Dear Parents and Carers 

Last Sunday marked the first day of Advent in our church. This special day was beautifully celebrated with First Communion at Ulladulla Church for many of our Year 3 and 4 students. It was wonderful to watch the families enter the church with their children ready for this special sacrament when they join in communion for the first time. It was a wonderful parish event which began with the ritual lighting of the first Advent candle marking four weeks of waiting and preparing for Christmas. Congratulations to all of our first communicants and the team who made the mass so meaningful. 

As the year draws to a close, the school year seems to be a hive of activity and events. Our Year 6 students are preparing for the big step into High School and we have been blessed with some orientation visits from our 2022 Kindergarten cohort. So many little faces coming into the St Mary’s gates full of anticipation and excitement. We welcome many new families into our school community, it was so heartening to see our existing St Mary’s families extending the hand of welcome. The ending of a year and the beginning of another brings excitement and also a sense of anxiety to many as they try to imagine what the new class, school, year , teacher will be like. To alleviate some of this anxiety we ensure that our students have had a chance to get to know their new teacher and the classroom environment before the holidays, so it is with great pleasure that I share with you the teaching staff of St Mary’s for 2022. 

• Kindergarten - Mrs Gabrielle Peters, supported by Mrs Julie Valentini and Mrs Jodie Lee

• Year One - Mrs Emily McGregor 

• Year Two -Mrs Ursula Porter

• Year Three - Miss Ashleigh Pace

• Year Four - Mrs Lisa Collins

• Year Five - Mrs Ann-Marie Wilson , supported by Mrs Chloe Cerff 

• Year Six - Mr Brent Harding 

• STEM - Mrs Katy Reid 

• Dance/ Drama / Music - Mrs Daniella Cooper 

• Visual Arts - TBC 

• Special Education Support- Mrs Erin Chard 

• Our Support Staff: Karyn Faust, Glenda Johnston, Kylie Fitzpatrick, Karynne Treweek, Michele Hendricks, Michelle Sparkes, Nichole Shackleton, Louise Hamilton, Anneliese Robinson & Melissa Henry.

• Our New Support Staff: Gus Lang and  Caleb Pearman, we welcome Gus and Caleb to our team for 2022. 

The students will have an opportunity to meet with their new teacher over the next week with a formal Orientation session for the whole school on Thursday 9th Dec. I know that at St Mary’s, we are so fortunate to have teachers that all know their students so well and genuinely care about their learning. Please make some time over the next week to talk your child through these transitions, as change can be confronting for everyone. 

Next Monday you will receive your child’s Semester Two report, this will be a condensed format based on the combined effort in remote learning and face to face teaching. After you have received the report you will be offered a parent teacher Interview early next week to follow up with your child’s teacher. 

We are very excited about the St Mary’s Walkathon this Friday, we will start at 1:30 pm. Please send in a change of clothes, I hear there will be water and a bit of messy fun! Thanks to our P and F for organising this event, your sponsors are helping us to raise our goalposts! 

Next Thursday we will be farewelling our Year 6 at their Graduation Mass and Dinner, always a very special night for our students and their families. We will also be voting for our new school captains next week and Year 6 will be having their Big Day Out next Friday. 

What a busy and wonderful time of the year!

Yours in partnership 

Laurinda Nelson 

Class Merit Awards 

Kinder – Indi G, Mable H, Isla P

Year 1 – Goldie D, Maehem V, William N. 

Year 2 – Evie P, 

Year 3 – Louis R, Imogen H, Millar N

Year 4  - Tristan P, Luke R

Year 5 – Aska P, Chiara G, Gage L, Abby L

Year 6 – Eliza S, Zara C, David K, 

Super Star Awards for Week,

We care for Ourselves

Sadie N, Henry K, Lucy A, Xavier B, David K, Faith S,

We Care For Others 

Arlo D, Molly S, Harrison K, Lucas D, Jasper SH, Seave D, Zara C, Molly K, Keiley P, Tess W, Lillie P, Eliza S

We Care For Our Learning

Ryder L, Shiloh G, Clay C, Dundi B, Steven K, Harrison K. Anika D, Evie P, Dundi B, Harrison K, Clay C, Stephen K, Jacob McD, Mable H, Jack C, 

We Care For Our School

Imogen H, Jackson L, Isabelle S, Charlize D, Audrey S.

All Stars award

Year 1

Shining Star

Isla P, Lucas DG, Mia L, Arlo S, Benjamin WG, Chace F, Bowie M, Payten B, Imogen H, Ryder L, Selina L

Jacoba F, Jacob Mc, Adele B, Goldie D, Leeyana M, Molly Saunders, Max B, Evie P, Max C, Phoebe H, Millar N

Principal Award

Dundi B, Audrey S

Last week we welcomed our Kindergarten class of 2022 for their orientation. The kindergarten children made new friends, learned to use our stopping stars as we walked around the school and had a jump on the jumping pillow! We also read stories, sang songs, made magic hats, beautiful rainbows and met buddies. Year 4 showed outstanding leadership welcoming the newest members of the St Mary’s community to our little school on the hill. We know they will step up into the role of Buddies with confidence and ease! We can’t wait for our new kindergarten class to join us full time in 2022.

Holy Communion

Last Sunday we celebrated as 18 of our students received Holy Communion for the very first time. We had a special mass with their families and many teachers and catechists present. Congratulations to: Arabella, Payten, Max, Torin, Imogen, Phoebe, Henry, Jackson, Louis, Anika, Jacob, Georgie, Tehya, Maddie, Kayden, Joshua, Aurelia and Alexandra.

Advent

Advent began last Sunday 28 November. We wait in joyful hope for the coming of our saviour Jesus Christ. Families are invited to use this wonderful advent resource in preparing primary aged children for Christmas. It is full of games, activities, stories, and music. Please click on https://issuu.com/ccressnsw/docs/2021_adventchristmas_sre_family_resource_wollongon

to use this free Catholic resource.

Graduation

Year 6 Graduation is being held on Thursday 9 December at 5pm at Ulladulla Church and then 6:30pm at Mollymook Golf Club. Please RSVP and pay for dinner at the front office by Thursday 2 December.

St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Uniform Purchases

https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online/st-mary-s-star-of-the-sea-milton

Lowes have now taken over the sale of our St Mary’s Uniforms, please use the link above to purchase uniforms.   This link can also be found on the school website.

There are boys summer and winter uniforms still available through school, while stock lasts.

Shoalhaven Football will be hosting January School Holiday  Clinics for ages 5 – 13 years

Lighthouse Oval 18^th & 19th          9am – 12 noon

South Nowra   20^th & 21st             9am – 12 noon

St Georges Basin 24th & 25th         9am – 12 noon

Cost of the clinic is  $75.00

To Register email coaching@shoalhavenfootball.com.au