Dear Members of our Community of Faith,

Click here to download newsletter as PDF

Click here for this term’s Parent Evening Flyer

Click here to download Opshop Vogue flyer

It has been another busy week with All Saints Day yesterday and All Souls Day today. We celebrated All Saints Day with a parade of our ‘little saints’, Mass and then a beautiful Paella lunch thanks to Mr Williams and his able helpers. This morning after Mass we visited the cemetery for prayers and blessing of the graves as we remember all the holy souls. We remember especially today Mrs McGrath’s mother and Miss McCormack’s aunty who both died recently.

 

Thank you to all the students for their efforts in acknowledging the staff for World Teachers’ Day last Friday. We were serenaded with a song ‘Happy Teachers Day’ (sung to the tune of Happy Birthday) and presented with a hamper of goodies with essential teaching items (such as lifesavers) with very clever puns attached to justify their inclusion. Thanks to our school captains Bernadette O’Brien and Tom Van Der Horst for their leadership of this occasion.

 

I kindly ask that children do not enter the school over the weekend or during the holiday periods. We have had a number of issues with broken plants in the garden and objects being moved around. Whilst we want our school to be very welcoming, I also ask that boundaries are adhered to please. I thank you for your support on this front. Students have also been reminded that when riding to school they are to approach on the opposite side of the road and walk their bikes across the crossing all the way into school. It is great to see so many students riding and we are exploring bike rack options to be installed within the school grounds to assist with storing their bikes safely during the day.  A final reminder that students should not be arriving at school before 8:50am. We have a teacher on duty from this time.

 

Primary intensive swimming lessons will take place in Week 6. Please fill in and return the permission note with necessary money as soon as you can. If you require a new note please contact the office. Thank you!

 

The year 12s enjoyed a wonderful retreat day on Monday to help them prepare for their HSC year. They began the day at Holy Spirit Parish for a morning recollection before returning to school for some talks from staff members on Leadership and Study Skills. A big thank you to the staff for their organisation and to Fr Murphy for his generosity in leading the spiritual formation aspect. It is great to see these young people setting off on the right foot for their HSC year.

 

Yr. 7-10 exams will begin in Week 5, from Monday the 12th of November to Friday the 16th of November. These exams will be held in the hall. We encourage the students to study hard over the next week in preparation. Success comes through effort!

 

Please mark next Wednesday 7th November 7:30pm on your calendars for this term’s Parent Evening. Bernard Toutounji from Aid to the Church in Need will be visiting SMMC throughout the day to talk to the students about their faith and the Christian Faith throughout the world before presenting to parents in the evening. These evenings are organised to assist you in your role as first educators of your children and I hope you can make every effort to be there. If you know of anyone else in the wider community who would like to attend they are also more than welcome.

 

A big thank you to all who donated goods, helped out before and after and came along to support our annual fete last Saturday. The day was a great success with wonderful weather and a large turnout. We managed to raise a total of $9,916.50 on the day. Raffle Winners were: 1st – Matt Darlow and 2nd – Kite Family. Prize for most raffle tickets sold went to the O’Brien family.

 

Well done to the eight Yr.5/6 students who attended the Maths Relay held at Holy Spirit School Lavington yesterday. They represented our school with distinction and enjoyed the challenge of working with students from other schools to solve challenging mathematical problems. Thank you to Mrs Patino for her organisation of this opportunity and to Mrs Karen Murphy for helping with transport.

 

This Saturday 3rd November from 2-5pm a group of girls from Leaders Now are organising a Fashion Parade for ladies and teens in the SMMC Hall. Afternoon tea will be provided. Cost is $10 per ticket. All profits will be used to fund leaders now initiatives supporting refugees.

 

Anyone coming to the Yr.12 Graduation on November 10th must let the office know by this Monday. Tickets are $45 and it is open to anyone 16 and older.

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 

God bless,

 

Luke Burton (Principal)