Term 2 Week 6 - Friday 24th May 2024
From our Principal
Dear families,
Every year the Catholic Church marks the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’. From the 19th – 26th of May we celebrate what it means to care for our common home. This year the theme of Laudato Si’ Week centres around ‘seeds of hope’. We are called to consider how we can plant and nurture seeds to be the hope that the world needs during this time of suffering for our planet.
Creator God,
You fill the earth with life,
Lead us to live in harmony with the earth you have created.
May we respect all life from the smallest of plants to the tallest of trees, the vastness of the oceans to the majesty of mountains and the tiniest insects to the wildest beasts.
We ask this in Your name.
Amen
I wish to thank our incredible staff that we are blessed to have at St Mary’s. Late last week I injured my back and have been off work for the best part of the week. We have had other staff illnesses including COVID, pneumonia and cold and flu-like illnesses - all seemingly happening at once. Coupled with this has been 3/4 Water Safety programme, 5/6 Inter School Winter Sport and National Simultaneous Story Time. The staff have pulled together ensuring learning, safety and rigor continue across all learning areas despite the staff shortages. We certainly have an amazing community that I am most grateful to work with each day.
In some exciting staff news, Georgie, Matt and Tommy Peel will be welcoming twins into the world in November! We are all thrilled for the Peel family. Georgie currently works Wednesdays in 3/4 and teaches a senior PE class. At this stage we are expecting Georgie to take leave in Term 3.
I am pleased to announce that Georgia Flemming will be joining our team from the beginning of term 3. Many of you would know Georgia from her time at St Mary's in an Learning Support Officer role before completing her studies in Education. She then worked as a classroom teacher at St Patrick's in Stawell before starting a family of her own. Georgia is very keen to start back with us at St Mary's after hearing so many positive things about the growth we have made in recent years. We certainly welcome her enthusiasm, passion for learning, ability to collaborate with staff, students and community and the rigour around academic success that she expects for all students.
Every blessing for the week ahead.
Roxanne
Black Ranges Winter Sports
Yesterday, our year 5 and 6 students travelled to North Park in Stawell to compete in the Black Ranges Winter Sports Carnival. St Mary's had 1 team represented in netball and 2 teams represented in soccer.
RESULTS
SOCCER
St Marys 1:
vs. Ararat West 6-0
vs. Stawell West 9-0
vs. Ararat Rural Cluster 6-3
Grand Final vs. Gramp. Small Schools 3-0
The boys soccer team will now progress to the Greater Western Region competition to be held in Ballarat in the coming weeks. Well done!
St Marys 2:
Won all 4 games that they played. Congratulations!
NETBALL
Unfortunately the girls lost all 4 games for the day, but gave their best effort all day long!
MLC Swimming
This week it was our year 3 & 4 students turn for our yearly indoor swimming program at the Ararat Fitness Centre
2025 Enrolments Now Open
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students for this week:
Layla, Lucy, Joel Mc & Scarlett
UPCOMING DATES
TERM 2
WEEK 7
Monday 27th May - Friday 31st May
SLC - Indoor Swimming Program
Wednesday 29th May
SSG Meetings
Thursday 30th May
SSG Meetings
Friday 31st May
Book Club Issue 4 Orders Due
WEEK 8
Wednesday 5th June
SSG Meetings
Year 7 2025 Marian College Enrolment Interviews
Thursday 6th June
SSG Meetings
WEEK 9
Monday 10th June
King's Birthday
SSG Meetings
Wednesday 12th June
SSG Meetings
Thursday 13th June
SSG Meetings
WEEK 11
Friday 28th June
Last Day of Term 2
Term 3 Dates
WEEK 1
Monday 15th July
Students Return
Tuesday 16th July
Student Free Day
Whole School Prayer Dates
WSP is held each Friday at 2.45pm in the Multi Purpose Room. All welcome!
TERM 2 DATES
WEEK 7 Friday 31st May - MLC
WEEK 8 Friday 7th June - TBA
WEEK 9 Friday 14th June - JLC2
WEEK 10 Friday 21st June - SLC2
2024 Student Free Days
TUESDAY 16TH JULY
MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER
(STUDENTS LAST DAY TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER)