2023 Week 2 Newsletter - Term 3
- Weekly Focus - Our Garden Project
- From the Principal -Nurturing and Connecting
- 2023 School Goals
- From Our APRE
- Celebrating Catholic Education Week and the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne
- In Our Prayers
- From the APC
- Life Education
- Special Visitors to Star of the Sea
- Catholic Education Week Grandparents Mass
- P&F Meeting - August Meeting - Tuesday 8th August 2023
- Information Session about our Star of the Sea Garden Project
- Information Session about our Star of the Sea Garden Project
- Term 3 School Fee
- 100 Days of Prep Celebration
- Women of Worth Presentation
- Book Club
- Student of the Week Award
- Student Absentee Line
- Please Update Your Media Details
- Chanel College Musical
- School Safe Parking
- Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors
Weekly Focus - Our Garden Project
From the Principal -Nurturing and Connecting
Dear Families
We wish our Year 5 students and staff all the best as they head off on their Camp at Chaverim this week. I am sure it will be a wonderful experience full of personal challenge and connected memories.
It has long been a dream for our school that we would re-establish a garden area that would complement the skills and attributes we seek to instill in our students. There is much evidence to the benefits of learning in natural environments, fostering collaboration and supporting /monitoring the growth of living things. It is not only beneficial for our children but for the adults who work with them as well.
It was therefore with great excitement that our school received a number of grants towards the end of last term that will assist in making this dream a reality.
“We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us.”
– Jenny Uglow
We were thrilled to hear that our school was a recipient of the 2023 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant for our project, the Green Thumbs Gardening Club. The school is one of 1,107 primary schools and early learning centres across Australia to receive the grant to help grow the next generation of environmental champions.
The aim of our project is to grow fruits and vegetables which can be used by the Tuckshop or donated to the local Soup Kitchen. Students from across the school will be involved in researching suitable plants, preparing gardens, tending to, and harvesting the crops.
We were also very excited to receive a Grant from Catholic School Parents Qld to help build Wellbeing and Parent Engagement. These funds will assist our Garden Project, building opportunities to support wellbeing and help our parent and wider community to feel connected with our school and engaged in their child’s education.
There are lots of ways for you to be involved and you do not need to have any expertise. We are looking for volunteers who will help in a variety of ways:
- Rostering on a regular basis during short break times to help supervise students watering and weeding gardens.
- Occasionally assisting at working bees to set up garden areas etc.
- Sharing your expertise and ideas with us.
- Putting us in touch with other expertise or funding support.
- Joining students and teachers for longer planting and garden maintenance sessions.
The ideas are endless and you are all invited to be a part of this Star of the Sea community project in whatever way you can. It is open to Parents, Grandparents and our extended family just as our Reading Stars Project operates.
We have planned a couple of information sessions that will provide a chance to talk more about the project, to generate ideas and clarify our goals. You will not have to commit to a job so please join us if you can on one or both of the following:
Tuesday 1st August @ 5:30pm
Friday 4th August @ 9am (after assembly)
It will be a great chance for a chat over some nibbles and a drink.
We have put together this Google Form where you can indicate your interest and/ or ideas: https://forms.gle/rjugpx5cWtLqJmR96
Don’t forget to let us know if you are able to join us for our Grandparents Mass and Celebrations next Thursday 27th. We would love to have you there.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
God bless you.
Jennett Mullane
Principal
jennett_omullane@rok.catholic.edu.au
2023 School Goals
From Our APRE
This week I share with you a reflection from Sr Kym Harris. Glass half full or glass half empty – which one do you default to?
It is not always easy to fully focus on gratitude and happiness when we are faced with challenges. I try each day to make sure I take a moment or two to choose happiness. It sure can make a difference to your day.
What would Jesus do? How can you choose happiness amongst the chaos this week?
Choosing Happiness
By Sr Kym Harris
‘Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.’ (Abraham Lincoln)
Most of us would have heard this quote. I had…and I have worked on changing my outlook. I needed to. By nature, I not only tend to see that the glass is half full, I want to know the reasons and then question why it is that my glass is half full. Yes, you got it right – I overwork the situation. Yes, I have worked on changing my attitude and to a large extent I think it has changed me. But this week, I read something that made me realise that it needn’t be so hard.
