Dear Parents,

Today our Kindergarten students had their first excursion which is a significant event in their school year. The day began with a bus safety talk sponsored by the NRMA. The students then took a ride to the cinema where they examined the model train exhibition. This was followed by lunch in the park and a long walk back to school. I thank the many parents who joined the students on this excursion. 

Next week our Year Five and Year Six students travel to Bathurst as prelude to their Gold unit.

Excursions are an integral part of school life and I am sure many parents can recall memorable excursions they participated in while they were at school. Excursions can be run before, during or after a unit of work. The trip to Bathurst is before the Gold unit is taught with the aim of giving them experiences that they can link to what they are going to learn. The excursion will give them an appreciation of the influence of the discovery of gold on Australia’s development but they will experience what life was like at that time with regards to housing, food, transport, work and societal structures which they cannot fully get from books or the internet.

Excursions also teach students to be more self-reliant as well as deepen friendships but can also be anxious times as for some it is their first night away from home.

I am sure families are looking forward to hearing stories of what their son or daughter learnt on the excursion and we all pray for continued fine weather while we are in Bathurst.

Changes to Year 3 NAPLAN in Week 8

The Year 3 NAPLAN timetable has changed slightly. Their Writing Test was completed last Wednesday morning. This week they will complete the following tests:

• Monday 20th March: Reading -  9.15am - 10.15am
• Tuesday 21st March: Conventions of Language - 9am - 10am
• Wednesday 22nd March: Numeracy - 9am - 10am

We encourage you to help your child to stay calm and remind them that NAPLAN is just a snapshot of their learning and only ONE measure of their achievement. We recognise that some students do become anxious but with your help we aim to assist them in keeping perspective, building resilience and teaching them relaxation techniques. Other useful factors that assist them during NAPLAN are adequate sleep, good nutrition and hydration and some exercise. If you have any concerns please contact your child's classroom teacher in the first instance. 

The attached information from Steve Francis of Happy Schools, contains some excellent tips for helping students around NAPLAN testing.

Social Media 

Recently there have been some incidents of children encountering mean behaviours online while using social media. Whether it is in games or on any other social media platform, children need to know that mean is mean, should not be tolerated and should be reported. The following is a cheat sheet created by Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social about how to help your children. 

         _SoS_Cheat_Sheet_Social_Media_Tips_for_Parents

On the way he came to the Samaritan town called Sychar near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, 'Give me something to drink.' His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew. How is it that you ask me, a Samaritan, for something to drink?' -- Jews, of course, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied to her: If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me something to drink,' you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water. 'You have no bucket, sir,' she answered, 'and the well is deep: how do you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?' Jesus replied: Whoever drinks this water will be thirsty again; but no one who drinks the water that I shall give will ever be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will become a spring of water within, welling up for eternal life. 'Sir,' said the woman, 'give me some of that water, so that I may never be thirsty or come here again to draw water.' 'Go and call your husband,' said Jesus to her, 'and come back here.'  The woman answered, 'I have no husband.' Jesus said to her, 'You are right to say, "I have no husband"; for although you have had five, the one you now have is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.' 'I see you are a prophet, sir,' said the woman. 'Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, though you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.' Jesus said: Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour is coming -- indeed is already here -- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father seeks. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to him, 'I know that Messiah -- that is, Christ -- is coming; and when he comes he will explain everything.' Jesus said, 'That is who I am, I who speak to you.' At this point his disciples returned and were surprised to find him speaking to a woman, though none of them asked, 'What do you want from her?' or, 'What are you talking to her about?' The woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people, 'Come and see a man who has told me everything I have done; could this be the Christ?' This brought people out of the town and they made their way towards him.  Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, 'Rabbi, do have something to eat'; but he said, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.' So the disciples said to one another, 'Has someone brought him food?' But Jesus said: My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work. Do you not have a saying: Four months and then the harvest? Well, I tell you, look around you, look at the fields; already they are white, ready for harvest! Already the reaper is being paid his wages, already he is bringing in the grain for eternal life, so that sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the proverb holds true: one sows, another reaps; I sent you to reap a harvest you have not laboured for. Others have laboured for it; and you have come into the rewards of their labour. Many Samaritans of that town believed in him on the strength of the woman's words of testimony, 'He told me everything I have done.' So, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and many more came to believe on the strength of the words he spoke to them; and they said to the woman, 'Now we believe no longer because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he is indeed the Saviour of the world.'

REFLECTION

Do you want to have an encounter with Jesus? 

The gospel is so pregnant with the encounter narrative at Jacob’s well between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.  Jesus went to the well to rest and the woman went to the well to get water. Was it purely coincidence that the woman met Jesus at Jacob’s well? 

I don’t think so, Jesus went to the well because he was expecting the woman to go there.  So they met and a conversation ensued, during their conversation the woman felt something that she never felt before in her entire life. Why? Because the woman found out that Jesus knew everything about her life and Jesus spoke to her in a personal and enlightening manner. 

At the end of the gospel, the woman was converted simply because of that up close and personal encounter at Jacobs well. 

Do you know that the Lord is also wishing for an up close and personal encounter with you this Lent? The Lord wants to have a conversation with you also, the Lord wants to know more about you: Your life, your problems, your fears and even your darkest secrets. 

But you first have to find your own Jacob’s well or your own quiet place where you can be alone with the Lord. And when you find that quiet place go there and once there already close your eyes and begin a silent conversation with the Lord. – Marino J. Dasmarinas  

PROJECT COMPASSION

Priscillia’s story: Zimbabwe

Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe. With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and started poultry farming to support her family during the current food crisis.

