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Dear Parents and Carers,
Since our last newsletter, we celebrated a very successful Mother’s Day breakfast and stall. Thank you to the many parents who donated their time, efforts, and prizes to make the day so special for all the mother figures in our lives. It was a great turnout and there was plenty of very positive feedback on the day.
On Tuesday, we celebrated Foundation Day! It was a great day of celebrating and acknowledging our history and the significant people who had a major role in shaping Stella into who we are today. Thank you to all families who were able to join us. The open classrooms were an overwhelming success, and it was fantastic to see so many of you joining the children for their learning.
This week I am attending the bi-annual Catholic Principals conference. I look forward to bringing back new learnings and experiences that I can share with the community.
God Bless
Belinda Hughes
Principal
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
On Tuesday, we celebrated Foundation Day, the day our school was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1958, opening with 46 children and three 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 Rose Shepherd (Infants) and Imani Ghaleb (Primary) for exhibiting qualities that reach out to those in need, applying themselves in Religious Education, and displaying reverence during Mass and liturgies.
We would like to thank all the parents, grandparents, family, and friends who joined us on this special day for the Liturgy, Open Classrooms, and the Q & A sessions. Our sincere thanks also to Sr Genny and Sr Margaret, as well as our very own Sr Kerry, for celebrating with us in spirit, the story of the Sisters of Charity.
It is a blessing to have such a wonderful community share with us such an amazing school.
Thank you!
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Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Pentecost is a Christian holiday celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, described in the Bible's Acts of the Apostles. It's observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter, which is fifty days after Easter. It's also known as Whit Sunday or Whitsunday. |
God Bless
Alicia Sanchez-Levine
Religious Education Coordinator
A New Chapter Begins With Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope and only the second from the Americas, brings a diverse and global background to the papacy. With roots in Rome, Peru, and the Augustinian Order, he is a multilingual mathematician, canon lawyer, and advocate for synodality. His name honours the Church’s social justice legacy, and his early messages show strong support for migrants, climate action, and survivors of abuse. His call for a united Church moving forward in Christ offers hope for a faithful and courageous future.
Grade Masses at Stella Maris
Our Stella Maris Church has reopened! Grade Masses will take place at our Stella Maris Church on Tuesdays at 9:30 am. Parents, grandparents and carers are most welcome to attend. Please find below a schedule of the Masses for Term 2, 2025:
Yr 4 Week 5 - 27 May
Yr 5 Week 6 - 3 June
Kinder Week 8 - 17 June
Yr 1 Week 9 - 24 June
Yr 6 Week 10 - 1 July
All Saints Catholic Parish NEWS
All Saints Church Mass Times: 19 College Ave, Shellharbour City
Saturday 5.00 pm Vigil
Sunday 9.00 am & 5.00 pm
Programme for the Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 6 Students)
Timetable of Events after the Vigil/Sunday Masses:
24-25 May: Books for workshops will be distributed to all candidates
26-29 May: First Week of Workshops
31-1 June: Preferred time indicated for Sacrament
2-5 June: Second Week of Workshops
7-8 June: Times distributed for Sacrament
9-12 June: Third Week of Workshops
(The Monday workshop will take place on Tuesday due to the Public Holiday)
14-15 June: Blessing & distribution of Confirmation Medals
16-19 June: Fourth Week of Workshops
Thursday 19 June: Retreat Day 9 am-2 pm, All Saints Parish Hall
21-22 June: Rehearsal Saturday 5 pm for 1 July session; Sunday 9 am for 2 July session
Celebration of Confirmation
Tuesday 1 July 7 pm & Wednesday 2 July 7 pm
If there are any questions related to any of the Sacraments, please contact the parish office via email shellharbourcity@dow.org.au
The Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians invites you to join us for the Corpus Christi Event! If you're seeking a deeper understanding of the Eucharist, the origins of the Mass or want to deepen your faith, then this day is for you! You will never celebrate Mass again the same way! Join us Sunday 22 June (10 am to 3:30 pm) at Our Lady Help of Christian's St. Joachim Hall (adjacent to the Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School) (80A Demetrius Rd, Rosemeadow).