Simply it was the advice to choose happiness in every situation, even when we are suffering. How to do this? Simply by looking at what delights us and enjoying those things. As I write this, I have a favourite mug alongside me. I love its green, the pattern on it, the style of the cup but nearly always I just don’t notice. But if I do it gives me a little frisson of delight. It is those little moments of delight that, when added together, shape our hearts into happiness.
We are made for happiness and can tend to question why God doesn’t give us the things that we think would make us so. But too often we are crying for the moon, when we already have a lovely flower, sunlight, a meal or a joking word just before us. Maybe God can’t give us the ‘big things’ because we haven’t learnt to delight in the little joys that are constantly coming our way. So, here’s a joy in front of me that I want to delight in: writing these pieces. I wouldn’t do these except that I have you, the reader, giving them time in the newsletter. Your interest draws out of me things I didn’t know were there…and that gives me a frisson of happiness. Thank you.
Loving God, open my eyes and heart to see the many things that could delight me this day. Let me enjoy the smile of my child, the word of a friend, sunlight on a leaf. Let me join with your Holy Spirit in delighting in creation. I ask this in Jesus’ name confident that you will hear me.
Choose happiness this week.
Kellie Richardson
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au
Liturgies and Assemblies
WEEK 3
Everyone is invited to join us for our Catholic Education Week Whole School Mass on Thursday 27th July at 9.00am in the Star of the Sea Church. This Mass will also be a special celebration for our Grandparents.
Year 1A invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 28th July at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 4
Year 5A invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 4th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 5
Year 2 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 8th August at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.
Year 3B invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 11th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 6
Year 5 invite you to their Mass on Tuesday 15th August at 9.00am in the Star of the Sea Church. This Mass will celebrate the Feast of The Assumption.
Prep invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 18th August at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 7
Everyone is invited to attend our Book Character Parade on Friday 25th August at 8:35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 8
Year 3 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 29th August at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.
WEEK 9
Year 1 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 5th September at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.
6A invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 8th September at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.
WEEK 10
Year 4 invite everyone to attend our Feast Day Mass on TUESDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER at 9am in the Star of the Sea Church.
Year 3 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 15th September at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area
Celebrating Catholic Education Week and the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne
On Thursday morning - July 27, there will be a special celebration for Grandparents at Star of the Sea School.
We will begin the celebration with a Mass at 9am, followed by a morning tea in the covered area.
At 11am our school choir will perform for our visitors, followed by some time when our classrooms will be open for parents and Grandparents to visit.
Everyone is welcome.
So that we have some idea for catering we ask that you please email and let us know if you will be attending the morning tea on this day.
kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au
In Our Prayers
Let us pray...
• We pray in thanksgiving for our school community: May we always look for ways to support each other and celebrate the many gifts we share.
• We pray for our Year 5 students as they participate in their Camp this week: May they find it a time of happiness and growth as they experience the challenges and exciting learning opportunities being provided.
• We pray for all those who have died: May God grant them the peace and joy and hope of the resurrection.
• We pray for those members of our school community who are battling sickness and suffering in their life: May they find healing and comfort.
From the APC
Last week our Star of the Sea Rugby League and Netball teams participated in a Catholic school’s competition called Challenge Cup at St Brendan’s Yeppoon. It was another amazing carnival where our students competed against schools from our Rockhampton Diocese.
Congratulations to all our students who competed. Our Rugby League players were: Harley Kaine, Blake Asher, Oliver Mafrici, Harrison Corrie, Mason McNamara, Darcy Walker, Logan Smyth, Sam Beahan, Leo Muggeridge, Hudson Lette, Hudson Slow, Cory Ahern, Oliver Snowden and Jesse Jorgensen.
Our Netballers were: Mia King, Emily McConnell, Evelyn Hughes, Evie Hughes, Abi King, Macey White, Brooke Skinner, Mi-Kayla Tanoitiaola, Tahlia Maydom and Amarni Thetford. These amazing Netballers won the Medal Trophy in an awesome grand final win.
Each one of our students were challenged to perform their best and they did. They had to work as a team and dig deep during the tough games, they showed good sportsmanship and their parents and I were very proud of each one of them.
Best and Fairest medals were awarded to Cory Ahern and Mia King.
Coaches’ medals were awarded to Darcy Walker and Macey White.
A special thank you to Melissa McBride, Dave Ahern, Katy Gowers, Lauren Maydom and Charlette Walker for supporting our teams in the lead up and throughout the carnival.
Have a great week.
Anthony King
Assistant Principal: Curriculum
anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au
Life Education
Special Visitors to Star of the Sea
We welcomed some extra special visitors to Star of the Sea recently with well respected Australian Rugby Union footballer, Tim Horan, and a couple of the Queensland Reds Football team, Renae Nona and Lawson Creighton, calling in with Craig Haymes, CEO of the Gladstone Port Authority, to talk to us about the annual Port to Park Event organised by the Gladstone Port Authority.
The whole school received some really important messages about the value of listening to our parents and being a fair and decent team player. Our Year 5 and 6 students then enjoyed some coaching tips with Tim, Renae and Lawson and the opportunity for a few photos and autographs. What a great way to start off our term!
Catholic Education Week Grandparents Mass
- 27 Jul 2023
- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Our 2023 Grandparents Mass and celebration will take place on Thursday 27th July beginning with Mass @ 9am. More details will follow soon so lock this date in your calendars now.
P&F Meeting - August Meeting - Tuesday 8th August 2023
- 08 Aug 2023
- 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
We invite all of our Parent Community to our P and F Meeting on Tuesday 08 August at 6:30pm in the staff room (entry via the front office). Please note this date has changed from the Term Planner date.
Although the P&F 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.
Any agenda items can be forwarded to the P&F Secretary and President:
Information Session about our Star of the Sea Garden Project
- 08 Aug 2023
- 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM
We invite all of our parent and extended community to join us on Tuesday 08 August at 5:30pm in the staff room (entry via the front office) to hear more about our Garden Project. (Please note this date has changed from the original).
There will be no commitment to volunteer. This is just a chance to hear a little about the project and share some ideas while relaxing with some light refreshments.
You can indicate your attendance here to help with catering:
Information Session about our Star of the Sea Garden Project
- 11 Aug 2023
- 8:50 AM to 9:30 AM
We invite all of our parent and extended community to join us on Friday 11 August at 8:50am (after the assembly) in the staff room (entry via the front office) to hear more about our Garden Project. (Please note this date has changed from the original).
There will be no commitment to volunteer. This is just a chance to hear a little about the project and share some ideas while relaxing with some light refreshments.
You can indicate your attendance here to help with catering:
Term 3 School Fee
Welcome back to what is shaping up to be another busy term.
School fees were emailed to all families mid-last week. If you’ve not received your fees, please check your junk email first but if they’re not hiding in there, please contact me.
FEES FOR TERM 3 ARE DUE FRIDAY, 28th JULY
If you feel that you will not be able to pay your fees by the due date, please contact the office on 49721305 or sosg_finance@rok.catholic.edu.au.
Thank you.
Kaddie Dawe – Finance Officer
100 Days of Prep Celebration
Our Prep students have been working hard on their counting skills and have finally reached 100 days of being a Prep student. They had a wonderful celebration of 100 days of learning and growth in Prep. Thank you to everyone who made it such a great day.
Women of Worth Presentation
Book Club
Book Club Issue 5 brochures have been handed out to students this week.
Please follow the instructions to use LOOP (inside the back cover of the brochure) if you wish to place an order.
Orders are due by 5pm on Friday 28th July please.
Student of the Week Award
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).
Please Update Your Media Details
Dear Parents
We are asking your assistance in updating media consent for your child/ren.
Our system has been updated with more options that give us clarity with the myriad different ways your child's details can possibly be used. If you completed a paper copy of the enrolment form, you will definitely need to update these media consent details please. Parents who completed an online application are also asked to check their child's current media permissions to ensure it is correct.
This is a very quick task completed through Parent Lounge and below are some instructions to guide you with this task. You will need to complete this task for each child you have at Star of the Sea please.
We appreciate your help in ensuring we have the correct information for your child/ren.
Chanel College Musical
