Dear Parents and Carers

We have had a wonderful start to Term Two, with Year 4 leading our Easter Liturgy as the final chapter of our Holy Week Liturgies. The significance of Holy Week can only really be understood with the Resurrection in perspective. An enormous thank you to our students, their families and many staff members who brought the stations of the cross to life on Good Friday, it is such a powerful experience to walk the path of Jesus in our parish community. Thanks to Mrs Gabrielle Peters, Mrs Julie Valentini and Mrs Anneliese Robinson for their work in preparing the children so thoroughly in creating a sense of this sacred mystery.

It was lovely to see our students arriving back on Monday full of holiday adventures and looking fantastic in their school uniforms. We are currently in our transition period from Summer to Winter uniform, we receive so many positive comments about the presentation of our students in full uniform. I ask you to ensure that your child follows our uniform code to contribute to this high standard and enhance their sense of belonging to our wonderful St Mary’s community. The uniform includes a school hat, black polishable school shoes with black soles, please also be aware that student socks should be plain, without brand logos white for sport, navy for winter boys’ uniform, white socks/navy stocking for girls. Please ensure all jackets, hats, jumpers are clearly labeled so we can return lost property promptly. We are currently reviewing aspects of our school uniform and you will receive a survey shortly regarding this. 

This Sunday is ANZAC Day, as there will be no major march this year due to COVID restrictions, however St Mary’s will be represented by our school captains; Tess and  Xavier at the Wreath Laying Service at the Milton Ulladulla Ex-Servicemans Club. On Monday morning at 9:30am we will be conducting a school ANZAC Service in the hall for the whole school. You are most welcome to attend with COVID restrictions winding back this term.

Our parish is holding the annual Parish Dinner on Friday, 7th May at the Mollymook Golf Club, a flyer is included in the newsletter. We encourage you to try to attend and support our wider Parish, tickets are available at the Parish Centre. This Friday 27th April at 6pm there will also be a BBQ to meet and discuss ways that the parish can work together with families to further develop this partnership. Further details can be found in the newsletter.

As you are aware we have been working towards revising our School Reward System. We started this process last year after it was noted that students in lower grades were receiving a School Pennant. The Pennant was initially designed to recognise students with exemplary behaviour as well as a culmination of a series of Shining Star Awards towards the end of Primary School. In recent years we have noted as I’m sure you will have, that this award was being presented to younger students leaving them no major award to strive for.

After consultation with the staff and P and F representatives, we are working towards the penultimate award now being awarded on the basis of exemplary behaviour in terms of each child having no ‘Major Behaviour Incidents’ in the preceding years. These Major Behaviours are identified in school documentation which you are welcome to view at the School Office. If your child has had a Major Behaviour Incident you will have been contacted by a member of the leadership team at the time of the incident. There is a new award under development that will be introduced next year which is reflective of the values of our school’s Josephite origins. As many of our students have been working towards receiving a Pennant for several years, the following transition system will begin in Term 2.

Term 2 - All Year 6 students eligible (No major behaviour incidents in the last year) for the award, will be awarded a Pennant and a Principal’s Award Badge. This includes students who have received a pennant in previous years. Parents will be notified when this award will be presented at a Whole School Assembly. Year 5 students will be eligible to receive a Shining Star Award if they have displayed exemplary behaviour in the previous year. These students will be the first grade to receive the new award next year, eventually, students will require three Shining Star Awards to receive the new award.

Term 3 - Years 2, 3 and 4 students will receive Shining Star Awards at a whole school assembly if they have had no major incidents. Parents will be notified of this presentation.

Term 4 - Kindergarten and Year 1 students will be presented with their Shining Star award based on no major incidents. Parents will be notified of this presentation.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the school.

