Dear Parents,

There were many terrific costumes at today’s Book Character Parade and I congratulate the students, parents and staff for the efforts they put into this event. This was the final Book Week activity in what was a wonderful promotion of reading across the school. Thank you to our librarian, Mrs Jo Murphy, for the wonderful organisation of the week.

I ask all families to keep our Year Six students who are receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this Saturday in their prayers. This is a significant milestone in their faith journey. I thank the Year Six teachers, Mr Ziebowski and the parish team for the work they have put into preparing the students for this celebration.

Wedding Day Wishes

Next week Miss Downes takes leave for the remainder of the term to prepare for her wedding. We send Meg and her partner Jack our best wishes on this special occasion.

Mrs Alison Smith will be on 4D from Wednesday of next week and we look forward to welcoming Meg back for Term Four.

Work Samples

Today parents will be able to access a graded work sample completed by their child via Compass. Parents will be able to see a work sample that teachers have decided is a ‘C’, keeping in mind a ‘C’ is what we consider as ‘average’. They will then be able to compare their child's worksample with this and see why their child’s work was given the grade it was. There will also be a description on what the students were trying to achieve or the outcome the teachers were after.

This is the first time we have placed moderated work samples on Compass as we seek to expand the information we provide to parents. It was a learning experience for teachers and it will enhance communication both between and within grades.

Parents are asked to keep in mind that this is one work sample in mathematics and may not represent the final mathematics grade awarded to a student. Mathematics is a broad subject with the number strand itself covering a wide range of concepts. A final grading is given based on multiple samples of work across a semester.

To access your child’s work sample via your mobile device: open Compass and click on your child’s profile picture. Click on the TASK tab which can be found next to the Dashboard tab. You can then access the Assessment Task.

To access your child’s work sample via a PC: open Compass and click on Profile (found underneath the photo of your child) you then click on Learning Tasks which is the third tab across at the top of the Profile page. You can then access the Assessment Task.

Community Council

Last Wednesday we held our most recent Community Council meeting. Several members advised fellow members of their intention to step down from the commencement of the 2024 school year. We will be searching for new parents to fill these vacancies. We will be asking for nominations next term, but don’t be surprised if a current member touches you on the shoulder and encourages you to join.

Archdiocesan Public Speaking Finals Goulburn.

Today Ss Peter and Paul Parish Primary School Goulburn hosted the Archdiocesan Public Speaking Finals. We had one student representing St Mary’s and the Western Region who had a very successful day achieving 2nd place in the Year 4 competition. We congratulate Amity Sullivan on this wonderful achievement, to achieve at this level. 

I urge you, then, brothers, remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people. Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and mature. From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.' Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour.

REFLECTION

The first sentence of the reading from Jeremiah is a real attention-getter. “You duped me O Lord and I let myself be duped!” When in your life have you felt betrayed or tricked by God? I would guess there has been at least one time in your life when you experienced the seeming absence of God. At these times in my life, my tendency is to distance myself from God! Why would I want to spend time with someone who seemingly “deserted” me?

The reality of life is that we often don’t feel God’s presence when we need it or desire it. It would be wonderful if we could magically make God appear whenever we want! However, it usually doesn’t happen that way. When I am feeling alone and in need, do I continue to trust that God is with me even though I don’t “feel” God present? These are the times when life truly is a “trust walk!” We don’t know, we don’t “feel” God, yet we continue to move ahead in trust. We are able to trust that the God who has been with us before IS with us now---even if we don’t sense God’s presence! May we pray for the grace to trust our God who loves us deeply in these times of seeming “absence!” (Sr Kristine Anne Harenau)

NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MASS

Yesterday, Years 3 to 6 joined with Hennessy Catholic College to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a delightful mass with both schools joining together to celebrate the special occasion. We would like to thank all members of the parish who were able to come along and celebrate with us.

CONFIRMATION

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who will be celebrating their sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday night at 6pm.  The celebration will be held at St Mary’s Church with a light supper and cake cutting to follow in the Parish Centre after the mass.  We extend a warm welcome to all members of our Parish community to join us for this event.

To our Confirmation Candidates, we would like you to know you are in our prayers and our thoughts. May the Lord always protect you as you confirm your faith. May He love, may He guide you and help you live your life with grace.

YEAR 5 LITURGY

Next Friday, Year 5 will be celebrating a liturgy in the Prayer Room at 9:30am.  We extend a warm welcome to all members of the school community to join us for this celebration.

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 & Mrs Annie Carson will continue to run the training sessions for netball here at school in Week 9 & 10. Students playing netball at Boorowa are welcome to stay after school to attend the training - just bring joggers. They will be supervised by Mrs Challen until 3.30pm. In Term 4 the training will be moved to the PCYC and will be held at 3.30-4.30pm on Monday 9th October and Monday 16th October. Students will be supervised by Mrs Mary Wright at these sessions.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 remaining two 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 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.

We have limited spots left for our Paint & Sip with Megan Holt next Sat 16/09/2023. 
Tickets are $70 with drinks and nibbles supplied and all materials needed to complete your own masterpiece.