Week 2/3 Newsletter Term 3 2024

Term 3 Week 4 & 5 - What's On

• Tuesday, 30 July - Robosumo Competition Year 6
• Thursday, 1 August - P & F Meeting, All Welcome to attend
• Friday, 2 August - Primary Principals Day
• Friday, 2 August - Pre Prep 8.45-11.30am
  
• Tuesday, 6 & 7 August - Australian Maths Competition - Year 4-6
• Thursday - 8 August - 9am Mary MacKillop Christian Meditation
  
• Friday, 2 August - Pre Prep 8.45-11.30am - Parents invited to attend

Principal News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. As we progress through this exciting school year, I’d like to share some important updates and information to keep you informed about our ongoing efforts to enhance the learning environment and safety of our school community.

School Satisfaction Surveys: Your Voice Matters

Each year, we conduct school satisfaction surveys to gather valuable feedback from parents, students, and staff. These surveys play a crucial role in our annual school renewal process, helping us identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Your responses provide us with the insights needed to make informed decisions that benefit our entire school community.

We are committed to ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education in a supportive and nurturing environment. The feedback we receive through these surveys guides us in implementing changes that reflect the needs and aspirations of our students and families. I encourage everyone to participate in these surveys via the link you should have received last Friday. Your voice truly matters and contributes to our continuous improvement efforts, and also informs us about the areas in which we are already doing well and meeting our community’s needs.

Updated CCTV Policy

The safety and security of our students and staff are of utmost importance to us. To this end, we have updated our CCTV policy, which can now be found on our school website. The revised policy outlines how we use CCTV to enhance security on school grounds, protect property, and ensure a safe environment for everyone. We have implemented these updates to ensure transparency and to address any concerns you might have regarding privacy and data protection. Please take a moment to review the policy, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Updated Fundraising Guidelines and Application Process

Fundraising plays a vital role in supporting various school programs and activities. To streamline and improve our fundraising efforts, we have updated our fundraising guidelines and application process. These changes are designed to make the process more efficient and to ensure that all fundraising activities align with our school’s mission and values.

The updated guidelines and application forms will soon be available on our school website. We encourage parents, staff, and community members to review these documents before planning any fundraising events. By following these guidelines, we can work together to support our school in the most effective and impactful way possible.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our school community. If you have any questions or need further information about the topics discussed, please feel free to contact the school office.

God bless,

Alicia Ninnes

Religious Life of the School

Hello everyone. As Catholic Education Week comes to a close at St Mary's, we would like to take this opportunity to share our new school prayer with the community. We would also like to thank all of the students, parents, staff and community members who gave so much of their time and energy into creating the new prayer.

We wanted the prayer to truly reflect our values here at St Mary's, but also to be a prayer of acceptance and welcome for all, as well as a reflection of our Catholic tradition and charism. 

Congratulations to Mrs Kathy Lowcock, the recipient of this year's Spirit of Catholic Education award here at St Mary's. St Mary's has long benefitted from Mrs Lowcock's love of learning and professionalism, we thank her for all she has done and continues to do for our school. Well done Mrs Lowcock!

Three of our school captains made the trip to Townsville on Tuesday to attend a special Mass with Bishop Tim at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The Mass was a lovely experience, with a full choir and orchestral accompaniment. Thank you to our Captains for representing St Mary's so well, we are very proud of you! 

Term 3 Masses and liturgies:

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

As we enter another busy term there are some key events taking place for our students, I am looking forward to celebrating our students' successes with them and their teachers, as well as, reviewing their data to inform our next steps. 

Please see below the key dates for this term: 

Week 4- Early Years Testing begins for Prep-2 and some of our Year 6 students are off to St Anthony's in Townsville to participate in the Robosumo competition.

Week 5- Year 3-6 students participate in the Australian Maths Competition.

Week 6- Students attend St Catherine's to participate in Tournament of the Minds. 

Week 7- Book Week, Early Years Feedback received, Olympian Visit, Premiers Reading Challenge forms due, and, Wake Up and Read Performance. 

