Gail Healy, Principal - St Mary's Primary School, Casino - Home

ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
PO Box 546, Casino NSW 2470
Phone: 6662.2566 Fax: 6662.6684
Email:smpcas@lism.catholic.edu.au
www.casplism.catholic.edu.au/
NEWSLETTER
Friday, 3 June 2011 Term 2, Week 6
Dear Parents, Carers & Friends,
Last week was a clear indication of how
communities work together. ‘Beef Week’ for
Casino has it all with people working together for
the good of all. The feel within the town is one of
support, care and enjoyment.
School communities work in a very similar way.
We care for each other and work together to
ensure that what we have is the very best for all of
us. If parents are involved and become committed
to school decisions, student achievement will
improve and student behaviour will be
cooperative; this will lead to the enjoyment of
high quality education. Teachers are professionals
with training and experience and their conduct is
guided by professional codes of conduct. Parents
know their children better than anyone and when
shared, this knowledge can be an invaluable
resource in the progress of children’s education.
It is important that parents and teachers have good
communication opportunities. Productive
communication is about speaking and listening
actively and respectfully and about not making
assumptions or having minds made up before
conversation has commenced. Conversation is
not simply an exchange of words but about
listening and hearing. If problems arise, they do
not have to be stumbling blocks; they can be
opportunities to work together to find positive and
creative solutions – solutions that will benefit
children.
I hope that throughout the year, our community
will come together to participate in and volunteer
at a variety of school functions, activities and
events, including celebrations of our Christian
faith. In this way relationships are formed and
positive attitudes developed that give positive
input to our children. It is said that a child’s life is
like a piece of paper, on which every person
leaves a mark. Hopefully, all marks left during the
year will be indicative of respect, care and
encouragement.
Central to the very existence of our school is the
integration of faith and culture transmitted in the
various subjects that comprise the curriculum. In
this way we hope that our students will learn how
to follow Christ within Australian culture. We
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invite all parents to feel welcome, comfortable and
free to contribute to the cultural context of our
school community.
Week 7 Calendar
Date Time Event
Sun 5/6 8.00am Ascension of the Lord
Mon 6/6 3.20pm Staff Meeting
Tue 7/6
Wed 8/6 Science competition
6.00pm P & F meeting
Thu 9/6 Matty King RL Shield
Emmanuel Worship
Fri 10/6 1.45pm Emmanuel Worship
concert
Sat 11/6 5.00pm Pentecost Sunday
Farewell Mrs McIntyre Paula McIntyre, one of our
Stage 2 teachers, finishes today to commence her
maternity leave. Paula’s baby is due in early July.
We wish Paula all the very best and thank her for
everything she has organised in our school since she
commenced with us in 2006 and we all look forward
to the birth of her baby.
2012 Enrolments have opened for Kindergarten
and other grades within the school. Enrolment
Packages are available from the school office with
all the necessary information.
Plain English Reporting As these are a new form of
reporting for Year 1 students, a meeting has been
organised for Wednesday, 15 June, for parents to
better understand the change in format. A letter will
go home next week with further information but
please mark this date in your diaries if you are a
Year 1 parent.
Emmanuel Worship will again be visiting our
school this year. Next Thursday each of the different
grade/stage levels will spend time with the group.
On Friday at 1.45pm we will combine with the
College for a concert. Our students had a wonderful
time with them in 2010 and I am sure the experience
this time will be just as good.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Monday, 27 June: Yr 1; Yr 2; 3/4RA; Stage 3
Tuesday, 28 June: Yr 1; Yr 2; 3/4RA; Stage 3
Wednesday, 29 June: Kinder & Stage 2
Thursday, 30 June: Kinder & Stage 2
Gail Healy, Principal
For your Diary ~ Term 2
10/6: Mini Vinnies ~ ’Crazy Sock Day’
13/6: Queen’s Birthday Public holiday
15/6: RE test ~ Yr 6

16/6: S2 Excursion ~ Fleay’s
17/6: S2 Excursion ~ Fleay’s
20/6 – 24/6: Semester 1 Report Cards sent out
23/6: Casino Rugby League Carnival
24/6: School Athletics carnival
24/6: P & F Family Bingo night ~ 6.00pm
27/6 + 28/6: S1 & S3 Parent/Teacher interviews
(both stages over two nights)
29/6 + 30/6: ES1 & S2 Parent/Teacher
interviews (both stages over two nights)
30/6: Jump Rope For Heart
1/7: Last day of Term 2
Happy Birthday to ☺Zac Wall ☺Rachel
McKinlay ☺Zac Porter ☺Rachael
Goddard ☺Mark Thompson ☺Mitchell
☺Jack Nowlan ☺Tamika Patch
☺Chelsea Puxty ☺Simon Magnay ☺Izabella Saul
☺Sophie Flatley ☺Bailey Powell ☺Alexander
Russell ☺Bradley Hindmarsh ☺Dane Blanch and
☺Jaylan Stewart who have recently celebrated
their birthday, to ☺James Lollback and Lucas
Lollback who celebrate tomorrow.
