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What A Fantastic Result!
St Mary’s was one of 16 primary schools across NSW who achieved the ranking ‘ well above average’ in all five strands of NAPAN, in both Year 3 and Year 5. To achieve this ACARA compared the results of schools with a similar composition of students to those at St Mary’s. This can be seen when you visit the My School website, where the results of all Australian schools are recorded, and see all the boxes in the results for St Mary’s shaded dark green.
The school is justifiably proud of these results and congratulate our current Year Four and Year Six students. The results are due to a combination of excellent teaching and a cohort of engaged and intelligent students.
The challenge for St Mary’s, as it is for all schools, is to have all students perform to their potential and like all educators we are aware that cohorts of students vary from year to year. St Mary’s, through testing done across the school at the start of each year, has gathered data which allows us to support students to be the best they can be.
If you go to the MySchool website https://www.myschool.edu.au/ and you log on to our school you will see all the strands that were assessed shaded dark green which is a rarity. This site allows parents to view the progress of all schools across Australia.
While we should rightly celebrate the success of these students who are our current Year Six and Year Four cohort we must remember that all cohorts are different. The aim for St Mary's staff is to challenge all students and see at least one year's growth for one year of teaching. At the start of each year all students, K-6, sit an assessment called DIBELS. We have just finished analysing these results and this data allows us to see which student and which year levels need more intensive support. This data was shared at our recent Community Council meeting and I am willing to share it with any parent who wishes to see it. I won’t be publishing this data as it needs some interpretation of what is presented.
Cross Country
Mrs Challen has continued her run of great weather for our carnivals - long may it continue - for our Cross Country Carnival yesterday. With ideal conditions it was good to see so many students participating and trying their best. Thank you to the staff involved and to the parents who turned up to support their children. Again the Hennessy students were integral to the day running smoothly and I thank them for their efforts. Mrs Challen will have a more detailed report later in the newsletter.
Lent & Project Compassion Appeal
Almsgiving is one of the three pillars of Lent (the others being prayer and fasting). As a school community, we make donations, big or small, to Project Compassion as our way of giving to those less fortunate than ourselves.
Last Friday, we counted the donations that St. Mary’s students and teachers have made since Lent began. We should all be incredibly proud as our school has collected $292.75 so far!
As our Lenten season ends, we ask that families please return their Project Compassion boxes to school by Wednesday March 27th.
Easter Concert
On Wednesday March 27th, David Enever is coming to St. Mary’s to celebrate Easter with a whole school concert. The Easter concert will be held in our school hall and begins at 1:45 pm. Parents and carers are welcome to attend.
Upcoming events:
March 24th - 30th - Holy Week
March 27th - David Enever concert - 1:45 pm in Hall
March 30th - Easter Saturday
March 31st - Easter Sunday
April 1st - Easter Monday
May 11th - First Holy Communion mass - 6 pm at St. Mary’s Church
Cross Country
A slightly cooler, yet no less superb day revealed itself yesterday for our Cross Country event! Well done to all our students who showed such enthusiasm and gave it their all for our various races.
Thank you to the Young Golf Club for allowing us to use their grounds each year. We really appreciate having such a picturesque backdrop!!
Thank you so much to our small but generous team of volunteers - Chad Challen & Tony Berry for expertly driving our carts on the day, Annie Carson for assisting on a checkpoint and Pete Ward for being our rev up man and starter for the day. We cannot run these events without assistance and your time is certainly appreciated.
A big thank you to Hennessy Catholic College for assisting us with some amazing Yr 9/10 students who were simply outstanding on the day. This group was certainly one of the best we have had for Cross Country - they ran with the younger children, manned the checkpoints and encouraged every child that ran past them. Thank you so much - we love having you with us to support our students!
Thank you also to the amazing staff we have at St Mary’s who supported the students and ensured the day ran smoothly. Shout out to Mr Hughes for his countless trips to and from the golf club!
