Tuesday 3rd March 2013 Term 1 Week 6
S T. M ARY ’S C A T H O LI C
SCHOOL, WARREN
From the Principal
Dear Parents,
Phone: (02) 6847 4488
Fax: (02) 6847 3338
P.O Box 63,
Warren NSW 2824
2 Lawson Street,
Warren NSW 2824
admin@warren.catholic.edu.au
School Office Hours
Monday – Thursday
8.30am – 3.00pm.
Friday
8.30am – 1.00pm.
Important
Dates
Fri 8 March
Dio Swimming , Hay
Assembly - Kinder
presentation 12.30pm
Sunday 10—Sat 16
March
Catholic Schools Week
Mon 11 March
Whole School Mass
Tues 12 March
Student Banking
Uniform Shop open
3.05pm
Wed 13 March
P&F Meeting—Meet and
Greet
Fri 15 March
Casual Clothes day
Fri 22 March
Raffle money due
Mon 25 March
Moorrambilla Workshop
Thurs 28 March
Holy Thursday
Easter raffle drawn 2pm
On Monday, we conducted professional development on the First Steps in
Maths initiative. The learning has been based around the Number strand in
Mathematics, and how as a staff we plan, teach and assess this area. I would
like to thank our First Steps Lead Teacher, Donna Brouff, for the work that she
has put into the organisation and implementation of the day, and in driving this
initiative within our school.
Next week is Catholic Schools Week for the schools within the Diocese of
Wilcannia Forbes. On Monday 11th March, we will be having a Whole School
Mass at 9:00am. After Mass, we will be holding an Open Morning in the
school. We invite all parents, family and friends to come over to the school and
view what we have been doing in the first part of the term. After the Open
morning, we will be inviting everyone to share morning tea with their children.
These events are important for the children and we would like to see as many
parents attend as possible.
As staff members, duties are an important role that we undertake at St Mary’s.
The children’s welfare and the way that they socialise with others assist us in
ensuring our school can achieve what we set out to do. With this in mind, it’s
important to remember that Morning duty does not start until 8:20am. If your
child arrives before this time, there will be no supervision of your child.
This year the P&F will be holding an Easter Egg Raffle. On Friday 15th March,
we will be having a Casual Clothes Day for the children. It is important that
children wear practical clothes that will allow them to complete all activities in
the school day. The children are asked to bring a chocolate egg or bunny if they
wear their casual clothes. These eggs will create the first three prizes in the
school raffle as well as the class prize/s (depending on the number of eggs or
bunnies received) in the class raffles.
A book of tickets will be sent home with next week’s newsletter. We ask that
the tickets be sold and returned to school (in a clearly labelled envelope) by
Friday 22nd March. The raffle will be drawn on Holy Thursday at 2:00pm in
the Hall.
Metal rulers of any description are not allowed within the school due to the
possible injuries they can cause through misuse. If your child has a metal ruler,
we ask that you replace it over the next two weeks. We will be collecting metal
rulers and returning them home after Monday 18th March.
Kind regards,
Paul Kelly
Principal
Reminders

The uniform shop will be open this year every Tuesday from 3:05pm. Please remember to send your
orders in through the office and they will be sent to the uniform shop to be filled.

Assemblies are on each Friday at 12:30pm. Parents and family members are most welcome to attend
in the Hall. This week Kindergarten will be presenting their item.

Our next P&F meeting will be held in the Hall on Wednesday 13th March at 7:30pm. The P&F will
be having a greeting session at 7:00pm. If you feel like getting involved, come along and meet the
team in a social sense before the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Parish News
Mass Times:
Sunday 10 February
Weekday Mass:
9.00am Daily
Warren 9.00am
Canteen Roster
Reconciliation:
Before and after Mass
Or by appointment
Canteen
Cooking Mums
Fri Mar 8—
Maree Glasson & Jenny Irving
Fri Mar 8— Michelle Wilson
Mon Mar 11—Cara Vasilescu
Mon Mar 11—Cindy Davis
Tuesday Mar 12 — Jane McKay
Tuesday Mar 12 — Robyn Taylor
St Mary’s P&F AGM 14th February 2013,
Mary McKillop Hall
Meeting started 7.15
Present: Geoff McKay, Paul Kelly, Roger Maxey, Cam Munro, Jenny Irving, Terina McNair, Jo McKay, Skye Tywrhitt, Taryn
Rousell, Monica Liska, Jane Brewer, Pam Storer
Apologies: Sarah Squire, Tanya Storer, Jane McKay, Hannah Russ, Ruth Maxey, Kate Munro, Robyn Taylor
Prayer: Paul Kelly
Acceptance of Minutes: Minutes from the 2010 AGM were read and accepted as true and correct. Moved Jenny Irving, 2nd Geoff
McKay. Carried.
Correspondence: Account for KC Print (uniforms)
Presidents Report: Geoff McKay Moved Geoff McKay 2nd Cam Munro (to be provided)
Treasurers Report: Jane McKay
We started the year with funds totaling $60949.73
The Canteen has run at a profit of $11063.63
Fundraising by way of working b’s, tea towels, street stalls and raffles yielded net income of $3077 donations accounted for income
of $2407.74. Interest received was $31.33 on the working account.
The introduction of the new sports shirts, skorts, shorts and tracksuits saw the uniforms run at a loss of $6374.56. Stock had to be
ordered in specific minimum numbers and our current stock levels are significantly higher than is ideal.
The P & F were able to provide financial support to the school through the purchase of net books and air conditioners in 2012, contributing $20043.18
P & F funds were also used to purchase Bibles for the Year 6 students to the value of $544.35
We have also engaged a professional landscaper to assist us with developing a plan for an improved playground design.
Costs involved were $2070.50
We finished the year with funds totaling $50357.82
Total funds raised by the P & F in 2012 was $16702.25
I hope 2013 sees an influx of enthusiastic volunteers who put forward creative and innovative ideas so that the P & F continues to
improve financially and our children continue to reap the benefits. I am standing down as Treasurer for 2013. I would like to thank
the Committee that I worked with in 2012.
Moved Roger Maxey, 2nd Skye Tywrhitt
Parish Priest Report: Not presented
Principals’ Report: Mr Paul Kelly
I would like to start by welcoming everyone to the meeting this evening. Firstly, I would like to congratulate the 2012 P&F Committee led by Geoff for the work that they have done for the school during the past 12 months.
I would also like to thank the St Mary’s community for the warm welcome I have received since I have arrived in town. It is great to
be working in such a welcoming community. On behalf of the staff, I would also like to thank the school community for their support so far in the changes that we have implemented – the roll and afternoon pick up areas. We are also grateful for the parent support in the running of the Swimming Carnival and in the attendance on the day to support the children.
Our goal as a staff this year is to ensure that St Mary’s is a welcoming and inclusive school. We would love to see the parent body get
behind the 2013 P&F to help with fundraising and social events. It makes the school a social place and assists in helping parents deal
with other parents, particularly if they are known on a social level.
Fundraising assists us to purchase new resources and assist in maintaining the school. This is particularly important given the situation with State Government funding from July this year. The government is capping the funding to Catholic schools for the next
four years. Any fundraising is a help to the school and as a staff, we are very grateful for the efforts of the P&F in fundraising for St
Mary’s.
I look forward to working with the 2013 P&F Committee for this year and into the future.
As a Leadership team and staff, we have created some ideas for the future. We are putting these ideas to you for your feedback and
the opportunity to implement them in the future. They are:

We have requested money for new resources in the vicinity of ten to twelve thousand dollars. Whilst we have some significant
resources, it is important that we maintain relevant resources that are updated on a regular basis. These would be in the areas of
sport, technology and student and teacher resources. We will share these resources as they are purchased in the school newsletter.

We would like to see the P&F organise a Working Bee where the seats and tables are stripped back and re – painted. We would
also like to see the railings on the verandah near the shelter area touched up. We believe that this will make the school look more
appealing to the children and invoke some pride within the children.

We would like to see a sub – committee formed with Jo to look at the plans of the playground and put a firm plan into place for
what we are doing in 2013 and beyond. We believe that this will be more localised in our decisions and can use the work done by
previous committees to identify the essential aspects that we need in our playground.

I would like to form another sub – committee to look at the fencing situation around the school. We have some children who
are flight risks (leave the school playground) and this will further enhance the safety of all children in the school.

Monica will now share an idea that she has in relation to fundraising for the school.
Geoff has spoken about the removal of the school hall. I thank Geoff for his efforts thus far. It is important that Father Doug gives
his OK about this matter. We also need to ensure that it is done legally and takes the considerations of the community into account.
An example of this is holding an event that allows the community to farewell the Hall. This may eliminate any negative feelings towards the change.
I thank you for taking the time to come along tonight and look forward to working with you for the betterment of our school.
Moved Jenny Irving, 2nd Geoff McKay
Canteen Report: Clara Cosgrove
The Canteen ran three days a week in 2012 and will also run three days a week this year. Since putting the roster together some new
parents and grandparents have approached me and there is the possibility of adding an extra day next term. The Canteen made a
profit in 2012 so all good!
Moved Clara Cosgrove, 2nd Terina McNair
Skye raised a formal thanks and congratulations to Clara for her hard work and fundraising success during 2012.
Election of Office Bearers for 2013
All positions were declared open.
President: Geoff McKay, Nominated by P Storer, 2nd S Tywrhitt, Position accepted. Carried
Vice President: Cam Munro, Nominated by R Maxey, 2nd P Storer, Position accepted. Carried.
Secretary: Jenny Irving, Nominated P Storer, 2nd J Brewer. Position accepted. Carried.
Treasurer: Ruth Maxey. Nominated R. Maxey, 2nd C Munro. Position accepted in absence. Carried.
Fundraising coordinator: Cam Munro. Nominated G. Mckay, 2nd J Irving Position accepted. Carried
Canteen Manager: Clara Cosgrove. Nominated T. McNair, 2nd P Storer. Position accepted Carried.
Uniform Manager: T. McNair & S. Squire. Nominated P. Storer, 2nd J. McKay. Position accepted Carried.
Skye Tywrhitt will continue to organize P & F Street Stalls
Business Arising:
School Uniform. Refer to General Meeting
General Business:
Old School Hall demolition to go ahead, date to be decided. A Farewell to the Hall will be organised before removal for the
community to say goodbye. Probably a morning tea after Sunday mass. Terina to contact Kara to put notice in the paper when date is confirmed. Men’s Shed will be notified as may be interested in taking some timber. Roger to organize
an ad for recycle timber in local paper and will speak to Kara re ad…free of charge if possible. Geoff to ring around to
establish knock down date. Turfing of area and sprinkler system to follow.
Meeting closed at 8.00pm
St Mary’s P&F General Meeting 14th February 2013 ,Mary McKillop Hall
Meeting started 8.00pm
Present: Geoff McKay, Paul Kelly, Roger Maxey, Cam Munro, Jenny Irving, Terina McNair, Jo McKay, Skye Tywrhitt,Taryn
Rousell, Monica Liska, Jane Brewer, Pam Storer
Apologies: Sarah Squire, Tanya Storer, Jane McKay, Hannah Russ, Ruth Maxey, Kate Munro, Robyn Taylor
Previous Minutes: That they be accepted. Terina McNair, 2nd Roger Maxey Carried.
Business Arising:
The lanyards idea will not be followed up.
Vege Patch. Paul to discuss with staff but is very positive. Roger Maxey has approached Bunnings and Mitre 10 and both are
willing to provide vege containers/structures reduced or free of charge. Roger will get address contact for stores. Ruth
Maxey is happy to continue contact with Rural Health re development of vege patch.
Grandparents Day. Will hopefully be reinstated this year. Staff to discuss possible date.
Treasurers Report: attached at end
General Business:
Paul raised the possibility of St Mary’s P & F contributing $10 000 towards the updating/purchasing of resources for the
school. Such a donation would help greatly. Skye noted that in the past the staff had been fairly specific about how the
money would be used. Paul assured the P & F that the P & F and parent body would be regularly updated on where the
money was going to.
MOTION. The P & F will donated $10 000 towards updating and purchasing new resources for St Mary’s School. Details of
all purchases will be documented through the P & F, school Newsletter and local newspapers. Moved Pam Storer, 2 nd
Skye Tywrhitt Carried. Paul very grateful and extended thanks to the P & F.
Uniforms. The Uniform Shop is to be moved to the room next to the Canteen. This can be locked up and will be a constant
home for uniform sales. Terina and Sarah to work out suitable time for sales and coordinate with Paul. This will be advertised in the school Newsletter. Cam suggested that any clothes no longer needed should be donated back to the school for
new parents to purchase and should also be mentioned in the Newsletter.
Taryn Rousell raised the concern that maybe coming to/being a part of the P & F might be a little overwhelming for new parents and that an Informal get together night might be a good idea. The staff would look towards putting a notice in Newsletter about a Welcome to P & F evening.
P & F Meetings. Will be held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7pm. The next Meeting will be Wednesday 13 th March.
Contact List. Cam Munro will consult with Paul about putting together a parent contact list.
Correspondence: None
Meeting Closed 8.50pm
Newspower Colouring Competition
The Easter colouring competition is on again and all students are invited to join in.
The colouring page is attached to this newsletter. If you need more copies please see the office.
Please drop your entries back to Grinrod’s Newsagency by March 28th 2013.
NARROMINE JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE
FINAL REGISTRATION DAY
THURSDAY 12th March 2013
From 4.30 - 6.30pm
Narromine USMC
$90 for First & Second Players of same family
$45 for Third & Subsequent Players of same family
New Players Registering You will need your Birth Certificate Copy All Players Encouraged to Register if they haven't already !
All Players registered prior to the start of the Season (6th April) will receive FREE playing shorts & socks !
Call Brett Smith on 0447 219 618 or Tim & Lou Burns on 6888 7671 for further information.