Term 4 Week 2 | 9 October 2024

Principal - Ms Katrina Dunne

Welcome back to the final term of 2024! I hope you all enjoyed a restful break and are ready for an exciting conclusion to the school year.

School Fete This Friday Night

I am thrilled to remind everyone about our School Fete happening this Friday night! This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and enjoy a fantastic evening filled with children’s activities, live music, delicious food, stalls, and much more. I look forward to seeing everyone there as we celebrate our school.

Student Leadership Opportunities

2025 Student Leadership will kick off in Week 3 this term for our Year 5 students. Next week, we will share important information with our Year 5 students about the criteria and process for the 2025 school leadership positions. Our students have been diligently developing their resumes throughout the year, which is reflected in their conduct both in and out of school. This year, Miss Morrison and I will be coordinating the Student Leadership Program, and we look forward to guiding our future leaders.

Mini Mary's Pre-Prep Program

We are excited to inform you that the Mini Mary's pre-prep program will commence in Week 6 this term. If you know any families who have not yet enrolled their children for Prep 2025, please encourage them to complete the online enrolment form as soon as possible, as spaces are filling up quickly!

2025 Family Intentions

As we begin planning for the next school year, please notify the school office if your family intends to leave at the conclusion of 2024. This information will assist us in class planning and teacher allocations, which we will communicate with families by the end of Week 8 this term.

World Teachers' Day

Mark your calendars for World Teachers' Day on Friday, October 25th! This is a wonderful opportunity to show appreciation for our dedicated teachers. Please take a moment to thank your child's teacher(s) for their hard work and commitment to our students.

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this final term together. Let’s make it a memorable one!

Kind regards,

Katrina

AP M & I - Mrs Kirsty Lines

Welcome to Term 4!

Is there anyone else who feels like this year has flown by?  How can we be at Term 4 already?  And what a fantastic term to be in.  So many events and beautiful ways in which we celebrate the rich Catholic history and identity of our beautiful school.  Please see below a Term 4 schedule.  The only thing missing from this is our end of year liturgy – this will take place Thursday, December 5^th at 8:30am, in the church.  As per tradition, our school leaders for 2025 will be announced at this liturgy as we celebrate the end of the school year and thank God for the many blessings bestowed upon our school and school community.

Children’s Mass – St Mary’s Parish

Your family will have received an invitation to attend children’s mass through parent portal this week.  At this mass, we have readings from the children’s bible, read by the children, prayers of the faithful and songs our students know.  We’d love to see you there – all are welcome – to celebrate term four and support our parish.

Get Well Sr Elizabeth

Sr Elizabeth continues to recover in Brisbane from her fall. Please keep her in your prayers as we continue to remember her in ours here at school. 

AP: M&I 2025 Appointment

As you may have read in communication sent out before the holidays, I have decided not to renew my contract for Assistant Principal: Mission and Identity for 2025 – 29.  This is my eleventh year in the role and during that time I have had the privilege of working with three different Principals, over 20 new staff and a generation of our wonderful students here at St Mary’s.  Also having the opportunity to be the link with the Parish and working with Fr Peter, Fr Warren and Sr Elizabeth has been a highlight.   

Concurrent with the AP: M&I role, I also held the role of Middle Leader for eight of those years, as well as teaching specialist areas of Science, HASS, Religion and co-ordinating and teaching sport for three years.  I have been acting LST this year and have conducted intervention for the last three years.  It has been a very fulfilling experience and I have greatly enjoyed my time in all the roles.  The opportunity to work hard to improve our school for my children, (both of whom attended St Mary’s for seven years), and all of our students is not lost on me. 

However, eleven years is a long time to be out of the classroom fulltime.  My first passion was always face to face teaching and I’m excited to return to the classroom full time next year and offer any assistance necessary for our incoming AP: M&I.  Interviews for the role have taken place and I look forward to welcoming our new AP: M&I in the coming weeks. 

Wishing you all a blessed term 4,

God bless,

Kirsty Lines

AP: M&I

Curriculum - Mrs Vanessa Alexander

Storytelling: Why It Matters

Dear Families,

It’s easy to overlook the simple yet profound act of storytelling. Stories are more than just a way to pass the time—they are a fundamental part of our human experience.

Connecting People | Stories have the unique ability to bring people together. Whether it’s around a campfire, at a family gathering, or through a book.

Preserving Culture and History | Through stories, we pass down traditions, values, and historical events from one generation to the next. They help us remember where we came from and shape our collective identity.

Inspiring and Motivating | A well-told story can inspire action and change. Think of the powerful speeches and narratives that have sparked movements and motivated individuals to strive for a better world.

Enhancing Learning | Stories make information more relatable and easier to remember, engaging our emotions and our imagination.

Healing and Empathy | Sharing personal stories can be a therapeutic process, helping individuals to heal and find solace. Listening to others’ stories fosters empathy, allowing us to see the world from different perspectives.

In essence, storytelling is a timeless art that enriches our lives in countless ways. How are you telling stories at your place?

Wishing you a wonderful week!

And we look forward to seeing you at the Fete on Friday Night!

Vanessa Alexander

Middle Leader: Curriculum

Learning Support - Mrs Emily Wright

Hi Families,

Welcome to Term 4. This term we continue to support students across their literacy learning. Our intervention teachers, Mel & Kirsty, have been upskilling our teachers and school officers to ensure that intervention practices are embedded across classroom literacy blocks. This ensures that our students are supported across the three tiers of intervention and maximises student exposure to key concepts.  I encourage you to speak to your child’s teacher if you have further questions about this support and ways that you can contribute to their success at home.

