Week 8, Term 2 2024 - 4th June 2024
APRE's Reflection
Caritas Stalls - Year 6
On Wednesday and Thursday the Year 6 students will hold their much anticipated Caritas Stalls at lunch times. This tradition is long-standing and each year students devise Stalls which offer food, crafts or games of chance to entice students to buy from their stall.
All of the proceeds are donated to Caritas to support their work in Australia and around the world. These stalls are exciting and fun and the sweet treats are always awesome. There are also further educational and moral aspects of these stalls that make them such a wonderful event.
Catholic schools in Australia have a shared mission to share the Catholic faith and provide opportunities to disadvantaged and marginalised communities. From the first school in Paramatta in 1820 through to every school now opened, this commitment to charity is fundamental. The reason is based on scripture and doctrine.
“Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822) It is the “love of neighbor, grounded in the love of God”. (Deus Caritas Est, 20)
Charity is the “actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447) and “is first and foremost a responsibility of each individual member of the faithful”. (Deus Caritas Est, 20)
Charity requires engaging directly, those around us who are in need. Although it often involves making a financial contribution, this is not the only requirement.
Standing up for others who are struggling, emotionally, physically, due to oppression or isolation is also essential. Solidarity is paramount. This may take the form of writing letters of support for the front-line workers during the initial Covid outbreak or emailing the makers of the fruit juice 'poppers' to petition for discontinuing the unrecyclable plastic straws they manufacture.
For our Year 6 students, they make slideshows and posters for their stall, advising us of who they are supporting, how and why. The education aspect of the stalls even extends to the financial tasks of budgeting for their stalls and calculating change for the customers.
We are thankful for your continued support of our charity and social justice works at St Mary's and trust that your child will enjoy the stall wares on offer this year.
From the Principal | Mr Wes Rose
Trivia Night
Sincere thanks to the parents, staff and friends that attended our Trivia Night last Friday evening. With nearly 180 players all dressed in their Mexican finest, it was certainly an enjoyable evening! While the fundraising tally is yet to be finalised, I am sure that it was a profitable night for the P&F. I extend my appreciation to the many businesses and families who sponsored the night; your generous support is valued. I also thank our quizzmaster Dan Kinnane, event coordinator Mel McGuinness and her band of assistants for making it a special night. Thank you!
Director Visit this Thursday
I advise that Miss Leesa Jeffcoat, Diocesan Director, will visit St Mary’s on Thursday morning. On what will be her last official visit to our school, Miss Jeffcoat will visit some classes and meet with key staff.
In our prayers
This Friday is the funeral for Kevin McCusker, the father of our incoming Diocesan Director, Mr Michael McCusker. On behalf of the St Mary’s community, I extend my condolences to Michael and the McCusker family at this sad time. May Kevin Rest in Peace.
Caritas Stalls – Wed and Thu This Week!
All the best for the Year 6 students as they prepare their Caritas stalls for this Wednesday and Thursday. Students in Prep – Year 5 can bring in some money to shop at these stalls, which will stock a selection of handmade items, treats, games, etc. All money raised goes to Caritas, a Catholic charity focused on humanitarian work around the world. Read more about Caritas here.
Staff News
I advise that Miss Wendy Parker (school counsellor) is on leave until Term 3, week 2. During this time, we welcome Mrs Dee Trannore (St Patrick’s College counsellor) will visit our school each Monday to work with students.
Quote of the Week
“The price of success is hard work; dedication to the job at hand.”
- Vince Lombardi
Trivia Night
The P & F committee would like to thank you for your generous support and for attending our school fundraiser! Your participation and contributions are deeply appreciated and play a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals. Because of your support, we can continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for our students.
We are grateful for your commitment to our school community and look forward to your continued involvement in our future events.
My New Gallery
Year 6 Caritas Stalls
This Wednesday and Thursday the Year 6 students will be running their annual Caritas Stalls to raise money for this very important charity.
The stalls will be active during both breaks and will have a variety of wares available for purchase. They will have home baked goodies, games, jewellery, hair bands, icy cups and much, much more.
Please send along some spending money with your child(ren) to support this initiative and the hard-working year 6 students.
Rugby league – Grant Rovelli Rugby League Gala Day
We invite all students (girls and boys) born in 2014 and 2015 to participate in the Grant Rovelli Rugby League Gala Day which will be held at the Abbott Park fields on Friday 21st June. The carnival is to provide an opportunity for all schools to participate in a one-day gala event. No experience is necessary, this is a great opportunity for your child to come and try and enjoy a fun day with their friends. If you wish for your child to participate, please collect a note from the office.
Library News
Graphic Novels: The Facts
Over the last 5 years Graphic Novels have been increasing in popularity, with the attractive format being especially appealing to young readers and visual learners. Reflecting this trend, a 2023 School Library Journal (SLJ) survey found that 91% of the schools surveyed now shelved graphic novels in their own section. The survey also found that 40% of their students read exclusively from the ‘Graphic Novel’ section.
St. Mary’s School introduced a Graphic Novel section to our library in 2023. The section is vastly popular, sitting right in the centre of the library, it currently has 262 titles and is growing every month. The most popular genres within this new section are graphic adaptations of novels, Manga like Naruto and comedy like Dog Man.
Graphic novels have often been misunderstood by parents, some doubt the validity of the format, and many consider graphic novels “not real books”. However, research has shown that graphic novels can be a fantastic tool for capturing the interest of young readers and increasing student engagement. Furthermore, graphic novels can be beneficial for reluctant or struggling readers (including ESL students), whilst also being great for advanced readers too.
Graphic novels can firmly benefit reading skills of reluctant readers. The visual elements in graphic novels break up the text, and the concise and efficient writing make the story less dense, making reading more enjoyable. Students may be able to finish the book more quickly, resulting in a sense of achievement and greater confidence. Graphic novels can also be a conduit to reading conventional novels and developing a habit of life-long reading for enjoyment.
Graphic novels are great for advanced readers too. Less text does not mean simpler text, graphic novels often use advanced vocabulary. Students must also search to interpret images as well as text for meaning. The images can provide clues on character, mood, and plot development, by using body language, facial expressions, gestures, emanata and colour. This helps students develop verbal and visual literacy as well as stimulating the imagination.
If your child is a reluctant reader or struggles to find a book that interests them, then a graphic novel could be just the book to get them excited about reading, and we have a wonderful collection for them started.
For further information please see:
Cookcroft, M. (3/10/2023) Graphic Novels, Manga Explode in Popularity Among Students SLJ Survey. https://www.slj.com/story/Graphic-Novels-Manga-Explode-in-Popularity-Among-Students-SLJ-Survey
Raeco Library Solutions. (2023, Sep 14). Unleashing the superpowers. [Video]. You Tube. https://youtu.be/tQhxrEOM9o8
PNG Landslide Appeal
Sadly, remote communities in Papua New Guinea have been devastated by a catastrophic landslide that struck the Enga province at 3am on 24th May. The timing of the landslide meant most people were sleeping at the time of the disaster, with little time to escape.
Thousands are feared dead and many more are displaced. The ongoing search and rescue operations are facing challenges due to the hazardous terrain and the continuous threat of landslides.
