Dear Lord,

We pray that reconciliation truly lives in our hearts, minds and actions. Help us to practise fairness for all so that we accept everyone no matter their race, background or status. May diversity make us richer and we grow stronger together. We ask this prayer through Jesus Your Son. AMEN.

RECONCILIATION FLAG WALK

Eight students represented Stella Maris at the Shellharbour City Council’s Flag Walk on Monday. It was an opportunity for the children to walk as one with members of our local Aboriginal Community and students from other schools. The children also participated in a variety of Aboriginal cultural workshops, which enabled them to develop a deeper understanding of Aboriginal heritage. They were joined by Mr Price and our school’s Aboriginal Education Assistants Jo Ball and Mark Mongta.

CHOIR & BAND EISTEDDFOD PERFORMANCE

Our school choir and band have been busy practising for the Shoalhaven Esiteddfod which was held last Thursday (choir) and today (band). A big thank you to the students for giving up their time to be involved in these extra-curricula activities and to their parents for their ongoing support. I also thank Mrs Hogan for her expertise in preparing the students for their performances and  Mrs Mansbridge for her assistance with the choir.

We are all very proud of you children.

MARY AIKENHEAD AWARDS

Congratulations to Isla Jennett (K-2) & Holly O’Donnell (3-6) on being the recipients of the 2019 Mary Aikenhead Award at last week’s Foundation Day Liturgy. These students were recognised by staff and parents for exhibiting qualities that reach out to others as well as being heavily interested and involved in class and whole-school prayer and liturgies. These awards are significant at Stella Maris as they acknowledge and celebrate the charism of the Sisters of Charity in developing the wonderful school that we all currently enjoy. Well done girls!

STUDENT REPORTS

The teachers are currently finalising their assessments in readiness for the students’ half-yearly reports (Years 1-6), which will be sent home to parents on Friday 21 June (Week 8). Our staff spends countless hours collaborating with their grade partners to compile these reports and I know that parents truly appreciate their  efforts. Parent-Teacher interviews will be held between June 24-July 5 (Weeks 9 & 10). Parents will soon be able to book a time online via the  School Interviews website.    

COLOUR EXPLOSION

The school’s first ever Colour Explosion was held on Friday 17 May and what a wonderful event it was. A big thank to our P & F for coordinating this fund-raiser, which made over $10 000, a fantastic amount which can now be used to update our canteen facilities. The children and teachers had so much fun getting squirted with coloured-chalk and water, although I think that there was a bit of extra effort made when the Principal ran past! We were also appreciative of the assistance that was provided by the staff of Anytime Fitness Shellharbour and Albion Park.

YEAR FIVE TARONGA ZOO EXCURSION

Our Year 5 students are eagerly looking forward to their overnight Taronga Zoo excursion, which will be held on 6-7 June. This educational experience will also include a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mary Mackillop House in North Sydney.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

This Sunday’s Gospel,

Lk 24:46-53

Jesus commissions the eleven, ascends to heaven.

All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour

Mass times: All Saints Church

19 College Ave, Shellharbour City

Saturday  6.00pm Vigil

Sunday    9.00am inc. Children’s Liturgy

               5.00pm (6.00pm daylight saving)

Mass at Stella Maris

We would like to welcome all friends and families to the following School Masses this Term.

18/6 Stage 2 Mass

25/6 Kinder & Year 1 Mass

Foundation Day Liturgy

Last week on 21 May, Stella Maris celebrated our Foundation Day with a special Liturgy.  It was 61 years ago on the 20th May 1958, that Stella Maris Catholic School began, with 46 children and two Sisters of Charity.

In tradition, we celebrate each year with the story of Mary Aikenhead, the foundress of the Sisters of Charity and present a special award in her name.  We congratulate Isla Jennett (Infants) and Holly O’Donnell (Primary) for exhibiting qualities that reach out to those in need, applying themselves in Religious Education and displaying reverence during Mass and liturgies.

We also thank all the Parents, Grandparents, family and friends that joined us on this special day.

