Dear Parents and Carers

In these challenging times, it has been difficult to gather together anywhere for significant rituals as a church. This week’s Gospel, speaks of Jesus anointing Peter as the first leader of the church, ‘You are Peter and on this rock, I build my Church’. These current times have challenged us to really consider what it really means to belong to a church when physically gathering in any group or building is so restricted. It challenges us to reach out to others in love and kindness as we are the people of God and as such are the church. I’m so mindful of families who have lost loved ones and have not been able to be supported by the rituals and gathering of community, these rituals are two-fold in that they surround the family in love and acknowledgment, whilst also helping the family comes to terms with the reality of such significant loss. I ask this week for you to consider how you can reach out in love to those around you who may be suffering or in need of help. 

We have sadly had to implement further COVID restrictions in the school grounds this week, as CEODow have released further restrictions in line with the Health Department. As a small school, we are fortunate that our class numbers are small and our classrooms and facilities are spacious. Unfortunately now, as different class groups cannot gather together, we will not be able to hold our school assembly each morning. Classes will now go directly to their classroom and line up ready after each break. In addition, we will not be able gather our school together for our fortnight assembly. We will instead be zooming in from each classroom where a class each fortnight will present some work and we will present each class with their awards. We will send out a Zoom link so you can join us at least virtually for these important moments. 

We have had some very wild weather and windy days up on our hill lately, so please make sure that every child has a jacket or jumper in their bags as well as their school hat and drink bottle. An enormous thank you to our parents for ensuring that all of our children are coming to school in full school uniform, they look wonderful. 

To acknowledge the wonderful behaviour of our children on the playground, next week we will be launching the ‘All Stars’ award. Children will be given an All Stars ticket on the playground to acknowledge students following our 4 school rules : Care for ourselves, Care for Others, Care for Our School and Care For Learning. Each fortnight at the School Zoom Assembly the class with the most tickets per student will be given a whole class award, we are looking forward to seeing who will win the first ever ‘All Stars Award.’

Have a great week,

Yours in Partnership 

Laurinda Nelson 

PB4L Celebration Corner  Term 3, Week 7

Class Merit Awards Week, presented at ZOOM Assembly 

Kinder – Clay C, Max M 

Year 1 – Parker G

Year 2 – Torin D, Ally S, Arabella B

Year 3 – Aurelia R, Georgie D

Year 4  - Rosie H, Brigum D

Year 5 – Tess W, Summer G, Xavier B

Year 6 –  Oliver P, Oscar P-D

Shining Star

Matthew R, 

Super Star Awards for Week,

We care for Ourselves 

Aurelia R, Josh Mc, Duke R,

We Care For Others

Georgie D, Matthew R, Brigum D,  Faith S

We Care For Our Learning

Maddy H

We Care For Our School 

Jacob D.G

CLASS ALL STARS AWARD COMING SOON,  WATCH THIS SPACE

TUESDAY 25th AUGUST: ICAS Digital Technology & ICAS English

FRIDAY 28th AUGUST: MINI VINNIES PYJAMA DAY

TUESDAY 1st SEPTEMBER: ICAS Maths & ICAS Spelling

FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER: LAST DAY TERM 3

MONDAY 12th OCTOBER:  FIRST DAY TERM 4

FRIDAY 16th OCTOBER SCHOOL PHOTOS:  Students to wear full summer uniform  (not sports uniform)

Have you noticed all the beautiful Golden Wattles in bloom? The Golden Wattle is just one species of a large group of flora in Australia. Wattle is able to withstand drought, wind and bushfire and is regenerative for land that has been disturbed. It is therefore recognised as symbolising resilience and strength. 

Year 2 spent a Visual Arts lesson producing a still life drawing of this beautiful plant. Below is the work of Sahara C, a lead sketch she produced after contemplating the shapes and features of the Golden Wattle.  

Emily McGregor

Visual Arts/SPLICED teacher

We had our first ICAS assessment on Tuesday 18th August and 13 children participated with success. Congratulations to our Year 2 and 3 students who have never participated in an online assessment before. They did really well!

All students participating in the ICAS assessments need to bring headphones to school.

Update of dates:

• ICAS Digital Technologies and English will be held on Tuesday 25th August
• ICAS Mathematics and Spelling will be held on Tuesday 1st September

We’re not big, but we stand tall!

These words taken from our school song rang true last week as the St. Mary’s Cricket Team hosted Milton Primary School in a friendly 20-over cricket match.

St Mary’s won the toss and elected to bowl first. Our Captain, Tex L showed excellent leadership as he organised positions and a bowling order.  Hamish K performed outstandingly as the team’s Wicket Keeper, never letting a ball get past him. Finn B stopped several balls reaching the boundary line with his excellent work in the outfield. Best bowlers were Noah H and Aska P who each got key wickets. Toby K and Matt R opened the batting getting the team off to a good start with Matt getting 9 runs on the board before getting caught out. Tex L scored the most runs for the day, achieving 20 runs. Nobody would have guessed that it was Gage L's very first game of cricket, he looked natural as a batsman as he protected the wicket for as long as possible. Ross K came late in the batting order, but did not disappoint, scoring much needed runs in the final minutes of the match.

The final wicket partnership was nail biting with St Mary’s narrowly falling short in the run chase by only 3 runs. An outstanding effort from a team that is largely comprised of Year 4 boys. In comparison to the Milton team which were majority Year 6 boys. 

I was impressed with the way both teams conducted themselves. The representatives from both schools showed excellent sportsmanship and teamwork, and I look forward to this becoming an annual event.

Mrs Katy Reid 

PE Teacher

Years 5 and 6 are enjoying Tennis Coaching with Kevin Murphy on Friday afternoons at the Milton courts.

This report from Hugo P-D

Kev Murphy is a great guy. He improves our tennis skills while setting up a relationship with his Hyundai I30. (you have to cuddle it if the ball hits it). He teaches Year 5 and 6 to smash volley and forehand.  He gives out chocolates and to kids who are doing well and everyone gets an ice-block at the end.  He is really great at whistling and gets everyone in line. 

Thank you for our Commonwealth Government Sporting Schools Grant for providing the money and resources we need for everyone in the school to have free tennis lessons.