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Dear Parents and Carers,
This week we have acknowledged and celebrated National Reconciliation Week, we embrace this vital time for reflection and action. The 2025 theme, "Bridging Now to Next," calls us to build strong, respectful relationships that honour the truths of the past while paving the way forward. As a Catholic community, our faith compels us to seek justice, truth, and reconciliation. This week offers a profound opportunity to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and to actively contribute to a more just and united Australia, living out Christ's love in our commitment to healing and genuine partnership. I was privileged to be able to attend the local Reconciliation Walk with some students and Mr Mongta. It was a fantastic display of culture, unity and healing. Our students and staff who attended have spoken fondly of the day and have talked about the inspiring impact the experience had.
Kindergarten enrolment interviews conclude this week. It is an experience that truly fills my cup and provides such joy. Meeting new prospective families and students is a window into our future here at Stella Maris. It is looking so bright. The lasting impact our wonderful Year 6 students have made through their interactions on the open day with new families is a lasting legacy that they will leave behind. They were exemplars of a graduating Stella student and they were recognised on countless occasions. We look forward to welcoming all families, siblings, and new to the Stella Maris community in 2026!
God Bless
Belinda Hughes
Principal
This year, the staff are continuing to work on reimagining and launching the school vision and mission statement. The staff have been working diligently throughout the last 18 months to discern staff, parent, and student input to shape the next chapter of the school vision and mission.
We are very close to being able to share a revised statement that will guide us through the future of Stella Maris.
On Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the day when we give thanks for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and followers of Jesus (Acts 2:1- 31). Pentecost marks the official end of the Easter season and the liturgical colour of Pentecost on the day is red. The word itself means the fiftieth day.
Last week on May 31, we celebrated the feast of The Visitation. During this event, a young Mary called upon her older cousin, Elizabeth, to relish the news of their miraculous pregnancies.
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Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Ascension – The elevation of Christ into heaven by His own power in presence of His disciples the fortieth day after His Resurrection. |
God Bless
Alicia Sanchez-Levine
Religious Education Coordinator
6 JuneLove has always been associated with the heart, so it was only natural that the love of God came to be represented by a heart, the heart of his Son Jesus. In him, God the Father revealed his infinite love for us. On the Friday after the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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:
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:
7/8 June: Times distributed for Sacrament
9-12 June: Third Week of Workshops
(The Monda
y 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 (10am to 3:30pm) 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 content and nature of material the minimum age of attendees is 14 years. For more information on the day and to register please use the QR code provided.
PB4L - End of Term Wellbeing Afternoon
Celebrating the Term with Connection, Fun, and Wellbeing
As we are quickly heading towards the middle of our term, we’re excited to share a new approach to how we celebrate this special time with our students.
In previous years, end-of-term activities were often behaviour-based rewards such as movie days or class parties. This term, we’re shifting the focus towards something more inclusive and meaningful for all students: a Wellbeing Afternoon.
This special event is designed to promote connection, enjoyment, and a sense of community across our classes and year levels. All students will take part in an activity that supports wellbeing and provides a fun way to reflect on the term together.
Some of the activities that students may participate in include:
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Team building games
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Trivia challenges
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Movie and popcorn
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Sports and games on the oval
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Exploring the local rockpools
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Beach play with friends
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Escape room-style puzzles
These are just a few ideas! Teachers will be seeking student input to help shape the activities so that each class can enjoy something that’s meaningful and enjoyable for them.
The End of Term Wellbeing Afternoon will take place during the final week of term, and all students will be involved.
We’re looking forward to ending the term on a positive note—celebrating, connecting, and having fun as a school community!
AttendanceIn the coming weeks, attendance notifications will again be sent to families. This has been school practice and procedure since mid-way last year and brings the school in line with the Diocesan Attendance policy. A reminder that this process is to highlight attendance patterns for families and provide the opportunity for discussion and dialogue between home and school if school attendance is a challenge for some students.
An automatic notification will be sent home if:
- Attendance is between 85% and 90%. This will be monitored for another 2 weeks before formal notifications are generated.
- Attendance is between 80% and 85%. An initial attendance notification will be generated.
- Attendance below 80% will require a letter and a phone call home, and/or a meeting with the class teacher or stage leader.
