Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to our final newsletter for this year. We thank each and everyone of you for helping and supporting us through this difficult year. The children are waiting with joy and anticipation for the beautiful feast of the birth of Jesus at Christmas. The teachers have worked so hard to engage the children in excellent learning experiences in Religion this term and have now planned such wonderful ‘end of year’ activities to celebrate with their class.

Graduation Mass
Yesterday we celebrated our farewell Mass for the students in Year 6. We especially thank Father George for celebrating this Mass with us. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the students could only invite three other people to Mass. Mr Harpley, Mrs Afflick and Mr Prow have worked consistently with the students to ensure the Mass was one of thanksgiving and a reflection and expression of their faith. Every student participated in some way in the Mass with a warm welcome from our Year 6 Leaders Zara H and Charlie G. Vivienne J, Hannah W, Zara H, Millie-Rose T and Emma C sang so beautifully during Mass accompanied by musicians Rhonda and Eugene Zammit.

During the reflection, each student participated in the liturgical movement to the song “10,000 Reasons.”

At the conclusion of the Mass every student was presented with a gift, a medallion, a class photo and a certificate of thanks for their years at St Mary’s. Well done Year 6 students and may God hold you in the palm of his hand always. We will miss you.

Christmas Mass Times
Christmas Eve at 6pm Sacred Heart Church - special children’s Mass (thank you to all the families who are able to come)

Christmas Day at 8am The Pines at Tuross.

Christmas Day at 10am Sacred Heart Church.

What Christmas Means to Me
Stage 2 students have been learning about Advent and the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Mrs Kenny, Miss McCormick and Mrs Hampson asked the children to think and write about what they believe the true meaning of Christmas is.

Makaya TeK in Year 3 has written this beautiful response:

On Monday my family will be getting ready for Christmas. We will get in our car and drive for two hours. Everyone will be so tired when we finally get to our destination. We will have dinner, go to bed and when we wake up it will be Christmas. We will be so excited to open our presents and instead of playing with our toys we will tell mum, dad and Aunty Lily that it does not matter about toys and expensive stuff. Toys are replaceable but people are not. Christmas is all about family time and spending days with your sisters and cousins and celebrating with your family. That is what Christmas really is. It’s about love and family and celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Advent in Kinder and Kinder/One
The children in Mrs Stephen and Mrs Schofield’s classes have also been learning about Advent and its meaning. The children can retell why it’s important to help others at Christmas and to prepare for the birth of Jesus in our hearts. They understand that we use a purple cloth because it is a sign that we are waiting for something very important.

A Christmas Prayer

We pray for joy in our hearts, hope in our God, love to forgive,
and peace upon the earth ...
May there be bread for the hungry, love for the unlovable,
healing for the sick, protection for our children,
and wisdom for our youth.
We pray for the forgiveness of sinners and abundant life in Christ. Amen.

We thank you all for helping to make St Mary’s a beautiful place to be.

Wishing each and every person a most happy, holy and safe Christmas.