Until next time,

Emily Wright

Library - Mrs Michelle Sheehan

Welcome to Term 4

I am very excited to be back at St Mary’s and in the library after my period of Long Service Leave.

Loved these students in the library before school last week having a read and checking out the books.

Term 3 - Best Borrowing Class Competition

and the winners are…

As a reward, students were able to participate in free time activities during their library lesson.

Issue 7 has an additional six pages of must-have reads. 
FREE BOOKS are on OFFER for one last time this year. Every LOOP order over $20 gets to choose a bonus title from the 'free book list'. PLUS, every order on this Issue will receive a $5 promotional code to spend on Issue 8.

Orders due Thursday 17^th October 

Coming Soon

Week 6

Book Fair

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Physical Education - Mr Pete Lambourne

Dear St Mary’s Community,

As we dive into Term 4, we have an exciting program lined up for our students in Physical Education! This term promises to be both engaging and enriching, with activities designed to promote teamwork, physical fitness, and cultural awareness.

In the first three weeks, our students will immerse themselves in Indigenous Games, a unique opportunity to explore traditional activities that have been part of Aboriginal culture for generations. They will learn and participate in games like Marngrook, a form of football that not only focuses on skill and teamwork but also encourages strategic thinking and cooperation among players. Additionally, students will engage in Woggabaliri, an exciting ball game that enhances agility and promotes friendly competition. These activities are not just fun; they also provide a wonderful avenue for students to connect with Indigenous culture, fostering respect and understanding of our nation’s rich heritage while developing their physical abilities.

Starting in Week 4, we will transition to our swimming block at the Charleville Swimming Pool. During this period, students will be bussed to the pool during their allocated PE lessons. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to enhance their swimming skills, learn important water safety practices, and build confidence in the water. We encourage all students to make the most of this experience, as swimming is an essential life skill.

To ensure the success of our swimming sessions, we are seeking parent helpers. If you’re available to assist during the swimming block, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please contact the school office if you can contribute your time and help facilitate this valuable program.

Lastly, we want to extend our best wishes to Thomas, Mia, and Remi as they compete in the State Athletics Championships in Brisbane this week. Their dedication and hard work have brought them to this level of competition, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements. Good luck, athletes!

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a vibrant and active environment at St Mary’s. Together, we can ensure that our students have a memorable and impactful term.

Warm regards,

Pete Lambourne
PE Teacher
St Mary’s School

The Arts - Mrs Leilani Thomas

This year seems to have zoomed past us all and in the Arts space, we are growing to a crescendo to see this term out!

Arts Classroom:

This term our classes are putting their performing arts theory to the test by putting together their own mini musical, based on my favourite time of the year CHRISTMAS! Each band will put their producer hats on to create their own performance of the Nativity with a big focus on staging and design. 

Performances:

Prep – Year 2: I’m Gonna Shine

Year 3 & Year 4: Super Star

Year 5 & Year 6: Straw & Order

At the end of the year students will put on a mini showcase to share what we have been up to with the school.

Shrek the Musical

Only 5 weeks and 2 days until Shrek the Musical Jr hits the big stage (but who is counting!?). This week students are finalizing their costume trial with photographs to capture the magic. Students are expected to be off book, that is to know their lines off by heart, by the end of next week, so encourage your students to run lines with you every chance you get!

Make sure you check out this week's Sentral Post for a link to our SharePoint site with EVERYTHING you need regarding the musical.

Set Designs:

We are working on finalizing set designs but we need your help!

I am currently looking for corflute, cardboard and/or foamboard. If you are able to supply any at all that would be greatly appreciated! We will be painting over it, so if it is printed or drawn on, that is absolutely fine!

Guidance Counsellor - Mr Jesse Kupper

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are thrilled to inform you that our Year 5 students will be participating in the Friendology program this term. While we initially began delivering this program in small group settings at St Mary's, I have received interest from many Year 5's causing me to rethink the process from small groups to the whole classroom. 

What is Friendology?

Friendology is an engaging and educational program that focuses on teaching children the fundamentals of friendship. Through a series of interactive lessons and activities, students will learn about empathy, communication, conflict resolution, and inclusivity.

Why is Friendology important?

Friendships play a crucial role in a child’s social and emotional development. By participating in Friendology, students will gain valuable skills that will help them navigate their social world, build strong relationships, and foster a positive school environment.

Program Highlights

• Interactive Activities: Students will engage in games and activities that illustrate key friendship concepts.
• Role-Playing: Through role-playing exercises, children will practice handling various social situations.
• Group Discussions: Open discussions will allow students to share their experiences and learn from each other.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
• Effective Communication: Learning to express themselves clearly and listen to others.
• Conflict Resolution: Developing strategies to resolve disagreements peacefully.
• Inclusivity: Encouraging an inclusive mindset where everyone feels valued and accepted.

How You Can Support Your Child

• Encourage Open Communication: Talk to your child about what they are learning in the program and encourage them to share their thoughts and experiences.
• Model Positive Behaviour: Demonstrate the friendship skills being taught, such as empathy and effective communication, in your interactions at home.
• Reinforce Learning: Praise your child when you see them applying the skills they’ve learned in their daily interactions.

We believe that the Friendology program will have a positive impact on our students, helping them to develop strong, healthy friendships that will benefit them throughout their lives. We look forward to seeing the growth and development of our Year 5 students as they embark on this journey.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, please do not hesitate to contact me or I will be at St Mary's in Weeks 3, 6 and 8 (Mon, Thu, Fri) where I am available in person.

Thank you for your support!

Warm regards,

Jesse Kupper

Guidance Counsellor St Mary's

Tuckshop - Mrs Alice Short

October Birthdays

Flyers