A gentle reminder that the notifications are formatted by CEO and are consistent across the diocese.
Representative Sport
Cross Country
On Tuesday of Week 5, 16 students from Stella Maris attended the Wollongong Diocesan selection trials at the Illawarra Criterium Track, Unanderra. After a string of bad weather, the original event scheduled to be held at Willandra was cancelled and replaced by a selection trial showcasing a handful of the Catholic region's best distance runners. It was a very difficult day and course due to the strong winds but the students showed excellent grit and determination to put their best efforts out on the track.
Congratulations to Mahli Creighton, Banksii Spencer, Quinn Beaton, Pearl Coelho and Lola Jimenez who finished in the top 8 in their age group events and have now been selected in the Wollongong Diocesan team. We wish them well as they take to the Sydney Equestrian Centre for the Mackillop trials on the 11th of June. A full list of results can be found below:
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Girls |
Boys |
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Age |
Name |
Place |
Age |
Name |
Place |
|
|
U8/9 Girls |
Banksii S |
4th |
U8/9 Boys |
Liam D |
17th |
|
|
Quinn B |
5th |
U10 Boys |
Leo J |
9th |
||
|
Mahli C |
6th |
Casey S |
21st |
|||
|
U10 Girls |
Mia B |
23rd |
U11 Boys |
Oscar C |
26th |
|
|
U11 Girls |
Lola J |
2nd |
Harry K |
25th |
||
|
Pearl C |
4th |
U12 Boys |
Carter C |
15th |
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|
U12 Girls |
Ivy P |
12th |
Spencer G |
21st |
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Ella S |
18th |
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Alani W |
21st |
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A big thanks also to Adele Coelho and Lauren Jimenez for all their behind the scenes work in organising training sessions for these students in the lead up to the event. For an individual sport, it was so nice to see the Stella Maris students get an opportunity to band together and support one another to become better.
Carnivals
Stella Maris Athletics Carnival 2025
The annual Stella Maris Athletics Carnival was held at the Myimbarr Athletics Centre and, despite the cool breeze in the air, the energy on the track was electric! Aikenhead House set the tone early with a powerful performance to take out the War Cries, sparking a day full of enthusiasm and school spirit.
Students competed with determination and pride, showcasing great sportsmanship and courage as they gave every event their all. From sprints to high jump and everything in between, there was no shortage of effort or excitement.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our incredible parent volunteers, the students and staff from Corpus Christi, the dedicated LILAC officials, and our hardworking school staff who ensured the day ran smoothly. Special thanks also to Big Pink Soft Serve and Nickerlicious Beans for keeping everyone fuelled and refreshed throughout the day — your presence added a fun and tasty touch to the carnival atmosphere.
Congratulations to all our Age Champions on their fantastic efforts, and a special shout-out to Mackillop House, who claimed the Overall House Trophy for 2025!
It was a proud day for Stella Maris, celebrating participation, perseverance, and team spirit.
Age Champions
8 Year Girls - Waverley Spencer
8 Year Boys - Charlie Cunningham
9 Year Girls - Maggie Herbert
9 Year Boys - Eden Mace
10 Year Girls - Mia Bailey
10 Year Boys - Casey Sanson
11 Year Girls - Anabella Condy
11 Year Boys - Harry Kenneally
12 Year Girls - Alani Waters
12 Year Boys - Davey McMullen
House Champions
- Mackillop - 2364
- Weatherall - 2363
- Aikenhead - 2039
- Smyth - 1070
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.
Upcoming Events
31st July - Disco
5th September - Father's Day Breakfast
5th September Father's Day Stall
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 are able to 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.
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
Recently, the Cohen and Thompson families competed in Rounds 3 & 4 of the Auscycling BMX National Series, delivering impressive performances!
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Indie showcased great skill, finishing 7th in 20-inch & 5th in cruiser on Day 1, and 9th & 5th on Day 2—an excellent effort!
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Ace Cohen raced consistently, securing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes across multiple heats.
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Luke also put in a strong performance, riding well throughout the competition.
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Unfortunately, Joel had a setback, crashing in practice and injuring his wrist. We wish him a speedy recovery!
Congratulations to all riders from both families for their dedication and achievements!
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
