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Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, the greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family’s strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.
Mary, Mother of all the living, keep grandparents constantly in your care. Accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage and by your prayers, grant that all families may one day be re-united in our heavenly homeland, where you await all humanity for the great embrace of life without end.
AMEN
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
One of the highlights of our annual school calendar is Grandparents’ Day. Last Friday we were graced with the presence of over two hundred visitors, many of whom travelled considerable distances to join us. The day commenced with class visits which were well received and some rooms were full to overflowing. Many nans and pops were able to stay and have lunch with their grandchildren and you could see smiling faces and hear lots of laughter. The day concluded with a beautiful prayer service, with one of the highlights being children sharing their favourite memories of their nans and pops. I would like to thank our staff for being so welcoming and helping in so many ways. It was a great day and it was a perfect example of what a vibrant and happy school community we have here at Stella.
WELCOME BACK
I would like to welcome all our students, parents and staff back after what I hope was a relaxing, fun-filled holiday. I’m sure the cinemas were well attended, especially throughout the second week as people turned to indoor activities in an attempt to escape the bitterly cold winds. We all look forward to a busy, yet fulfilling term.
COMPASS
This term, Stella Maris has started to use the Compass School Management System. Compass is a student information system that will allow you to access up-to-date and meaningful information about our school and your child’s progress.
Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:
Monitor your child’s attendance, and enter an explanation for absence or lateness
- Communicate with your child’s teachers, and update your family contact details
- View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
- Download and view your child’s progress and semester reports
- Book parent-teacher conferences
- Pay and provide consent for events and school fees.
Compass is a web-based system that is accessible on any modern web browser or by using the Compass iOS or Android apps.
On Wednesday 14 August (Week 4), parents will receive a letter, which will contain their Compass Login Details. This will be followed by two parent workshops in the school library, facilitated by Catholic Education Office Staff on Monday 19 August (Week 5). One will be held for parents who pick up their children from 2.15-2.45pm and the other, just before the P & F Meeting from 5.45-6.25pm. These workshops will greatly assist parents in effectively using the Compass App. From Week 5, the current Skoolbag App will no longer be in use at the school because it will be replaced by Compass, which acts as a “one-stop shop”.
One change that we have put in place already using Compass is to send SMS Notifications to parents if their child is absent. This has been well received by our parent body and we all look forward to learning the full potential of this school management system.
CLASS OF TERM 2
Congratulations to Kindergarten Gold, our Class of Term Two. They were rewarded today with the Triple P- The Principal’s Pizza Party. Well done children!
CANTEEN REFURBISHMENT
Our canteen refurbishment is now complete, with new benchtops, ovens and a freezer. It looks fantastic and will enable Mrs Harrison and her helpers to work in a modern kitchen facility. A big thank you to our P & F Association for funding this project. It is certainly money well spent, which will benefit the current and future students of Stella Maris.
WORKING BEE
The P & F are organising a Working Bee on Friday 16 August from 3-5pm. The major focus will be on the disposal of rubbish into a skip bin so lots of help is needed.
SEMESTER ONE SUPER STUDENT
Last year we introduced a reward incentive each semester, which involved drawing a student’s name out for a family prize. Every student who did not receive a behavioural recording went into this draw and the lucky Semester One Super Student is Isla Jennett. The prize this semester is a family movie pass. Well done Isla! 
DIOCESAN SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Next year, the Wollongong Diocesan Social Media Policy will be implemented in all schools. Starting this term, we will inform parents of aspects of this policy and general information on how to keep our children safe in the online world. This will occur in newsletters. I will include tips for parents to support them in implementing practices at home that will help ensure that our students are not only using social media responsibly, but are also aware of issues that can arise. We will also hold a couple of brief workshops before pick-up in Term Four outlining key features of the Diocesan Policy.
THANK YOU FROM MINI VINNIES
We are delighted to let you know that the recent Vinnies Winter Appeal was a huge success. The total donations came to 683; with clothing making up 116 of that number, and food items came to 567. They will now share an afternoon of Munch and Mingle with the Mini Vinnies group, down by the sea on a date to be decided.