Parish Office now offers EFTPOS service if you
pay the Parish Building Levy through the Parish
Office. EFPTOS is not available at the School
Office.
Sacrament of Confirmation The Sacrament of
Confirmation will be celebrated on Thursday
evening, 21 July in the Parish Church. If you have
a child in Year 3 - 6 who has not been confirmed
and would like to be confirmed with the present
group please obtain an enrolment form from the
School Office before 27 May.
Johneen Pluis REC
2011 Sacramental Dates
Thur 21 July: Confirmation ~ Year 2
20 + 21 Sept: First Reconciliation~Yr 3
Sun 23 Oct: First Eucharist ~ Year 3
Term 2 Assembly Timetable
Infants (Kinder–Yr 2) commence their Assembly
at 1.50pm followed by Primary (Yr 3 – Yr 6) at
2.30pm on Fridays under the COLA. Student of
the Month Assembly is for the whole school and
commences at 1.50pm.
Week 8 ~ 1KC + 5/6BS
Week 10 ~ 5/6SE Student of the Month
NEWSLETTER #15/11
Term 2 Sport Timetable ~ Athletics
Kinder (ES1): Tues @ 2.05pm – 3.10pm
Yrs 1+2 = (S1): Wed @ 2.05pm – 3.10pm
Yrs 3+4 = (S2): Thur @ 2.05pm – 3.10pm
Yrs 5+6 = (S3): Thur @12.30pm – 1.40pm
Uniform Shop Hours
Wednesday only: 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Have you forgotten about the:
You Can Schools Program A national fundraising
campaign to build youth cancer centres around
Australia. To participate in the program we are
collecting old mobile phones and we will exchange
these for educational products, such as interactive
whiteboards and laptops. If you have any old
obsolete mobile phones around the house, bring
them into the school office and place in the box
provided.
Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre
Information on Aged, Disability, Community or
Health Services, Respite Options, Carer’s Role is
available on Freecall 1800 052222 or visit
www.crccfnc.org
Casino Bus Service would like to advise that in
accordance with NSW Dept of Transport Rock and
Projectile Throwing Protocol, they may need to
cancel all bus services in the North Casino area. As
a result of recent rock and projectile throwing
incidents involving buses operating in this area a
safety audit of all bus services in this area is
required, and any further incidents of this nature will
require the immediate suspension of services to the
area until it is deemed safe by the Police and Casino
Bus Service for drivers and customers to travel on
buses. Under these circumstances there will be no
advance warning of withdrawal of services,
therefore, leaving parents and schools having to
organise alternative transport for students. For
further information please contact Casino Bus
Service on 6662.2561.
Bentley Art Prize at Bentley Public Hall on 6 + 7
August. Enquiries to Helen Trustum on 6663.5283
or www.bentleyartprize.com.au
CLASS STUDENT CLASS STUDENT

KSR Connor Turner 3/4PM Corrina Sawyer
KOF Giorgi Crethar 3/4KM Jakai Reddell
KCS Jack Hannigan 3/4LC Nahkia Olive
1LC Eliza O’Brien 3/4MB Liam
1JP Alex Newton 3/4PD Matthew Munsie
1KC Oscar Day 5/6MP Samantha Munsie
2KE Rachel McKinlay 5/6SE Chloe Laing
2JH Andrew Hindmarsh 5/6BS Jasmine Glencross
2GB Zane Brien 5/6MF Joshua Fleming
3/4RA Mackenzie-Rose Cumming 5/6NE Aidan Dougherty
MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Commonwealth Government Funding for Catholic schools, post-2013
The Chair of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), Mrs Therese Temby, has welcomed
yesterday’s re statement of the Government’s decision not to pre empt the findings of the Gonski Review of
Funding for Schooling.
