Week 8, Term 4 2022 - 22nd November 2022
APRE's Reflection
Dear Parents,
Across Australia, many people in our communities struggle to keep a roof over their heads. They are forced to make increasingly hard choices as they navigate inflation, housing stress, high energy prices, and the rising cost of daily essentials. These pressures undermine living standards, limit job or educational opportunities and can be a catalyst for homelessness, relationship breakdowns, and mental health concerns. St Mary’s School is committed to a more just and compassionate Australia and world where nobody should struggle to make ends meet or live below the poverty line.
The Season of Advent begins on Sunday and this is traditionally a time of preparation for Christmas. It’s a time when we make room in our hearts, minds and lives, it’s a time where we prepare to welcome Jesus. An important way to do this is remain focussed on what is “The REASON for the SEASON.”
This week our classes have been asked to spend time thinking about those who may not be able celebrate Christmas in the comfort to which we are accustomed. With a focus on empathy and in an effort to model words of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, we have committed to; “Never see a need without doing something about it!”
Each class has been asked to contribute to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal by gifting either a grocery items, letters, jokes and cards. Class teachers will communicate this endeavour to you through a newsletter or email.
These gifts will be collected by our St Vincent de Paul representatives at our final assembly on 2nd December. There is great joy in giving to others and we thank you for supporting the school to continue to work towards Social Justice.
Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
St Mary’s Fair
Sincere thanks to the many staff, parish and parent volunteers that worked to make our Christmas Fair a huge success. We were blessed with great weather and a large crowd enjoyed all that was on offer at the Fair. We are still finalizing the income and expenses, and final figures will be shared with the Parents and Friends Association next year. Special mention must go to our fair coordinator, Tanya Davies who did a great job in organising this large event.
Congratulations to the following major raffle winners.
Swim Carnival
Our annual swim carnival last Friday was a wonderful day of fun and competition. It was great to see so many students in attendance, swimming to represent themselves and their house. Congratulations to Eungella Green who were crowned champion team and to Illawong Blue for winning the House Spirit trophy! Many thanks to the staff and parent volunteers that made the day a success.
2023 Orientation Morning
We are preparing for our upcoming orientation morning for all students on Thursday 24th November. Students currently in Prep – Year 5 will spend the morning in their 2023 classroom, meeting their 2023 teacher. Our current Yr 6s have their orientation day at their respective Catholic Colleges. Our incoming 2023 Preps will also visit St Mary’s from 9:15am-10:30am.
Yr 6 Graduation Dinner
I wish our Yr 6 students, their families and staff all the best for the Graduation Dinner, to be held next Monday 28th November from 6:30pm at the Turf Club. I remind Yr 6 families to arrive by at least 6:20pm, as the graduating students need to assemble outside while other guests take their seats in the function room. At 6:30pm, students will process in and the evening will commence.
Leadership Speeches
Congratulations to the Yr 5 student who made their leadership speeches today. Following the speeches, all Year 4,5, and 6 students and staff members voted for their preferred leaders across various positions. Please note that we will announce the 2023 school leaders at assembly this Friday 25th November. All parents and relatives are most welcome to attend.
Year 2 Work Showcase
Each week I have the great pleasure of inspecting students outstanding work samples. On my visit to Year 2 this week, I was so impressed by the projects that some of our Yr 2 students had produced, I just had to share their work in the newsletter! Well done to Ava J, Jasleen B, Malachi N and Rohan T on the in-depth projects they completed on a topic of their choice. As you can see, their presentations are eyecatching, include significant detail, interesting photos and a glossary of specialised terms. I thank these students for their diligence in producing this work, of which they should be very proud! I also thank Mrs Brazil, who facilitated this extension-level project.
Semester Two Reports
Please note that report cards will be available via Parent lounge from 4pm on Thursday 1st December. To access Parent Lounge, follow these simple steps;
1. Open the St Mary’s schoolzine app and click the ‘Parent Lounge’ tile or alternatively click here to access from our St Mary’s website.
2. Login with your username (6 digit ID code which can be found on your school fee account). Your password remains the same as previously used.
3. Click on the ‘Academic Reports’ tab.
If you have any issues accessing your Parent Lounge account please contact the school office.
Teachers for 2023
We continue to work towards staffing the school with an adequate number of teachers for 2023. I am hoping that we can advise the names of classroom teachers in the newsletter next week. I thank all parents and staff for their patience with this matter.
Baby News
Congratulations to the Peady Family who welcomed a baby girl, Scarlet, last weekend. She is a little sister to Izaac (2B) and Remi (PP).
Pick-Up Zone Reminders
We have noticed parent queueing in our pick-up zone quite early, which can prevent the normal flow of traffic into the carpark. I ask parents to avoid queueing in the line until 2:40pm; if you arrive early, please park in the church carpark until 2:40pm. I also ask all parents to not cut the line by following our traffic flow; i.e. turn into McDonald St, then left into Morley St and then right into the carpark.
Quote of the Week
"Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved."
-Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy
Please join us!
St Mary's School will join with Mercy College to celebrate our Youth Mass this Saturday 26th November 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
End of Year School Mass Invitation
All parents and carers are invited to attend our End of Year School Mass next Wednesday 30th November at 9am in the School Hall. This final Mass will include a candle ceremony and handover of Year 6 leaders to our 2023 leaders.
Book Pack Collection Reminder
Book packs ordered through Mackay School Supplies can be collected from our School Hall from Monday to Wednesday next week, 8am-8:30am.
Student Medication
All student medication needs to be collected by a parent at the office by Friday 2nd December as we are not legally allowed to give these to a student to take home. This does not include asthma sprays and EpiPens.
Any medication that is not collected by this date will be disposed. When collecting the medication, you will be issued with a new authorisation form to bring at the start of term in 2023.
Uniform Update
Lowes have advised that the St Mary's size 6 Prep polo shirts should be arriving in store from next Friday 2nd December.
They are also running low in the size 4 and 6 uniforms in store but have organised for more stock to be sent from the warehouse to arrive at the same time as the Prep polos.
Apologies for any inconvenience this has caused to parents.
St Mary's Christmas Concert
Christmas Under the Stars!
On Thursday 1st December from 6-7pm in the basketball court we will host our Christmas Concert. Our students have been busily learning several Christmas dances under the expert tutelage of our Performing Arts Teacher, Mrs Wood.
Letters have been sent home with students with details of costume requirements. These letters can also be found by clicking on the appropriate link below.
School Dental Service
Mackay Oral Health Services – School Dental Service
The School Dental Service is now offering services to students enrolled at St Mary's.
A text message will be sent home in the next few weeks for parents to contact the School Dental Service to enrol and make an appointment.
Appointments will be offered at: Victoria Park School Dental Clinic
Goldsmith Street
School holiday appointments available
If you have any enquiries please phone 4885 6444.
A Parent/Guardian must transport and accompany their child to all appointments at this clinic.
For further information on this service, please visit our website:
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/oralhealth/services/school.asp
St Mary's Swimming Carnival
Last Friday we ran our St Mary’s Junior and Senior swimming carnivals. Both events were participated in with great sportsmanship, smiling faces and plenty of splashing. Our junior students competed in noodle races as well as the competitive strokes across the pool whilst our senior students were able to decide between swimming the competitive strokes in width or length races.
Congratulations to Eungella Green who were our champion house on the day and to Illawong Blue who took out the Spirit Award for their fantastic cheering and support of each other throughout the day.
The results for the day were-
Iluka White: 531 points
Illawong Blue: 643 points
Eungella Green: 656 points.
A big congratulations to Madison Malagueno who broke a whopping 4 records in the 50m events.
10 year girls
50m Freestyle
31.66 sec
10 year girls
50m Breaststroke
50.45 sec
10 year girls
50m Backstroke
42.52 sec
Open girls
100m Freestyle
1.13.25
Thank you to all our volunteer parent helpers who were able to assist with set up and pack up, lifeguard duties, house marshalling, timekeeping, judging and ribbon writing. Thank you also to Mr Clancy for all his behind-the-scenes preparation with tents, tables, chairs, water (and the list goes on!) and Mrs Houston for organising all things required to time, judge and record events.
Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher
Community News
