Newsletter - 27th November 2024
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wadawurrung people. It is a privilege to be standing on Wadawurrung country.
We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous Peoples from the past, present and future who contribute to this country in which we live.
May Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians continue to work together to educate, unite and live in peace on this land we call home, Australia.
Upcoming Events
2nd December: Grandparents and Special Persons' Day, 8:50am-11:00am
3rd December: Playgroup 9:00am-11:00am; Going Up Day, new Foundation students to attend
6th December: CFA to visit and speak with students. Parents and Friends Meeting, 3:00pm. All welcome!
9th December: Lunch orders delivered
10th December: Playgroup 9:00am-11:00am
11th December: 5:30pm St Mary's End of Year Thanksgiving Mass & Graduation.
7:30pm Dinner at the Robin Hood. All welcome.
12th December: End of Year Excursion
17th December: Playgroup 9:00am-11:00am
18th December: Last day for students, finish at 1:30pm.
29th January 2025: Students return, Term 1 commences
Prayer
Messages from the Principal
LEARNING ABOUT ABORIGINAL CULTURE
Yesterday we were very excited to have Jack Sampi come to school to talk about his culture. Jack (Clare’s son) is a Bardi boy who was born in Broome, Western Australia. He showed us where his Bardi country is on the map of all the different Aboriginal groups in Australia and Pat guessed there were about 200 different language groups on the map. Jack talked about many things, art, sport, hunting and gathering, and how important it is to treat EVERYONE with kindness and respect. Sadly, he shared two experiences of racism and the effect it had on him, and still does. After his talk, everyone went outside to had a turn throwing the spear at a fish (well the fish was on a cardboard box) and Quinn hit the fish! The playgroup kids even joined in. I hope the students shared something with you last night.
Here is a comment from Bec, “Thank you so much for having Jack come to see the kids today. The girls jumped in the car tonight excitedly telling me all about the things they learnt off Jack today. They absolutely loved it! They said that he taught them all about his heritage, and not in a boring way because he is young!” So nice to receive a message like this.
LEGO CHALLENGE
Last week, a group of aspiring young engineers from our school embarked on an exciting adventure to the Australian Catholic University for the FIRST LEGO League Challenge. Leo, Emilia, Quinn and Pat showcased their hard work and creativity, which they honed through extensive preparation both in class and at home. St Mary’s stood out as the only Catholic school participating in this vibrant competition, where students not only competed but also collaborated on innovative projects. Their efforts were rewarded when they returned home with a coveted Lego Masters trophy, a testament to their ingenuity and teamwork. Thanks Sue for her commitment to registering our school for this experience and for supporting the students on their journey to becoming Lego Masters.
GRANDPARENTS/SPECIAL PERSONS' DAY
Thank you to those parents/special persons who have sent a reply to say that they will join us for our special day on Monday, 2nd December, 8:50am-11:00am. Please call Claire in the school office if the children have a special person attending.
END OF YEAR THANKSGIVING MASS AND GRADUATION
Join us for a momentous occasion as we celebrate the End of Year Thanksgiving Mass and Graduation on Wednesday, December 11th, at 5:30 pm. This event marks a significant milestone for our students, filled with heartfelt reflections, gratitude, and joyous celebrations.
Invitations were sent home last week, if you need additional copies to share with family and friends, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school.
END OF YEAR DINNER FOR ALL FAMILIES
At the conclusion of our Thanksgiving Mass and Graduation, all families are welcome to celebrate the End of the School Year with a relaxed dinner at the Robin Hood Hotel. This is organised by the Parents and Friends Committee, however families pay for their own meals. A form has gone out with today’s newsletter for families to indicate how many are attending so numbers can be confirmed. This needs to be returned by Thursday 5th December, but the sooner the better. We look forward to celebrating this evening with all of our families. It really is a great night for everyone!
PARENTS AND FRIENDS MEETING
We warmly invite all families to join us for our upcoming Parents and Friends Meeting on Friday, December 6th! This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow parents, share ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions about our school community.
We truly hope to see as many families as possible at this important gathering. Your presence matters, and together, we can continue to create a vibrant and supportive environment for our children. Let’s make this meeting not just informative, but also a celebration of our community spirit!
As the meeting is from 3-4pm, there will be a treat for the students after school and some play time outside.
IMPORTANT REMINDER: PREPARE YOUR SAFETY PLAN!
As we approach the warmer months, it is crucial to ensure that your family is prepared for any emergencies, including fire safety. Having a well-thought-out fire plan can make all the difference in keeping your loved ones safe. Have you downloaded the Vic State Emergency App and have notifications turned on.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
A reminder that students need to wear the correct school uniform.
Sports Uniform - Monday and Friday
Summer Uniform - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
The following is taken from the Parent Handbook
RATIONALE: A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of themselves as an integral part of the school community, and assists in developing pride in representing their school. Issues of equality, health and safety, and expense are also factors that contribute to the establishment of the Dress Code.
The only items of jewellery permitted are a watch and up to two simple stud earrings or sleepers worn in the ears.
