Yamandhu….hello in Wiradjuri.

We have reached the end of our penultimate week for Term 3. The weather is delightful and everyone is looking forward to the break. However we have an action packed week to round out the Term.

Next Tuesday 19th September all Cootamundra schools will combine for a First Nations Cultural Day at Nicholson Park. All students are to wear the Sacred Heart Sports Uniform. Sunscreen will be provided. Our Infants and Primary students will move to the park at 10.30 am for games at 11am and a BBQ lunch at 12noon. All K-6 students will have a food break at 10am before they leave for the park. Our canteen will be available at 10am for any purchases for K-6. Please ensure all students have a broad brimmed hat and a water bottle. Secondary students will move to the park at 12 noon and join all the students for a drone photo at 12.30. After this they will have a BBQ lunch and games from 1.30 until 2.30 when they return to school. Secondary students will still have our normal lunch break at school before they leave for the park.

 Our Year 9 students had an amazing time on their recent excursion to Sydney. They walked lots, saw so many different sites, maybe could have slept a bit more and learnt so many different things. Hopefully there will be a report in next week’s newsletter that showcases all the wonderful experiences. Thank you to Mr Mahon, Ms Buchanan and Ms Withers for their time, energy and passion in providing this opportunity for our students. A great time was had by all.

Book Week is always a highlight in our school calendar. According to all reports it was a fabulous day with a joyful celebration of everything books. Our students and staff enjoyed dressing up and the combined schools Book Week March down the main street was glorious. Thank you to all our families who made such an enormous effort with costumes. It was greatly appreciated. Anything that promotes reading and cultivating a love of literature is a great thing!

Our Year 7 and Kindergarten 2024 Transition programs have been an outstanding success. So many wonderful new students are joining our community and many new families begin their journey with us. It is a privilege to have them in our school and we take very seriously our responsibility to help guide them on their educational journey. If you know of anyone who is still interested in enrolling, please encourage them to do so asap so that they can join in the final weeks of the transition program. Thank you to Ms McDonnell, Mrs Chesworth, Mrs Maher and Mrs Fry for their leadership of the Kindergarten transition and to the other Infants teachers for accommodating all the changes to routine. Thank you to Ms Marsay for her organization of the Year 7 Transition and to the teachers who volunteered their time to take the different classes.

Congratulations to Maryam Saoor on winning the Archdiocesan Year 6 Public Speaking competition. This is an enormous achievement and her excellent speech was inspiring and moving. Thank you to all the students who participated in the competition from the very beginning and we look forward to more amazing speeches next year.

Next week, Tuesday 19^th September will be the 2024 Secondary Elective Information Session. This is a really important presentation that culminates in making subject choices for Year 9 and 10 2024. It will be held in the Library at 5.30pm.

We are making sure that we make the most of the last week of school before two blissful weeks of holidays. On Monday afternoon will be the Stage 2 Art show in the library. It will showcase all of the fabulous creations of our Stage 2 students. Thank you to the teacher Mr Niddrie, MS Van Kerk Oerle and MS Long for their efforts. All details we sent home to the respective families.

Today is the annual Science Fair which is a highlight every year on our calendar. We look forward to a report on all the interesting investigations and fun that will be had.

Our Stage 2 students will also travel to Lake Cargellico for a cultural Immersion with the students from St Xavier’s Lake Cargellico. This is a chance to meet and experience different cultural understandings and meet students from the local community in their school. Thank you to Mrs Elwin for allowing us to visit with the, Thank you to Mrs Maher and Mrs Sannazarro for their organization.

Next Friday 22 September is the last day for Term 3. We will hold our annual Traditions Day Mass to celebrate the vocations – Sisters of Mercy, De La Salle Brothers and the Priests who have shaped our school and community. We will close out the term with a sausage sizzle and a Bingo afternoon before the students leave for the break. Students return on Tuesday 10^th October for Term 4 in their summer uniforms.

Remember: Do things for others not because of who they are or what they will do in return but because of who you are. It’s good to be kind!

God Bless

Ms Nicky Trinder

Principal

Kindergarten Reflection Day

Last Thursday Kindergarten travelled down to Dickson Hall to participate in their very first Reflection Day. The students engaged in a range of activities from dance to singing to craft based around the theme of we are all part of God's family. They explored the scripture passage of Jesus welcomes the little children and prayed and reflected on how they are part of God's family and very one is welcome. 

Year 9 and Stage 2 Mini Retreats

Year 9 as part of their RE unit of work on Youth Ministry have planned, created and led a mini retreat for Stage 2 students. The Year 9 students explored such themes as Friendship, Respect, Sportsmanship and Resilience with their younger peers. They created and participated in very engaging drama, craft and icebreakers activities as well as broke open pieces of scripture and led them in prayer that developed further these themes.  

21 Sept - Cultural Immersion - Lake Cargellico 

18-20 October - Year 8 Tathra Excursion

20 October - Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival

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