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CommunityWe believe in community at St Mary’s
Community Liaison
At St Mary’s we value community involvement, hence the appointment of a Community Liason Leader. Community Liaison involves building strong relationships/partnerships within both the St Mary’s school community and the wider Lancefield/Romsey and surrounding community. It is about making connections with the community in order to provide our students with a broader range of experiences from community groups coming into the school and our students experiencing community life outside of school. This also includes working with student groups such as the Environment Group and the Mini Vinnies.
Community Liaison includes initiating and running events throughout the school year which will involve our school and the wider community.
Events include:
Fortnightly assemblies, St Mary’s Feast Day, Walk to School Month, National Ride 2 School Day, National Day of Action Against Bullying, Book Week, Working Bees, Student Showcases, Fundraisers, Mother’s & Father’s Day Events, Grandparents Day, Day for Daniel, Anzac Day & Remembrance Day.
Another aspect of the role is building partnerships with local community groups. We now have strong partnerships with the following groups – Deep Creek Landcare Group, Lancefield & Romsey Neighborhood Houses, Country Women’s Association, Lancefield Mens Shed, Romsey Lancefield RSL, Willowmeade Aged Care in Kilmore, Lancefield Historical Society, both Lancefield Golf & Cricket Clubs, Lancefield Mercury & the Romsey Rag. We continually strive to build further partnerships with our local community groups.
Community News is published in the school’s fortnightly newsletter and monthly in the community editions of the Lancefield Mercury and Romsey Rag. We also regularly contact the local newspapers to share events and activities that are happening within our school community.
Mini Vinnies
Mini Vinnies are a group of students who get together to help those in need within their school or wider community. Mini Vinnies introduce students to social justice issues, to the St Vincent de Paul Society and to living faith through action. Students run fundraisers and awareness campaigns for those in need. Community organisations that St Mary’s have assisted in the past include Caritas, MacKillop Family Services and Refugee Groups. We also have fundraisers to help those affected by current events. For example Rochester Primary School (floods) and Exford Primary School (bus crash).
Beginning in 2019, the Mini Vinnies began assisting at the local Feed it Forward lunches, a generosity food movement connecting community one meal at a time. This initiative is run through the Lancefield & Romsey Neighborhood Houses and includes monthly lunches held at either Lancefield or Romsey where the students serve and interact with the patrons. They also attend Willowmeade Aged Care in Kilmore on a monthly basis to interact with residents and help out with leisure activities.
St Mary’s Environment Group
Each year the Environment Group takes on a different challenge depending on what environmental issues come to light. In the past we have been part of the River Detectives program, monitoring water in the Deep Creek and the Earthwatch Kids Teaching Kids program. We are involved with the local Landcare Groups and have assisted with tree planting and other initiatives as required.
Parent Partnership Opportunities
Parents and Friends
School Advisory Council