Week 2, Term 2 2023 - 24th April 2023
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
Staff News
- Congratulations to Mr Rob Townsend (Yr 5 teacher) who will attend his graduation ceremony this Thursday. Well done, Rob.
- Miss Brooke Anderson (teacher assistant) will be away from 28/5- 26/6, while she attends Army Reserve training. During this time, Mrs Nella Simpson will replace her.
- Next Tuesday and Wednesday, we welcome Mr John Campbell (Maths Consultant) who will work with teachers and students to present some high leverage Maths teaching strategies.
- Next Wednesday, Mrs Terri Leotta will have her APRE appraisal. We welcome Mrs Kellie Jenkinson (Assistant Director: Mission) to St Mary’s school.
ANZAC Day Parade
Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. To commemorate this special national day, I invite all staff and students to participate in the ANZAC Day parade next Tuesday 25th April.
Students are to dress in their formal school uniform and assemble in the Canelands carpark (Matsuura Drive) from 8:00am. Either drop your child off in the allocated drop-off area or park in the upper-level car parking (P1) or and walk your child to the ground-level car park. Look for the St Mary’s flag and staff members. The march will start at 8:35am and will proceed down Victoria and Wellington Streets. Following the march, students can be collected in the usual place, near the roundabout on Alfred and Macalister Streets (between the MECC and Central SS). For more information, please click on the relevant maps below that show assembly, the parade route and dispersal.
Sporting News
- The Mackay District Cross Country race is being held this Friday at Queen’s Park. Well done to the St Mary’s students who were selected to compete; Nina Lucas, Rylie Hanson, Mayson Vassallo, Tom Hurley, Cooper Ricciardi, Madison Malagueno, Harper Standish, Ariah Corrigan and Oliver Standish.
- St Mary’s Battlers Rugby League commences this term, with training each Monday from 3pm-4pm. Interschool games start next week; with game details posted on the school Facebook page.
- The Futsal gala day will be held in Sarina this Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th Mrs Gordon will supervise on Wednesday and Mrs van Lint will supervise Thursday.
- Notes went home last week about the Southern Suburbs Tennis trials, to be held at the Pioneer Tennis courts on Friday 5th May from 1:30pm-4:30pm. If your child did not receive a note, please contact the office. These notes are due by 2nd
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
“I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me.”
- Erica Jong
Prep 2024 Enrolments
St Mary’s are currently taking enrolments for Prep 2024. 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 https://www.smmrok.catholic.edu.au/enrol-now and close on 2nd July.
Please contact the school office for further information or any assistance required.
School Fees
Please note that School fees were emailed last Friday. If you haven’t received your email, please don’t hesitate to contact me at smm_finance@rok.catholic.edu.au or phone 4951 1743.
Kathy Parrish
Finance Officer
St Mary's Schoolzine App Update
Schoolzine have released an update for their App, if your device is still showing a green logo, please update the app through the App Store or Google Play. The parent sign-in code for St Mary's is 4142.
Once updated, the logo should change to orange.
Important: If it prompts you to reinstall the app, Schoolzine is currently experiencing problems loading schools to complete the installation. We will advise when this has been rectified.
ANZAC Day
Last Friday we welcomed Ken Higgins, President of Mackay RSL to our assembly. Ken spoke about Lance Corporal Jock Buchan, who was killed in action during the Vietnam war. Ken served in Vietnam alongside Jock, who is remembered as one of a handful of Scottish citizens who served in the Australian Army during this time. We thank Ken for his service and for addressing our school assembly.
Year 4 reverently led the whole school in our ANZAC Liturgy this afternoon. Thank you to our readers and helpers and also to those parents who were able to attend.
St Mary's Pie Drive - Collection Dates
Walk to School Day
Rockin' Recorders Group
Student of the Week
Week 1, Term 2 Student Award Winners
| Prep R | Ivor | For always being a kind and respectful classmate. Thank you for always using your manners and having a positive attitude. |
| Prep R | Vinudi | For always having a happy and enthusiastic attitude to all learning. Keep trying your best. |
| Prep P | Vivienne | For being a happy and helpful member of our class and a kind friend to everyone. Thank you Vivienne! |
| Prep P | Ethan | For working so hard to write and draw neatly in your workbooks. Thank you Ethan and keep trying your best! |
| 1B | Hudson | You have been so diligent by showing great care in your writing and trying your very best to be a good role model. What a great start for term two! |
| 1B | Adelaide | For the respect you show towards others! You are so well mannered and such a great listener in class. Keep being outstanding Adelaide! |
| 1K | Oliver | For producing a creative and humorous recall about the Easter break. For always being enthusiastic in class and for being a great friend and helper to everyone in 1K. |
| 2A | Evie | For demonstrating the virtue of kindness and helping others without being asked. You are an MJR star! |
| 2A | Matilda | For always taking pride in your learning by showing attention to detail and producing neat, accurate work. |
| 2L | Imogen | Imogen, your teacher really enjoyed reading about your Easter school holidays! Your feelings of enthusiasm, happiness and excitement really came through in your writing. It made your teacher smile! |
| 2L | Paulo | Paulo your teacher was super-impressed with your answers in maths when adding multiples of 10! You nailed it this week! Well done! |
| 3B | Artik | For your entertaining use of expression in our BOOST group. Your different accents and voices for your characters had us giggling and enjoying your reading. |
| 3P | Oliver | For always trying his best, following class instructions and having a fun personality! |
| 3P | Ayden | For being a focused student who always is working hard, but who also is has an energetic fun personality. |
| 4A | Kolby | For carefully considering your goal for this term, your effort and hard work has been noticed this week. Well done! |
| 4A | Isabella | For your kindness and care for others always shines through. Isabella, you consistently show initiative and solve problems in social situations. Keep being an amazing class mate. |
| 4C | Paulina | For your diligent approach to all class learning tasks. It is wonderful to see your persistence and commitment grow this year. |
| 4C | Vihaan | For being such a polite and attentive student every day. Your work ethic and enthusiasm for learning is obvious during all whole class learning tasks. |
| 5SA | Thomas | For a flying start to term 2, you have had such a positive approach to class work and peers! Keep up the great work Thomas! |
| 5T | Leah | For always being organised and ready to learn. You put 100% into all tasks. You are a wonderful role model in our classroom. Keep up the hard work Leah! |
| 6M | Andy | For your super quick calculations and responses in maths. Your enthusiasm is contagious Andy! |
| 6M | Magenta | For your ability to lead with humility, compassion, patience and kindness. You set an excellent example to others Magenta! |
| 6V | Campbell | For excellent collaboration and effort during partner problem-solving activities this week. |
| 6V | Mayson | For excellent contributions to our human migration discussions this week. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with such confidence, Mayson. |
| 6V | Mia | For displaying the virtue of humility and always trying to help others. You are a delightful asset to our class Mia. Keep up the great work. |
Community News
