St Mary's Newsletter

We have a duty to be accountable to ourselves and to others.

We start the season of Lent in the Catholic Church next Wednesday with Ash Wednesday.  This is seven weeks before Easter and the day after Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday. This Christian observance  represents the first day of Lent and the beginning of approximately 6 weeks of fasting, penance and almsgiving.  There is a very informative and engaging video by ‘Busted Halo’ that explains the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent very clearly.  You may want to watch this video as a family.  https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-lent-3-minutes

Due to the current high case load protocols the students will be having a liturgy in the classroom (with Fr Andrew visiting each class) beginning at 11.00am.  Mass will still take place in the Church, for those wishing to attend, at 8.00am on Wednesday.  That evening at 6.30pm an ashes service will be held for those wishing to receive the ashes.

Well done to the students that represented St Mary’s School at the 2022 Central Districts Schools Classic in Beverley on Wednesday. Congratulations to Team #1 on their win and making it into the Finals! We wish them all the best when they head to Perth later in March.

Week Five is Wellbeing Week. This is our once per term initiative to focus on student and staff health and wellness. Healthy students learn better, and healthy employees work better! During Week 5, we will focus on mental health, nutrition, and physical activity. Be prepared to de-stress, breathe, eat your fruits and veggies, and move your body. Feel good and live well during Wellbeing Week and every day! The students will be involved in a range of activities in their classrooms and best of all a homework free week so families can spend some stress-free quality time together after school.  While the wellbeing of our community is of paramount importance every day – it is even more important that we focus on our wellbeing as we navigate the confusing and difficult times brought on by the pandemic.

All schools have Crisis Management Procedures in place that are enacted in the event of an emergency.  The students and staff practice these procedures annually to ensure that everyone knows where to go and what to do in an emergency.  If as a parent, you find yourself on the school grounds during one of these procedures, you are to follow the directions of the staff in moving to the designated safe area within the school. 

Information about the Faction Swimming Carnival went home this week to all families.  The weather should be ideal for a swimming carnival.  Mrs Crees has been very busy organising the day and I know the students are all keen to participate.  I look forward to seeing you all on Friday - it will be a nice way to ease into the long weekend.

God Bless and have a lovely weekend with your families.

Ms Adriana Coniglio

Principal

The Year 4/5 students are reading at Mass this Sunday, 27 February at 10.30am. All students and families are invited and welcome to attend. 

This week, each family would have received a money box from Project Compassion. During Lent, which commences on Ash Wednesday (2 March 2022), families are invited to make regular donations into their money boxes. All proceeds go to Project Compassion which help less fortunate people around the world. Money boxes are due back to the front office by Friday, 8 April. Thanking you in advance for your generosity and support. If you have any questions, or would like another box, please email zoe.omalley@cewa.edu.au

The Sacrament Parent and Child Meeting on Thursday 10 March will be held at 3.30pm in the Church. Masks will be mandatory for adults. Families will sit together, socially distanced from each other. Father Andrew will be conducting this session, which will include general information pertaining to each sacrament for 2022. All students and parents who are receiving a sacrament in 2022 (First Reconciliation – Year Three, First Holy Communion – Year Four, Confirmation – Year 6) are expected to attend. Please email pauline.riethmuller@cewa.edu.au or zoe.omalley@cewa.edu.au if you have any questions about the information session. 

Kind regards,

Mrs Zoe O'Malley

Assistant Principal

We have had a busy start to the term.  The Science strand we are investigating this term is ‘Earth and Space Sciences.’ 

Pre Primary - We are learning about the weather and seasonal changes. We are investigating how day and night occurs and why we have seasons.  The students read about the sleep pattern of nocturnal animals and chose one to research. Then they created a booklet and described what special feature the animal had.  We constructed our animals using recycled materials.  We all did a fantastic job.

Year One – We are investigating the patterns of the sun, how our landscape changes and what we see in our sky during the day and night.  The students investigated the ‘Phases of the Moon’ and ‘Star Constellations.’  They designed their own constellation and used kebab sticks and marshmallows to construct them.

Year Two – The students are investigating Earth’s natural resources.  We walked around our school playground to find some of Earth’s resources and used digital technologies to record and collate our observations.  The students are researching and exploring the origin of things we use in our everyday life. They investigated how to make ‘ice cream in a bag.’  They were able to describe where each ingredient came from. The students had a taste test to ensure it tasted like ice cream!

Year Three and Four – The students are learning about the Sun’s power and energy affects and influences all life on Earth.  They carried out some research about the sun, then worked with a partner and submitted questions using the Kahoot quiz app to present to the class.  The students carried out some experiments to see if the Sun’s power can change things. 

Year Four and Five – Our Year Four and Five class are exploring how ‘weathering’ occurs and investigating the difference between ‘physical and chemical’ weathering.  The students conducted an experiment about how ‘abrasion weathers a rock.’  They used sugar cubes in a jar and shook them over a certain period of time.  The students were able to see the effects of weathering from this experiment. 

Year Six – The Year Six students are investigating ‘earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and Extreme weather.’  They conducted an experiment to see what an earthquake looks like using Mars bars as the object.  The students chose an earthquake to investigate and will present it to the class using a Power-Point. 

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Values Certificates;

Faith - We believe strongly in God and in each other.

Pre-Primary: Tessa O'Neill

Year One: Ava Webb

Year Two: Tahlia Govender

Year Three/Four: Caitlin Carlson

Year Four/Five: Ruby Smith

Year Six: Elijah Sutherland

Merredin: Saturday 6.30pm & Sunday 10.30am

Kellerberrin: Sunday 8.00am