St Mary's Primary School Young eNewsletter

Dear Parents,

On Tuesday I was fortunate to accompany our school choir to the Western Region Choir Competition in West Wyalong. It was wonderful to see them perform in front of an audience.

Thanks to hard work of Mrs Presser they have become a polished group of singers and following the judging of their performance which saw them sing two songs they were awarded second place. The day finished with a mass choir with singers from all the schools combining and it was good to see the students from different schools interacting with one another.

We had a number of parents and grandparents support us on the day and we thank them.

We look forward to attending more events in 2024 and I know Mrs Presser is always on the lookout for enthusiastic singers.

School Fees

I have recently been reviewing outstanding school fees and we currently have $102 000 in outstanding fees. This makes it more difficult for the school to operate so I ask all families, if possible, to settle outstanding fees by the end of this term

Should you be experiencing financial difficulties and are not in a position to settle the debt, I ask you contact Donna in the front office. All conversations regarding fees are highly confidential.

After School Pick Up

We have been contacted by nearby residents who have raised concerns about the queue of cars lining neighbouring streets while waiting to collect their child/children from school, using the drive through arrangements on the basketball courts.

I am aware that prior to Covid restrictions parents could park on the basketball courts and walk over to the Sr Phil shelter and collect their child/children. We will again encourage parents to follow this process, should they wish to. Hopefully this will reduce the line of cars queuing to use the ‘drive through’ facility.

As some will be happy to wait in line, those that wish to park on the basketball courts to collect their child/children can drive around the queuing cars to park. We will put a number of large cones close to the Sr Phil shelter so parking cars have guidance on how close they can park.

As this will mean an increase in pedestrian traffic we ask all drivers to be extra vigilant and to drive very slowly. Children will not be allowed to go to parked cars. Parents must get out of their car and come to collect their child, unless they are using the ‘drive through’ facility. The seats currently used by the students while waiting for pick up will be pushed back to allow more room for parents to gather if they wish to wait in the Sr Phil shelter at 3pm.

I will endeavour to have the gates opened and the courts cleared by 2.45pm each day to allow parents access.

We will begin this process on Monday and will evaluate and adapt the processes we use as we move through Term Four.

Transition from Winter to Summer Uniform

We have reached the transition point in the year when the cooler weather is declining and the warmer days are increasing. All students are able to wear either their winter or summer school uniforms in Week 10 of Term 3 and Week 1 of Term 4.

Please be aware that students can not wear a part of the summer or winter uniform. They must be in full summer uniform OR full winter uniform.

2023._ST_MARY'S_UNIFORM

Names on ALL Clothing

Could you please check that all items of your child's school uniform have names on them. Many hats, jumpers and jackets are arriving in the lost property bin, and most have no names, making it impossible to safely return them to the owner.

Please check that any new or existing items of school uniform have names on them. Thank you for your assistance.

Hats and Water Bottles

With the warmer weather arriving can you please ensure your children have hats to wear (with names) and a full drink bottle of water for the day.

GOSPEL: Matthew 18:15-20

'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector. 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'

REFLECTION

In this Gospel, Jesus challenges his disciples: “If your brother or sister sins against you, you should go and talk with them about the situation.” Now ask yourself: What is your typical reaction when someone sins against you? Do you ignore them? Do you take some time to decide how you want to respond? Or do you nurse your anger or hurt? Do you retaliate in like manner?

Most of us developed and honed our personal response to being sinned against at a very young age. We didn’t even know we were developing a personal response. We may have modelled our response on how our parents responded in these types of situations. We may have learned how to manipulate others. Or we simply may have decided to keep our distance from the individuals who sinned against us (if that was an option). Or perhaps you were taught to talk with the person who had sinned against you and work it out?

Now take a moment and ask yourself: Today how do I respond when another person sins against me? Is my response different from when I was a child? Or is my reaction basically the same as when I was an 8-year old or a 14-year old? The reality is that our instinctive (and automatic) responses are developed at a very young age, perhaps even beginning while we are still in the womb. These responses become so automatic in our childhood that we may not consciously be aware of them.

