2025 Week 5 Newsletter - Term 2

From the Principal- Special moments

Dear Families

It’s been a journey of reflection for me the past few weeks while I have been on leave. Two significant events took place with my daughter’s wedding and my mother’s 80th birthday.  Both of these occasions took me on a journey down memory lane, cherishing the special moments we have shared together.  

I was again reminded of how precious our time is together and how quickly it passes. I feel like Danielle just started her first day in Prep here at Star of the Sea and now she is a married woman!  It is so important in the busy lives we live to cherish even the most ordinary of moments together and store them in our hearts.

A very special thank you to everyone who helped make our Mother's Day Stall such a great experience for our children recently.  Because of your generosity many special new memories were created for our families.

I joined with many on Sunday evening praying for our new Pope during his Inauguration Mass.

The key message of his homily was our call to love and unity: 
“We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people." 

It is such a powerful message for a world so desperately in need of love and unity. Let us keep Pope Leo in our prayers as he begins his important ministry.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

God bless you.

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

From Our APRE

This week is Laudato Si Week. 

10 years ago, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’, setting out a bold vision for our common home. While we celebrate 10 years of prayer and action together, we look ahead to an even brighter future. The next chapter of Laudato Si’ begins with us.

This anniversary year, raise hope by sharing the light that you’ve found in Laudato Si’.

“Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope."     Laudato Si’ 244

Laudato Si’ is an encyclical letter from Pope Francis on care for our common home.  This was an urgent challenge for us to come together to protect each other and our Earth.  It is our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork.

During Laudato Si’ Week we are called to action.

We have a couple of initiatives at Star of the Sea in response to Laudato Si.  One of them is recycling.  We have a scrap bucket for students to place their leftover food scraps in – this gets fed to the chickens and sheep (at my house) and we collect all recyclable containers (mainly poppers).

So far this year we have collected a total of almost $200 through the containers for change program.  All money collected in this area goes toward our Mission organisations for the year.  This term we support St Vincent de Paul assist a student program.  With funds from our recycling program, we are already able to support one student for 12 months.     https://donate.vinnies.org.au/assist-a-student

Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion

Congratulations go out to the group of students who have been preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.  This week students will be receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit at a special Liturgy with Bishop Michael joining us.  In a few weeks’ time they will receive their First Holy Communion at a Parish Mass.

We pray for the following students –  Caelan A, Sophie W, Maisy A, Jemima W, Lilly G, Noah W, Adrianna H, Lincoln R, Frances M, Callen R, Addi M,  Harlie M, Sailor D and Sevin P.

"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth."

Have a great week.

God Bless

Kellie Richardson

Kellie Richardson - Assistant Principal: Religious Education  

 kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au 

In Our Prayers

•    We pray for all Christians:  May we always remember our call to live lives of love and unity, valuing the dignity and stories of all people.

•    We pray for our students who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation:  May their hearts be always open to the promptings of the Spirit.

•    We pray for all who live with war and suffering:  May the leaders of our world govern with wisdom and concern for all.

•    We pray for Pope Leo XIV: May he be guided by the Holy Spirit as he begins his important ministry.

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

From the APC

The National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

Now in its 25th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas across the year levels.

This year NSS takes place on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at 12:00pm.  Teachers and Students look forward to this event every year.   The book chosen this year is “The Truck Cat by D Frenkel and D Snell.

Have a good week!

Anthony King

Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

BOOKFAIR

If you would like to attend the fair with your children, the library will be open during the week.

Book Fair dates:  Tuesday 20^th – Friday 23^rd May.

Morning hours:    Tuesday – Friday 8:15am – 8:35am

Afternoon hours: Tuesday – Friday 2:55pm - 3:20pm

We look forward to seeing you and your family at our Book Fair and thank you in advance for supporting this fair.

Please note – this is not the annual dress up event.  That will take place in Book Week during term 3.