Please note: We welcome all adults over 18. Any person under the age of 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian. Due to the content and nature of the material, the minimum age of attendees is 14 years. For more information on the day and to register, please use the QR code provided.
Improving Student Learning in Mathematics
This year, our school is focused on ensuring that all learners are appropriately challenged in mathematics. As part of this goal, our teachers have been actively involved in professional learning days, meetings, and collaborative planning sessions to strengthen the way we teach and assess mathematics.
To better understand where each student is at, we’ve been using the Place Value Assessment Tool (PVAT). This high-quality assessment helps teachers gather a complete picture of students’ understanding by focusing on six key aspects of place value: naming, counting, representing, calculating, comparing, and renaming numbers. Based on this data, teachers have been designing a variety of targeted learning experiences—including hands-on games, visual modelling, and real-world problem solving—that are tailored to meet each student’s individual needs.
Teachers have been deepening their understanding of the new NSW Mathematics syllabus, which places a strong emphasis on helping students make connections across mathematical concepts and with real-life contexts. This means students are learning mathematics not just in isolated topics, but in ways that show how ideas connect and build on each other. Teachers are sequencing and delivering lessons that draw on multiple focus areas at once, helping students apply their skills and understanding in both familiar and new situations. This supports a deeper, more meaningful understanding of maths and its purpose in the world around them.
Another important focus for our staff has been developing mathematical communication skills through the use of talk moves. Teachers are encouraging dialogic talk—structured conversations where students explain their thinking, justify their reasoning, and respond to others’ ideas. We’re proud of the work our staff are doing and excited to already see the positive impact on student learning and engagement in Mathematics.
National Sorry Day – May 26
National Sorry Day is observed on May 26 each year. It is a time to acknowledge and recognise the experiences of the Stolen Generations – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey towards healing, reconciliation, and unity for all Australians.
As part of our school’s recognition of National Sorry Day, students will take part in a whole school prayer to reflect on its significance and show respect and solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To learn more about National Sorry Day and the Stolen Generations, please use the link below:
National Reconciliation Week: 27 May – 3 June
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is held across Australia each year from 27 May to 3 June. These dates mark two significant milestones in our nation's reconciliation journey—the successful 1967 referendum and the landmark Mabo decision.
NRW is a time to reflect on the progress made toward reconciliation, and to acknowledge the work still to be done. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to learn about the rich cultures, histories, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to consider how we can all contribute to a more just, equitable, and unified country.
This week, selected students will be participating in our local Reconciliation Walk, joining with others in the community to show support and solidarity. All students will also take part in a range of meaningful activities within their classrooms to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and perspectives.
PB4L News
Explicit teaching focus for Week 4 & Week 5
Due to the wet weather currently around us, the students are unable to utilise the playground at recess and lunch.
Our explicit teaching focus for weeks 4 and 5 is around the processes of wet weather at recess and lunch.
The procedures will be revised by the classroom teacher, so students are aware of how to be safe and responsible during wet-weather play.
Attendance
As we continue into Term 2, attendance continues to be a significant focus for all schools in the Wollongong Diocese. A gentle reminder in the graphic below about the importance of how much time can add up.
We would like to acknowledge that the timing of multiple surveys sent out by the Catholic Education Office (Tell them from me & Principal Appraisal) is an unfortunate coincidence. We appreciate that all families are very busy and are already juggling many competing agendas.
If you have the time to complete the 2 short surveys, that would be greatly appreciated. The Principal Appraisal survey will be sent directly to your email address. The Tell Them From Me survey is:
http://tellthemfromme.com/stellam2025
Please be assured that feedback about the timing has been provided back to CEO.
Building Works Update
At this week’s P&F meeting, the CEO's properties team shared the most recent iteration of plans and design works for the Stella building project. As these plans are not finalised and some of the work remains as a concept drawing, the school is unable to publish at this point in time.
As soon as the school receives the design that is able to be published these will be shared and displayed in the school. There are some exciting times ahead!
