2025 Week 9 Newsletter - Term 1

From the Principal - After School Routine

Dear Families

It is hard to believe this term is drawing so quickly to an end.  We have achieved so much but will still fit a lot into these final two weeks, including our Cross Country which our children are training hard for in PE lessons.  It is not too late to volunteer. We would really appreciate a few more helpers for the day.

There is a little more time left in this Season of Lent that the Catholic Church offers as an opportunity for reflection, repentance, and spiritual growth.  We heard in the readings this Sunday about a living water that offers so much more than any earthly thing we have.

In the difficult times in my life I know my faith has been like a wellspring to me offering hope, strength and consolation.  As we approach the significant events of Holy Week, let us remember a God who truly understands human suffering.  He is there with His arms outstretched loving us and showing us the courage, compassion and solidarity that can help us through.

As we have discussed over the past couple of weeks, it is essential that we have a shared understanding of expectations and routines that protect everyone’s safety and wellbeing.  Our After School Routines are an important component of this shared understanding.

Our only designated collection point for after school pick up is the Stop Drop and Go Car Park.
Please only use this area as your collection point unless you are walking in to collect your child as they come out of class.

Children are not allowed to play or hang out on the terrace or courts area after school please.  

Supervision is provided until 3:15pm.  Our office area is not a supervision area.  We understand things go wrong occasionally but ask you arrange alternate care if you are unable to collect your child on time regularly.

Some specific Rules for our Pick Up Area include the following:

-    Students /families are not allowed to walk across Central Lane at any time as it is dangerous and interrupts the flow of traffic.

-    Cars cannot move out of the line of traffic to overtake or perform a U-Turn as it puts others at risk.

-    The gate near the park is unlocked but is only to be used if you have a car parked along Central Lane.  Please ensure the gate is closed again after you have walked through.

-    No child is allowed to cross the pedestrian crossing without the supervision of an adult.

-    Students walking to the pool etc. still need to come to the Pickup area and cross the pedestrian crossing with the assistance of the teacher on duty.

-    Please turn left at the bottom of Central Lane rather than holding up the traffic behind you.  It is easy to then do a turn back at the roundabout.

We appreciate your support in helping us provide our children with the consistency and safe routines they need.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

God bless you.

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

From Our APRE

Last week we celebrated Harmony Week.

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.

It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

On Friday we held our first Pastoral Care Groups for the year to celebrate Harmony Day.  These groups meet once or twice a term and give students a chance to mix with students from across the school to discuss various topics. 

As part of Catholic Education Week 2024 we launched a kindness project to help out the small community of Simberi.  With the help of Lauren Churchill and her Dad we were able to provide some much needed resources to the small school in Simberi.  Your kindness does not go unrecognised and we are truly grateful for the way you give to our kindness projects throughout the year.

Please refer to the article below to see just how much this means to the community.

Be a peacemaker this week.

God Bless

Kellie Richardson - Assistant Principal: Religious Education

kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Sacramental Program Information

Enrolments in the Sacramental Program for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy communion are now open.

If you have a child who has already received the Sacrament of Reconciliation an enrolment form has been sent home today.

All enrolment forms must be returned to the Parish Office this year and you will collect a preparation pack when you lodge the form.  Enrolments will close on Friday 4th April 2025.

Caritas Australia - Project Compassion

Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Growing up, Lam often felt isolated due to limited job opportunities and difficulty moving around his community. While his friends started jobs after high school, Lam stayed home with his parents, unsure if he could ever achieve his dream of becoming a graphic designer.

Everything changed when Lam joined the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia. Through this initiative, Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. Along the way, he built confidence, made friends and gained a sense of connection.

Today, Lam runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home.  Lam hopes his story will encourage other young people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.

Lam’s journey shows how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives.

Watch Lam’s story here –

https://vimeo.com/1034876427

Important Dates For Term 1

WEEK 9

• Year 1 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 28^th March at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 10

• P&F MEETING – Thursday 3rd April (After Cross Country - approximately 11am)
• CROSS COUNTRY – Thursday 3^rd April at Star of the Sea School.
• Year 2 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 4^th April at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

In Our Prayers

• We pray for all of us in this Season of Lent:  May we use this as an opportunity for deeper prayer and reflection of our call towards Grace.

