Week 8, Term 1 2022 - 15th March 2022

APRE's Reflection

SOJ - Spirit of Jesus

The power of taking some time away from our everyday; especially in a new location is irrefutable. The same may not be said for forced isolation that many have had imposed recently due to the Coronavirus; yet, peace and quiet and a beautiful view would help.

Jesus knew the power of retreats and he took some of his friends away from the business of the village and market. He invited them to travel with him up a mountain. While they were there praying Jesus was transfigured; he was changed; his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 

It was while Jesus’ friends sat frozen in disbelief, that God said, ‘This is my Son, with who I am very pleased, listen to him’.

These words were said for us today, just as they were for the disciples. Listening, in today’s world however, can be challenging. We are bombarded by information all the time; now viewed by notifications, social media, television and our phones. We are informed with news, but not all of it good news; some of it may even be fake news.

The word and message that Jesus offers is life-giving and life-changing. The words of Jesus, nourish, nurture, and sustain us, if we open our hearts and lives to hearing it. The Transfiguration gives us a brief and fleeting glimpse of Jesus in all his glory. It is a taste of what is to come. It is offered to us to transform our daily lives. It reminds us that our lives are far more than what see, hear and experience every day. Rather than meekly getting through the day, followers of Jesus are called to live with meaning, purpose and hope.

We may never experience anything as powerful as the Transfiguration. But every day in countless ways God does break into our world and our daily lives. Every time we experience a moment of peace, joy, reconciliation or forgiveness, God is with us. Every time that we reach out to help another person is a moment of transfiguration both for ourselves and for those we help. Each time somebody shows care for us, that is God is reaching out to us. In our MJR language we call this SOJ – Spirit of Jesus.

This week, let us open our hearts so that we may recognise the SOJ. Let us be open to transformation through hearing and seeing all that is wonderful, right in front of us.

Peace & blessings

Mrs Terri Leotta
APRE/Teacher

From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose

P&F Meeting
Our P&F AGM was held last Thursday and I am pleased to announce that our 2022 committee is;

President – Dan Kinnane
Vice President: Lisa McNamara
Treasurer: Patrice Bettini
Secretary: Majella McGowan
Events: Bianca Miles

I thank these parents for their ongoing commitment to the P&F this year and know that they will do a great job.  With regards to P&F events, I thank Bianca Miles on being our coordinator and know that she will be able to rely on assistance from many families to ensure P&F events run smoothly.  Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 19^th April at 6pm in the staffroom.  At this meeting, we will discuss the funding priorities for 2022, so if you have any great ideas how the P&F can fund this year, make sure you come along.

Just One Thing Campaign
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.  To date, we have only about 35% of families who have submitted a response.  Parent responses by class are as follows;

Volunteering at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
A huge thank you to all the parents who take time out of their busy lives to volunteer at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.  In order to volunteer at St Mary’s, please read the 2022 Induction of Volunteers Guidelines (click link below) and complete the google form.  At this stage, the Qld government requires all visitors and volunteers working with students and staff to be double vaccinated.  This will be monitored by scanning the Check-In Qld QR Code next to the sign in kiosk at the school office.  We will keep parents informed should these requirements change in the future.

Class Coordinators Needed
We still require several class coordinators.  Please see the list below and if you are available to assist, please let the school office know.  The main jobs for class coordinators are; welcoming new families, liaising with class teacher to pass on relevant information (via class facebook page) and coordinating class social events (class playdate, parent evenings & helpers for Christmas fair).

Health News
St Mary’s wishes to advise 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 continue 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.

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.

Quote of the Week

Prep 2023 Enrolments

St Mary’s are currently taking enrolments for Prep 2023. We encourage both existing and new families who have a child starting Prep next year to lodge their enrolment application as soon as possible. Applications are to be made via our online enrolment form available from our website www.smmrok.catholic.edu.au with interviews to commence on 9th May.

