Welcome to a wet week 9! This week we will host the Primary (stage 2 & 3) and Secondary parent/teacher/student interviews on Thursday 25 March. In last week’s newsletter there were the log on details to book a brief interview with your child/ren’s teacher/s using the sessionkeeper platform. If you are experiencing any difficulties with this process please contact the school asap so that you do not miss out on the limited opportunities.

Secondary Parent/Teacher Interviews:   https://shcscootamundra.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/21

Primary Parent/Teacher interviews:        https://shcscootamundra.schoolzineplus.com/view-session/22

Last Friday we held our annual Cross Country Carnival at the Cootamundra Country Club. This was a very successful event and we were thrilled with the high level of participation. It was pleasing to see that many students were not competitive in the final placings were very happy to participate or help out in any way they could. Thank you to the parents/grandparents volunteered their time to go on checkpoints. It was greatly appreciated.

Today our Senior Leadership Team have travelled to Wagga Wagga to participate in the REROC Student leadership convention. Already this year our leaders have risen to every challenge and task that we have asked of them and been enthusiastic about the way they can be a voice for the students. Their mission is to leave the school a better place for their leadership and they are well on their way to achieving their goal.

Tomorrow our years 3, 5 and 7 will complete some practice online NAPLAN papers to help familiarise them with the program, the process and to identify any adjustments that may need to be made (Year 9 will complete these at a later date) . Information concerning the official tests will be sent home next week in preparation for the testing period in the early weeks of Term 2. Please remind your child/ren that these are not something to be anxious about and contact us if you feel that the prospect of the online tests is creating stress for them.

As we race to the final weeks of the school term we remind all families that school will return on April 20 for all students. Staff will be involved in professional Learning on the Monday and the Front office will be open for enquiries but student do not return until the Tuesday. We also ask that you keep in mind the ANZAC Day march on Sunday 25 April as we traditionally have a very large cohort to commemorate this significant day in our nation’s culture.

Last Thursday our Year 10 Mock trial team began their campaign to continue our illustrious history in the Mock trial competition. And what a beginning they made. Against much older competition (Year 12 students are allowed this year because of last year’s COVID plagued competition) and more experience they came away convincing winners of the clash against The Riverina Anglican College from Wagga. Congratulations to the team – India Bodycott, Cassie mays, Samuel Gash, Zara Bodycott, Isabelle Cowin, Jake Finnigan, Alex Oliver, Isabella Kingwill, Jack Murphy, Jed Guthrie and Matilda Coggan. We were very grateful for the time and expertise of our presiding magistrate Michael Commins of Commins and Hendricks who was a patient and wise judge. Our next case is against Murrumbidgee Regional High School from Griffith.

Remember our mantra of being extraordinarily kind because “kindness is a wonderful way to let another struggling soul know that there is still love in the world.” It is very apt that we will celebrate Harmony Day on Friday 26 March where our school community will unite around beliefs of equity and tolerance for all. (Please note this will follow the very entertaining Stage 1GH assembly – at this stage we are still not permitted to have a parent audience but we are hopeful that it will change for Term 2. The assembly will be recorded.)

The Easter Hat Parade is permitted to have a parent audience because we can host it outside (weather permitting) and we can still practice social distancing. Details of the parade will be sent home on the SeeSaw app. 

Go gently was the parting message from Fr Kevin every time I saw him. It is sage advice for us all!

Mrs Nicky Trinder

Principal