Week 2, Term 2 2024 - 23rd April 2024

Reflection - Week 2

Today we were inspired by the presentation from John Coutis. The story of his life was honest, entertaining and moving as he recounted the beginning of his life when his parents were told he would not survive, years of torment at school, through to his current reality which is a joyous, extraordinary life on the stage. John has met and inspired leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson and many more.

His capacity to meet challenges with determination, wit and humour provided many learning opportunities for us all.

John’s account of dealing with adversity and sometimes catastrophe, reminded me of the Catastrophe Scale we use in conjunction with our You Can Do It! program. The scale can help us gain perspective about an incident; we can put the event in proportion rather than catastrophize and decrease our ability to respond effectively.

He also spoke about the importance of moving beyond our comfort zones, making choices and taking responsibility for our actions. He gave advice on the importance of setting goals and always remembering “You cannot control what others do, you can only control how you respond”.

and

When you think you have it bad, there is always someone who has it worse.

When you think you are the best, there is always someone who is better.

Terri Leotta
Deputy Principal

https://www.twinkl.com.au/

From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose

ANZAC Day Service 24^th April
I invite parents and friends to attend our ANZAC Day Liturgy, held in the Hall from 8:45am.  I thank Year 4C for leading us in this prayerful service.  We also warmly welcome Mr Ken Higgins OAM, RSL sub-branch President, who will speak to the assembly following the liturgy.

ANZAC Day Civic March
Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.  To commemorate this special national day, I invite all staff and students to participate in the ANZAC Day civic march next Thursday 25^th April. 

Students are to dress in their formal school uniform and assemble in the Canelands carpark (Matsuura Drive) from 8:00am.  Either drop your child off in the allocated drop-off area or park in the upper-level car parking (P1) or and walk your child to the ground-level car park.  Look for the St Mary’s flag and staff members.  The march will start at 8:35am and will proceed down Victoria and Wellington Streets.  Following the march, students can be collected in the usual place, near the roundabout on Alfred and Macalister Streets (between the MECC and Central SS).  For more information, please see the relevant maps that show assembly, the parade route and dispersal.

Enhancing Catholic Schools (ECSI) Survey

Thank you to the families who have submitted their ECSI survey certificates. Responses close this Friday 26^th April. Please note that we will draw the parent raffle on Monday 29^th April, so be sure to submit your completed certificate to be in the running!

HOW TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY

1. Go to www.ecsi.site/au/user/
2. Enter the ECSI Website password: Ghj654
3. Click on "new user" and enter our school’s survey access code cC7uQg so that your input will be linked to our school.
4. The ECSI survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
5. Upon completion, print the certificate of successful participation and return to our school office.

For further information, please refer to the letter that was emailed to you.  I thank you for your assistance with this important initiative and ask that you take the time to submit a response.

Centenary Cookbook – Recipes Needed!
This August, we are celebrating our school’s centenary and as a part of the festivities, we are publishing a St Mary’s cookbook that will display some favourite family favourites.  Cookbooks will be available for purchase during our centenary celebrations. As part of this project, we ask interested families and staff to submit a recipe of your choice.  Recipes must be submitted (in a word document) via email including these details: 

• Recipe Title
• Submitted by (include your names and grade in 2024)
• Recipe description, special memories you may have of this dish or of St Mary’s. (2-4 sentences.)
• Ingredients
• Method

We ask that you also include up to 3 digital photos of the recipe, your family or both and we will use as needed.  Submissions need to be received via email by 15^th May.  Please note that we may receive duplicates of certain recipes, and in this case, you may be emailed to submit another recipe.  Also, whilst we will try to include every recipe submitted, we are restricted as to the number of pages we can fit in the book.

Also, if your family or business would like to sponsor the production of this cookbook, your name and business logo will be acknowledged within the opening pages. To submit your recipes or for more information, please email smm_centenary@rok.catholic.edu.au

Quote of the Week

Prep 2025 Enrolments

Do you have a Prep student beginning in 2025?

Thank you to those families who have already submitted their enrolment application online. We encourage both existing and new families who have a child starting Prep in 2025 to lodge their enrolment application as soon as possible. Applications are to be made via our online enrolment application available on our website www.smmrok.catholic.edu.au/enrol-now

Applications close on the 3rd May, with interviews commencing on the 17th May.

Please contact the school office for further information or any assistance required.

From the Office - Finance Dept

Dear Parents

Please note that school fees were issued on the 18^th April 2024 and are due for payment by Thursday 2^nd May 2024. If you have not yet received your invoice, please check your junk mail folder.

If you have previously entered into a payment arrangement you do not need to do anything, please treat this invoice as statement.

If you have any questions in relation to school fees, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kathy Parrish
Finance Officer

St Mary's Centenary Shirt

Congratulations Georgie Duncan and Gavin Guo for creating the artwork selected in our Centenary Shirt competition.

We are now offering the opportunity for students, parents and parishioners to purchase a Centenary Shirt (please see design and sizing guide below).

Shirt orders are open now by clicking here. Orders close this Friday, 26^th April and delivery will be in late June.

The cost of the polo is $31.90 and you are able to select “collect from store” to avoid shipping costs. Alternatively you are able to select shipping to have the item/s posted to you.

Students will then be able to wear the Centenary shirt every Friday for the remainder of 2024.

P & F Pie Drive Collection

Free Dress Day

Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy

PLEASE JOIN US!

St Mary's School will join with St Patrick's College to celebrate our Youth Mass this Saturday 27th April, St Mary's Church at 5pm. Children's Liturgy will also be held.  

Mass will be followed by a pizza outside the church. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

Sport News

Mackay District Cross Country

Congratulations to Rylie Hanson, Nina Lucas, Flynn Pearce and Annaliese Miles for their selection in the Mackay District Cross Country team. They will compete in May at the Capricornia trials in Rockhampton. Good luck.

St Mary's Junior Fun Run

Well done to the Prep-Year 2 students who participated in the St Mary’s Junior Fun Run and obstacle course last Thursday. Students had a great time running in the mini cross country cheered on by a large crowd of parents and friends. We were lucky to finish the races just as the rain started tumbling down. All classes had an excellent time completing the obstacle course later in the day once the rain cleared.

Well done to our place getters for each year level.

Prep boys – George Coles, Tane Breayley, Byron Ford
Prep girls – Rosa Nyenuh, Scarlette Grech, Skylar John Pula
Year 1 boys – Andrew Taylor, Ivor Smith, Flynn Dodds
Year 1 girls – Stella Goodwin, Charlotte McNamara, Georgia Busch
Year 2 boys – Lochlan Mordue, Declan DePaoli, Louis Connors
Year 2 girls – Emilie Ford, Livie Jurd, Amelia Brake

Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher

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St Mary's Battlers

Yesterday we saw our St Mary’s Battlers come together for the first time this year, in a training run at school.  The boys were motivated, skillful and keen to begin the season together in preparation for the big dance - Challenge Cup, Yeppoon 2024.  Before heading to Yeppoon later this year, the Battlers will compete in the Wednesday afternoon local John Paap Shield.  We take on Emmanuel at the Abbot Park fields tomorrow afternoon at 3:50pm in a match which is sure to entertain.  We invite parents and supporters to come along and cheer the boys on in their first match of the 2024 season.  

Belinda Battaia
Team Manager

P & F News - Mother's Morning

St Mary’s P&F would like to invite all mums, stepmums, grandmothers and any other special woman in your child’s life to attend a Mother’s Day Morning starting with an 8am Mass at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday 7^th May.

Please RSVP via the following link by Thursday 2^nd May.

https://forms.gle/KV4PJcMaGHRMdBcB7

Mother's Day Stall

Yuwi Banner

St Mary’s has a new Yuwi Banner thanks to Northern Queensland Primary Health Network. The banner will be proudly displayed and rotated in several locations within our school in accordance with our Reconciliation Action Plan and to promote First Nations culture and history. Pictured are

Karin Barron, Executive Director Health System Integration and Innovation from NQPHN and Karlie Tatchell, Senior Regional Indigenous Education Liaison Officer for Catholic Education Diocese of Rockhampton. 

Student of the Week

Week 1, Term 2 Student Award Winners

Community News