24th November 2022
Principal News
Welcome to the final fortnight for 2023. Thank you all for a fabulous year! Below, I will share my Awards Evening speech as the wrap up for 2022. I wish you all a holy Christmas and restful break. Stay safe and see you all in 2023.
Good evening everyone, and welcome to the St Mary’s Awards Night for 2022.
I must say this time of the year has come around very quickly. It seems like only last week that I stood here to talk to you about student, staff and school ‘GROWTH’ for 2021.
This year, I’d like to share, month by month, the 2022 highlights for our school. Along with these highlights, is the mammoth task of effective teaching and learning, building of real relationships and growing of socially equipped and emotionally balanced children. Our Mercy values: excellence, hospitality, compassion and justice have shone through this year, and I am honoured to speak about this with you all.
So… where all school years start…
January – ‘Just the beginning’
The new year rolled around with five classroom teachers secured… we needed six! Then, the bombshell announcement by Annastacia Palaszzczuk came as the school return date was pushed back due to another COVID outbreak. A few days after this announcement, on January 12th, the Year 1 teacher was finally recruited (after many prior unsuccessful applicants) and Courtney started packing with less than a week to move and set up her classroom. Two days had passed and on January 14th, an unfortunate accident saw the Prep teacher flown to Roma with a fractured pelvis… thankfully Mrs Fisher agreed to return from retirement to teach in the Prep classroom as the extent of Miss Hunt’s injuries were confirmed… that same week, the major refurbishments in the library were close to completion and our grounds were prepped and ready for teachers and students to return! The saying goes…. ‘A week is a long time in politics.’ I can tell you that some weeks in education are equally as long.
Before I knew it, we were headed into February – I’ve called this month… Fire Up February
On Monday 7th February, all students flooded through the school gates for the official return to school for 2022. We didn’t waste any time as this week saw the commencement of peer modelling and feedback across our school. The teaching of reading using a synthetic phonics approach led us into the quality teaching of reading for the year. With this focus to refining the teaching of reading, came the curriculum CHECKLISTS, as Mrs Alexander began the arduous process of improving and completing our school learning framework. It wasn’t all just curriculum checklists though... With easing COVID restrictions, this month saw the return of our wonderful Breakfast Club (special mention to Jolene, Greg and Uncle Teddy) … and a Tuckshop convenor was on the list for recruitment.
Then came… Merciful March
During the month of March, students, families and our community banded together to raise funds for Ukraine. The year 6 captains starred on the ABC radio and a letter of recognition was received from the Bishop. Our P & F kindly purchased a truckload of clubs' equipment for the Year 4, 5, 6 students to provide lunchtime clubs each day. The hospitality and compassion flourished throughout our school. Students were then sprinkled with colour at the end of term 1 with the first ever Colour Run.
A well-deserved rest in April
April saw the beginning of school holidays and staff were more than ready for this rest and pause. In flooded the tradies as we confirmed yet another renovation. The Prep classroom! Parents also threw on some gloves and got to cleaning at the working bee to help ensure the Prep room was ready for Term 2. Miss Hunt was well into her recovery and also returned to Prep fulltime.
The Manic month of May!
Along with quality teaching and learning, May saw the return of class liturgies, our local Show (and schoolwork section), NAPLAN, Music Fanfare in Roma, Read More in May, Under 8’s Day and the Deadly Choices program with CACH… there wasn’t much more that we could add. For teachers though… there was the commencement of moderation, school reporting and reading data entry for the diocese. What a mammoth month!
Then we hit the sixth month of the year – Just getting through June
Our school excitedly entered the Readers Cup, teachers were busily finalising reports, students were involved in a range of district sport and our staff finished the term with a spiritual Staff Retreat. Friday 24th June…. We were halfway through the school year already! The following six months were just as eventful.
Jam-packed July!
