Term 1 Week 4 (23/2/2024)
What is On?
Monday 26th February 2024 - Zone Swimming Carnival -Maclean
March
Friday 1st March - Awards Assembly 9:00 – 10:00am
Friday 1st March 2024 - Dio Swimming Carnival-Macksville
Friday 8th March 2024 -Dio Winter Sport Trials (Soccer, Netball, Rugby League)
*Monday 11th March- Zone Winter Sport Trials- Rugby Union- Coffs Harbour
Wednesday 13th March to Friday 22nd March - NAPLAN (Year 3 and 5 students)
SAVE THE DATE - Thursday 21st March - Community Coversation #7, 5:30pm
Monday 25th March - School Photos
Wednesday 27th March 2024 - School Cross Country
Thursday 28th March - Holy Thursday Liturgy
April
Wednesday 3rd April 2024 - Polding Swimming-Sydney
Monday 8th April - Catholic Schools Week Liturgy in hall, 10am followed by open classrooms and morning tea.
Tuesday 9th April - Zone Cross Country - McAuley Catholic College Grafton (Note change of date)
Thursday 11th April – Friday 12 April 2024 - PSSA Swimming
Thursday 11th April- Last day Term 1, 2024 for students
Friday 12th April 2024 - Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
*Further information will be sent home with students eligible to trial for the Winter Sports closer to the trial dates.
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a lovely way to start the 2024 year with our Beginning School Mass at Saint James Church on Wednesday. All our Year 6 children received their badges and the whole school celebrated their start to the year. Thanks to Father Nicolas for offering the Mass; Mrs Howland for all the planning, our Year 6 children for their enthusiasm as leaders and all the families who were able to attend.
Father Nicolas asked all of us to use this year to renew our focus on prayer. Three ways were suggested- being thankful, asking for help and saying sorry. I wonder how those 3 core values in all our lives translate to each of us? For me these would look different to all our parents and certainly the children.
I am thankful for the settled start to learning with enthusiastic teachers who are all looking at how best to support your children.
I ask for help all the time! I am always looking to improve in my role at the school and my relationships built on trust with the children and ... everyone!
Saying sorry is not a popular image in our contemporary society but I firmly believe if we cannot apologise where we overlook something or misinterpret something we are not "being our best selves". Clearly I have need for that one in a role where you intersect with others on a daily basis!
After the mass we returned to school for our usual icy pole treat! On a hot day it was a lovely way to mark our new year together.
A big thank you to Mrs and Mr Hancock for the installation of the goal posts and field marking completed last weekend.
UNIFORM
"Why is that in capitals and bolded?" I hear you all ask.
The start of the year is the time when we would expect the uniform to be worn correctly. This is not an optional extra.
Please make yourself familiar with the policy which is on the website, in this newsletter and in the parent handbook. We are expecting all children to wear the uniform correctly every day. We will also be communicating with those who are not in correct uniform and will contact families if there is an anomaly.
In short- No jewellery except studs/sleepers and a watch, shorts are navy, shoes are ALL black Mon- Thurs (not mostly black).
Thank you for your attention to this.
Next week we begin our Parent Teacher Conferences.
This is an important time for parents and teachers to continue to build a relationship with one another. The focus is on building common understandings of who your child/ren are as learners, their interests and how you see them learning in 2024. Please pop on to COMPASS to register for your conference. All sessions are 15 minutes in duration and are really important to us as a school.
Good luck to all our swimmers on MONDAY. Can't wait to pop up and cheer you all on!!!!
Cheers
Ann
RE News
Christian Meditation is taught in our Catholic schools and is a simple way to practise stillness and silence and open our hearts to God. Everyone sits comfortably, with their eyes gently closed. Pray the word "Maranatha" silently and repeatedly. Maranatha means 'Come Lord' and is a simple invitation to God to enter our hearts. Allow the meditation to last 3-5 minutes depending upon the age of your children.
Our Beginning School Mass was held on Tuesday at St James Catholic Church. Thank you to the parents and family members who attended this very special Mass and helped to celebrate the beginning of another fantastic year of learning.
