St Mary's Catholic Primary School

Newsletter

Thursday 8 February 2018

Vision Statement
A welcoming faith community
We value relationships
We pursue excellence in learning
We live the Gospel message of love

Prayer

Christ Jesus
When we open our eyes, may You be there;
When we open our ears, may You be there;
When we open our mouths, may You be there;
When we open our diaries, may You be there.
Help us to see with Your eyes;
Help us to hear with Your ears;
Help us to speak Your truth in love;
Help us to make time for You … for others … for ourselves.
Amen

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends
Thank you to all of the parents who attended the parent meetings this week.  The meetings gave teachers the chance to explain how their classrooms will operate.  A huge congratulations to our team of parents who worked during the holidays on the three level fort and then they were back all of last Sunday so the fort could be opened to students on Monday.  Special recognition must go to: Darren, Melissa and Jake Coulson, Cam McNeil, Geoff Millar, Shaun Marwick, Mark Fildes, David Emerson, Adam Pemberton, Steve Hastie and Craig Bovell.  See below for some students enjoying themselves on the new fort.

Mr Priest and Mrs Evans have been trialing a new newsletter format using Mailchimp.  Mailchimp makes viewing the newsletter on your phone or tablet easier and today is our first official run!
 
Busy Bee
Another Busy Bee is planned for Sunday 18 February starting at 9am.  Tasks will include: mortar rocks on tunnel ramps, place logs and mulch on western tunnel ramp, build another tepee, finish off tree house, cut and place log stepping stones and paint all wood structures with decking oil.  Lunch will be provided and any donations of morning tea will be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Melissa Coulson regarding food donations at melissa.coulson@cewa.edu.au.  Tools that would be useful on the day include:  power tools, shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows. 
 
Black Leather Shoes 

While most students are wearing their uniform correctly and with pride, we have several students who are wearing black running shoes rather than ‘black lace up school shoes’ as outlined in the Parent Handbook with their summer uniform.  Please ensure that your child meets the guidelines. 
 

Staff Risk Their Lives to Protect Students
On Monday afternoon, at about 3pm, one of our grandparents was shocked to see a snake slither past the office front door.  Four staff then staged a stake out, carefully positioning themselves around the garden outside the office.  The snake appeared again several times while students were being directed around the unfolding drama to wait for their parents at the bus shelter.  The snake catchers were called and the pair arrived after most of the students had been picked up.  After a 10 minute standoff with the snake well camouflaged in the bush, the 1m long tiger snake was captured and placed in a bin to be transported to a dam far from school.   Our snake catchers explained that the tiger snake was the sixth most dangerous in the world and had probably come across from the Big Swamp in search of food.
 
Toe By Toe
We are keen to operate the Toe By Toe Program again this year.  Toe By Toe is a program that helps to develop spelling and reading skills.  Volunteers work with individual students through a workbook and a short training session will be provided.  Toe By Toe runs from 9am to 9.20am Monday to Thursday.  If you are able to assist once a week or more, your help will be greatly appreciated.  I am coordinating Toe By Toe this year and we will start next Tuesday.  Please email me if you would like more information or would like to offer your assistance (paul.cronin@cewa.edu.au).  Parents and grandparents are more than welcome.

Family Barbecue
A reminder that St Mary's Welcome Family Barbecue will be held Friday 9 February at 6pm.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Class Vacancies
We said farewell to some families at the end of last year and as a result we have limited vacancies in Year 4.  If you have friends or know of families who may be interested in sending their children to St Mary’s, please let the office know.
 
Introduction to Indonesian
Most year levels had their first Indonesian lesson this week with Mr Priest and by all reports they had lots of fun!  Here is Nick having a conversation with Mr Priest.


Board Meeting
The first Board Meeting for 2018 will be held on Tuesday 13 February at 5.45pm.

P&F Meeting
The P & F will hold their first meeting on Tuesday 20 February at 7pm.

God Bless
Paul Cronin

Nature Playground

Calendar Dates

FEBRUARY
Friday 9
Welcome Family BBQ 6pm

Tuesday 13
School Board Meeting 5.45pm

Wednesday 14
Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9am

Sunday 18
First Sunday of Lent
Reconciliation Enrolment Mass 6pm


Monday 19
Swimming Training 7am

Tuesday 20
P & F Meeting 7pm

Wednesday 21
Rosary Years 5/6
Swimming 7am

Thursday 22
School Photo Day
Academy Tennis Cup
Reconciliation Parent/Student Workshop 6pm Parish Hall

Sunday 25
Second Sunday of Lent
Catholic School Staff Commissioning Mass 10am

Monday 26
Swimming Training 7am

Wednesday 28
Parish Priest Visit 3 9am
Swimming Training 7am

MARCH
Thursday 1
Walk for Water and Rice Meal - Project Compassion Fundraiser

Sunday 4
Third Sunday of Lent

Monday 5
Labour Day (Public Holiday)

Wednesday 7
Swimming Training 7am
Year 5 Reconciliation 9am
 

What's Making News

BOOK CLUB
Issue 1 for 2018 was sent home this week. This year, St Mary’s has joined Scholastic Book Club Loop, which is an online ordering and credit card payment system. Instructions for registration are attached to the newsletter. It will take a few minutes to set you and your children up on the Scholastic Loop system, which then gives you a login for all your future orders. Cash orders are still available – just fill in the form in your catalogue and return it to the office with the correct amount of cash. All orders are due by Friday 16 February.
Click on the link below for more information.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/51198f03b5f227ae598993b8e/files/ef51c4ef-f636-495b-bca2-4d5eafa0cbf2/LOOP_howtoorder_new.pdf

LENTEN PROGRAM

St Mary's Lenten Program will begin on Thursday 15 February 2018 at 9am in the school Chapel and will continue every Thursday during the Lenten period.