Let us pause for a moment …

Alicia Sanchez-Levine

Religious Education Coordinator

Please click on the link below to view articles on the national simulaneous storytime held at many Catholic Schools around our Diocese, including Stella Maris  

Congratulations to the following children who are receiving Gold Awards:

1B  - Grace Griffiths, Alanah Toskoski

Athletics - 2019 Primary

This is to advise you of a change to the primary pathway program for Athletics in 2019.                       

Sport: Selection Trial - 2019 NSWPSSA Athletics Representative Team

Date: Thursday 8 August 2019

Venue: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, Homebush Application for invitation to the NSWPSSA Selection Trials for the 2019 School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships.

Our Wollongong Regional carnivals and selection trials will run as normal, however this year there will be an early selection of a NSW PSSA team to go to Nationals. A NSW PSSA State Athletics Team will NOT be selected through the usual pathway process ie. at the NSW PSSA State Championships in November when our MacKillop Team competes.

In 2019 the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championships will be held in the Northern Territory.  Due to extreme heat conditions in Darwin during November/December when the National Track and Field Championships are traditionally held, this year’s SSA event will be held from the 18-23 September 2019.

Therefore a State Selection trial will be held at Sydney Olympic Park on 8 August. All applications go straight through to NSW PSSA. 

An entry fee will be applicable to successful athletes.

All athletes must apply using the form provided and include a verifiable official time, distance or height that meets the minimum qualifying requirements listed below, for each event he/she is applying for.

Completion of this application does not guarantee the right to compete at these trials as there are strict entry limits for all events. The convener will consider all applications and send invitations and further information electronically to successful athletes.

Applications close: 5pm Wednesday 26 June 2019.

NSWPSSA Able Bodied Qualifying Times, Heights and Distances Athlete results must equal or better the times, distances or heights listed below to be considered:

Please see Mrs Downing for more details and an application form if you qualify.

MUSIC - Eisteddfod News

On Thursday May 23, the school choir (40 students) travelled by bus to Nowra to compete in the Shoalhaven Eisteddfod. The venue this year was changed to City Church, North Nowra. Many schools attended and competed over the course of the day. We were the last competitor in the last section of the session.

Before we even sang a note, we were all so proud of our students. Their manners, their respect for others and themselves, their sense of responsibility and most of all, their patience! These qualities do not go unnoticed.

Even with waiting so long, we still managed to perform a most beautiful rendition of “Light A Candle”. A very convincing performance which made a great impression on the adjudicator, commenting how everyone followed the conductor – now you know how important it is! We were awarded HIGHLY COMMENDED (the only HC to be awarded in this section) in the Primary Choral Restricted Section. Congratulations!

Special thanks to Mrs Mansbridge and Miss Carman for covering all of the super important jobs to get us there, so that I can concentrate on the music. Thanks also to the parents who were able to attend and support us on the day. Thank you team.

Well Done everyone. Looking forward to doing it all again in 2020!

Jenna Hogan

Kindergarten had a visit from Shellharbour recycling.  We listened and we learned about using the correct bins.

Summer wrote this information report about what she learned:P

There are three bins.  Their names are fogo, recycling and landfill.  The landfill bin is one that we shouldn't use much.  The recycling bin we should use a lot.  The recycling bin is really really good.  The fogo bin takes all our food scraps.  They are very nice bins.  The garbage truck picks up the bins from your house.  The garbage truck takes the things in the recycling bin to a place where they get made into shiny and new things.  It is important to use the right bins.    Summer KG

Catholic Primary Schools Basketball Challenge

Team ‘Try-Outs’

Basketball try-outs will commence in Week 2 of Term 2 for several weeks during recess and lunch.  Students who completed and put forward a CPSBC expression of interest note to attend this sporting event in Albury during Term 4 are required to attend the try-outs for the grading of school teams.  Selection is also based on observations at last years' Basketball Challenge as well as observations in Sport Lessons and Playground participation. 

Where possible, students will trial during their allocated basketball court time on the playground roster. eg. Year 3 & 4 girls will trial when year 3 or year 4 girls are rostered on. Students should refer to the Term 2 Playground Games Roster for Basketball in regards to what day and time slot that they are required to try-out at.  No basketball experience is necessary and every effort will be made to include all children, but attendance at the try-outs are necessary for placement in a team. Please discuss with your child their availability to take part in these trials.

The school’s Basketball Committee’s decisions will be final.