St Mary’s College Newsletter
Number 3 10 March 2004
Newsletter 3 of 2004
Number 3 10 March 2004
Lord Jesus,
You came into the world not to be
Served but to help others. Help us to
see what we can do for the good of others. Show us how to help those who are near to us: our families, our teachers, our classmates. Teach us that a heart that looks for ways to do good for others has more happiness than the heart that does good only for itself.
AMEN
Dear Parents / Guardians
The first term of 2004 is already half over. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Year 8 students for the wonderful transition they have made as secondary students of St Mary’s College.
Staff involved with the Year 8 group have been full of praise for the students’ socialising skills and the mature attitude they are adopting to their studies. I can personally attest to the contribution the Year 8 students are making to the positive culture of the secondary campus with their friendly open natures and good manners.
Attaining the skills to socialise well beyond family is a vital aspect of the learning process our children undertake at school. Should we observe a pre-primary class throughout the day we will note children engaged in the basic challenges of learning to share and cooperate. Nine years later the same children are caught up in the complexities of belonging to a peer group, being a member of their family and wrestling with an emerging sense of self all at the same time.
Being true to self whilst belonging to and identifying with a group is an onerous task at
any stage of life. At a school level, students willing to take a stand on behalf of a group or more strongly in spite of it, reveal emerging traits of leadership.
To foster leadership on the primary campus at St Mary’s College the students in Years 6 and 7 are invited to participate in meetings each week to discuss and contribute to decisions made regarding their lives at school. The Year 7 students each belong to a committee responsible for undertaking leadership duties throughout the year.
On the secondary campus we ask the students and staff to choose emerging leaders. Those chosen form the Student Representative Council and are required to represent their peers in making decisions pertinent to the daily activities of the students at the College. They also represent the College at public forums and must from the outset of their term as Student Councillors be willing to take on the responsibilities of their office as well as the privileges.
The Year 7 students are already operating in their leadership groups. The Student Representative Councillors for the secondary years nine to twelve are being selected and presented to the student body this week.
The Year 8 representatives will be selected at a later date when the students have had time to get to know each other.
On behalf of the staff I wish to congratulate all our leaders for 2004. We wish them well in undertaking their duties this year and look forward to the positive contribution they will make to the life of the College.
MR TONY TREACY
PRINCIPAL
COLLEGE BOARD
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
DATE: TUESDAY 16 MARCH
WHERE: Secondary Campus
TIME: 5.00pm
To be followed by an
Ordinary Meeting
______
ASSPA MEETINGS
TUESDAYS
6 April
4 May
8 June
6 July
4.00pm on the primary campus.
LEAH DOLBY
CHAIRPERSON
______
FROM THE ROADWISE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER PACK
Bicycle Maintenance
A bike is just like a motor vehicle and should be constantly maintained to ensure it will perform as designed whilst riding. Below are some of the things you and your children should check regularly.
· Make sure brakes are working by trying to wheel the bike forward whilst activating the brake.
· Check that wheel nuts are not loose.
· Check tyres for pressure and wear.
· Check that pedals turn smoothly and are not broken.
· Ensure the bike has wheel and pedal reflectors and a rear red reflector.
· Check that the chain works smoothly and is free of grease.
If you have any concerns with your child’s bike, please see your local Police or bike shop or call RoadWise on 9213 2066.
WIN A BIKE
Here is what you need to do. Ride to school on Friday 12 March (wearing your bike helmet of course!!!) and your name will be placed in a draw to win a bike.
Ensure that your school records your name.
RAY PATTERSON
DEPARTMENT FOR PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
CALENDAR
Wednesday 10 March 2004
P&F AGM and Meeting
Secondary Campus Staffroom
Supper Provided
Thereafter P & F meetings will be held on the last Wednesday of every month.
Thursday 11 March 2004
Secondary Faction Swimming Carnival
Monday 15 March 2004
STUDENT FREE DAY
Tuesday 16 March 2004
STUDENT FREE DAY
Tuesday 16 March 2004
ST MARY’S COLLEGE BOARD AGM
Followed by an
ORDINARY MEETING
Secondary Campus Staffroom
Tuesday 23 March 2004
Primary Open Night
Thursday 25 March 2004
Primary Twilight Swimming Carnival
Wednesday 31 March 2004
P&F Meeting
______
PRIMARY MERIT CERTIFICATES WEEK ENDING 20 FEBRUARY 2004
PPR KALI O’DONNELL
PPH SIOBHAN DOCHERTY
YR 1A EMILY LUU
YR 1N GEORGIA POWERS
YR 1/2P EUGENIA GEORGE
YR 3K CHANTELLE SIBOSADO
YR 3A JAKE VARISCETTI
YR 4M ROHANNA CHEREL
YR 4J KAUPA PITT
YR 5R LOUIS BIGGS
YR 6J JOSEPH DEARNLEY
YR 6D KAMISA WHITE
DANCE KIEREN DANN
MERANDA JAMES
FROM THE HEAD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD (K-3)
Dear Parents and Guardians
It is always such a delight to be able to visit the classrooms. This fortnight has been no exception. Let me quickly take you on a tour.
The early years classrooms are ablaze with colour and wonderful displays of work. The sound of croaking can be heard from the Kindergarten room. The children have had so much fun creating a deep and murky pond.
Over in the Pre-Primary classrooms, red has been the colour of the week. The children have been busily creating red works of art.!!! There can be no mistaking what this colour looks like. As for the Year 1 and 2 classrooms, you can hear the alphabet being chanted. The children in Miss Paula’s room have been practising their timestables!!! As for the Year 3 students they are in love with the character of Tashi and are constantly begging for another short story.
