2023 Week 4 Newsletter - Term 3
- WEEKLY FOCUS - Surrounded by Blessings
- From the Principal - You are the best teacher.
- 2023 School Goals
- From Our APRE
- Catholic Education Week Celebrations
- In Our Prayers
- From the APC
- Port Curtis Athletics
- 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
- Positions Vacant
- School Safe Parking
- Temporary Change to Uniform Shop Hours
- Have you wondered about the Catholic faith?
- Parish Feast Day Invitation
- Please Update Your Media Details
- Student Absentee Line
- Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors
WEEKLY FOCUS - Surrounded by Blessings
This week we offer a message from another Principal with a beautiful message and a smile for us all.
From the Principal - You are the best teacher.
Dear Families
Our Catholic Education Week celebrations were extra special this year and highlighted so much of what I love about our school. From our sausage sizzle on Monday to our Grandparents Day on Thursday, to the many class acts of kindness and a special Year 1A assembly, the theme of ‘Faith, Hope and Love’ was strongly shown across each activity.
We are grateful to everyone who helped make it such a special celebration. In particular, I give my sincere thanks to Kellie for her vision and hard work in bringing the week together.
“Wherever there are beginners and experts, old and young, there is some kind of learning going on, some kind of teaching. We are all pupils and we are all teachers."
- Gilbert Highet
We talk a lot about parent engagement but there can be a misconception that ‘engagement’ means turning up and being involved in school events, being a member on a committee and regularly volunteering. Those things are highly valued and can be a part of being engaged in your child’s learning, but parent and family engagement is much more than that.
We often don’t feel very confident in our role as parents. It is easy to think we are not as clever, creative, wise or caring as other parents but you are actually just perfect to be your child’s parent and you really are the most important contributor to their learning – and you don’t have to do it the same way as everyone else!
Each of our stories and home situations looks different and that’s okay. For real engagement as partners in the learning of our children we just need to support each other and value each other’s perspective and ideas. We also need to engage in regular, ongoing, and purposeful interactions with our children.
Just showing your interest and value of learning in your daily interactions and conversations is valuable. Research shows that young people do value being asked about their day as it shows you care. A great website full of simple ideas for parents is the Australian Government’s Learning Potential website: https://www.learningpotential.gov.au
In all honesty though, just having a chat in the car, curling up with a book together or playing a board game are great starting places. And maybe you can get involved in our gardening project from the comfort of your own home. You can start planting and your child can compare notes between home and school gardens.
Don’t forget our information sessions this week about our Garden Project. We would really love your ideas and you will not have to commit to a job so please join us if you can on one or both of the following dates:
Tuesday 8th August @ 5:30pm (Please note this date has changed)
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
Let me know if you would prefer to join us via a Zoom link instead and I can send through a link.
Have a wonderful week everyone!
God bless you.
Jennett Mullane
Principal
jennett_omullane@rok.catholic.edu.au
2023 School Goals
From Our APRE
What a week it was!!
Last week we took the time to celebrate our amazing school. I know I have said this many times before, but I am truly grateful to be part of this wonderful community.
Our week began with a Sausage Sizzle for staff and students. I had some awesome helpers to make this happen – thank you to the parents and friends who were able to cook sausages and serve them to the students. I thought coming together for a meal to start the week was a symbolic way of thinking about Jesus gathering with his disciples for a meal.
A big shout out to Woolworths in the Valley who sponsored our Sausage Sizzle with a very generous donation. Thank you.
Mid-week we swapped our uniforms for some crazy hair and free dress clothes to celebrate the wonderful contribution of our Story Dogs. Staff and students love to see Grace and Meeka around our school.
Then on Thursday we joined together to give thanks to our God for the many blessings we have in our lives, including our wonderful Grandparents and ‘Grandadults’ who take great care of us. This event is heartwarming, to see the adults bursting with pride and the students so excited to have them at school and show them around. It is truly one of the highlights of the year for me. Thank you to our School Choir and Bells Ensemble for providing some amazing entertainment for everyone.
We finished the week off with an assembly from Year 1A – giving a groovy positive message to us all.
I hope everyone found something to celebrate about our great school. Along the way we had some kindness projects happening along with a colouring competition highlighting our community of Faith, Hope and Love.
God bless
Kellie Richardson
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au
Liturgies and Assemblies
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
Catholic Education Week Celebrations
Story Dogs Fundraiser
Sausage Sizzle
Grandparent Day Celebrations
Catholic Education Week Mass
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 that all parents will feel confident in their role as the most important educators of their child: May they feel supported and valued as they encourage and assist their child’s learning.
• 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
Our school’s favourite fun run is back for 2023!
Gladstone Ports Corporation’s (GPC) Port to Park FunD Run can help us raise important funds for our school community and we’d love as many of our students and families to participate on Sunday 20 August.
The event will run in GPC's beautiful parklands, highlighting all three areas - East Shores, The Gladstone Marina and Spinnaker Park.
There will be two race events for participants to choose from including the 10 kilometre Koongo Dash and the 3 kilometre Yallarm Family Run. Both race names recognise the language of the Traditional Owners of the land - the Bailai and Gooreng Gooreng nations, with Koongo meaning place of water and Yallarm meaning place of shells.
Students can register to participate in Port to Park as individuals or with their family for the 3km and/or 10km events and their registration fee will be directed back to our school. Make sure you nominate our school when registering!
You can register here at Port to Park.
Port to Park is proudly supported by a number of local corporations including Santos GLNG, Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre and Gladstone Regional Council.
Have a great week.
Anthony King
Assistant Principal: Curriculum
anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au
Port Curtis Athletics
Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the 2023 Port Curtis Team.
10 Years Boys - Hamish McDougall and Kurt Taylor
11 Years Girls - Annalise Ginn and Myeisha Medina
Congratulations to Annalise Ginn on being selected for the Tetrathlon.
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
- 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:
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:
Positions Vacant
School Safe Parking
Temporary Change to Uniform Shop Hours
Have you wondered about the Catholic faith?
Parish Feast Day Invitation
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.
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).