Dear Parents,

It is a bit like Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns that appear in supermarkets not long after the Christmas break; enrolment periods for schools begin early in the year. During the past few weeks I have seen advertisements on television and heard them on the radio informing families of what schools offer and encouraging them to enrol their children for the 2026 school year. As a school we have locked in our dates for families considering St Mary’s as an option for their child’s education.

The key dates for the enrolment process are below.

April 28th - May 30th Official enrolment period

Open Days

Tuesday May 6th 9am - 10.30am

Wednesday May 14th 3pm - 5pm

Thursday May 22nd 9am - 10.30am

Orientation Sessions

Thursday September 4th 9am - 10.50am

Thursday September 11th 9am - 10.50am

Thursday October 23rd 9am - 10.50am

Thursday October 30th 9am - 2.50pm

As a school we will be advertising these dates to the wider community, however, if you know of any parents who may be considering St Mary’s as an option for their child’s education please pass this information on to them.

INTERIM REPORTS

From today parents are able to access their child's interim report via Compass. The interim reports purely reflect the effort a student is putting into their classwork and whether they are living out our school values.

To view the report you will need to open your child’s profile and it can be found by opening the ‘reports’ tab.

On Wednesday 21st May we will be holding parent-teacher interviews and this will have academic achievement as a focus. This will again be the emphasis in the end of semester reports which go home in week nine of term two.

ATTENDANCE 

One of our goals in our Annual Improvement Plan was to lift attendance rates across the school. Our rates for the last two years would be classified as acceptable however we want these to improve. Below I have published a list of students who have a 100% attendance rate so far this year.

In Catholic Education’s Attendance Policy they identify the following levels of attendance:  Attendance Policy

Excellent Attendance 95% and above (e.g. 2.5 days absence or less in a term or 10 absences over a year) 

Regular Attendance 90%-94.9% (e.g. 2.6 to 5 days absence in a term or 10.1 -20 absences in a year) 

Emerging Absenteeism 80%-89.9% (e.g. 5.1 to 10 days absence in a term or 20.1 - 40 absences in a year) 

Chronic Absenteeism Less than 80% (e.g. more than 10 days absence in a term or 40 absences in a year) 

Parents that intend to withdraw their child/children from school for periods over 25 days need to get approval from the school principal after filling out an application form. This is required by the NSW Education Act. These applications are often sought by families going on a lengthy holiday. Please contact the front office if you find yourself in this situation.

This week we have celebrated our students who have 100% attendance. We congratulate the below students 

CASUAL JANITOR/GROUNDSPERSON

We are looking for someone to cover Mr Williams when he takes leave or is away from school. He normally takes several week’s leave in the middle of the year. If you are interested please contact Mr Hughes via the front office.

The hours of work are negotiable.

NAPLAN MAKEUP SESSIONS 2025 Parent and Carer Information

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed their NAPLAN tests today and have applied themselves very well in each of the four tests.

We will receive their results in May.

NAPLAN 2025 make-up tests for students who were absent this week, will take place next week from Monday 17th  March to Wednesday 19th March.  

Reminders for Morning Drop off for all families:

Thank you to parents who have responded to our request for following the morning drop off routine. It has helped children’s settled start to the school day.

For those who did not see this message last week here is a shortened version for your information. 

As the school year settles in it is normal for children to be unsettled at morning drop off. To ensure that your child successfully transitions well into the morning routine we remind parents that children are to arrive at school via Bus, Car Park drop off or through the front gate. If your child is unable to separate at the front gate and walk themselves to the playground, we ask that you wait in the front office to be met with a staff member who will assist with the transition.  

School commences at 8:50am, and after that time all students must arrive through the front office and be signed in. We ask parents not to walk the students to the classroom or congregate in the playground as this can unsettle students' learning and the morning routine. Please feel free to call the front office who can check on your child if needed. If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher, please contact them through their email address to arrange a suitable time to discuss any concerns.

Online safety with Kirra Pendergast and Safe on Social

Should devices be in your kids bedroom at night? Short answer: Absolutely not (unless it is used as a medical device). Here’s why …. Read on to hear Kirra’s advice here. 

Kind regards

Mrs Katie Thompson

ST PATRICK QUIZ

On Monday, March 17,  people around the world will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day. St. Mary’s will be celebrating too, with students invited to wear their school uniforms and add a ‘touch of green’. To add some fun to our St. Paddy’s Day this year, below is a quick quiz! 

Green_Happy_St._Patrick_s_Day_Instagram_Post_Document_A4_.pdf

Green_Happy_St Patrick_s_Day_Instagram_Post_Document_A4 pdf 1.38 MB

PROJECT COMPASSION 

We’re Uniting Against Poverty this Lent by taking part in Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion! 

Here at St. Mary’s, we are raising funds to assist people living in poverty around the world. Every day, millions of people face challenges just to access basic essentials like clean water, healthcare and safe shelter. 

But, we need your help. Together, we can give people the dignity, safety, and opportunities they deserve. Please support us this Lent, as every dollar we raise will help to create real and lasting change for vulnerable communities around the world! 

You can donate by putting any spare coins you may have into the child/ren’s Project Compassion box at home and returning it to school by Week 10 this term. Alternatively, your child/ren can bring any spare coins into school to add to their classroom’s Project Compassion box, which is on their prayer table for children to place money in. 