Similar to May, July did not disappoint. We started our term with the deep dive into Essential Skills for Classroom Management, having all teachers profiled by Bill Schneid. Teachers were injected with Bill’s wisdom and classrooms reflected this. The first week of Term 3 concluded with hosting the NAIDOC ceremony for 2022. Later this month came the Year 6 Camp (along with a few covid cases), the annual Athletics Carnival and Catholic Education Week. Christian Brother Damien Price presented to the Western Schools staff ‘The Ultimate Guest’. Brother Damien shared: The first step is to get our heart right and to come to the space… to bring the eyes that welcome and accept. It’s a beautiful giving and taking, he explained. When we engage our hearts, we truly encounter students where they are at. I think any educator couldn’t agree more with Brother Damien.
All about the Arts during August
The nominations for the Performing Arts Festival were sent, Opera Queensland were booked, and students (as well as Mrs Thomas) were in their dreamland. There was a spring in the step of our students and teachers put their competitive streak into practice. So much practice! Before school each morning, students excitedly shared their performances with each other and provided feedback and positive praise leading up to competition day. This month also saw the Year 6 students host a disco, raising $1000 for their graduation.
Singing into September
‘Look to the Stars’ was written, filmed, edited and published with Josh Arnold and our Grandparents' Liturgy was a beautiful morning tied in with the school reunion and return of many past students. The stories shared on that day (whilst some quite humourous) confirmed a sense of relief that schooling has moved forward over the many years to what it is today. September concluded with the Pre-Prep interviews. Twenty-four 4- and 5-year-olds delighted us with their abilities to talk and share their interests and talents. What a way to finish Term 3!
Optimistic and overall amazing October
Term 4 soon commenced, bringing a new HPE teacher (Mrs T), the Mini Mary’s program, the return of the famous Fete, Bookfair week, World Teachers’ Day, Day for Daniel and the annual St Mary’s Got Talent. How truly amazing to be a part of this wonderful school. It is this month that I can’t help but say ‘We really are a place like no other!’
We now move through the month of “Noteworthy November”
There is no winding down just yet as the year is only ramping up for a strong finish. Tonight, we celebrate our students’ successes for the year. Whilst not all students will receive a tangible award tonight, they are all acknowledged for the hard work and commitment to their learning: academic, social and spiritual, throughout the year. Well done boys and girls. Let’s all recognise this through a round of applause.
Ok, let’s wrap this speech up and finish with the last month of this year…. December – Demolish and develop!
As we reach the end of the school year, our staff will participate in handover meetings, finalise reporting and enjoy the end of year celebrations. Our school will undergo further refurbishments with new flooring, repainting and teaching walls in all mainstream classrooms for 2023. Special mention must be given to the Coorey Family who provided a bequest for the school after the passing of both Suzanne and Glen, former students in the 1940’s. A formal ceremony to acknowledge the family’s generosity will be communicated with our community next year.
Well, that brings me to the end of my speech for this year. Whilst there has been a lot to share and it sounds a little like a principal’s report, I couldn’t help but share with you tonight, some highlights of our year. I would like to acknowledge the love and support from my children, Lily and Katy, my parents, Narelle and John, close friends and colleagues. Without you all, I would not be able to commit so much of myself to this great school. THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I would like to conclude tonight with acknowledging the dedication from all of you. The parents, carers and community of our school. Without you, this year would not have experienced the successes it has. From general drop off and pickups, the dreaded homework routine, attending liturgies or mass, parent-teacher interviews, cheering from the sidelines of sporting carnivals or flipping burgers and selling tickets at the fete, we are grateful for you. Boys and Girls, can we please turn to our parents, carers and community and give three cheers.
Thank you everyone! Goodnight and God bless.
Cheers
Katrina
Teacher and Class structure for 2023
This week, I confirmed with TCSO our 2023 class structure and teachers at St Mary’s School. See details below:
- Prep – Imogen Hunt
- Year 1 – Bernice McPhee
- Year 2 – Holly Price
- Year 3 – Katherine Spalding
- Year 4 – Taylor Morrison
- Year 5/6 – Amy Halliday
- Teacher Librarian – Michelle Sheehan
- The Arts – Leilani Thomas
- HPE – to be advertised
- Learning Support – Belinda Phillips
- Middle Leader: Curriculum – Vanessa Alexander
- APRE/Learning Support and Class Teacher – Kirsty Lines
Student Free Day and Modified School Days for Term 4
We have two more days this term that are impacted for students and families. Please take note of these days and mark them on your calendar.
- Friday 25th November is a split school day for the twilight swimming carnival. St Mary’s School will close at midday and recommence from 3:30pm for a 4:00pm start at the local pool.
- Friday 2nd December is a pupil free day (travel day).
Parent Portal
We will cease Dojo from 2023 onwards (due to online security)
- Parent Portal will REPLACE Dojo. We will no longer use dojo for any communication with teachers.
- Parent Portal is an application that parents will need to download onto their devices (it is a part of ‘Sentral for Parents’). They will download an application called ‘Sentral for Parents’ and the Parent Portal will be part of this application. They will require a ‘family key’ and this will not be available until next year at the parent information session.
- The information session will be on January 23rd 2023 in the school library at 5:15pm.
- All parents of our school are encouraged to attend (although this may not be possible, we will do our best to get every parent there!!!).
- We may need to consider another parent training session at our Parent Information Night in Week 2/3 next year.
- This application is approved by TCSO and all Toowoomba Catholic Schools in the diocese are using this application already (except for Charleville, Mitchell and St George).
We are excited for this change as this will be the ‘One Stop Shop’ for absolutely everything parents need on a day-to-day/week-by-week basis (more than Dojo can offer!)
Reminder
If you or your child's contact details have changed recently- please don't forget to contact the school to update the details.
School Fees
When paying your school fees - Please quote your personal CHA(number) as your reference.
Bank Details
Account Name - St Mary's Primary School Charleville
BSB - 064 786
Account No - 100025079
APRE News
Thank you for a fantastic 2022!
As the school year draws to a close, I think it is timely to reflect on the year that was – a year that saw our whole school masses and liturgies once again disrupted due to COVID outbreaks – hopefully for the last time.
Semester 1 – our Year Six cohort were the first in St Mary’s history to have their induction live streamed to classrooms and the outside world, on the school Facebook page, due to COVID. The students’ resilience when having to cope with this change was a credit to themselves and their parents. We had class liturgies for Ash Wednesday and Easter as well. COVID may have prohibited us from gathering as a school to celebrate these important liturgical events, however students’ enthusiasm was not dampened!
We also started our Sacramental Program with several students from St Mary’s receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time. Such a special time for our students and their families!
Semester 2 – a COVID outbreak after the school holidays again restricted our ability to gather as a school to celebrate Catholic Education Week, with classes having individual liturgies. However, it was very exciting later in Term 3 to be able to have our first Parish / School mass, with students from Years 4, 5 and 6 helping Father to lead mass – it was a great success, which we repeated in Term 4. We are hoping this continues next year, in consultation with the Parish Council.
Our Sacramental candidates welcomed Bishop McGuckin to Charleville in August and were confirmed. In Term 4, we said farewell to Fr Warren with a parish mass lead by our students and welcomed Fr Peter back to our parish.
We look forward to celebrating our end of year liturgy Thursday, December 1st at 9am in the church. School and Sport Captains for 2023 will be announced at this liturgy.
Thank you
A huge thank you to our Principal, Katrina, for her support of me in this role and always making Religious Education a priority for our school. I could not do my job without Katrina’s support and the support of our teachers and staff, who strive to provide the best quality Religious Education for our students. Thank you to Fr Warren, Fr Peter, and Sr Elizabeth who work with me to ensure a strong link between our school and parish.
And last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to our wonderful students and their parents and the St Mary’s community for another fulfilling year! Here is to an even better (COVID free) 2023!
Curriculum News
Hi Families!
Thank you for a wonderful year! It has been busy, fun, energising, exhausting, enlightening, and above all else just a fabulous year.
Report Cards
Just a friendly reminder that report cards will be published next week (week 9). To receive your child’s report card, please ensure your email is up to date.
For Action
Please, if you can spare 2 minutes, this would be a great conversation to have with anyone!
A Holiday Read
Check this out from researcher, teacher, and speech pathologist, Dr Susan Galletly.
https://www.susangalletly.com.au/bunyips-in-the-classroom
Don’t forget about
Have a safe holiday with some yummy food and quality time spent with your nearest and dearest.
