2024 Week 7 Newsletter - Term 4
- From the Acting Principal
- From the APC
- Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting
- Christmas Hamper
- In Our Prayers
- Important Swimming Carnival Information
- Important Dates in Term 4
- Departing Families
- Rockhampton Summer Camp Group 2025
- Star of the Sea Church Centenary Raffle
- Church Centenary Celebrations
- Have you downloaded our new App yet?
- 2024 School Priorities
- Student Absentee Line
- Wearitto Uniform Shop Trading Hours
- St Joseph's Cathedral Appeal
- Community Notices
- Caulfield 2024 Sponsors
From the Acting Principal
Tomorrow is World Kindness Day.
World Kindness Day is an annual event that encourages individuals to practice kindness in their daily lives. It highlights the importance of empathy, understanding, and cooperation to create a more harmonious and caring world.
A wonderful reminder for us all as we enter a busy time of the year, when people are getting tired and emotions are running high.
I remember reading an article about everyone having so much on their plates and the importance of realising that everyone’s plate is different. Some have bigger plates than others, some have fancy plates, while others have broken plates. I guess World Kindness Day reminds us that no matter what, a simple smile can make all the difference for someone.
Dr Justin Coulson (Parenting Expert)
“Please, Please, Please, PLEASE be kind. Be Compassionate. Be Gentle. Be inclusive. Be supportive and Forgive. Be less critical and judgemental and more of a cheerleader. Don’t be on your kid’s back (or your partner/spouse’s back). Instead make sure you’ve got their back. Love them and make sure they know it. They have to know they matter.”
This small piece of advice was shared at a staff meeting and I feel it is so powerful, it is worth sharing with everyone.
Dear Lord, Give me strength today to show kindness in all that I do. Help me to open my arms to those less fortunate and extend my hand to those who may need it, so that they may see You in my kind words and actions. Amen.
Choose kind,
Kellie Richardson
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au
FREE DRESS DAY
IN SUPPORT OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Each year our school supports the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Please see attached flyer for details. This year we will hold a Free Dress Day as part of the campaign and students are asked to donate something toward this appeal if they choose to come to school in free dress on the day.
THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Students are invited to wear sun safe free dress to school on this day and donate an item of food for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.
From the APC
The Swimming Carnival is quickly approaching and we want to keep you all informed of the plans and procedures.
If you have not nominated your child for the Swimming Carnival please assist us and do so by this Friday 15th November. Please access the link below to submit your child's nomination.
If your child will be absent on the day of the Swimming Carnival or special circumstances prevent them from swimming please contact the school office on 4972 1305.
Order of Events
- FREESTYLE: 100 - 50 - 25 - 25 assisted
- BREASTROKE: 50 - 25 - 25 assisted
- BACKSTROKE: 25
- BUTTERFLY: - 25
- BACKSTROKE: - 50
- BUTTERFLY:- 50
- FLYING SQUADRON: - 50
- PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT RELAY:-50
Age Champion age groups are as follows: Under 9 girls and boys, 10 Years girls and boys, 11 Years girls and boys and Open girls and boys. For U9 age groups, they will race in their individual age groups, but the times will be compared to calculate Age Champion points for this age group.
To qualify for Age Champion Points, you must swim 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Backstroke. 50m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle will also accumulate points but are not compulsory. Presentation is at Assembly 8:35am 25th November.
Points for positions are as follows: 1st place – 10, 2nd place – 7, 3rd place – 4 and 4th – 8th is 1 point.
Below is a list of jobs we are asking parents to consider volunteering for the day.
Timekeeping – 2 parents work together. Both parents are timing the students by stopwatch from the start of the race until the finish. One parent is a backup for the other.
In pool assistance – Some of our little swimmers require a little extra assistance in the pool on the day. You are there to offer support and friendly encouragement or offer them a kickboard to reach for or hold the kickboard the whole way to give them that little bit of extra reassurance.
These roles are vital to run our Swimming Carnival efficiently and safely and we would greatly appreciate your support to fill these jobs. This also gives you a front row seat to watch your children swim on the day! Please offer even just your morning or afternoon if that is all you have time for.
Volunteer Induction is necessary for this assistance and if you have not completed the Induction please call into the office to read through the information.
If you are free, please let Vicki Blake our Swimming Carnival Co-Ordinator know by forwarding her an email Vicki_blake@rok.catholic.edu.au
Have a great week.
Anthony King - Assistant to the Principal Curriculum
anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au
Parents & Friends Annual General Meeting
Our Parents and Friends Committee is open to ALL parents in our school. Its primary purpose is to provide support and empowerment for parents in their vital parenting role. They do this in many ways – Organising school events, inviting guest speakers and, most importantly, providing parents with the opportunity to have a voice. They also assist in providing resources that enhance the learning environment for our students.