We at Mini Vinnies would like to thank everyone in the Stella Maris community for your generous donations for this year’s Winter Appeal, and we know that the Vinnies stores at Oak Flats and Warilla will be echoing our thoughts as well.
Milly Dimovski 5 Gold (Mini Vinnies’ Secretary)
STUDENT TEACHERS
This term we welcome two Notre Dame University students who are completing their third/fourth year professional experience sessions at Stella Maris, commencing this week. Miss Gabrielle Rosandic (Year 3 Blue) and Mr Nikolas Sajdovski (Year 1 Gold) are working with the classroom teachers in preparing educational programs and generally supporting the students to improve their learning. We also have Brooke McMahon (Curtin University) supporting Mrs Caires and Mrs Hanns on 2 Blue.
In August we also welcome two UOW students Taylor Weule (Kinder Gold) and Grace Sullivan (Year 1 Blue) for a professional experience block. We know that everyone will make all these aspiring teachers feel most welcome.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
This Sunday’s Gospel,
Lk 12:13-21
Parable of the rich man with a good harvest.
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)
Confirmation & Life
Last Tuesday 23rd July the Year 6 students who will be confirmed this September commenced the Confirmation & Life Program at All Saints Church.
The next session of the program is on the 6th August at 7:00pm.
Thank you to all the Parents, Grandparents and friends who attended our NAIDOC Week Liturgy and our Grandparents Day last week.
It was wonderful to see so many people sharing in these special events with us.
Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian
Year 6 travelled to Ss Peter and Paul’s Kiama to celebrate Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord on Tuesday 30th July. They were joined by students from other schools in our southern cluster.
It proved a memorable experience for the students and a wonderful opportunity to mix with the children from our neighbouring schools.
Year 2
Reflecting God’s Goodness
This term in Year 2 students will be reflecting on God’s goodness. They will be exploring the concept of living as a follower of Jesus and introduced to Jesus’ commandment to love others as Jesus loved us.
The children will draw on their knowledge of stories about Jesus and of their experience of people who reflect God’s love. They will look at Saints as ordinary people who reflected God’s goodness to the world and brought God’s love to others.
Julie Hopkins
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
This week we had some sad news on the passing of Mrs Carolyn Brown, wife of Mr Peter Brown, after a long battle with illness. Peter was a member of staff here at Stella Maris for over 20 years. Carolyn's funeral will be held tomorrow at 11am at Ss Peter and Paul's in Kiama. Our prayers go to Peter and his family at this sad time.
Congratulations to the following children who are receiving Gold Awards:
1B - Grace Griffiths, Alanah Toskoski
Book Week Parade: Thursday 22 August
Theme: READING IS MY SECRET POWER Time: 9am – 10.30am
All welcome
BYO chair or picnic rug to sit on the middle court, behind the grass strip.
Students can come to school dressed up as per the theme or as a book character. We do ask that costumes be age appropriate and not ones that may frighten our younger students (for example characters from Goosebumps etc). Please, no props such as skateboards, scooters, surfboards, or toy weapons.
Ideas for Book Week costumes:
https://www.familiesmagazine.com.au/childrens-book-week-costume-ideas/
https://www.tristanbancks.com/2019/03/book-week-2019.html
https://www.instagram.com/bookweekcostumes/?hl=en
As some students have PE on Thursday, they may need to bring a change of clothing or sports shoes and school hats. If you think that the costume might be uncomfortable for your child to wear all day they may also bring a change of clothes.
Over the next few weeks students will be completing activities in the Library with the Shortlisted books and these will be on display in the Library. If you would like to have a look at the shortlisted books we have most of the titles, here is the link:
https://www.cbca.org.au/shortlist-2019
You are most welcome to stay and have a picnic with your child/children at Recess.
Congratulations to Adella Hopkins for qualifying for the Mackillop Netball Teams, a huge achievement. She is competing this week in Orange in the PSSA Championships, we wish her good luck.
Offer letters were sent out at the end of last term for Kindergarten 2020. If you have not returned your acceptance of a place, could you please do so as soon as possible as we do have a waiting list.
Thank you for your assistance with this.