Dear Parents,

Thank you to all the dads who turned up this morning for the Father’s Day Breakfast. It was good to see so many there. Thank you to those that assisted on the BBQ, especially Pauline Sharpe and Liz Murphy. We thank those who donated items for the Father's Day Raffle, and we make a special mention to the Cusack Family for the delicious eggs, the Carson Family for a Bunnings Voucher, and to the staff who contribution. 

Next week we have our celebrations for Book Week taking place. On Thursday we have the illustrator Sarah Davis presenting workshops to all students across the school in their year levels. Her illustrations are fantastic and if you want to look at some of her work, click on the link below.

http://www.sarah-davis.org/

On Friday morning we have the Meerkat Theatre Group performing Frank’s Red Hat and at 12.30pm we hold our Book Character Costume Parade. This will be held on the basketball court, weather permitting and parents and families are more than welcome to come along.

One child who will not be attending the Book Week activities is Amity Sullivan who will be in Goulburn participating in the finals of the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Competition. We wish Amity the best of luck with her speech.

WESTERN REGION PUBLIC SPEAKING FINALS

On Monday 21st August, four St Mary’s students competed in the Western Region Public Speaking Finals. Students from Boorowa, Harden, Cootamundra, Adelong, Tumut, Gundagai, Temora, West Wyalong, Lake Cargelligo and Young competed against their peers in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, for a place in the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Finals. The standard was exceptionally high, testament to the support of staff in all the schools who have taught the art of speech writing and skill in delivery, both of which daunt the most confident of adults!! Congratulations were given to all students who made it to the regional level and they left with wonderful experiences and memories, not to mention greater confidence in a “life-skill”. 

We congratulate Ezra Sharpe (Year 3), Amity Sullivan (Year 4), Jesse Gault (Year 5) and Eli Terry (Year 6), on representing St Mary’s school at this level.

Amity Sullivan was successful in the finals and has advanced onto the next round, the Archdiocesan Finals, to be held this Friday 8th September at Ss Peter and Paul Goulburn. JIt is an exceptional achievement for students to reach this level and on behalf of St Mary’s we congratulate Amity on qualifying and wish her every success and a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Students in Year 3 to Year 6 were able to view the speeches. This was a wonderful experience for them, to see the best students in action, and give them all something to aspire to next year. We thank our two adjudicators - Mrs Suzie Duff from Hennessy, and Mrs Ros Burge, an experienced English teacher who has taught across the Western Region for many years and is now retired.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to say to anyone that he was the Christ.

REFLECTION

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do people say that I am? What are they saying about me?” His disciples told him what they had heard. Some people thought he was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the other prophets!

But then Jesus asks them: “who do you say that I am?” Perhaps this is the question that Jesus is asking us today! It can be easy to give a flippant answer or to parrot back what we learned in Religious Education years ago. However, this is a question we may need to ask ourselves once again! Who is Jesus for me now at this time in my life? Is he a friend? A stranger? Our Saviour?

CONFIRMATION

As our Year 6 students commence their final week of preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation, we keep them in our prayers. Their journey will conclude on Thursday 7th of March with a retreat day led by Hennessy College at the Parish Centre. The day will commence with Mass at 9am and conclude at 2:30pm. Parents will be able to collect their children after this time from the Parish Centre.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 9th September at 6pm. The celebration will be followed by a light supper in the Parish Centre. We extend an invitation to all members of our Parish community to come and celebrate this special event with us.

NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MASS - YEARS 3-6

On Thursday 7th September, all students from Years 3 to 6 will be attending a mass to celebrate the Nativity of Mary.
We ask that all students are dropped to the Church by 8:50am. Bus students will need to get off the bus at Hennessy. Supervision will be provided from 8:30am on the Parish Center lawn. Following mass, all students will return to school and will resume a normal school routine.

PRAYER AND LITURGY

Next Monday, Year 5 will be leading the school in a Whole School Prayer celebrating the International Day of Charity. We will be celebrating in the Hall at 8:50am. 

Due to Book Week celebrations, we will be postponing the Kindergarten Liturgy to next term. We thank you for your understanding.

CATHOLIC MISSION FAIR DAY

On Friday, 22nd September, we will be holding a Fair Day to raise money for Catholic Mission.  As the Pope’s international mission agency, Catholic Mission responds to the call to love God and to love our neighbour by forming individuals and communities as missionary disciples of Jesus who share their faith in action and through prayer. They share in God’s mission to reach out, give life by sharing their personal and financial resources to: - proclaim the Gospel, - serve people in need, - act for peace, justice and creation; In partnership with local churches, so that all may have life in Christ.

Activities and purchases will be available from as little as 20c so make sure you start gathering your change for what will be a fun-filled exciting day!

God Bless,

Warren Ziebowski

(Religious Education Coordinator)

Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival - Friday 20th October (Term 4, Wk 2)

Calling all netballers! Mrs Mary Wright has kindly offered to run training sessions for all the netballers on Mondays between now and the carnival. They will run here at school from 3.30 - 4.30 on Mondays in Week 8, 9 & 10 (Term 4 dates TBC). Students playing netball at Boorowa are welcome to stay after school to attend the training - just bring joggers. We are very grateful to Mary for this opportunity and I encourage all the netballers to attend these training sessions.

Our Compass permissions have closed so please email Mrs Challen if you wish to add your child in a team or on a waiting list. We have space in all our teams except Year 5 touch. WE ARE IN NEED OF MORE PLAYERS FOR OUR YEAR 4 TOUCH TEAMS PLEASE - otherwise we will need to withdraw. Please contact me at leonne.challen@cg.catholic.edu.au

Basketball Sessions

For the next 3 weeks Year 5 & 6 will have their basketball sessions. All Year 5 & 6 will need to wear their sports uniform on Wednesday & Fridays in Week 8, 9 & 10.

In week 3’s newsletter Mr Hughes set a task for any interested students to build a ‘Bottle Rocket’ at home for our Science Week celebrations. All students are encouraged to build a rocket with launches being completed in Weeks 9 & 10. 

There are many sites on the internet with information on bottle rockets. Below are two of these.

https://www.science-sparks.com/making-a-bottle-rocket/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R625vwA4jpQ

We will be launching our bottle rockets in weeks 9 & 10 (refer to timetable below) should parents wish to view the launch as I am sure your assistance will be required with the construction.

Years K - 2

There will be two awards per year level. The first will be for the best decorated, yet functional rocket. The second will be for the rocket that reaches the highest altitude.

Years 3-6

There will be two awards per year level for the rocket that goes the highest while the second will be for best functioning parachute.