Thursday 4 February 2021

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear families,

Welcome to the 2021 school year; a year that promises to be full of opportunity for us as we learn and grow together.  I would like to express how blessed I am to have joined the St Mary’s Parish Primary School community. I have been welcomed whole heartedly by staff, students and families and I feel incredibly privileged to be a part of a community with a rich history of Catholic education in Ararat. If we haven’t touched base yet, I very much look forward to doing so. Please feel free to give me a call or pop into my office at any stage. You are most welcome.  

It was wonderful to welcome 133 new and returning students on Friday and to witness their enthusiasm for the new year. The Foundation class is buzzing with the addition of 16 new students to our community. We also welcomed 3 new members of staff as follows: 

Louise Allan Grade 1/2 

Stacey Brodie Learning Support

Emily Borrelli Learning Support

Last Wednesday and Thursday our staff team engaged in some professional learning. Our focus was centred around two key questions; ‘How do we tell our story?’ and ‘How do we live our story?’ This theme will continue throughout semester one through learning experiences in classrooms. 

Our teaching team are available from 8:30am in their classrooms. Please feel free to drop in and touch base with your child’s classroom teacher, send them an email or call the school for a chat. We are keen to partner with you and support your child/ren in their learning journey.  

A Prayer for a New School Year

Loving God, 
Allow me to experience Your presence 
in the many blessings before me.

Open my eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities 
that this new school year brings.

Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.
Give me a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with my learning
and courage to accept new opportunities.

Loving God, inspire me to do my best this year! 

Amen 

Every blessing for the year ahead.

Roxanne Leed

AROUND THE SCHOOL

Back To School Pics 2021

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2021 Foundation Class 

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING IN WEEK 1

This was a great opportunity to set our professional goals for 2021 as well as learning new things about one another.

IMPORTANT TERM 1 DATES

Please note the Welcome Picnic has been cancelled due to bad weather & COVID restriction indoors. This has now been rescheduled to FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY 4 - 6pm

FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY
First Lunch Order Day

WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 
Foundation Rest Day

FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Beginning of Year Mass @ 9.30am 
Catholic Church
Book Club Orders Due
Welcome Picnic 4pm - 6pm
$2 sausages available for purchase

TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY
Parent Teacher Interviews

WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY
Foundation Rest Day
Parent Teacher Interviews

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY
Foundation Rest Day

WEDNESDAY 3 MARCH
Foundation Rest Day

MONDAY 8 MARCH
Labour Day Public Holiday - no school

FRIDAY 19 MARCH
School Photo Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To the following students celebrating their birthdays this week:

JUSTIN C, IZABELLE B, SIENNA H & ALEXANDER J

And who celebrated over the school holidays:

NELLIE C, AMELIA P, RAFERTY B, ISABELLA H, OTIS M, INEZ P, PHOEBE H, LIBBY H, JASMINE J, KNOX B, ISABELLE P & JYE B

ST MARY'S OFFICE HOURS

MONDAY              8.30AM - 4.00PM

TUESDAY             8.30AM - 3.30PM

WEDNESDAY     8.30AM - 4.00PM

THURSDAY         8.30AM - 3.30PM

FRIDAY                9.00AM - 4.00PM

LUNCH ORDER INFORMATION

Please find attached our Canteen Price List and Instruction Sheet

BOOK CLUB INFORMATION

2021 Issue 1 Book Club catalogues have gone home with your child this week. All orders need to be completed by Friday 12 February 2021 via LOOP, as we do not accept cash payments at the office. Instructions on how to order are below:

IMPORTANT 2021 SCHOOL FEE INFORMATION

Please find attached school fee information below. If you usually pay by direct debit, you will still need to complete the direct debit authorisation form that was sent home last week and return to school as soon as possible.

How to pay your school fees via Direct Debit:

1. Calculate your total fees for 2021 and divide by the number of payment instalments you will make according to your choice of fortnightly, monthly or quarterly options. All school fees are to be paid in full by Friday November 26, 2021.  If paying fees as a lump sum, payment is required by Wednesday June 30, 2021.

A family is charged the following:

• $1130.00 Family tuition fee AND
• $130.00 capital levy.

Additional per child fees include:

• $230 book levy.
• $80 IT levy.

Additional Camps/Sports/Excursion is charged per student depending on what year level from the below table:

Additional Grade Three Students only:

• $423.50 inc. gst

All Grade Three students in 2021 will be charged the cost of a Chromebook.  The Chromebook will be owned by the student and will be theirs to take when they finish at St Mary’s in Grade 6.  Damage to a Chromebook requiring the purchase of a replacement device will be charged to the fee payer.

1. Make sure you have chosen the Payment Schedule that best suits you from the table below. Note that Direct Debit payments will only be processed on these dates.
2. Read the ‘Direct Debit Request – Service Agreement’ on the reverse of this page to be sure you understand the terms and conditions.
3. Complete the ‘Direct Debit Request’ form and return it to the Office.

Please see below the 2021 table of payments.  If you have been on direct debits in the past you will still need to fill the direct debit form out each year.

CSEF Application Forms

ST MARY'S SCHOOL COMMUNITY TEAM

The school community team comprises of members of families at the school who volunteer their time to help fundraise in order to provide students with up to date resources and equipment to further enhance their learning experience. The community team would love to see some new faces in 2021. If you are interested or would like to chat with anyone from the team, feel free to email community@smararat.catholic.edu.au

UNIFORM SHOP

We have some second hand uniforms for sale at the school. This money goes to the Community Team, purchasing resources for the school.

PRICE LIST:

POLO TOPS $1
BOYS GREY SHORTS $2
BOYS GREY PANTS $4
SPORTS SHORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY SHORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY SKORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY PANTS $4
SUMMER DRESS $4
GIRLS WINTER TUNICS - AS MARKED
SCHOOL JUMPERS $8

ADJFA Registration

ARARAT EAGLES JUNIOR NETBALL TRAINING