Week 2/3 Newsletter Term 4 2024

Term 4 Week 4 & 5 - What's On

• Monday, 21 October: PAT Testing Catch up
• Wednesday, 23 October: Socktober
• Friday, 25 October: School Disco
• Friday, 25 October: World Teachers' Day
• Friday, 25 October: Day for Daniel 
• Wednesday, 30 October: Instrumental Music Showcase 
• Friday, 1 November: All Saints/All Souls Whole school meditation
  

Principal's Welcome

As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to enter our Year of Renewal, an important milestone in Townsville Catholic Education’s School Renewal program. This process allows us to reflect on our achievements, set new goals, and develop a clear direction for our future as a school community.

Throughout Term 1 of 2024, we will begin by reviewing the data collected this year, including the School Feedback Surveys, academic data, behaviour and attendance data, and the Enhancing Catholic School Identity surveys. Through engagement with the aforementioned data, we will identify both our strengths and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach will guide us into Term 2, where we will engage in a collaborative consultation process. We are eager to involve key stakeholders—staff, students, parents, and the broader community—in shaping the strategic priorities that will guide our journey forward.

In addition to our own school data, we will also draw on the knowledge gained from recent professional development experiences, such as the Leuven Project in Belgium, which has provided invaluable insights into enhancing student wellbeing and academic engagement. Similarly, our participation in Stronger Smarter training has equipped us with tools to support high expectations and deep relationships in our school community. Furthermore, insights from the Principals' Meetings held in Townsville will be integrated, ensuring that our planning aligns with regional priorities and the shared wisdom of school leaders across our diocese.

The Verification process in Term 3 will be another key step, where an external review will assess the priorities we’ve developed. This will culminate in a comprehensive report that will inform our Strategic Directions from 2026 to 2029.

We are excited to embark on this journey of renewal, guided by faith and collaboration, and look forward to working together as a community to ensure that St. Mary’s continues to be a place where all children can thrive.

God bless,
Alicia Ninnes

Religious Life of the School

Hello everyone. Recently, 7 of our young parish members and former students of St Mary's, attended the Ignite conference in Brisbane. This is a Catholic conference in which young persons across Australia unite to share faith, grow closer to Jesus, and form deeper ties as a Church community. Ines, Domingo, Keeleigh, Brianna, Aislinn, Elle and Violette had a life changing experience and could not speak highly enough of their time away together! Thank you to local parish and community members who contributed to this important moment in these young Christians lives. Isn't it wonderful to know there is hope and faith to be found in the future leaders of our Church? Let's pray for their continued journey towards full Christian life. If you would like your child or someone you know to benefit from this experience next year, please contact me and I can pass on more information.  Thank you to all involved. 

God's blessings upon you, 

Mrs Windridge. 

My New Gallery

Our parish garden was in need of some TLC after the holidays! Students enjoyed getting in and tending their budding crops. Capsicum, pineapple, chilli and basil... yum! We will be replanting other seeds next week as well. If anyone wants to give us a hand, contact Suzette or Rachael at the school or Father Sibi.

My New Gallery

The Catherine McAuley society (St Catherine's College) joined forces recently with our St Mary's students to raise money for a guide dog through the Australian Lions Hearing Dog Association. We would like to introduce the first dog to be sponsored by school based groups in Qld, Jo Jo! Jo Jo is currently beginning her placement and training for the next several months. Thank you for your support everone and well done to students in supporting such a wonderful service to the community and those in need.

Learning and Teaching

TCE is seeking feedback from all parents and carers about the guidelines for reporting student academic achievement. If you have been unable to access the Google form to provide your feedback, please call into the office and get a paper copy or use the QR codes that are displayed on the office door. We value each person's feedback!

Our P-2 teachers would like to sincerely thank Mrs. Ninnes for allowing our school to purchase over 2500 decodable readers. As mentioned previously in newsletter articles, our approach to teaching reading has changed and without the resource of decodables, we can't be teaching reading effectively. These readers are a valuable resource and you will see your students using these in their classrooms, and for homereaders as of 2025 (except for Prep who are using them this term.)

As part of updating IEPs before we enter our new cycle of NCCD, our teachers have been working alongside Catherine Antonio (Inclusive Practice Teacher) and Jodi Parker (TCE Advisory Visiting Specialist- Inclusion) to review the current functional impacts on individual students learning, as well as, putting further strategies in place to support their learning journey.

Staff also did a professional development session where they looked at the difference between a learning difference, difficulty, or disability.

Learning differences refers to the diverse way we learn and the rate at which we learn and includes learning motivators, interests, aspirations, cultural background, personal strengths, personal weaknesses.

Learning difficulties refers to the factors outside of learning differences that might impact on a student's ability to achieve at the same rate as their peers.

Learning disability is defined by the DDA and the Disability Standards of Education and they refer to a disorder or malfunction that results in the individual learning differently to an individual without a disorder or malfunction.

We would like to thank our staff for all of the work that they are doing in this space, to ensure that they are inclusive and meet the needs of each, and every learner.

Kind regards,

Krystal Land

Acting Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

Guidance Counsellor News

In this edition of SchoolTV - SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL REPUTATION

Social media has become such an integral part of a teenager’s life. However, many miss out on some critical social skills with most communicating whilst looking at a screen instead of another person! Statistics show that 60 per cent of 10-11 year olds are using at least one social media site, with the majority using age-restricted platforms. What kids do, post and say online is permanent and most are not mature enough to manage their own digital footprint. Friendships, relationships and even future job prospects are all put at risk.

Parents need to be aware of what picture their children are painting of themselves online. Unfortunately, many parents do not see the dangers inherent of these sites, as they form opinions based on their own experience. But predators are usually not interested in grooming adults. Over the years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of primary schoolers owning mobile phones, highlighting the importance to teach kids about the dangers of social media and the implications it can have.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn how to talk to their children about the inherent dangers of social media and how to educate their kids to be responsible users in the online world we live in.

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 Social Media & Digital Reputation edition of SchoolTV
https://smbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/social-media-and-digital-reputation

Week 1 Awards - "Show Respect"

Week 2 - "Mercy and Outreach"

Birthdays

P&F Disco Party - Friday, 25 October

IT'S DISCO TIME!!

The P&F are holding a disco next Friday night! All St Mary's families are welcome to attend!
As it is Day for Daniel, the theme is red so come dressed in red whether it be red clothes or a red costume (think Little Red Riding Hood, ladybug, spiderman, crab etc )

Food, drinks and glow sticks will be available for purchase on the night but remember it will be cash only!
There will be music, games and prizes so come along for a night of fun!!

If any parents or carers can help out on the night for half an hour or so in the tuckshop or selling food and drinks tickets, can you please let one of the P&F members or office staff know or email sromano@smbtsv.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to seeing you all there!

Young Whitsunday's Got Talent

Well Done to our bands the ‘Drop Bears’ and ‘Crusaders’ who performed at the Young Whitsundays Got Talent competition!  You did our school very proud! 

After School Sport - Netball

Tuesday was the first day of our After School Netball. Thank you to Miss Harte and Mr Blake for running a netball clinic for our students!  

Swimming Lesson Timetable

Term 4 Mass

My New Gallery

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Breakfast Club - Tuesday & Thursday, from 8am in the little shed

Gardening Club - Thursdays

The Murri Bus Project

Community News

Safety Heroes

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

Cooinda Family Centre

School Dental Service

Tuckshop Menu