Dear Parents and Carers

This is our final newsletter of Term 1, which is hard to believe. When we think of where we were this time last year after the fires and the dawning of our COVID world I can only be grateful for the way our community has responded. Reaching out with support and love despite the challenges that have appeared in our way. This is really the story of the Resurrection, our Easter story. Out of the darkest despair Jesus was taken from his family and his friends, isolated and alone, we can only imagine the fear and faith in equal measures that Jesus must have experienced as he died. The moment of Resurrection made more triumphant as his friends and family realise and understood his true identity. So many times in our lives we can be looking beyond the people around us for answers, often they are standing right there with us in our community just like Jesus was with his family. My prayer for Easter is that we appreciate those around us and the joy and comfort they bring to our lives.

Next week we will commemorate the journey of Jesus through the events of Holy Week, as a school we will gather at 9:15 am in the school hall to walk the journey of Jesus from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion. These commemorations have so many lessons for all of us, engendering compassion and empathy for others. We are sorry that parents cannot join us in person but we will be zooming each of these liturgies so you can zoom in with us. On Thursday at 12 noon we will bring forward our easter celebration to an assembly, during which we will have an Easter hat parade (Hats to be made at school), we will also announce the winners of our P&F Art Competition, the Bunnings Colouring Competition and of course the P&F Easter Raffle.

On Wednesday morning we were delighted to welcome many new families to our school for our 2022 Kindergarten Open Day. There were many excited children with enormous smiles coming through our doors. It is astounding to think that for so many years we have been preparing learners for the 21st Century, these children in fact will very probably live into the 22nd Century. I can only wonder what it is they will have seen and experienced, and what skills and knowledge they will require for their lives from St Mary’s. It was so lovely to see our Year 6 student leaders showing families around with such pride and maturity.

I hope everyone has a happy and holy Easter, staying safe and having time with family and friends during the holidays. We look forward to seeing you all back for Term 2.

Yours in partnership

Laurinda Nelson
Principal

Class Merit Awards Week 8:

Kinder – Oliver B, Selina L
Year 1 – Henry H, William N
Year 2 – Ellyana S, Riley B
Year 3 – Jackson L, Torin D
Year 4 - Maddi H, Alexandra W
Year 5 – Brigum D, Abby L
Year 6 – Lillie P, Ezekiel L

Super Star Awards for Week 8:

We care for Ourselves
Henry K, Imogen H, Jackson L, Ezekiel L, Parker G, Evie P

We Care For Others
Ally S, Max C, Arlo D, Liam R, Oliver B, Isla P, Daisy D, Zuri G, Max B, Bowie M
Jemima C, Ellyana S, Riley B

We Care For Our Learning
Nate H, Parker M-J, Indie G, Scarlett H, Benjamin K, Luke S

We Care For Our School
Alexander B, Mae V

All Stars Award:
Kindergarten

Principal’s Award:
Clay C and Leeyana M

Thursday 25th March
Easter Egg Donations Due
AFL Skills Day (Year 2, 1 and Kinder) Milton Public School

Friday 26th March
School Mass (Stage 1)

Monday 29th March - Thursday 1st April - Holy Week

Monday 29th March
9.15am Holy Week Liturgy (Stage 1) via Zoom

Tuesday 30th March
Cross Country
Easter Raffle Tickets and Money Due
9.15am Holy Week Liturgy (Kinder & Year 5) via Zoom

Wednesday 31st March
NRL League Tag Day Years 4-6
9.15am Holy Week Liturgy (Year 3) via Zoom
St Mary's Playgroup at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am -11.00am

Thursday 1st April
Mini Vinnies Mufti Day (gold coin donation)
9.15am Holy Week Liturgy (Year 6) via Zoom
12.00pm Easter Hat Parade & Easter Raffle - Outdoors, Parents Welcome
Last Day For Students Term 1

TERM 2

Monday 19th April
Students Return to School
9.15am Easter Liturgy (Year 4) via Zoom

Wednesday 20th April
St Mary's Play Group at Mick Ryan Park Milton 9.30am-11.00am

Sunday 2nd May
Family Mass Milton Church 5.00pm

Monday 3rd May
P & F Meeting

Friday 7th May
Mothers Day Liturgy
Mothers Day Stall

Fifth Week of Lent  

Halima is raising her two children in a refugee camp in Bangladesh, while caring for her mother who has a disability. Widowed at 21, Halima fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, arriving at the camp with nothing.

Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, helped Halima with shelter, cooking equipment, hygiene and sanitation training. She took on the role of community trainer herself, organising the cleaning of washrooms, wells and toilets. 

Halima aspired to “Be More” and is proud that she is able to earn a small income, while maintaining the health of her family and the cleanliness of the camp community.

•       In the Cox’s Bazar district, women and children make up 78% of the total refugee population where 52% of children are aged 0-17. (UNHCR)

Watch a short film about Halima’s story here.

 “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

As we enter Holy Week, we continue to reflect on the lives of people vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice and how we can respond through supporting Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal.  

Please return all Project Compassion boxes and envelopes to the school office by Friday 28th May or donate online via the Caritas website at lent.caritas.org.au

Fortnightly Mass this week is Year 3 and 4 at 12pm in the church.

‘Ripples’ is a Podcast that is put together by the Catholic Diocese of Wollonogong. In this week’s episode, Kylie Harris shares the story of Midnight Feast: Theatre that Unites (Part 1). Kylie is a singer, actress, writer, director, and producer. Over the past ten years, Kylie has been working in the Performing Arts making theatre with people with significant disabilities. She is currently the Founder and Artistic Director of Midnight Feast which has become the first theatre company in residence at NIDA. The company has performed at the Opera House over the last ten years to a sold-out crowd.

Kylie has an extraordinary gift of seeing the capacity and gift in everyone she meets and she responds to all those she meets with a sense of dignity, respect, compassion, and incredible joy. It is through these gifts that she has created a path in theatre that is unique and life-giving to so many.

"We celebrate abilities not limitations. Our theatre explores humanity in all its diversity and challenges assumptions."

The Ripples Podcast can be accessed via Podbean or Apple Podcasts.

Thank you to the families who attended the Sacramental Information and Enrolment evening last Thursday 18th March at Ulladulla Church. It was wonderful to see so many of our families there. There will be another enrolment opportunity for anyone who wasn’t able to attend, in conjunction with the family Mass at Milton, 5.00pm, first Sunday in May (2 May).

Finally, if you are available to participate in the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday at 10am, please contact me. I am looking for volunteers to take on acting roles and participate in this beautiful event. 

Mrs Gabrielle Peters
Religious Education Coordinator

Easter Mass Times

Please place correct money in an envelope or order bag with:
Student Name
Class
Lunch Order

Seasons for Growth Program

Impetigo (School Sores)

There has been a suspected case of impetigo (school sores) in our school and your child may have been exposed. Although impetigo is not usually a serious condition, it is very infectious.

Please select link below to view an Impetigo Fact Sheet for your information.

In PE lessons over the past weeks we have been preparing for the school Cross Country. Unfortunately the Cross Country was postponed on Tuesday the 23rd March due to poor weather. The backup day is Week 10 Tuesday 30th March 2021. It will be in the morning session starting at 9.30am - 11.10am. Parents are welcome to attend this event and if you would like to volunteer as a helper on the day please contact Mrs Kristy Delia at the school.

From this event the first, second and third place winners boys/girls 8/9’s, 10’s, 11’s and 12/13’s will go away and represent the school at the Cross Country Championships held next term at "Willandra" Browns Mountain Road, Nowra.

Thank you
Kristy Delia
Sports Coordinator