Today may be a good day to ask ourselves: how do I respond when I feel sinned against by another? Do we bind another to us with our anger or resentment? Or do we “loose the other person” by striving to “let the hurt, anger or jealousy go” by talking with the individual? The gift is we can always change our automatic responses to certain situations. It typically takes a concerted effort. It is so easy to slip back into old patterns.

Ask yourself: Do you wish to change your automatic response? It is possible to do if we keep alert and mindful. However, it may take us several weeks or perhaps even months. However, if we choose to do this, then we have a conscious choice to make. We may begin to realise that we are happier and freer. In this process we not only may have freed the individual who sinned against us, we also may have freed ourselves from the pain, anger and hurt that we have been carrying.

Today, ask yourself: what is the pain, hurt and frustration that I am carrying? Am I ready to let it go? I pray you are! (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)

MASSES AND LITURGIES

Thanks to Year 5 who celebrated a beautiful liturgy this morning celebrating the Holy Spirit. Your reverence and engagement was lovely.

Due to Mission Fair Day next Friday and Fr Jiss being unavailable, we have made the decision to cancel next Friday’s Year 4 Mass. Year 4 will celebrate again in Term 4. We thank you for your understanding.

CATHOLIC MISSION FAIR DAY

Next 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)

MacKillop Athletics Carnival

We wish Sam Presser, Kynan Burgess and Oscar McRae the very best of luck as they represent the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese in the upcoming MacKillop Athletics Championships on Monday 18th September at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre. We hope you have a fantastic experience!!

Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival

Please find updated team lists here. Could all paper copy permission forms and outstanding payments please be returned to the office asap. If you wish to add your child to a team please email me at leonne.challen@cg.catholic.edu.au

Basketball Sessions

Year 5 & 6 will complete their final session of basketball with the Young Pacers Association.

They will need to wear their sports uniform on Wednesday next week.

Archdiocesan Sport for 2024 Save the Date

Please note that some Archdiocesan Sporting trials for 2024 will occur this year in Term 4. These trials will be open for students who will be in Year 5 & 6 in 2024. Registrations will be via the Canberra-Goulburn Sports Webpage.

2024 Cricket - to be held in Queanbeyan on Friday 3rd November 2023. Registrations are open now and will close on Friday 27th October.

2024 Touch Football - to be held in Lyneham on Friday 24th November 2023. Registrations are open now and will close on Friday 17th November 2023.

2024 Basketball & Tennis - to be held on Friday 1st December 2023

Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage links:

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations

https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents

On Tuesday 12^th September, the Liturgical Choir travelled to West Wyalong to participate in the Mary Quinnane Western Region Choir Festival. Choirs from around the Western Region each sang a hymn and a contemporary song and were awarded points based on a set of criteria. Our choir sang our new school song "To Love Is To Serve" as the hymn and "Naughty" from the musical Matilda as the contemporary piece. The students sang beautifully and as a result, came 2nd, which is an amazing achievement as the other choirs were of a high standard. I am so proud of all my little singers!!

A huge thank you to Mr Hughes who drove the bus and listened to a LOT of singing from excited children on the way. Thank you also to the parents and grandparents who accompanied us - your support and assistance is greatly valued.

Mrs Presser

BOOK CHARACTER PARADE

"Read. Grow. Inspire!" was our Book Week theme and there was lots of inspiration and creativity in our classroom and playground as storybook characters came to life. Our St Mary's community came together to celebrate our love of books and reading during our Book Character Parade last Friday.

FRANK'S RED HAT

As part of our Book Week celebrations our students were treated to a performance by Meerkat Productions. This performance was an adaptation of the CBCA shortlisted picture book "Frank's Red Hat" by Sean E Avery. The focus of this story was about believing in yourself and never giving up on your talents!

BOOKWEEK WORKSHOP

As part of our Book Week celebrations students attended workshops presented by Sarah Davis. Sarah is a Sydney based book illustrator and designer. Students learnt about the process of illustrating and the basic principles behind character design and visual narratives. Students loved drawing unique creatures and creating their own story with Sarah. We also had a sneak peek at a new story that Sarah is in the process of writing and illustrating!