Term 2 

Wednesday 11th June - Polding Cross Country

Thursday 12th June - Open Day 9.00am

Thursday 12th June - Last Day for Athletics Carnival lunch orders to be submitted

Friday 13th June - Year 6 at Careers Day with BHS

Tuesday 17th June - S1 Excursion to Bowraville Folk Museum

Friday 20th June - School Athletics Carnival @ BHS

Thursday 26th June - 2026 Enrolments Due

Wednesday 2nd July - Zone Athletics Carnival- Coffs Harbour

Wednesday 2nd July - Student reports released on Compass

Thursday 3rd July - Last Day Term 2 for Students

Friday 4th July - Staff Professional Learning Day - Pedagogy - Pupil Free Day

Term 3 2025

Monday 21st July - Staff Professional Learning Day - Curriculum - Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 22nd July - First Day Term 3 for Students 

Monday 28 July – Friday 1 August 2025 Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition for interested Stage 3 students 

Thursday 25th September - Last Day Term 3 for Students

Friday 26th September - Staff Professional Learning Day - Spirituality - Pupil Free Day

Term 4 2025

Monday 13th October - Staff Professional Learning Day - School Improvement - Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 14th October - First Day Term 4 for Students 

Thursday 11th December End of Year Final Awards Assembly and Giving Tree 9.15-11:00am

Monday 15th December - Year 6 Graduation and End of Year Celebrations

Wednesday 17th December - Last Day Term 4 for Students

Thursday 18th December - Last Day Term 4 for Staff

As Speed Zone changes across the shire are regulated at a state level and rely on approval from Transport for NSW (TfNSW), the Council meet regularly with TfNSW as part of the Local Traffic Committee (LTC). The Speed Zone at the back of the school has been noted and added to the agenda at the next meeting and we will be able to advise you of any changes as they are communicated to us.

Please note that all parents and children are expected to cross Park Street at the designated crossing and not cut in front of buses.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those experiencing hardship and loss during this difficult time. If your family has been affected, we want to ensure you have access to the support you need. For up-to-date information on services to help with wellbeing, recovery, housing, financial assistance, and more, please visit the NSW Council of Social Services website: https://www.ncoss.org.au/sector-hub/sector-resources/flood-resource/#school. This is a trusted and comprehensive hub with links to practical support for families and communities navigating flood recovery.  For information about how to look after your own and your families wellbeing please access our Parent Resource Centre.

Some other resources that are available include;

The Birdie Tree series:

Birdie’s Tree supports the mental health and resilience of young children through natural disasters and disruptive events. There is a suite of resources available including storybooks, relaxation exercises and information sheets for parents. See below: 

Birdie and the Cyclone: https://youtu.be/EW3NzeJbGi4

Birdie and the Shelter: https://youtu.be/1zX1nbyh_I8

Birdie and the Flood: https://youtu.be/DfFp26KbrPU

Birdie and the Storm: https://youtu.be/ILG6m58APz4

Yarning with Jarjums about weather - Information sheet for parents and educators: https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/167078/yarning-with-jarjums-about-weather.pdf

Emerging Minds 

Have resources including webinars, videos, podcasts, and factsheets with information on supporting children through disasters and traumatic events.

https://emergingminds.com.au/practitioners/supporting-infants-and-children-in-disasters-a-practice-guide/

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any support or if you feel your child would benefit from additional support regarding this recent weather event.

To celebrate World Turtle Day, the Stage 2 Turtle class used their summarising skills to find out what Ozgreen and Taronga Zoo are doing to support the endangered, Bellinger River Snapping Turtles.

In Religious Education, we explored discipleship and the work of late Pope Francis. The students worked in pairs to discuss what they could do to continue Pope Francis’ work in caring for creation and our common home, plus linked this to what Ozgreen are doing on a community level.

Throughout the term, Stage Three has been exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through storytelling, art and discussion. One of the key stories we’ve focused on is the legend of the Yahoo or Hairy Man. Students have investigated this fascinating figure from both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' and coloniser viewpoints, learning how stories can carry different meanings depending on the culture telling them. 

As part of Reconciliation Week, we participated in a special art activity led by Miss Honey and Aunty Frances. Students reflected on their personal strengths and goals, and then created clay totems to represent them. Aunty Frances shared the cultural significance of totems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, helping students connect more deeply with the values of identity, land and community. Thank you to Miss Honey and Aunty Frances for guiding us through such a meaningful experience.

Mr O’Shea

Giinagay 

This year we celebrated Reconciliation Week "Bridging Now to Next” from May 27 to June 3. It was a time for us to come together and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. 

We were lucky to have Aunty Frances Witt and Honey Cairns visit our school to run a special reconciliation session and a clay workshop with our Stage 3 students. As part of our reconciliation events we had the Budaabang Bari Dancers come in and do a workshop with Stage 2. We were really lucky to have our wonderful Kindergarten students join us at the end for a big group dance!

We had such a nice time celebrating culture, I am really looking forward to NAIDOC Week and bringing more culture into the school for everyone to experience and enjoy.

Jaimie Garson 

Enrolments are now open for 2026. If you or someone you know are interested in enroling your child, for Kinder or any other years, please go to our St Mary's Website and complete an enrolment form.

A lot of children have been marking themselves as coming to school tired in the morning. This can be for a number of reasons. The following link has a suggested routine that may be useful for you. 

https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/sleep/better-sleep/bedtime-routines#positive-bedtime-routines-for-school-age-children-nav-title

The closing date of this survey has been extended until this Friday for parents in Years 4-6.

Week 5

Kinder - Alby Cowley & Leiquaili Andrews

Stage 1 - Tasman Day & Pip Wadick

Stage 2 Eagles - Jamie Moodie & Evie Murcott

Stage 2 Turtles - Lachlan Kiddle, Harry Bird, Oscar Wooldridge & Neiva Harding

Stage 3 - Seanna Condon & Lenny Shenfield

PBS - "We take care of our things"

Kinder - Juna Brown & Theo Wadick

Stage 1 - Reg Fielding

Stage 2 Eagles - Ivy Ellis-Cluff

Stage 2 Turtles - Savannah Tyrrell & Charlotte Powditch

Stage 3 - Minka Neale

Good Samaritan Award - Benji Mills.

Police School Liaison Officer -  Bernadette Snow - 0437774483

Police Youth Liaison Officer - Senior Constable Tegan Baker

Kids Help Line - 1800551800 http://www.kidshelp.com.au/

Cyber Safety  - Incredible resource for parents and children  www.esafety.gov.au

Piano = Victoria Christie 6655 8782

Brass/Piano = Kate Butcher 0419 789 078

Guitar = Katie Crane 0431 151 987