Week 8- Friday will be a Pupil Free Day as teachers will engage in V9.0 Professional Development.

Week 9- Quickwrite for the term begins. 

Please ensure that you call into the office and collect a new Premiers Reading Log form if you have misplaced yours. We have set a goal in our school to ensure that more learners read and return their forms this year, when compared to 2023.

Kind regards,

Krystal Land

Acting Assistant Principal and Pedagogy 

Week 1 Awards - "Show Respect"

Week 2 Awards - "Compassion and Care"

Birthdays

Celebrating Diversity and Success: The Challenge Games

On Wednesday and Thursday, school communities from across North Queensland came together to celebrate an extraordinary event that embodies the true spirit of inclusivity and joy: The Challenge Games. This annual sporting extravaganza which is held in Townsville is a powerful testament to the acceptance of differences and the celebration of every child’s unique abilities.

Following the Welcoming parade and Official opening, it was evident that The Challenge Games were about more than medals and races. They were about creating an environment where children with disabilities could thrive, showcase their talents, and feel truly embraced for who they are.

The day was filled with laughter, cheers, and heartwarming moments as participants of all ages and abilities took part in a variety of adapted sports and activities. What truly made this event special was the sense of community that permeated throughout. Families, volunteers, and supporters gathered to cheer on the participants, offering encouragement and celebrating every achievement, no matter how big or small. It was a reminder that acceptance and support can create a ripple effect of positivity and empowerment.

The Challenge Games not only provided a platform for physical activity and friendly competition but also fostered friendships and understanding among children and families. It showed that when we embrace differences and focus on abilities rather than disabilities, we create a richer, more inclusive community for everyone.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the St Mary’s students who were going to attend unfortunately weren’t able to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families at this time. My hope is that we will be able to support this unique event next year and take a large group there. Please keep an eye out for the Expression of Interest letter which will come out in Term 1, 2025.

Catherine Antonio

Inclusive Practice Teacher

100 Days in Prep

Pre Prep Program

Our Pre-Preps have officially started, and we couldn’t be happier! 🌟😊 The days have been filled with laughter, discovery, and endless fun. Our little ones had the BEST two weeks exploring, making new friends, and diving into their new adventures. Here’s to a fantastic start to their schooling journey! 

Athletic Trials - Track & Field

Congratulations to Emerson, Grace, Sam, Addison, Ella & Aaliyah on being selected for the Whitsunday Trials.

Movie Premiere - 200% Wolf

Book Week Costume Parade- Monday, 19 August

Catholic Education Week - 21-27 July 2024

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St Mary's Stop, Drop and Go! Let's keep it a safe zone.

Guidance Counsellor News

In this edition of SchoolTV - NEURODIVERSITY

Neurodiversity emphasises the natural variation in how an individual's brain functions and how they perceive and interact with the world, leading to diverse ways of learning and communicating. While most young people are neurotypical, some exhibit variations in brain development, such as ADHD, autism or dyslexia, making them neurodivergent.

Embracing neurodiversity involves accepting, celebrating, and supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents without attempting to change or treat their differences. Using respectful language, challenging unhelpful attitudes, avoiding assumptions, and actively promoting inclusivity can help embrace neurodiversity effectively.

Acknowledging the unique ways neurodiverse young people do things and then adapting tasks and activities to ensure their full participation will encourage them to develop strategies that feel natural to them. It will help improve their mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. By recognising and nurturing their strengths, parents and caregivers can contribute to building an inclusive and compassionate society where all young people can thrive.

Learning more about neurodiversity, equips caregivers with insights into effective communication techniques, educational strategies, and parenting approaches tailored to the specific needs of their neurodivergent child.

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 Neurodiversity edition of SchoolTV
https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/neurodiversity

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 Mrs Sue Lawless on 0428 216 062 OR at bowenoshc@mmcnq.catholic.edu.au

Cooinda Family Centre

School Dental Service

Tuckshop Menu