Caritas Australia’s partners on-the-ground in Papua New Guinea are currently conducting a rapid needs assessment in the affected villages to determine the most urgent priorities. Donations can be made through www.caritas.org.au/png
Book Club
Student of the Week
| PP | Rosa N | For being a super listener and learner in Prep. You approach all learning tasks with enthusiasm and always try your best. Keep up the wonderful work Rosa! |
| PP | Rori H | For great work in our Boost reading sessions this week. You are working hard to sound out words and remember your heart words. Thank you Rori and keep working hard! |
| PR | Lily B | For working so hard on your sounds. You are chopping, reading and writing your words so confidently. You are doing an amazing job! |
| PR | Ezra W | For working hard in maths lessons. You can are showing confidence in all areas of maths. Keep up the fantastic work! |
| 1B | Harper M | For showing diligence in maths rotations. Your determination and perseverance serve as an inspiration to your classmates! |
| 1B | Stella G | For the effort and commitment in your BOOST reading groups. You have impressed your teachers with your quiet determination to make improvements. Well done! |
| 1S | Christina V | For the confidence you are showing during our morning announcements. It is so lovely to hear you confidently sharing your news with the class. |
| 1S | Isabella B | For the organisation you have shown in class. You have been working hard to have everything out and ready to work this week. Well done Isabella! |
| 2A | Edie M | For the way you always try your hardest. Your contributions to class discussions during Science and HASS is outstanding. Keep up the great work Edie! |
| 2A | Harper C | For being authentically you! You have been such a beautiful helper in the classroom to your desk buddy. You have such a caring nature, Harper. Well done! |
| 2L | Banjo M | Congratulations on working hard to be an active listener in class. You are making some good choices, and you are getting the work done! Well done! |
| 2L | Lishwanth Y | Lish your teacher has noticed your improved organisation skills and your willingness to take on extra responsibility. Keep up the effort. |
| 3C | Limo P | Limo, 3C is delighted to welcome you to our class. Your artistic ability and knowledge have wowed us this week. We look forward to seeing all the amazing things you will achieve! |
| 3C | Charlie B | For the improved effort and enthusiasm you have applied to all tasks this week. It's great to see you shine Charlie! Keep it up! |
| 3P | Olivia M | For designing and creating an excellent diorama for her science project. |
| 3P | Edie F | For presenting her science speech about pigs with a good clear voice to the class. |
| 3P | Alek V | For delivering a very interesting presentation about dingoes this week in class. |
| 4C | Ava J | For your powerful 'voice' in your writing. You have captured the essence of what an author uses to engage their audience through your story about "The Abandoned Stadium". Well done! |
| 4C | Elyse S | For your the persistence and determination you have shown in Maths. It is great to see you focus and attempt tasks independently and reach out for help when you need it. Keep up the great effort! |
| 4R | Hailey M | For your impressive talent in drawing. Your little cartoons and caricatures always bring a smile to your Teacher's face. Thank you for sharing your creativity, Hailey! |
| 4R | Bethany M | For the effort you have been putting in this week to our Welcome Circle greetings and routines. Well done, Bethany! |
| 5C | Jayce L | For the ‘can do’ attitude you bring to RTI sessions. You have a wonderful ability to persist in the learning pit when concepts are new and challenging. |
| 5C | Nate P | For your wonderful knowledge of the Eureka Stockade. You provided excellent responses as to why the rebellion occurred and the consequences of it. |
| 5M | Ava C | For your determination in maths this week. You have conquered decimal place value! Keep up that great attitude Ava. |
| 5M | Samuel C | For the positive attitude you bring to all aspects of the school day. You brighten everyone's day Sam! |
| 6T | Kalani V | For the outstanding effort and attention to detail you showed when completing your migration slideshow. You created a comprehensive and informative report of Bartholomeus' migration journey. Well done Kalani! |
| 6T | Blake D | For the mature approach you have taken towards your learning this term. Your effort and persistence are reflected in your pleasing results. Keep it up, Blake! |
| 6V | Brady V | For being an outstanding technology whiz, always lending a helping hand with slideshows and technology-related tasks. Your expertise and willingness to assist is appreciated Brady! |
| 6V | Justin A | For outstanding effort in making your writing interesting and using descriptive language. Your dedication to completing your assessment tasks this week has been wonderful to see. |
| Sport | Class 4C | For the great way you all got along well during our PE Pickleball session. Keep it up! |
| Drama | Class 1S | For singing confidently and playing percussion instruments with pizazz! |
| Drama | Isla M | For your selfless Generosity and thinking of others. You are a shining example for all students at St Mary's. |
| Drama | Ashlyn M | For your selfless Generosity and thinking of others. You are a shining example for all students at St Mary's. |
Community News
