Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 2, I trust that everyone had a Happy Easter and celebrated this most sacred time of the year with family and friends. This week we warmly welcome  two new families to our school community, please say hello to Frankie in Year 4 and Aska in Year 3  when you see them.

Easter is the season of ultimate ‘hope’  out of despair and as such is so important to every one of us. There were many beautiful Holy Week services including the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, when we gathered in the paddock on the hill surrounded by the astounding beauty of the hillside, many of our St Mary’s students turning up to help portray the journey of Jesus on his way to Calvary. There was such a feeling of reverence and community, as many locals and visitors stood together to pray and remember. A special thanks to Simon Kinch and his boys who worked tirelessly to prepare and ensure everything was organised on the day. This was followed up by the sunrise mass on Easter Sunday, which from all accounts was a very moving and meaningful occassion for the many who attended, a big thank you to Father Michael and the parish team who worked so hard to bring this Easter season to life for our Parish.

We also gathered in large numbers for the ANZAC March on Thursday, our students looked superb in their uniforms. The students again displayed their ability to contribute to their community and to understand the importance of respectful behaviour and reverence at such important and solemn events. A big thanks to staff and families who took time in the holidays to be there to represent our school so proudly. We will be holding our school ANZAC Liturgy on Friday at 2:30pm, please join us to remember.

Yesterday the staff met at school for a day of Professional Development in the area of Learning Progressions, which is a national framework designed to track the learning of each student. The benefit to students is that Literacy and Numeracy interventions can be more strategically targeted to meet the needs of each student.  The staff will continue with this professional learning in three follow up modules during staff meetings.

I have spoken often about the importance of kindness in our school, in our families and in our community. I recently read an article that suggests five essential parenting tips that promote kindness in our children;

1. Live Kindness as a core value- try to live kindness as a non-negotiable in all you do.
2. Verbalise kindness as a priority- Instead of saying ‘As long as you are happy.’ try ‘The most important thing is that you’re kind.’ Hold your child to high ethical standards eg in teams, addressing others respectfully even when cranky/ tired.
3. Expand your child’s circle of concern -Expect them to include others who are isolated, elderly neighbours, younger children, from different cultures. Ensure your child considers the affect their actions have on others.
4. Help children to manage destructive emotions such as jealousy and anger. The feelings are natural but we need to be in control of our responses.
5. Show gratitude- show your children how to habitually show gratitude. Research indicates that  people who are grateful are more likely to be helpful, generous, compassionate, and forgiving as well as happier and healthier.

As a parent, I understand the challenge of mastering all of these at once, but this week I challenge you to try just one.

Yours in partnership

Laurinda Nelson

Principal

Dio Cross Country

- Breakfast Canteen every Tuesday from 8.30am - 9.00am. Please bring along a gold coin donation. If you would like to volunteer to help on the canteen one Tuesday morning a month, please contact Jodie Lee

- Soul Food is up and running seamlessly - if you would like to join our ‘Soul Food’ team, helping those in our school community at their time in need, please contact Kate Kinch

- P & F Meeting Monday 6th May, 6.00pm St Mary's Staffroom.

- Mothers Day stall will be on Friday the 10th of May. If you are available to volunteer on the stall, please contact Jodie Lee

Year 3 and Year 4 had a fantastic out doors learning experience at the end of Term 1 when they explored the Rain Forest Walk in Milton.

Students can wear summer uniform on their return to school in Term 2, if we have unseasonably warmer weather for the first 2 weeks.

Uniform Shop will be open 2.40pm - 3.20pm On Thursdays. Orders can be placed and paid for at school office and will be sent home on Fridays.

Girls Winter Uniform

Tunic - $62

Navy Long Pant - $32

White Blouse $27

Tartan Tie - $20

Navy School Jumper - $40

Navy School Parker - $50 (can be worn all school days)

Navy Stockings or White Socks

Black Polishable Shoe

Red Hair Accessories (bows, clips, scrunchies )

Note - Red Tab Tie no longer available Tartan tie to be worn instead.

Boys Winter Uniform

Navy Long Pants (Double Knee) - $32

Blue Long Sleeve Shirt - $27

Tartan Tie - $20

Navy School Jumper - $40

Navy School Parker - $50 (can be worn all school days)

Navy Socks

Black Polishable Shoes

Winter Sports Uniform Unisex - Wednesday and Friday

Sports Polo Shirt - $27

Navy School Sport Shorts _ $27

Navy School Track Pant - $36

Red Polar Fleece Jumper - $30 (only to be worn on sport days)

Navy School  Parker - $50 (can be worn all school days)

White Socks

Joggers

Dear Parents

As of the 29^th of April 2019, students travelling on a school bus to and from school are required to have a valid school bus pass for the school bus service they are catching.  If a valid school pass cannot be shown a fare will be charged. In the event the school bus pass is lost, some form of student ID is to be shown whilst obtaining a replacement pass (fees apply). You can help make your child’s school bus journey more pleasant by ensuring your child has a valid school bus pass and presents it to the driver on boarding the bus morning AND afternoon.  Parents are reminded that the School Free Travel is only valid from home to school as per the conditions on the back of the pass. Fares will be charged for all other journeys.

If you are yet to apply for a bus pass or your details have changed eg: address, please go to www.transportnsw.info/school-students alternatively you can call the transport info line on 131 500.

If you have any questions in regards to the correct school bus for your child to catch, please contact the appropriate company:

Nowra Coaches:                       Ph: 4423 5244

Shoal Bus:                                Ph: 4423 2122