Week 4/5 Term 3

From the Principal

Transitions, whether from Kindergarten to Primary School or from Year 6 to High School, mark important milestones in a child's educational journey. At St Mary's, we are committed to providing the support and guidance needed for our students to embrace these transitions with confidence and enthusiasm.

From Kindy to Primary: A Foundation for Growth

The transition from Kindergarten to Primary school is a momentous occasion for both students and parents alike. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in their educational journey, where young minds are ready to explore and discover the world around them. We understand that this transition can be filled with mixed emotions – excitement, nervousness, and even a hint of trepidation. Our dedicated team of Pre-Prep staff make this transition as smooth as possible. Lindy Anderson, Tanya Dederer, Katie von Pein and Ellen MacDougall all work together to ensure that our Pre-Prep students become accustomed to our school routines and expectations, including:

• learning to share
• learning to play with other students safely and respectfully
• locating and independently using the toilets at appropriate times
• opening lunch boxes and making healthy food choices first
• understanding the difference between class sessions and meal / play breaks
• learning the layout of the school and which areas they are able to access as Lower Primary students

The Pre-Prep children are also exposed to play-based activities that help to develop early literacy and numeracy, however the focus of the Pre-Prep program is on ensuring that children have a strong foundation in essential social skills, enabling them to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally once they start Prep. We engage our Pre-Prep students in age-appropriate activities, structure and routine, and nurturing environments, fostering a sense of belonging and school-readiness that will serve as a basis for their future learning experiences.

Embracing Change: Year 6 to High School

The transition from Year 6 to high school is another pivotal moment that requires careful guidance and preparation. As our students prepare to embark on their high school journey, we emphasize the development of essential life skills that will empower them to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Time management, organizational skills, and effective communication become even more critical at this stage as our students move from the safe, small-class environment with a single teacher to a large school with multiple classes, multiple teachers and an increased emphasis on student independence and responsibility.

To ease this transition, we collaborate closely with local high schools, providing students with insights into the expectations and routines they will encounter. Our Year 6 students have the opportunity to engage in transition days at both St Catherine's and Bowen State High School, which offer a glimpse into the exciting adventures awaiting them in their high school years. Today, some of our Year 6 students attended St Catherine's to experience the subjects of English, Drama, Music, Design Technology and Food Technology, while also participating in structured activities to help accustom them to the secondary schooling environment. Over the coming weeks, Bowen State High School will also begin their transition program, including visits to the primary schools in Weeks 8 to 9 of this term, and a Meet and Greet afternoon in Week 10.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. Let's embrace these transitions with optimism and excitement, knowing that we are laying the foundation for a lifetime of success.

God bless,

Mrs Alicia Ninnes. 

Religious Life of the School

School Chaplain

As the Chaplain here at St Mary's, I am delighted to be part of this loving community that fosters the spiritual growth and well-being of our students. Several times a year I attend training for this role and it is always wonderful to get together with the other Chaplains and see what they are doing to support students and families within their schools. At St Mary’s, we run both a youth group and mini vinnie program, and throughout the year we raise money for those in need through charities such as Caritas, Socktober and the Vinnies Christmas appeal. If you are a family needing a little support, or if you know of a student who needs a check in at the moment, please contact me for a confidential chat. The role of the Chaplain is to provide students and families with pastoral and spiritual support, and help can look like many different things depending upon current needs. So please don’t hesitate to reach out, anytime. The newsletter and Facebook page will advertise our various fundraisers over Term 4, beginning with ‘Socktober’, which this year supports the people of Timer-Leste. Students can create their own fundraising page at: https://www.socktober.org.au/register/socktober-2023/individual and parents can find out more by watching this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZePy8Kd5Hx8&t=2s 

Below are photos of Happy Chappy Friday pancakes at St Mary's! Let me know if you would like to help out with any of the Chaplain activities. Thank you everyone for your continued support and participation in our school's spiritual endeavors. Your dedication to your child's spiritual growth is a vital aspect of our vibrant community.

Wishing you all God's blessings,

Mrs Windridge.

Father's Day Liturgy

Father's Day is a chance to honor the fathers and father figures in our lives. St. Mary's will be holding a very special Father's Day Liturgy on August 31st at 8.45 am, run by our Prep students. The liturgy will take place in our big shed after Father's Day games and breakfast, so that our students can express gratitude and love for their fathers, grandfathers, and all those who play a paternal role in their lives.

We look forward to sharing this beautiful moment with you all. Let’s come together as a community to celebrate the wonderful gift of fatherhood and the joy, love and strength that fathers bring into our lives.

Prayer Renewal Project 

I am excited to inform you that the Prayer Renewal Project at St Mary's is progressing well. In the first phase of the project, we have explored prayer in a recontextualized form, understanding prayer not only as a series of recitations but as a meaningful, heartfelt connection with God.

Through interactive workshops, discussions, and reflections, our members have embarked on a spiritual journey, discovering the essence of prayer and how it can be a source of comfort, guidance and strength in their daily lives. We have learnt about a number of different forms of prayer and how prayer serves a multitude of purposes. 

Our prayer renewal team has shown remarkable enthusiasm and openness throughout this process, and I am incredibly proud of their willingness to explore their faith on a deeper level. Moving forward, we will now progress into the second phase of the Prayer Renewal Project, where we will delve into the power of communal prayer and service to others here at St Mary’s. I am confident that this endeavor will lead to a richer and stronger prayer life at St Mary’s, where prayer becomes central to who we are.

Below are some short excerpts from some of our Prayer renewal team members:

"As a member of the school’s catholic identity committee, for the past couple of terms we have been working through the school’s prayer renewal program. With thanks to Suzette’s monthly presentations, delivering educational resources.

I have learned that recontextualising the school prayer is pivotal to enhance, restore and renew the school’s culture by identifying that catholic identity is diverse, prayers must have the principle of hospitality and inclusion and a prayer must build a personal relationship with God."

Jen Aceret

"As a recontextualised Catholic dialogue school, we acknowledge prayer as an important expression of faith for our students, teachers, staff and parents.  The members of the Renewal team have explored the purpose and process of the Prayer Renewal Project currently being implemented in our Catholic School.  The early stage of the project has enabled us to ‘learn’ the characteristics of Recontextualised prayer.  We will soon shift towards developing a strategy to ‘analyse’ our current prayer practises at St Mary’s."

Rachael Young. 

"I have found analysing prayers very interesting: identifying which characteristics the prayer contains and which are missing and how this affects the purpose of the prayer and how inclusive it is. It is very useful when looking at prayers we use in the classroom to ensure they build a personal relationship with God."

Melanie Menzies. 

"Prayer is an expression of who we are- inclusive, embracing diversity, tolerant, care of the other, supportive and so on. It speaks out what we want to achieve. Above all it shows our perception of God and how we relate to him. Sitting down with the Prayer Renewal Team really helped me to look deeper into Prayer and to also understand how the school works."

Father Sibi. 

Mary Mackillop Feast Day 

Saint Mary Mackillop is Australia’s first and only Saint. St Mary MacKillop, also called Saint Mary of the Cross, died August 8, 1909. Mary was born in Australia to Scottish immigrants in 1842. When she was 14 she began working and became the family of eights main source of income. She began work as a governess and extended this role to include children from poor families. 

Father Julian Woods encouraged her in this work and they believed serving the poor was a way to serve God. In 1866 they founded Australia’s first order of nuns, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, as well as their first  school in Penola, South Australia. They provided free education for poor children in the area, and Mary took her vows to become a Sister of the Order. The Sisters soon began opening up schools across Australia, helping vulnerable women and orphans in need as well. They took a vow of poverty and made it their mission to help those in need. 

It was a long and difficult road, with Mary excommunicated at one point and then reinstated. The local Bishops and religious chastised her and presented constant obstacles, for supposed insubordination, however Mary stood up for the vulnerable and encouraged her Sisters and to continue their work. 

St Mary’s school holds Mary Mackillop in a special place within our hearts as our very own school was started by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1873. It is also said that Mary Mackillop herself once visited the Sisters here. 

Students at St Mary’s held a prayer service and meditation in her honour on Tuesday the 8th, as this is her feast day. Thank you to Mrs Menzies and the Year 2 students for running this event. 

Saint Mary Mackillop, pray for us. 

Youth Group

Our youth group is working hard to raise funds to attend the Ignite convention this year in Brisbane. We are asking for community donations for our ‘Spring Gardening’ raffle. Parents, students and community members are welcome to drop off a small gardening item to fill our wheelbarrow at the school office. Please also support our youth group by purchasing a ticket in the raffle at the office. If you know of any teenagers or young people who may be interested in attending, you can find out more information at: https://igniteconference.com.au/about  or contact me at swindridge@smbtsv.catholic.edu.au We thank Mrs McEniery and her husband for the generous donation of the wheelbarrow, which will be a part of the raffle. Students will also be running a sausage sizzle at Home Hardware on the 12th of August and selling raffle tickets, so please feel free to donate baked goods to sell or pop on down to say hello and buy yourself breakfast! 

Altar serving and Reading at Mass training:

Sister Judith Foster will be visiting us here on the 11th and 12th of August to train students and adults in altar serving, reading at Mass and Sacramental training. If you are interested in reading at Mass or know children who would also like to altar serve (who are confirmed), she will be training students at 2pm on Friday the 11th, and readers at 5 pm. I will be taking St Mary's students, who may like to altar serve, to the Church for the 2 pm training on the Friday. For anyone who cannot make the Friday, she will also be providing training at 9 am on Saturday, 12th of August. 

As you are all most probably aware, St Mary's will be hosting their 150th celebrations very soon! We are so excited to connect with the community to celebrate our rich history and proud heritage within Bowen. You can learn more and register to attend the event by going to our school webpage and clicking on 150th celebrationshttps://www.smbtsv.catholic.edu.au/.../join-us-for-our.../ If you attended St Mary's and would like to be part of the 'roll call' on the day, please email your name (plus maiden name if applicable) and the year you began your attendance at St Mary's to: 150thcelebrations@gmail.comIf you are unable to attend but would like to share a memory for the occassion, please email to the same address. See you there!

National Day of Action- August 17th

The National Day of Action Against Bullying is an importnat opportunity for schools to focus upon the issue of bullying. We are recognising this day by wearing orange on Thursday the 17th, and teachers will be completing interactive activities with students on this topic. I have included some good information below that may assist families to better understand and support students regaridng bullying. 

Parents and carers have a key role in preventing and responding to bullying.

Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Understanding the definition of bullying is the first step in talking about how to prevent and respond to bullying with your child. 'Bullying' is a word that is often used for behaviours that are not actually bullying. These other behaviours can be just as serious but may require different responses.

School responses to reports of bullyings can be much more effective when parents and carers report bullying and support school staff efforts to respond to it.

If your child reports that bullying is occurring at school, or the bullying is occurring outside school hours and involves students from the school, you should let the school know about the situation.

Working together with the school is the best way to help your child resolve bullying issues.

Schools will work with you to resolve the situation and will also work with the other student's parents. Due to privacy laws, they will not be able to share information about any other students involved.

This podcast with Professor James Scott External link, a clinical child and youth psychiatrist, and the head of the Child and Youth Research Group at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland, discusses the signs your teenager may be experiencing bullying, how to start the conversation with them and how you can approach the school to resolve the issues.

Learning and Teaching

We would like to thank our amazing librarian Mrs Paula-Jo Fellows for coordinating this year's Book Week event. The theme for 2023 is Read, Grow, and Inspire. It would be wonderful if you could join us in the Big Shed on Friday 18th August at 8.40 am to celebrate the event. We are looking forward to seeing our students dressed up as their favourite book characters. 

Last week at our staff meeting our teachers continued to engage with the UDL Checkpoints. As part of this, they committed to action and identified which checkpoints they are going to incorporate into their daily learning experiences to further cater for individual learners. Teachers also reviewed the 7 Keys to designing successful learning experiences which is based around the neuroscience of teaching methods: 

1. Get their attention
2. Make sure they can see it, hear it, and act on it
3. Make it relevant
4. Make it meaningful
5. Connect it
6. Let them apply it
7. Make it matter

We would also like to wish our 2023 Quest for Knowledge team all the best. On Thursday 7th September they will participate in various multiple-choice questions against other schools in our diocese, our team consists of 4 Year 6 students and they have called their team Mary's Mindbreakers. Thank you to Mrs Muir for coordinating their practices prior to the event.

Kind Regards,

Krystal Land

Learning and Teaching Adviser

Book Week

Children's Book Week will be celebrated on Friday, 18 August.

Students are invited to dress as their favourite book character for the Book Week Parade, held at 8.40am in the Undercover Area.

Pupil Free Day - 1st September 2023

Please be advised  - Friday 1st September 2023 is a pupil free day. 

Pre prep program and OSHC will not be running on this date. 

School Uniforms

Staff have noticed that some students are wearing the incorrect uniform recently. We are going to do a ‘Uniform Check’ in two weeks' time to ensure the school uniform is being upheld by students. Wearing the school uniform should be a point of pride for our students and sets a standard of excellence that we would prefer students and families to uphold. We are giving time for students to correct shoes, jumpers, et cetera, however we will be performing a uniform check in two weeks' time and then following up with students who are not following our school uniform policy. Please see: School Uniform 

Prep 2024

We are currently taking Prep enrolments for 2024. If you have a child beginning school next year or know someone whose child is due to begin Prep, please get your enrolment forms in ASAP. These forms can be found on our school website. Please follow this link to access our current enrolment form.  

150th Anniversary Event

From the Guidance Counsellor

In this edition of SchoolTV - ANXIETY

Most young people today experience anxiety at some point in their life. Sometimes that slight rush of anxiety that occurs prior to an exam or sporting event, can enhance their performance. However, experiencing too much anxiety, over long periods of time, can be extremely damaging to their health and wellbeing. There is a difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ anxiety.

Statistics show, that the psychological health of young people today is far worse than it was a generation ago. This is having an adverse affect on children in both primary and secondary levels. Some of their issues of concern include stress, school, study, body image and friendship.

Parents need to be aware of the warning signs of ‘bad’ anxiety. There are preventative measures parents can implement as well as teaching kids the skills to cope more efficiently with their anxiety.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school guidance counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Anxiety edition of SchoolTV
https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/youth-anxiety

Award Winners Week 4, Term 3

In Week 4, our weekly awards were presented to students who have been following Mary's Way by showing "C" Compassion and Care

Mary's Way Award Winners:

Noah , Mateo , Penelope , Xander, Manning, Ava

Praise Note Winner of the Week:  Maggie 

Award Winners Week 5, Term 3

In Week 5, our weekly awards were presented to students following Mary's Way by showing "S" Safe, Just and Fair.

Mary's Way Award Winners: 

Back Row: Mahir, Oscar, Domingo, Elishia

Front Row: Oliver, Lochlan, Elijah (absent, Jordan)

Paise Note Winner of the Week: Mateo 

Star Reader:  Rosalina

Birthdays

Birthdays

                                   Archie Yabsley, Maddy Ericksen, Charlotte Wood, Bronson Petts, Ben Pugh

Term 3 Weeks 4-5 Important Events

• 12 August - Musical Bingo at the Grand View Hotel
• 14 August - Andrew Willcox MP presenting new flags to the school
• 15 August - 150th photo, whole school
• 17 August - National Day of Action Against Bullying (students wear orange); Catholic Identity Team / Prayer Renewal Project 3.15pm; Indigenous Education meeting 5.15pm
• 18 August - Book Week Parade; Yr 4 Mass
• 23 August - School Performance Tours - Didjeribone
• 25 August - Yr 1 Mass
  

Celebrating 150 Years of St Mary's

This week our 150th Committee have been busy creating the display in the windows of the Council building on Herbert St. Particular thanks for the work behind this display goes to Faye Ryle and the Bowen Historical Society. The photos in the numbers of the years move through time from left to right. The display in the left window show items from St Mary's past, while the display in the right window show how many school and education have changed over the 150 years.

Please email photos to bwn@tsv.catholic.edu.au 

Tuckshop Menu Term 3

Mary Mackillop OSHC

OSHC at St Mary’s Catholic School is now operating Monday to Friday from  6.30 am to 8.30 am and 2.45 pm to 6.00 pm.

The government has announced changes in the way that Child Care Subsidy is worked out. The income limit for CCS will be increasing to $530,000, meaning that the cost of OSHC will reduce for the majority of families. The changes came into effect on 10 July.

Currently the service costs $17.50 for Before-School Care, and $22 for After-School Care, before CCS reductions are applied. Food (breakfast and afternoon tea) is provided at no extra cost. Please see below for more information about the upcoming reduction in fees.

If you would like more information or to register, please contact Miss Camila on 0428 216 062 OR at bowenoshc@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

School Student Broadband Initiative

The School Student Broadband Initiative, in partnership with NBN Australia is providing unconnected school aged students and their families with free internet for 12 months.

This Initiative aims to boost education opportunities by providing up to 30,000 Australian eligible families with school age children (K-12), with free nbn-powered broadband internet at home.

For more information on how to apply and grant guidelines follow the link:

Community News

UQ Research Project

Auskick