Until 2023,
Vanessa Alexander
Middle Leader: Curriculum
Library News
It is imperative that students continue their reading over the Christmas break, so all students in Year 3, 4 and 5 who have returned their books will visit the library in Week 9 to collect books for their holiday reading.
Year 6 students are also able to borrow over this period.
As well these students and the current year 6 students can borrow eBooks via the Library Web App during the break.
Students in Prep, Year 1 and 2 are also able to visit the library in Week 9 or earlier if required with a parent to choose books for the holiday period or alternatively email requirements to CharlevilleLib@twb.catholic.edu.au
New Teacher in the Library
LOVE Library Helpers!!!
Busy Bees!
Michelle & Alice
HPE News
Wow!!!!
Here we are, it is almost the end of Term 4! As mentioned in my very first newsletter item, the thing I looked forward to most was – getting to know the students of St Mary’s! It has been an honour to spend each week with all our wonderful students. Thank you to every student for showing up, showing respect, and taking a vested interest in your learning. You have all made me so very proud!
Each class has challenged me, entertained me, and exceeded expectations! I am so very grateful to have been a part of the St Mary’s family. It has only been 8 weeks, but I have loved my role and I look forward to catching up with all students outside the schoolgrounds in the future.
My highlight has been watching the confidence and strength of students grow in and out of the water. Swimming lessons were challenging and yet so rewarding. I have loved watching the confidence grow in each student. The water safety component has seen all students face new challenges and do their best to overcome them. Well done to all!
Thank you again! I wish each and every student a fabulous summer holiday and all the best for their learning journey next year. I am so grateful that I was able to take on this role all be it short. It has been most rewarding, and I have learnt so much from my students.
Thank you, parents and caregivers, for supporting me and all my wonderful students for making me smile each week!
Merry Christmas.
Mrs Thomas
Learning Support News
Wow! It has been a wonderful term of learning and growth in The Learning Hub. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the amazing staff at St Mary’s this term to provide personalised learning for our eager-to-learn students and develop their reading skills and strategies through our Teams reading sessions with the wonderful help of Mrs C. I am looking forward to celebrating our students’ success at our celebrations this week with Mrs Lines.
I am very grateful to the very capable and hard-working School Officers we have at St Mary’s who constantly work to improve student learning and wellbeing. They are always stepping up to help our students get the most out of their learning and opportunities.
Last week, we were fortunate enough to have Autism Qld visit the school as part of their school advisory service. They worked with teachers to develop strategies that will help our students achieve their goals and smoothly transition into 2023. We were also lucky enough to engage with them in an after-school Q & A session which provided valuable information and strategies from different viewpoints. We are looking forward to continuing to use this service next year to provide consistency for success.
As always, I would love to meet with any parents to support your child’s learning and wellbeing. Please feel free to send me an email so we can arrange a time to meet while I’m on campus this week: belinda.phillips@twb.catholic.edu.au.
My Auslan sign for this newsletter is Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Clasp hands together twice. Make an action of having a beard
Thanks for a fantastic year! Wishing you a safe and happy holiday.
Kind regards,
Belinda Phillips
The Arts News
Dance
What a spectacular term we have had in Dance. As you saw in their whole school performances at Awards Night, the students have been working very hard on their performances. We have some very talented students. I’m sure you would agree that their joy and energy was astounding! I couldn’t be prouder.
Now that all our assessment is complete, students will get the opportunity to enjoy a In Rhythm drumming workshop. What a wonderful way to celebrate a fabulous term.
Choir
We are going out with a bang in choir this year, with 3 big performances to end the term! Please see below the details for our end of year performances. These have also been handed out to students to take home.
Songs we will perform, so they can practice at home: Try Everything, Little Donkey & Away in a Manger. They will not need to practice their other pieces.
I must say I am very impressed with how our choir performed at Awards Night. I’m sure you would agree that the growth from our last big performance at Performing Arts Festival was astounding. I have also loved hearing how the children have been deconstructing their songs to uncover their meaning. The expression this has put in their singing, both in the quality of their sound and their facial awareness has been beautiful.
Prep News
Wow what a jammed packed two weeks.
Students have been very busy completing their assessments. Take a look at some of the nativity sets they created.
