St Mary’s Primary School 4-12 Duke Street, Maffra, Vic 3860 Phone: (03) 5147 1334 Fax: (03) 5147 2642 principal@stmmaffra.catholic.edu.au Week 10 Term 4: Issue 39 Friday 15th December 2017 2017 Dates Term 4 Week 11 Monday 18th December - Uniform Shop Opened 3pm in Parish Hall Tuesday 19th December - Assembly at 12.30pm - Last Day of Term Finish at 3.20pm 2018 Dates Term 1 Week 1 Monday 29th December - Teachers return to School Tuesday 30th to Friday 2nd February - Teachers attending PD Week 2 Monday 5th February - Students return to School Tuesday 6th February - School Swimming Program Commences Wednesday 7th February - NO PREPS TODAY Dear Parents We have had a week of reflecting and celebration. Our Grade 6 children together with family and teachers had memorable night with Mass and dinner on Tuesday night. The sit down meal and speeches allowed us all to remember and laugh at the many wonderful times the children had at St Mary’s. We wish them well next year in secondary school and also thank Mrs ‘V’ for the preparation and effort she displayed on a most successful night. Congratulations to our 2017 Award winners: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Citizenship Award Mitchell McQuillen Rosemary Wirken Academic Endeavour Award Heidi Gray CWL Award Ashanti Rose-Coleman Thank you all our leaving families: Linda and Nick Allman Bernadette and Andrew Allman Jodie and Mathew Davis Sarah and Matthew Gray Jane and Phillip Nunn Fiona Pfeil Kerry and John Wright On Wednesday night we celebrated the end of the year with the Prep Nativity Play and various carols in the Church. Thank you to ‘Doc’ who led us during the night. It was a fun night for all of the family in hot conditions. One of the main reasons for this night was to celebrate Advent. The liturgical year begins with Advent, a word derived from Latin that means "coming". The season of Advent calls us to an awakening. "Stay awake! Stand Ready!" the gospel urges us. The season of Advent recognises the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, in a special way. The challenge is to remember that God is constantly with us, close to us, within and beside. Continue over page Our Mission: At St. Mary’s School Maffra, we are a Catholic School that strives to be authentic to the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the Church. We aim to be an inclusive and nurturing community that respects, values and empowers each person to fulfil their dreams and potential. We envisage a School that provides challenging, relevant and child-centred learning experiences. We believe that the social, emotional, moral, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is pivotal to student health, safety, learning and success.
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St Mary’s Primary School 4-12 Duke Street, Maffra, Vic 3860 Phone: (03) 5147 1334 Fax: (03) 5147 2642 [email protected]
Week 10 Term 4: Issue 39 Friday 15th December 2017
2017 Dates Term 4
Week 11
Monday 18th December
- Uniform Shop Opened 3pm in Parish Hall
Tuesday 19th December - Assembly at 12.30pm - Last Day of Term Finish at 3.20pm
2018 Dates Term 1
Week 1
Monday 29th December - Teachers return to School Tuesday 30th to Friday 2nd February - Teachers attending PD
Week 2
Monday 5th February - Students return to School Tuesday 6th February - School Swimming Program Commences Wednesday 7th February - NO PREPS TODAY
Dear Parents
We have had a week of reflecting and celebration. Our Grade 6 children together with family and teachers had memorable night with Mass and dinner on Tuesday night. The sit down meal and speeches allowed us all to remember and laugh at the many wonderful times the children had at St Mary’s. We wish them well next year in secondary school and also thank Mrs ‘V’ for the preparation and effort she displayed on a most successful night.
Congratulations to our 2017 Award winners: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Citizenship Award Mitchell McQuillen Rosemary Wirken Academic Endeavour Award Heidi Gray CWL Award Ashanti Rose-Coleman Thank you all our leaving families: Linda and Nick Allman Bernadette and Andrew Allman Jodie and Mathew Davis Sarah and Matthew Gray Jane and Phillip Nunn Fiona Pfeil Kerry and John Wright On Wednesday night we celebrated the end of the year with the Prep Nativity Play and various carols in the Church. Thank you to ‘Doc’ who led us during the night. It was a fun night for all of the family in hot conditions. One of the main reasons for this night was to celebrate Advent.
The liturgical year begins with Advent, a word derived from Latin that means "coming". The season of Advent calls us to an awakening. "Stay awake! Stand Ready!" the gospel urges us. The season of Advent recognises the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, in a special way. The challenge is to remember that God is constantly with us, close to us, within and beside. Continue over page
Our Mission: At St. Mary’s School Maffra, we are a Catholic School that strives to be authentic to the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the Church. We aim to be an inclusive and nurturing community that respects, values and empowers each person to fulfil their dreams and potential. We envisage a School that provides challenging, relevant and child-centred learning experiences. We believe that the social, emotional, moral, spiritual and physical wellbeing of our students is pivotal to student health, safety, learning and success.
A Prayer for Lighting the Advent Wreath
As a family enjoy this prayer with your children as you light the Advent wreath candles. During Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, and we look forward to Christ's second coming at the end of time. Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe. You sent your Son to be the Light of the world and to spread His light of love to all. As we light the candles of this wreath
May its growing brightness remind us of the approaching nearness of your Son
So that the day of His coming may find us prepared and filled with joy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
On behalf of all of the staff I would like to thank Carmel Houghton and Virginia Hill for the fantastic work they have done to help support the students over the years. They will both be missed. We also wish Virginia Hellings and Nicole Bourbaud the best of luck with new adventures next year and thank them both for their contributions to St Mary’s. We wish Kris Bradley well with taking the first term as leave and travelling in Australia. I welcome Kerry Barton, Haley Fyfe, Di Austin and Gemma McWhirter to our staff. Knowing these four teachers (I have worked with them all in the past) I am excited as to what next year brings.
