Dear Parents

Welcome to the final term of the year. Once again we have been interrupted with lockdowns and remote learning. The school would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support with remote learning and juggling work and home life. Personally, I would also like to thank our entire staff at St Mary’s for providing support and ongoing learning opportunities as well as the challenges of managing their own families. Thanks to the many emails of support we have received from families. We take all of our feedback very seriously and try to make the best decisions for our children.

With the students beginning to come back full-time over the next two weeks families may have some anxiety about coming back to school. The Royal Children’s hospital provides information that may be helpful to look at home. Please use the website : www.rch.org.au 

Within the website the following pointers may provide some help to parents.

Key points to remember  

• Children look to adults as a guide about how to react in stressful situations
• Stay calm, positive and hopeful when talking with your child about coronavirus
• Keep information clear, honest and age-appropriate
• Limit media exposure about coronavirus
• Give children practical things to do, like good hand hygiene, to help them feel in control
• Make sure you and your child stay physically active
• If you or your child are feeling overwhelmed or stressed seek help from friends, family or your GP
• Try to make time to answer your child’s questions and keep the communication channels open 

St Mary’s has unfortunately needed to cancel many of our events and extra curricular activities during the year. We are still very hopeful of providing an Orientation Program for children commencing Foundation in 2022. We have had some questions relating to the classrooms and where children may be next year. The fact our furniture is on wheels was a decision made in that from time to time our PODS may change in terms of where grades may work from year to year. In 2022 the current Grade 5/6 POD may be the area where Grade 3/4 may work. We hope to discuss this as a staff very shortly. I also hope to send information out next week about Orientation and what this will look like in November. Like last year, we are hoping to provide Orientation on the first three Friday’s in November.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Jason

If you would like to be our next Star of the Week, please fill in the nomination form which can be found at the office.  A new student will be selected for each assembly.  

This is a self nominated award.  Nominations are to go into the gold box located in the office. 

At St Mary's we recognise Day for Daniel and children are encouraged to wear something red on Friday October 29. 

Please remember St Mary's has a 'No Hat - No Play' policy.  All children must wear their hats.  If they do not have a hat they will have to spend recess or lunchtime under the shade of the gazebo.

Hats can be purchased from Stobie's Land & Surf for $19.

TERM 4 - Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December

WEEKEND MASSES

Heyfield:

Saturday    6:00pm

Maffra:

Sunday    9:00am 

Cowwarr:

1st and 3rd Sunday   11:00am

Newry:

2nd and 4th Sunday  11:00am

Dargo:

5th Sunday   12:00pm

WEEKDAY MASSES

Heyfield:

Tuesday      9:30am

Maffra:

Wednesday   9:30am

Thursday      9:30am

Friday          9:30am

Stretton Park:

2nd Friday  10:00am

Term 4 School Closure Dates

Monday 1st November - Report Writing Day

Tuesday 2nd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday

Last Day Term 4

Wednesday 15th December - 3:20pm finish

Staff First Aid

Thursday 16th December

Friday 17th December