Term 2 Week 10 - Friday 21st June 2024

Dear families, 

This week is Refugee Week; a week dedicated to promoting greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community.

Creator God,

whose Son became a refugee

and had no place to call his own,

look with love on those who today

are fleeing from danger,

homelessness and hunger.

Bless those who work to bring them relief.

Inspire generosity and compassion in the hearts of all of us.

Guide us and every nation of the world                                                                                                 

towards that day when all will rejoice in your justice and of peace;

Through Jesus Christ, our brother. 

Amen

As communicated in an earlier email, I am pleased to inform you that following the receipt of the results of tender, Catholic Capital Grants (Victoria) Ltd (CCG (Vic) Ltd) has approved a total building project cost of $3,000,000. This Final Offer of Grant enables us to arrange for the execution of the construction contract with Q Construction.

As you would be aware, we have been preparing for this announcement for quite some time whilst continuing to prioritise high levels of learning for students and minimise disruptions. In order to vacate classrooms in the allocated demolition zone, this week, our 5/6 team have been completing their learning over at the Parish Centre and this will continue for the remainder of the year.  Our Front Office will also be relocating to the back of the Multi-Purpose Room and can be accessed via the ramp on the Moore St entrance.  You will notice some welded temporary fencing in this area that ensures our site remains secure and child safe. We anticipate that building works will begin during the term break. 

I will commence leave next week and travel to Ireland with Father Justin Driscoll, twelve Principals from the Diocese and some DOBCEL staff. Whilst the timing is far from perfect, I had committed to going away thinking the building project would be well under way by now! In any case, Ben O’Loughlan will be coordinating the building programme in my absence and he will coordinate with Q Constructions and everything will go ahead as planned. 

Next week your child/ren’s mid-year report will be able to be accessed via the Parent Access Module (PAM). If you are having difficulty logging on to PAM please contact Jess at the front office. Your child’s report will include progression points that are aligned to the Victorian Curriculum. A progression point is a judgment teacher’s make, using data and assessment, that reflects student progress against a curriculum standard. The report will also include statements from the Victorian Curriculum that assess your child’s achievements in a particular learning area. These statements are informed by data, assessments and work samples that have been completed throughout the year. Your child’s general comment has been written based on data, assessments and anecdotal evidence using the Capabilities sections of the Curriculum and our Social-Emotional Learning data. If you have any questions about the school reports please contact your child’s classroom teacher.  

Every blessing, 

Roxanne

BUSH DANCE WORKING GROUP

We are excited to announce that we will once again be hosting the Billy Tea Bush Band to lead us in a community bush dance on the evening of Thursday the 19th of September. 
If you would like to be part of the working group involved in making this event a success, please let us know! Please tell our office staff Jess or Jane if you're interested, or email our Performing Arts teacher Elissa: egault@smararat.catholic.edu.au 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students for this week:

Veronica

TERM 2

WEEK 11
Friday 28th June
Last Day of Term 2
St Mary's Choir visit to Gorrin Village
Whole School Musical Showcase from 1.30pm
Early finish at 2.15pm

TERM 3 DATES
WEEK 1
Monday 15th July
Students Return
Tuesday 16th July
Student Free Day

Wednesday 14th August - Friday 16th August
SLC Melbourne Camp