Sacramental Programmes (Stage 2 & 3):

Sacramental programmes will continue on from last year. St. Mary’s Parish will now celebrate sacraments in Stages in a two year cycle. 

If your child/ren are in Stages 2 or 3, and are making their sacrament/s this year, please come to the Information and Registration Evening which will be held at the St Mary’s Parish Centre on April 10th. This information  evening is for all three sacraments, however, you need only attend the session relevant to your child/ren and the sacrament they are celebrating in 2025.

Details for the Registrations & Information Evening on April 10th:

- Reconciliation & First Communion - 5:30 to 6 pm

- Confirmation - 6 to 6:30 pm

School Cross Country Information

Our Cross Country Carnival will be held on Monday 24th March at The Young Golf Course. 

* 5, 6, 7 and 8 year olds will run 1 km.

PLEASE NOTE …… IF YOUR CHILD IS TURNING 8 AND WISHES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE AT THE WESTERN REGION CARNIVAL THEY WILL NEED TO RUN 2KM AGAINST THE 9 YEAR OLDS. IF YOU WISH FOR YOUR CHILD TO RUN WITH THE 9 YEAR OLDS PLEASE LET ME KNOW VIA EMAIL.

* 9 and 10 year olds will run 2 km.

*11 and 12 year olds will run 3 km.

CHILDREN DO NOT COMPETE IN GRADE GROUPS – THEY COMPETE AS THE AGE THEY ARE TURNING OR HAVE ALREADY TURNED IN 2024 REGARDLESS OF THE GRADE YEAR THEY ARE IN.

 Following is the format for the day:

• 9:15am – 5,6,7 and 8yrs doing 1km will be taken by bus to the Golf Course. They will follow a golf cart around the course and will begin at approximately 9.30am.
• 10:00am – Buses will return the 5/6 year olds and bring the 9 and 10 year olds to the Golf Course and wait to return 7 and 8 year olds back to school. The 9 and 10 year olds (including any 8 yr olds competing for WR Selection) will begin their races (following the golf cart) at around 10.30.
• 11.15am – Buses will bring 11 and 12/13 year olds to the Golf Course and wait to return the 9 and 10 year olds back to school. The 11 and 12/13 year olds will begin their races (following a golf cart) at around 11:30am.
• Approx. 12:00pm – All remaining students will return to school by bus.

PLEASE NOTE, THE TIMES ABOVE ARE APPROXIMATE TIMES ONLY. While we do our best to stick to the times given, we may run early or late. All students will be given a sticker with a unique number which will be recorded at the completion of the race to establish placings. 

ALL CHILDREN ARE TO WEAR THEIR SPORTS UNIFORM. They will take their bag to the golf club with their hats, sunscreen, fruit break and a drink. The canteen will operate normally for the day.

Any students with asthma indicated on their medical information must have their puffers in their pockets for the entire race and ensure they’re wearing their asthma band they received from their teacher. Students with asthma will not be permitted to race without their puffer.

Any assistance you can offer on the day would be greatly appreciated. In order to ensure the day runs smoothly we really need people to supervise at checkpoints. If you can help on the day please let me know via email.

Archdiocesan Hockey

We congratulate Eden Sibanda in her selection in the Archdiocesan Hockey team! Eden will compete for selection in the MacKillop Hockey team on the 28th March in Goulburn. We wish her the very best of luck! Go Eden!!

Young & District Soccer Carnival 

It is that time again! Students from Year 1 to Year 6 have been invited to attend our annual Young & Districts Soccer Carnival to be held in Young on Friday 9th May at Gus Smith & Cranfield Oval & Hall Brothers Oval from 9am to 3pm (approx). The cost per child will be $5.00 and due to the starting and finishing times parents must provide transport to and from the ovals. 

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 FRIDAY 28TH MARCH. 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.

ACT Brumbies Primary Schools 10’s Gala Day

Unfortunately due to a lack of numbers we will not be participating in this year’s Gala Day.

Archdiocesan Sports - Year 5 & 6

Nominations are now open for the following sports:

Girl’s Netball - closing 18th March

Boy’s Netball -see attached flyer

Rugby League - closing 18th March

Soccer - closing 2nd April

Touch Football - now open

Rugby Union - now open

Golf - now open

Girls Rugby 7s - now open

For further information and the registration process please visit the Canberra Goulburn Sport Webpage.

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

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

The Canteen will be having some lucky green treats for St. Patrick’s day on Monday the 17^th of March.

You will find them in the treats and drinks section on the flexischools menu or you can buy them over the counter at the first break.

In celebration of Harmony Day next Friday there will be Menu of international cuisine on offer through Flexischools.

Keep an eye out on Compass next week for more details.

We are pleased to inform you that St Mary's has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees. 

What is BPoint and what you need to do?

BPoint is the Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments with the highest security standards. This system ensures your financial information is protected by industry-leading security measures.

The new direct debit platform provides the ability to pay school fees using either a bank account or credit card (excluding AMEX) and is securely linked to your account at St Mary’s. Payments via credit cards are subject to a 0.5% surcharge.

Establishing Direct Debits on BPoint

An email will be sent out in the coming week which provides estimates of Weekly, Fortnightly & Monthly repayments to ensure all fees are paid by the end of year. These amounts will include any outstanding 2024 balances.  

Whilst the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, families have found that using this function ensures they remain up to date with their financial obligations. We recommend due consideration be given to using this functionality.