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Dear Parents and Carers,
As we paint the town green on the 17 March, let us remember how Saint Patrick devoted his entire life to bring the message of love and compassion of our Lord to the world. Kidnapped and enslaved in Ireland at the age of 16, Saint Patrick escaped only later to return, bringing Christianity to the nation. On St Patrick’s day, we reverence his story.
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Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Hymn – A religious song of honour and praise, or of petition addressed to God or the saints. Hymns appointed for liturgical use are mainly taken from the Scriptures or based on some mystery of the faith as taught by the Church. All hymns used in the liturgy must be approved by an ecclesiastical authority. |
God Bless
Alicia Sanchez-Levine
Religious Education Coordinator, and Year 5B Teacher
Harmony Day 21 March 1:45pm
Orange Clothes Mufti Day - Gold Coin Donation for Project Compassion
Harmony Day celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. We will celebrate Harmony Day on the 21 March at 1:45pm with a liturgy under the COLA organised by Year 4. Please join us! Additionally, students can wear orange clothes on this day for a gold coin donation that will go towards Project Compassion.
Holy Week & Easter Liturgies 28 March & 5 April at 1:45pm
We would like to invite parents, grandparents and friends to our Holy Week and Easter Re-enactments under the COLA. The liturgies will be presented by the Leaders of Vision and Mission and each grade. On 28 March we have Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 performing with Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 on 5 April.
Anzac Day Liturgy 3 May 1:45pm
Due to the holiday break, parents, grandparents and friends are warmly invited to attend a special Anzac Day Liturgy presented by Year 5 on the 3 May at 1:45pm.
Project Compassion
DONATE NOW - LINK
https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/o/stella-maris-catholic-primary-school-shellharbour
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Stella Maris’ vision as ‘a faith-filled, respectful community of learners’ engages us in our mission to ‘reverence the story of all people’ and as such lead us to raise funds to support all future generations. Our Year 6 Leaders of Vision & Mission have led this year's Project Compassion campaign for the school. Students are getting involved this year in classes by watching the stories of Project Compassion and helping with fundraising.
Your generous support can help change lives today - and For All Future Generations.
Each child at school should now have brought a box home to assist with fundraising. Please encourage family members to give generously. Once your box is full, bring it back to school and we will add the funds to the on-going total. Together, we can make a difference!
Another way to donate is to use this LINK
https://schools.projectcompassion.org.au/o/stella-maris-catholic-primary-school-shellharbour
Grade Masses at Stella Maris
These Masses take place at our Stella Maris Church on Tuesdays at 9:30am. Parents, grandparents and carers are most welcome to attend. Please find below a schedule of the Masses for Term 1, 2024.
Yr 3 Week 7 12 March
Yr 2 Week 8 19 March
Yr 1 Week 9 26 March
Kinder in Term 2, 2024
WINTER UNIFORM
The winter uniform will formally come in from week 3 of term 2. Weeks 1 & 2 the term will be transition weeks where students can wear either summer or winter uniforms, as the weather starts to cool down. Please ensure that all children are wearing the correct winter uniform.
A reminder that the second hand uniform shop is open Friday morning (non assembly week) and Friday afternoon (assembly weeks) if you require any extra items.
PB4L
Non-Classroom Procedures:
Each Monday morning at assembly, a different non-classroom procedure is discussed and explained to all students about the expected behaviours and rules whilst outside of the classroom. These procedures include; the safe movement around the school, canteen expectations, walking to and from the oval, dismissal procedures and much more. These procedures ensure students are aware of the expectations and aim to keep everyone safe and create consistency across the school.
Positive Behaviours 4 Learning (PB4L) is an organisational framework for behaviour support to enhance respectful relationships and engagement of students in their learning. It is an evidence-based framework that is implemented at Stella Maris and all CEDow school communities (K-6). The PB4L framework incorporates a three-tiered continuum system of both academic outcomes and behaviour support for all students, comprising of universal, targeted and intensive support.
TIER 1
Universal prevention for all students – systems and practices that include differentiated approaches that meet the needs of all students, and are implemented consistently across all school settings, non-classroom and classroom.
TIER 2
Targeted interventions for some students with identified additional needs – achieved through specific programs and targeted support.
TIER 3
Intensive individualised interventions for a few students with identified substantial and extensive needs – achieved through targeted intensive support, and case collaboration
REGULAR APPOINTMENTS DURING SCHOOL TIME
If your child can only have a regular appointment during school time, please collect a form from the school office, complete and return to the office for the Principal's approval before the appointments start.
HOLIDAYS DURING SCHOOL TERMS
Families are encouraged to travel during scool holidays. If travel during a school term is necessary, please discuss this with the school. An application for extended leave must be completed and approved by the Principal. If approval is granted, a certificate will be provided, this certificate must be produced when requested by Police or other authorised attendance officers.
Absences related to travel will be marked as leave on the roll and therefore contribute to your child's total absences for the year.
CAKE STALL - Thursday 28 March 2024
Vegetable Week at Stella Maris March 18th - 22nd!
Parking around the school
Recently we received a complaint from one of our neighbours located on Darley Street Shellharbour to say that their driveway is constantly being parked across in the mornings and afternoons at drop off and pick up times. So much so that they are unable to leave their driveway until the driver returns to their car.
When the neighbour contacted the school they mentioned that from now on photos will be taken of any cars parking across their driveway and number plates will be reported.
