Week 5, Term 3 2025 - 12th August 2025
APRE's Reflection
This Saturday evening, thirty-two of our St Mary’s students will receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St Mary’s Church, with Bishop McCarthy presiding. This moment marks a significant step in their faith journey and is a wonderful celebration for the students, their families, and the parish community.
Through prayer and attending workshops with their families, the students have been preparing to encounter the mystery of the Eucharist. They’ve come to understand the presence of Jesus in the sacrament and the meaning of being part of the Church. They are very excited as they prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the very first time.
When preparing for Confirmation, the students are choosing to take a step forward in their spiritual journey, learning to live out their faith. As they prepare to be sealed with the Spirit, they are discovering what it means to be part of a faith-filled community and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
To all our Communion and Confirmation candidates: the St Mary’s community is praying for you. May your hearts be filled with peace, your minds with understanding, and your spirits with joy as you receive these sacred sacraments. It is sure to be a lovely celebration.
Next year, the St Mary’s Parish Sacramental Preparation Workshops for Reconciliation, Communion, and Confirmation will commence for students in Year Four and above. Families have received an email with further details about this revised process.
Belinda van Lint
Assistant Principal - Religious Education
From our Principal | Mr Wes Rose
Year 5 Camp
Last Wed-Fri, our Year 5 students travelled to Seaforth Pines for their school camp. This is always a great camp for our students the students thoroughly enjoyed the many activities on offer.
I sincerely thank Mrs Carmody, Mrs Eden, Mrs Gordon, Mr Marwood and Mr Reid for doing a marvellous job supervising the students; I am sure they were full of stories from their time away!
Staff News
- Mrs Belinda Battaia will attend the Diocesan Curriculum Gathering in Rockhampton this Wed-Fri.
- Thank you to Mrs Berardi, who has been teaching 3M each Thu and Fri several weeks. Donna now goes on holiday and we welcome Mrs Lisa McNamara to teach the class each Thu-Fri for the remainder of Term 3. Welcome Lisa.
- This Thursday, I will attend the Centenary Mass for St Anne’s Sarina.
- All the best to the many students in Yr 4-6 who are making their Confirmation and first Holy Communion this Saturday at St Mary’s Church. Bishop Michael will preside at this Mass.
Centenary Sacred Garden – Blessing & Opening
Thank you to the parents and community members who attended today’s blessing of our Centennial Sacred Garden. It was lovely to join with Bishop Michael to officially bless and open this space.
Interschool Mountain Bike Event
This Friday, we have several students who are participating at the Interschool MTB event at the Finch Hatton MTB trails. All the best to Stella Gl, Sam C, Oaklan M, Jai N, Levi Otto, Sidney P, Ewan R, Harvey S, Flynn P and Lachlan D. I am sure they will thoroughly enjoy representing St Mary’s at this event!
Quote of the Week
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
- Henry David Thoreau
2025 Book Week Parade
Get ready to step into a world of wonder and whimsy!
On Tuesday, 19th August @ 8:45am St Mary's will hold its annual Book Week Parade.
Will you arrive as a fairy tale classic—perhaps Cinderella, Peter Pan, or the Big Bad Wolf? Or will you dazzle us as a mythical creature—a majestic unicorn, fierce dragon, or mischievous elf?
From our P&F - Can you help?
Get your friends and family together to enjoy a day at the cricket and if you can, pop by and help the St Mary's P&F raise some money at our BBQ Stall. Whether you can spare a couple of hours or stay the whole duration, your support will be greatly appreciated! Many slots are yet to be filled.
~ Free Entry for all Volunteers ~
Please add your name to this schedule by 18th August.
