1.

Thursday 16th April, 2015 Term 2 - Newsletter No: 1

Upcoming Dates

Message from the Principal Dear Families,

Some thoughts on Simplicity.

Simplicity

It’s not easy to write about simplicity in a complex world. It is even harder to think

abut it. The concept seems to evoke one of two reactions: guilt (“I know I have too

much, but I don’t have a clue how else to live”) or ridicule (“I know I can’t have

everything. Wherever would I put it?”). The fact is that frugality is cheap simplicity.

Simplicity requires a great deal more from us than simply getting rid of the gadgets

we don’t want or the surplus we don’t need. Simplicity requires that we learn to

make a centred life, to “make God our potion,” in a world that tears our days, our

lives, our psyches into tangled shreds.

Isn’t simplicity really what the ancients called “purity of heart” - that single-minded

search for the essence of life rather than for a grasping after its frills?

Simplicity is openness to the beauty of the present, whatever its shape, whatever

its lack. Simplicity, clearly, leads to freedom of soul. When we cultivate a sense of

“enoughness,” when we learn to enjoy things for our own sakes, when we learn to

be gentle even with what is lacking in ourselves, we find ourselves free to be

where we are and to stop mourning where we are not.

Simplicity of life in a complex and complicated world is marked, I think by four

characteristics: a life is simple if it is honest; if it is unencumbered; if it is open to

the ideas of others; if it is serene in the midst of a mindless momentum that verges

on the chaotic. And which of these do you do best? And which of these do you do

least?

Joan Chittister

God Bless

Ellie McGinness

April 2015 - Term 2

17th School Cross Country - Foundation - Gr 6

19th ANZAC Centenary March

Children’s Liturgy

20th Grade 4 Camp

23rd 1st Communion

Parent/Child Info Night - 7.00pm

24th 5/6 Sport

25th ANZAC Day

30th Foundation Faith Night - 6.00pm

May 2015 - Term 2

1st 5/6 Sport

4th Family Week

P & F - 7.30pm

7th Mother’s Day Stall

8th Mother’s Day Breakfast

Liturgy - 8.50am

5/6 Sport

10th Mother’s Day

12th NAPLAN Testing

12th PEAB - 7.00pm

15th 5/6 Sport

16th Junior School Mass - 6.15pm

17th Children’s Liturgy

22nd Dendy Cross Country - Gr 3 - 6

23rd Working Bee - 3.00pm - 5.00pm

27th School Photos

28th Parent Q & A Faith Night - 6.00pm

29th 5/6 Sport

June 2015 - Term 2

1st P & F - 7.30pm

5th 5/6 Sport

8th Queen’s Birthday Holiday

9th School Closure Day

11th 1st Communion Reflection Day

12th 5/6 Sport

13th 1st Communion - 6.15pm

16th PEAB - 7.00pm

18th Netball Lightning Premiership

19th Football Lightning Premiership

21st Children’s Liturgy

22nd Parent Teacher Interviews (this week)

26th Mass - 12.00pm

End of Term 2

School finishes at 1.00pm

- 22nd

- 14th

2.

Liturgy Performances Term 1

3.

Grandparents/Special Persons Day - Term 1

GRANDPARENTS/

SPECIAL PERSONS DAY The last day of Term 1 was a special day for

many of the students at St. Mary’s. The

students were thrilled to have their

Grandparents and Special Persons come and

visit the school. The students treated their

visitors to a tour around the school grounds and

classrooms amazing their guests with what they

have learnt, showing them how they learn and

some pretty cool tricks.

4.

Grandparents/Special Persons Day - Term 1

5.

P & F

Grade Five Night Out

Grade Five parents mark your diaries for our first catch up for the year Evening drinks on May 1st

Venue to be advised in the next couple of weeks

Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop is open this Friday after the Cross Country from 1.45pm - 2.45pm

Please do not delay the purchase of winter uniforms.

All children must be in full winter uniform by April 27th.

AUSKICK AUSKICK AUSKICK

Clinic #1 kicks off this Saturday and the Muffin stall will be open.

If you have the time, please bring a batch of muffins down to the stall.

Your muffin stall hosts this week are

Carlie Hall, Amanda Vasta and Jo Freire.

Come on down for a chat and grab a coffee and a muffin

(or a snake and a juice) while you're there.

Your muffin stall coordinators,

Carlie Hall and Alison Gibson.

6.

P & F

7.

P & F

8.

After School Care

Extend OSHC at St Mary’s Primary School

Our weekly recap:

Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you had a lovely Easter with friends and family. We have lots of exciting activities planned for the children at After

School care this term. - Airlie

Next week’s activities:

Monday 20 April: Airlie's Birthday! Tuesday 21 April: Painting Wednesday 22 April: Parachute Bookmarks Thursday 23 April: Pinwheel Poppies Friday 24 April: Anzac Biscuits ONLINE BOOKINGS: extend.com.au CALL OUR OFFICE: 1300 366 437

9. 91 Manning Road, East Malvern