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Newlyn Primary School are hosting a Community Carols night on Friday 13th December from 5-7pm and everyone is invited to attend and celebrate the spirit of Christmas. Unfortunately due to the very small number of families available to attend on the night, St Mary’s will not be performing as a school. However, for those attending, there will be an opportunity to perform a karaoke style version if they wish on the night.
DAMASCUS COLLEGE - BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP
Applications are now open for Damascus College’s Bright Future Scholarship. This scholarship is for the purpose of supporting students and families who are experiencing financial or personal disadvantage, and who demonstrate a strong commitment to social justice activities and contribute to their local community, but may not otherwise be able to afford a Catholic education. The scholarship is awarded to one incoming Year 7 student for 50% tuition relief, and is awarded for the duration of a student’s enrolment at Damascus College (maximum of 6 years). Please see Clare if you would like more information.
REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR
St Mary’s has signed up to take part in the 2024 Reverse Advent Calendar IN SCHOOLS program! Reverse Advent Calendars Ballarat are partnering with the Uniting Church, Anglicare, Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul to distribute boxes of nonperishable food and toiletries to those in our community experiencing food insecurity. Last year over 1300 boxes were donated and distributed locally. If you, or someone you know could benefit from a filled box, please register with one of these agencies.
What is a Reverse Advent Calendar? Unlike a regular Advent Calendar where the focus is on receiving a treat every day the Reverse Advent Calendar takes the focus off receiving and places the focus on giving to others. To support this wonderful Ballarat initiative, our school is collecting donations of TOILETRIES and TINNED FOODS to help fill any donated boxes that need extra items. This way, we can help ensure that every box recipient receives a special gift this Christmas. Join us in spreading kindness and making a difference in our community!
BUNGAREE PARISH
- CHRISTMAS EVE MASS AT ST PETER’S CLARKES HILL: Friday, 24th December, 6:30pm. All welcome!
- PRE-CHRISTMAS GATHERING
All parishioners of the communities of Ballan, Bungaree, Clarkes Hill, Dunnstown, Gordon and Springbank are invited to come together to celebrate our year together. This year’s pre-Christmas gathering will be held on Sunday, December 1st at 6.00pm at Donegan’s Farm.
Dinner: $35 per person; Payment:cash or card at the door.
Registration: email: gordon@ballarat.catholic.org.au/ mobile: 0492 903 409.
Bookings close on Wednesday, November 27th.
May God Bless you all and keep you safe,
Clare
News from the North Room
The children in the North room have been working hard during the past two weeks. They have been investigating multiplication as repeated addition and division as repeated subtraction, as well as shapes.
They have been learning about metaphors and how to use them in their writing. As Skyler tells us, you cannot use the words 'like' or 'as' when writing a metaphor.
Skyler: My cat's fur is a blanket for me. She is the softest cotton ball cat in the world. Her belly is snow and her back is a stormy cloud.
Genevieve: My cat Sooxie scratches my couch with her shark teeth claws. She likes to go on the deck in the glow of the sun. If you try to pat her she becomes a lion!
Ellie: Storm the cat is a cloud in the sky, snow bright. When he moves he is a lightning bolt flashing. He has a heart of stone and is a devil. He hunts for my foot to attack on my bed. He is a ferris wheel going around the kitchen table.
The class welcomed Boston and Mason back again for another transition visit. It has been wonderful to see both boys become more familiar with their classmates, the staff and the school itself. Everyone looks forward to their visits.
The visit of Mary the mother of Jesus, to her cousin Elizabeth has been learnt as a preparation for the liturgical season of Advent and then Christmas. Genevieve explains that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because it is Jesus' birthday.
Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships has been helping the students to understand how they can help themselves and others when they are experiencing big feelings. These skills and strategies can help them at home or at school.
South Room News
LEGO CHALLENGE
Emilia: Last week Pat, Quinn, Leo and myself went to ACU for the Lego competition. There were so many students from different schools and we were getting the robot arm to go to the right spot by programming it where to go. It sort of worked.
We were entering the Lego competition and we were showing the people who work for the ACU. The first competition was a bit hard to get the robot arm to move. We got four red Lego circle points but that’s okay. We tried.
The second competition was great because the robot arm was going well and we got six red Lego circle points. Then we were called to see the judges for our Lego speech and showed the robot arm and the judges were very impressed with our work.
The third competition was fun because we got more red Lego circle points. I had to get picked up by my mum because I was having my art class and we were in second place but that was okay. We did have fun and it was great.
Leo: When we went to the Lego competition I felt really nervous. It was very stressful because the robot kept turning off and it would not go so it was very awkward to just stand there with our robot not moving in front of a lot of people. It was very hard but very fun at the same time. But at the end of the day it was all fun and games and I really enjoyed it. I would go again for the 2025 Lego competition.