Swap It
Student of the Week
Week 4, Term 3 Student Award Winners
| PC | Ezlyn | For consistently approaching your learning with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Your hard work and determination shine through each day. Keep up the amazing effort! |
| PC | Gabrielle | For being a reading superstar! You read fluently with confidence and expression, and you tackle tricky comprehension questions with ease. Well done Gabrielle! |
| PR | Jacob | For persistence to work independently in literacy sessions. You are building your confidence to write sentences independently. Keep up the fantastic work! |
| PR | Navy | For always trying your best in everything you do. You always give 100% and produce work of a high standard. Thank you for always giving it your best go! |
| 1B | Nikolas | For your participation in class discussions this week. You shared confidently and always have insightful contributions. Keep it up Nikolas! |
| 1B | Sari | For the great example you set for others in the classroom. You are attentive, organised and always do your best. Well done, Sari! |
| 1C | Carlo | For your amazing effort in class this week. Mrs Cleaver loves the way you have been working hard to stay on task and follow all instructions expertly. You’re a super star Carlo! |
| 1C | Rori | For your awesome effort in writing this week. Mrs Cleaver loved the way you sounded out your words and used your sound chart to help. You took your time to write neatly and positioned your words within the red and blue lines. Amazing effort Rori! |
| 2A | Sabine | For consistently shining as a role model to your classmates. You model brilliant behaviour, uplift those around you with encouragement, and show genuine care and respect in all that you do. Your presence makes our classroom a kinder, more positive place. Way to go Sabine! |
| 2A | Tyler | For your quiet determination and respectful attitude. You approach each day with focus and maturity—completing your work diligently, listening attentively, and consistently using beautiful manners. You are a rock star Tyler! |
| 2L | Theo | For showing fantastic focus and determination in your learning this week. You have been reading instructions carefully, staying on task, and working independently with growing confidence. That’s the mark of a great learner! Keep up the huge effort! Your teacher is so proud of you! |
| 2L | Benz | For the maturity and leadership you bring to our classroom. Whether you're helping with a task, supporting a classmate, or taking on a special responsibility, you approach things with care, confidence, and a strong sense of personal pride. Well done! |
| 3M | Adelaide | For working diligently towards your school work and always being willing to give a helping hand to your peers. We are lucky to have you in 3M! |
| 3M | Adeline | For your persistence and resilience during Maths tasks this week. You should be very proud of your efforts. |
| 3P | Sienna | Always sharing your thoughts and ideas during classroom discussions. You listen carefully, think deeply, and respond with ideas that help everyone learn and grow. Thank you Sienna, for being such a thoughtful and engaged member of our class— We are lucky to have you in 3P! |
| 3P | Bridie | For showing perseverance with your learning in maths. You have tackled the challenges of addition and subtraction with trading this week with a positive attitude, not giving up when the work becomes difficult. Keep up the wonderful work Bridie! |
| 4G | Imogen | Your teacher was very impressed with the way you’ve been explaining your mathematical thinking clearly in maths this week. You’ve shown confidence in sharing your strategies, used the right vocabulary, and helped others understand different ways to solve problems. Keep up the fantastic work Imogen! |
| 4G | Isaac | Your teacher was very proud of the way you’ve been a kind and supportive member of the class this week. You show a thoughtful attitude by offering help to others and sharing your knowledge in a respectful and encouraging way. Your kindness and willingness to support others are truly appreciated Isaac! |
| 4R | Millie | For showing perseverance with your learning in maths. You have tackled the challenges of division this week with confidence and a positive attitude by asking for assistance and not giving up when the work became difficult. Your determination is inspiring, keep up the great effort Millie! |
| 4R | Eileen | For the effort you have making with learning about division and decimals in maths this term. Your responsible and conscientious attitude to all tasks in the classroom makes you a shining example for your fellow classmates. Thank you for always trying your best Eileen, keep up the great work! |
| 6C | Lizanne | For your committed effort with your Religion assessment this week. It is lovely to see you share your understanding of faith and the way it supports people in times of difficulty. I am excited to see your final product. |
| 6C | Mia | For demonstrating exceptional speed and efficiency in applying knowledge and skills of equivalent fractions to solve challenging, real life questions. It is wonderful to see the way you tackle problems and explain your thinking. |
| 6T | Jake | For showing kindness and being a wonderful helper during prep buddies this week. You were very responsible and nurturing when designing a monster, including all the different features. Well done, Jake! |
| 6T | Asha | Your dedication and maturity in your learning are truly inspiring. You consistently challenge yourself and approach every task with focus and determination. Keep up the fantastic work, Asha! |
| Sports | Lochlan | You were on fire in PE this week. You listened carefully, followed all teacher instructions and were a great team player. You also did a wonderful job of packing away equipment. Keep it up! |
| Sports | Class 2A | You all continue to work hard every PE lesson. Your class are role models for the whole school as you all strive to display our school values in every PE activity. Be proud 2A! |
| Drama | Classes 4G & 4R | For sharing your many gifts and talents during our St Mary’s Got Talent auditions. Thank you for letting your light shine! **Keep Shining Bright** |
Community News
🎨🏏 Mackay Cricket’s August Colouring-In Competition! 🏏🎨
Time to get those pencils, crayons, and creativity out!
For the month of August, we’re running a fun Colouring-In Competition for all our young cricket fans. 🖍️✨
🖼️ How to enter:
1️⃣ Print off our colouring mural
2️⃣ Colour it in with your brightest ideas
3️⃣ Drop it into the entry box at Harrup Park Reception any time during August
🏆 At the end of the month, we’ll pick one winner from each age group:
- Kindy (Under 5)
- Lower Primary (Prep – Year 3)
- Upper Primary (Year 4 – 6)
🎁 Each winner will receive a cricket prize pack and have their masterpiece proudly displayed at Harrup Park!
Let’s see your cricket-themed creativity shine! 🌟
📥 Download the mural https://bit.ly/gbra-colouring-competition and get colouring today.