Remember that you are always welcome to pop into these rooms and cast your eyes upon this feast of colour for yourself. Learning abounds in every room.
ANGELA ALIBRANDO
FROM THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL (4-7)
Dear Parents and Guardians
We are now over half way through the term and the Junior School students are deeply involved in their class topics. Year 4’s are busy discovering some amazing things about our weather while the Year 5’s are exploring this great land of Australia. In Year 6, students are investigating endangered animals and the Year 7’s are deep in the fantasy world of the Hobbit. It is great to see our children producing such interesting and wonderful work.
In last Sunday’s Gospel we heard about the transfiguration of the Lord. Jesus’ face and clothing became as brilliant as lightning and the disciples heard a voice from the clouds say, “This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.” As we move through the season of Lent we are personally invited to accompany Jesus and listen to him as we journey together toward Easter. Our challenge is to remember our Lenten promises and recommit to becoming closer to God.
JAMIE SGHERZA
______
PRIMARY INFORMATION
BOOK FAIR
A reminder to all parents / guardians that the Book Fair is on this week. Monday and Tuesday are viewing days, meaning that the children will be visiting the Library to compile a wish list. Wednesday and Thursday are buying days. The children are able to bring money on these days. They will be given a time to purchase their book. If you do send money with your child, please remember to put it into an envelope with your child’s name and class. The Library will be open after school on Wednesday and Thursday.
MANAGING STUDENT BEHAVIOUR
The staff have worked on a policy that in particular outlines the procedures to be used by all staff in relation to the upholding of a consistent student management approach at St Mary’s primary campus. This policy seeks to be a modified version of what is currently in operation on the secondary campus. This draft policy is to be trialled for the remaining weeks of the term.
One important feature of the procedure is that in the event of a student choosing not to co-operate or comply with school / class rules and expectations, the child will be asked to spend some time in another room. During this time, the student will be asked to complete a reflective form. The class teacher, student and a Head of Primary will sign the form. This form will go home. A parent’s / guardian’s signature will be required.
We would also hope to arrange a meeting soon to enable our parent body to contribute your thoughts on this important policy matter.
FOOTBALL TIPPING
Preparations are well underway for
St Mary’s College footy tipping competition this year. An exciting development this year is that our competition will be run online. You will be able to make your tips and check your score any time at any computer with web access. Do not worry if you are not a “web wizard” you can still make your tips the usual way by depositing the slip into the box at the primary campus each week. Books cost $50.00 and you will be in the running to win great prizes. First prize is a whopping $3000.00 cash, second prize is a 51cm flat screen TV, kindly donated by Steve from Retravision. There is also a midseason prize of dinner at the Mangrove and each weekly winner will take away $50.00. Money raised will be used to purchase valuable resources for our students. So be ready to buy your books.
CLASS MASS YEARS 5L AND 7D
Last Friday children from Years 5L and 7D celebrated Mass in the Chapel on the secondary campus. Students from both classes played an active part in the Liturgy which linked into the Religious Education units of work being studied this term in each class.
Thank you to all the parents / guardians and friends who came along to share in the Eucharist. The next class Mass will be on
26 March for classes 7A, 6J and 6D.
ASSPA (Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness) BBQ
Thank you to all who attended the ASSPA BBQ last Tuesday night, we appreciate the efforts that you make to support the College and your children. We really enjoyed meeting you and we are looking forward to working with you and the ASSPA Committee this year.
PRIMARY FACTION SWIMMING CARNIVAL
As we come to the end of swimming lessons, preparations are underway for the Faction Swimming Carnival. On Friday swimming trials will be held at the pool following the completion of swimming lessons. The Twilight Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 25 March.
PRIMARY OPEN NIGHT
During week nine, portfolios will be issued and the primary campus will hold an open night. It will run from 5.00pm to 7.00pm on Tuesday 30 March. It is your chance to visit the class, see your child’s work and talk with the teacher. We look forward to seeing you there to share in your child’s learning.
BUDDY CLASSES
All classes have been designated a ‘buddy class’. These classes will meet on a regular basis to share/work together on a range of tasks. This time is seen as an opportunity for our students to get to know children of a different age and to develop a warm rapport in a different setting. You may like to soon ask your child about this special meeting.
CHOIR
Miss Andrea has now finalised membership of our primary school Choir. Congratulations to all students who bravely presented themselves for an audition. We look forward to hearing from our new Choir very soon.
______
FROM THE HEAD OF SECONDARY
Dear Parents and Guardians
MERIT DRAW
On the secondary campus students are issued with Merit Certificates from staff as a reward system and are then eligible to win a prize at the next Assembly.
At Assembly on Wednesday 3 March
ALEX MORGAN
from Homeroom 8:3
received a Merit Certificate and won two Vouchers to Sun Pictures.
CONGRATULATIONS ALEX!
A special thanks to our sponsors and ASSPA for the incentive prizes.
ACADEMIC TASK FORCE
For Success at School
TEE REVISION COURSES April holiday programme in PERTH. Study skills, essay writing and subject courses.
Venues north and south. Small groups, expert teachers, individual help.
For more information, contact Dr Pam Bagworth or Dr Robert Hallam, ACADEMIC TASK FORCE, telephone number 9316 3599.
MR TED KOSICKI
______
NO GREATER LOVE
The Cathedral Players are staging
NO GREATER LOVE
A Passion Play in August as part of the Shinju Matsuri Festival at Sun Pictures.