2022 Week 2 Newsletter - Term 2

Weekly Focus

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

From the Principal

Dear Families

I think I would not be alone in looking with disbelief and horror at what is happening in Ukraine at present.  It is devastating to see such suffering at the hands of war in a world that has supposedly made such progress.

It reinforces the need not to forget our history and to reinforce values that we hold most dear such as peace, courage and generosity.  It makes our ANZAC Day commemorations all the more important and I am grateful for all who were able to take part in them in some way.  As well as showing our deep respect for the past, it also shows our deep belief in one of the key Christian virtues – HOPE – which we celebrate this Easter Season.

Joan Chittister leads us in a beautiful comparison between Hope and Despair – a powerful message for all who struggle.

 The dawn of hope
Hope and despair are not opposites… Every life finds itself forced to choose one from the other, one day at a time, one circumstance after another. 

The sunflower, that plant which in shadow turns its head relentlessly toward the sun, is the patron saint of those in despair. When darkness descends on the soul, it is time, like the sunflower, to go looking for whatever good thing in life there is that can bring us comfort. Then we need music and hobbies and friends and fun and new thought. 
 
Despair colors the way we look at things, makes us suspicious of the future, makes us negative about the present. Most of all, despair leads us to ignore the very possibilities that could save us, or worse, leads us to hurt as we have been hurt ourselves.

Hope, on the other hand, takes life on its own terms, knows that whatever happens God lives in it, and expects that, whatever its twists and turns, it will ultimately yield its good to those who live it consciously, to those who live it to the hilt.
 
When tragedy strikes, when trouble comes, when life disappoints us, we stand at the crossroads between hope and despair… Despair cements us in the present. Hope sends us dancing around dark corners trusting in a tomorrow we cannot see…
 
Life is not one road. It is many roads, … which provide the raw material out of which we find hope in the midst of despair ...to draw from a well of new understandings. It is in these understandings that hope dwells. It is that wisdom that carries us beyond the dark night of struggle to the dawn of new wisdom and new strength.      
— from Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope by (Eerdmans)

School Events

Please make sure you note the many events taking place this term.

You can access an updated list by clicking on the Calendar icon above or visiting our school website: http://www.staroftheseagladstone.qld.edu.au/ 

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

2022 School Goals

From Our APRE

He is risen, Alleluia!

As we journey through this Easter season I hope you can find the time to talk to your children about what it is they have been doing in Religion in their classrooms.  

On Friday we joined together to remember ANZAC Day with a special ceremony.  Each class laid a wreath that they had carefully created and it was very moving to see the respect that students showed during the ceremony.  I was very proud of student behaviour, both at our Easter Liturgy and our ANZAC Day ceremony.  

MONTHLY MJR  MESSAGE

This month we focus on working with each other and remembering that together everyone achieves more.

© Images used with permission from Garratt Publishing.  All rights reserved.

‘Giving up the love of power for the power of love.’

Together we can make a difference.

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

In our Prayers

Liturgies and Assemblies

From the APC

Throughout this term, our school will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum with students in all year levels – Prep to Year 6.

The Department of Education and Training, in partnership with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, has developed the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum for Queensland students. The Curriculum consists of classroom lessons across three phases of learning: Prep - Year 2, Years 3 - 6, and Years 7 - 9. The Curriculum, available to all Queensland schools, aims to develop student knowledge and skills to recognise, react to and report unsafe situations.

The Curriculum is based around three key messages: Recognise, React and Report.

• The Recognise message encourages students to be aware of their surroundings and to recognise warning clues.

• The React message helps students to consider choices that may keep them safe or help make them safe again as quickly as possible.

• The Report message encourages students to report unsafe incidents to an adult.

Developmentally appropriate scenarios are used to explore and discuss safety situations that children and young people may encounter in the home, at school or in their environment.

Students are encouraged to share the resources they complete in class with their families to help keep parents informed about the content being discussed and to promote discussion about safety in the home.  Resources for the Parent Guides for each of the phases are available online.

Have a great week everyone!

Anthony King

Assistant Principal: Curriculum

Anthony_king@rok.catholic.edu.au

Uniform Shop News - Cooler Weather

Please note the Uniform Shop is open each Wednesday from 8.30am to 10.30am.    With the cooler weather approaching,  a reminder to families that school jumpers are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop @ $33.50. Orders can be placed online via our school website http://www.staroftheseagladstone.qld.edu.au/about-us/uniform.html 

Chanel College 2023 Year 7 Information Evening

2022 ANZAC Day Commemorations

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.

Use of School Toilets

As part of our commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning space for our students we have strict rules surrounding our use of our school toilets.  

Only students who are currently enrolled at Star of the Sea School are permitted to use the student toilets.  

Parents, volunteers, toddlers and high school students may use the Disabled Toilet located near the Tuckshop.  

WHEN MAY YOU DROP YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL?

Please remember that supervision for your child is not provided until 8:10am each morning.  No child should arrive at school before that time please.

We have a Before Hours Care service that is licensed by the department to care for our students before the official school hours begin.  This means that children outside the care of that service cannot be on site while this service is operating in the licensed area.
 
If you do need your children on site before that time you will need to enrol them in our Before Hours Care Service.

More information about our OSHC Service can be obtained via our website:
http://www.staroftheseagladstone.qld.edu.au/about-us/oshc.html  
 
We appreciate your support in keeping your child safe and complying with the legislation we are bound to work under.

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.

Thank you to our Caulfield Sponsors