2022 Week 2 Newsletter - Term 3

Weekly Focus - Some mindsets you may not know about.

Each week we provide you with a short video supplying our key messages for the week.  

From the Principal - Some handy tools for lifelong learning.

Dear Families

Congratulations to our Star of the Sea Challenge Cup Team who used our school virtues of courage and determination to make us proud last week.  It is not an easy competition playing against all the schools across the Diocese, and the tenacity and teamwork our students showed inspired all who were watching.  A huge thank you to Anthony King and Dave Ahern and the many generous parents who supported their participation last week.

I spoke last week about encouraging our students to develop as learners.  A great support to developing as a learner are the mindsets we have.  Many are familiar with a Growth Mindset but there are a number of important mindsets our children need assistance in developing.  Each one helps build attitudes, skills and learner assets that will assist us to become successful life long learners.

Relational Mindsets

Being open to building positive relationships and making connections with people.  Recognising that we are more alike than different, and that we need one another.  Collaboration and openness is an important part of learning.

Reflective Mindsets

A Reflective Mindset requires us to think about our successes and failures, and find ways to improve and grow in our understanding and skills.

Responsible Mindsets

Realising that I am in charge of my choices and I can always improve myself and my learning.  Desiring to be the best I can be.

Growth Mindsets

People are not born a certain way and “fixed” that way for life.   Given time, strategies, effort and opportunities, everyone can change and improve.

God bless you and Live Jesus in Your Hearts Forever!
Jennett Mullane
Principal
jennett_omullane@rok.catholic.edu.au  

2022 School Goals

From Our APRE - So much to celebrate during Catholic Education Week

Next week is Catholic Education Week at Star of the Sea.  There is plenty to celebrate at our beautiful school.

The theme for 2022 is ‘Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.’  I have been pondering the question of how our school is a community of faith, hope and love!  Year Four helped me out with some ideas this week also.  They found it an easy question to answer.  We truly are part of a wonderful community.

Year Four ideas –

• Winter appeal – helping others to stay warm
• Liturgies and masses - where we share our faith, hope and love and remind ourselves to live like Jesus
• Never give up and always be kind
• Inside our hearts we hold those who have died and pray for them
• Caritas, gold coin donations, pancake day
• Everyone has a voice and can join social justice groups
• Letting our light shine - so remembering our motto
• Helping each other out and keeping an eye out
• Making things to help people
• Inspiring others with our artwork
• Friendship and especially in diversity with respect for other cultures
• Compassion - when others are hurt or are going through things at home, even if they don’t tell us we look for the signs to notice
• Looking out the window to nature and remembering to recycle, reuse and repurpose and seeing the symbols to be like Mary

I hope you can join us for some of the activities next week to help recognise 201 years of Catholic Education in Queensland.

Have Faith, Hope and Love,

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Term 3 Liturgies and Assemblies

WEEK 3
Everyone is invited to join us for our Catholic Education Week Whole School Mass on Friday 29th July at 9.00am in the Star of the Sea Church.  This Mass will also be a special celebration for our Grandparents.

Year 5 invite you to their assembly presentation on Thursday 28th July at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 4
Prep invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 5th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 5
Year 2 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 9th August at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.    

Year 6 invite you to their Mass on Friday 12th August at 9.00am in the Star of the Sea Church.  

Year 3 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 12th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 6
Year 1A invite you to their MJR Assembly on Friday 19th August at 8:35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 7
Year 2 invite you to their assembly presentation on Thursday 25th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

Everyone is invited to attend our Book Character Parade on Friday 26th August at 8:35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 9
Year 1 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 6th September at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.    

Year 4 invite everyone to attend our Feast Day Mass on FRIDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER at 9am in the Star of the Sea Church.  

WEEK 10
Year 6A invite you to their MJR assembly presentation on Friday 16th September at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

In Our Prayers

Kindness Project - Winter Appeal

From the APC - Challenge Cup 2022

Last week from Wednesday to Friday, a number of our students were involved in Challenge Cup for 2022.   Challenge Cup is a Catholic Schools competition where over 800 students compete at the grounds of St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon.  I have named our rugby league team for 2022 the “The defensive side of the century”.  Our boys and girls gave their all from the first kick off to the final whistle.  They came away with some wins and some losses but improved with every game and never ever stopped defending. Parents and grandparents and I were extremely proud of our team and enjoyed every moment with them over the three days.

