2023 Week 8 Newsletter - Term 3

PUPIL FREE DAY

WEEKLY FOCUS - What do we value?

From the Principal - Let's stop the waste!

Dear Families

It’s been a huge few weeks and last week was once again full of some great events.  Our School Choir had a brilliant day at the Eisteddfod, receiving stand out achievements in the sections they competed – 1st Place in the Sacred Section; 2nd Place for Dance Choir; and 3rd Place for Own Choice. Congratulations to the students involved and also to Mrs Sedgwick and Miss Erin who give such dedicated and expert support and tuition.

Mrs Sedgwick and Miss Erin also led a group of Year 5 and 6 students to compete in the QMEA drone challenge.  They excelled across all the events they competed in, bringing home lots of awards and medals, and we are very proud of their efforts.

Finally, our Book Week Parade was a wonderful morning full of fun and community and I thank you for your contributions towards making it so great.  Extra special thanks to our talented librarian, Miss Jen, who works so tirelessly to promote reading and make these events so wonderful.

I am working my way across the classes at the moment, reminding them of our core school rules and talking about why we need them.  Rules are important but our personal belief about what matters most plays a huge role in guiding our behaviours and determining how closely we follow the rules.

We have some pretty big concerns about the amount of waste we see occurring at lunch times and we really need your help in getting our children to care about this issue as we believe this is bigger than just an environmental issue.

Tuckshop days are especially bad but every day we have children throwing away whole hot dogs, sandwiches, fruit etc. in their rush to get iceblocks or because there is just way more food than they can eat, don't like it etc.  We monitor the bins and tell the children to take home food they do not want but cannot see every child’s rubbish during our supervision of eating time.

This is bigger than just a rubbish problem.

We live in a disposable world.  If it’s broken, get rid of it and get a new one is an attitude that has become pretty dominant.  There is a danger in a disposable world, that not even people and relationships will be worth trying to repair.  If people annoy us, get in our way, disagree with us or seem too different or broken, they can be classified as not worth our effort – put them in the throwaway, too hard basket.  

It is so important that we teach our children to care and cherish what they have.  Please take some time to talk with them about what they honestly want to eat at school.  It is no use ordering it or making it if it is going to end up in the bin.  We are also looking at options to solve this problem such as getting rid of the bins and maybe not selling iceblocks. 

Pope Francis gives us some tips as to how to avoid living wastefully:

•    Be protectors of God’s gifts.
•    Never allow the throw away culture to enter your heart. We are all brothers and sisters.  No-one is                disposable.  Never bury your talents.  
•    Seek always to serve.

Our lives are filled with so many blessings.  Let’s help our children to cherish and protect them with us!

A special Happy Father’s Day to our Dads and all who play a fathering role in the lives of our children.  I hope you feel the love and gratitude you so richly deserve.

Have a wonderful week everyone!
God bless you.

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

2023 School Goals

WANTED - OSHC ASSISTANT

Please spread the word and help us find a new OSHC Assistant. While the position is casual, there are plenty of hours of work usually available at the moment.

From Our APRE

Last Sunday was Social Justice Sunday.  This year’s Social Justice Statement: Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The statement invites people “to come together in friendship and love to show all that love can not only change individual lives, but that it can change society for the better.”

The statement is a way of helping us to be aware of those who can be easily forgotten or overlooked. To be aware of the demands of social justice in our world is part of the duty we each have as followers of Christ. You can read the statement here:

https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2023/08/22/social-justice-statement-2023-24/

The social justice action group at school have been sharing the love of Christ and exploring different ways to pray.  The Five Finger Prayer involves praying for different groups of people as you focus on different fingers: those closest to you; those who point you in the right direction; those who lead us; those who need us; and for ourselves so we can fill our own cup to be able to then pour out to others.

The group undertake a variety of projects throughout the year and are involved in making items for school welcome packs along with other projects around the school as the need arises. 

Within our school the group are supporting the new gardening project as a practical endeavour.  They are also exploring the concept of climate change and the knowledge of the First Nations People to teach us.  They pray particularly for those who have the skills and power to affect positive change.

The group had a wonderful awareness raising visit earlier this year from the Mission to Seafarers to help them understand their role within the community.  They tirelessly support mariners with their practical and spiritual welfare.

Recently the group have been exploring our responsibility as a Reef Guardian school which was a lovely link to the ocean they sail on and are considering ways we can share advocacy and promote sustainable actions to help our earth.

Samara Thompson from the St Vincent de Paul Society visited this term to share some important messages with the group.  She encouraged the students to use their gifts and talents and be proud of who they are.

This group of students meet every Wednesday during their morning tea time and make a difference within our school. 

We thank them for all they do to help make the world a better place, spreading the message of social justice with others is so important.

What action will you take this week?

God bless,

Kellie Richardson

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Kellie_richardson@rok.catholic.edu.au

School Feast Day

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Everyone is invited to join us for our Feast Day celebrations on Tuesday 12^th September.  Our day will begin with Mass in the church at 9am, followed by morning tea where we will cut our Feast Day cake.  Everyone is welcome to join us on this day to give thanks for our guiding light – Mary, Star of the Sea. 

Liturgies and Assemblies

WEEK 9

Year 1 invite you to their Liturgy on Tuesday 5^th September at 9.30am in the Star of the Sea Church.    

6A invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 8^th September at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area.

WEEK 10

Year 4 invite everyone to attend our Feast Day Mass on TUESDAY 12^TH SEPTEMBER at 9am in the Star of the Sea Church. 

Year 3 invite you to their assembly presentation on Friday 15^th September at 8.35am in the Covered Courts Area

In Our Prayers

From the APC

SWIMMING LESSONS

Our School swimming lessons will commence for Year 1-6 on Friday 13th October (Week 2 - Term 4) and will run every Friday for 5 weeks, concluding on the 10th November (Week 6 - Term 4), with our school swimming carnival being the following week, Friday 17th November.  

We ask that you please complete a form at this link for each child in your family by Friday 15th September to allow all of the information to be compiled and the groups to be ready for the start of lessons.

Cost will be $8 per lesson and these fees will be added to the Term 4 school fees.  Each class will have five lessons, across five weeks. Year 5 and 6 will have a week where they complete a double lesson, to account for the Year 6 camp absence.

Lesson times

Year 6:             9:15am - 10:00am 

Year 5:           10:00am - 10:45am 

Year 4:           10:45am - 11:30am 

Year 3:           11:45am - 12:30pm 

Year 2:           12:30pm - 1:15pm 

Year 1:             1:15pm - 2:00pm  

If you can assist with walking with your child/ren’s class to and from the pool, please let your classroom teacher know the days you are available to help.

We appreciate your assistance in helping us to get our groups ready for swimming lessons.

Have a great week.

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

Anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

Multi Draw Raffle to Support the Quoin Island Rehabilitation Centre

As a Reef Guardian School we are always looking for ways to care for our Reef and its wildlife. 

We are pleased to announce a multi draw raffle that will assist us in raising funds to help support the  Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.  The cost to run this centre each year is close to $500 000 with donations not reaching anywhere near the level needed to cover these costs.  They definitely need our help.

We are grateful to Amarni Thetford and her family who have donated the major prize for this raffle.  It is wonderful to see our students so passionate about caring for our environment and we strongly encourage your support to help raise as much money as possible.

Tickets are $1 each and all proceeds will go directly to the Sea Turtles at Quoin Island.

You can send money into the office in an envelope clearly marked with your child's name and class.  Tickets will then be placed in the envelope and returned to you.

Tickets will also be sold by Amarni on Tuckshop days and at our Year 6 Market Stall and during our Feast Day activities.  Tickets can also be purchased through the front office.

Year 6 Market Day

QMEA Drone Challenge

Star of the Sea had a great day out at the QMEA Drone Challemge held at Yaralla last week.  Four teams were entered in the competition which involved 3 rounds, all using small drones to simulate the kinds of work that is being done with drones in industry.

The first round was an obstacle course to test piloting skills. The second round required pre-programming the drone to follow a specific route and the students had to work out all of the measurements. The third round had the students designing and building a prototype carrying device that could be attached to the drone and carried 24 metres. Points were awarded for every round with our teams receiving a 1st and 3rd trophy for their efforts.  We also won Best Dressed and a future drone design poster competition.

The event was run by Toolooa State High School staff and STEM Squad students at Yaralla and was sponsored by QMEA (Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy) and APLNG. In the lead up to the event the Toolooa SHS STEM Squad and Mr Gerard Clark created a training video to help teach our students how to fly the drones.  We are very grateful to the sponsors and organisers who made this valuable learning opportunity possible for our students.

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Star of the Sea P&F 50/50 Fundraiser Raffle Tickets

P&F 50/50 Fundraiser Raffle tickets have been sent home  for each family. Tickets and cash are due back to school on Monday 11th September. No EFTPOS available.

The winning ticket will be drawn at our Caulfield Event on Saturday 21st October.

Student of the Week Awards

An Invitation to some Family Social Events

Real Talk Puberty Information Zoom Session for Parents - Tuesday 12th September

Real Talk are an organisation we have been collaborating with for a number of years to support the implementation of our Personal and Social Education Curriculum.  The team will be visiting our Year 5 and 6 classes in the last week of term and we strongly encourage all Year 5 and 6 parents to attend this Zoom Information Session if possible.  More information about student sessions will be sent home this week.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PARENTS ARE MOST WELCOME TO ATTEND THS ZOOM INFORMATION SESSION NO MATTER WHAT GRADE YOUR CHILD IS IN.  

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Parish Feast Day Invitation

Parent Education Sessions

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 classroom teacher  and                                                                                                                SOSG_Absentee@rok.catholic.edu.au).

Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors