Week 6, Term 1 2022 - 1st March 2022
APRE's Reflection
The news of war and violence in the Ukraine is unfathomable. It is difficult to understand senseless harm to others, but what can we do watching from afar?
We can, as always – Pray.
Pope Francis has appealed to the world to pray.
On Friday, the staff took a minute from their short lunch break to stop, write prayer intentions and to pray for peace. We invite you to do the same.
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
Just One Thing Campaign
This year we are again asking all families to assist with ‘at least one thing’ throughout the school year to provide opportunities for the students at our school and to help raise funds for the improvement of facilities and resources to benefit our children and the entire school community. We understand everyone has a busy schedule juggling work and family commitments; however, it would be greatly appreciated if every family would volunteer to assist with just one event/function/task this year. I ask that all St Mary’s parents submit a response to the ‘Just 1 Thing’ campaign, which assists us to engage parents in their preferred ways. Please click here to register your response to this short 1 minute survey.
Children absent from school
This term, families are sure to encounter periods of home quarantine that will prevent their child/ren from attending school. Please note that your child’s class teacher is actively planning for short term absences and will have some readily accessible work that your child can complete at home. Typically, this will include the homework sheet, pages from various year level textbooks and online work set by the teacher. If your child is in this circumstance, please contact your child’s teacher directly and they will make the necessary arrangements.
Health News
St Mary’s wishes to advise you that, during the past week, we have been notified of positive cases of COVID-19 in our school community. We regularly consult with the Catholic Education Office and relevant authorities, and continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health regarding cleaning requirements. Queensland Health has advised that no quarantine of students or staff is required.
As COVID-19 remains active in our community we ask you to continue to monitor your child’s/children’s health and if they develop any flu-like symptoms:
- Keep your child/children at home
- Seek a PCR or Rapid Antigen test where it is recommended and notify the school of positive results. Please be aware, a negative COVID test does not change the requirement to be symptom free to attend school.
- Follow the advice of Queensland Health
As we continue to navigate the pandemic, please remind your child/ren to:
- maintain good hand hygiene at all times
- cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow and dispose of tissues in the bin immediately.
- practice social distancing from others where possible
We will continue to work closely with health authorities to keep our school community informed of any developments and advice. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.
Interschool Touch Football – players wanted!
We have enough students to field 6 teams in the upcoming interschool touch football competition, which starts tomorrow, Wednesday 2nd March. We do have a few spaces still available in the Year 5/6 teams, so if your child wants to play in a team and did not return a note, please let the school office know asap. We also require a manager for a Year 5/6 boys team, so if you are able to assist please let the office know.
Quote of the Week
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
-St Mother Teresa
Week 5 Term 1 Assembly
Please click here to view last week's assembly video.
Ash Wednesday
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. This year due to Covid restrictions, each year level will hold an Ash Wednesday Liturgy and the reception of blessed ashes at 8:45am.
Project Compassion 2022
Ash Wednesday- 2nd March
This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. As a school community we will come together to reflect on our lives and how we can BE MORE from this day forward. We call on God to help us in our Lenten journey.
The beginning of Lent also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each class has a money box for collection and we encourage our students to strive to reach out to others through raising money for those who are less fortunate.
Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
Buy a token for a Project Compassion Friend in need.
This year for Project Compassion you can choose to purchase seeds, a chicken, a pig, school items or a meal for a family. The tokens will be purchased from classrooms and will then be displayed.
At the end of Term One we will again reward the class who raises the highest amount. This class may choose to dance the Chicken Dance at Assembly or nominate another class and teacher to do so.
Peace and blessings,
Mrs Terri Leotta
APRE/Teacher
Project Compassion-First Sunday of Lent
Anatercia 12, was struggling to cope with adult responsibilities after her father died. Then she participated in Caritas Australia- supported training and gained access to psychosocial supports.
