Dear families,

We began a busy week by taking a small group of students outside our school grounds to to our bit for Altona by contributing to Clean Up Australia Day. What a strange array of rubbish we accumulated!

Our school tours began in earnest this week and were very well attended. My favourite tours are those that take place during school hours as I love visiting the classrooms and interacting with our wonderful students. 

NAPLAN commences next week. These tests are just one tool we have at our disposal to ascertain how our students are progressing in their learning. It’s important we support our students with a message that focuses on the expectation that there is nothing more we expect of them but that they do their best.

I’d like to remind our families about certain expectations that have appeared to have relaxed since our return to school:

Uniform

• Completely black shoes or runners are the only acceptable shoe to be worn with the academic uniform. If choosing black runners these should be devoid of any other colour, either on the logo, laces or soles. Any form of runner can be worn on sports days
• The only acceptable earrings are studs or small hoop earrings that sit close to the lobe
• Nail polish is not to be worn
• Hair that touches the shoulders must be tied up

Food and drink

• Hot takeaway lunches dropped off at the office are strongly discouraged. If you must drop food off at the office for your child, we encourage you to choose options that would form part of a regular lunch option for your child. While we explore a more formal policy around hot food deliveries, we will continue with our current practice and have students sit at the office, with a classmate, to consume this lunch there. Just this afternoon, we heard several senior students discuss arrangements to have their parents drop off takeaway food at the office. If these practices become the norm rather than the exception, we may see the need to place a blanket ban on these foods.
• Plain water is the only acceptable drink during class time. At this stage, students may have a juice or milk drink as part of their morning snack or lunch only. We have noticed a spike in the number of students who are bringing energy and sports drinks to school. Students who do so will have their drinks confiscated during the school day and returned at the end of the day.

Smart Watches

• Smart watches are allowed in school but must be set to ‘school mode’ or a similar feature, which may be known as a different mode, depending on the style of watch. This feature usually disables texts, calls, photos, recordings etc.
• It is not appropriate for parents/guardians to contact students directly during the school day. If you need to inform your child of something important, please contact the school office and we will pass on your message.

Last week, I invited parents and guardians to vote for the learning characteristics you’d like to see us develop with our students. If you haven’t already done so and would like to, you can do so here or read more about learner dispositions here.

Wishing you a lovely long weekend,

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Raffle tickets will be distributed to students on the 14th March.
They are $1 per ticket or $10 for a book. 

Additional raffle books will be available at the School Office. 

The raffle will be drawn on Friday 31st March at 2.45pm.  Family members are welcome to attend. 

PLEASE return all ticket stubs, money & unsold tickets in an envelope to the school office by Wednesday, 29th March. Please write your name, class & mobile on each ticket stub. 

Funds raised go towards school upgrades.

Thank you, 
Parents & Friends Committee

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Big Write sessions happen throughout units of work in each year level, providing students with the opportunity to write a full start to finish writing piece with the support of teachers and VCOP resources.

Cold Write sessions happen once per term in which students are not given the opportunity to talk about the topic before writing and the learning aides are removed. This is an opportunity for students to display what they know without the assistance from external resources.

I have put together a full explanation of the program with information about how you can help at home here.

Thanks for your support,

Brenda Lycke 

Literacy Leader

blycke@smaltona.catholic.edu.au

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

It's not too late to join!!!

Do your kids like running? 
 Are they unsure if they like running but would like to give it a try?
 Are they in Year 3-6?
 Are they interested in being part of the St Mary’s Cross Country Team?
 Do they like earning House Points for their team?

 Then St. Mary's Run Club might be just what they need!

We will be conducting training sessions in the school grounds on the dates listed below. The sessions will have an emphasis on improving fitness and technique as well as providing competitive running.

These sessions will run from 8.00 - 8.30am. 

Training / Trial dates as follows:
Tuesday 21st March, Thursday 23rd March
Tuesday 28th March, Thursday 30th March
Tuesday 4th April (last day of Term 1)
Wednesday 26th April (Light jog/Meeting)

Time Trials: Thursday 27th April (Week 1 of Term 2)

Sessions will last approximately half an hour. Enter the school via the Mc Bain St gate and wait on the basketball court. If you arrive after 8am, join us on the oval.

To register your child's interest, please go to the Operoo note sent on Thursday 9th March.

If you would like further information, please email Ala (asottile@smaltona.catholic.edu.au) or Marg (mmasseni@smaltona.catholic.edu.au)

Regards
Ala and Marg

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage

Williamstown Community Newsletter

Parish Bulletin

Music Lessons

Court Hire and Birthdays at 3Street

We would also like to thank Mancini Real Estate for their continuous support to St Mary's Altona


             

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage