Dear Parents and Carers,

One of the loveliest things about working at St Mary’s and in the Milton Ulladulla communities is the connection with the water and the sea. Our students share stories of surfing and diving and being out on and in the water. Our community, like all of NSW, is hyper-vigilant  and anxious about many things at the moment, some to do with COVID and others unrelated but equally concerning to each person that is navigating each day. So this week I wanted to share this reflection one of our teachers shared with staff. Our school sign this week says “Gratitude, empathy and prayer’, let’s try this week to understand and pray for each other in our varied boats and the stormy waters we are travelling through….

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.

Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the weekly increase in unemployment benefits some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received benefits from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about missing out on their annual holiday while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2021. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

May your waters be calm this week……

Yours in partnership,

Laurinda Nelson 

Class Merit Awards 

Kinder – Brody B, Isla M. 

Year 1 – William N, Dundi B

Year 2 – Alexander B, Jacob McC

Year 3 – Parker M.J, Millar N

Year 4  - Axel B, Peyton M-J

Year 5 – Isabella L, Austin G

Year 6 – Summer G, Eliza S

Super Star Awards 

We Care For Ourselves

Leeyana M, Audrey S, Tess W, Ryder L, Brody B, Isaac G, Selina L, Angelo A, Jacob Mc, Isla M, Aska P, Bowie M, Evie P, Parker G

We Care For Others 

Mae V, Zach D, Max C, Elijah D, Jacoba F, Lucky N, Ellyanna S

We Care For Our Learning

Mae V, Henry H, Harrison K, Audrey S, Frankie N, Faith S, Arabella B, Jackson L, Parker M.J, Angelo A, Isla P, Oscar O S. 

We Care For Our School

Arlo S, Molly K, Keiley P, Summer G, Henry K, Lucky N, Indie G, Madeleine G

Please be mindful that dates may change due to COVID19 restrictions

Wednesday 18th August -    ICAS English

Thursday 19th August -  Assembly 2.30pm Join us on Zoom (link via Compass)            

Friday 20th August -         School Stem Immersion Day                                      

Wednesday 25th August -    ICAS Science

Thursday 26th August -       ICAS Spelling

                                        Reconciliation Parent Session Ulladulla Church 5.30pm

Friday 27th August - Book Week Parade

                               Mass 12.00pm

Wednesday 1st September - ICAS Maths

Thursday 2nd September - Father's Day Liturgy, Join us on Zoom (link via Compass)

Friday 3rd September- Pupil Free Day - Staff Professional Learning

Friday 10th September -      Reconciliation Retreat Day 

                                         Reconcilliation 6.00pm, Holy Family Church, Ulladulla

Friday 17th September -      Last Day of Term for Students

​​Keeping Calm and Connected: Mindfulness Sessions

CatholicCare has made available Keeping Calm and Connected: Mindfulness Sessions, offered as recordings and accessible through the website below. The website also includes an audio recording of the mindfulness reflection exercise 'A time to reflect with pride, love, and gratitude during COVID-19'.

Mary MacKillop

Sunday 8 August we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross- Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint.

Assumption

Sunday 15 August we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, when she was called to heaven by God

Family Week 

Catholic schools across Australia will celebrate Family Week from 8 – 14 August 2021, to recognise the significant contribution parents, carers and families have made to the foundation, growth, and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years.

Family Week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Pope Francis’ Pray to the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalised find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan. Amen.

Dear parents, carers and families of today’s students of our Catholic school,

The celebration of the Bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the role families have played in the history of Catholic education in this great south land of the Holy Spirit. We especially acknowledge our First Nations families, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and leaders past, present and emerging, for their significant contribution to Catholic education and the wider Australian community.

With your support, Catholic education from its humble beginnings in a small schoolhouse in Parramatta in 1820, has grown to 1,755 schools serving over 777,000 students in faith, excellence and access to Catholic education. Today, we acknowledge all families as the first educators and ongoing partners in the education of your children and thank you for your contribution to our school as we celebrate families during this Bicentenary year.

“As our Inspiring Spirit, you lead us into the future. In the century ahead grant those teaching and learning in our schools, those planning and leading, and the families and community that entrust their young people to us, a love of learning and a willingness to be the face of Christ in the world of tomorrow”.   

- Extract from Faith in the Future 200 years prayer

ICAS assessments are taking place as of Wednesday 11 August. You can have your child participate in  Sample Questions if you’d like to. Mrs Peters will be running the tests out of class in the mornings.

The dates are as follows:

• Wednesday 11th August- ICAS Digital Technologies
• Wednesday 18th August- ICAS English
• Wednesday 25th August- ICAS Science
• Thursday 26th August- ICAS Spelling
• Wednesday 1st September-ICAS Mathematics

Dear Parents and Carers,
We are asking for your support in addressing one of the aspects of our school that many visitors comment on, that is the neatness of our school uniform. We are currently investigating the possibility of changing aspects of our current uniform and we are seeking your feedback via the survey uniform link at the bottom of the page.

At St Mary’s, we believe uniform is an important way of showing pride in our school and more
importantly encouraging a sense of belonging to our community. I have noticed lately that there
has been a slight drop in the standard of uniform particularly in the senior grades and I ask you,
as parents, to support our school community by ensuring that you send your child in the correct
uniform, even if your child insists that they are allowed to wear alternatives.

We have been actively rewarding whole classes who are in full school uniform each morning, but
now we are requesting your support in upholding the standard of uniform. We understand that
some of our Year 6 students are currently wearing school shoes that do not meet the above
criteria, as it is the second half of the year, we ask when purchasing new shoes please ensure
they meet the above requirements. We thank you for your ongoing support.

UNIFORM SHOP

Uniforms can be ordered via the office, email, phone and will be sent home with stundent, once payment has been made.