Please do not park across any driveway or access point around our school.
Thank you for your attention to this.
Diocesan Representative Sport
We have had a pretty busy couple of weeks with our representative sporting pathway. Cricket, Hockey, Soccer, Boys Netball, Girls AFL and Girls Netball have all held trials over the past two weeks, with Boys U11 and U12 Rugby League selections being held this Friday the 8th of March. The Rugby Union
Cross Country 2024
Our annual Cross Country Carnival, scheduled for the 14th of March, is quickly approaching. The Cross Country is a whole school carnival held at Keith Hockey oval. A decision was made with all sports convenors at the Term 4 sports meeting to increase the distance for our students in the U8/9/10 to 2kms and the U11/12/13 to 3 km's to align with the distances they are required to run at the Cross Country Championships held in Willandra. Multiclass athletes will also run 2kms. This ensures we are selecting the appropriate students for each age group.
There will be a shorter course available for those students wishing to take part in a ‘participation’ event, this is a 1km race and is open to those students who are in the U8’s and above. ‘Age based’ races, for example, U8 boys will all be run together, regardless of whether they are competing in the 1km or 2km race. There will be a course marshall in the area where the students split from one another and all students competing in the 2km or 3km race will be given a wristband to easily identify the two groups. A course map and video has been sent out via Compass should you wish to view these.
Awards & Ribbons - Ribbons for 1st - 4th place getters in all events, except the 1km races will be given out at school following the carnival, along with good sports awards. House points will be allocated as following:
Kindergarten, Year 1, 2km age races and 3km age races
1st - 12 points
2nd - 11 points
3rd - 10 points
4th - 9 points
5th - 8 points
6th - 7 points
7th - 6 points
8th - 5 points
9th - 4 points
10th - 3 points
11th - 2 points
1km Participation race
1st - 4 points
2nd - 3 points
3rd - 2 points
4th - 1 point
Volunteers - Due to the increases in distances resulting in the change of course, we are still seeking parent volunteers to assist with directing our students safely through the course. If you are able and willing to assist for our longer (2km and 3km) events, please contact the office.
Student Nominations - Just a reminder to please speak with your children about the distances they wish to enter for the carnival and enter them into the appropriate race. This is a change from last year where they were automatically entered into their age group race. We will be allocating wristbands to students who are competing in the 2km and 3km events and need to organise this ahead of time, so any changes to student events will need to be approved prior to Thursday, 14th.
NSW Cricket School Girls Breakfast Program
NSW Cricket have partnered with Woolworths and will be delivering a free, 4 week, Cricket program to girls in Years 1-6. These sessions will be run on Friday morning at 7:30am - 8:10am and are due to start in Week 6. The girls will receive a 30 minute Cricket skills program followed by a breakfast. Registrations are now open, please see the below flyer for details and registration. Students do not need to register for all sessions.
* Please note that the breakfast provided is based on registered participants, so please ensure that your children are registered for the program that week so there is an adequate supply of food.
South Coast Swimming Championships
On Tuesday the 5th of March, the South Coast Swimming Championships were held at Corrimal Pool. We had 25 students in attendance, competing throughout 56 events. Congratulations to all our students for the way in which they conducted themselves over the course of the day. I’d like to thank all of our parents for their assistance in the lead up to and on the day of the carnival as well as Mrs Flood who assisted me.
All four of our relays teams made it through which is an outstanding accomplishment and demonstrates the depth in our swimming squad.
Individual students were also recognised for an outstanding meet, these students were:
1st - MC Boys Age Champion - Lachlan Mackay
1st - Junior Girls Age Champion - Lola Jimenez
2nd - Junior Boys Age Champion - Oscar Creighton
3rd - 11 Years Boys Age Champion - Mason Jimenez
2nd - Senior Girls Age Champion - Georgia Mulligan
Tie 2nd - Senior Boys Age Champion - Reid Coelho
The school also took away major awards in the following events:
Girls School - Champions
Boys School - Runner up
Champion School - Runner up
The top 4 place getters in each event will progress to the Wollongong Diocesan Trial event on Monday the 11th of March. The top 2 place getters from this next trial will represent the Wollongong Diocese at the Mackillop Selection Trials.
We wish to commend all students on their efforts on the day, as well as wish those students the best of luck as they trial for the Wollongong Diocesan team on the 11th of March.
Boys Netball Trials
On Wednesday, 8 students attended the NSW All Schools South Coast Boys Netball Trial at Bomaderry. From this trial, we had 4 students selected in the NSW South Coast All Schools Boys netball team which is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations to Cooper Roche, Heath Paulissen, Harry Thomson and Mason Gutierrez on their selections. We wish the boys the best of luck for their upcoming NSW All Schools Boys Netball Tournament in August.
Sporting Schools AFL
Sporting Schools AFL program will be delivered to students in Years 4 & 5 during their PE lesson over the next four weeks. These are specialised programs focussed on skill development, delivered by experienced coaches.
CEDOW Instagram
The Sports Council at the CEO DOW have set up an Instagram account to help spread the news about sport in our Diocese. Please follow @cedow.sport to keep up to date with all the latest news and information.
Canteen News
We are a school run canteen and rely on volunteers to operate.
Canteen is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to make and prepare lunch orders and serve the children over the counter.
Online orders can be made via the My School Connect app - www.myschoolconnect.com.au/stellamarisps click on create account.