William: This term Pat, Quinn, Emilia, Leo and I have been working on Lego and we have learned a lot from it. We learned that there is a Sunlight zone, Twilight zone and a Midnight zone in the ocean. We chose the sunlight zone. We had to do 15 sets of Lego called Missions and they were really hard. We built a submarine, a shark, a whale, a boat and the Kraken monster. We then had to build a robot that traveled across the mat and we had to use these at the ACU. I missed out on the competition but it was fun for the lead up.
Quinn: Last Wednesday Pat, Emilia, Leo and I went to ACU to compete in a Lego competition. Our team was called St Mary's SS Squad. We had to give a presentation about our problem. Our problem was how the Kraken stole the treasure. We only found out that our robot had to do our missions on the day. We did not know that but we got awarded Lego Masters because we worked out how to code the robot and we solved a few missions. We were so excited! Every group of people got a medal. We had to vote for who worked well together. We voted for Little Bendigo. The winning award went to Forest Street P.S. They were very happy.
Patrick: Last week Emilia, Leo, Quinn and I went to the ACU for the Lego challenge. We have worked hard on this project this term. One thing that was very hard to do was programming. It was very frustrating with all the fiddling. Leo and I were trying to figure out what to do but we could not understand, however we tried hard and did our best. The programming was good for your computer skills. It was great. There were three rounds. At first we got no points but by the second round we got two points. When it was time to do the last round we got five points. We had improved so much by the end of the challenge.
STORM BOY
Kamden: This term we have been reading Storm Boy. It has been enjoyable for everyone. We got to the end of Storm Boy on Monday. Then once the bird got shot by shooters, then Storm Boy had to go to boarding school. At the end of the story Sue started crying because the bird died and because it was sad. And next week we are going to watch the movie Storm Boy so we can watch the movie and compare it to the book.
Maeve: Storm Boy is a heartfelt book that the Seniors have been reading this past couple of weeks and have been learning more about the book and the meaning of friendship. It is a good book about a pelican, Mr Percival and Storm Boy's connection and about a friendship that never ends no matter what. By the end of the book there were tears and sadness and Sue was sobbing.
That just shows how Colin Thiele can describe the feelings of the character and the love they show to each other. We are hoping that Sue lets us watch the movie STORM BOY.
Mr Percival is a pelican that is more than a pet to Storm Boy, he is a friend. He became friends with Mr Percival when Mr Percival got injured. He originally had three pelicans, Mr Percival and two others but they couldn't keep them as it was too much money but eventually Mr Percival came back and reunited with them. Not long after there was a boat wreck. Mr Percival saved all the people and got a lot of praise. Then it was open season and Mr Percival warned all the birds about the shooters but the shooters grew angry and shot Mr Percival and he went down in a flash.
Storm Boy was devastated. But he had to get away. When Mr Percival saved the people in the ship wreck they said they would pay for school but at the time he still had Mr Percival and refused to leave, but now Mr Percival was gone he felt he wanted to go to school, so he did. Storm Boy’s dad Hideaway was sad but knew it was the right thing.
I liked this book and glad I read it because it shows the way of life and how we have to move on sometimes.
SAINTS
Vanessa: We have been learning about saints in RE. We each had to choose a saint and make a slideshow about their lives. I chose Saint Clare of Assisi Italy. She became a saint on the 26th of September 1255 by Pope Alexander lv 4. St Clare's Mission was living a holy life of voluntary poverty.
Kaezia: Last week in the south room we all started a slide show about saints. A saint is a person who has performed at least two miracles and lived a good life. Then when we were finished we presented it to everyone. I studied Mary MacKillop and her feast day is on the day she died which is 8th August. I enjoyed doing it and it was so fun and entertaining. Everyone had amazing slideshows and put a lot of effort into all of them.
Foster Carers
Cafs is currently seeking to recruit more foster carers.
Currently, there are around 1,600 children and young people in foster care placements in Victoria, with about 470 children in residential care. The demand for foster care is growing, while the number of available carers is on the decline (AIHW, 2023). We are urgently seeking individuals who are ready to provide a loving, safe home for children in need.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, please don't hesitate to contact Jackie Mason, Carer Recruitment, Engagement and Support, Cafs Ballarat on 5337 3333 or by email jackie.mason@cafs.org.au.
School TV - Confidence and Motivation
Building confidence and motivation in young people is essential for their overall wellbeing and is a key aspect of their development. These qualities can have a lasting impact on their success and happiness. Confidence helps children believe in their abilities and face challenges with a positive attitude, while motivation drives their desire to learn, explore, and achieve their goals.
Fostering these traits involves creating an environment that encourages children to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and celebrate their achievements. Confidence is built when children feel capable and valued, while motivation is fuelled by the belief that their efforts will lead to growth and success. By actively supporting both, we can help young people thrive in the academic, social, and personal areas of their life.
By offering positive reinforcement, setting realistic expectations, and celebrating their efforts, we can model a positive mindset that can go a long way in helping young people develop both confidence and motivation. Nurturing these qualities, will help them grow into self-assured individuals who believe in their ability to succeed, setting the foundation for a fulfilling future.
In this edition of SchoolTV, discover how to provide opportunities for autonomy and support your child in persevering through challenges.
Here is the link to your edition: