Term 3 Week 10, 2024
From our Leadership
Welcome
Dear Families,
We thank you Lord, for this term.
For our challenges, our successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt.
Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.
Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.
Staff Development Day
A reminder that this Friday, 27 September is a Staff Development day (pupil free). We thank our families for their support as we continue to use these days to improve our school, learning and teaching for all students.
Colour Run
We thank everyone who contributed to the success of our recent Colour Fun Run. We especially thank the local businesses who generously supported our school through donations and prizes.
We raised a total of $4,474.00.
Congratulations to our Prize Winners!
- 1st Prize Jack W
- 2nd Prize Charlotte
- 3rd Prize Aria
- Kindergarten Tristan
- Year 1 Jack W
- Year 2 Aylee
- Year 3 Aria
- Year 4 William O
- Year 5 Charlotte
- Year 6 Owen K
Mercy Feast Day
On Tuesday, we celebrated the Sisters of Mercy Feast Day. Our choir presented a delightfully entertaining performance, which was enjoyed by the sisters.
Our Choir also visited Dougherty Nursing home to the delight of their residents last week, presenting an equally entertaining performance.
A special thank you to Mrs Hickson for all her work in preparing our choir students.
Public Speaking Competition
Earlier this week our four finalist competed in the 2024 Public Speaking Competition at John Paul College in Coffs Harbour. Lara, Alice, Lachlan and Portia proudly represented our school and we congratulate them on their eloquently presented speeches.
Book Week Dress Up Parade
On Thursday, 26 September we are celebrating Book Week. This year's theme is 'Reading is Magic'.
The dress up parade will commence at 2.15pm and conclude at 2.45pm.
Disco
On Thursday evening we are holding our K-6 School Disco in Mercy Hall. The disco will commence at 6:00 pm and conclude at 7:30pm. Students will be provided a sausage sandwich and popper. There is no cost for this event.
Glow sticks etc. will be available for purchase costing 50c. Money raised will be donated to a charity.
Term 4
We look forward to welcoming back our students for what will be another productive, exciting and event filled term on Monday, 14 October.
Wishing all our families a safe and happy holiday!
Principal-Danny Rankin
Assistant Principal-Anne Forwell
Leader of Learning - Brooke Donoghue
Leader of Evangelisation - Matthew Green
Sport Coordinator - Caitlin Crispin
On Wednesday Stage 3 welcomed St Mary's for a fun day of soccer. We were lucky enough to have former Australian Matildas player, Jo Powell with us on the day.
A very big thank you to Jo for joining us and giving up your time to help us out on the day. The Stage 3 students loved having her and were lucky enough to get some signatures.
Intensive Swimming & Primary Sport
A compass event has gone out to all parents in regards to Intensive swimming for infants (K-2) and for Primary sport (3-6).
Please check compass and email Mrs Crispin with any questions. caitlin.crispin@lism.catholic.edu.au
Gumbaynggirr Language - Liz Hegedus
Ginnagay Ngujawiny -Hello You Mob,
Well we made it! Last week of Term 3.
This term Stage 3 have been learning about the Solitary Island Coastal Walk.
The Solitary Island Coastal Walk spans 60 kms of beaches and rainforest on the Coffs Coast, between Red Rock and Sawtell. The walk can take up to four days to complete, there are many beautiful stops along the way.
Starting at Red Rock, the Yarrawarra to Corindi Beach. Then off to Arrawarra, Mullaway, Safety Beach, Woolgoolga, Moonee Beach Nature Reserve, Sapphire Beach, Kororo Nature Reserve, Diggers Beach, Mutton bird Island Reserve, Jetty Beach and finishing at Sawtell.
So far we have looked at Red Rock and learnt about the massacres at the headland. Yarrawarra and all of its beautiful walkways to the creek through the old camp and learning about the bush tucker medicine on the way. This led us into learning about bees and honey.
Honey bees are super-important pollinators for flowers, fruits and vegetables. This means that they help other plants grow! Bees transfer pollen between the male and female parts, allowing plants to grow seeds and fruit. Honey bees live in hives (or colonies). The members of the hive are divided into three types:
- Queen: One queen runs the whole hive. Her job is to lay the eggs that will spawn the hive’s next generation of bees. The queen also produces chemicals that guide the behaviour of the other bees.
- Workers: these are all female and their roles are to forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean and circulate air by beating their wings. Workers are the only bees most people ever see flying around outside the hive.
