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Dear McAuley Families
It seems amazing that first term is done and dusted! We have quickly returned to normal and have had very busy days over the last few weeks with sacramental programs, sporting trials and community events. As I have said before, school is so much more than 'readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic' and we continue to work to make McAuley a place of opportunity and positivity for our students.
I was able to enjoy some leave and family time last week as we had 21st and 18th birthdays in the same week! Fearghus was also in a Canberra musical so we had some busy family days together celebrating those important milestones. Thanks to David Turnbull and the Executive staff who looked after things capably in my absence.
As we move to celebrate Easter we are quickly reminded by the situation in Brisbane that the COVID crisis is far from over. Please take care in the break and keep an eye on hot-spots and regulations if you travel. You may need to notify the school on your return from certain areas and self-isolate. I ask that for the benefit of all in our community that you remain abreast all of regulations and Government and Health Department requests.
Special prayers for Fran Clarke. Fran is taking leave next term to deal with a medical issue. I know she takes with her an enormous amount of love and so many prayers for a quick recovery. Our beautiful support of one another is certainly a hallmark of this place.
Mrs Hughes (Poss) remains in touch and her treatment is progressing well. She too is grateful for the many prayers and strong community support she is receiving.
Easter is a time of very mixed emotions. As we walk the road and events of Holy Week we often focus on the betrayal, suffering and death of Jesus. We easily forget the joy of the resurrection and the hope for the future that brings with it. Christ’s resurrection is a sign of overcoming tragedy and proclaims hope in the human condition. By rising above and solving our broken relationships, sharing love and life with others and making our actions good ones we too are ‘resurrected’. I pray that each and every family are able to share time and joy with one another over the Easter season.
Building Program: It is very exciting to see the building works get under way in the Primary School. This stage of the program will renovate the classroom areas and provide updated learning and flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for those rooms. We aim to create more light and flexibility in those areas. I remind all students, staff and families that the areas behind the fences are strictly out of bounds and are not to be entered at any time. Should you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Eucharist: Congratulations to our students who celebrated the Sacrament of Eucharist (Communion) last week. Thank you to our staff and families for their commitment to the sacramental journey of their children. Thanks to Miss Mason and Mrs Bathgate for their preparation and work.
Well done also to our Year 8 and Year 9 students who travelled to Temora for Youth Retreats this week. The feedback from students and staff was excellent. Thanks again to Miss Mason, Mr Ellison and Ms Dougherty for their time and support of our students.
Community Council AGM: Our community Council AGM was held last week with a good number of parents in attendance. Elections were carried out and 2021 office bearers were elected:
Chair: Natalie Bartlett
Deputy Chair: Lucinda Clay
Secretary: Ros Piper
Treasurer: Mel Pearce
Parent Reps: Lyndal McKay, Sarah Roche, Karen Lindley, Karen Clarke
Teacher Reps: Lyn Bathgate, Jeanette Dumbrell
Fundraising: To be filled
Uniform Sub-Committee: Mel Pearce, Natalie Bartlett, Jeanette Dumbrell, Lauren Roche
I thank all these parents for their support of the school and look forward to a productive 2021 with some projects and fundraising ideas being discussed.
The uniform sub-committee will meet to examine further uniform supply issues and ideas to refine our school uniform into the future. We want to be ready for winter uniform to be clear, affordable and comfortable.
Thanks to our staff for their untiring efforts to make learning and school days interesting, challenging and enjoyable for your sons and daughters.
School resumes for Term 2 on Tuesday 20th April. Monday 19th April is a staff development day and is pupil free.
Mary our Mother… Look after us.
As technology ever increases, we are sending more and more electronic information home to parents. We are making every effort to keep everyone informed and up to date - HOWEVER we also need our parents and carers to help us!
Please ensure you click on the link below and subscribe to the newsletter and to the groups you would like to receive notification from.
Please ensure you also 'like' us on Facebook - this can be done via the same link.
If you think you are still not receiving information - check your junk mail - and then contact us and we will have a look at the reason.
Thank you.
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It's been a busy, busy couple of weeks of sport at McAuley!
