WELCOME TO TERM 2!
We hope everyone had an enjoyable break and found the time to rest and recharge their batteries, ready for a busy term of inspired teaching and learning at St Mary’s. The St Mary’s community warmly welcomes Niranjana (Yr 1) and Jacob (Year 4), and their families to our school. We hope that you are settling well and beginning to form strong connections. 

To stay well-informed of the many exciting activities and events that our learning community has planned throughout the term, it is important to check our communication channels for details and any updates regularly. To ensure effective communication with our parents and carers, we have several channels available, including our fortnightly newsletter, Facebook posts, class weekly memos and COMPASS. Please refer to the COMPASS calendar for upcoming dates.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING 
On Monday 29 April, teachers in all schools in the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese spent the day engaged in quality professional learning dedicated to curriculum implementation. As a school, we spent the first half of the day further exploring the teaching and learning cycle  with a focus on the key ideas that underpin effective assessment. 

During the afternoon session, teachers had the opportunity to examine some of our school assessment data. Teachers use data to check and understand where their students are in their learning and to plan what to do next. Effective analysis of student data shows improvement in student learning across the school as well as help teachers identify areas where students’ learning needs may require additional attention and development.

Through their ongoing commitment to the latest pedagogical approaches and best practices, our teachers create dynamic and engaging learning environments where every student can thrive. Their passion for education and unwavering support for our students is truly commendable.

Thank you to the students and families who were able to attend the ANZAC services in Tuross, Tomakin and Moruya on ANZAC Day during the school holidays, they were respectful ambassadors for St Mary’s.

We received excellent feedback from our visitors, who were particularly impressed by our dedicated staff and well-mannered friendly students. Our staff's commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for our students was evident throughout the morning, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication. Our vibrant classrooms and outdoor spaces left a lasting impression on our visitors. They were impressed by the resources we provide to ensure our students have access to the best possible learning environment. Overall, our Open Day was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our staff and students. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our school to the community and highlight what sets us apart. We look forward to welcoming many new faces to our school in the future and continuing to provide exceptional education and opportunities to our students.

SAFE ENTERING AND EXITING THE SCHOOL
The safety of our community is always paramount and your cooperation in the following areas is expected. The school's staff car park is still being used by parents for student drop-offs and pickups. We kindly request that families refrain from using the school car park for these purposes. The only exception is for persons with vehicles that display a disability parking sticker to park in the disability space.  

An increasing number of students are walking through the staff car park. Students have been told that this is an unsafe behaviour that can have serious consequences. Families are asked to remind their children that they should be entering the school through the Queen St (bus), Page St or Church St gates, and using the marked pathways or grassed areas to move through the school. For safety reasons, please do not walk through the staff car park at any time. 

NATIONAL SORRY DAY, 26 May
National Sorry Day, 26 May, is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and the nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is commemorated by Australians right around the country.

On Friday, 24 May, our Stage 2 students will be walking across the Batemans Bay Bridge in unity to recognise Australia’s traditional owners and pay respect to the Stolen Generation. Following the walk they will have morning tea and a barbeque on the Clyde River Foreshore.

We look forward to sharing this special celebration with the St Bernard’s and Carroll College communities, as approximately 1000 students and staff come together in prayer. A permission form for students to attend will be up on Compass. All families are warmly invited to attend.

AUSTRALIAN EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENSUS (AEDC)
From May 2024, our school, along with thousands of others across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school (Kindergarten). The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years.

Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information. The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection. Families don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census. If this is the case, please let Mrs Schofield know by the 4 June. To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au

REPORTS AND PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS
Semester One Reports will be available to you through Compass on Friday 21 June. Parent teacher meetings will be held in Week 9 on Monday 24 June, Tuesday 25 June. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

MOTHER’S DAY
In preparation for Sunday 12th May I wish all of the Mums, and women in our lives, in the St Mary’s community a very Happy Mothers’ Day. Your leadership, care and organisation ensures our learners (and entire families) are given the environment and opportunity to grow and flourish. 

We were delighted to celebrate with so many of you this morning, and thank you for all you do, with a fun and tasty breakfast! It was really lovely to see and share breakfast with several generations of our mothers today. Thank you also to our staff for their preparation in setting up, cooking and serving our breakfast this morning.

Thank you to Mrs Schofield for your preparations with the Kinder children in preparing a beautiful liturgy celebrating our Mum’s! Thank you also to our Year 6 students for supporting your buddies…you are great role models!

We pray to our Mother Mary to bless all the mothers of the St Mary’s school community. May Mother Mary bless you all, inspiring and energising you by her gentle example of love and perseverance. May she guide you each day as you care and guide your child/ren to grow and flourish. Below is a prayer you may like to pray together with your family on Mother’s Day. 

Dear Lord, 

We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need; may they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy. 

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; may they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways.  

We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty or conflict; may they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes away every tear.  

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.  

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever etched in our memory, with love. 

Amen.  

MOTHER’S DAY RAFFLE WINNERS
Thank you to everyone who supported the Mother's Day raffle by buying tickets. I would like to especially thank the Community Council for organising the Mother’s Day raffle, the great prizes and for selling tickets. To the businesses who donated so many amazing prizes...there wouldn't be a raflle without you all! Thank you!

Congratulations to the following families who have an ‘extra surprise’ to share with their Mum!
Oyster Farmers Daughter voucher - S Raycanovski
Oyster Farmers Daughter voucher - L Joy
Ballards Pharmacy voucher - C Brown
Choose to Move voucher - M Rose
Resting Ridge Leather Co voucher - K Cooper
Resting Ridge Leather Co voucher - E Booker 
Beauty on Q voucher - E Davis
Gundary Bakers gift pack - M Cowley
Gundary Bakers gift pack - Grant family
Gundary Bakers gift pack - I Colburn
Mogo Pies voucher - K Eke
MR Roofing voucher - C Heffernan
Moruya Health Cafe voucher - L Cassidy
Moruya Health Cafe voucher - T Afflick

KEY DATES FOR THE DIARY - TERM 2

 God bless and take care,

Mrs Sue Heffernan
Principal (Acting)