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

Project Compassion-Third Week of Lent

Janice 44, is a proud Wagilak woman, a traditional dancer, living in a remote community in the Northern Territory. As elders grow older and pass away, she knows she must share her knowledge with the younger generation. However, the community faces multiple challenges, including a lack of jobs, limited educational opportunities, and socio-economic which can lead to young people becoming disconnected from culture.

With your help, Caritas Australia supports Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, which operates a centre for traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts and culture, providing employment and generating income for local communities.

Please donate to Project Compassion 2022 and help provide employment and training for First Australians, allowing them to remain on country and keep their culture alive

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.

Caritas Classroom Tally

Hot Cross Bun Drive

Less than a week to get your orders in!

As we hop closer to Easter, please join us in our annual P&F Hot Cross Buns Drive.  Just like last year, we have Crusty’s Bakery onboard to supply their freshly baked traditional, choc chip and fruit free hot cross buns, $6 per dozen.

Order forms were sent home last week with details on how to order (online only) and how to keep track of all your orders from family and friends.

Orders will close at 9pm on Monday 21 March.  Collection will be in the school hall on Tuesday 29 March 2.30-3.30pm.

Please contact the office for further information.

Harmony Day/National Day of Action against Bullying - Friday 18th March

This Friday 18th March we will acknowledge Harmony Day which is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism. We will also recognise the National Day of Action Against Bullying.

On this day each class will participate in lessons about tolerance, respect and learning skills to resolve conflicts. Each class will contribute to creating a whole school anti-bullying display.

We invite all students to wear ONE orange item of clothing with their uniform. This could be an orange t-shirt, ribbon, socks, etc.

Mrs Terri Leotta
APRE/Teacher

Planning for a safe and supportive school community

On Friday 18 March 2022, St Mary's is participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for the 2022 NDA is Kindness Culture. St Mary's will demonstrate Kindness Culture by creating pledges which promote inclusiveness, respect and community belonging for all students.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community requires a whole-school community approach. Whole-school responses to bullying prevention build positive and supportive school environments by incorporating strategies for intervention at all levels, inclusive of students, teachers, parents and carers.

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include

1. power imbalance
2. deliberate intent to cause harm, and
3. ongoing and repeated behaviour

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school:

• arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance)
• single acts of social rejection or meanness, or
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.
  

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents, carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.

The full national definition can be read here.

Knowing the types of bullying behaviour can also help you identify if the incident is bullying, or peer aggression. While neither of these behaviours are tolerated at St Mary's, they do require different management strategies, and the first step for responding is to correctly identify the behaviour.

If you have concerns that your child is being bullied, please contact the classroom teacher in the first instance. You will be referred to the leadership team if a satisfactory outcome is not achieved. If you believe the behaviour constitutes a crime, or is a serious incident of cyberbullying, please refer to the Bullying. No Way! website for information on how to report to other authorities and gaining further help.

You can read the St Mary's bullying prevention policy by clicking the link below to learn more about our school’s process for managing incidents of bullying.

For more information, please visit the Bullying. No Way! website for additional resources.

Sport News

Congratulations to Emmi Burgess and Sunny Hodder on their selection in the Mackay District Netball (10-11 and 11-12 years) teams. The girls will next play at the Capricornia trials later this month. Well done and good luck girls.

Congratulations to Fynn Shears on his selection in the Mackay District Touch Football team. He will next play at the Capricornia trials later this month. Well done and good luck.

Congratulations to Nev Lucas, Thomas Hurley, Justin Arbuthnot and Bodene Tass, on their efforts at Southern Suburbs trials last week. The boys have been selected in the Southern Suburbs Rugby League (10 and 11 years) teams and will next play at the Mackay District trials. Well done and good luck.

Good luck to Ryan Sommerfeld, Tyler Marteene, Fynn Shears, Harrison Roberts and Jack Watt who were nominated at school to trial for Mackay District Rugby League trials (12 year boys).

Mrs Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher

Touch Footy Draw - Round 3

Nude Food Day

Student of the Week

Week 7, Term 1 Student Award Winners

Community News