At the conclusion of the Mass, the Year 6 students were presented with their Leaders badges and were presented to the school community.
2024 Sacrament Dates
Confirmation- Monday 17th June 2024, 5pm at St Mary’s Church, Maclean.
Reconciliation- Wednesday 4th September, 11:35 am at school.
First Holy Communion- Saturday 7th September, 5:30pm Mass at St James Church, Yamba
The order of Sacraments in the Lismore Diocese is:
Baptism, Confirmation (Year 3), Reconciliation (Year 4), First Eucharist (Year 4)
If you need more information regarding Baptism for your child, please contact the Parish Office in Maclean on 6645 1188 (Open Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday 9am-1:30pm).
If you would like your child to receive any other Sacraments, please contact Mrs Howland at school. For your child to receive any of these Sacraments they must first be Baptised.
If your child has received the Sacrament of Confirmation last year, they will be invited to receive Reconciliation and First Communion this year. All preparation is completed at school as part of Religion lessons.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Renee Howland
Assistant Principal- Mission
This year, Project Compassion brings you the stories of three resilient women from three different corners of the world. They are facing vastly different challenges, but are all united by one dream: to create a better tomorrow for all future generations.
Meet Ronita from the Philippines. Ronita lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines. She went back to school to finish her education so that she could earn income to support her children.
Meet Leaia from Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water was very difficult for Leaia and her family. But, with the support of Caritas Australia, a water tank was installed at their home, improving their health and living conditions.
Meet Memory from Malawi. Memory, the eldest daughter from a rural Malawian family, trained to become a carpenter and is now a trailblazer for future generations of women in her village.
Throughout Project Compassion, you will get to know the stories of Ronita, Leaia and Memory. Journey with them as they forge a path to a brighter future for all generations.
Watch a short film: Introduction to Project Compassion (Primary school version) or Introduction to Project Compassion (General)
Please donate to Project Compassion.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes in each classroom or office.
Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
Sport News
The start of the year has seen many things happening in sport!
Winter Sport Trials
This week we had 9 students represent our school at the Clarence Zone Winter Sport Trials. Students travelled to Woolgoolga for Netball and Grafton for Soccer. Two students have been successful in their selection and will play as part of the Clarence Zone teams, competing against the 3 other zones on the day. A Diocesan team will be selected at the end of the day to play at the Polding carnival later in Term 2. Good luck to those involved.
Indie Wright- Girls Soccer Jake Seivers- Boys Soccer
Zone Swimming
This Monday, 26th February, 24 students will be heading to Maclean to compete in the Clarence Zone Swimming Championships. We wish all competitors the best of luck and we look forward to hearing the results.
New Representative Sport Process
This year the Diocese is trialling a new process for students attending Diocesen and Polding events. Any student who is successful in making a representative team will now receive an event alert through COMPASS from the schools Sport Coordinator (paper notes will no longer be handed out). Consent and payment is to be made through the compass app. We understand that this is a new process so if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Regards
Tash Hancock
Sports Coordinator
AP Teaching and Learning
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) is an initiative of the NSW State Government. It aims to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to each student to increase their reading stamina. The students in K-2 will automatically participate in the challenge, however, this year students in years 3-6 will be asked to nominate themselves if they would like to participate in this year’s challenge. If your child would like to participate in the PRC for 2023 please notify your interest with Mrs Petersen.
Kind Regards
Mrs Petersen
AP Teaching and Learning
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing News
Stage 3 News
We have had a very busy start to the school year. Our Year 6 students were proudly badged at Mass on Tuesday, however all Stage 3 students have really stepped up as leaders in our school. We have started our Buddies program with Kindergarten, we have led liturgies and a Mass, we are coordinating and running a lunch time sports competition, we are having fun at surfing and we’ve been totally engaged in all of our new learning units!
English
In English we have started our narrative unit. Our novel is ‘The Wild Robot’ by Peter Brown. Students are really enjoying this science-fiction novel about a robot called Roz! Throughout the unit students will develop a deeper understanding of how patterns in narratives set up expectations and notice when those patterns are subverted. Students will further explore narrative conventions and characterisation, then apply this knowledge when creating their own science-fiction narratives. We look forward to sharing the finished product!