Now, Anatercia can easily access clean drinking water, community members are able to grow healthy crops all year round, and there is enough nutritious food to eat. Anatercia feels better supported by her community, has more time to study and do her homework, and hopes to fulfil her dream of becoming a nurse.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2022 to help young people succeed in the future and bring stability to vulnerable youth like Anatercia.
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow For All Future Generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes in classrooms, by visiting lent.caritas.org.au, or by calling 1800 024 413.
Clean Up Australia Day
On Sunday 6th March we continue our commitment to caring for Our Common Home by inviting everyone to participate in Clean Up Australia Day.
This video illustrates the importance of us all working together for this cause. We will meet at Quota Park (near the Ocean International) at 9am. Please bring, hat, water, gloves and a bag for collecting rubbish. We hope to see you there.
Mrs Terri Leotta
APRE/Teacher
Sport News
Congratulations to Madison Malagueno, Asha Martin and Lachlan Ware on their efforts in the Capricornia swimming trials. These students performed well in multiple events and now have the opportunity to compete in the QSS Championships in Brisbane later in March.
Well done and good luck!
Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher
Touch Football Draw - Round 1
Book Club
Student of the Week
Week 5 Term 1 Student Award Winners
PC | Alexander | Your perseverance in achieving your goal to get a prize box prize. Your teacher is proud of your green choices, keep it up! |
PC | Willow | Your attention and focus during our blue book sessions. You are amazing! |
PP | Banjo | Great work during our journal writing session. You worked so hard to write words on your own. Keep it up Banjo! |
PP | Narnia | Setting a wonderful example for your classmates during our meditation sessions. Thank you Narnia! |
1B | Alfie | The determination and perseverance you display when completing a written recount. Keep striving hard! |
1L | Dominic | The determination and perseverance you show in your Boost reading - chopping, blending and making meaning. |
1L | Eileen | Your quiet determination to always do your best. You are an awesome student! |
2A | Archer | The concentration and determination you show during all learning activities. Fabulous work! |
2A | Abigail | Always focusing in class and giving your best efforts. Well done! |
2B | Ava | Your happy and enthusiastic approach to the day. You bring joy to our classroom. You are a star, Ava! |
2B | Rex | A great effort this week. You are working hard, listening well and contributing to our discussions. You are awesome! |
3B | Alice | The persistence and determination that you show when working through all learning tasks in class. You give everything your best. |
3M | Paulina | Showing grit during our RTI sessions this week and not giving up even when you found addition with trading difficult. |
3M | Ava | Showing grit during our RTI sessions this week. Even though you initially found three digit addition difficult you persevered and with practice could do it by the end of the session. |
4C | Charlie | Having a growth mindset and using grit when approaching all classroom tasks. Your determination is impressive! |
4C | Zander | Thinking like a champion and using grit to be organised and ready for learning before school starts. Great job Zander. |
4K | Peyton | Thinking like a champion and showing real grit when using the split strategy to solve addition problems. |
4K | Blake | Thinking like a champion and showing real grit when catching up on your classwork. |
5L | Sarah | Your hard work and persistence during mathematics. Now you are a subtraction star! We admire your grit! |
5L | Zac | Your contributions during Boost reading. You persevere during challenging words and always have a go. Your grit has helped you improve. |
5R | Ava | Continuing to persist through tasks that are challenging, asking questions, and trying your hardest. Keep up the great work! |
5R | Jessica | Showing passion and perseverance through all learning tasks. You are dedicated and work hard through challenges. Keep up the great work! |
6M | Jack | Showing amazing grit and resilience while recovering from your injury. You have bounced back and joined in with a smile on your face and your ever cheerful attitude! |
6M | Anneritha | The enthusiasm and self-motivation you have displayed while researching, planning and writing your historical journal. I'm really looking forward to reading it! |
6V | Ruby | Having a positive, enthusiastic and mature approach to all set tasks. Keep up the great work Ruby! |
6V | Joshua | Excellent collaboration and contribution of ideas during group and partner activities this week. |