Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Week 7, our year is rapidly coming to a close. Next week we enter the season of Advent which is a reminder that we should prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas. Traditionally, we are waiting and watching for the birth of Jesus signified through the lighting of a candle each week around an Advent wreath. These faith traditions and rituals ground us in a time of busyness and guide us in a time when it is easy to get caught in a world of presents and plans. All of our students will have times of quiet and prayer over the next few weeks to open our hearts to the message of hope and love. 

Last week we were involved in two significant events connecting us with our community, the first the celebration of NAIDOC Week. We marked this significant week with a liturgy and smoking ceremony led by one of our parents, Uncle Phil Butler and his son Axel. We were so privileged to share the language and stories of our local traditional owners. Through witnessing traditional song and dance you cannot not help but to be transported to the time when the local Aboriginal community lived with and cared for the local environment with a deep sense of spirituality. Our Aboriginal students represented their culture and identity with great pride during the ceremony as they shared their cultural identity with our school community. The children participated with a great reverence, respect and awe. We are so blessed to witness everyday from our hilltop the grandeur and preciousness of mother earth around us. An enormous thank you to Phil, Axel, Melissa Henry, Anne-Marie Wilson and our wonderful Aborginal Cultural group for sharing this day with us. 

Last week we also delivered many native plants to the residents of Conjola Park, an initiative from Convoy of Hope and Karen Lissa, to provide plants to bring back the gardens that were so sadly lost during the fires. Our school was represented by Lillie Phelan and Xavier Brooks who spoke at the presentation of bringing hope and love back to  this amazingly resilient community. Thanks to Brent Harding for managing this project at school with the Environmental group and Year 5. 

This week we are super excited to be holding St Mary’s inaugural Colour Fun Run, there has been such an enormous energy around this in the school. Our wonderful P and F are such a driving force of good and kindness in our school. The generosity of donors has been amazing, thank you to everyone for their support of our school. Great plans are afoot for the replanting of lost trees , the playground and a new school garden area. 

We are also very excited to be hosting the premiere of ‘Dragon Days’ this Thursday night at 5:30pm. Sadly our audience really is limited due to COVID restrictions, with two precious tickets being issued to each main characters’ families but please join in the fun by Zooming in on https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/95471488410. 

Every child in our school has a part, some will be present in videos which will be played throughout the play, so it is a must see for every family. A Zoom recording will also be made available for friends and families to see later. Our P and F have so kindly arranged a premiere pack for each family on the Dragon Days theme, so please make it a family event at home! None of this would have been possible without the dedication of Mrs Daniella Cooper, our director and Mrs Glenda Johnston on props and costumes. The dedication and commitment of these people is astounding, and of course to our emerging stars who are sharing their talents and being incredibly brave to get up on stage and shine! 

Lastly I am now in a position to share the teaching staff with you for 2021. I am making this announcement early as this can be quite a stressful time for children as they prepare to leave one class and teacher for new horizons. 

• Kindergarten- Miss Helena Karas 
• Year One - Mrs Lisa Collins
• Year Two - Mrs Ursula Porter
• Year Three - Miss Ashleigh Pace
• Year Four - Mr Brent Harding
• Year Five - Mrs Anne-Marie Wilson 3 days / Mrs Kristy Delia 2 days
• Year Six -Mrs Gabrielle Peters 4 days/ Mrs Katy Reid 1 day

In addition we will have the following teachers in specialist areas:

• Visual Arts/ SPLICED - Mrs Emily McGregor
• PE- Mrs Kristy Delia
• STEM- Mrs Katy Reid
• Dance/ Drama / Italian - Mrs Daniella Cooper 
• Music/ Learning Support - Mrs Erin Chard 

We are so fortunate to have such a wealth of expertise on our staff, we will be ensuring our children have opportunities to meet their new teachers over the next few weeks. 

Yours in partnership

Laurinda Nelson 

Awards were presented Friday 20th November at the morning Zoom Asembly.

Class Merit Awards Week, 

Kinder – Seave D, Luke S, William N 

Year 1 – Mana V, Alexander B

Year 2 – Ally S, Arlo D

Year 3 – Tehya G, Leah B

Year 4  - Noah H, Hamish K, Abby L

Year 5 – Luke W, Kristian P

Year 6 – Sia K, Olivia R

Shining Star

Charli P, Duke R, Alexander L, Sia K, Noah H, William N

Principal's Award

Joshua Mc, Axel B

St Mary’s Pennant - 

Abby L,  Eden S and Duke R

Super Star Awards for Week,

We care for Ourselves

Alexandra W, Anika D, Axel B,Felix A, Georgia K, Jordan H, Tristan P, Alexander L x2, Callan M, Brigum D, Lucas DG,

We Care For Others 

Duke R, Sia K x2, Alexander L, Noah H,Aska P, Lucas B

We Care For Our Learning

Gage L, Bryn S, Ellyana S, Evie P, Riley B, Jemima C, Daisy D, Lachlan W, Alexander B

We Care For Our School

Duke R, Alexander L x2, Sia K, Gage L, William N

Wednesday 25th November- Kinder 2021 Orientation Day 9.30am-11.00am.