Sports Competition
Stage 3 students have certainly stepped up and are running the Stage 2 and 3 lunchtime sports competition. This term Stage 3 is playing League Tag and Stage 2 are playing Netball. Students are assisting with reffing, umpiring, time keeping and scoring. The students are thoroughly enjoying learning the skills for these sports and are loving playing with their friends.
Sport Dates
Monday 26th February 2024 - Zone Swimming Carnival -Maclean
Friday 1st March 2024 - Dio Swimming Carnival-Macksville
Friday 8th - March 2024 -Dio Winter Sport Trials (Soccer, Netball, Rugby League)
*Monday 11th March- Zone Winter Sport Trials- Rugby Union- Coffs Harbour
Wednesday 27th March 2024 - School Cross Country
Wednesday 3rd April 2024 - Polding Swimming-Sydney
Tuesday 9th April - Zone Cross Country - McAuley Catholic College, Grafton (Note change of date)
Thursday 11th April – Friday 12 April 2024 - PSSA Swimming
Friday 17th May - Dio Rugby Union Trials
*Further information will be sent home with students eligible to trial for the Winter Sports closer to the trial dates.
BINGO is maths? Right?
SAVE THE DATE - Thursday 21st March - Community Coversation #7, 5:30pm at the Golf Club. You won't want to miss it!
The CC group of parents have arranged some fun maths games followed by BINGO. You will want to save this date as we know that the BINGO we have arranged with a caller is great fun. (Appparently lots of families were at BINGO in the holidays and say it was wonderful fun!) Prizes and community in a venue where you can also get dinner- What could be better!
Uniform 2024
School Uniform
Monday to Thursday the school uniform is worn. On Fridays the students wear their sports uniform. Please ensure your child is in correct school uniform, including socks and footwear. School hats are compulsory and will affect your child's outdoor play if they are not worn.
Girls Checked Blouse
Navy Blue Skort
Navy Blue Fleecy Jumper or Fleecy Zip up Jumper w/school emblem
School Jacket w/school emblem
Boys Maroon Shirt
Navy Blue Shorts
Navy Blue Fleecy Jumper or Fleecy Zip up Jumper w/school emblem
School Jacket w/school emblem
Footwear All children are to wear navy socks with school uniform.
School shoes are to be fully black. (this includes laces) Sport shoes or joggers may be worn with white socks with the sports uniform.
Tracksuits Both boys and girls may wear navy tracksuit pants in cooler weather.
No “hoodies”
Sports uniform
Both girls and boys are allowed the option of light weight navy shorts (Taslon) and the school sports shirt. Girls may wear their skorts.
No lycra shorts.
Jewellery
No jewellery except watches, sleepers/studs are acceptable.
Long Hair
For health and safety reasons long hair needs to be tied back. (both boys and girls)
Hair must be neat and tidy at all times.
Hair ribbons/scrunchies when worn must be maroon or navy blue.
Labelling
Please label everything. Not only uniforms but also hats, drink bottles, lunch boxes etc. The labels also have to be regularly checked to make sure they are still visible, as many tend to wear/come off over time. Small children can be overwhelmed by the whole school experience and will often lose or forget their personal belongings. Labelling everything ensures minimal upset for the child, teacher and parents.
Uniform Ordering and Purchasing
Uniforms are available at The Uniform Shop, 4 Stanley St, Maclean—66453778
* A clothing pool is available at school.
* A small number of hats are available for purchase from the school office at $20
Medications
Just a reminder -
If your child is required to take any medication please give this to the school office with a medical consent form (which can be obtained from the office). All prescription medication must be in original packaging to safe guard your child. (even over the counter medication such as Panadol and antihistamines need to be labelled with your child's name). If we needed to give Panadol in an emergency we will contact parents for consent.
It is policy that we are NOT allowed to administer homeopathic or other natural medication at school. No medication can be kept in school bags.
These directions are across the diocese.