Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Gladstone eNewsletter

Weekly Focus - Special events

From the Principal -Time to Reflect

Dear Families

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to say thank you to all of us as we celebrated World Teachers’ Day on Friday. Your kindness was greatly appreciated and was a welcome boost at this crazy stage of the term.

Please make sure you keep an eye on your term planner and read our weekly newsletter carefully at the moment as there is a lot happening over the coming weeks.

“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will not ask, 'How many good things have you done in your life?' rather he will ask, 'How much love did you put into what you did?”
- Mother Teresa

Our school has reached the stage of the year where we are all involved in reflecting back over goals, achievements and areas for growth as we write report cards and plan for the future.

Pausing to reflect and review is an important contributor to personal growth and wellbeing. This is a skill that a number of our students have been exploring as they prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week.

No matter what our faith background is, it is valuable to take some time each day to ‘examine our conscience’…to reflect back over our day and recognise the good choices we have made and give thanks for them and also to recognise the decisions we made that were selfish, hurtful or thoughtless.

There are many ways to do this. Catholics often use the bible or particular prayers. It also involves reading and informing our conscience, so that we are not just making decisions based on opinion or hearsay.

This time of reflection can be as long or as short as we feel comfortable with or are able to manage. Let us remember that each day is a precious gift of time from the Lord. At the end of each day, perhaps we could ask:

• Did I get it right?
• Did I matter to someone?
• Did I give someone the benefit of the doubt?
• Did I notice the beauty around me?
• Did I feel compassion?
• Did I accept a challenge?
• Did I forgive?
• Would I have lived the day differently?
• What would Jesus have said or done in my place?
• Did I turn to God in my moments of weakness?
• Did I pray?

God bless you and Live Jesus in Your Hearts Forever!

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

Please help us find a new OSHC Coordinator

Please help us spread the word and find a wonderful Coordinator for our hardworking OSHC Team. More information can be found here: https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER453

From Our APRE

This week we celebrate two special days in the church – All Saints Day (Nov 1) and All Souls Day (Nov 2).

Saints are sometimes regarded as ‘Catholic superheroes’. Stories of miraculous and remarkable deeds abound, though more in the vein of conversions and cures than speeding bullets and tall buildings. But to get caught up on the Saints of the stained glass windows is to overlook the vast majority of saints. You see, a saint is anybody whose soul is in heaven. The Church celebrates a certain number of Saints whose lives provide a glimpse of God for the rest of the Church. But there are many, many more saints whose glimpse of God was only ever experienced by their family, friends and those with whom they worked. The feast of ALL Saints is an opportunity to remember and reflect on the lives of those saints who’ve been known and loved by just a few and whose sphere of influence was such that they will never be recognised as Saints by the universal Church.

When we look around our school community there are many ‘Saints’ working tirelessly and making Jesus real for us daily. Which Saint has inspired you today?

Have a wonderful week.

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Weekly Wondering....

I wonder what we can do to show others we love them as much as we love ourselves?

Term 4 Liturgies and Assemblies

WEEK 5

Year 4 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 4^th November at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 7

Year 5 Leadership Speeches will take place this week – please keep an eye out for more details closer to the dates.

WEEK 8

Year 6 invite you to their FINAL assembly presentation on Thursday 24^th November at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

Everyone is invited to attend our annual Christmas Concert on Friday 25^th November.

WEEK 9

Everyone is invited to attend our Year 6 Graduation Liturgy Monday night 28th November at 6pm in the Star of the Sea Church.

Everyone is invited to attend our End of Year Mass on Friday 2nd December at 9am in the Star of the Sea Church.

In Our Prayers

Let us pray...

• We pray for those children who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time: May they come to know the peace that is found in God’s mercy and love.

• We pray for peace in our world: In particular, we pray that leaders will lead with wisdom and love in a world facing conflict and distrust.

• We pray for all in our world and in our community who suffer in any way because of illness, disaster, war or injustice: May they always know they are not alone.

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

From the APC

50 Marathons in 50 Days.

Nedd Brockman reached his goal of raising over 1 million dollars to combat homelessness. He is the fastest Australian to run from Western Australia to Sydney.

In an interview he explained that some people are seeing him as an “instant success”. However, he explained that the year prior, he was up at 4am, training for two hours, then going to work as a sparky then training again after work. Every tick over in his mind he was focused on what he had to do. He admits that one of the biggest drives was people doubting him. He was scared and anxious but so very determined.

Nedd has a deep sense of being able to push himself to the limit. He managed to maintain a strong mind and his body kept up with him. I had tears in my eyes when his mum talked in an interview about her journey as his support crew. She had to deal with feelings of absolute pride in what he was doing. She also had to fight the feelings of wanting to protect her son and stop him when she knew he was struggling. She could see the pain he was in, the anguish of each step and she wanted to hug him and say it is ok to stop. NEDD kept going and proved to himself and everyone that he had what was needed to succeed.

I have mentioned Nedd today in my newsletter piece because I would like to try and convince all of our students in our school that they have Nedd in them. There is determination, commitment, and feelings of failure and pain in each one of them. Each of our students have loving parents or care givers working as a support crew for them, just like Nedd’s mum was for him.

Think back through the year and see if you and your child can work out what Nedd moment they have had. What did they work hard for, commit to and succeed. I would love to hear some of these Nedd moments.

Have a good week everyone.

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - Star of the Sea Swimming Carnival Nominations 2022

The Star of the Sea Swimming Carnival for 2022 will be held on Friday 18th November for Years 2 – 6.

The program will be compiled from the information entered in the google form at link below.

Swimming Carnival Nominations 2022 (google.com)

All Parents from Years 2 to 6 are asked to visit this link and nominate their children as soon as possible please.

Children must swim a minimum of 3 individual races. Children will be eligible for Age Champion 9 years and under, 10 years, 11 years and Open. Competent swimmers also have the option to swim the 50m Butterfly and 100m Freestyle.

This nomination form must be submitted by Sunday 4th November.

Please note that Prep and Year One students do not take part in the Swimming Carnival. Only students in Years 2 to 6 are to be nominated please.

Please note the school Tuckshop will be closed on Friday 18th November.

P&F Meeting & AGM

Nov

14

Tue

14 Nov 2023
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Our Parents and Friends Committee is open to ALL parents in our school. Its primary purpose is to provide support and empowerment for parents in their vital parenting role. They do this in many ways – Organising school events, inviting guest speakers and, most importantly, providing parents with the opportunity to have a voice. They also assist in providing resources that enhance the learning environment for our students. Once again, our P&F have had a huge year working in all these ways for the betterment of our school and the benefit of our children.

Our final General Meeting and our Annual General Meeting takes place tonight - Tuesday 14 November at 6:30pm. We would love to have you join us for the final meeting of the year.

Instrumental Music News

Recruitment for 2023 is commencing!

Are you interested in learning an instrument and playing in the school band next year?

Expression of Interests forms are available via the following link

2023 Expression of Interest (google.com)

Tuition is available on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, percussion, flute, clarinet and saxophone. All of these instruments are available to hire through the school.

Our band members will be demonstrating all of the instruments over the next few weeks.

Dates for the diary

Week 7 - Instrument try-outs for new students
Week 7 - Band Recital - Wednesday 16th November at 6pm in the undercover area
Week 8 - Letters of offer for places in the music program and instrument hire finalised
Week 8 - Christmas Concert - Friday 25th November

Kerrie Mallett

Instrumental Music - Woodwind/Brass/Percussion

Star of the Sea - Tuesday/Wednesday

Mobile 0438 165 552

Student of the Week Award

Departing Families

At this stage of the year, work and personal circumstances sometimes mean that we have families moving from Star of the Sea. If you have not already done so, please send us an email or a note to let us know.

We hope that you can join us for our End of Year Mass so that we can pray a special blessing for you and your family.

2023 CLASS ARRANGEMENTS

As we prepare for our 2023 Class arrangements we invite you to notify us of any important information that should be considered for our class composition by completing a 2023 Student Information Form.

These forms are available from the school office and are designed for parents to formally communicate any important information in relation to their own child, for class placements in 2023 in regards to social, emotional, physical or learning concerns.

Please be aware that these forms are not to request a specific class, nor teacher, but rather to inform the Principal formally of any relevant concerns that pertain directly to your child.

All information included in the 2023 Student Information Form will be treated confidentially. As always, requests will be considered by the Principal but, as you are aware, many factors are well-considered when forming classes, and teachers’ professional judgement is vital in this process also.

Please also know that classroom teachers are not the only professionals involved in finalising classes for the following year. Teachers also meet with Learning Support staff and the Leadership team to finalise these lists.

Please do not put requests to teachers directly. Only those submissions made to the Principal will be formally considered.

2023 Student Information Forms must be returned to school in an envelope addressed to the Principal by Wednesday 9th November.

St Vincent de Paul Society - Did you know?

Did you know? St Vincent de Paul Members enjoy helping where they see a need. The lonely, the desperate, the homeless. Want to help? Email or QR Code: olss4680@svdpqld.org.au

Trial of new Roadways Behaviour Monitoring System

In a world-first road safety initiative, new speed camera technology will soon target speeding
drivers at selected school zones across Queensland.

Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. It is imperative drivers reduce their speed to the
signed 40 km/h speed limit and be aware of activity by students on or near the road.
Speed cameras will only operate during school zone times at the selected schools.
Parents, and carers dropping off or picking up students are urged to comply with school zone
speed limits. Those who slow down will not be penalised.

Gladstone Region 2023 Australia Day Award Nominations

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

Caulfield_Newsletter.pdf

2022 Week 5 Newsletter - Term 4