• We pray for our Star of the Sea community: As we journey into the holiday period may we be kept safe in our travels and appreciate the blessing of family and friends.

• We pray for all those who have died: May God grant them the peace and joy and hope of the resurrection.

• We pray for all who battle sickness and suffering in their life:  May they find healing and comfort.

From the APC

I wanted to share with you all this week some documents that have been created to encourage parents to be involved in the process of reading with your child at home using the process  - To, With and By as it lists the positive benefits this approach has on them.   Reading impacts widely on learning ability and life choices and the biggest factor in reading achievement is reading volume.  I truly do understand the time constraints due to other commitments families are faced with of an afternoon and evening.  Getting your children to read requires a balance between the commitment from us as parents and an innate motivation from our children to want to read.

I encourage you all to look at your working week and try and commit to time where you and your children follow the To, With and By steps.   I used to read with and to my two children before bed.  This worked well sometimes but other times, it turned into a war zone.  This then didn’t help Carter or Abi get to sleep at all.  I would get frustrated, they would get frustrated, and reading was then looked at being a chore.   I wish I could go back and change how we did it. 

I also want to focus on Reading Conversations Before – During -  After.  Below is some advice from the Catholic Education Curriculum Team around Reading Conversations.  

Before reading is a good time to ask what your child thinks the book will be about, to allow them to predict events in the story or the content of information books.

During reading, comments should generally be as a response to reactions from the child and be kept to a minimum, so as not to interrupt the flow of reading.

After reading is an optimal time to discuss the book. Here you can focus on identifying the significant events, remembering characters’ names and using key vocabulary from the text. Each book will offer different opportunities for you and your child to interact. You might talk about the interesting illustrations, characters’ motives or dilemmas, fascinating words or what might happen next. These discussions should be natural reactions that occur when you have the time to relax together.

Let me know if you take on any of these suggestions.

Have a great week.

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

SCHOOL VISITORS

We were excited to welcome some very special visitors to Star of the Sea on Friday: Bishop Michael McCarthy; our Director, Mr Michael McCusker; our Assistant Director: Southern Region; Mr Stephen Dale; Fr Andrew Chase; and Fr Peter Doherty.

We managed to visit every year level and the students shared their learning and asked some great questions.  
We had a lot of fun sharing our beautiful school with our special visitors.

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Port Curtis Sport

Congratulations to Harlie M on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-12 Years Girls Touch Football team to attend the Capricornia Trials to be held in Mackay later this month.

Congratulations to Oliver S and Kurt T on being selected in the Port Curtis 11-12 Years Rugby League team to attend the Capricornia Trials to be held in Emerald next month.

2025 Cross Country - Thursday 3rd April

Cross Country this year will be held on site at Star of the Sea. The course will be a mix of terrain, with some gentle inclines to add to the fun. Cross Country will be held in Week 10 on Thursday 3rd April starting at approx. 8:45am. 

As always, we will be asking for parent help, so if you will be available to help on the morning, please send Mrs Blake an email (vicki_blake@rok.catholic.edu.au).  A volunteer induction will be needed but you can pop into the office to read and sign it there if needed.  

Please note the correct schedule below.  This differs from the table emailed out last week and we apologise for the confusion.

With the event being held at school, training and walkthroughs of the course will occur in PE, so students will be very familiar with the course.  Some suggestions to further assist students’ running are as below:

Road Runner - Term 1 is at Reg Tanna Duckponds  2km and 5km runs are available.  Start time is 5.30pm on Thursdays.  You will need to be there 10 minutes before for registration.  Cost $2.  First 4 runs are free before you need to join as a member.  

Park Run - 5km run  every Saturday morning, 7am, at Lions Park next to McDonald. Cost FREE.

3D Coaching/Triathlon - Tuesday 5pm on Chanel Oval.  Cost is $5 per session.  Sessions assist participants to learn how to improve their running.  

Further information about all of the above options can be found on Facebook. 

Your assistance with ensuring your child has their water bottle for PE lessons would be greatly appreciated.

Caulfield Committee 2025

We would love your help.  Please email soscaulfield@outlook.com if you are able to assist in any way.

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.  

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.

Community Notices

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).

Caulfield 2024 Sponsors