2022 Week 7 Term 1 Newsletter

Weekly Focus

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

From the Principal

Dear Families

Welcome to our new look newsletter.  One of last year’s goals was to examine how we could communicate more effectively as a school community.  This led to the development of our Communication Policy and an investigation into the most engaging way of communicating with our community.  We have found this Schoolzine Platform the most effective for us to navigate and we hope you find it engaging and user friendly as well.  Your feedback on any improvements is welcome as we explore this new format.  Please note that the app will not come into use until later in the year, but the calendar is being slowly populated with the year’s events to give you an up to date resource to access at any stage.

It is always a risk to try something new and to set out exploring on untrodden paths.  As a school who believes in inquiry as a path to deep learning, we must not be afraid to take these risks and to work together to find the best answers/solutions.  This is what we try to put at the centre of our teaching and learning experiences and is what is at the heart of some of our core goals for this year.

In particular this year we are looking for students to demonstrate an increased ability to think more deeply and extend their comprehension of a variety of text types.

Our goals around reading last year saw an increase in reading engagement and stamina for many students, along with an increase in the complexity level of the texts they were able to read.  Now we look for this to go deeper.

Reading is essentially a thinking activity that should be focused on meaning making rather than just getting the words correct.  Our goal this year is to get the students wondering about the texts they read and questioning their validity and purpose.  

Comprehension is not about getting the answers correct.  It is about engaging with the text in a way that challenges your own thinking. A perfect example of this is when we were examining the results of the Reading Comprehension tests that the students had completed late last year.  As teachers we could not agree on the answers to one question but were able to show our thinking and engagement with the text through the discussion we entered into.

This year we encourage you to enter these sorts of conversations with your children also when reading books together, watching shows, working out Maths problems and at any stage of your day together.  To give our children the gift of deep wondering about life is a precious thing indeed.

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

From Our APRE

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.  Ps 90

The Responsorial Psalm really spoke to me this week.  As we enter into the season of Lent there is no better time to remember that the Lord is with us, even in times of trouble. 

As you contemplate the difficult periods of your life you may become aware of how they led you to new understandings about yourself and others, and GOD.  

In our world at the moment there is a whole lot of ‘bad news’, people are struggling to find peace, have been affected by recent weather events or may be suffering due to illness or upset.  There is no better time than now to reach out to someone around you who may be experiencing a difficult time in their lives.  Can you help them to see Jesus at work?

Dear Lord,

Let peace fill our hearts, our world and our universe. Let us dream together, pray together and work together, to build one world of peace and justice for all.

AMEN

Have a wonderful week, reach out and help someone in need.

Kellie Richardson
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au 

First Week of Lent - Caritas Story

 First Week of Lent  
(Week beginning Monday 7^th March)

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Anatercia, a 12-year-old girl living in a small village in southern Mozambique. She began to take on more and more adult responsibilities as her mother has chronic health issues. She did most of the household chores and had to travel up to five hours every day to collect clean water. Water scarcity also meant that harvests were poor and there was never enough to eat.

With your support, Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Regional Chokwe, was able to help Anatercia’s family to irrigate their farm to improve their food security. They also improved water access for households in the village, delivered sustainable farming training, and provided Anatercia with essential school supplies.

Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her whole community for all future generations.

Watch a short film about Anatercia’s story here.

Sacramental Program - Confirmation & First Communion

Enrolments for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion are open until Friday, 11 March 2022. These Sacraments are open to all children who are baptised Catholic and have already completed the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). If you would like your child to receive these sacraments this year, please collect an enrolment form or contact adfaithsos@rok.catholic.net.au for more information.  

In Our Prayers

•    We pray for those who suffer the fear and injustice of war:  May those with power have their hearts moved to peace so as to make decisions that support it.

•    We pray for all those affected by the floods in Qld and NSW:  May they receive the support and the strength they need to recover from this tragedy.

•    We pray for those members of our school community who are battling sickness and suffering in their life: May they find healing and comfort.

•    We pray for all of us in this Season of Lent:  May we use this as an opportunity deeper prayer and reflection of our call towards Grace.

•    We pray for those who have died, including Mrs Shirley Cook, mother of Julie Cook, our Tuckshop Coordinator, and grandmother to Aidan (past student):  May they rest in the peace and joy of Heaven and may their loved ones be comforted in their grief.

Curriculum News

PJ MARSH 2022

Last Friday I had the absolute pleasure of attending the PJ Marsh Cup with the U10 Star of the Sea Rugby League team.  This competition is a very hard one due to the talented football players we have in Gladstone.  Our boys began the carnival very nervous as some had not played before and because our numbers had dropped due to illness.

We played each game with a limited number of players and no subs.  We won all our games during the pool rounds which left us on top of our pool, which gave us a spot in the final.

We played a full strength St John’s team of 11 against our 8 passionate and hard working boys.  Our coaches David Ahern and Katy Gowers, parents, grandparents, and I were so very proud of their efforts.  I do not remember the last time Star of the Sea had a team in the final of the PJ Marsh Cup.

The boys not only made the finals, but 5 of them were selected to play in the trial game for possible selection.  Congratulations to Mason McNamara and Cory Ahern for making the Port Curtis team for 2022.

Having Wayne Bennett and PJ Marsh at the carnival was a highlight for some of our boys, and I must admit, parents too!!!

LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS PHOTO!!



It is our Year 6 student Bonnie Auld!!!  Bonnie has been rehearsing for months and will soon be on the stage performing in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Combined Schools Musical.

The Gladstone Regional Council has added two Sunday Matinee performances, for the Charlie and Chocolate Factory Combined Schools Musical.  Sunday the 13^th March and Sunday the 20^th  March @ 11am.  

You can either book tickets:

• online through the webpage: https://gladstoneentertainment.com/event/charlie-the-chocolate-factory/
• over the phone 49722822
• in person at GECC Box Office

Bonnie is part of the Nut Room Slinger’s group and the Reporter’s Crowd.  She would love to see her Star of the Sea school mates at one of the Matinee performances.

Have a good week everyone. 

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

Port Curtis Sport

Port Curtis Hockey

Congratulations to Dawson Nash, Sienna Dykstra and Evie Hughes on being selected in the 10-12Yrs Hockey Team.

Port Curtis Touch

Congratulations Macca Old and Dawson Nash on being selected in the 10-12Yrs Touch Team.

Port Curtis Squash

Congratulations to Jack Powell on being selected in the 10-19Yrs Squash Team.

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.

Book Club Issue #2

Volunteer Inductions

ARE YOU PLANNING ON HELPING IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT SCHOOL EVENTS SUCH AS SWIMMING CARNIVALS AND CROSS COUNTRY?
You will need to join us for a Volunteer Induction first please!

These inductions do not take long but serve a very important purpose in helping us to provide a safe and supportive environment for your child.

Please join us in the staff room for one of the following sessions:
•    Tuesday 8 March @ 6pm (Before P&F Meeting) 
•    Friday 11 March @ 8:45am (after Assembly)
•    Monday 14 March @2:30pm
•    Tuesday 15 March @ 5:15pm (Before Board Inservice)

Please note that volunteers will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid to assist us in this way please.
If you cannot make one of the induction times, you may sit in the office waiting area and read through the relevant paperwork, signing our register when finished.  
Please only attend if you are well.

Updated Covid Restictions

Please note the following changes to restrictions which come into effect this week.  As always, educational institutions are given their own guidelines to operate under which do not always line up exactly with what is happening elsewhere. Particularly at the moment, with Covid still making itself known within our school community, it is important that we do not become complacent.  We need to avoid putting our students at risk, and we need to keep teachers and support staff in our school giving your children the care and education they deserve.

The main things the new guidelines stress are as follows:

•    We can have whole school assemblies and parents can attend but are asked to be mindful of distancing, being free of illness etc.  This means that you can come and see your child receive their Student of the Week Award each week.  

•    Masks no longer need to be worn but are still recommended as one of the best ways of minimising risk, especially when distancing is more difficult. We support anyone who wishes to keep wearing a mask when they feel the need to.  Some students may still wear them as well.

•    All Parents are permitted on site to drop off / pick up etc. as usual.

•    Parent / Teacher interviews can take place.

•    The Qld Check In app is used to check vaccination only so parents do not need to check in when dropping off etc. but must do so when coming to help during school hours or working with the students outside of school hours (coaching etc).

•    At School, usual sign in/sign out requirements will also be needed on top of the Qld Check In App when parents /visitors are here during the day.

•    All volunteers must be vaccinated if they are working with students or during school hours.

•  Parents & Friends and Board meetings outside of school hours can happen face to face (vaccination is not a requirement).

Student of the Week Awards

Congratulations to all of our students who have lived out our school motto in many different ways over the past few weeks.  Being back to a whole school assembly we are able to take a whole group photo but have included the individual photos from the past couple of weeks also.

Week 6 Student of the Week Awards

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Week 5 Student of the Week Awards

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ECSI Parent Survey - Please help us by completing this as soon as possible.

Covid Update

Star of the Sea  wishes to advise you that, during the past week, we have been notified of positive cases of COVID-19 in our school community.  

Star of the Sea regularly consults with the Catholic Education Office and relevant authorities, and continues to follow the advice of Queensland Health regarding cleaning requirements. 

Queensland Health has advised that no quarantine of students or staff is required.

As COVID-19 remains active in our community we ask you to continue to monitor your child’s/children’s health and if they develop any flu-like symptoms: 

•    Keep your child/children at home
•    Seek a PCR or Rapid Antigen test where it is recommended and notify the school of positive results. Please be aware, a negative COVID test does not change the requirement to be symptom free to attend school. 
•    Follow the advice of Queensland Health 

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, please remind your child/ren to: 
•    maintain good hand hygiene at all times
•    cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow and dispose of tissues in the bin immediately.
•    practice social distancing from others where possible
•    wear masks when required

We will continue to work closely with health authorities to keep our school community informed of any developments and advice. Thank you once again for your ongoing support.
 

eSafety Tips

Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors