Dear McAuley Families

Isn’t it good to get back into a routine? The students I see and speak to seem really happy to be back, busy and engaged, learning and interacting (so do their teachers!).  For me it has really highlighted schools as human places where relationships are at the fore of all we do.  The energy and enthusiasm our students bring with them gives life to us all. 

Primary Fence:  Great news to see the Primary Fence along Capper Street be replaced this week.  An ex-pupil of mine was in the crew and was very complimentary about the good manners of their primary school “supervisors!” Thanks to the Community Council for their long and hard efforts to have this job completed.  Thank you also to Catholic Education who fully funded the project.

Block Grant Project:  We continue to consult with CE and the Architects to refine the plans for the renovation of the Primary Classrooms on the southern side of the campus.  We have around $1.2m of government funding and hope that the project will be underway this time next year.

Basketball Courts:  You might know that McAuley received a $20,000 Bushfire Grant from the Commonwealth Bank to re-surface the Secondary Basketball Courts.  After a re-submission I was thrilled to have that funding increased to $35,000 to enable the installation of hot mix as the surface. The job should be completed soon and will be a fabulous resource for our students and town.

Enrol now:  We are currently accepting enrolments for 2021 across a number of year levels.  Our main entry points are Kindergarten and Year 7.  Please see our website and/or ask for a card from the school offices to encourage family and friends to choose a McAuley education for their sons and daughters.  We offer a clear point of difference from local schools in offering a faith based, holistic education with an emphasis on robust literacy and numeracy skills from K-10.  Our strong and welcoming community is a stand out and I know our parents and students are the best marketers we have.

Information about Open Days and Information Sessions will be publicised as soon as we negotiate the regulations around physical distancing.

Fees: As Catholic Education advised last term, School Fees have been delayed and will be sent home this week.  I remind you that there are processes and supports in place for those families who have been impacted by the COVID virus through their income or employment and have received government support.  Please contact the school offices for more information. 

Excursions and Carnivals:  We have been directed not to conduct any excursions or carnivals this term.  This cancels a number of events and others (such as Yr. 7, 2021 orientation days) on hold.  We continue to cross our fingers and plan for the Yr. 10 Tasmania Tour and Yr. 9 Pambula Excursion.  More details to come.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal

We continue to enforce higher level hygiene and cleaning standards and as our movies on social media remind us “NOT sharing is caring at McAuley” for the present time.

Please remember:

• If your child displays any signs of illness, cold or flu like symptoms they should stay at home.
• If they are referred to the school office/s due to illness, their temperature will be checked and parents will be contacted. 
• Physical distancing measures are not necessary amongst pupils but will be maintained in staff rooms and common areas for school staff and other adults.
• Hard copy assignments and teacher feedback processes will be modified.
• Students are to bring their own drink bottle and fill it from the cold tap – no access to bubblers.
• Parents are discouraged from attending the school office/s and school common areas if at all possible.
• Parents are discouraged from congregating outside the school (Primary Pick Up Area) etc.
• There will be no school assemblies/masses or excursions this term.
• We are working on minimal movement for high school and primary school classes between rooms and areas.
• Increased hygiene and hand washing will be encouraged – each classroom with anti-bacterial hand wash.
• Cleaning of environmental spaces (Primary Equipment) and shared materials will be increased.
• Increased cleaning of school bathrooms and shared areas will take place.

A great little McAuley Video has featured on Facebook - if you have not already seen this, please click on the link(s) below:

Reflection  -  Feast Day 24^th May

Since the Middle-Ages, the Church has devoted the month of May to Mary. In May, there are also three Marian feasts that are celebrated which help us to understand what Mary can teach us about being disciples.

The feast day of Mary Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844. In those early and mostly priestless days, it was largely the Rosary that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary, and was the first nation to choose her, under the title of Help of Christians, as it’s Patron.

With maternal love for us, Mary wants what is best for us - she wants Jesus for us, so she urges us, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Then she helps us as we lead others to know and love her Son too. Her feasts empower us to love Jesus and others with a greater love.

Mary Help of Christians patroness of Australia

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

There are a variety of ways to take care of yourself during this isolation time, ranging from maintaining relationships with friends to learning new skills.

Please click on the link above for some coping strategies. 

There was great excitement this week, with the installation of the new boundary fence around our oval. The McAuley Community Council has been pursuing a new fence for the last two years and it was great to see it finally come to fruition. Catholic Education very generously paid for the materials and installation. We are extremely grateful to Catholic Education for their willingness to ensure our students are protected and safe. Stage 2 of the fence project will be to build a retaining wall in front of the fence.

Our Community Council continue to work on several on-going projects and as always, are always looking for some great new members and ideas. Keep an eye on the newsletter for next meeting date. 

https://mcauleyccstumut.schoolzineplus.com/form/13

Please click on the link above to order your raffle tickets for your chance to win half a side of dressed lamb to freeze, cook and enjoy. 6 draws!

Tickets are $5-00 each or 3 for $10-00.

Thank you for your support - all money raised will go towards improving our Ag Plot. 

SCHOOL PHOTOS FOR K-10 students and staff, will be taken on Tuesday 2nd June. Envelopes will go home to all families soon.

This year due to COVID19 restrictions only individual student photos will be taken. The individual photos will be used to collate a class group. Family photo options will be advised.

We have had a reported case of lice/nits during the week. Please take the time to check your children's heads for lice or nits and take the steps necessary for eradication if required. 

We have also had a case of chicken-pox on our Primary Campus. 

Chickenpox begins with a sudden onset of slight fever, runny nose, feeling generally unwell and a skin rash. The rash usually begins as small lumps that turn into blisters and then scabs. The rash appears over three to four days. At any one time, the lesions of the rash vary in stages of development. Symptoms usually occur two weeks after exposure to the virus.

Persons who are previously vaccinated can still get chickenpox. If chickenpox occurs in a vaccinated person, it is usually mild and less contagious than in an unvaccinated person.

Full details can be obtained by clicking on the link below:

Year 7.1 students were all very excited to be back to see their beautiful vegetable garden is thriving! Good work Year 7. We look forward to sampling the produce soon!

In PDHPE Stage 3 (Yr 5 and 6) are participating in a unit based on the game-TV-show 'Survivor'. Students will be challenged through physical and movement tasks, developing teamwork and exploring empathy and resilience. The students are in 'tribes' and working to earn points for their tribe.

While no-one will be voted "off the island", students still participate in a 'Tribal Council' where they will reflect on the skills that make a good team member.

Great Drama lessons taking place on our Primary Campus during the week.

Kindergarten students were given the task of pretending to hold imaginary animals, while Year 3/4B were using the drama skills of focus and concentration while playing "Mirror Shapes". Year 5H have participated in activities that are designed to build trust. 

Acting and interacting with others during drama plays an important role! Plenty of laughs were had by all. 

Please note that all secondary students require a calculator for Mathematics.

The preferred Calculator is a CASIO fx 82AU as this has all the functions your child will need.

If your child does not have one of these calculators (or one with similar functions) could you please purchase one as soon as possible. The office has a limited stock available for a cost of $30 or can be purchased at many retail outlets. This calculator will also be able to be used by students for their HSC. 

Thank you for your support.

- Miss Sharon Wyse, Mathematics Teacher. 

Year 1 students have been enjoying learning about 'place value' in Mathematics. 
......What is place value? Place value is the value of each digit in a number. For example, the 5 in 350 represents 5 tens, or 50; however, the 5 in 5,006 represents 5 thousands, or 5,000. It is important that children understand that whilst a digit can be the same, it's value depends on where it is in the number. Clever kids!

Our youngest, very clever Kindergarten children are pictured measuring and recording length during Tuesday's Mathematics lesson. 

We are still seeking 2 volunteers for our Primary Canteen for the 2nd Monday of every month and the 3rd Wednesday of every month. 

No lunch preparation is required, over the counter sales only. Just a little over half an hour of your time is required once a month. Thanks to Jodi Vickery who has volunteered to do a regular slot on the 4th Monday of every month. Thanks also to Cherie White who helped out yesterday. 

Next week's roster - Monday 25th - Jodi Vickery, Wednesday 27th - Ros Piper, Friday 29th - Jenny Parry & Catherine Kelly. 

Thank you everyone for your support. 

HEADSPACE WAGGA WAGGA

Headspace Wagga are currently offering counselling services for students who live in the towns of Batlow and Adelong.

They have received funding specifically for young people residing in these two towns and are sourcing any students who may require their services. At present they have a lot of appointments available. 2020 has been an extremely challenging year for all, especially our youth.

Headspace have trained counsellors, doctors and psychologists who are ready and able to assist your child/ren on matters big or small.  

'Headspace' is a highly recommended service. Please contact the Wagga office direct on 02 69 233170.