Thursday 17 December 2020
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Well, we have reached the end of a very tumultuous and challenging year and no doubt, all of you will be looking forward to a well earned rest over the Christmas holidays.
This year, St Mary’s will farewell a number of amazing staff members who have made a lasting and significant contribution to our school community. I thank all these wonderful people for their hard work, their dedication and their determination to do the very best for every one of our children. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
Christine Bulger Nicole Potter Chris Jerram
Georgia Fleming Kim Crabtree Linda Lyons
We also farewell all the children and families who are leaving our school community at the end of this year. We wish them all the best wishes and good fortune and keep them in our prayers and thoughts as they move onto new school communities:
Birch family Bolt family Carthew Family Fleming Family Gleeson Family Joyce Family Mayes Family McRae Family Potter Family Quixley Family Roberts Family (Emilia) Stephens Family Roberts (Jayden, Lachie, Chelsea) Lewis Family Grayling Family Sparks Family
I also take this opportunity to congratulate our new school leaders for 2021. I am sure that these wonderful young people will set a great example for their peers and be excellent role models for our school community:
School Captains: Bridie Price Will Chamings
Vice Captains: Bessie McLoughlan Jude Bulger
Yesterday, at the final assembly of the school year, we recognised some worthy recipients of scholarships for next year that have been provided by a number of local community organisations. These awards acknowledge the special contributions these children have made to the St Mary’s community:
Father Davey Memorial Scholarship: Beau Quixley
Aileen Brennan Award (Catholic Women’s League): Tia Strafehl
Catholic Women’s League: Holly Louder
Rotary Club of Ararat: Bronson Potter
Ararat Rural City Council: Rachel Terry
Ararat Community Enterprises: Kaleb Harris
Finally, in my last newsletter at St Mary’s, I want to take this chance to say thank you to all the amazing staff, parents and most of all, the wonderful students at St Mary’s. I thank you for your support and your dedication to this amazing school. I will miss St Mary’s and watch with keen interest as this school continues to develop over the next few years in its goal of becoming a truly great Catholic school.
God bless. Keep safe. Merry Christmas!
Bill Hill
FINAL ASSEMBLY OF 2020
Yesterday the school celebrated the end of year with a final assembly. School captains and scholarship recipients were announced. Our exiting staff were presented with gifts and farewelled by students. Please see the principal report for more details.
Assembly Photos
GRADE 6 GUARD OF HONOUR
Our Grade 6 students, Archer and Will in Grade 4 and exiting staff were farewelled at 3.15pm in our traditional guard of honour in The Hub. Covid made things look a bit different this year but the students were still amazed by the cheers from students!
UPCOMING TERM 4 DATES
FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER
Staff Last Day
WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2021
Staff Return
FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021
Students Return
FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2021
First Lunch Order Day for 2021
Welcome BBQ Picnic - further details to come
FOUNDATION REST DAYS
Each Wednesday in Term 1 is a rest day for Foundation students until the Labour Day public holiday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
To the following students celebrating their birthdays this week:
Bella D, Jordan Y & Henry J
ST MARY'S OFFICE HOURS
The school office will close next Friday 18 December 2020 and will re-open Wednesday 27 January 2021. If you urgently need to get in touch with us over the school holiday period, please email principal@smararat.catholic.edu.au
Any non urgent telephone messages left over the school holiday period will be received and passed on to the appropriate staff when we return on the 27th.
MONDAY 8.30AM - 4.00PM
TUESDAY 8.30AM - 3.30PM
WEDNESDAY 8.30AM - 4.00PM
THURSDAY 8.30AM - 3.30PM
FRIDAY 9.00AM - 4.00PM
Wishing all of our St Mary's families a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy & happy 2021!
2021 SCHOOL FEE STRUCTURE
St Mary’s School Fees 2021
How to pay your school fees via Direct Debit:
- Calculate your total fees for 2021 and divide by the number of payment instalments you will make according to your choice of fortnightly, monthly or quarterly options. All school fees are to be paid in full by Friday November 26, 2021. If paying fees as a lump sum, payment is required by Wednesday June 30, 2021.
A family is charged the following:
- $1130.00 Family tuition fee AND
- $130.00 capital levy.
Additional per child fees include:
- $230 book levy.
- $80 IT levy.
Additional Camps/Sports/Excursion is charged per student depending on what year level from the below table:
Foundation /Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 & 4 | Grade 5 & 6 |
$150 | $175 | $350 | $390 |
Additional Grade Three Students only:
- $423.50 inc. gst
All Grade Three students in 2021 will be charged the cost of a Chromebook. The Chromebook will be owned by the student and will be theirs to take when they finish at St Mary’s in Grade 6. Damage to a Chromebook requiring the purchase of a replacement device will be charged to the fee payer.
- Make sure you have chosen the Payment Schedule that best suits you from the table below. Note that Direct Debit payments will only be processed on these dates.
- Read the ‘Direct Debit Request – Service Agreement’ on the reverse of this page to be sure you understand the terms and conditions.
- Complete the ‘Direct Debit Request’ form and return it to the Office.
Please see below the 2021 table of payments. If you have been on direct debits in the past you will still need to fill the direct debit form out each year.
VINNIES GIVING TREE
ST MARY'S SCHOOL COMMUNITY TEAM
The school community team comprises of members of families at the school who volunteer their time to help fundraise in order to provide students with up to date resources and equipment to further enhance their learning experience. The community team would love to see some new faces in 2021. If you are interested or would like to chat with anyone from the team, feel free to email community@smararat.catholic.edu.au
UNIFORM SHOP
We have some second hand uniforms for sale at the school. This money goes to the Community Team, purchasing resources for the school.
PRICE LIST:
POLO TOPS $1
BOYS GREY SHORTS $2
BOYS GREY PANTS $4
SPORTS SHORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY SHORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY SKORTS $2
GIRLS NAVY PANTS $4
SUMMER DRESS $4
GIRLS WINTER TUNICS - AS MARKED
SCHOOL JUMPERS $8