Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Gladstone eNewsletter

From the Principal - Turning up is half the battle

Dear Families

We had a brilliant week last week and that was very much thanks to the parent community at Star of the Sea.

We started with an amazing turn up at our first P&F Meeting. It was so good to see lots of new faces and we are excited for the year ahead working together. Our next meeting is Tuesday 4th March and we look forward to seeing you there.

Our P&F Welcome BBQ was another fantastic event, and I heard so much positive feedback from those who were able to join us. I really loved the opportunity just to relax and chat with you all. A huge thank you to Chris Weinert and his awesome team who put the night together and kept us fed and watered.

A reminder that our Parent Information Sessions start this week and we would love to see you there:

WEEK THREE
Year 4 - Monday 10 February @ 5pm
Year 1 – Monday 10 February @ 5:30pm
Year 5 – Tuesday 11 February @5pm
Year 3 – Tuesday 11 February @5:30pm
Year 6 – Thursday 13 February @ 4:30pm

WEEK FOUR
Prep – Monday 17 February @ 4:30pm
Year 2 – Tuesday 18 February @ 5pm

All presentations will take place in the classroom.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
- Winston S. Churchill

You may remember the Rumbles Quest Platform that most of our students engaged with last year. It was a fun way for the students to interact with a tool that gave our school valuable information regarding their wellbeing and engagement with learning.

We observed an increase in students feeling worried about things and finding it difficult to regulate their emotions and control their impulses. We are including lessons to build awareness and skills to support their growth in these areas and will also look to share ideas to support you as you help them work through their struggles at home.

We also noticed that quite a few students don’t really feel like going to school in the morning. Once they get here though, the data shows that they feel safe with their teacher, they feel like they work hard at school and find school interesting.

We know it can be tough to get your child to school some days. As adults, we often struggle just getting out of bed ourselves and then have to get the whole family feeling motivated about the day.

Good school attendance habits have a direct correlation with achievement and developing a positive attitude towards school. These habits begin in a child's very first year of school and every day they miss can have a big impact. One day per fortnight adds up to a whole year of absences over their school life.

Being regularly late also begins to add up to significant time missed at school and those first moments of the day are often the most valuable part where the teacher prepares students for the day ahead.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to support you building those great attendance attitudes and habits in your children.

Have a wonderful week everyone!
God bless you.

Jennett Mullane
Principal
jennett_omullane@rok.catholic.edu.au

Every Day Counts

In Our Prayers

Let us pray...

• We pray for our school community, that we may work closely together, supporting the learning and growth of our students.

• We pray for all who live with war and suffering, that leaders who impact society will be moved by the Holy Spirit to bring about justice and peace.

• We pray for those members of our school community who are battling sickness and suffering in their life: May they find healing and comfort.

From the APC - Finding out more about NAPLAN

Dear Parents

For some parents, NAPLAN can be a mystery and even a cause for concern.
The Queensland Joint Parent Committee is offering a free online webinar for parents 7:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday 19 February.

During this webinar experts will explain NAPLAN and help to address potential parent concerns and provide tips for parents when discussing NAPLAN with their child.

The flyer below has the registration link hosted by Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams for any of you that are interested.

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

Parent_Flyer_for_NAPLAN.pdf

Classroom Focus - Year 2A

In our first week of school in Mrs Jenner 2A class we had an exciting time exploring the Solar System and learning all about the planets. We also discovered what it means to be Pilgrims of Hope, a lesson that inspired us to dream big and stay hopeful.

Our journal writing allowed us to express our thoughts and creativity, and we had fun playing and exploring in the Nature Garden. It was a fantastic start to the year, full of learning, adventure, and inspiration!

Ways to Regulate Emotions

1736483797_ways_to_regulate_emotions_poster.pdf

NED Show Performance

We are excited to welcome a school-wide (Years 1 to 6) free assembly called The NED Show. The show will be in Term 1, Week 3 on Friday 14th February at 9am to 9.45am.

NED's Resiliency Ride, is a character education program that centres around three important messages that have lifelong relevance: Never give up, Encourage others and Do your best. During the assembly, students will learn about the importance of these three life skills while also enjoying storytelling, magic, humour and yo-yo tricks. www.theNEDshow.com/ned_program.html

Our School Yo-Yo Sale
Our school will receive this assembly at no-cost because another school paid-it-forward to us. We want to help pay-it-forward too, and you can help by purchasing a NED-messaged yo-yo. This is certainly not compulsory. A flyer is attached with all details for the sale of these yo-yos.

Orders are to be sent into school in an envelope labelled with your child’s name and class please.

Cash only can be accepted and must be placed within the envelope. Your order will be supplied to your child by the following week.

Please note: Yo-yos are to be purchased and taken home, not bought back into school please.

Pupil Free Day

Term One Planner

2025_Term_1_Planner_Parents.pdf

Volunteer Inductions

ARE YOU PLANNING ON HELPING IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT SCHOOL EVENTS SUCH AS OUR CROSS COUNTRY?

You will need to join us for a Volunteer Induction first please!

These inductions do not take long but serve a very important purpose in helping us to provide a safe and supportive environment for your child.

Please note that this is an Annual Induction that must be completed each year.

Use of School Toilets

As part of our commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning space for our students we have strict rules surrounding the use of our school toilets.

Only students who are currently enrolled at Star of the Sea School are permitted to use the student toilets, including the PWD Toilet.

Parents, volunteers, toddlers and high school students are asked to go to the School Office to be directed to suitable toilets if required.

Family Name Labels to use in your car for drive through pick up in the afternoon

Having your child's surname clearly printed and placed where it can be seen on the sunvisor or dash helps us find your child quickly and speed up the collection process in the afternoons.

In the past we have printed names for all families in our school – if you would like us to send home a label for your car to be used at pick up please email us and we will get one ready for you and send it home.

Email sosg@rok.catholic.edu.au if you make the subject SCHOOL PICK UP SIGN we will know to make one and send it home for your use.

Important Health Notice

In order to make sure all of our children are kept as safe as possible we need to let you know that we have a number of students in our school with severe allergies to nuts and other allergies.

We are not a ‘nut free’ school but we do encourage you to be mindful of these allergies as you pack your child’s lunch and talk with them about disposing of rubbish carefully and cleaning hands carefully afterwards please.

If your child has any form of Health Action Plan we ask you to bring a copy to the School Office. Also, any medication to be administered must be taken to the Office where the necessary paperwork can be completed.

Parent Orbit 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. New families for 2025 will have their login details provided this week.

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.

Wearitto Uniform Shop Opening Hours

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).

2025 Week 3 Newsletter - Term 1