Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Gladstone eNewsletter

Weekly Focus - Grounding ourselves

From the Principal -Staying in the moment

Dear Families

I have had so many conversations lately with people who are struggling with the speed that this year is finishing. This is a difficult time of year for our children. They are tired and many are starting to worry about their year coming to an end and what next year might bring. They are losing patience with their peers at times and probably picking up on our own tiredness and stress.

Our children need our help right now to ground them in the now – not stressing about what happened in the past and not worrying about the future.

There are so many beautiful moments in these last weeks, and it is a great gift we give if we can help our children be more mindful of what is happening so they can finish the year with pride and unity.

“Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence… And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul …Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
- Max Ehrmann

There are many different strategies children can use to help them regulate themselves and stay centred. Giving them the chance to practice and see what works best for them will equip them with strategies for when the going gets really tough. Lots of these strategies might help us as well – to have calm, regulated children we need to be calm, regulated adults!

Use your senses – 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can smell, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste.
Run water on the inside of your wrists – focus on how that feels.
Blow gently on your palm and then on the top of your hand. Then repeat on the other side. Do it slowly and consciously, focusing on how that feels.
Get them to make lists – all the sports they know, books they know, how many square or round objects can you name etc.
Work your way through the alphabet – can you think of a word for each letter.
Be a tree – Have them imagine their feet are firmly planted and rooted in the ground. Their body is strong and their arms are branches reaching out.
Colour breathing. Get them to focus on their breathing. Imagine their breath is a colour forming a safe circle of security around them as they blow out.
Clap their hands or stamp their feet together, focus on the sensations and repeat the process to notice new sensations in different areas of the body.
Belly breathing – Have them interlace their hands or place a soft object on their abdomen while laying down. With a few slow belly breaths, they can observe as their hands pull apart or the object on their abdomen moves up and down with each inhale and exhale.

Have fun experimenting together and finding what helps the most.

I look forward to seeing you at our final P&F Meeting tonight where we will reflect on the year and look at plans for next year including the proposal for our wonderful new playground.

God bless you and Live Jesus in Your Hearts Forever!

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

URGENT - Please help us find a new Outside School Hours Care Coordinator

We are really in need of your help to find a new Coordinator for our OSHC Service. Please spread the word and plant some seeds. They are more than welcome to call the school for a chat about the position. More information can be found here: https://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER453

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.

From Our APRE

This week we remember.

We remember the sacrifices people have made for us and we give thanks. I am thankful.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day that has been observed since the end of the First World War to remember the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

Our Year Five students will attend the service in ANZAC Park on Remembrance Day on behalf of our school community and the rest of the school will take part in prayer at school.

Lord Jesus, you said

‘Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you.’

Help us to be peacemakers in our world today.

AMEN

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Congratulations

A small group of students have spent some time this term preparing to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the very first time. Congratulations to –

Liam Alletag
Bon Andrews
Mara Bryant
Sophie Griffiths
Chanel Johnson
Sienna Lenz

This is a special part of your faith journey.

I hope you find peace this week.

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Weekly Wondering....

I wonder how we can do good things without making a fuss?

Term 4 Liturgies and Assemblies

WEEK 7

Year 5 Leadership Speeches will take place next week – please check in this newsletter for more information.

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 our Year 12 students as they finish their final weeks of high school: May they experience pride in their achievements and be kept safe in their celebrations.

• 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

It is hard to believe that I am currently completing my 5^th year in my role as Assistant Principal: Curriculum at Star of the Sea. As part of my 5-year contract I was required to undergo a Performance Appraisal. The appraisal process involved a self-reflection and then selected staff and parents completing a survey and interview. Jennett and Carmel Kriz, our Diocesan Director of Curriculum, held meetings with selected staff and parents on Friday to discuss my achievements and areas of recommendations.

I found the self-reflection part of this process to be quite involved. I struggled to identify what I see to be my achievements but found it very easy to list where I believe I need to improve. Our school weeks and days are so busy that I tend to move through them at a rush, always pushing to the end. Then moving straight to the next item on my list. I have a friend who sent me a quote the other day that read “Try to rush slowly”. This is exactly what I need to do. I need to slow down, take time to work efficiently and tackle one job at a time.

Thank you to all staff and parents who took the time to fill in my survey or were interviewed to help me with my appraisal. I look forward to reading the final report and then reflecting on all I have achieved and then begin setting goals for improvement over my next 5 years.

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.

Year 5 Leadership Speeches

Our Year 5 Students present their Leadership Speeches next week. Parents are more than welcome to attend but please make sure you sign in through the office or at the tables set up near the Assembly area. Please note the following dates and locations:

School Captain Speeches - Tuesday 15th November at 9am in the Covered Courts area

Breslin House Captain Speeches - Wednesday 16th November at 9am in the 5A classroom (top floor).

Marsden House Captain Speeches - Wednesday 16th November at 9am in the 6B classroom (middle floor).

Murlay House Captain Speeches - Wednesday 16th Novemberat 8:55am in the 3A (bottom floor).

Days and times for Band and Choir Captains will be announced in the near future.

Please keep all of these children in your prayers.

We wish all the candidates the very best of luck, as we know they have worked hard and all of them will make us proud as leaders in 2023.

Instrumental Music News

Are you interested in learning an instrument and playing in the school band next year? Our Star of the Sea Band peformed at assembly last week, and we demonstrated all of the instruments available to hire and learn. This week our students will do a classroom visit to Years 2, 3, 4 and 5 to demonstrate the instruments available to learn. Please fill out the Expression of Interest form so your child can take part in the instrument tryouts. Expression of Interest Forms are availaable from the school office or 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.

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 - Monday 21st November - band workshop with Judith Hodge and pizza break up party
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

Recruitment for 2023 has commenced!!

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

As part of our Instrumental Music recruiting process for Woodwind, Brass and Percussion for 2023 all year 2, 3, 4, and 5 students have watched our Star of the Sea Intermediate Band perform at assembly last week.

Students have seen and heard demonstrations on instruments from the Woodwind family (Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Tenor Saxophone). All Year 2, 3, 4 and 5 students who are not already in the Instrumental Music Program have been given Expression of Interest forms to join the Instrumental Music program in 2023. Forms are also available from the school office, or you can complete the form online at this link: https://forms.gle/Hft6yvsFu15oPsNMA Expression of interest forms need to be completed and returned no later than Tuesday 15th November.

Instrument suitability testing will be carried out in Week 7. All students will be tested on all instruments. Offers will be made according to student preferences, the need to retain balance within the band, and matching the most suitable student to the vacant instrument positions within the program.

We have a limited supply of instruments available for hire through the school ($50 per term, charged annually) or parents can purchase new or second hand instruments for their child. School instrument hire is first in, best dressed; with preference given to students hiring for the first time.

Current Year 4 and 5 students (next year’s 5 and 6) will also have the opportunity to learn the Oboe, Tenoroon (mini Bassoon), French Horn and Tuba. These instruments are available for hire ($50 per term) through GISMA (Gladstone Independent Schools Music Association) and they do require extra support from parents.

Many thanks for your support and encouragement of our future musicians!

Mrs Kerrie Mallett

Instrumental Music Teacher

You can contact me directly (details below) or through the school office.

kerrie208@gmail.com or kerriemmusic@gmail.com

Mobile 0438 165 552

***Woodwind family - Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Tenor Saxophone***

***Brass family - Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone Horn, Euphonium and Tuba***

Student of the Week Award - Week 6

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.

2024 CLASS ARRANGEMENTS

As we prepare for our 2024 Class arrangements we invite you to notify us of any important information that should be considered for our class composition by completing a 2024 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 2024 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 2024 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.

2024 Student Information Forms must be returned to school in an envelope addressed to the Principal by Friday 10th November.

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 6 Newsletter - Term 4