Newsletter Term 4 Week 11 - Tuesday 17th December 2024

Dear families, 

As we approach the end of the school year, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognise our staff team. I am regularly reminded of and impressed by their hard-working ethic, their creativity and innovation and most importantly, their dedication to our students. Their overwhelming mission is to help shape and nurture amazing human beings, and in so many ways, they do this every day. We have spent time building a positive culture, refining our teaching practice, examining data, meeting students at point of need, and celebrating their talents and gifts in the areas of the Arts, Science and PE. I have loved seeing this hard work pay off in moments of celebration - celebrating student  learning, growth, achievement, accomplishments, courage and success. The hard work is worth it! 

Thank you to all of our parents and extended family members for your contribution to our community this year and for your support of our team. I wish to thank the School Advisory Council who show strong commitment to building partnerships that are empowering. I thank them for their generosity, wisdom and support. 

I wish to thank every one of our amazing students. St Mary’s is richer for your involvement and participation in our school. Thank you for being the little legends that you are - for supporting each other, for encouraging each other, for including each other and for celebrating each other. I see moments of that each and every day.  I look forward to our continued learning journey together.

As we continue through Advent I pray that God’s voice speaks to us and engages us in promises of freedom and joy. In these Advent days may hear Your Word with new insight, and follow the Way which opens before us as we await your Spirit.

The end of a school year always brings with it a number of farewells. As we say goodbye to our year 6 students we particularly acknowledge those families who have spent their last year at St Mary’s  – we don’t just say goodbye to these students but to their whole family. 

Bourizk Family (Jethro)
Bourizk Family (Sam)
Fratin Family
Garcia Family
Jardine Family
Kaliszewski Family
Marsh Family
Nunan Family
Price Family (Dustin)
Sladdin Family (Tom)
Strafehl Family
Subba Family
Xalfa Family

We also farewell the McIntosh family from Year 4. 

At the final Mass for the year we also officially farewelled Father Andrew Hayes. For the past 10 years Andrew has lead our community with wisdom and compassion. He has shared our journey and walked with us in solidarity. We are blessed to know that Father Andrew as a colleague, companion and friend. Andrew has worked in partnership with us and has brought to our community a deep respect and reverence for scripture, for prayer, for our staff and families and for God.  We wish you all the very best as you continue your ministry in Colac. 

The School gifted Andrew with a hand painted stole commissioned by us from Indigenous Artist, Helen Bachmann. She interweaves First Nations’ perspectives into Christian artwork. 

From the artist…

The artwork in this hand dyed silk stole represents both Christian and First Nations stories.

Trinity is represented in the image through the three symbols, circle, stars and spirals. The circles represent God the Father. A circle has no beginning and no end, a circle is infinite as is God. The circles are radiating outwards, growing eternally as does God’s love. God the Son is represented through the stars of the Southern Cross. The five stars of the Southern Cross represent the blood that Jesus shed on the cross: from the crown of thorns; the nails in his hands and feet; and the spear to his side. Each time we view the stars of the Southern Cross we can ponder Christ. The Holy Spirit is represented through the spirals, the breath of God.

The eagle represents the creator beings of many First Peoples of Australia. The Eagle is a Creator Ancestor in many First Nations Countries across Australia, including Bunjil.

The contours lines of Country surround Trinity and Creator Spirit.

Congratulations to the following Year 5 students on their positions of leadership for next year:

School Captains
Jack Christie & James Roberts
Vice School Captains
Izabelle Batobalani & Loella Thomas

House Captains
Carmel House: Libby Harrington & Harriet Peacock
Fatima House: Georgie Chamings & Isabelle Preston
Lourdes House: Grace Brady & Isla Jackson

Congratulations to the following students on their end of year scholarships:

Father Davey Memorial Scholarship - Denni Marsh Yr 6
RSL Spirit Award - Harry Bibby & Sam Bourizk Yr 6
Aileen and Audrey Brennan Memorial Scholarship - Veronica O'Boyle Yr 5
Catholic Women’s League Scholarship - Dustin Price Yr 6
Ararat Rural City Council Scholarship - Izabelle Batobalani Yr 5 
Ararat Community Enterprises Scholarship - Tom Sladdin Yr 6
Kalluri  FixIT IT Solutions Technology Scholarship - Ari Strafehl Yr 6
Joe McCracken Community Scholarship - Nowa Williams Yr 6
Martha Haylett Award for Courage - Ashley Chung Yr 6
Nutrien Scholarship - Eden Harrison Yr 6
AME Systems Community Leadership Scholarship - Ella Blandford Yr 6

What a bunch of absolute legends. Our Year 6s have lead this year with kindness, compassion and generosity. We will miss you greatly. They have had a fabulous day in Halls Gap celebrating their last day of primary school together!

Last Wednesday, our senior students enjoyed a day out in Melbourne. The train promptly departed Ararat at 7.11am, with our students enjoying a drink at Fed Square's Time Out Cafe, then heading to NGV to admire some fabulous artwork, followed by a walk through Chinatown before heading to the comedy theatre to see "A Christmas Carol". Afterwards they enjoyed a bite to eat at Southern Cross, before the train departed and arrived back in Ararat at 7.20pm. 

St Mary's had a visit last Wednesday from Western Bulldogs players Oskar Baker and Ryley Sanders.
They did some kicking and handballing practice and ran a Q&A session with MLC

TERM 4 

WEEK 11
Wednesday 18th December
Staff Planning Day
Thursday 19th December
Staff Last Day
Office closes at 11am

2025

Staff Return:
Tuesday 28th January

Students Return:
Wednesday 29th January

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students over the school holidays in December:

Anna, Henry J, Hamish B, Jacob B, Lilly & Xavier