Dear Parents and Carers

Many of our Year 3 students will be making their First Holy Communion next weekend. The word 'Communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ. This is a Sacrament of Initiation, Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning ‘thanksgiving’. We congratulate the children and their families who will celebrate this special occasion. 

Last Sunday was Fathers’ Day. I hope that all of our Dads, grandads and other male role models in our lives were shown in lots of ways how much they are loved. It was wonderful to have so many fathers and grandads join us for breakfast last Thursday morning.  A big thanks to our P & F for providing the breakfast and to the brave dads who supported Father Michael in presenting the Gospel of the Forgiving Father during the liturgy. 

We are sending a special invitation to our Grandparents and special people on Tuesday 20th September, to join us to celebrate Grandparents day. On the day our visitors are invited to watch our school production, have a picnic lunch with the students, and finally visit classrooms. If Grandparents are unable to join us please feel free to invite a person that makes a difference in your child’s life.  

Preparations are well underway for our school production of Mermaids versus Pirates, the premiere will be on Monday, 19th September at 6:00pm, followed by a matinee at 10:30am Tuesday, 20th. All students have a part to play in the production as all classes have prepared a group song or dance. The play would not be possible without the dedication of Mrs Daniella Cooper, Mrs Erin Chard and Mrs Glenda Johnston, these ladies have dedicated so much time and attention to bringing the arts alive for our children. It is always a great joy to witness the confidence that each child gains when they step onto the stage to act, sing or dance. 

Thanks to the parents who supported our P & F Meeting on Monday night. During the meeting the playground sketches were shared as construction starts in the September holidays. The project includes a dry creek bed and water pump, a new sandpit, large sensory equipment, an indigenous storytelling trail and large river stone serpent. Large trees and seating are incorporated in the design as well as the construction of a green/plant propagation house on the eastern end of the jumping pillow. This project has been funded through the Black Summer Bushfire Grant through the Federal Government, donations from Treading Lightly and the donations that were made after the bushfires.  The P & F have worked tirelessly over the past few years to raise over $25 000 for the playground, this is an enormous effort for a small team in a small school. Please feel free to pop into the Office and have a look at the plans in the window. 

Next Wednesday afternoon, we are having a special musical concert from Musica Viva, the show is called Moon Radio Hour. It is an imaginative fast-paced journey through space, time and the unexpected! Paired with saxophones, guitars and an electronic sampler, the result is a spontaneously immersive musical experience where 

anything is possible. Students will also be given the tools to create their own short musical skit-shows in the classroom, allowing them to embrace the unexpected that lies within their own creativity. This performance has been sponsored by one of our lovely families for our whole school, such kindness in our community, thank you!  

Stage Three is buzzing with our two night trip to Canberra getting closer, it has been several years since we have been able to make this significant excursion due to COVID. Our Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two are also heading off to Mogo Zoo, so exciting. It is wonderful to see these significant events return for our students. 

We are so fortunate for the remainder of this week to have Mr Ken Bryant as Acting Principal. Ken is a wonderful Principal with many years of experience. If you see him in the playground please have a chat, he is very happy to be at St Mary’s for our Mini Vinnies Pyjama day on Friday. 

I hope to see you in our school next week,

Yours in partnership 

Laurinda Nelson 

Principal 

WHOLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE -19TH SEPTEMBER 6PM

MATINEE PERFORMANCE - 20TH SEPTEMBER FOR GRANPARENTS DAY 10.15am

A vast ahoy! In Week 10, the children at St Mary’s will put on not one, but two stunning performances for our annual St Mary’s School Play. This year our play is called ‘Pirates versus Mermaids’. 

The pirates and the mermaids really don't get along - in fact, they hate each other! This production has everything - Captain Scarypants and his terrifying torrent of pirates, a famished crocodile, a gossip of gutsy mermaids and a bonkers parrot.

All grades from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be involved in this whole school production. Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning a spectacular dance that will feature in the play. Year 3 and Year 4 have planned a fantastic intermission show and Year 5 and Year 6 students will set us off to a riveting start to the night with their pre-show entertainment spectacular.

The children who are in the main cast and have speaking parts have been working incredibly hard to learn their lines, songs and dances to wow us on the night. Their costumes have already been organised and made by our very talented Mrs Johnston. A note will be sent out informing these students what they need to bring or wear to rehearsal day, performance night and Grandparents day.

For all the students who DO NOT have a speaking part in the play here is a list of what your child should wear for the class performances:      

Kindergarten- Pool party mufti clothing.

Year 1 - Colourful parrot mufti clothing  

Year 2 - Pirate mufti clothing.

Year 3 and 4  - Colourful beachwear mufti clothing. 

Year 5 and 6 - Pirate mufti clothing. 

Dates for the diary : 

• Monday 19th September - Evening Performance. All cast and crew need to be at school by 5:30pm with the show to begin promptly at 6:00pm. All students are to wear their clothing to this performance. 

• Tuesday 20th September - Day performance for St Mary’s students, parents and grandparents. All students are to wear their clothing again to school. 

We will have a donation box set up at the hall entry. If you are in a position to donate to our school play this will help fund our future plays, props and costumes. We thank you for your support and can’t wait to see you and your family on the night.

Our wonderful P and F will also be selling refreshments in the intermission break on the night and the following day will be serving tea and coffee for Grandparents Day. 

Thank you for your support,      

 Mrs Daniella Cooper. 

First Holy Communion

Please pray for our First Holy Communion candidates currently preparing for the sacrament. Our retreat day will be held on Friday 16th September in our school hall for all of Year 3, visiting students and students in other classes who are celebrating their First Holy Communion. 

First Holy Communion Mass will be Sunday 18th September, 11am at Ulladulla Church. We look forward to seeing our families there.

We have some pre-loved, pretty white dresses and one pair of white ‘jiffy’ slippers for any parent who might like to borrow from the school. Please drop in if you would like to see them.

Christmas Art 

Students in Years 5 and 6 have been working on their Christmas Art artworks to enter the annual diocesan competition. Chosen artworks will be framed next week and delivered to Wollongong. Congratulations to all of our senior students for their magnificent artistic efforts.

The four girls: Year 1 celebrated winning the All Stars Trophy on Monday afternoon with outside sports and play. Here, Jacoba, Indie, Isla and Mabel enjoy the sunshine.

Class photo: Year 1 has been learning about songlines as well as how our First Nations people recognise the change in seasons by observing changes in the flora and fauna. To integrate this learning, the students made rainsticks decorated in their own artworks and gave these to their dad’s for Father’s Day.

Mrs McGregor

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