2025 Week 1 Newsletter - Term 2

From the Principal - A Time For Mercy

Dear Families

As we begin this new term, I pray you return from an Easter break that brought some joy and love and peace into your lives.  

It was with sadness that we heard on Monday of the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. He was an extraordinary leader whose entire life was dedicated in service to the Lord, his people and the planet.  He lived a life faithful to the Gospel values of compassion, humility, inclusion and justice in his caring for the poor and marginalised.  We give thanks for his example of Christ's love in action.

We join with the global Catholic and wider community in praying in thanksgiving for the life of Pope Francis.  We pray also for the repose of his soul – may he rest now in eternal peace.

Pope Francis often reminded us of the boundless nature of God's mercy, stating that it always surpasses any sin and that it is the foundation of true justice. He encouraged us to become channels of mercy for each other, reminding us of the power of Mercy to transform the world, making it less cold and more just.

Mercy is a gift that God freely offers us and the Easter story reminds us of this.  We celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday this weekend and I have shared the Divine Mercy Prayer in this newsletter.  It is a prayer that has always given me great hope and consolation and I hope you find the same.

I always think it is very appropriate that we often celebrate the feast of Easter so close to ANZAC Day where we remember the bravery of those men and women who fought to give us hope for a better future.  With so much war and unrest in our world today, I think it also provides an opportunity to pray that people will continue to fight for the needs of others and bring the light of peace and hope into their lives, especially as so many in our world live with war and unrest in their lives.

I invite you to walk with us in support of all those who have fought for peace in our country.  Our ANZAC Day March on Friday is a perfect chance to remind our children of the important virtues of courage, love and respect that are part of the ANZAC Spirit.  More details about the march can be found in this newsletter.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

God bless you.

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

From Our APRE

He is risen, Alleluia!

Welcome to Term 2 and Happy Easter.  I hope you all had a chance to find some quiet time over the Easter break to rest and recharge.

We spend the first few weeks of term celebrating the season of Easter after our Lenten period of reflection and change of heart.

The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost are celebrated in joyful exultation. These, above all others, are the days for the singing of the Alleluia.

The season of Easter is when we literally live in the mystery of our initiation into Christ’s Body. Eastertide is sometimes called the period of Mystagogy – a time when we reflect on the mysteries into which we have been called.

The Easter Scriptures show us how to savour the meaning of our baptism, the richness of the community and reminds us of our mission to the world.   

Adapted from An Introduction to Lent and Eastertime, Gabe Huck, LTP, 1987.

We gathered together on Day One to celebrate the season of Easter.

This Easter season - May our hearts be blessed with the love of the risen Lord.

May our minds be blessed with the words of the risen Lord.

May our spirit be blessed with the joy of the risen Lord.

I pray that we can all be people of Peace this Easter season.

I also acknowledge the sad news from the Vatican that the Holy Father Pope Francis has passed away.  Eternal rest grant unto him O’Lord.

Pope Francis’ leadership has left an immeasurable impact on our world in these times.  To me he was a very humble man and an inspiration to all.  Rest in peace Pope Francis.

God’s blessings,

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Easter Liturgy

In Our Prayers

•    We pray that we carry the peace and joy and hope of the Easter Season in our hearts to all we meet.
•    We pray for all who seek to ease the suffering of others, especially charities such as  Caritas:  May   we     do all we can to support their generous work.
•    We pray for all who live with war, sickness and suffering, that we will all be moved by the Holy Spirit       to look for opportunities to bring justice, compassion and peace.
•    We pray that, through the Holy Trinity, those who have died will find their home with the Lord.

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless, And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible.
Look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us,
That in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent,
But with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

From the APC

ORAL LANGUAGE

The development of literacy begins through the use of spoken language. Oral language development is not simply teaching children to speak. Oral language development must focus on students’ ability to communicate more effectively. Oral language involves thinking, knowledge, and skills that develop across the lifespan.

Oral language provides a means to observe children as they learn to construct conceptual meanings through words. Children who are developing language appropriately will demonstrate an increasingly complex use of words in explanations, discussions and interactions.

By school age, most children will generally have a tremendous vocabulary (relative and relevant to their experiences), will use irregular noun and verb forms (eg: tooth - teeth n.; find - found v.), can talk with adults using four to eight word sentences, giggle over nonsense words, engage in imaginative play using complex oral scripts, tell longer stories and recount the day’s events in sequence.

In the first years of school, students need to listen critically and respond appropriately to oral communication.

In our Prep classes the following skills are developed.

Speaking

• retell personal events and experiences to peers and known adults
• share feelings and thoughts (about the events and characters in text)
• retell key details or points from a text viewed or heard
• use appropriate or mainly appropriate word order
• use appropriate volume for small audiences
• use rehearsed phrases to introduce themselves (Good morning, my name is …)

Listening

• listen actively to short texts consisting of a few sentences
• recall one or two ideas
• respond to simple statements, commands or questions
• use a small range of listening strategies (asking what, when, why questions
• discriminate individual words in a short, spoken sentence
• identify familiar objects and actions heard in a text

Then developing into Year 1

Speaking

• speak audibly and clearly to a familiar audience (own class)
• make short presentations using a few connected sentences,
• use some extended sentences
• organise key ideas in logical sequence
• provide some supporting details
• express causal relationships (when the egg cracked the chicken came out)
• provide simple justifications (I chose cherries because they are red)
• use some varying intonation or volume for emphasis
• regulate pace with pausing

Listening

• respond to simple and predictable texts
• recalls specific information from a spoken text
• respond to literal questions about a spoken text
• experiment with a small range of listening strategies
• use learnt vocabulary and simple adjectives to recount key ideas from a text

Taken from the Diocesan Curriculum - Teaching and Learning Site.

I encourage all parents to look through the list above and then encourage similar scenarios at home to continue to develop your children’s oral language skills.  No matter the age of your children, it is important to still encourage progression in their oral language.

Have a great week.

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

Important Dates For Term 2

WEEK 1

• ANZAC Day March - Friday 25 April - meet at 10am below the Westpac Bank in full formal school uniform
• ANZAC Day Public Holiday - Friday 25 April

WEEK 2

• CROSS  COUNTRY - Monday 28th April starting at approximately 8:45am
• SAIKI Day Excursion to the Art Gallery Years 1 to 6 - Friday 2nd May

WEEK 3

• Labour Day Public Holiday - Monday 5th May
• P&F MEETING – Tuesday 6th May at 6:30pm
• Year 2 Class Liturgy on Tuesday 6th May at 9:30am in the Church
• Mother's Day Stall - Friday 9th May 
• School Disco - Friday 9th May, 6pm to 7:30pm

WEEK 4

• Year 5A Assembly - Friday 16 May 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area

WEEK 5

• Band Performance - Wednesday 21 May
• Confirmation Retreat - Thursday 22 May
• Year 2B Assembly - Friday 23 May @8:35am in the Covered Courts Area
• Year 5 Class Mass - Friday 23 May @9am in the Church

WEEK 6

• National Reconciliation Week
• Book Fair
• Junior Jumps Day (Prep to Year 3) - Friday 30 May
  

WEEK 7

• Senior Jumps Day - Tuesday 3rd June
• Athletics Carnival - Thursday 5th June
• Chanel Musical - Friday 6th & Saturday 7th June

WEEK 8

• Parents & Friends Meeting - Tuesday 10th June @6:30pm
• Year 6 Class Mass - Friday 13th June @9am in the Church
• Prep Assembly - Friday 13th June @8:35am in the Covered Courts Area

WEEK 9

• Year 2A Assembly - Friday 20 June @ 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area

WEEK 10

• Year 3 Assembly - Friday 27 June @8.35am in the Covered Courts Area

ANZAC DAY MARCH - This Friday 25th April

Star of the Sea School will once again be showing our support for our heroes past and present by marching in this year’s ANZAC Day March.

The March will take place this Friday 25th April. 

Students will need to assemble in Goondoon St just below the Westpac Bank car park at 10:00am dressed in full school uniform (including hat).  It is important that students also apply sunscreen and bring a water bottle to carry with them.

Whilst this is the official event that our school participates in and our School Captains are present at, we are aware that some families have the tradition of attending the Dawn Service.  If any of our older students are attending this service instead we would love for you to let the office know.  Don’t forget to wear your school uniform!

Parents are welcome to march with us or meet us in the ANZAC Park.  

2026 Prep Enrolments

We have begun to interview our prospective Prep students for 2026.  These interviews will continue this term and into Term Three.  Please spread the word to anyone you know who is hoping to enrol their child in our Prep 2026 cohort.

2025 Cross Country - Monday 28th April

Our rescheduled Cross Country 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 next week on Monday 28th 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.  

Mother's Day Stall - Friday 9th May

Our Mother's Day Stall is kindly organised by our Parents and Friends Committee and gives every student the chance to go shopping at school on Friday 9th May to buy a Mother's Day present for someone special.

Each child will need to bring their money in a purse or sealable bag / envelope marked with their name.  Prices range from $1 to $10 per gift.  Raffle tickets are 50cents each with a $5 limit per student.  All students receive a free raffle ticket with their purchase.

Please send a bag for your child to put their purchases into afterwards.

We are also in need of parent helpers who can donate all or some of their day  (anytime between 9am and 2.30pm) to help the children with their shopping.  Please contact the school office if you are able to assist.  Thank you.

Parents & Friends Meeting - All welcome

We invite all of our Parent Community to our P and F Meeting on Tuesday 6th May at 6:30pm in the staff room (entry via the front office).

Although the meeting starts at 6:30pm you are welcome to join us a little earlier for a chat and a glass of something if you can.

At the meeting we will be calling for nominations for the position of P&F Secretary.  Please reach out to our P&F Executive members (Beth English, Natalie Braddon or Leanne Frost) if you would like to know more about the position.  Alternatively, contact the school office to express your interest and ask for someone to contact you.  We extend our sincere thanks to our outgoing Secretary, Peta Weilharter, for her contributions to our school.

School Fees Explained

Please find below a “School Fees Explained” flyer, developed to inform our Catholic Education families of the Federal Government SRS Funding model (Gonski model) and the impact on School Fees for Catholic Schools.

The flyer outlines the direct nexus between the Federal Government means-tested Capacity to Contribute of each School community, and School Fees.

Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme

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