Week 8, Term 1 2023 - 14th March 2023
APRE Reflection
National Close the Gap Day is observed on the third Thursday of March, falling on March 16 this year, and advocates for health equity of Australia’s indigenous people and educating the public about the health issues and barriers to well-being faced by them.
Since 2007, National Close the Gap Day brings together Australians from all over the country to advocate for health equity and take meaningful action to create better and more equitable conditions for the indigenous people.
The campaign encourages people and organizations to draw attention to the health issues of Australia’s indigenous people and to support legislation and programs for the improvement of their conditions.
Members of the public, schools and organisations are invited to support the Close the Gap campaign by petitioning the Australian Government to commit to providing adequate and long-term financial resources to achieve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality.
Our social justice program works on a “head, heart and hands approach”. Students are taught an understanding of social injustice (head), encouraged to feel it in their hearts, and act in service with their hands. This week we will acknowledge Close the Gap Day at our weekly assembly. If you would like to access further information it can be found here Close the Gap 2023.
Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
https://slidebazaar.com/items/head-heart-hand-template/
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
NAPLAN
All the best to the Year 3 and 5 students who will sit their NAPLAN tests over the coming weeks. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. I am confident our students have been well prepared for these tests and thank the teachers and support staff for their efforts.
Baby News
Special congratulations to Nikita and Craig Petzer on the birth of their daughter, Luna, over the weekend. Luna is a little sister to Colten (Yr3).
P&F Meeting
Our next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st March at 6pm in the staffroom. At this meeting, we will finalise the 2023 P&F wish list and look ahead to some upcoming P&F events, including the trivia night. Our meetings are always kept to one hour and are a practical way to get involved with the school. As an added bonus, our executive roles have been filled for the year, so you won’t get a job! Looking forward to seeing you there.
Work Experience Students
This week, we welcome two students from St Patrick’s College who are completing work experience at our school. All the best to Jayda Bungay (Prep R and PE) and Isabella Hellwege (Yr 4C).
Basketball Gala Day
Last Friday’s gala day was very well attended, with over 90 students participating. Students were arranged into teams that played 34 games. A big thank you to the staff who attended; Mrs Standish, Mrs van Lint, Mr Townsend, Mrs Camargo, Mrs McGovern and Mrs Rose. A special mention to Danielle Jurd, Rachael Paron, Lazar Suratman, Patty Deguara, Kate Vella, Lisa McNamara and Klanci Keough.
Cybersafety Talk
Parents are invited to attend this evening’s seminar focusing on cybersafety and digital addiction. To RSVP, please click this link. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfa.../viewform
Yr 6 Cutters Care Clinic
This Thursday, we welcome staff from the Mackay Cutters who will deliver the Cutters Care program to our Yr 6 students. The Cutters Care program seeks to provide a fun session of healthy learning and physical activity to teach the kids some fundamentals of sport and team building exercises. I am sure the students will enjoy this session.
Cross Country Carnivals
A reminder that our junior and senior carnivals are fast approaching.
Junior Carnival (Prep – Yr 2)
- Thursday 23rd March 8:45am-10:15am on the St Mary’s Oval.
- Parents and relatives invited to attend.
Senior Carnival (Yr 3-Yr 6)
- Monday 27th March from 8:50am-10:30am at Queen’s Park. Parents are invited to attend.
- Students will need to arrive at school promptly wearing their sports shorts and house shirt. Students will be transported to the venue by bus. Once students are assembled at Queens Park, races will commence.
- The order of events and approximate times will be:
- 9:10am 9 years and under (2015, 2014) 2km Competitive Race Boys
9 years and under (2015, 2014) 2km Competitive Race Girls
- 9:30am 10 years (2013) 2km Competitive Race Boys
10 years (2013) 2km Competitive Race Girls
- 9:50am 11 years (2012) 3km Competitive Race Boys
11 years (2012) 3km Competitive Race Girls
- 10:10am 12 years (2011) 3km Competitive Race Boys
12 years (2011) 3km Competitive Race Girls
- Fun Run Boys 1km
- Fun Run Girls 1km
- Students will choose on the day to compete in either the Competitive Race OR the Fun Run. The students cannot enter both.
- The Competitive Race will have placing ribbons and will be the trial for the selection of the St Mary’s Cross-Country Team (10-12yrs). The Fun Run is not for placing, it will be a staggered start with participation points being allocated for every student who completes the run.
- At the end of the day, the winning house will be announced.
- Please pack a healthy snack, water bottle, hat, sunscreen applied before school.
Vaping – Information for Parents
Over recent months, there has been growing concern about the epidemic affecting young people in relation to the use of e-cigarettes and the trendy pastime of vaping. As this activity grows in popularity, most young people are unaware of the associated risks and the potential impact vaping can have on their development and overall health.
At St Mary’s, we have a zero tolerance of any vaping use/equipment at school, and any students who bring e-cigarettes or vaping materials to school will receive a ‘red card’. For more information, please access our school TV page. There is an excellent video by Dr Michael Carr-Greg, explaining the issue.
https://smmrok.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-vaping-au
School TV
St Mary’s is very excited to introduce a new initiative to help support the wellbeing of our students. After all, happy and well supported students are better equipped to learn and succeed.
We know that it can be difficult and time consuming for parents to source credible information when it comes to ongoing wellbeing support strategies for their children. To aid with this we have partnered with SchoolTV, an online resource designed to empower parents to better deal with the challenges for raising happy, well and resilient young people.
Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, the SchoolTV resource has now been implemented at our school to assist parents and caregivers in navigating the challenges of modern-day parenting. This outstanding resource delivers credible information with practical strategies featuring video interviews with leading specialists, supported by a host of resources from key wellbeing organisations.
SchoolTV offers parents a fresh approach to the issues and pressures faced by children and young people in our communities throughout Australia.
Some topics featured include:
- Youth Anxiety
- Raising Girls
- School Refusal
- Positive Parenting
- Digital Reputation
- Managing Screen Time
- Cyberbullying
We encourage you to visit our SchoolTV site and view the content but more importantly use this resource if and when needed to support your child and family through particular needs as they may arise. At a time when the wellbeing of our youth has never been more challenged, we are pleased to be able to offer this accessible, credible and empowering resource to our families.
Many thanks again to the support provided by Catholic Education Rockhampton Northern Region to get this up and running across all schools in the region.
Quote of the Week
"The best of all medicines is resting and fasting."
-Benjamin Franklin
Prep 2024 Enrolments
Do you have a Prep student beginning in 2024?
Thank you to those families who have already submitted their enrolment application online. 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 in term 3.
Please contact the school office for further information or any assistance required.
Project Compassion-Fourth Week of Lent
Thu lives in Vietnam. When Thu was 12 years old, he stepped on an unexploded land mine and lost his leg.
Living with a disability in rural Vietnam presented many challenges for Thu, who worked mainly as a rice farmer. Thu also took on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.
Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD).
For Thu, the greatest impact the program has had is enabling the change in Linh’s physical and mental wellbeing. With the support of a physiotherapist, Linh can now walk short distances with the aid of a walking stick.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2023.
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 using donation boxes in classrooms, scanning the QR code, by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion, or by calling 1800 024 413.
Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
Caritas Classroom Tally
Project Compassion - Badges for Sale
From Wednesday morning until sold out, these badges and many other designs will be available for purchase, with all money going to Project Compassion.
The badges are $2 or $3 and can be bought from outside the Library.
P & F News - St Mary's Pie Drive
Don't forget to get your orders in for the St Mary's P&F Pie Drive.
Thanks to Byrnes Pies, we have a great selection of pies and sweets to choose from. Fill the fridge or freezer with quick, easy, and tasty dinner solutions.
To place your order, please scan the QR code at right or click the link below.
BYRNES Pie Drive Order Form - St Mary's (cognitoforms.com)
Orders will close Friday 31st March (last day of Term 1).
Delivery will take place during the second week in Term 2.
PLEASE NOTE: If you prefer to pay by cash, please use the paper order form by clicking the link below and hand into the office with cash by Thursday 30th March.
Melissa McGuiness
P & F Committee
Sport News
Touch Footy Draw - Round 4 - 15th March 2023
Book Club Orders
Student of the Week
Week 7, Term 1 Student Award Winners
| Prep P | Harper | For your wonderful listening and participation during our carpet learning time. Thank you for always putting your hand up to answer questions and for your great ideas for our 'photo of the day' sentence. Keep up the wonderful work Harper! |
| Prep P | Leo | For wonderful work when completing your schoolwork. Thank you for completing your tasks so neatly and carefully. Keep up the great work Leo! |
| Prep R | Brooklyn | For the way you are trying so hard in our Heggerty sessions. You try so hard every session. Keep it up! |
| Prep R | Tyson | For the effort you are putting into your writing. You are trying so hard and doing a great job. Keep it up! |
| 1B | Asha | For giving a detailed explanation of the ways you can pray. Your ideas were so thoughtful and inspiring. |
| 1B | Bowen | For the descriptive story writing this week. You have produced wonderful work that was great to read. Well done! |
| 1K | Evelyn | For always enjoying school and for working independently to develop problem solving skills. You have made super progress in your writing. Keep it up! |
| 1K | Eloise | For showing fantastic progress across the curriculum. Eloise has shared some fabulous songs and stories to the class and has a real talent when it comes to song writing. Please keep sharing your creativity with 1K. |
| 2A | Hunter | For staying focused in class and being helpful to your peers. Keep up the great work, Hunter! |
| 2L | Dominic | Dominic, your teacher is very pleased with the extra special effort you made with your handwriting this week! Keep up the huge effort! |
| 2L | Lincoln | Lincoln you never cease to amaze your teacher! You always work hard to finish activities and you have shown great enthusiasm to extend your knowledge. Keep up the excellent work! |
| 3B | Hailey | For the creativity and detail you add to your illustrations and artwork. You are one talented artist! |
| 3P | Ava | For being a hard-working, diligent and enthusiastic member of 3P. You are a quiet achiever who strives to work to your highest potential at all times. Keep up the great effort! |
| 3P | Abigail | For always working diligently during class and displaying a positive disposition. |
| 4A | Gemma | Gemma, your enthusiasm in the classroom is infectious! You have been a super helpful PA of the Day this week. Well done! |
| 4A | Ewan | For your amazing efforts in writing this week. We can see massive improvements and how hard you are working. |
| 4A | Jayce | For your wonderful effort in writing. We are very impressed with your use of the dictionary in your creative writing. Keep it going! |
| 4C | Ollie | For your wonderful efforts with your information report about St Mary's. I can't wait to read more. |
| 4C | Milla | For your creativity and amazing use of figurative language in your writing. I especially loved the way you used similes in your sentences to engage the audience. Well done! |
| 4C | Hannah | For your well written introduction for your information report about St Mary's. I'm looking forward to reading the next paragraph. |
| 5SA | Peyton | For always treating others with kindness and for the grit and determination you are showing in Math's lessons. Fabulous work Peyton! |
| 5T | Ellis | For being a motivated and focused student who commences all tasks promptly. You follow instructions and complete all work to a high standard. It has been very pleasing to see, Ellis! |
| 5T | Chiara | For the consistent effort you have demonstrated to improve your writing skills. You incorporated various persuasive devices within your text to convince your audience. Great work Chiara! |
| 6M | Tyrell | For the focused approach you are taking in all aspects of your school work and the positive influence you have on your class mates. You brighten up our day Tyrell! |
| 6M | Mary | For displaying the virtues of diligence, perseverance, trustworthiness and kindness. You make our classroom a brighter place. |
| 6V | Jordan | For displaying initiative and excellent organisation each day. Your assistance in the classroom is valued and appreciated Jordan. |
Community News
Upgrades to Griffin Street Park
Mackay Regional Council have advised that Griffin Street Park in West Mackay will be closed from Friday, March 17, until early-June, to complete upgrade works.
The works include:
- Replacing the old play equipment with new play equipment
- Installing new concrete footpaths that connect to Griffin and Grant streets and the facilities in the park
- Upgrading the bollards along Griffin and Grant streets
- Removal of the kidney shaped hardstand
- Replacing the old furniture with new aluminium seating
- Drainage improvements along the northern and eastern sides of the park
- Renewal of the existing shade shelter
- Replacement of two trees in poor health and landscaping works.
Please see work map by clicking on the link below.
Residents are encouraged to visit knowyourburb.com.au to find an alternative park near them.