Thank you to Dave Ahern for coaching the team and sharing his extensive knowledge of Rugby League.  Your belief in them as a team and as individuals inspired them all to never give up.    Also a huge thank you to Katy Gowers and Ian Walker for assisting Dave and I both on and off the footy field.  Katy and Ian’s motivational comments got the team firing when needed.

Congratulations to Dax Andrews for being voted Best and Fairest and to Jaxon McNamara-Gowers for being voted the Coaches Award.

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

IMPORTANT COVID SAFE UPDATE

As you may be aware, over the weekend the Queensland Government issued advice recommending face masks be worn while indoors (where social distancing is not possible) to assist with preventing the further spread of the current wave of COVID-19. This message is in line with the health advice provided by National Cabinet.

In public statements over the weekend the Queensland Premier encouraged all people, including school staff and students, to wear a face mask indoors except where they can physically distance.
Please be aware that the Queensland Department of Education has subsequently advised its schools and staff that, while wearing a face mask is encouraged, this remains a personal decision for individuals.

Students who wish to wear a mask at school will be supported and are encouraged to bring their masks to school if required. 

Please also remember that the requirements for wearing a face mask for 7 days after having COVID-19, or when a close contact are still in place. Additionally, there are ongoing public health requirements to wear a face mask when travelling on public transport (including in taxis and ride-shares).

With the current escalation in Covid infections, we ask that you continue to follow the Qld Health Covid Safe Practices please: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/how-you-can-help-keep-queensland-covid-safe 

Spirit of Star of the Sea Award

The Spirit of Star of the Sea Award was first presented in 2014 to a past student, Mitchell Luders, who inspired our school community and taught us all important lessons about the way we should live.  In doing so he exemplified the motto of letting your light shine in many simple ways throughout his short life.  

This award is presented as part of our School Feast Day celebrations in years when a member of the school community has demonstrated a significant contribution to building up the spirit of Star of the Sea. They will have demonstrated endurance and compassion in their efforts and worked as a unifying force within the school, encouraging and inspiring others and truly letting their light shine.  

The recipient can be a parent, staff member, student or member of the wider community and your recommendations for possible recipients is now invited.  We encourage you to click on the link below to share with us your recommendation for this year's Spirit of Star of the Sea Award recipient.

https://forms.gle/ASzpknjCSa6EXgU77 

Diocesan NAIDOC Mass

Our Indigenous students had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Diocesan NAIDOC Mass in Rockhampton.  The Theme for this year is "Get up, stand up, show up".

We were asked to share a reflection about what the theme means to us and our school community which was read beautifully by Layni Mallie-Roberts. 

I am a student from Star of the Sea Primary School in Gladstone.  Our school takes its name from Our Blessed Mother, Mary, and as a result has a distinctive Marian flavor. Mary is looked to as the shining star that guides us in our Christian journey. She is seen as the ultimate example of someone who let her light shine through her sacrifices and actions. 
Our school motto is "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE”   
Light does not define its surroundings. Light illuminates its surroundings. Our light should provide clarity for others. We will continue to shine our light on important issues that affect our people, we will learn, share and speak the truth of our past. By standing together we can show others the way to liberation.  
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. 
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. 
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? 
Actually, who are you not to be? 
You are a child of God. You’re playing small does not serve the world. 
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. 
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. 
It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. 
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. 
~Nelson Mandela 

Some great opportunities for you

Parents & Friends Meeting - All welcome

We invite all of our Parent Community to our P and F Meeting on  Tuesday 2nd August 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.

We ask that you follow the following guidelines please:

o Not to attend the school site if unwell.
o Maintain physical distancing requirements.
o Practice good health and hygiene etiquette.
o Wear a mask if mandated. 

Have you ever thought of becoming a Catholic?

Star of the Sea Caulfield Event - Date Claimers

Our Caulfield Event is an important part of our school year, being our one major fundraiser for the year.  It is run by a sub-committee of our Parents & Friends group and raises significant funds for the year as well as providing a great day out and a wonderful showcase of our school. 

The event takes place on Saturday 15th October.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Thursday 11th August at 6:30pm.

PREP 2023

Children born between 1^st July 2017 and 30^th June 2018 are eligible to commence Prep in 2023.  If you have a child eligible for Prep in 2023 please visit the school website and complete the Online Application Form.

http://www.staroftheseagladstone.qld.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-information.html

All current families with a child eligible to commence Prep 2023 are required to complete and online application form.

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 teacher and  SOSG_Absentee@rok.catholic.edu.au).

Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors