Filter Content
Catholic Schools Week
1-6 March 2021
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week, Stella Maris along with thirty-seven systemic Catholic Schools in the Wollongong Diocese are celebrating Catholic Schools Week, a time to highlight the diversity and uniqueness of Catholic Education.
Inspired by the person and spirit of Jesus, Catholic Schools are called to be signs of God's love and hope in the world. The schools are vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning, providing quality education and opportunity, and supporting every child to find meaning and purpose in their life.
The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2021 is 'Faith in the Future.' which blends in beautifully with our own school Vision Statement of “We are a faith-filled, respectful community of learners.”
Thank you, Jesus, for the blessing of our Parish, Father Joe and Catholic School supporters that make our school a dynamic place of faith and learning. We are grateful for the long tradition of committed Catholics, especially the Sisters of Charity, who began Stella Maris and nurtured our community throughout the years. Help us to follow their example of service and generosity as we carry on their mission to bring the love of Jesus to our children and to each other.
We ask this prayer in your name.
AMEN.
Normally we would invite parents, carers and grandparents to events during Catholic Schools Week, however given that we continue to be dictated by COVID-19 restrictions, we have been unable to do that this year. We thank everyone for their patience and tolerance and we look forward to opening our gates once again on a larger scale to all members of our community.
PROJECT COMPASSION MUFTI DAY
Due to current restrictions around Covid-19 we are unable to run a cake stall for Project Compassion this year, so Mini Vinnies had to get creative!
Students are being asked to give a gold coin donation to dress wearing one of the colours depicted on the 'THANK YOU' Project Compassion poster below: white, blue and yellow or a combination of these colours.
Thank you for your generosity.
OPEN DAY SCHOOL TOURS
Yesterday was the first of three Open Days, where our Year 6 student leaders take prospective Kindergarten 2022 students and their parents on guided tours of the school. Interest in sending children to Stella Maris is at an all time high at the momen
t with our school enjoying an outstanding reputation in the local community, especially with pre-schools in the area. Yesterday’s visitors were extremely impressed with the Year 6 children commenting on their obvious pride and enthusiasm for their school. Enrolments are currently open and we encourage parents and carers to submit their applications by the end of term ( 31 March).
NAPLAN ONLINE
After a year’s absence, NAPLAN Online will re-commence this year for students in Years 3 and 5. The children will be involved in practice tests towards the end of this term with the formal testing window running from 11-21 May. The children will have the opportunity to prepare for the tests with their class teachers in the coming weeks.
REPRESENTATIVE SPORT
We are all extremely proud of Maya Hopkins on her selection in the Mackillop Girls Basketball Team. This is a huge achievement and honour for Maya as she prepares to participate in the NSW All Schools Carnival in Term 2. Well done Maya!SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL
The Stella Maris swimming Carnival was held on 18 February at Oak Flats Pool. Thank you to the parents who assisted on the day and helped make the carnival a success. Mrs Downing, Mrs Wright and other staff planned a successful carnival with many students enjoying earning points for their house. Congratulations to Aikenhead for winning the overall pointscore, their first victory in 21 years! Age Champions were:
Infants Boys: Olly Lachlan Infants Girls: Ellcie Harvey
Junior Boys: Peyton Gelfius Junior Girls: Siair Paillas
11 year Boys:Kobi Howard-Shilling 11 Year Girls: Matilda McDonnell
Senior Boys:Tyne McGregor & Ethan Brennan Senior Girls: Tahlia Muller.
A squad was selected to represent the school at the Regional carnival and t
he following children have now qualified for Monday’s Diocesan Selection Trials: Siair Paillas, Harper Beaton, Tane Te Nana, Kobi Howard-Shilling, Mason Jimenez, Harry Thomson. Congratulations to Siair and Kobi for placing third in the Diocesan Age Champion categories
Well done Children. We are all proud of your efforts and achievement.
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
We are all looking forward to the school’s Cross Country Carnival, which will be held at Keith Hockey Oval next Friday 12 March. Parents, carers and grandparents are invited to attend as spectators. The children will come to school as normal, then walk to the venue, ready for the first race at approximately 9.10am. Parents who have volunteered to help, will be notified on Monday, if they are required. Corpus Christi students will also be assisting as course marshals.