Gingerbread House orders and payments due today.

Thursday 26th November - Dragon Days Live perfomance 5.30pm with Link to veiw.

Friday 27th November - P&F Colour Run 1pm-3pm

Tuesday 1st December - UHS Year 7 2021, Orientation Day

Friday 4th December- Assembly 9.30am Parents can join via Zoom

Monday 7th December - Leadership Speeches Year 6 2021 - 9.30am Via Compass Zoom lLink

Wednesday 9th December - Gingerbread House Making Night.  Order forms and payments are due back to the office by Wednesday 25th November.

Thursday 10th December - Year 6 Graduation Mass and Dinner 5.00pm

Friday 11th December     - Year 6 Fun Day Out

Monday 14th December - Whole School Liturgy, 9.30am followed by Awards Presentation Assembly, via Compass Zoom Link

Tuesday 15th December  - Christmas Concert, 9.30am. Parents can join via  Compass Zoom Link.

-  Last Day of Term 4 for students.

Wednesday 27th January 2021  -  Pupil Free Day

THURSDAY 28th JANUARY 2021- STUDENTS RETURN 

THURSDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2021 - KINDERGARTEN FIRST DAY

 26th November at 5:30pm.

JOIN US VIA ZOOM

 https://dowcatholic.zoom.us/j/95471488410.

Every class dance performance will be revealed.

Look out for your

 DRAGON DAYS FAMILY MOVIE BOX

this will be sent home soon.

Because of the covid situation The Milton show will be on reduced format but at this stage attendance numbers and times may have to be controlled. However the Bush poetry event will still be held on Saturday, 6 March. This event has three competitions but the one that may concern some of your students is the 13 and under age group recital and it is important to note that there have been some changes to the

prize and entry conditions. Prize money has been increased by 300% and entrants will be able to enter up to and including the day of performances although it would be better if entries were submitted before the performance day.I can be contacted on 4455 2013 or e-mail jda76436@bigpond.net.au for entries or information.

SECTION 38 POETRY 

Chief Steward: Mr John Davis

Steward: Mr John Travers 

The Poetry Section is supported by:

White Sponsors - Juggernaut Advisory

Green Sponsor - Milton Theatre

Donations - Southern Man, Southern Bricks & Pavers, L J Hooker Ulladulla, RM Williams Publishing,

Ulladulla Lotteries & Souvenirs, John Davis, Beachside Pharmacy, Capital Chemist,

Get Wet in Ulladulla Pool Shop, Ray White Ulladulla 

Saturday of the Show in the Marquee at the JNA Thomson Bar.

Complimentary Tea & Coffee will be available at the venue.

Entry Forms for all competitions can be found on our website www.miltonshowsociety.com

or obtained from the contacts below

Any enquires: Junior Poetry contact John Travers on 4455 2999 jvtravs@gmail.com

Open Bush Poetry & Poet’s Breakfast contact John Davis on 4455 2013 jda76436@bigpond.net.au

Poet's Breakfast - 8am 

Walk ups with a difference. Entrants may recite or sing a song unaccompanied (without music)

Open to all aspiring poets. Entry Free. 

Prize Money: 1st $100, 2nd $60, 3rd $40

Class

38001  Poet’s Breakfast

The Ruth Davis Memorial

Junior Poetry Speaking Competition 13yrs & under - 9.30am 

Entry is free, but restricted to a maximum of 15 entrants

Pairs & Groups will be accepted.

Poetry may be spoken or read, but preference will be given to spoken verse. 

Entries will be accepted up to & including performance day (where space permits)

Prize Money: 1st $150, 2nd $90, 3rd $60, Plus Ribbons & Mugs to 6th place

All competitors will receive a book of Australian Bush Classics.

38002  Junior Poetry Speaking Competition

Open Bush Poetry Speaking Competition - 11am 

Entry Fee $15 Maximum of 15 Performers. Entries received in order of application.  

Poem may be serious or light hearted and classical, contemporary or original.

Eight minute time limit including preamble. 

Entry forms available from:

Australian Bush Poets Association - www.abpa.org.au

Milton Show Society - www.miltonshowsociety.com

Entries must be postmarked no later than Friday 4 weeks before the Show 

Prize Money: 1st $600, 2nd $350, 3rd $250

Plus 3 Highly Commended Awards $100 each, Plus Ribbons & Mugs to 6th place

38003  Open Bush Poetry Speaking Competition