Filter Content
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On Sunday we commence the liturgical season of Advent. This is a time of expectancy – where we prepare with joy in our hearts for the coming of Christ. The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting by Israelites for the birth of the Messiah, and the waiting by Christians for the return of Christ.
During Advent we recall the history of God's people and reflect on how the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament were fulfilled. The primary sanctuary colour of Advent is Purple. This is the colour of penitence and fasting as well as the colour of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King.
The first candle of the Advent wreath will be lit on Sunday. This candle, called the Prophecy Candle, reminds us that Jesus’ coming was prophesied hundreds of years before He was born. I would encourage parents to take time to speak to their children about how they are preparing for Christmas in terms of prayer and acts of service. Perhaps a time could be set aside for family prayer or a family Advent calendar could be created.
Gracious God,
Send us your grace this Advent Season so that we can prepare for your coming.
Touch our hearts with longing so that we can better love and serve you and each other. Fill us with the hope that we can be transformed by your Spirit and so help transform the world.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus whose kingdom we seek.
Amen.
FIRST COMMUNION
Congratulations to the students who received Jesus for the first time in the Blessed Eucharist at Parish Masses last weekend. It is a special moment in the Catholic faith lives of these children as well as being an important occasion to celebrate as a family unit. Thank you to Father Joe for celebrating the Masses with us.
CONFIRMATION
Congratulations to the Year 6 children who received the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation this week in our parish. This important sacrament is linked to Baptism as it confirms the individual’s decision to belong to the Church and to give witness to God. Well done children!
STAFF NEWS
Next week, a list of the Stella Maris staff for 2021 will be published via Compass. This will include the classes teachers we will be having next year. As always I ask parents that unless there is an extenuating circumstance please do not request specific teachers or splits between children. The process of forming classes for the following year is done with due diligence and grade partners and I meet to consider factors including students’ academic, social, behavioural and other needs.
STAFF LEAVE
The Stella Maris community wishes our Kindergarten Blue teacher, Mrs Elise Thompson and her husband Tim, all the very best as she prepares to take parental leave ahead of the birth of her baby early in the new year. In her absence, Mrs Maryanne Heddles will be teaching KB from Week 9, Monday 7 December.
MORNING ARRIVAL
With the re-commencement of morning whole-school assemblies this week, could I please ask parents to ensure that children arrive and are on the school grounds at 8.25am, ready to line up under the COLA when the first bell goes at 8.27am. The gates will be closed at 8.30am promptly and parents who arrive after that time are asked to park and bring the children to the front office to sign in.
CAPTAIN SPEECHES
Next Tuesday 1 December, students in Year 5 will deliver their speeches as part of the selection process for the important leadership positions of school and sports captains for the 2021 school year. These will be held under the COLA however due to current restrictions, parents and grandparents unfortunately are not able to join us. The School Captains speeches will commence at 11am, followed by the Sports Captain speeches. Students in Years 3, 4 & 5 will listen to the speeches before voting for a candidate. The school staff votes as well and Father Joe is consulted before the successful students are announced in Week 9.
SPORTS NEWS
Congratulations to Jack Broadhead and Maya Hopkins (basketball) on their selection in 2021 Wollongong Diocesan teams. Well done children!
SRI 2021
In 2021, the school will be focusing on four main areas of improvement:
Dimension 1 : Mission and Catholicity: 1.7- Ecological Conversion and Sustainability are witnessed in the day-to-day life of the educating community. (Implementing a school-wide approach to environmental practices).
Dimension 2: Learning and Teaching: 2.1- Students achieve and perform to their potential.(Continuing to improve students’ mathematical ability and problem solving in Years 4,5 & 6).
Dimension 2: Learning and Teaching: 2.7- Students have a significant voice in their own learning environment. (Supporting students to set and achieve goals in literacy & numeracy)
Dimension 3: People and Culture: 3.2- The well-being needs of students and staff are identified and effectively addressed. (Implementing Social and Emotional Learning across the school).
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
We know not the hour the Lord will come.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
Stay awake! You never know when the Lord will come.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC PARISH
Please see the Parish Bulletin for all updated Parish Mass Times and Sacramental Information.
ADVENT
This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent.
Advent is a period of preparation extending over the four Sundays before Christmas.
It is the season of the Church that precedes Christmas. During this season, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Christmas Mufti Day - December 3, 2020
Every year at this time the Stella Maris Community generously donates a range of goods to assist the St Vincent De Paul Society with Christmas Hampers for the less fortunate. Unfortunately, due to COVID regulations we are unable to collect goods for hampers.
This year the St Vincent De Paul Society is asking for our assistance by way of monetary donations. We will be having a ‘Christmas Mufti Day’ on the 3rd December to raise money to support this appeal.
SACRAMENTS
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
We congratulate all the students from Stella Maris who received their First Holy Communion last weekend and thank the Year 3 teachers for their preparation.
CONFIRMATION
We congratulate all students on receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation over the course of this week. Thank you to the Year 6 teachers for their preparation of the students.
We thank Father Joe for the beautiful Masses and Liturgies to celebrate these very special occasions.
Julie Hopkins, Acting Religious Education Coordinator
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.
As a school, we run a 1-1 iPad program using BYOP iPad for years 5 and 6. Students who are currently in Year 4, will need to bring their own device to school for the start of the 2021 school year. The Catholid Education Office work closely with Educomit who provide reduced cost on devices students require for school. The following flyer gives two possible options that would be suitable for Year 5 students 2021.