The carnival should conclude by noon, with the presentation assembly held at school at 1.55pm. Children who finish in the top three can have a parent present at this assembly. From the carnival, a train-on squad will be chosen to prepare for the Diocesan Carnival on 27 April.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
This Sunday’s Gospel
Jesus drives the money-changers from the temple.
All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour
Mass times: All Saints Church
19 College Ave, Shellharbour City
Saturday 5.00pm Vigil
Sunday 9.00am
5.00pm
Mass at Stella Maris
Years 5 & 6 Mass TBC
Years 3 & 4 Mass TBC
Years 1 & 2 Mass TBC
Reconciliation Workshops
Reconciliation Workshops continue in the Stella Maris Library and the Grealy Centre. Thank you to the teachers who have volunteered their time to lead these important sessions and the parents who continue to assist their children in these experiences.
First Reconciliation
After Mass this weekend, parents will be advised of details for the four ceremonies for First Reconciliation. Three ceremonies will be available for parents and other family members to go to confession with the children and there will be one ceremony for children only. Parents will need to indicate their preferences and will be highly encouraged to choose a ceremony in which they can also make a heartfelt confession with their children. First Reconciliation will occur during the week of the 15th-19th March.
Project Compassion
Lent has begun as we prepare for the joy of Resurrection at Easter. This time of preparation is one where we make an effort to consider others, to break down barriers and to support those who are on the margins. Stella Maris is currently raising funds for Project Compassion.
Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week began on the 1st March with a beautiful liturgy presented by Mrs Wright, Miss Sullivan and Year 4. The LIturgy was zoomed so that families would be able to join us.
The Catholic Schools Week theme for 2021 was ‘Faith in the Future’. This theme aligns with Catholic Education celebrating 200 years in Australia. This year marks the bicentenary of the first Catholic school being established in Parramatta in October 1820.
Mrs Alicia Sanchez-Levine REC
Stella Maris celebrated the beginning of Catholic Schools Week with a beautiful and reverent liturgy. Many parents were able to celebrate with us through Zoom.
NSW Premier's Reading Challenge
We are very proud of the fact that for the past six years, 100% of children from Kindergarten to Year 6 have successfully completed the Challenge. The Challenge aims to encourage students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and to enable students to experience quality literature. The Challenge also helps to develop essential learning habits: being organised, meeting deadlines, being accountable and taking responsibility for their reading. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
The Challenge is available for all children from Kindergarten to Year 6 and finishes in September. Kinder to Year 2 children need to read 30 books and Year 3 to Year 6 need to read 20 books to complete the Challenge. All students who successfully complete the Challenge will receive a Certificate and appear on the PRC Honour Roll.
ES1, and S1 will complete the challenge with books read to them during Library lessons. Year 3 to Year 6 students will receive User IDs and passwords to enter books online that they have read.
If you would like to view the PRC list there is a link our Oliver home page
oliver.dow.catholic.edu.au/sms
Thank you for your support.
At previous ceremonies, Shellharbour Council has invited local schools to participate in the wreath laying ceremony.
Unfortunately, due to COVID safe restrictions, they are required to reduce the numbers of people who attend the event in 2021. For this reason we are sad to inform you that schools will not be invited to be part of the ceremony. The laying of wreaths will be restricted to veterans, support agencies, cadets, emergency services and government officials, however, Shellharbour Council will be live streaming the event and information of this will be on their Facebook page and website nearer the time.
Get ready for The Big Vegie Crunch!
On Thursday 18 March at 10am our school will be joining hundreds of schools across NSW to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables simultaneously.
But we need your help to make it a success!
On Thursday 18 March, please pack your child a container of vegetables (not fruit this time) for them to crunch on.
Need some ideas?
- carrot, celery, cucumber – cut into sticks or left whole
- capsicum – cut into sticks or wedges
- corn – raw baby corn spears or a cooked corn cob
- broccoli or cauliflower florets - raw or lightly cooked to keep their crunch
- tomatoes – small cherry tomatoes or a large tomato that can be eaten like an apple
- beans or snow peas - raw or lightly cooked to keep their crunch
- mushrooms – sliced or left whole
- if fresh veg isn’t possible, try canned or frozen vegetables instead
If you require more information on The Big Vegie Crunch, please contact your child’s teacher.
Kim Downing, Vegetable Week School 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.