Week 6, Term 2 2022 - 24th May 2022

From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose

Student Technology Use / Wearable Devices (e.g. Smart Watches)

I issue a timely reminder to parents and student of the St Mary’s guidelines pertinent to technology.  This is in response to an increase in students wearing smartwatches that are video/photo capable, as well as an observed rise in student social media use.  An executive summary of this document is as follows;

• The general advice is that while allowed, students should avoid bringing technology devices to school.
• Students who bring digital technology devices (e.g. mobile phone) to school are to store them in the office for safekeeping throughout the day. Upon departure from school, students collect the device from the office, which can then be used for normal and appropriate use.
• Students should avoid bringing wearable tech devices to school, as they provide a significant distraction throughout the day. If wearable tech is worn at school, the use of any audio or video recording function is prohibited. If a wearable tech device is deemed by the teacher to be causing a distraction, it will be confiscated until the end of the school day.
• Student use of social media is strongly discouraged. If parents consent for their child to have a social media account, the age restriction of the social media platform should be consulted. Regular monitoring of any social media account should be conducted by the child’s parents. More information can be found here
  

You can also view some tips on keeping your family safe online in the flyer below.

If you have any queries, please contact me.

Staff News
- Mrs Cusack will attend a training session in Rockhampton focusing on ESL (English as a second Language).  In her absence, Mrs Bolte (Tue/Wed) and John Lyons (Thu) will teach 4C.
- Mrs Jenni Motteram is absent in week 6 and 7.  Several relief staff will teach 6M while she is away.

Farewell 
I wish to advise that Mrs Laura Camilleri has tended her resignation.  Laura is currently our Workplace Health and Safety Officer and over the past 10 years, has filled various roles across the school including administration assistant and teacher assistant.  In her current role, Laura is known for her knowledge, efficiency and ability to ensure the health and safety of staff and students in all manner of school activities. On behalf of the school community, I thank Laura for her good work over the years and wish her all the best in her new role as WHS officer in the mining industry.  Please note that Laura’s last day is this Thursday 26^th May.

Prep enrolment interviews
We continue interviews for Prep 2023.  I thank the many existing families who have completed their prep applications for next year.  A reminder that if you are yet to complete your Prep 2023 child’s online application, please do so asap, as it is past due.  Please see the school office for assistance if needed.

Satisfaction Survey
Every 3 years the Catholic Education: Diocese of Rockhampton conducts satisfaction surveys for schools.  These surveys form part of our school improvement data and assist us to officially ‘check in’ with our stakeholders to monitor how things are going.  St Mary’s survey will be open from 16^th - 27^th May.  Parents, staff and Year 4-6 students have been sent a link to the survey, and I invite everyone to submit a response.  So far, we have 158 responses and it is our goal to get to 250 responses.   Please check your email inbox and let the office know if you need assistance.

P&F Meeting
I advise that our next P&F meeting is tonight (Tue 24^th May) from 6pm in the staffroom.  Interested parents are invited to attend, with the main agenda item the upcoming Trivia Night.

Quote of the Week

Health Reminder

St Mary's Trivia Night

Get your tickets before they sell out!

- First prize $500
- Best dressed team
- Fashions of the field - male & female
- Over $2000 worth of raffle prizes

No single tickets will be sold
Bookings for teams of 8 or 10 only
Nominate a table captain and book at table.

Bookings close Friday 27th May. Tickets can be purchased online by scanning below or click https://www.trybooking.com/BZDSN

St Mary's P&F - Major Raffle Draw

As part of St Mary’s P&F fundraising, we are having a Major Raffle Draw at the Trivia Night – Friday 3^rd June 2022.

Raffle tickets were sent home last week with the eldest in the family.

Cost: $5 each or 5 for $20 (1 sheet)

Extra raffle tickets can be purchased online via the QR code
or by clicking on the link: https://www.trybooking.com/BZOSE

Please return raffle tickets to the office by Thursday 2^nd June to be in the draw to win one of these amazing prizes.

All raffles will be drawn at the St Mary's Trivia Night.

From our APRE - Mrs Terri Leotta

May - The Month of Mary

May is traditionally dedicated in a special way to honoring Mary as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church.

Thank you once again to Year 5R who have created beautiful artworks in her honour. Some more of these have been showcased below.

Mrs Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy

Please join us!

St Mary's School will join with Mercy College to celebrate our Youth Mass this Saturday 28th May at St Mary's Church at 5pm. Children's Liturgy will also be held.  

Mass will be followed by a supper outside the church which the whole family is most welcome to attend.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Mrs Terri Leotta
APRE/Teacher

Sacramental Program 2022

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week—27 May to 3 June—is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

We will be recognising this week with the following activities;

-The Too Deadly Mob will be presenting something special on June 3^rd assembly, which is also Eddie Mabo Day, so there will be a guest speaker talking about the significance of this day. 

-Prep - Yr 2 : Performance that will be recorded to be presented on the screen.

-Yr 3 - Yr 6 : A video presentation of What is Reconciliation, What it means to them etc 

There will also be a colouring competition that the whole school will participate in.

Year 6 Caritas Stalls

Next Monday and Tuesday the Year 6 students will be running their 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 and support this initiative of the hard-working year 6 students.

Jenni Motteram,  Belinda Battaia and Belinda van Lint
Year 6 Teachers

Sport News

Further information will be sent out in the coming week in regard to these dates. Could any parents who would like to help with the Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival please contact me via email (Simone_sibley@rok.catholic.edu.au).

Bravehearts Visit to St Mary’s

Students in Prep and Year One will be involved in Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Program on Wednesday 8^th June at 2pm. An information letter will be sent out to parents later this week

QLD HPE Week

This week (23rd-27th May) is Qld HPE week. To celebrate this St Mary’s will be keeping active during the week through a variety of before school and lunchtime activities (Just Dance, skipping, giant parachutes, hula hoops and a staff vs Year 6 Dodgeball game). We are also running laps of our school track every day to try to run the distance from St Mary’s to the tip of Australia (1740km). Stay tuned for the result of our effort and photos from our fun activities in next week’s newsletter.

Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher

Catholic Education of Rockhampton-Celebration of Visual Arts

The opening of the Rockhampton Museum of Art has inspired our diocese to celebrate Visual Art across our schools.  To acknowledge, celebrate and lift the profile of the Arts as a highly valued part of every students’ learning St Mary’s has submitted the following 10 entries to be published both online and in hardcopy in term 4 as a collection of works across the diocese. 

Well done to these students and we look forward to viewing these works online later in the year.

Belinda Battaia
Assistant Principal: Curriculum

Student of the Week

Week 5, Term 2 Student Award Winners