We have had children travelling to different parts of the Region trialling for Archdiocese Teams in Cross Country, Cricket, Football, Soccer, Netball ... to name a few! Both Maree Stewart and Lyn Bathgate have been coordinating these events to provide your sons and daughters with every opportunity to be the best they can be in the sporting arena.
A full write up on Trials will be provided soon - once they have caught their breath....!
The McAuley Athletics Carnival is being held TODAY (Thursday) at the TUMUT BULL PADDOCK. All Year 2 to Year 10 students should meet at the Bull Paddock by 8:55am for roll call. Our Kinder and Years 1 students (and three Year 2 students) will travel to and from school to the Bull Paddock between 10am and 1pm.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
CROSS COUNTRY - WESTERN REGION AT BOOROWA
We had two runners bring home 1st place trophies. Well done to Carter Hood (10 years) and Wil Vickery (11 years) for out-racing their opponents. Sid Roche was runner-up in his race (12 years) while Chloe Pearce (10 years), Darcy Lucas (11 years), and Macy White (12 years) all finished third in their events.
Other students to qualify for the Archdiocesan carnival were Billy Roche, Cooper Watkins and Lara Farquharson (8/9 years), Lydia Salmon (11 years), Ian Kelly and Aidan Turnbull (12 years).
We look forward to seeing how our students perform at Stromlo, ACT on the 25th May.
Congratulations to all of the students who represented McAuley. While not everyone can finish in the top 6, we saw great sportsmanship, effort and behaviour all day, which makes us proud of you all!
Year 3 enjoyed a Literary Excursion last week to learn about our town library services. Rhonda Twomey showed the children around and they were also lucky to chat to the 'Family History Group'. Completing a worksheet to test their knowledge, the students had a fun time!
In other Library news, 5/6G joined with Kindergarten to participate in LEGO-STEM week activities. Together they created scenes from stories they have read this term. These included zoo scenes, complex police and robber scenes and out-of-this-world scenes. It was a great opportunity for Year 6 students to catch up with their buddies as well.
This week, lucky Year 3 and 4 and some Year 5 students had the great opportunity to be enthralled by the live theatre production of "The Midnight Gang" at the Wagga Civic Theatre. The students were captivated by the performance - a story about the adventures young patients get up to whilst being confined to a children's hospital, helping each patient live their dream!
Year 1 and 2 Students were delighted to view the “91 Storey Treehouse" adventure. Students were excited to follow along, as the story they have loved reading came to life.
Prior to both performances, students actively and eagerly participated in some energetic fun at the Wagga Botanical Gardens Adventure Playground. These were terrific cultural experiences for our students.
Year 8 & 9 students have enjoyed lovely Retreats in Temora during the week. This is a gentle time, spent away from the usual busy classrooms, to listen, to reflect and hopefully refresh and renew us! ❤
Year 1B were Palaeontologists for a day recently. They were digging for dinosaur fossils in the sandpit !
Many things were discovered, pencils,coins, lost buttons and of course fossils!
These “ scientists” then had to determine from the fossils what dinosaur they had found by studying the plastic skeleton”’s features. Students were able to determine if their fossil was a herbivore or carnivore by checking the teeth.
Students then also had fun creating their own fossils by making impressions in air drying clay with various shells and, of course, their plastic dinosaur skeletons. Photographs of real fossils found were also matched to the images of the dinosaurs they most likely came from.
Students have loved viewing and studying the replica fossils, footprint images and the vast array of information sent from the Australian Museum. It really has brought Science alive and raised the interest and enthusiasm of making Science authentic and exciting for these young scientists.
The Parliament of NSW is holding a fun and educational school holidays event, ‘The Festival of Democracy’, on Friday 16 April.
This COVID-safe event is free and for children aged 4 - 12 years, and their families.
Visitors, families and friends are all welcome to come in and experience democracy through a range of family-friendly activities such as democracy hopscotch, craft, storytelling, mystery object guessing competition, and much more!
Bookings are essential via Eventbrite: https://l.linklyhq.com/l/O3AV . You can book for an 80 minute session starting at 9 am, 10.30 am, 12 pm, or 1.30 pm.
Tickets are limited so make sure to book in!
Please find attached a flyer providing further information: NSW Parliament Free Event - Festival of Democracy - Information Flyer