2022 Week 10 Newsletter - Term 1

Weekly Focus

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

From the Principal

Dear Families

Once again we have faced a term that has been completely unpredictable and brought its fair share of suffering.  So many of our staff and our families have experienced long term sickness and isolation because of Covid.  We have struggled to maintain our staff and our teachers have faced having to repeatedly reteach concepts as the population of their class continually changed.

I am proud of how our school has come through all of this and I thank you for the wonderful messages and acts of support you have given to us.

I thank you also for the generosity you have shown in the appeals we have run for those affected by the terrible natural disasters suffered by many this year.  There is so much suffering being experienced in our world right now and, as we approach the significant events of Holy Week, let us remember a God who truly understands human suffering.  He is there with His arms outstretched loving us and showing us the courage, compassion and solidarity that can help us through.

We are very sad to say goodbye to Rachel Webb this week.  Rachel’s teaching expertise and generous sharing of her time and talents has been a real gift to our school community.  She is a woman of deep faith who has modelled that in her care for all she has dealt with.  We wish Rachel, James and their beautiful children Lilyana and Judah, every blessing  as they start their new chapter in beautiful Tasmania. 

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

Please help us find our new Year 3 Teacher.  Encourage those great teachers you know to get in touch to find out more about working at Star of the Sea.

ASPIRE TO TEACH, TEACH TO INSPIRE! 
Applications are invited for the full-time contract teaching position (Year 3) at Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Gladstone.
This contract will commence from Term 2, 2022 until 15 January 2023.  
To apply, please click the following linkhttps://applynow.net.au/jobs/CER296-classroom-teacher-year-3-star-of-the-sea-catholic-primary-school 
To find out more about Catholic Education in the Diocese of Rockhampton please visit www.rok.catholic.edu.au
Applications close 10 April 2022.
#BeTheDifference

From Our APRE

“Do this in memory of me…”

‘It is a poor memory that only remembers backwards.’  So said a character in Alice in Wonderland or was it Through the Looking Glass? I don’t remember.

In the coming weeks, we Christians use a different form of memory.  It is not about information from the past but remembering the presence of God in Jesus Christ 2000 years ago so that God can be present today in our world- in you and in me.  We remember, not for Jesus’ sake, but for our own.  By prayerfully remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we allow his love and life to enter into our own – especially where we most need it.

In these weeks when you attend the prayers and liturgies, at school or at the church, take your griefs and sorrows, your struggles and joys with you.  In your heart pray, ‘Jesus remember me, as I am remembering you’ and then be open to receive his reply for he will surely send his good Spirit to guide you through the challenges of your life.  Be prepared though – sometimes that Spirit comes from left field, from people and places we don’t expect or want to hear from.  Sometimes that Spirit suggests some strange and radical behaviour – like forgiving people who have hurt us, or like confronting people who frighten us, or like expecting us to love in very unloving situations.  As we remember Jesus in those situations we can draw strength from him for we can be certain of this – he is remembering us. 

Loving Father, as we recall the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection, open in us that type of remembering that allows him to become real in our lives.  With his Spirit to guide us, may his life lead us into new ways of loving. We ask this in his name confident that you will hear us. 
Sr Kym Harris osb

As Term One draws to a close and we head off on holidays it is timely to reflect on what has been a jam packed term.  It has been a term like no other and we have had to dig deep to support each other.  

Our Holy Week reflection this morning was a chance for us to come together and remember the suffering that Jesus went through in his last days, while praying for each other.

Stay safe and have a wonderful Easter.

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

Fourth Week of Lent - Caritas Story

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Rosalie, who lives with her husband and seven children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to join the army when she was just 15-years-old, Rosalie experienced significant trauma and hardship during her years in the military. After she was demobilised from the army, Rosalie, like other ex-combatants, was left to fend for herself in the community. 

With your generous support and through Caritas Australia's partners, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Caritas Bukavu, Rosalie was able to connect with other members of her community and participate in business skills training to help her to reintegrate into society.

She joined a savings group which helped her with a loan to start her own small business selling second-hand shoes and natural remedies. 

“I can eat, dress, maintain my health and help others. My children study and manage to eat twice a day. I have learnt to work hand-in-hand with other members of the community. Really, there is more joy in sharing with others.” - Rosalie

Watch a short film about Rosalie’s story here.

In our Prayers

•    We pray for all of us as we head into the holiday period:  May it be a time of rest, nourishment and care until we safely return back together.

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

Curriculum News

Reading Eggs   

At Star of the Sea we endorse a whole school approach to reading development by providing all children with access to the program ABC Reading Eggs. This program has been carefully designed to provide online reading games and activities that are easy to follow, self-paced, and highly engaging for young learners.

ABC Reading Eggs has been designed to focus on the five essential keys to reading success:

Phonemic awareness: The ability to hear and manipulate the different sounds in words.

Phonics: Recognising the connection between letters and the sounds they make.

Vocabulary: Understanding the meaning of words, their definitions, and their context.

Reading Comprehension: Understand the meaning of text – both in storybooks and information books.

Fluency: The ability to read aloud with speed, understanding and accuracy.

If your child needs something to do over the holidays, you could sit with them and read a book together or get them to read to you. We encourage you to closely monitor your child’s use of Reading Eggs at home and give them plenty of encouragement as they strive for ongoing success. Here is the link to the site: https://readingeggs.com.au/

Have a good holiday everyone.

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

ICT Code of Practice - ACTION REQUIRED PLEASE

Information and Communication Technologies are used as a resource in many of the teaching and learning activities in the classroom.  A requirement of all students participating in these activities is to commit to a safe and respectful use of the various technologies.  This is completed each year by parents logging on to Parent Lounge, reading through the ICT Code of Practice with their child and showing their commitment to this Code of Practice by clicking the appropriate approval icon.

https://401sosg.https://401sosg.rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge/login.cfm?reason=timeout rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge/login

Students in Years 3 to 6 also work through the Code of Practice in class as well to ensure a thorough understanding.

Thank you to those families who have already completed this process.  This approval must be given by the start of Term 2 please.  Any students not covered by this agreement will unfortunately not have access to technology equipment at Star of the Sea from Term 2 onwards.

CLASS PARENTS - WE NEED YOU

We are still in need of a Class Parent for many of our classes this year.

Our class parents play an important role in our school community.  It is not meant to be a particularly demanding job but it does provide an important bridge between the parent body and the teacher.

The role of the Class Parent has a few main duties:
•    Class Morning Teas (Held in the Outside Hours Care Room near the Toilets): This involves making sure the urn is filled and turned on ready before the Class Assembly item or whenever there is a Year Level Cuppa.  (You can even get someone else to turn on the urn if needed).  At this stage we are not wanting people to bring a shared plate unfortunately.  The school has a selection of individual serve biscuits that you can collect from the office to use for the cuppa.
•    Sending an email (or Facebook reminder) as a reminder for class events etc.  This just involves writing what you would like said and then emailing it to the office and your child’s teacher for us to send out for you.
•    Helping serve food and drink to the students in your class at events such as the Christmas Concert (or organizing someone else to do it).  

There are other optional things you can do such as organize class get togethers for parents etc. but this is not a mandatory part of the role.  I know some of you have already put together such events and I thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment.

Please contact your child's teacher or the front office if you can assist us.

Please also let us know if you are an administrator for a Facebook Group for your class/year level.  Whilst these groups are not officially connected to the school, we recognise the connection that is provided for many parents and would like to help get information to other parents about them.  

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. 

As always, absences can be reported using Parent Lounge or by emailing your child’s teacher. (Please cc to SOSG_Absentee@rok.catholic.edu.au).

This designated phone line gives you the opportunity to call the school at a time that is convenient to you.

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.

*Uniform Shop Change to Opening Hours*

Please note the Uniform Shop is open each Wednesday from 8.30am to 10.30am.  Orders can be placed online via our school website http://www.staroftheseagladstone.qld.edu.au/about-us/uniform.html 

Student of the Week Awards

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

Chanel College Enrolments 2023

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.
 

Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors