Week 2/3 Term 2 Newsletter 2024

Weeks 4 and 5 - What's On

• Monday, 6 May - Labour Day Public Holiday
• Thursday, 9 May - 3.15pm Resilience Team meeting; 5.15pm Board Meeting
• Friday, 10 May - 7.45am Mothers' Day breakfast; 9am Mothers' Day Liturgy in the Undercover Area
• Saturday, 11 May - 9am - 11am Prep Open Day
• Wednesday, 15 May - Year 5 / 6 Choir at Burdekin Eisteddfod
• Thursday, 16 May - 3.15pm Prayer Renewal Project meeting; 5.15pm Sports Committee meeting
• Friday, 17 May - Prep, Yr 1 and Yr 2 at Under 8s Day at St Catherine's, Proserpine

Principal News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. As we continue to strive for excellence in education, it's essential to keep you informed about important updates and changes within our school community.

Firstly, I'd like to extend my gratitude to all our dedicated staff members who participated in the recent pupil-free day. This day was dedicated to familiarising our teachers with the new English curriculum, Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum. Our educators invested their time and energy into exploring the intricacies of this updated curriculum, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide the best possible learning experiences for our students. We are committed to maintaining high academic standards and nurturing the growth and development of every child in our care.

In addition to curriculum updates, I'd like to inform you about a significant change in our communication procedures. As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline processes and reduce paper usage, we will be largely discontinuing the practice of sending paper notes home. Instead, we will be transitioning to electronic communication methods. This means that important information, such as letters about upcoming events, permission slips, and general announcements, will be sent to parents via email.

We understand that this change may require some adjustment, but we believe that embracing digital communication channels will enhance efficiency and accessibility for everyone involved. We encourage parents to ensure that their contact information is up-to-date in our school database to ensure they receive important updates promptly.

Furthermore, I would like to bring to your attention the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), which will be conducted during the upcoming week. The AEDC is a nationwide initiative that provides valuable insights into the development and wellbeing of children in their early years. It helps us identify areas where additional support may be needed and informs strategic planning to better meet the needs of our students and families.

Participation in the AEDC is crucial for capturing a comprehensive snapshot of our school community, and I encourage all parents to support this initiative by ensuring their child's participation. Rest assured that all information collected is confidential and used solely for the purposes of research and improving educational outcomes.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any of the topics mentioned in this newsletter, please don't hesitate to contact the school office. We value your partnership and look forward to working together to create a positive and enriching learning environment for our students.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

God bless,

Alicia Ninnes

Religious Life of the School

Thank you to all the parents, staff, community members and students who participated in the two Anzac day services on April 25th. Both were well attended, and we couldn’t be prouder of our students, who represented our school in a very respectful manner. The Anzac day liturgy held at St Mary’s on the 24th was also a moving tribute to all who selflessly served to protect our ancestors, and to those who continue to serve today in order to protect us all. 

Mother’s day is an opportunity to celebrate and express gratitude to all mothers and maternal figures in our lives. Please join us at our Mothers’ Day Liturgy on May 10th at 9am, here at St Mary’s, led by our Prep students and Miss Harte. 

Dear Lord,

On this special day, we show our gratitude for all Mothers.

We thank them for their all-encompassing love, for their commitment, care and kindness.

We thank them for their wisdom, for helping us grow and flourish.

We thank them for their strength, for their sacrifices, and for being there in times of need. 

And we thank them for their encouragement, for being our cheer leaders and celebrating our achievements.

Lord, help Mothers know how much they are loved and appreciated. 

We ask that you bless all Mothers, including those who are no longer with us today.

Amen.

(Catholic Care Victoria)

Football has kicked off successfully once again this term. If you have not signed a new notice of permission, please pop into the office to do so, or email the school or Suzette, as the previous notice was limited to Term 1 and we have been advised to renew these. We would also like to remind students that they require a mouth guard to play, and we strongly encourage head gear for protection as well. 

We want to thank our new footy coach Mitar, who has brought a wealth of knowledge to our small school. Mitar has previously trained the national rugby team in Spain and is an extremely experienced coach and mentor. 

Breakfast club is already well attended and loved by our St Mary's students, run by Miss Harte and Mrs Rees each Tuesday and Thursday just before school. We want to thank them for kindly giving up their time to ensure student’s tummies are full before a big day of learning! Also thank you to Miss Emily for lending us a hand. 

Learning and Teaching

Improving Literacy is one of our annual school improvement goals for 2024. As of Semester 2, we will start to see some changes in the area of Reading and Writing at St Mary's.

This week we were very proud of our Prep class who have been working hard with their writing. It is lovely to see that the students are starting to write independently. We can't wait to see their writing continue to develop as the year goes on!

In 2022, 168,000 Queensland students participated in The Premiers Reading Challenge. Sadly only 110,000 students participated last year. As you can see this is a massive decline in the amount of students reading at home. This year we are hoping that all students in our school participate in the challenge. A letter and reading log went home this week for those wishing to participate. 

If anyone is looking for some further reading resources for the home environment, the following quality online decodable readers are free.

https://www.studentresources.nsw.edu.au/resources/2491-02-38

Kind Regards,
Krystal Land
Acting- Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

Week 1 Awards - Term 2 - Show Respect

Week 2 Awards - Mercy & Outreach

Birthdays

MacqLit Graduates

Guidance Counsellor News

In this edition of SchoolTV - POSITIVE PARENTING

Despite the best efforts of parents around the world, the reality is, there is no such thing as the

‘perfect parent’. However, arming yourself with the right information is a good start!

Research shows, that one of the most important protective factors in the lives of young people, is

a close relationship with a supportive adult. With the mental health of today’s young people being at an all-time low, it is simply not enough to parent effectively. Parents need to familiarise themselves with practical skills, knowledge and strategies when it comes to raising children. Many parents today are over-protective, resulting in children being less independent, unable to problem-solve or self-regulate. Parents are failing to set clear boundaries, which is unfortunately making kids feeling less secure. There is too much pressure on kids today. Parents fill their days with too many activities in an effort to avoid their child’s boredom.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn what is the best approach for primary and secondary school aged children. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition 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 Positive Parenting edition of SchoolTV
https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/positive-parenting

The Resilience Project

Family Fun Day

Mary's Munchkins Playgroup

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

Cooinda Family Centre

School Dental Service

Tuckshop Menu