Week 8, Term 4 2023 - 21 November 2023

Week 8 Reflection

Dear Parents,

Today we saw 50 students confidently stand and deliver leadership speeches to a crowd of approximately 200.

The confidence shown was noted by all present. As one of our You Can Do It keys, we have strived to build children’s confidence through various lessons and activities at St Mary’s over many years.

At home there are also things which can build your child’s confidence.

• Daily doses of love, security and encouragement. This also helps build self-esteem.
• Taking a supervisory back seat and letting kids connect with their world.
• Appropriate praise for a job well done.
• Resist rescuing. Kids need to know it’s OK to fail, feel disappointment, frustration and anger.
• Role model perseverance, commitment, working through tough situations and the self-talk needed when chores or schoolwork is boring.
• Resist stepping in too early to help solve the problem. Stay tuned, listen and encourage, but also give your child time to work it out for themselves.
• Talk about optimism and resilience. Talk about how disappointment can often translate to defeat unless we think about the situation differently.
• Monitor perfectionism and the fear of failure. Talk about times in your life when you didn’t get it right first go.
• Encourage kids to make their own decisions and choices to gain confidence in their judgment.
• Nurture interests and hobbies. Give kids opportunities for success and socialisation. On a daily basis, we can dole out big doses of confidence building by believing in our kids - their abilities, quirks, qualities and strengths.

There is an innate confidence most children seem to have. They’re programmed with natural resilience, perseverance, and an inbuilt capacity to thrive. But as they get older, they may learn to doubt themselves. They learn to give up. They learn that they’re not ‘good enough’. Unfortunately, some kids also learn that they can’t measure up when it comes to parental expectations. Confidence is built through experiencing failure and success.

A child’s confidence is also built through age-appropriate independence, responsibilities, choices, healthy risk taking, and encouragement to make their own decisions. Parental role modelling means we are best placed to give our kids the opportunities and experiences to teach and build their confidence.

As with all of our efforts, building confidence requires a team approach, and we will continue to provide opportunities for students to present, perform, and display the many gifts they have.

The Bernard Group youcandoiteducation.com.au

From the Principal - Mr Wes Rose

2024 Orientation Morning

I advise that our orientation morning is scheduled for this Thursday 23rd Nov.  Students in Years 1-6 next year will visit their 2024 classrooms and spend time with their new year level teachers.  We will welcome our new teachers on this morning; Angela Russo, Tash Cornell and Ashleigh Carmody. Several new students in Years 1-6 will also attend this morning, and I am sure that our existing students will make them feel very welcome.  Our 2024 Prep students will attend from 9:15am-10:30am.  Families will initially assemble in the Hall and then students will proceed to the Prep classrooms while the parents stay on for morning tea.  Students attending St Patrick’s College and Catherine McAuley College will spend the entire day at their respective colleges.  I am sure that this orientation day will give students and teachers in insight into the new school year.

2024 Student Leaders

Congratulations to the 50 Year 5 students who made a leadership speech today.  Voting has now closed and the 2024 students leaders will be announced on assembly this Friday.

End of Year Gifts and Treats

With the end of year upon us, many students bring in cards, lollies and gifts for classmates and staff.  Whilst it is a lovely gesture to bring in a card or gift, I ask that students refrain from bringing in candy cane or other lollies to share with their classmates. 

Chewing Gum

We have noticed a lot of students brining chewing gum to school.  I remind all students that chewing gum is not allowed at school, as we are increasingly finding gum left on the concrete and other places.  I thank parents and students for their support with this matter.

St Mary’s Fair

The annual St Mary’s Fair was a lovely night enjoyed by all.  A big thank you to the army of parent volunteers who assisted on a variety of stalls, your help is most appreciated.    I also extend a sincere thank Tanya Davies, our Fair Coordinator, for her organisation and dedication of the Fair.  As a major fundraiser and large event, there is a lot of work to bring it all together, so thank you, Tanya.

Fair Evaluation

With any event, some things work well and other things can be improved for next time.  If you have any feedback about the Fair, please complete a response here.

Yr 6 Graduation Dinner

A reminder that the Yr 6 Graduation Dinner will be held next Monday 27^th Nov at the Mackay Turf Club.  Parents are asked to be seated by 6:15pm, with students gathering outside.  Students will enter the room at 6:30pm sharp.  Dress is smart casual.  I extend my thanks to the parents organisers who I am sure will make this event a lovely memory for our students and families.

Christmas Fair

We would like to thank all of the St Mary's community, families and local businesses for their overwhelming support of this year's Christmas Fair.  It was an amazing evening and we congratulate all of those that won this year's very generous prizes.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

Thank you to all our families who have generously donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society QLD Christmas Appeal again this year.  There is still time left to donate, we will be presenting our donations to a St Vincent de Paul representative on Friday 1st December.  All items can be sent straight to your child's classroom.

The focus of the Vinnies Christmas Appeal for 2023 is on the continuing impacts of the cost-of-living-crisis in Australia, including rental and housing affordability and its compounding effects.  This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and are on the brink of homelessness. After struggling with the cost-of-living crisis for over a year, they barely have anything left to hold on to. As the crisis deepens, so does their desperation.

Your urgent help can provide relief. With the price of necessities rising at a relentless rate in Australia, Vinnies has seen a growing number of people relying on support to get by – many are seeking assistance for the first time.

This year we have allocated a specific range of items needed for each year level:

• Prep: Christmas Hamper Items
• Year 1: Babies and Toddlers
• Year 2: Toiletries & Games for Seafarers
• Year 3: Young Children (4-8 years)
• Year 4: Older Children (9-12 yrs)
• Year 5: Christmas Hamper Items
• Year 6: Teenagers

End of Year MASS

All parents and carers are invited to attend our End of Year School Mass on Tuesday 28th November at 9am at the St Mary's Basketball Court. This final Mass will include a candle ceremony and handover of Year 6 leaders to our 2024 leaders. 

From the Library

From the Tuckshop

Student of the Week

Community News