“The Minister also repeated the Government’s pledge that no school will lose a dollar as a result of the Review,”
said Mrs Temby. “NCEC has been concerned that recent media speculation about cuts to Catholic schools’
funding has caused unnecessary anxiety among school authorities and parents.
“NCEC will continue to argue strongly that no Catholic school should lose a dollar in real terms,” said Mrs
Temby. “According to government calculations, students in Catholic schools receive on average only $10,008
net recurrent income per year at school level, less than students in both government and independent schools.”
“Funding for Catholic schools post 2013 must increase in line with costs in government schools. This is the only
way for Catholic schools to continue to operate effectively” said Mrs Temby.
“NCEC will continue to work with Mr Gonski and the Review Panel in the hope that a transparent and equitable
funding model can be developed to give Catholic schools a fair go into the future,” she said.
Contact: Dr Bill Griffiths 0488 057 660
Chief Executive Officer, National Catholic Education Commission, Canberra
THE HON PETER GARRETT MP Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth
STATEMENT ON REVIEW OF FUNDING FOR SCHOOLING 30 May 2011
The Gillard Government is committed to ensuring that every Australian child has access to a great education.
We recognise that both government and non-government schools have a very important part to play in achieving
this aspiration. We believe that government schools are the backbone of our education system. They are the
crucible of the democratic right to accessible, affordable, quality education, and are the place where most
students’ formal education begins. The success of Australian education is predicated on the existence of strong,
vibrant, high quality public schools. At the same time, this government believes that choice in schooling is an
important part of Australian democracy. Non-government schools are an integral part of the Australian education
landscape, providing a valuable public service and contributing to the creation of an informed citizenry. We
understand that parents who have chosen to send their child to a non-government school have done so for a
variety of reasons. Their choice has been, and will continue to be, supported with government investment. The
Gillard Government is backing our commitment to a great education for all students with record investment in
schooling of over $64 billion over four years across government and non-government schools, almost double
that invested by the previous government in their last term. It’s no secret that our current funding system is
complex and opaque. We want a system that is transparent, fair, sustainable and effective at delivering great
educational outcomes for all students in all schools. We are committed to ending the ideological war regarding
NEWSLETTER 14/11

school funding that has gone on in this country for almost fifty years. That’s why we have tasked a panel of
eminent Australians, led by Mr David Gonski, to conduct a Review of Funding for Schooling. We have made it
clear to the panel that the review needs to be an open and transparent process, with all Australians who care
about the future of schooling given a chance to have their say.
The panel has already released an Emerging Issues Paper, which was informed by a nationwide listening tour
last year. The panel called for public submissions on the paper, and received over 1100. They have been
meeting with many different groups with an interest in education, and visiting schools all over the country. The
review panel has also commissioned a number of pieces of expert research to inform their deliberations. They
will release that research later this year along with another issues paper, and call for submissions on the
research. The panel will then release their recommendations at the end of this year. This process has generated
considerable public debate, as it should. I want to take this opportunity to say very clearly: the government has
not formed a view on this matter, and we are waiting for the panel to report their findings at the end of the year
before we do so. We will continue to consult before we make any decisions on the panel’s recommendations. I
understand that any potential move from the status quo is confronting and, for parents and educators, a prospect
that may cause anxiety. This is particularly so when misinformation is sometimes reported in the media. To
provide some certainty, the government has committed to the following: 1. No school will lose a single dollar per
student as a result of this review. 2. Current funding arrangements for non-government schools have been
extended to the end of 2013, and the end of 2014 for capital funding. 3. The panel has been asked to provide
advice on appropriate transitional assistance to help schools move easily and fairly to any new funding
arrangements. As the Prime Minister said when she launched this review, Australia’s educational future is too
important to allow it to be dominated by ideological questions that exercise only a small minority, or to be used
instrumentally as a vehicle for a broader political agenda. Our children deserve a substantive, constructive and
mature debate on future funding arrangements, and for the most part that is what is happening. We see no point
in an unproductive and divisive ‘public versus private’ debate. I encourage all Australians who are interested in
the future of schooling in this country to continue to participate in the review. The Gonski review and the
Government’s response is a once in a generation opportunity to establish a sure footing for schooling in
Australia. It’s an opportunity we can’t afford to waste. A video of the Minister’s statement is available at
www.deewr.gov.au/GarrettRFSstatement.
Minister’s Media Contact: Kate Pasterfield 0437965071
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079
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