Dear Parents and Friends,

It was lovely to gather together last Friday to celebrate the beginning of Term 4 Mass. The students responded excitedly as the staff took on the roles we usually ask them to do throughout the Mass. Well done all for a great way to start the Term.

I have noticed that some students are not wearing the correct school uniform. I ask for assistance in this matter as we must wear our beautiful uniform correctly.

Nail polish and extra accessories must not be worn to school and must be removed following a weekend.

This Sunday, October 16th, staff and I are participating in the Parish Assembly, to be held after mass in Mary MacKillop Hall. It will offer us a wonderful opportunity to discuss with groups within the St Mary’s Pariah community the challenges and opportunities for our school in an ever-changing landscape.

We have a hectic term ahead, and I ask that you keep up to date with events on the school calendar.

Stay Safe.

Maria

TERM 4:

Monday, 31st October

Religious News:  Thursday the 13^th of October.

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.  Part of ‘Socktober’ also calls us to take action against poverty through the world game of Soccer. 

There are children who cannot afford a soccer ball or even have access to the shops to buy them and so make them from rags and strings.  Pope Francis, was one such child.  When he grew up in Buenos Aires he played soccer with a ball made out of cloth strips, because at that time soccer balls were made of leather and were very expensive.
The Pope said that, in Argentina, “cloth-strip balls became a cultural symbol of that time, so much so that a popular Argentine poet even wrote a poem entitled “cloth-strip ball”.

On Monday the 24^thof 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.

Leading up to this day we are going to be making some soccer balls out of rags, old socks and strings.  Your donations of the rags and socks (clean please) will assist us with this task.  On Monday the 24^th of October we will have a game of Soccer using our newly made soccer balls.

Each year ‘Socktober’ focuses on a country and the focus is on assisting them to be sustainable.  This year it is Ethiopia and the focus is on assisting the Deberety Farm, run by the parish priest Father Habtesilassie Antuan, to expand its goat-rearing centre which will have a multifaceted impact on the local community. 

While cow's milk has been a saving grace for families in Emdibir, it is a costly and unsustainable answer for the community. This is mainly due to the fact that one of the most common animals in the region is not cows but goats. Father Habte says the local people are well trained in raising goats for meat and other uses, but not for milk, which is more nutritious and affordable than cow's milk.  For as little as $117 we can help to purchase one goat at the Deberety Farm to provide nutritious milk.

For more information about Ethiopia: https://www.socktober.org.au/ethiopia

Kind Regards,

Sue Benc

On Thursday, 27th October. There will be a cultural performance at the Yarram Primary School Hall.

ZimboyZ is an energy-filled, acrobatic act straight out of Africa. The performers enthral the audience with their daring routines that include hoop diving, human pyramids, chair balancing, dance and amazing tumbling!

On Monday, the 24th of October, we are having a crazy sock day to raise money for Socktober Missions: The focus is on the Food shortage in Ethiopia. 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 your 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.

Please note that tomorrow, 14th of October will be the last that students are allowed to wear their winter uniforms.

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays- Summer Uniform 

Girls' Summer Uniform:

• Blue check dress
• Short white socks 
• Grey Skorts
• White short-sleeved polo shirt with emblem
• Royal blue school jumper
• 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—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. If the weather is cold students are allowed to wear their winter uniform until 14th October

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

Sneakers are only to be worn on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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

eSafety focus: Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to a child or young person so they feel bad or upset. 

eSafety helps prevent and deal with cyberbullying and its impacts. We do this by providing information, education and resources, and by investigating and helping to fix the most serious cases of cyberbullying.

Please click on the link to view the full article

Please click to visit the website

Congratulations to Jikaya for qualifying to participate in the Gippsland Region Athletics on Tuesday, 11th October in Newborough. We are very proud of you.

Book Club catalogues have been sent home with the students.  Orders are due back on Monday, 24th October.

ST. MARY'S PARISH ASSEMBLY

On Sunday, 16th October, after mass, there will be a Parish lunch at the Mary MacKillop Hall at 12:00, followed by a meeting of all interested parishioners to discuss ideas for the future of the Parish.

Please click on the link for details