Priscilla lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and her two grandsons. In Hwange, the impacts of climate change are exacerbating food insecurity in vulnerable communities. This can be seen in the erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, poor agricultural soils and high temperatures in the region.  

“We had plenty of rains at first but as time has gone by, the rains have become erratic and hence the yields have been reduced,” Priscilla said.

Please watch Priscilla's story using the following link: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/priscilla-story/ 

Please remember that we can all make a difference to the lives of people just like Priscillia. Please donate any amount to our Project Compassion Appeal this year and make a difference for ‘All Future Generations’. 

So far, your generous contributions have helped us raise a total of: $513.95

EASTER CONCERT

Next week, St Mary’s Primary School is very excited to be presenting an Easter Concert for our school community.  The concert will be held on Friday March 24th at 1:45pm in the school Hall.  Door will open at 1:30pm and this is a free event. We would love to see as many members of our community attend as each class will be performing with the exception of Year 5 who will be away on camp. Please mark this date on your calendars as we look forward to seeing you there.

YEAR 3 MASS

On Monday, Year 3 will be celebrating Mass in the Prayer Room at 9:10am. We extend a warm welcome to all parents and carers.

SACRAMENTAL REGISTRATIONS

Next week, a note will be going home for all students who are eligible for the 2023 Sacramental Program informing you of our registration evening taking place in Week 9.  Please note: This is not the one being held on Wednesday for State Schools as advertised in the Parish Bulletin.

God Bless,

Warren Ziebowski

(Religious Education Coordinator)

Raiders Mixed Tag Day - Harden

Well done to all our students who attended this day! It was a very well run and much enjoyed chance to play some tag football. The students showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. We thank the NRL for their organisation and our parents for providing transport for our students to attend. Thank you to our attending teachers - Mrs Eastwood, Miss Kearney and Mrs Collins for their support and supervision on the day. Thank you to Mrs Dal Molin for driving the bus to transport the Hennessy students and for all her wisdom on the day! Thank you also to Emma Wark who assisted us with borrowing tags and belts for all the teams.

A big shout out to Mr Croese and Mr Kershaw who organised our coaches for the day. We love the opportunity to work with our Hennessy colleagues and students and it provides us with a strong sense of community between the schools. Thank you so much to the Hennessy students who attended and wrangled their teams to be on time, subbed the students on and off the field so everyone had a fair go and supported and encouraged them throughout the day. They showed terrific leadership and great care for their teams: Corey Gale, Oscar Roberts, Sam Nasser, Samuel Grewal, Oliver Baker, Lachlan Dabin, Fraser Johnson, Joshua Craig, Nic Powderly & Hardy Glover.

Archdiocesan Rugby League

Well done to Jesse Gault who was successful in gaining selection in the Archdiocesan 11 yrs Rugby League Team. What an amazing achievement for him! Jesse will represent our Diocese at the upcoming MacKillop Rugby League Trials to be held in Canberra on Friday 5th May. We wish you the very best of luck!

Archdiocesan Sport Year 5 & 6 ONLY

Archdiocesan Sporting trials are held each year for the purpose of selecting MacKillop Representatives from Year 5 & 6. Students should have experience in playing their chosen sport at a school, local and representative level. Registrations are now open for the following sports:

Soccer - Monday 3rd April at Lyneham - please register via the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage. Nominations close 27th March 2023.

Rugby Union - Monday 15th May at Lyneham - please register via the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage. Nominations close 8th May 2023.

Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage links:

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

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

The Full Sports Calendar is now available on the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage:

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

Cross Country for Kindergarten to Year 6

Our Cross Country will be held on Tuesday 28th March at the Young Golf Club. An information note was sent out via Compass last week and can be accessed here. 

We would love some more parents to help out. The course is quite large and can be confusing for some students so having people on checkpoints can be very useful. So we can ensure volunteers are not standing on these checkpoints for the entire morning, we need some more volunteers please! I am happy to organise your time so you do not miss your child’s finish. We love seeing so many parents attend our Cross Country and would really appreciate it if you could help us - even for half an hour! Please let me know via email if you can help.

The Western Region Cross Country Carnival will be held in Grenfell on the 28th April. The Archdiocesan Cross Country Carnival will be held at Stromlo on Friday 19th May.

Interschool Snowsports

The provisional dates for the Interschool Snowsport Championships can be accessed here. Online entries for the 2023 Regional Interschool Championships open in Mid May. All participants need to have an active Snowracer SnowID. School students from all ability levels are encouraged to enter, with an emphasis on fun and participation in the initial Regional Championships.  As the competitions move into the NSW/ACT/QLD States and Australian events, the level of competition and the degree of difficulty increases. If you are interested in applying for any competitions please email me.

Each family should have received a book of raffle tickets for our Easter Raffle.

All money raised from this raffle will go to support the clubs that are run for students at lunch and recess. These clubs are enjoyed by many students with a lot of students participating in more than one club. The clubs, which are open to all students, include:

• Gardening Club
• Dance – both senior and junior
• Choir
• STEM
• Chess 
• Art.

Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. There are more tickets available at the front office. We ask all tickets to be returned to school by next Friday the 24^th March so that the winning entries can be drawn at our Easter Concert which is taking place that Friday afternoon.

We thank for your support.

HARMONY DAY
Students are to wear a splash of orange - next Tuesday 21^st March for Harmony Week. 

Next Week, all students in Years 3 to 6 will participate in Korean Cooking as part of their Korean lessons.  We will be making Ramyun and having Choco Pies for dessert.  If your child has any dietary requirements, can you please email Mr Ziebowski at warren.ziebowski@cg.catholic.edu.au and they will be catered for.  We look forward to trying some delicious Korean cuisine.