This is the final full newsletter for 2017. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for making me so welcome in the school and parish community. It has been a productive year with some challenges but I am confident we are moving in the right direction. I am extremely committed to continuing to assist all children reach the potential they deserve. A reminder that our final assembly for the year will be on Tuesday 19th December at 12.30pm where there will be presentations for the leaving staff.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Jason
A big thankyou to Allan Watson who has volunteered his time throughout the year to work with the students in the vegie garden. Students from Year 3/4 were able to volunteer their time on Tuesday lunch time to help establish, plant, weed and maintain the garden beds. There has been some great produce from this project and the students have thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity.
Once again thanks Allan.
First Aid: Could all medications be collected from your child’s classroom teacher at the end of day on Tuesday 19th December. School Fees: Due date for the 3rd and Final Instalment of School Fees and Levies was due on Friday 27th October 2017 If you have outstanding fees from this year please pay via EFT by end of December. Please note we now also have EFTPOS facilities as another method of payment.
Lunch Orders: A reminder that there are no lunch orders on Monday 18th December. Swimming Program: Swimming lessons will commence Tuesday 6th February 2018 (this is the second day back for students) and will run on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th, Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th February. Each child from Yr. 1 to Yr. 6 will have a half-hour lesson each day for the 5 days. There will be no swimming Wednesday 7th February due to Wednesday timetable. Thursday 15th February 2018 will be our School Swimming Carnival. The program will be co-ordinated by qualified Austswim Instructors. The cost for the program will be $50.00 per child for the Austswim Instructors and pool entry. If your child has a season ticket, the cost will be $30.00 DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY UNTIL 2018. An invoice will be sent home in week one for $50.00 per child, if your child is a season ticket holder the entry fee will be refunded. Please fill in the permission slip and return it to school by Monday 18th December. Maffra Christmas Festival: The P &F are holding a stall at the Maffra Christmas Festival tonight from 5pm to 9pm. Children can purchase a kids pack which contains colouring pictures little bag of treats and a picture with Santa (taken by the parents/carers). Please come and support our School. Hello Parent Program: Thank you to all our parent helpers and co-ordinators for your generous support of our program. Missing/Lost: Owen Hunt (1/2B) is missing his size 4 sports jacket. Please check at home to see if it went home by mistake.
Prep Nativity:
Principal’s Award
Class Award
Prep Mackayla Hickling Brax Bainbridge
1/2B Curtis Clare Blayr Murphy
1/2C Jack Garoni
3/4D Luke Dwyer Madi Jones
3/4E Frances Dwyer Will Burgiel
4/5F Chase Henry William Hart
5/6G
Awards: Congratulations to the following children who received awards at assembly:
Happy birthday to the Following
children who have celebrated
birthdays so far this year!
December 16th Rhys Bennett 5/6G 18th Ishnoor Kaur 1/2B 19th Alani Wright 4/5F 20th William Hart 4/5F 21st Bobby Higgins 3/4E 22nd Jack Dennis 4/5F Colby Dennis 5/6G Chase Henry 4/5F 27th Jack Nowak 3/4E 31st Curtis Clare 1/2B
Community News:
WEEKDAY MASSES: Maffra: ** MONDAYS: availability will be announced at Masses the Sunday prior. ** 20
th Dec: Wed 5.00pm followed by ½ hour Adoration
& Reconciliation 21
st
Dec: Thur. 9.30am
22nd
Dec: Fri. 10.15am
23rd
Dec: Sat. 9.30am Heyfield: 19
th Dec: Tues. 9.30am
RECONCILIATION: Maffra: Saturday – For Half Hour after 9.30am Mass (And any other time by request). Heyfield: 5.20pm-5.45pm prior to Saturday evening Mass
MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS : 2017 Christmas Eve – Sun. 24
th December:
Heyfield – (Carols @ 6pm) Mass @ 6.30pm Maffra – (Carols @ 8.30pm) Mass @ 9pm Christmas Day – Mon. 25
th December:
Maffra Mass @ 9am Newry Mass @ 11am Feast of the Holy Family – Sun. 31
st December:
Normal Sunday Masses Times This is the 5
th Sunday so Dargo will have a Mass 12noon
DARGO MASS: 31st
Dec. 2017:
New Year’s Eve is Dargo’s Mass this year. Why not
celebrate New Year’s Eve at Dargo, the High Plains
are a beautiful place to spend the night partying and
seeing in the New Year 2018. Mass at 12noon then
onto the Park or Hotel for your Celebrations. There
are accommodations and camping sites, but not sure
on availability so if you’re thinking of making a night
of it why not contact them and find out now.
MAFFRA CHRISTMAS CHOIR PRACTISE: Thurs. 21st Dec at 7.00pm.at St Mary’s Church.
NEEDED FOR MAFFRA CHRISTMAS MASSES: Readers, Commentators, Computer Operators, Extraordinary Min-isters, Offertory and Collectors. Anyone interested helping our for the Christmas Eve Mass, or Christmas Day Mass there is a list at the back of the Church. This would be appreciated. Thank You!
St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal :
At End of Year Mass today, St Vinnie’s accepted the Christmas gifts from the Social Justice Group. Thank you to the children and their families for the very generous donations of toys and gifts for the St Vincent de Paul Spirit of Christmas initiative. This is a wonderful cause and will make a world of difference to many families during Christmas.