Congratulations
We are pleased to share that Mrs Lauren Maher and her husband Jordan have welcomed a beautiful boy into the world.
Diocesan Representative Sport
Rugby League
The Mackillop Rugby League Trials were held on Friday, the 9th of May, in Canberra. Congratulations to Spencer T, who was one of 3 Wollongong players to be selected into this team. We wish Spencer and his team the best of luck at the NSW PSSA Championships held in mid June.
Boys Netball
The South Coast Boys All Schools Netball trial was held on Monday at the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Stadium, Bomaderry. Congratulations to Spencer G and Olly L who were both selected in the South Coast team and will now compete against 5 other teams at the NSW Primary All Schools Championships in Coffs Harbour, mid August. We wish you and the team all the best!
South Coast Cross Country Championships
The South Coast Cross Country Championships, located at Willandra, was unfortunately cancelled due to the poor weather conditions. An alternative selection trial is now being held at the Illawarra Criterium Track in Unanderra. We wish all those students participating the best of luck. Keep your eyes out in the next Newsletter for race results.
Carnivals
Athletics Carnival 2025
Our annual School Athletics Carnival will be on the 29th of May at Myimbarr Athletics Centre. The Compass notice has gone out for this event. Could we kindly ask that all digital permission slips be completed by Friday of this week, and if you are able to assist in any capacity, can you please complete the attached questions.
If your child/children are intending to compete in the competitive High Jump events for their age group, or the 800m races, parents/carers must indicate this via the permission slip. We ask this as a courtesy to the teachers who need time to print and prepare event sheets ahead of the carnival.
The schedule for the carnival can be found attached to the Compass event. Times are estimates only.
We are excited to share that LILAC staff will be operating the electronic timing gates for our carnival this year. This will ensure all recording processes are accurate and efficient for all of our track races.
The canteen will be in operation for the day. Please ensure all lunch order forms are completed and returned with the correct money by Friday, the 23rd May. Any orders received after this date will unfortunately not be accepted. There will also be a coffee van on site.
For any further information, please refer to the Compass Event.
Gala Days
Online nominations have now closed for all of our 2025 Gala Days.
Central Legends Gala Day
Unfortunately, due to a situation beyond our control, we were notified this week that we would not be able to attend this event. We received this news the day after communication was sent out to our parent community about the change to the format of the day. We understand that this may be disappointing news, and we sincerely appreciate your ongoing support and understanding.
Netball Gala Day
The Netball Gala Day is scheduled for Tuesday, the 24th June (Week 9). Further information will be provided via a Compass Event in the coming weeks.
The remaining Gala Days will be organised and prioritised according to the nearest date.
CEODoW Website
CEODoW has released a new website. You can access this new website via the following link. To navigate to the sport section, please follow the below process:
Go to the CEODoW website: https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/
Click on the three lines in the yellow box at the top right hand side of the page
Click on ‘Student Experience’
Click on ‘Sport’
Click on ‘Primary Sport’
Navigate through the options
CEDOW Instagram
Don’t forget, the Sports Council at the CEO DOW has 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.
The canteen is now open from Tuesday to Friday.
The canteen menu is also on our website.
Online orders can be made via the My School Connect app - www.myschoolconnect.com.au/stellamarisps
Click on Create account.
Take A Break Tuckshop advertises canteen news, specials and updates via their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/takeabreaktuckshop
A massive thank you to the community and volunteers for making Mother's Day so special this year. We would also like to thank this year's sponsors for providing the food and the many businesses that donated prizes
Just One Thing
We are very grateful to all who have volunteered their time already. We have lots of fun events coming up in Term 3 & 4 and would love to have as many volunteers as possible. If you can volunteer your time for any event, please see the link below.
If you have anything you would like to raise with the P&F, please email through to parents@smsdow.catholic.edu.au at any time.
School Play Equipment
Reminder to our families when visiting Stella Maris, either before school, after school, or during assembly, to please stay off the play equipment in accordance with our school policies.
Thank you