- Drones: These are the male bees, and their purpose is to mate with the new queen. Several hundred live in each hive during the spring and summer. But come winter, when the hive goes into survival mode, the drones are kicked out!
This led us into learning how the Aboriginals collect honey from bees? Aboriginals regarded bees and honey as very important in their culture. They used bees and honey for food and tools. To find the beehives the Aboriginal hunters would collect the foraging bees and tie either a spider web or a small piece of a feather to their legs and follow them back to the hive. The weight of the web and feather would slow the bees down and be easier to watch and follow.
Once they found the hive they would monitor it and assess how to collect the honey without destroying the hive. For instance if the hive was high they wouldn’t cut the tree down they would climb the tree carefully and try to extract the honey without getting stung or destroying the hive. Once the honey was collected it was used to make tools, medicine, food, ceremonies, craftsmanship, musical instruments and presents. Honey was presented to the tribal elders as a present and as a sign of respect.
https://youtu.be/eFa2AOYMLN8?si=DFojKCURqpIX6ySX (Bees)
Stage 3 decided to have a damper and Johnny Cakes day with lots of honey on them. The honey was supplied by the two Heidi’s which are farmed by their families.
I would like to say there was not a crumb left!
This week Teddy from Stage 1 created three beautiful Aboriginal pictures. Teddy loves to draw pictures, he drew The Rainbow Snake, Sun Shining and Jewellery.
They are absolutely beautiful and I thank Teddy for sharing his beautiful drawings with us. These drawings will be hanging in the library. Well done Teddy!
Darrundang Ngiinda - Thankyou
Miss Liz Hegedus
Aboriginal Education Worker
School Notes
SCHOOL FEES
BPay is the preferred payment method for school fees.
Scheduled payments can also be set up using BPay, the Biller Code and your personal reference number can be found on your Fee Statement.
Paying through BPay ensures that your payment goes directly to your account. Any enquireies please contact the School Office.
ABSENCES
Please notify the School Office if your child will be absent for an extended period of time, Principal approval may be required.
Only full day absences are to be entered into Compass, for partial absences - arriving late or leaving early please phone the School Office to notify.
Change to afternoon travel arrangements may be emailed to the school if before 12.00pm sjpgraf@lism.catholic.edu.au
After 12.00pm please phone the School Office on 6642 2899 with any changes.
Uniforms
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received a Merit Award.
TERM 3 WEEK 8
ES1: Lola, Tom, Oscar, Alyssa
Stage 1: Aylee, Logan, Lily
Stage 2: Henri, Ruby, Rubin
Stage 3: Isla, Noah K, Eli
School Calendar
TERM 3 2024
Week 10
Thursday, 26 September - Book Week Dress Up Day - Parade at 11.40am
Thursday, 26 September - School Disco 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Thursday, 26 September - Last Day of Term 3 for students
Friday, 27 September - Staff Development Day (Pupil Free)
TERM 4 2024
Week 1
Monday, 14 October - Students return for Term 4
Wednesday, 16 October - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 2
Monday, 21 October - Intensive Swimming K-2
Monday, 21 October - School Assembly 2.15pm
Tuesday, 22 October - Exuro Retreat at MCC, Year 5
Wednesday, 23 October - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 3
Monday, 28 October - Intensive Swimming K-2
Wednesday, 30 October - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 4
Monday, 4 November - Intensive Swimming K-2
Monday 4 November - School Assembly 2.15pm
Wednesday, 6 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 5
Monday, 11 November - Remembrance Day
Tuesday, 12 November - Orientation Day for Year 6 at McAuley Catholic College
Tuesday, 12 November - Information Evening for Parents of Year 7 2025 at McAuley Catholic College
Wednesday, 13 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Friday, 15 November - Swimming Carnival
Week 6
Monday, 18 November - Intensive Swimming K-2
Monday 18 November - School Assembly 2.15pm
Wednesday, 20 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 7
Monday, 25 November - Intensive Swimming K-2
Wednesday, 27 November - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 8
Monday, 2 December - School assembly 2.15pm
Wednesday, 4 December - Junior Joey's Transition
Week 9
Tuesday, 10 December - Year 6 Graduation 6.15pm
Thursday, 12 December - Prize giving Evening 5.30pm
Week 10
Wednesday, 18 December - Last Day of Term for Students
Thursday, 19 December - Staff Development Day (Pupil Free)
Canteen
Canteen
Open every Wednesday and Friday
Volunteers are always welcome, please leave your details with the School office if you're able to assist.
Community Notices
