Welcome to St Mary's Parish Primary School

Dear Parents and Friends, Welcome back to Term 3. Once again we look forward to working positively with our students and all within the school community. Our Value for Term 3 is “Service.” We will be focusing on how we can be of service to others and to learn about and appreciate those who provide vital and caring service within our communities. SECURITY As advised in the last Candela for Term 2, at the last School Advisory Board meeting school security was reviewed. It was agreed that the following security measures would be implemented from the start of this Term to help ensure the safety of all students while they are at school: • All entrances to the main school buildings (MLC, FLC, Discovery Centre, Arts and Language Centre) will be locked during class times. • The front gate next to the Administration building will be locked at 9.15 and re-opened at 3.00 pm. • All visitors/parent helpers must sign in at the Office and receive a Visitor’s Badge • For late arrivals and early departures, parents must complete the sign in form in the Administration building and have this signed by office staff. This form will then be given to your child’s teacher when your child goes to class (late arrivals) or when your child is collected from class (early departures). • Early dismissal for students from Prep A and Yr. 1, will be via Yr. 2MS classroom (on the right hand side of the main entry doors to the FLC) • Students will be supervised by teachers on arrival to school as from 8.40am. Yr. 3-6 students are to gather on the Piazza and Prep- Yr. 2 students are to gather on the new Turf play area which is now known as Bonnie’s Playground. • Any student not collected by 3.45pm will be brought to the Office where they are to wait under supervision until collected. A reminder that teacher supervision is provided from 8.40am until 3.45pm. TRAFFIC MATTER I once again ask parents who use the Drive/Through Pick up Zones after school, to please NOT ARRIVE before 3.30pm. There has been a problem with queues forming and spilling out onto William Street and right back to Grimshaw Street. This is a safety issue and a major inconvenience to our neighbours. As students are not dismissed until 3.30pm, there is no point in arriving prior to dismissal time. Any cars queueing will be asked to move on. BONNIE’S PLAYGROUND At our final Mass on the last day of Term 2 when we celebrated the retirement of Bonnie Dickson after 40 years’ service to St. Mary’s school, we announced that our new playground behind the Administration building is to be known as “Bonnie’s Playground.” This was a real surprise for Bonnie and an honour that we felt was very fitting. A plaque is being prepared and will be laid when completed. SCHOOL PERFORMANCE Students are preparing well for our biennial School Performance which has been titled “Oh! The Places St. Mary’s Will Go” which will be held over two nights on Monday 21 July and Tuesday 22 July. Our Performance will be held at the George Wood Performing Arts Centre Yarra Valley Grammar School, Kalindra Road Ringwood. Students will be bussed to the Performing Arts Centre on the day of their performance for a final rehearsal. Please ensure that their permission form has been returned in-order for them to attend this rehearsal session. On the night of Performance, students are to arrive at 6.15pm. Principal Helen Anderson