Yuin Banaan
Last Friday 4 August our South Coast K-12 Pathway schools held a Yuin Banaan Cultural Day at Captain Oldrey Park, Broulee for all Aboriginal students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and some of their friends.This was the first time since 2019 that we were able to hold this event for our students and families. 

Melissa Ellis gave the Welcome to Country and spoke to the boys and girls about the 2023 NAIDOC theme ‘For Our Elders’ and the important role our elders play in guiding, leading and keeping our communities together. She explained to the children that our Elders are the ones who pass down information on how to care for country, to listen, connect, respond, and help us understand our responsibilities and role as current and future custodians of the land. 

Local Elder and Knowledge holder Trish Ellis led students on a walk through bushland and explained the many uses of a variety of plants. Aunty Iris White made damper, something all the students enjoyed sampling. A range of activities were facilitated by Year 10 students from Carroll College and members of the community, this included traditional dancing with Muladha Gamara, ochre face painting, art and craft activities and soccer.

The following organisations generously facilitated stalls, provided give-aways and organised activities which students thoroughly enjoyed participating in throughout the day: NSW DPI Fisheries, Grand Pacific Health, Woolyungah Indigenous Centre UOW, PCYC Far South Coast, Marymead, TAFE NSW-Moruya, Campbell Page, The Family Place, My Voice My Journey - Leadership and Resilience, South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, and Forestry Corporation Cultural Heritage. 

We would also like to thank the National Indigenous Australians Agency who gave us a grant to cover some of the costs for the event, Woolworths Moruya and Batemans Bay who donated fruit and Elk_espresso. 

It was a superb day of building community, deepening our cultural knowledge and creating strong connections across our K-12 Pathway schools.

Bridge Program
This week at St Mary’s we have welcomed Ibu Yuni and Ibu Lina, two teachers from Indonesia. The visit is part of the Australian government's BRIDGE program to build cultural understanding and genuine relationships between schools in Asia and Australia. Five hundred schools in Indonesia applied to part of the 2022 program but only ten were successful. Only twenty of the 2000 Indonesian teachers who applied to be part of the program were selected to come to Australia. 

It has been very exciting to have Ibu Yuni and Ibu Lina visit our classrooms as they learn about Australia and our school system. It has been a privilege having them at our school and it has been such a rich learning experience for our students. We have learnt so much from having them be part of our school community. The boys and girls have learnt about the country of Indonesia as the teachers have shared their culture and religion, their language and given us insights into the daily lives of Indonesian people and of the children from their school.  

Ibu Yuni and Ibu Lina have had a wonderful time in Moruya as well, exploring our beaches, some oyster leases, seing some kangaroos and local farm animals. We look forward to continuing this partnership and sharing our knowledge of schools with our new friends.

Southern Region Public Speaking
This week Mr Bateman has assisted and supported our students competing in the Southern Region Public Speaking Competition. Held virtually again this year, the level of competition was particularly high, and our St Mary’s students did an excellent job when speaking. Feedback from the judges was very positive for all students. The judges commented on how they were engaged by the speakers and they felt the students were extremely well organised. The students were passionate, convincing, used personal stories and strong vocabulary to persuade their audience. Thank you to all who were involved in the students' preparation. It was evident that the support they received was invaluable on the day. 

Our representatives were:

Year 3 - Thomas D and Emerson D

Year 4 - Billie B and Matilda W

Year 5 - Sophie A and Lila W

Year 6 - Indiana T and Grace R

Congratulations to Thomas D (Year 3) and Matilda W (Year 4) who won their respective age groups and will now represent the Southern Region at the Archdiocesan Speaking Competition in September.

Student Leadership
Congratulations to Grace R who joins the Year 6 student leadership team. Grace was presented with her leadership badge by Mrs O’Neill and her parents at this week's school assembly. Grace is an excellent role model for her peers and our younger students.

Southern Region Principals Meeting
On Thursday and Friday this week Mrs O'Neill joined her colleagues at the Southern Region Schools Principals meeting in Pambula. These meetings are an important part of school improvement as the school Principals meet with CE staff to discuss system and school priorities and plan upcoming events. 

Science Week
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. Running each year in August, this is an opportunity for everyone to talk science, see science and do science. In Term 3 our students are currently learning about Earth and Space. This includes learning about Earth’s dynamic structure and its place in the universe, changes on earth such as night and day, the seasons and how they relate to Earth’s rotation and its orbit of the Sun. Next week via Facebook our classes will share some of what they are learning on the topic of Earth and Space.

Book Week
A reminder that on Wednesday, 23 August we will be holding our Book Parade. Students are invited to let their imaginations run wild and celebrate their favourite literary characters in costume. This is always a fun event for the kids and costumes in previous years have been quite amazing. So put your thinking caps on and start preparing now.

The Book Parade will take place at 10am in the PAC.

We will also be running a book swap again this year and later in the day, the children will compete in a Book Quiz. The teachers are currently busy preparing questions about popular children’s books.

Family Event with Andrew Fuller
Catholic School Parents Canberra and Goulburn are offering a free Family Event with Andrew Fuller, being hosted at St John Paul II College, Nicholls (ACT) on Tuesday 5 September at 6pm. The event aims to bring families from across the Archdiocese together and give them practical ways they can support their child in their learning.

There is an option for live streaming for parents and carers that are unable to attend in-person.

God bless and take care,
Leadership Team