2025 Star of the Sea Athletics Carnival

Thursday 5th June, 2025

Our 2025 Athletics Carnival takes place on Thursday 5th June, 2025. If you are yet to complete your childs’ nominations, please follow the link to ensure this is completed - https://forms.gle/sGGkE5b9cZWjdqSS7. It is required for all students born in 2016 - 2012 and is essential for putting together the program of events. Students 8 years and younger are automatically nominated in the events they are able to compete in.

Children will travel by bus to Chanel College unless they are competing in the 800m races (and have nominated via the link that has been emailed to families of eligible aged students).  Students are not allowed to be dropped at Chanel to wait with older siblings or to meet their class.

The buses will depart Star of the Sea at 8.35am sharp, so it is vital that children arrive in time for school.  Please note that our PREP CLASSES DO NOT ATTEND THIS ATHLETICS CARNIVAL and will remain at school.

At the completion of the carnival, students not travelling home with their parents in the afternoon will return to Star of the Sea by bus.  Please ensure you notify your child’s class teacher at the end of the Carnival if you are taking your child home.  Children are not permitted to wait behind at Chanel College for older siblings.

Students are asked to bring the following items:

• Sports uniform, including school hat. (No spray colour in hair)
• Closed in running shoes and thongs to walk to toilets. (Students are permitted to run bare feet)
• Sunscreen and plenty of water.
• Towel to sit on.
• Book to read, colouring in, cards, etc. No electronic devices or Sports equipment.
• Lunch box with lots of snacks for the day as there are no designated lunch times. No bags of lollies to share. Students are also not permitted to use the Chanel College Tuckshop.

Parents visiting on the day are asked to sit in the spectator area and refrain from sitting around the student tents please, as this makes it difficult for teachers to arrange events. We also ask that parents don’t crowd the finish line, as it makes it very difficult for staff to collect required details after each race.

Children will stay in their tents under the direction of the supervising teacher.  They will not be permitted to sit away or visit with parents (not even when they are finished with their events).

Parents may use the Chanel tuckshop but are asked to avoid using it during lunch breaks (10.40 to 11.20am and 1.05 to 1.25pm). 

Please note that parking in the Chanel College grounds is not permitted until after 9am when Chanel student drop off has finished.

For students participating in the 1500m event - this will take place at school on Tuesday 27th May. 9 Years (2016) and 10 Years (2015) age groups will compete at first break (10:25am) and 11 years (2014) and Open Age groups will compete at second break (12:55pm).

The presentation for the 2025 Athletics Carnival will take place at assembly on Friday morning (6th June) at 8:35 for house points and age champions.

As always, we are still requiring assistance from parent volunteers to help us on the day.  Please email Kim Hooley kim_hooley@rok.catholic.edu.au if you are able to help.

We can’t wait to see you all there for a wonderful day!  Make sure you bring your loudest cheering voice!

Junior Jumps Day Friday 30th May

We hope that our Prep, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 (2017-born) students are looking forward to Junior Jumps Day on Friday 30^th May.

Students will participate in five activity rotations during the morning and then gather to watch the Prep Sprint Races before first break.

A short Presentation Ceremony to announce the winning House will take place at 2:40 pm that afternoon. 

Important Dates For Term 2

WEEK 5

• Confirmation Retreat - Thursday 22 May
• Year 2B Assembly - Friday 23 May @ 8:35am in the Covered Courts Area
• Year 5 Mass - Friday 23 May @ 9am in the Church
• Book Fair

WEEK 6

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

WEEK 7

• Senior Jumps Day - Tuesday 3rd June
• Band Performance - Wednesday 4th 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 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

Port Curtis / Capricornia Sports

Cross Country:  Congratulations to Harrison G, Mac L, Luke P, Arlo T and on being selected in the Port Curtis 10-19 Years Cross Country Team.  The Capricornia trials for Cross Country will be held in Rockhampton later this month.

Rugby Union: Congratulations to Grady C, Harrison G, and Oliver S on being selected in the Port Curtis 11-12 Years Rugby Union Team.  The Capricornia trials for Rugby Union will be held in Rockhampton later this month.

Football/Soccer:  Congratulations to Mia C and Kurt T on being selected to represent Capricornia Regional Sport in Football/Soccer.

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.

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.

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