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Wednesday 26th June 2013 Newsletter No 20
St Margaret Mary’s School A Dynamic Community of Learners in Action
7 Chetwynd Road, Merrylands 2160 Tel (02) 9637 4600 Fax (02) 9637 0509
Email: [email protected] www.stmmmerrylands.catholic.edu.au
Next Week’s Happenings
Thursday 27th June
School Starts at 9:00am Year Four Prayer Service 2:00pm in Learning space
Friday 28th June
School Starts at 8:40am P&F Farewell Luncheon for Maryanne at 12:00pm in the Hall. School Closes at 3:00pm for Term 2
Monday 15th July
School Resumes Assembly and School Prayer 8.40am
Tuesday 16th July
Wednesday 17th July
Notes Sent Home •
Dear Parents,
As the holidays approach I thought it would be great for us to give some thought to relaxation and for our children PLAY.
Unstructured, unsupervised fun could be more beneficial for your child's future than you realise.
“What are your childhood memories?”. I immediately think of playing in the garden, building cubbies out of cardboard boxes, climbing trees, unsupervised bike riding with friends from the neighbourhood, inventing adventure games and baking cakes in the sandpit.
Unfortunately, children's desire for this type of play is suppressed by our desire to watch them constantly and organise their lives to fit in with our schedule. Safety is also of paramount concern, resulting in parents who don't let their children out of sight and don't allow them to engage in risk-taking behaviour.
Of course, it is wonderful that parents take such great interest in the achievements and wellbeing of their children. But it is also backfiring as children are not being given the freedom to develop their own interests and creativity.
Free-range play is also the most natural source of happiness. Instinctively, children like to play. They have an innate curiosity and a healthy sense for adventure, exploration and excitement. Play is the real learning playground, where children learn essential life skills such as social and emotional intelligence. Through interaction with their peers, children learn how to socialise, to show initiative and demonstrate leadership. They have to solve conflicts, learn about rules, negotiate and communicate ideas clearly.
Unstructured play enables children to find and pursue their own interests. It gives them the freedom to be who they are. It allows them to discover their likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses in their own time, which helps them master their lives independently.
All these skills are essential to building resilience in your child/ children - so please give some thought to the activities your child engages in over the coming holiday break.
Carmel Agius
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
DAY MONDAY
22nd JULY
We would like to say Farewell to the following staff: Mrs Maryanne Grewcock who is retiring and we welcome Mrs Maria Pagano. Mrs Georgette Attard will be on Maternity Leave and we welcome Miss Simone Hollingshed. We welcome Miss Jessica Georges Terms 3 & 4 who will be replacing Mrs Ellen Haurdic, as she will be taking Long Service Leave.
The Parents & Friends will be holding a Farewell lunch for Mrs Maryanne Grewcock Date: Friday 28th June Time: Midday in the hall All Parents/Grandparents and Staff are welcome to attend the luncheon. We ask that you bring a plate of food/drink to share.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 3
Monday 15th July School Resumes Sherwood Grange OOSH Pupil Free Day
Monday 22nd July Staff Development Day
Tuesday 23rd July Netball Gala Day
Tuesday 30th July ICAS English Competition Parents Maths Morning 9:00am
Wednesday 31st July Parents Maths Evening 6:30pm
Wednesday 7th August Cumberland Zone Athletics Carnival
Thursday 8th August St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day
Tuesday 13th August ICAS Mathematics Competition
Wednesday 14th August Year Four Excursion
Thursday 15th August Feast of the Assumption
Week 6 Book Week
Monday 19th August Kindy Visit Merrylands Library
Tuesday 20th August Years One, Three & Four Visit Merrylands Library
Wednesday 21st August Years Five & Six Visit Merrylands Library
Thursday 22nd August Year Two Visit Merrylands Library
Friday 23rd August Diocesan Athletics Carnival
Week 7 Literacy & Numeracy Week
Monday 26th August P&F Wrapping Day for Father’s Day Stall
Friday 30th August Father’s Day Liturgy P&F Father’s Day Stall
Sunday 1st September Father’s Day
Wednesday 4th September P&F Meeting 9:00am
Thursday 5th September School Band Performance 7:00pm—8:00pm
Sunday 8th September Birthday of Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday 18th September Infants Tabloid Sports Carnival
Friday 20th September Touch Football Gala Day—Kingswood School Closes for Term 3
Tuckshop Roster Thursday June 27th M.Issac, O.Walsh
Friday June 28th M.Cheng
Monday July 15th
Tuesday July 16th L.McLeay, G.Caruso
Wednesday July 17th C.Hitti, A.Guaricci
Remon Laoulach Allira Harrison Jamie-Lee Merhi Perla Haddad Krystelle Saliba
Lydia Neculman Isaiah Cartilla Raymond Daher George Youssef Meelad Qadri
Aleksandar Waesch Chelsea Kumar Matthew Amurao Gerard Bleeker Nicholas Tan
Tahlia Abram Jessica Perello Mya Silva Avi Mehta Radha Medakker
Elizabeth McFarlane Nicholas Mitry Chelsea Genares Sharleen Khadka Hayat Al Hakim
Fadi Makdessi Daniel Kim Sarah Daoud Harrison Lin Christian Demian
AJ Fsadni Sydney Gatluak Antonias Gerges Chris Rizk Fatima Caraan
Angelina Georges Shakira Georges Francis Sarmiento Antonia Jurisic Tatiana Elias
Dakota Cunningham Adut Mayom
Congratulations to all those children who celebrate their birthday around this time and during the holidays.
Sherwood Grange OOSH Parents are reminded that Sherwood Grange Before and After School Care will be closed on Monday 15th July due to a staff development day.
Church Car Park The church car park will not be available after the school holidays as the new parish building work will have started. Parents are asked to allow extra time for parking when bringing child/ren to school.
School Photos People who ordered school photos on the internet were sent home on Thursday 20th June. The Photographers have extended the ordering dead-line for our school. So if you wish to order school photos please refer to the information package sent home with your child on Thursday 20th June and return to the school office by Friday 19th July.
Merrylands West School &
Workwear Centre Merrylands West School & Workwear Centre will be closed from Saturday 29th June until Friday 5th July. They will reopen on Saturday 6th July for normal trading days and times.
Stepping Beyond: Support for those Separated or Divorced On the last Tuesday of each month CatholicCare Solo Parent Ministry invites those who have been separated or divorced to an evening for sharing and support. The emphasis is on personal development, growth and goals for a hope-filled future. Shared personal experiences are prompted by the questions: “How well are you stepping beyond? What do you want to step beyond? What are you currently stepping beyond? What is stopping you from stepping beyond? What have you learned as you keep stepping beyond? Venue: CCSS Centre 51-59 Allawah St., Blacktown. Time: 7:30pm—9:30pm. Cost: $5.00. Registration: [email protected] or Ph. 9933 0205.
Lost Property
We have a number of jackets and hats that have been
handed in to the office WITHOUT NAMES. These items will be going to the second-hand uniform shop in
Week 2 of Term 3. PLEASE CLEARLY LABEL ALL JACKETS, JUMPERS, and HATS.
BOOK FAIR Thank you to all the students, parents and staff that supported the Book Fair this year. We raised over $3000 worth of books for our school.
Thank you to the O’Brien family who donated over $200 worth of books to the LARC from the Book Fair.
Thank you to Mrs Cheng for her continuous support in covering books for the LARC. Michele Balogh-Caristo
