Week 5, Term 3 2024 - 6th August 2024
Principal's Reflection
Celebrating 100 Years - The people, the place and the community of faith that is St Mary’s School
As we mark 100 years of St Mary’s, we reflect on a century of dedication, growth, and unwavering faith. Founded in 1924, St Mary’s has become a cornerstone of our community, a place where generations have come together to learn, grow and uphold the values of faith and service.
In the early days, the Sisters of Mercy played a pivotal role in developing our school. Their commitment to education and spiritual development laid a strong foundation. With the support of dedicated priests, parishioners and parents, these pioneering women worked tirelessly to ensure that St Mary’s would thrive. Their efforts were not merely about imparting academic knowledge, but about fostering a place where faith and learning went hand in hand.
The school’s early years were marked by challenges and triumphs. Did you know that for the first 40 years, St Mary’s (like all non-government schools at the time) received no government funding and solely operated with the financial support of parents and parishioners? The community rallied together, sacrificing their time, money and resources to sustain a school that would serve future generations. In the early 1970’s, the first trickle of government funds started to flow, which enabled a building project to revitalise the school.
Over the years, St Mary’s has continued to evolve, embracing educational change and expanding its facilities to meet the needs of its students. Yet, the core values instilled by the Sisters of Mercy and early supporters remain. Today, St Mary’s is not just a school but a vibrant community where students are encouraged to explore their potential, guided by the teachings of Jesus and our core values - encouragement, care and respect.
As we celebrate this milestone, we must always remember the legacy of those who came before us. Their vision and perseverance have shaped St Mary’s into the school it is today. This centenary is not just a reflection of the past but a celebration of the present and a hopeful look toward the future.
We invite everyone to join us this Sunday 11th August, from 9 am to 1 pm for our Community Open Day. It will be a day of celebration and connection; a chance to come together as a community to honour our shared history and look forward to the future with hope and faith. Here’s to the next hundred years of St Mary’s School, South Mackay—a place where faith, learning, and community continue to thrive.
All the very best,
Wes Rose
Principal
From our Principal | Mr Wes Rose
School Satisfaction Survey
Thank you to the parents, staff and Year 4-6 students who submitted a response to our school satisfaction surveys. I include a broad overview of the results below, which indicate that we have achieved an ‘excellent’ rating across each of the 5 domains! We look forward to analysing this data further to continue our school improvement journey.
Parent Feedback - 163 parents (43%) submitted a response
Staff Feedback - 37 staff (92.5%) submitted a response
Year 4-6 Student Feedback – 163 students (95%) submitted a response
Centenary Open Day
This Sunday 11th August from 9am-1pm, our Open day will showcase St Mary’s school for current and past families and students. With free jumping castles (weather dependent), a memorabilia display, food/drink and student entertainment, it is sure to be a lovely morning for the whole family. I ask that children wear their centenary shirts on the Open Day. Thank you to the many families that have indicated they can assist on the day; you should have received an email last week to advise of the volunteer schedule, details, etc.
Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Congratulations to the 20 St Mary’s students who made their Confirmation and First Holy Communion over the weekend. I thank Bishop Michael McCarthy for visiting St Mary’s Church and being a part of this special time.
Free Dress Day – Tuesday 13th August
In preparation for the St Mary’s Fair, we are holding a free dress day on Tuesday 13th Aug. Students can come to school in free dress and bring along $2. I ask that all students have enclosed footwear, wear an appropriate hat and no short shorts or midriff-baring shirts, thank you.
Quote of the Week
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
- John Lennon
Centenary Mass
Our Centenary Celebrations have commenced with a whole school Mass led by Bishop Michael, Fr Matthias, Fr Anthony and Fr Gasper today. Thank you Bishop Michael and clergy as well as our many dignitaries, special guests and families for joining with us in Eucharist.
Our student leaders demonstrated exceptional leadership in their ministries, welcoming guests and singing. Thank you also to Sr Denise and Ms Lenz for reading.
To recognise this milestone for our school and to congratulate all students for their reverence and participation we shared a celebratory 100 Years cake. Our guests then enjoyed the chance to view the display in the hall which will be open to all, at our Family Day on Sunday.
Centenary Open Day Help Needed
Thank you to the parents and staff who have volunteered their help for our Centenary Open Day this Sunday 11th August.
We have one slot between 12-1pm where help is still needed (see table below). Please contact the office if you are able to fill this slot.
Free Dress Day
Important Dates
Jump Rope for Heart
We are in week 5 of our JRFH campaign and we are beginning to look like skipping superstars. Last week we started skipping in the long ropes and learning how to be effective rope turners as well as successful skippers. Getting the timing right when turning a rope with a partner is tricky but students came up with great strategies to help them master this skill. Well done to Prep R who are starting to turn around whilst jumping in the rope.
The challenge of the week is ‘Spin Criss Cross’ Spin Criss Cross
Here are our results thus far:
- 24 students registered on the portal.
- 13 students actively fundraising.
- Raising $2399.93 to date.
- Logging 17 hours of skipping practice! ♥
I hope to see lots of you back again for skipping club this Thursday morning from 8am.
Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher
Year 5 Camp
Our Year 5 class enjoyed their camp to Seaforth Pines last Wed-Fri. I thank all students for their good behaviour and ‘have-a-go’ attitude during the many activities, including catapult building, raft building, orienteering, lawn bowls and archery. A special mention to Jackson Clein, who achieved a ‘Robin Hood’ archery shot, where he shot an arrow up the end of another arrow, a feat likened to hitting a hole-in-one! Sincere thanks to Mrs Motteram, Mrs Carmody, Miss Kennedy, Mr Brooks and Mr Cusack for safely supervising the students.
Mackay Chess Competition
On Monday, 18 students from years 2-6 attended the Term 3 Gardiner Chess Tournament at MCC. Congratulations to the St Mary’s Knights team for coming 2nd overall in the Primary A division and the Checkmates team for coming 3rd overall in the Primary D division. We also had a number of ribbon winning individual champions. Special mention to our chess club organiser, Mrs Berardi, for once again coordinating our students. Checkmate St Mary’s!
Student of the Week
Week 4, Term 3 Student Award Winners
| Prep P | Hudson | For working so hard when learning our new sounds. You are listening well during carpet learning time and are on the lookout for sounds and heart words in your reading. Keep up the wonderful work Hudson! |
| Prep P | Claire | For wonderful work during our rotation sessions this week. The 'can do' attitude you show at all times in Prep is amazing! It's great to see you having a go at tricky things and the pride you show in your completed work. Thank you Claire! |
| Prep R | Harper | For the effort you are putting into literacy rotations. You try your best when reading and writing and are a quite, diligent achiever. Keep being wonderful Harper! |
| Prep R | Carter | For working hard during maths rotations. You are always engaged in learning and working hard to complete tasks. Thank you for being a wonderful classmate in Prep R. |
| 1B | William | For working so hard to problem solve during maths rotations. Well done! |
| 1S | Benz | For the problem solving in our missing number RTI session this week. You showed persistence to try different options until you solved them. Well Done Benz! |
| 2A | Willow | For having such a great attitude to school and learning. You always give 100% and you do it with the biggest and proudest smile on your face. You are amazing, Willow! |
| 2A | Declan | For the wonderful start you have had to term three. You have been respectful, caring and a kind friend. You regularly fill my bucket and do so for others in the class. Well done Declan! |
| 2L | Ainnah | Ainnah you bring a beautiful calmness to our classroom, with your kind and gentle heart. Thank you for continuing to be a shining example to us all! |
| 2L | Emma | Emma you work hard to complete your schoolwork every single day. You have the courage to ask for help when you need it, and you are kind and friendly to everyone. Thank you for the joy you bring to our classroom. |
| 3C | Olivia | Olivia, thank you for your patience, encouragement, and willingness to support others during literacy activities this week. Your guidance has inspired others to do their best. Keep being you! |
| 3C | Paulo | Well done on your impressive growth in reading this year! Your expressive and engaging voice brings your reading to life. Your teacher thoroughly enjoys listening to you. Keep up the great work, Paulo! |
| 3P | Lincoln | For your outstanding effort in math lessons and your strong enthusiasm for tackling new challenges. You are a superstar! |
| 3P | Bianca | For the fantastic reading you've been doing in BOOST groups—it's wonderful to see your confidence grow and your use of expression improving. Keep up the great work. |
| 4C | Boston | For being the type of friend everyone needs. You look out for your classmates in a way that shows great maturity, respect and compassion. Thank you for being a brilliant role model. |
| 4C | Sienna | For your superior organisation skills. You are always ready for learning, ready to listen and ready to be your best self! You are an asset to our class Sienna. |
| 4R | Rohan | For your responsible attitude and positive approach to learning in the classroom this term. Keep up the great work, Rohan! |
| 4R | Sinead | For the effort you put into all your work. You are a quiet achiever and a caring and thoughtful member of our class. Thank you, Sinead. |
| 6T | Sefton | For the way you participated at hymns. Your singing was outstanding and your voice truly stood out. Well done Sefton! |
| 6T | Lincoln | For consistently demonstrating a caring and helpful nature towards both your prep buddies and classmates. Your kindness and support make a positive difference at St Mary’s. Well done, Lincoln! |
| 6V | Brady | For your increased focus and positive contributions to class discussions have been very pleasing to see! You have been trying hard to listen carefully and be more engaged in your learning. Keep up the great work! |
| 6V | Ryder | For writing a wonderful reflection about what St Mary's means to you in preparation for our Centenary celebrations. You should be very proud of your achievements and contributions as a St Mary's student Ryder! |
| Sport | Class 6T | What an amazing week of skipping. You have risen to every challenge given to you. You showed determination, sportsmanship and positivity to ensure as many class members as possible were able to achieve success at each skill. Keep it up! |
| Drama | Rock Pop Mime Team | “You ROCK! You POP! You RHYME! And that is how you use your time!” Your energy, dedication and talent is truly inspiring! Congratulations on placing second against some very tough competition – you are AMAZING! ❤ |