Yours in partnership,

Mrs Laurinda Nelson
Principal

Class Merit Awards Week 10 Term 1:

Kinder – Jacob Mc, Isla P
Year 1 – Adele B, Steven K
Year 2 – Jacob Mc, Zuri G
Year 3 – Delphi S, Payten B
Year 4 - Felix A, Joshua Mc
Year 5 – Uma D, Austin G
Year 6 – Kristian P, Ben W

Friday 23rd April
Youth Ministry BBQ, Parish House, Milton 6.00pm

Monday 26th April
ANZAC Day Liturgy

Tuesday 27th April
Diocesan Cross Country Championships

Wednesday 28th April
St Mary's Playgroup, School Hall 9.30am -11.00am

Thursday 29th April
Year 3/4 AFL Auskick Gala Day

Sunday 2nd May
Family Mass, Milton

Monday 3rd May
P&F Meeting, 5.30pm

Wednesday 5th May
St Mary's Playgroup, School Hall 9.30am -11.00am

Friday 7th May
Mothers Day Liturgy
Mothers Day Stall
Parish Dinner

Interviews for Kinder 2022 enrolments will be held in Week 5 and 6 this term (17 May - 27 May 2021).

All enrolment packs to be returned prior to interviews. If you have any concerns, contact the office on 4455 2328.

Youth Ministry BBQ
We welcome a wonderful Youth Ministry team to our Parish this week. They have been connecting with our local schools and youth and are working with Father Michael to build a youth program in our community. All families are invited to a BBQ on Friday 23rd April (this week) at 6pm at the Parish House in Milton.

Parish Dinner
Parish Dinner on Friday 7th May 6pm at Mollymook Golf Club. See flyer for additional details. Gather some friends together, book a table and have a great night out!

Sacramental Enrolment Evening
If you missed the last Sacramental evening, and you have a child/ren making a sacrament this year (Reconciliation, Holy Communion or Confirmation) please come along to the Family Mass on 2nd May at Milton Church at 5pm and we will have further information about the Sacramental program for this year. You will have the chance to enroll after Mass.

Family Mass
Our next exciting Family Mass will be held on Sunday 2nd May at 5pm at our gorgeous Church on the hill in MIlton. Please come along and bring your families.

Congratulations!
We congratulate the Delly family who baptised their 3 children in the school holidays. Congratulations to Daisy, Goldie and Louis. What an exciting time for your family!

Mrs Gabrielle Peters
Religious Education Coordinator

During Term 1 Stage 3 learnt about Australians' connection to Asian countries. To celebrate this learning, we held an Asian lunch.

In PE lessons this term we will be looking at AFL skills.  We are lucky to have a specialised AFL coach come into the school and run these sessions alongside Mrs Delia thanks to a Sporting Schools Grant.  The second half of the term will see us preparing for the annual athletics carnival that will be held later this term.

At the end of last term we had our annual Cross Country Carnival. After being postponed due to weather conditions the weather turned out perfect on the day and the students had a wonderful time. I was very proud of all students that gave it a go and cheered on each other as it is a hard race. Thanks to all the parents and teachers that came and helped out on the day it was really appreciated. The place getters for each age group and those students that will be heading to the Cross Country Championships to be held at “Willandra” Brown’s Mt Rd, Nowra next Tuesday 27th April. We wish them all the best for the day. 

The 5/6 place winners
  Boys - 1st Brody, Oliver 3rd Angelo
  Girls - 1st Isla P 2nd- Selina - 3rd Lucky

The 7’s place winners
  Boys - 1st Arlo 2nd Lucas 3rd Clay
  Girls - 1st Adelle 2nd Mae 3rd Leeyana

Our Representative team and place getters for the Cross Country Championships;

Mrs Kristy Delia
Sports Coordinator

Welcome back to a new and exciting term of Italian. Looking back at the last term in Italian, children have learnt how to greet someone in italian and ask how they are. They have also learnt the months of the year, the days of the week and now know the numbers 1-10. Each class had the pleasure of meeting and listening to our guest speaker Mr Gruosso, who shared many photos with us from his trip to Italy with his family. We were all entranced while listening to Mr Gruosso as he shared many stories about his childhood and the Italian way of life.

This term, we look forward to learning more of the italian language including the colours, foods, family names and animal names.

Mrs Daniella Coopers
Italian Teacher