CANTEEN
Canteen is in need of volunteers on the following dates.
 
MAY - 2, 4, 9
JULY - 18, 25
AUGUST - 15
OCTOBER - 10, 17, 19
NOVEMBER - 28
Please see Ms Gray if you are able to assist.

Please note that Domino's Pizzas and Fandangles are no longer available for purchase. Thank you to the parents who have already placed their names on the roster.
Ms Gray

February Volunteers
Friday 16

Kristy Richardson
Tiffany Roberts

Wednesday 21
Kelly Bemrose
Kim Fildes

Friday 23
Jo Spinelli
Jaci Brasher
Tiffany Roberts

Click here for the canteen menu

COLES SPORTS FOR SCHOOLS
Coles Sports for Schools program has started. Please collect your vouchers and return to collection boxes in the office. Thank you. P&F
 
Just Leadership
On Monday St. Mary's hosted a Just Leadership day for Year 6 students where 7 other schools visited along with Caritas. Anita Finneran from Caritas lead us in activities such as: the caterpillar race, the egg game and she also asked us who our hero was and what qualities that person possessed. (Anita’s hero was Wonder Woman).
We learned how other countries were discriminated against and treated unfairly. Anita taught us how to be good leaders. In class we are now brainstorming how we can raise money for the less fortunate.                         
By Jasmin and Bridie (Year 6)
 
                                                       

Upcoming Events

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
2017 SCHOOL PHOTOS INFORMATION
 
Our School Photos will be taken on:
Thursday 22nd of February 2018

Class Photos/Portraits
  • Every Student will have their photo taken, whether they are purchasing photos or not, for the schools pictorial history.
  • The school has chosen to use the online ordering system. Your child will be given an online ordering instruction slip and a unique student code for you to follow and place you order online via the internet.
  • The expiry date for online ordering is the 28.02.2018. Any orders received after this date are treated as re orders and will incur a $30.00 reorder charge on top of your order you wish to purchase.  You can email your order request through to reorders.perth@msp.com.au or call our office on 08 9240 8000 Family Photos: Envelopes can be obtained from Administration.
  • Family photos are being taken each morning before school. Please bring your children in on the days listed above via your child’s surname to avoid long queues.
  • Please ensure that your family envelope with enclosed payment is handed to the Photographers on photo day.
Special/Sports Group Photos:
If your child is in a Special/Sports photo you will receive a link and password to the online gallery after photo day, where you can view and order these photos if required.  These photos will be packed and delivered with the school’s bulk order.
 
Please Note: Class Groups, Individuals and Family Photos are not available to view online.

 Community News

TENNIS AT ST MARY'S
Attention parents!  the Tennis Excellence in School Coaching Program at St Mary‘s Primary School will be starting this Thursday 8 February at 7:30 AM.  This is for players from Years 1 - 6.  Please enrol via our website at www.tennisexcellence.com.au or
http://www.classhub.com.au/provider/tennisexcellence-bunbury/2018/1?programId=81
Hope to see you then!
Joshua Grace

DADS' GET TOGETHER
New fathers/caregivers to St Mary's for 2018 are more than welcome to come and meet other fathers and caregivers of the St Mary’s community.
 
Who:      St Mary’s Dads and Male caregivers
Where:   Highway Hotel Main Bar
When:    7 pm Friday 16 February

PIANO/KEYBOARD LESSONS
Mr Mills has some vacancies in 2018.
For further information, please contact Mr Mills on 9797 2368 or email millsmusic@bigpond.com
 

IMPORTANT NETBALL NEWS
All girls and boys wishing to play netball who are turning 11 or older in 2018 are required to attend grading day at Bunbury Netball Association at 8am this Saturday February 10th.
You will need to firstly register your child here https://netball.resultsvault.com/common/pages/reg/welcome.aspx?misc=W0ccuTOUbSKGveymWnYYeUlcng9vR5Bn7Wt%2fV8pbUq8%3d&fl=1&id=34996&entityid=46790
*Please note it is free to register and grade.
Any questions, please contact Sonja Cahill on 0407 559979

MARIST FOOTBALL REGISTRATIONS
Please follow the link below for upcoming registrations:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/51198f03b5f227ae598993b8e/files/6a5b7724-877d-4513-aa4f-4e73050ce4fb/2018_Marist_Registration.pdf
 
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Bunbury

Faith Respect Courage

Tel:  (08) 9726 7500
Fax:  (08) 9791 3219
18 Mary Street, Bunbury 6230, Western Australia
P O Box 247, Bunbury, WA 6231
email:  admin@stmarysbnby.wa.edu.au
www.stmarysbnby.wa.edu.au