Once again, our P&F have had a huge year working in all these ways for the betterment of our school and the benefit of our children.
Our Annual General Meeting takes place in Week 7 on Tuesday 12 November, starting at 6pm. We would love to have you join us for the final meeting of the year.
Christmas Hamper
Each year our school supports the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Please see attached flyer for details. This year we will hold a free dress day as part of the campaign and students are asked to donate something toward this appeal if they choose to come to school in free dress on the day.
FREE DRESS DAY – THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER
Students are invited to wear sun safe free dress to school on this day and donate an item of food for the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.
In Our Prayers
Let us pray...
- We pray for those children who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time: May they come to know the peace that is found in God’s mercy and love.
- We pray for all in our world and in our community who suffer in any way because of illness, disaster, war or injustice: May they always know they are not alone.
- We pray for those members of our school community who are battling sickness and suffering in their life: May they be consoled and strengthened in their time of need.
Important Swimming Carnival Information
Important Dates in Term 4
WEEK 7
YEAR 6 CAMP – Monday – Thursday, Year 6 will be off on camp.
P & F AGM MEETING – Tuesday 12th November @ 6pm - everyone is invited to join us in the staff room on Tuesday evening.
WEEK 8
YEAR 5 LEADERSHIP SPEECHES – Tuesday and Wednesday morning, please refer to class communication for details.
FREE DRESS DAY – **Please note the change of date to Thursday 21st November - wear sun safe clothes and bring a donation to add to our St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal.
SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL – YR 2 – YR 6 – Friday 22nd November.
WEEK 9
Year 6 invite you to their FINAL assembly presentation on Thursday 28th November at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
Everyone is invited to attend our annual Christmas Concert on Friday 29th November.
WEEK 10
Everyone is invited to attend our Year 6 Graduation Liturgy on Monday night @ 6pm in the Star of the Sea Church.
Everyone is invited to attend our End of Year Mass on Friday 6th December in the Star of the Sea Church at 9am.
Departing Families
At this stage of the year, work and personal circumstances sometimes mean that we have families moving from Star of the Sea. If you have not already done so, please send us an email or a note to let us know. This allows us to make accurate preparations for 2025. It also allows other families on our waiting lists for certain year levels to be considered for a place with us next year.
We hope you can join us for our End of Year Mass so that we can pray a special blessing for you and your family.
Rockhampton Summer Camp Group 2025
Summer Camp is back in January 2025 and the Rockhampton Diocese will be there!
The camp will be returning to QCCC Mapleton, which is a fantastic facility. The dates for 2024 are the 8th to 12th of January, which includes our group travelling down a day early and staying an extra night at the camp so we are ready to go when it starts on the morning of the 9th. The event is open for all students who will be year 7-12 in 2025.
You can find all the details about registering with our diocesan group here: https://rok.catholic.net.au/services-agencies/pastoral-services/youth-ministry/summer-camp/. Earlybird prices are only available until October 31st so make sure you register ASAP!
For more information about Summer Camp go to https://igniteyouth.com/summercamp. For any questions about our diocesan group please don't hesitate to get in touch with me at youth@rok.catholic.net.au or 0433 897 973.
Mick Otto
Executive Officer - Vocations, Youth & Family Life
Star of the Sea Church Centenary Raffle
Tickets for the Star of the Sea Church Centenary Raffle are available for purchase from the Star of the Sea School office and Parish office.
Church Centenary Celebrations
Have you downloaded our new App yet?
We already have way over half our parent community who've downloaded our new mobile App.
The App, Parent Orbit, which is connected to Parent Lounge, will improve our communication with each other as it offers a quick and easy way to receive notifications, add Student Absences, view and pay School Fees, accept or decline excursions via the Events and Activities, check the school calendar, update details and permissions and much more.
Some of you may already be using the Parent Orbit App for Chanel College and you will simply add Star of the Sea as another school you can access.
The App uses your Parent Lounge log in to access and will be a great way to access Parent Lounge features as you will not have to log in every time.
To download the App to your mobile device you can click on the link https://parentorbit.page.link/sosg or visit your APP store.
Most of our Term Dates for the rest of the year are already installed on the App so it really is a good resource for you.
2024 School Priorities
Student Absentee Line
If your child is not attending school, you can call us, 24/7, to leave a message to report the absence. The phone number is 4994 8301.
This designated phone line gives you the opportunity to call the school at a time that is convenient to you.
As always, absences can be reported using Parent Lounge or by emailing your child’s classroom teacher and SOSG_Absentee@rok.catholic.edu.au).
Wearitto Uniform Shop Trading Hours
St Joseph's Cathedral Appeal
Community Notices
Caulfield 2024 Sponsors
