Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Gladstone eNewsletter

From the Principal - Before School Routine

Dear Families

Picture a bird with some yarn tied to its leg stopping it from flying and living its full life. It doesn’t matter how thin or thick the yarn is, it has a terrible effect on the poor bird. I read recently a challenge to reflect on what attachments are tying us down and stopping us from living the full lives we should. These attachments can be as small as a late night snack, tuning regularly into gossip or spending time on a game instead of with the family.

The Season of Lent the Catholic Church began last week invites us to examine our lives and identify those attachments that stop us from being the people God dreams us to be. Lent invites us to turn back to prayer, fasting and acts of kindness as we try to live as followers of Jesus.

(Lent) is a growing season. It requires us to determine what is worth dying for in our own lives and what it may be necessary for us to become if we really want to live.

- Joan Chittister

Giving our children clear expectations and routines is a key factor in providing a safe and supportive learning environment for our students. The way we start and end the day are two of our most important routines.

Coming to school well rested, having eaten breakfast and with all the items needed for the day is a great support to engaged learning and successful playtimes. Having their hat and lots to eat throughout the day is also very important for our children.

Children are not permitted to be at school before 8:10am which is when supervision begins. Having your children here before that time puts their safety at risk and breaches our Department regulations for our Outside Care Service. All students on site before this time must be enrolled with this service please.

Children are asked to sit on the steps near the music room until the teacher lets them out to play. Many of our children really benefit from this chance to interact with their friends and let out some energy before the school day begins.

All children are permitted to play on the terrace area or Courts/ Sandpit area. Children should not be in the Eating Shed or around the classrooms please.

If you can’t make it on time for a play before school, please try to have your child here for the 8:35am bell. The beginning of the day in class is where the teachers explain what to expect so this is a very valuable time to be at school.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about these routines or would like some support.

Have a wonderful week everyone!
God bless you.

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

In Our Prayers

Let us pray...

• We pray that we will truly be open to encountering God’s presence in our lives: May we pause to listen more than we speak, so as to relish and learn from each encounter.

• We pray for all whose lives are impacted by the ravishes of natural disasters and war: May the world and its leaders respond in generosity, wisdom and compassion to support them in their need.

• We pray that the sick, lonely and housebound will be comforted and given the support they need.

• We pray that, through the Holy Trinity, those who have died will find their home with the Lord.

2025 Term One Date Claimers

Tuesday 25 February - Board Information Session

Tuesday 4 March- Parents & Friends Meeting

Wednesday 5 March - Ash Wednesday

Friday 7 March - Year 4B Assembly

Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 March - NAPLAN Year 3 & 5

Friday 21 March - Harmony Day

Friday 28 March - Year 1 Assembly

Tuesday 1 April - School Cross Country @SOS Grounds

Tuesday 1 April - P&F Meeting @ approx 11am (after Cross Country)

Friday 4 April - Year 2 Assembly

From the APC - The NED Show

Dear Parents

You may have heard your children talking about the NED Show - it was a great performance that our students got to experience recently. Developing the Personal and Social capabilities of our students is an essential component of what we do at Star of the Sea as it assists them in understanding themselves and others, and navigate their relationships, lives, work and learning. The NED Show was a perfect way to explore some of these concepts.

The NED Show is a character education program that centres around three important messages that have life long relevance:

Never give up (Focus & Persistence)
Encourage others (Kindness & Shared Learning)
Do your best (Diligence & Excellence)

It is a perfect message to support the key values we seek to live out as we endeavour to shine as God created us to be - courageous, respectful, determined, and always looking for ways we can help and care for others.

It is also a perfect support to our Three School Rules:

Great and Treat - Be welcoming, Respectful and Kind

Move Like a Star - Wear your uniform correctly and move safely

Dig Deep - Don't give up. Find a solution

Have a great week everyone!

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

My New Gallery

Shrove Tuesday

2025_Pancake_Tuesday.pdf

Every Day Counts

Port Curtis Sports

Netball - Congratulations to Ashley J on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-11Years Netball Team to attend the Capricornia trials to be held in Rockhampton next month.

AFL - Congratulations to Bon A, Harrison G and Harlie M on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-12Years AFL Team to attend the Capricornia trials in Rockhampton later this month.

Hockey - Congratulations to Nate M on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-12Years Hockey team to attend the Capricornia trials in Rockhampton next month.

Basketball - Congratulations to Harlie M and Hamish M on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-12Years Basketball team to attend the Capricornia trials in Mackay next month.

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 5 Newsletter - Term 1