Dear Parents,

Last Tuesday we were able to hold our postponed swimming carnival in fine, sunny conditions. The carnival saw many children challenging themselves to swim longer distances than they had before and trying strokes they do not normally swim. This was particularly evident in the non-competitive relays which saw students who had not attempted fifty metre events participate in the relay. We also have some very capable swimmers who will go on to represent St Mary’s at the Western Region Swimming Carnival this coming Monday in Tumut. We wish them all the best of luck.

I thank Mrs Challen for her organisation of the carnival; the Hennessy students who acted as lifeguards; school staff who supervised the students and all the parents that assisted as starters and timekeepers. Without your willingness to assist, the swimming carnival could not go ahead.

Reading Challenge

Next Monday we commence our first reading challenge for the year. Students from Year 3 to Year 6 will receive their recording sheets at school today. Students in the younger grades will use their InitiaLit reading log.

The challenge is for students to read at least 19 of the 20 school days over the next four weeks commencing on Monday. Each night they read, an adult needs to sign their reading log. If they read for at least 19 or the 20 nights Mr Hughes will cook them a free lunch with a drink and a Zooper Dooper in week nine. Reading logs need to be returned by Monday 31st March.

Opening School Mass

Next Tuesday at 9am we will be celebrating our opening school mass at St Mary’s Church. At this mass we will present our School Captains and Vice Captains as well as our house leaders their leadership badges. There will also be a small presentation to our Kindergarten students. We would love to see a good representation of parents at the mass.

Parents are asked to drop their children off at the church from 8.30am which is when supervision will commence. Buses will be asked to drop students off at the church instead of school. Following the mass, older students will walk back to school while the younger students will be transported on the school bus.

Year Five Camp

Next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday students from Year Five will attend the Sport and Recreation Camp at Borambola. They will be accompanied by Miss Dwyer, Mr Hughes and Mrs Dal Molin. Everyone is looking forward to undertaking some challenging activities in hopefully ideal weather. 

Holy Honey - Food for the Soul

Last week Finn Aitken and Frankie Sullivan from Year 4 helped Mr Hughes harvest honey from the school beehive. We emptied three frames from the top box and left three to get the bees through Winter. This week we finished bottling the honey and all the Kindergarten students tried the honey which they all enjoyed. We had about 12 bottles for sale and they went very quickly.

We hope to harvest our next batch of honey towards the end of Spring.