Dear Parents,

Tomorrow, Friday, 5^th March is a school closure day for all students at St Mary’s. With Monday, 8^th March being the Labour Day Public Holiday, this means that all students have a four-day weekend. The weather forecast looks favourable, so I encourage you all to get out and enjoy time together as a family. The ultimate goal of family time is to create opportunities for all members of the family to love and understand each other. The following benefits further reinforce the importance of family time:

• Fosters communication
• Helps build confidence and self-esteem
• Provides opportunities to role model
• Teaches children vital social skills
• Provides bonding opportunities
• Improves mental health
• Helps a child feel loved

Here are some suggestions to encourage quality family time:

• Get out in the great outdoors – go hiking, enjoy a picnic, head to the beach, go for a bike ride
• Play sports together – have a kick of the football or shoot some hoops, go for a hit of tennis, try a sport that you have never done before
• Play board games – place an emphasis on sportsmanship and fun

Tutor Learning Program

As you may be aware, the Victorian Government has provided funding for schools to implement a Tutor Learning Program. Schools across the state have received varying amounts of funding to be used to provide support for students whose learning has been impacted throughout periods of remote learning.

There are a number of important considerations that must be considered before embarking on this initiative. Firstly, and most importantly, St Mary’s needs to ensure that we accurately identify student need and determine whether a student would benefit from this support. On the basis of this information we can then determine the best approach to meet the needs of all of our students.

In order to begin the Tutor Learning Program, we also need to ensure we have appropriate staffing. The school is currently in the process of employing staff to undertake this work.

The Tutor Learning Program is for the 2021 school year and we are determined to ensure it has the best opportunity to have a positive impact on our students.

Whole School Mass

Next Thursday, 11^th March we will have our first St Mary’s whole school mass for 2021. The mass will be led by our Grade 6 students and focus on prayer. I would like invite all parents and families along to share this mass with us.

Clean Up Australia Day

St Mary’s will be holding a Clean Up Australia Day event next Friday, 12^th March between 11:30am and 1:00pm. On this day, all students will help tidy up our school grounds, to make it a safe and enjoyable place to play. All students are required to wear gardening clothes (old clothes) on this day. On this day we will have a BBQ, where students can have a sausage or two in bread for a gold coin donation. The money raised will be donated to CARITAS Australia, who support vulnerable communities, globally. I encourage all parents that are available on this day to come in and be a part of the day.

 School Advisory Committee Nominations

I have received some nominations forms for the St Mary’s School Advisory Committee. Please carefully consider nominating yourself or another parent to either the position of chair, secretary or general committee, if you have not already done so. Positions will be announced at our AGM on Tuesday, 16^th March at 5:15pm.

Kind regards,

Joel

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TERM 1 2021

March

TERM 2 2021

April

May

June

Good luck to Blake who is competing in the Wellington Division Swimming Carnival on Tuesday. Blake is competing in the 50m Breaststroke

What a great sporting achievement!!

ST MARY'S TALENT SHOW

Look at the smiles of our St Mary's talent show winners...

First Place - Inara  who sang "The Prayer"

Second Place - Hannah  who sang "Singing in the Shower"

Third Place - Tyler who read "Greeen Eggs & Ham

Thank you to:

Our two amazing School Captains, Evie & Ava for organising the talent show, Kristen for donating the prizes and to all the wonderful talent we have at St Mary's. 

Parents & Friends Fundraiser

St Mary's will be holding a lucky jar stall at the Easter Carnival.

Saturday, 3rd April 

12.00-5.00pm at the Yarram Recreation Reserve

To make this a success we need help from our St Mary's Community.

On Monday, 15th March we will be having a free dress day...... we kindly ask that children bring a jar of goodies to donate for the lucky jar stall:

Here are some suggestions:

Lollies (must be in wrappers)

Toys

Hair ribbons 

Pencils 

Stickers

Beads 

Let your lucky jar imagination go wild!!!!!!

Help Required prior and on the day of the Carnival:

• help on the day at the stall - one hour sessions
• numbering the jars
• Purchasing products to make extra jars (schools expense)
• making up extra jars as we are hoping to have 200 or more lucky jars on the day.
• donation of empty jars.
• Please contact Heather at the school Office if you can help with any of the above. 

Casual Clothes Day

(Easter Theme if you wish)

Monday 22^nd March 2021

 Please bring an Easter Egg to donate to the Easter Raffle in lieu for a gold coin.

Easter Raffle 2021.

Tickets will go home with the children today. They are $1 a ticket and there are 20 tickets in a booklet.

Please return all sold and unsold tickets to the office by

Monday, 29^th March.

Raffle will be drawn at school on Thursday 1^st April.

Thank you for your support!

Book Club orders are due back on Friday 16th March 2021.

KIDS VOUCHER PROGRAM

A Victorian-first program to provide vouchers of up to $200 each for sporting equipment, uniform and membership is available...

To Apply click here...