Week 2, Term 2 2025

Principal's News

Dear Parents/Carers,

It has been a pleasure  getting to know families, students and staff over these last two weeks and I am very much looking forward to working with the St Mary's Catholic School community over the course of this term. I had the privilege last night of meeting with the P and F Committee for a warm, welcoming and productive meeting, and am looking forward to our Board Meeting in a couple of weeks. 

I spent time with Mary-Ellen Pattinson last week in her handover to me as Acting Principal and have had meetings with David McNeale, our Education Consultant, as well to outline our process of school renewal which will be an intentional and proactive campaign for school improvement in our next five year cycle. I will be meeting with our Facilities Administrator next week in Townsville to discuss our Funding application for classroom refurbishments and the possible installation of a lift to access upstairs rooms which will be a very welcome addition when completed. 

We have been blessed in Year One this term, with the addition of Mr Peter Hughes and Mrs Megan Hodge as our classroom teachers, and we are continuing to advertise for and secure a full time teacher for the commencement of Term Three. Ensuring continuity of teaching staff in schools across all sectors, and in all states remains an ongoing task for school administrations. Miss Lara Applin has indeed made a positive contribution to our Year One class as well as she completes her Pre-Service Teacher practicum with us this term. 

We welcome Assistant Principal Suzette Windridge back from long service leave on Tuesday 6th May and she will replace me that week as I attend professional development days in Townsville for Principals. With Suzette's return will also be the recommencement of our Breakfast Club and Gardening Club. I haven't had the opportunity to meet with Suzette yet but am looking forward to that privilege when I return on Monday 12th May. I have been working closely with our other Assistant Principal, Krystal Land, and am very much looking forward to having all of our leadership team together at the same time soon. 

We have been working through the process of advertising, shortlisting and interviewing for cleaning staff and am looking forward to finalising that process very soon. In the interim we have been very thankful to have our grounds and cleaning schedules maintained very competently by Ward Maintenance, with many families expressing that they have not seen the school grounds look so good in years. 

I was very impressed with the commitment of families, students and staff to our recent Anzac Day Dawn Service and March past. The students were very respectful during our practices and on the day, and it was a wonderful introduction for me to the communities of Saint Mary's and Bowen itself. I am looking forward to meeting more families over the coming weeks and the honour of working with our wonderful school. 

Yours sincerely

Rodney Lane

Acting Principal

Learning and Teaching

We would like to thank all of our parents who attended IEP Meetings over the past few weeks (Term 1 and Term 2), it is great to see that we are all working together to ensure that learners are successful in our school. 

Currently the NCCD Phase that we are in is the Implementation phase. As part of this, the school NCCD Team and teachers determine which students are recieving adjustments due to a disability, the level of adjustment, and the category of disability. Last week our teachers took part in  Session 1 of 4 moderation sessions for NCCD, once the 4 sessions are completed we will finalise our submission to NCCD for the 2024/2025 cycle. Moderation is crucial in ensuring that the data that we submit is accurate, and that we have enough evidence to support the level of adjustment and category of disability that we are submitting. 

For further information in relation to NCCD, I encourage you to read the attached fact sheet below.

Premiers Reading Challenge:

A letter explaining the challenge (via Compass) and reading logs (paper copy) went home this week. We encourage every family to get behind this great initiative and participate. For new reading logs, please call into the office as the admin ladies have spares.

Kind Regards,

Krystal Land

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning

Music & Art News 🎶🎨

Week 2 Newsletter, Term 2 - We have started term 2 with some amazing Visual Arts and Music lessons over the past two weeks. 

Prep: Finding the Beat! This fortnight in Music, Prep students have continued exploring the concept of beat. They’ve been moving, clapping and playing along to the steady beat in a variety of songs - including the popular hit Dance Monkey! It’s been a fun and energetic way to help students feel the beat with confidence. 

Year 3: Elements of Art! In Year 3 Visual Arts, students have been working on their use of the elements of line, shape and value. They have used their imagination to create unique dog artworks, each one showing off their growing skills and creativity. See some of their fantastic creations below!

A message from our Sports Captains 📝

Term 2 will be packed full of sport.

Our focus for this term in HPE will be Athletics.  Year 3-6 will be learning all of the athletic events.  Prep to 2 will be learning running, relays and long jump.

Our health will be looking at online safety in 5 and 6 and Prep to 4 will be looking at Keeping ourselves safe. 

We have already had our cross country which was fun but very hot!  Congratulations to Charlotte and Rafferty for making it to Subdistricts.  

Congratulations to William for making it to Subdistricts for Touch Football on Tuesday and Kendall made it into possibles and probables for Touch. William also made it to possibles and probables in Rugby League 

on Monday for Northern Trials as part of the Whitsundays team. 

We are excitedly learning War Cries for the Carnival.  There will be a Spirit award this year!

GO FOLEY!    GO MACKILLOP!

Jayden, Mahir, Jacob and Aaliyah

Class Awards - Week 1 - Be My Best ⭐

Principal Awards

Birthdays🥳

Anzac Day

We give our sincere thanks to all of the staff, students and families that were available on the morning to represent our wonderful school!

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My New Gallery

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We would like to thank our 2025 Student Leadership Team for leading our school and marching with pride at both ANZAC Day ceremonies. Lest we forget!

Cross Country 🏃‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♂️‍➡️

We would like to thank everyone who helped out in some way today for our Cross Country event. Whether setting up, standing in an area to supervise or generally helping wherever help was needed.

Thank you also to the P&F ladies who organised water and icy cups.

Congratulations to all the students who ran in the warm weather this morning and those who made it through to sub districts on Thursday. You all did an AMZING job!

My New Gallery

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Stomping Elephants Earrings Fundraiser

GET READY! In the lead up to Mother's Day next weekend, the P&F are holding a Stomping Elephants earrings fundraiser stall next week! Earrings will be available to purchase all next week before and after school. There will be a wide variety of stud earrings and each pair will be just $7! Cash only. Dads, here is your chance to get ready for Mother's Day early! We'd love some dads to come help out at the stall in the mornings or afternoons if any are free!

Reminders 🌞

Bowen and Whitsunday Sub District ⚽🏈

Well done to all of the students that participated in the Touch Football Trials on Tuesday. Congratulations to William, for progressing into the next round with the Sub District Team.You should all be very proud of your effort!

We are very proud to congratulate Charlotte and Rafferty for earning a position on the Bowen Sub District Cross Country Team!

Stop, Drop, Go Zone

Uniforms

Uniforms are available for purchase from the school office. Reminder that uniform days have now changed, please see below:

Formal Uniform - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday

Sports Uniform - Wednesday and Friday

Specialty, commemorative and representative shirts - Friday

Community News

Mary Mackillop OSHC

OSHC at St Mary’s Catholic School is now operating Monday to Friday from  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.

Food (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

School Dental Service

Tuckshop