All students should be very proud of their efforts. I was super impressed how students adapted to having a lot of components in their English assessment.
This Friday we have our last prayer assembly for the year. We are very keen and excited to present this.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and look forward to seeing all our preps transition to year 1 next year.
Kindest regards,
Imogen Hunt
Year 1 News
Wow what a YEAR! Less than 9 days to go!
Thank you to our Mystery Readers – Furry, Nicole Pamenter and Susan McInnes. Students absolutely loved listening to you all read! We can not wait to see who will be visiting the classroom next.
In year one over the last week and the following weeks children have been busy consolidating all year one learning. They have also engaged in procedural writing tasks and performing these procedures to one another.
Students have been exploring sound and light during their Science this fortnight. They discovered the sources of both light and sound as they conducted investigations.
In Religion, they have been reading the stories in the Bible about the birth of Jesus. We have gathered information about the different stories and spent time comparing the different components of the text.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from the St Mary’s community for welcoming me into the school and Charleville community this year.
As the last day of school approaches… one door closes and another one opens. I want to thank each child for all the warmth, the memories, the dances, and the learning that we have shared this school year.
To my beautiful Year One students, I say THANK YOU! For when I teach, I also learn. This past year we have grown together. A little bit of each of you will forever be in my heart and in my future teaching. Always strive to be the best you can be and remember that if everyone were the same, the world would be a very boring place!
To my Year One Parents, I say thank you for allowing me to be your child’s Year One teacher. Thank you for putting your trust in me this year and supporting me the entire way! It has been a wonderful and extremely rewarding year!
I wish you all the best and hope to see you all again soon!
Lots of love,
Miss Hudson
Year 2 News
Thank you all for such an amazing year! I am so proud of how far my year 2 friends have come this year, thanks to all the hard work they have put into their learning. A huge thank you to all parents for your support and communication throughout 2022. Coming to the end of the term, we have now got a lot of exciting celebrations to look forward to.
Have a very safe and happy Christmas break, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2023! 😊
Year 3 News
Year 4/5 News
Hello St Mary’s,
Well, what a year we have had. Year 4/5 have accomplished so much and have come such a long way. We have had a lot of fun this year, lots of laughs…some tears, but mainly great memories made. This fortnight we finished our people movers- where we had a mini-figure and had to build something that would move them 30cm using force. There were some incredible carriers, from ziplines, rafts, planes, boats and more.
Thank you St Mary’s for the last 6 years. Charleville and this school has become my home. I will not forget this amazing community. I am looking forward to my next posting in Southern Cross WA. I hope to come back one day and visit again.
Cheers,
Molly
Year 5/6 News
Wow, here we are, the end of another school year already!
What a fantastic fortnight we have had at St Mary’s.
Last week, we had Remembrance Day, where we spent the day reflecting and commemorating those who fought for our country. We made special artworks and created poems about our brave soldiers.
We completed our science unit about electricity and presented our developed models that include an electric circuit. How awesome do they look!
Awards Night – what a fabulous night that was! A big congratulations to not only our award winners, but all our dedicated students at St Mary’s. You should all be very proud of your achievements this year!
GRADUATION! WOW! What a special evening it was, celebrating the Year 6’s and their completion of Primary School. Thank you to everyone who helped out. Congratulations Year 6, we will miss you next year!
Enjoy the holidays everyone!
Miss Morrison and the Year 6 Crew 😊
Tuckshop News
Tuckshop this week will be 1st break only due to the twilight swimming carnival.
November Birthdays
Brooke Anderson, Adelaide Metcalf, Sophie Williams, Abraham Elias, Maggie Thomas, Halle Baldwin, Charlie Peart, Ms Loretta Clayton, Mrs Betty Couch, Miss Taylor Morrison
Happy birthday to all students and staff who celebrate their birthday in November
December Birthdays
Thomas Brassington, Gracie Young, Jacob Crisp, Monty Parker, Mariah Anderson, Peggy Stirton, Pippa Toms, Cruze Castles, Riley Sullivan, Molly Sargood, Maggie Jansen, Mrs Alice Short.
Happy birthday to all students and staff who celebrate their birthday in December.