.

For me, in my first year as principal, I have witnessed and become part of an amazing school community. The students at St Mary’s are respectful, enthusiastic and are a pleasure to teach and be around. The students would not exhibit these qualities, without the support and guidance of their family. Whilst, unfortunately parents and families haven’t been able to enter the school for the majority of the year, we look forward to next year, where we will hopefully once again welcome families back, as integral members of the school community and partners in education. This year, I have also witnessed a staff that is passionate about St Mary’s and strives to provide all children with an engaging learning experience, that is safe, supportive and challenging. Thank you to all the students, families and staff of St Mary’s, for contributing to a successful 2020.

With the end of another year upon us, we must say farewell to a number of our school families. This year we say goodbye to the Cipolla, Cook, Harding, Moore and Schneider families. I would like to thank you all for your contribution to St Mary’s Primary School. You have all contributed to our school community in a variety of ways. For some of you, today marks the end of a long association with St Mary’s. Despite not having any children at St Mary’s in 2021, you are all still a part of our school community and we are always here to help and support you and your family in the future.

A significant milestone in a child’s education is graduating from primary school. In the face of adversity, our Grade 6’s have led the student body with distinction. Congratulations on completing a most challenging Grade 6 year. St Mary’s has supported you to become safe, respectful, responsible learners and we know that you all have a positive future ahead of you. Please remember, that whilst you are graduating today, the doors at St Mary’s will always be open to you and we look forward to hearing how you are going and seeing the great things that you achieve.

I would like to congratulate our Grade 6 Graduates for 2020; Dylan Barlow, Xavier Cipolla, William Cook, Tahlia Harding, Charlotte Lawless, William Moore, Whitneigh Pleydell, Clair Schneider and Nakitah Tusa. We wish them all the best for the future.

Kind regards,

Joel

TERM 4

Friday 11th December- Year 6 Graduation Fun Day.

Thursday 17th December - Last Day of Term 4, 3.15pm finish. Please note this is a different date to previous newsletters.

2021

Wednesday 27th January - Uniform shop open 9.00am - 3.30pm

Thursday 28th January - First day for students for 2021. Students are to wear their summer uniform on the first day of school.

Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th February - Foundation students rest days

Wednesday 3rd March - Foundation students rest day

Monday 8th - Thursday 11th February - Swimming program at the Yarram Pool. Students will swim every day for an hour. Seniors at 9.30am - 10.30 am and Juniors 10.30am - 11.30am. More information will be sent home at the start of Term 1.

Crazy Colour Fun Run

Thank you to all our sponsors who supported our Crazy Colour Run. Thank you to all the staff and students who bought so much enjoyment to the day. Thank you Michael, Ian and Jaime for provided us with some hoses from our local CFA and cooled all the student and staff or should we say drenched them on the day.....

And a big thank you, for families and friends who came to support our day by watching through the fence. Hopefully 2021 will bring you all back in our school yard to support these day.

Fun Run

$1,630.00 was raised and will go towards our Heesco Mural!

Happy Birthday to Tyler M, Blake B, Salenah, Jaycee and Riley who celebrate birthdays in the month of December.

library_book_shelf_literature_books_cartoon_vector_21597741.jpg

Please return all library books to the school library by Tuesday, 15th December 2020.

Did you ever camp out overnight or spend the night at someone else's house and stay up half the night talking and giggling?

Well, did you ever pray all night? That's why Jesus did the night before he chose his twelve apostles! He went out to a mountain and prayed all night, and when the morning broke, he called together his friends and from them he chose his twelve apostles. When it was time to make an important decision, the first thing Jesus did was PRAY! And that's still a good idea for everybody today:

Look before you leap, think before you speak, and PRAY for help before you do anything important!

Do you think Jesus wants you to stay up all night praying? No, Jesus wants you to get enough sleep so you'll be bright-eyed in the morning and ready for school. Instead of praying all night you should just pray every night! Before you go to sleep, always say a "good night" prayer. And when you wake up, it would be a good idea to say a "good morning" prayer too...to thank God for another day and another opportunity!

SCHOOL FEES SCHEDULE 2021

School fees are important for the school to meet its financial commitments. School fees are set annually in consultation with the School Board and Parish Administrator. Families who experience difficulty in paying school fees please do not hesitate to make contact with the Principal or Administration Officer to make alternative arrangements.

All fees and levies for the entire school year will be invoiced in February. Fees are to be paid in full by the end of Term 3. Alternatively, you can pay in equal instalments over 12 months from January to December.

Family Fee Assistance Scheme
Families that have a means tested Centrelink or Veteran Affairs concession card are eligible to apply for the Family Fee Assistance Scheme. This allows for a significant reduction of your school fees. Application forms are available from the school office.

CSEF Assistance
This is a government assistance scheme for families with an eligible Health Care Card. Applications are available at the office.

Conveyance Allowance
Victorian Conveyance Allowance is available for children who reside in Victoria and are more than 4.8 kilometres from the nearest free school bus service. Please call at office to complete an application form.

Terms of Payment for School Fees Accounts
Fees can be paid in one lump sum, by term, monthly, fortnightly or weekly. At the beginning of the year you are asked to nominate a payment frequency eg. Weekly, fortnightly, per term. If no payment mode is nominated it will be presumed that you will pay by the end of term 3, Friday 17^th September.

There are numerous options available to pay your school fee account. Money can be received via:

Cash, Cheque or Credit Card at school office
Direct Credit to our account from your bank.
Centrepay-Centrelink can deduct school fee payments prior to paying you Centrelink.

We would ask that you consider all the payment options available to you and make a commitment to one of them.

2021 SCHOOL FEES

Fees per Family (per annum)

Family fee - $1000.00
Capital fee -$150.00

Fees per Student (per annum)

Tuition Fee - $150.00
Swimming - $60.00
Excursion -$65.00

Camp Fees per Student

Year 2, Sleepover $20.00

Year 3 & 4, Phillip Island - $390

Year 5 & 6, Canberra - $460

Additional Fees

Sacramental Program

$25.00 per student

This fee is for Catholic children who participate in the Sacraments.

Please contact Heather at the school office if you would like to set up a payment plan for 2021. For families who already have one in place this will continue in 2021.

Christmas Raffle 2020.

Congratulations to the following winners who were lucky to get their name pulled out by staff and students on Tuesday......

India Charles
Nate Dawson
Lois Charles
Coetzee Family
Jaycee McCormack
Joel Bowden
Lachie Kidd
Tracey Richards
Lyn Carr
Kristen Bedford
Xavier Moore

Thank you to Janette, Tayla and Cathy for coordinating the Christmas raffle, and a special thank you goes to Moores Butchers, Yarram Automotive Centre, Cafe AGA and Bianca's Aunty for their kind donations of vouchers.

We raised $650.00 which will go towards our Heesco Mural.