Newsletter - 25th June 2025
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wadawurrung people. It is a privilege to be standing on Wadawurrung country.
We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous Peoples from the past, present and future who contribute to this country in which we live.
May Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians continue to work together to educate, unite and live in peace on this land we call home, Australia.
Upcoming Events
27th June: Ten Pin Bowling
2nd-4th July: Years 3-6 Urban Camp, Melbourne
2nd July: Years F-2 Excursion to Sovereign Hill
4th July: End of Term 2
21st July: Term 3 commences
23rd July: Sacrament of Eucharist Parent Information Session 7pm
24th July: Lunch orders in.
28th July: Lunch orders delivered.
Prayer
We thank you Lord, for Term Two as the community of St Mary’s.
Thank you for the caring staff, the amazing students and the parents and families. Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives.
Thank you for your goodness and for your countless blessings over us.
Thank you for your great love and care.
Thank you for life and laughter, for health and happiness, for relationships and memories.
Thank You for what we have now, for what we had yesterday, and for what You will continue to give tomorrow.
Let us never take that for granted, but to always be grateful for every good and perfect gift that comes from You. During the holidays keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. May we have hearts full of thanksgiving not only today but every day of our lives.
We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.
Messages from the Principal
REPORTS AND PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Reports have now been sent home and some Parent Teacher interviews have been held already and some are still to come. Meeting with the teachers is a time for you to celebrate your child’s learning for the semester and discuss any issues or concerns.
ARRIVING AT SCHOOL ON TIME
I would like to take a moment to remind everyone about the importance of students arriving at school on time each day. When students arrive late, it can be unsettling—not only for them, but also for their classmates and teachers. A punctual start allows everyone to settle in, focus, and make the most of the learning opportunities from the very beginning of the day. School commences at 8:50am. Students are supervised at school from 8.30am.
WELCOME KAREN
Next semester Louise will be working 3 days a week instead of 4. We welcome Karen Dehne-Simpson to our staff every Thursday and Friday for the remainder of the year. You may have met Karen already, she has been working in the Junior Room on a Thursday and Friday for the past few weeks. Karen will also be replacing Clare in the Junior Room on a Friday, allowing her to do more of the administration tasks on this day.
SENIOR CAMP
Next week we see our Senior Students, Jenny and Clare travelling to Melbourne to attend Urban Camp in Parkville. Sue will also be joining us on Wednesday. Camp is a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn, explore, and build on friendships in a vibrant city setting. Details about the camp schedule and what to bring were sent home last week. We look forward to a memorable experience for everyone!
100 DAYS OF SCHOOL
Next week the Juniors will be celebrating the 100th day of school—a wonderful achievement that highlights just how much our students have learned and grown. To mark this special day, we will be hosting fun activities such as dressing up as 100-year-olds. Additionally, our students will be heading on an excursion to Sovereign Hill on Wednesday. We look forward to celebrating these special events together and making lasting memories!
LUNCH ORDERS
Lunch orders will continue again next term from the Bungaree Store. They are delivered fortnightly on a Monday at 11.20am. We thank Lisa for allowing this to happen. A price list and dates for Terms 3 and 4 has been sent home with this newsletter
DROP OFFS AND PICK UPS
On windy days, please be extra cautious when opening car doors. Strong gusts can unexpectedly fling doors wide open, potentially causing damage or injury. Let's all stay safe and protect our vehicles and ourselves by holding onto car doors securely as we open and close them.
NAIDOC WEEK
Sunday, 6 July 2025 marks the commencement of NAIDOC Week. This week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whilst sharing these histories and oldest, continuous living cultures with all Australians. The theme for NAIDOC Week 2025 is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy". This theme emphasises the importance of Indigenous youth, community vision, and the lasting impact of past achievements. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, highlighting both past accomplishments and the bright future shaped by the next generation.
KEEPING WARM
It is great to see some of our students wearing a coat, beanie, scarf and gloves outside at playtime. It certainly has been cold and we do try to get the students outside for some fresh air even on these cold days.
HOLIDAYS
I wish every family a very happy, restful and safe holiday. Some families may be travelling while others are taking some quiet time at home. Whatever your plans are, enjoy and take the time to reset and do some of those things that you like to do with family and friends.
May God bless you all and keep you safe,
Clare Scanlon, Principal
Gumnut Room News
Ten Pin Bowling
On Friday, St Mary’s went ten pin bowling in Ballarat. We travelled there on a really fancy bus.
Rupert: I like ten pin bowling because it is fun. I like ten pin bowling, but it was noisy. I like ten pin bowling, so I will ask my dad to take me.
Skyler: I love ten pin bowling because it is fun. I love ten pin bowling, but it is expensive. I love ten pin bowling, so I will ask an adult to take me.
Edward: I like ten pin bowling because you can get all of the pins down. I like ten pin bowling, but you can miss the pins. I like ten pin bowling, so I will go with my mum and dad and use my money.
Genevieve: I like ten pin bowling because it is really fun. I like ten pin bowling, but sometimes lose. I like ten pin bowling, so I go.
Mason: I like ten pin bowling because I got all the pins down.
Boston: I like ten pin bowling because I got 4 strikes.
100 Days of School Celebration
Our 100 Days of School celebration will be next Monday, 30th June. This is a valuable opportunity to reflect on all of our accomplishments so far this year. We will have a day that is focussed on the number 100 with special activities and learning opportunities.
Students may like to dress up for the occasion in styles that represent 100. This could include what they imagine they would look like when they are 100 years old, or covered in 100 dots.
As we continue through the remainder of the school year, we look forward to the learning and growth that awaits us. With the support of our wonderful school community, we are sure that the next 100 days will be equally exciting and successful.
Following this, on Wednesday, the 2nd of July we will be investigating what life was like over 100 years ago with an excursion to Sovereign Hill.
News from the Banksia Room
The Banksia Room cooked No Knead Cinnamon Rolls for cooking. This involved using fraction, measuring, number line skills, reading and rereading, and cooperation. And the results were delicious!
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday to Patrick who turned 10 years old on Tuesday, 17th June. We all hope you had a great day, Pat!
School TV: Celebrating NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of Indigenous communities.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.
NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities and is a great opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.
This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your Special Report:
Basketball Ballarat – Power FM Junior Miners Winter Holiday Camps
Held every school holiday, Power FM Holiday Camps are the perfect opportunity for kids aged 4 to 14 of all genders and skill levels to develop their game in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you're picking up a basketball for the first time or wanting to refine your skills, our camps cater to everyone – from beginners to future stars!
Camp Details
Week One: Wednesday 9 July and Thursday 10 July
Week Two: Wednesday 16 July and Thursday 17 July
Time: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Venue: Selkirk Stadium, 989 Norman Street, Wendouree VIC 3355
Registrations Close: Thursday 3 July at 11:59pm
What to Expect:
- Train with your favourite Miners players
- Learn from expert coaches including Miners players and staff
- Develop new skills, techniques, and training methods
- Enjoy a fun, inclusive atmosphere with games and prizes every camp
- Learn teamwork, leadership, and how to support others on and off the court
- Make new friends and have an unforgettable basketball experience!
Register here: www.ballaratbasketball.com/holiday-camp
For any further details, please contact Zack Cummins at programs@ballaratbasketball.com or call (03) 5338 1220.
BRMC Diversity Homework Club
The Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council Inc (BRMC) warmly invites children to join the Diversity Homework Club, a fun, supportive space to learn, grow and connect! This program is part of our Out of School Hours Learning Support Program (OSHLSP).
For more information please see the letter and flyer included in this newsletter.
