Week 8/9 Newsletter Term 2 2024

Term 2 Week 10 and Term 3 Week 1 - What's On

• Thursday, 20 June - MMBDO - Lawn Bowls
• Friday, 21 June - 9am End of Term Mass; Last day of Term 2
• Monday, 8 July - First day of Term 3; 8.45am-11.30am Yr 4/5/6 First Nations Students to attend Community NAIDOC Week March 
• Tuesday, 9 July - NAIDOC Week Liturgy and Celebration Day
• Wednesday, 10 July - 4.15pm P&F meeting
  

Principal News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the end of the term this week, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful achievements and progress our students have made. This term has been filled with numerous activities, learning experiences, and moments of growth that we can all be proud of.

End of Term Highlights

We began the term with a moving ANZAC Day ceremony, where our students honoured the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women. It was heartening to see the respect and understanding our young ones showed during this important event.

We celebrated our wonderful mothers with a delightful Mothers' Day breakfast and liturgy. It was a joy to see so many of you join us for a morning of appreciation and gratitude, highlighting the special role that mothers and mother figures play in our lives.

Our Year 5/6 choir made us proud with their participation in the Burdekin Junior Eisteddfod. Their dedication and talent were evident in their outstanding performances, and we are thrilled with the recognition they received.

During Reconciliation Week, our students engaged in various activities that highlighted the importance of unity and understanding among all Australians. This week was a valuable opportunity for our students to learn about and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The Family Fun Day was a tremendous success, with students, parents, and staff coming together for a day filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event so special.

Finally, our Athletics Carnival was a fantastic display of our students' athletic abilities and sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see so many students participating enthusiastically and cheering each other on.

Finalisation of the NCCD Process

I am pleased to inform you that we have successfully finalised the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) process for this term. The NCCD is a crucial part of our commitment to ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive in their learning environments. This process involves collecting data on the adjustments made for students with disabilities, which helps us to better understand their needs and improve our support systems.

Our teachers and support staff have worked diligently to ensure that the data collected is accurate and reflective of the individual needs of our students, and many thanks must go to our Inclusive Practices Teacher, Mrs Catherine Antonio, for leading the staff in this process. This information will not only aid in providing targeted support but also contribute to a more inclusive educational environment for all. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff for their efforts and to you, our supportive parents and guardians, for your ongoing cooperation and understanding.

Looking Ahead

We are excited to announce that the students will be celebrating Mary's Marvellous Big Day Out this Thursday to recognize their efforts throughout Term 2. This special day will include a variety of fun activities, and the students are particularly looking forward to playing lawn bowls. It's a wonderful opportunity for them to unwind and enjoy themselves after a term of hard work.

NAIDOC Week will be in the first week after the holidays. Our First Nations students from Years 4, 5, and 6 will participate in a community march from the Front Beach to the Council Chambers on the first day back at school. This will be a significant event, celebrating and recognizing the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As we head into the holidays, I encourage you to take this time to relax and enjoy some quality moments with your children. It’s important for them to recharge and come back refreshed for the new term.

Please keep an eye out for updates regarding the next term’s activities and any important dates. We will ensure to keep you informed through our regular communication channels.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. Wishing you a restful and enjoyable break!

God bless,

Alicia Ninnes

Religious Life of the School

Hello everyone, it looks like we have come to the end of Term 2, and are halfway through 2024! I hope you are all looking forward to a wonderful break with your loved ones, and some much needed rest and rejuvenation if you are lucky enough to do so. 

In Week 10 we have a whole school Mass planned for 9 am on Friday, the last day of term. It will be led by our Year 1 students and Mrs Jones. We hope you can join us to celebrate the end of term as a community and receive a blessing before the holidays. 

This term we have had many important events occuring in the Religious life of our school. We started the term with two liturgies that were both very moving, Anzac day and Mothers' Day. This was followed by a prayer service for Mary Help of Christians, our school Patron. These are crucial ways in which St Mary's provides spritual growth opportunities for students and families. Prayer and worship are integral to the life of Catholic schools and nourish the spiritual growth of all members of the school community, as well as their relationship and faith with God and one another. Next term is already looking busy with Naidoc celebrations, Catholic Education Week, the Feast Day of Mary Mackillop, our parish Confirmation Mass, and Father's Day liturgy. We hope you can join the community for these special events. 

A reminder that our Thermomix tickets are still being sold at the school office. We only have limited numbers left so please pop in and purchase before you miss out. 

Thank you for a wonderful term. 

Many blessings, 

Mrs Windridge. 

Term 3 Masses and liturgies:

Year 3 have been learning all about the Sacraments of Intitiation this term. Mrs Rees took students to the Church last week to spend time with Father Sibi, learning about the symbols and rituals associated with these special ceremonies. 

Year 3 Sacraments

A reminder that it was the last week of footy training in Week 9 of this term. We want to thank the incredible volunteers within our school community who really showed up and supported these kids, especially those generous Dad's who turned up week after week without fail to provide these students with this opportunity. Thanks to Miss Harte, Mr Blake and Mitre who also gave their time repeatedly. We would also like to acknowledge the good examples of sportsmanship and respect that you modelled for the students. We really are grateful for your time and efforts, and also for your expertise in this field. 

To the students who also kept turning up, despite the challenges, the tiredness, the fear of not being good enough or strong enough, we also commend you. We would like to invite these particular students to play in the inter school carnival with Bowen State and QB in week 3 of next term, especially if you are in the age 9 or 10 range. These students will also attend the Blackhawk challenge in Townsville next term as well. There will be more information about this in the coming weeks, after the sport committee has had its next meeting in week 10. 

Catherine Antonio and the Sports Committee will be deciding when the best time of year or day of the week is to continue our footy training, especially in light of other sporting clubs and activities across the year which impact upon students time management. They will be releasing a whole school plan for sport which will outline our major sport intiniatives. They will also be overseeing football at St Mary's, as well as other major sports across the year. If you wish to be involved with training the students or brainstorming ideas for how to make sport great at St Mary's, please contact cantonio@smbtsv.catholic.edu.au for further information. 

We are busy raising funds to send local young people to Brisbane in September to attend the annual Catholic Youth Conference. This allows regional students to mix with a huge group of young Catholics in a fun environment in which music, drama, workshops and guest speakers meet for three days of faith formation. If you know a young person who may be interested or benefit from getting involved in this amazing opportunity, please contact swindridge@smbtsv.catholic.edu.au or gtait@tsv.catholic.org.au

Learning and Teaching

It is hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of another term. All teachers and students have been very busy completing assessment tasks so that the Semester 1 Report Cards can go home on Wed 19th June. I am very proud of every learner's effort, as they have all shown great growth throughout the semester. 

To access your report card you need to ensure that you have the latest version of the Compass app downloaded to your device. If you experience any difficulties please see one of our administration ladies who will assist you.

I would also like to thank our amazing teachers at St Mary's. Throughout each term, I regularly visit classrooms to conduct a Walk and Talk. The data below shows that the commitment from our teachers is making a huge impact upon learning.

Walk and Talk Data:

- 100% of students could articulate what they were learning, 

- 85% of learners knew what they had to do to be successful, and,

- 100% of students had a strategy to improve their learning.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday, see you back in Term 3 for another term of learning!

Kind regards,

Krystal Land

Acting Assistant Principal and Pedagogy 

Week 7 Awards - "Mercy and Outreach"

Week 8 Awards - "Compassion and Care"

Quick Write Winners - Term 2

Front: Indy, Violet, Cheri                Back row: Holly, Bela, Ella, Finn 

Birthdays

MacqLit Graduates

Athletics Carnival 2024

Athletics Carnival Gallery

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5 Year old age Champions  -              Male - Charlie                    Female - Indi & Nirvana

6 Year old age Champions -               Male - Theodore               Female - Lulu

7 Year old age Champions -               Male - Hunter                     Female - Collins

8 Year old age Champions-                Male - Elijah                        Female - Makayla

9 Year old age Champions-                Male - Rafferty                   Female- Kendall

10 Year old age Champions-              Male - Emerson                  Female -Aaliyah

11 Year old age Champions -              Male - Sam                            Female - Liberty

12 Year old age Champions-               Male - Charlie                      Female - Adison 

Athletic Carnival Points:

Mackillop - 1343                        Foley - 1130

UNDER 8'S DAY - QUEENS BEACH STATE SCHOOL

Fairy Bread Procedural Texts

Grade 1 has been looking at writing procedural texts and following recipes.

Family Fun Day

On behalf of the P&F and the Family Fun Day crew, we would like to thank all of the many volunteers for making the day possible. We appreciate every little and big part you all played in making Saturday a day to remember and be proud of!

The day also wouldn’t be possible without our very valued sponsors!

Photos from the Family Fun Day

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Robosumo Competition

Townsville Catholic Education supports all TCE schools by providing robotics kits throughout the year as part of their TESLA borrowing program. By borrowing kits from a central library at TCE, schools across the diocese are able to use a wide variety of robotics, each providing different aspects of learning in Technology, whether that be construction or coding, or a combination of both. St Mary's has been part of the program since its pilot launch, and the students have loved learning about coding and robotics through the use of the various robotics kits in their Technology lessons. 

In the Robosumo Competition, invited schools are able to send teams of three students from Year 5 and 6 only. The competition involves the use of the Lego Spike Prime robotics kits, which St Mary's students have become very familiar with over the last year and a half. We wish our teams luck in the competition next term!

Thank you to Ben Pilcher and Wanita Sparr for seeking funds from businesses to support the cost of bus travel for our Year 6 students to attend the Robosumo Robotics Competition at St Anthony's, Deeragun, on 30 July. Your dedication to supporting our students to attend learning opportunities that are out of town is much appreciated.

Gilmore Space Presentation

James Gilmour, the Co-Founder of Gilmour Space and Head of Launch Operations, visited the school to present to the students about the upcoming launch of the Eris Rocket from Abbott Point. The children were keen to ask lots of questions and learn more about space engineering in general. Mr Gilmour will visit the school again closer to the launch.

Guidance Counsellor News

A SPECIAL REPORT: Dealing with Disappointment

As young people learn to navigate through various aspects of their life, they may face disappointment due to unfulfilled expectations, shattered dreams, or unexpected setbacks. Yet, with the appropriate tools, strategies, and a positive mindset, young people can learn to cope with disappointment and use it as an opportunity for personal growth and success.

Disappointment can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. It is a normal part of growing up. However, children sometimes need reminding that they have a choice in how they respond to disappointment and their response will determine the impact it has on their future happiness. Overall, disappointment is a healthy and positive emotion and plays an integral part in a child’s emotional, intellectual and social development.

Helping young people manage their disappointment is important in order to avoid stronger emotions such as anxiety and depression. Although a parent’s first reaction may be to fix the problem, it is better to encourage your child to find the words to express how they feel.

In this Special Report, parents and caregivers are provided with strategies on how to help their child process disappointment and look at the problem objectively. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

Here is the link to your special report:

https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-dealing-disappointment

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school Guidance Counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

The Resilience Project

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 Dani on 0428 216 062 OR at bowenoshc@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

Community Events

Cooinda Family Centre

School Dental Service

Tuckshop Menu