Dear Parents and Carers

Let the Children Play!

Some experts believe children need at least three hours of outdoor play on a daily basis in order to foster healthy sensory and motor development. They need opportunities to climb trees, run as fast as they can, use their imagination, test their strength, roll, climb, balance and even spin in circles. All of these activities use their brain, activate their muscles both big and small and engage the senses. This lays the foundation for being able to pay attention, listen and learn in a classroom setting.

Studies indicate that when children switch from spending hours primarily indoors and sitting at a desk to one where the child is free to move and play throughout the day, the results can be far-reaching. Problems of poor attention all but disappear and children become attentive and active learners. Time spent playing outdoors fosters a joy of learning and confidence in one’s abilities — two critical elements in the classroom and in life. All it takes is some time and a place to play outside.

As a society we’re making great strides toward obesity prevention. While we are working to keep our children at healthy weights, we must also strive to ensure healthy behaviours, attitudes, sensory function, strength and coordination. This is true health, and to get it, our children should be introduced to a lot more outdoor playtime with their peers.

ENROLMENTS FOR 2020 are now being encouraged. We have two 'Information Sessions' arranged in the next few weeks for parents of students entering Kindergarten and Year 7. Please see separate article in this newsletter. 

HEALTHY CANTEEN NETWORK MEETING: We are looking for parents or carers who may have a healthy food passion to come along and inspire a great, healthy menu for our students. The meeting will be held in conjunction with Murrumbidgee Local Health and will take place in the School Hall from 10am to 1pm on 4th June. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to the school if you are attending. 

Also congratulations and welcome to Kellie Deudney who joins the Mcauley staff as canteen manager.

Year 6 students, preparing for the upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation, will present our Parish Mass at 6pm this Saturday. I hope many families are able to come along and support the students. 

Kind regards to everyone. 

- Rod Little. 

We have some important information sessions planned for families in ***Kindergarten or Year 7 in 2020.

Please refer to the advert below for full details:

***** The Kindergarten Session is only aimed at NEW families. 

You can now enrol online at McAuley by selecting the link on the school website (below). Alternatively, please contact the school for an enrolment form. To complete an application form you will need to submit the following information. Original documents will need to be presented at the time of interview.

• Birth certificate (not commemorative) or passport
• Certificate of Baptism (if applicable)
• Student’s immunisation records 
• Family Law, Personal Protection Order or Other Relevant Court Orders (if applicable)
• Last report from previous school (not applicable for Kindergarten enrolments)
• Visa grant notice for permanent and temporary visa-holders (if applicable) – for both student and parent(s) / legal guardian(s), including passport copies of parents
• Any medical reports and/or other assessment reports for students with additional learning needs (if applicable).

ENROL NOW for 2020 https://enrolments.mcauleytumut.nsw.edu.au/enrol/

Nominations close Friday 31st May.

Wonderful workshops with our Year 6, 8 and 10 students on Tuesday exploring Wind Tunnels. Using STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) students really enjoyed testing and refining objects that would hover in a wind tunnel!

Thank you to the volunteers of parents, aunties and grandparents who sat on our Street-Stall last Friday. Thank you also to every one who donated items to sell on the day. The baking, jams, relish and books were all most appreciated. The stall raised $1502 which is a fantastic result.

Congratulations to Wally Whiting who won the beautiful load of wood. 

Thanks to Anna Stubbs and her family for coordinating the stall and donating the great load of wood. 

Fee statements were emailed to all families earlier this month. If you are paying by the term, please ensure you have paid in full by the 14th June.

If you have not received your email, please contact the school. Thank you for your support.  

Some great results from Cross-Country Carnivals last week. 

PRIMARY:

Congratulations to the team of runners who participated strongly in the annual Western Region Carnival in Harden last Friday. McAuley took out first place in the school's competition! All students ran well with 10 students progressing to the Archdiocesan Carnival in Canberra on 4th June:
Well done: Reese Keenan, Mason Blundell, Imogen Henderson, Sid Roche, Aidan Turnbull, Ian Kelly, Oliver Henderson. Wil Vickery, Macy White, Darcy Lucas.

SECONDARY:

Congratulations to our Secondary runners who took out Age Champions & Runner Ups at the School Cross Carnival last week. These students have qualified to represent with the Primary team (above) at the Archdiocesan Carnival in Canberra on 4th June. 

12 Years - Polly Roche and Pia Zovaro

13 Years - Ellisha Olsen and Liam Buckley. Emily Kelly and Scott Ferguson

14 Years - Maya Stiles, Matthew Mitchell, Nico Canteros Paz, Josh Smith and Leon Smit

15 Years - Jessica Kelly and Coleby Duck. Kayla Crane Hauraki and Hamish Plum

16 Years - Abby Skein and Jack Beavan. Luke Wen. 

Great K-10 theatre performances from Brainstorm Producations were enjoyed this week by all students. The performances were aimed at bullying, cyber safety and resilience. 

As a school we offer these opportunities with the aim to further develop positive student behaviour and wellbeing.

Keep up to date with upcoming events with our electronic calendar.

Please click on the link below: 

Congratulations to Year 2 and Miss McGrath who entertained us all at the weekly assembly in the Hall last Thursday. Well done!

We hope you enjoy our photos.

We have another confirmed case of Chicken Pox with our school community.

We take this opportunity to remind parents of the need to keep children home from school if they are ill. Please remember it is a legal requirement to provide a note to teachers explaining your child's absence on their return. Thank you for your suppport. 

Primary Canteen Roster next week:

Monday 27th - Jessie Riethmuller, Wednesday 29th - Wayne Skein, Friday 31st - Jenny Parry and Catherine Kelly. 

Thanks also to Vicki Cribb who has been assisting Kellie in the High School Canteen this week.

McAuley families celebrated WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY last Friday. Some strolled, some walked and some even jogged to school on this glorious morning in Tumut. Students enjoyed cereal, platters of fruit and warm milo with their families on arrival at school. A sincere thank you to Riverina Fresh for the donations of milk, Green Valley Orchard and the Apple Shed for the delicious new season apples. 

This was an active and healthy initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia and endorsed by Live Life Well @ School.