Congratulations to our age champions for the day:
5/6yr old Champions: Elissa Batinich & Myles Sullivan
Runner up: Chloe Deasey & Fionn Sofo
7yr Champions: Bridie Martin & William Manchester
Runner up: Magdalena Wright & Richie Robinson
8yr Champions: Anastasia Austen & Livette Toga
Runner up: Georgia Crossen & Mason Terry
9yr old Champions: Serenity Gunning & Alex Holt
Runner up: Chloe Clarke & Angus Berry
10yr old Champions: Agatha Murphy & James Sinclair
Runner up: Persephone Austen & Alex Presser
11yr old Champions: Indianna Brown & Kynan Burgess
Runner up: Harlee Cartwright & Nixon Gault
12/13yr old Champions: Jayda Holt & Sam Presser
Runner up: Annabel Bailey & Henry O’Brien
Medals for our Age Champions will be given out at the Assembly in Week 11, along with the announcement and presentation of the winning house.
The top 5 students from the 9, 10, 11 & 12/13yr olds will progress to Western Region and more information will be sent home via a Compass event once received by the organisers. We congratulate the students below who have gained selection to attend the Western Region Cross Country to be held in Batlow on Thursday 2nd May.
Tennis Timetable
Wk 9 - Tuesday 26th March is a make up lesson for Year 6, Year 1 & Year 2. Could they wear sports uniform please
Wk 9, 10 & 11 - Thursdays - Kindy, 3/4A, & 5D will have their sessions. Could they please wear sports uniform on Thursdays for the remainder of the term please.
Rugby Union and Rugby League Online Courses
As per CE Policy any parents managing or coaching tackle football games (including tackle gala days) will need to complete a quick online course prior to the day. Here are the links for these courses:
Rugby League - League Safe Course
Rugby Union - Smart Rugby Course
Southern Inland Primary Schools Tackle 10s Gala Day
Students from Year 3 to 6 have been invited via Compass to participate in the upcoming Rugby Union Tackle 10s Gala Day to be held in Young on Thursday 4th April. This is open to both boys and girls and teams will be mixed. As this is a tackle competition and a pathway to the SIRU Primary School Tackle 10s Championships in Wagga students must be registered with either a Rugby Union or Rugby League town tackle competition to play and must wear headgear & a mouthguard. Please give permission through the events section of Compass. This event will close on Friday 22nd March - please ensure you have opted in for your child prior to this date to avoid disappointment. We would love to have some assistance with managing the teams please!
Young & District Soccer Carnival
Students from Year 1 to Year 6 have been invited to attend our annual Young & Districts Soccer Carnival to be held in Young on Wednesday 8th May at Gus Smith & Cranfield Oval & Hall Brothers Oval from 9am to 3pm. Teams will be mixed in a 1/2 division, 3/4 division & 5/6 division. You must opt in to the event on Compass and please ensure your answer all questions and press the green confirmation button. You will know if you have been successful because it will say attending for your child under the event. Opt in permissions are due by Monday 1st April. This is a very popular event and I urge you to ensure you have opted in by the due date. We cannot accept late nominations.
Archdiocesan Sport - Year 5 & 6 only
Football (Soccer) - 9th April in Lyneham. Nominations close 2nd April
Hockey - MacKillop Trials 10th May - registrations online by 15th March
Rugby Union - 28th May
Registrations are via the Canberra-Goulburn Sports Webpage:
The Community Council are hosting a Disco for the children on the 11th April. This event is to raise money to enhance the music program at the school. The details are as follows:
- K-2 will run from 5-6pm.
- 3-6 will run from 6:15 to 7:45pm.
Costs will be:
$10 for one child.
$18 for 2 children.
$25 for 3 or more children.
Entry price includes a sausage sandwich, popper, lolly bag and a glow bracelet.
Tickets can be purchased by the LINK HERE or at the front office at school.
The Community Council are asking for volunteers for the night, if you would like to help out please place your name HERE.
