Dear Parents and Carers,
On Sunday we celebrate the feast day of Australia’s first saint, Mary of the Cross Mackillop. Mary was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1842. Her life was never easy, her path continually beset with obstacles, but Mary was courageous and trusted in God to see her through the difficult times. Her vocation was to open and run Catholic schools in Southern Australia. She became foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the order opened many of our Wollongong Diocesan schools in the 1800s/1900s.

REMOTE LEARNING

The current period of remote learning has been extended until the end of Week 7 (Friday 28 August). We need to touch base with students each day for attendance and assessment purposes so if teachers do not hear from individual children they will be marked as absent. Stella Maris continues to fall in the Level 4 category for schools, which means parents are asked to keep students at home to engage in remote learning, however we are still open for families who absolutely need to send their children to school for work or other reasons, which have been previously discussed with the Principal or class teacher. As we are abiding with government and systemic directives, we are currently operating with only four teachers on site leading mixed-age groups so we appreciate your cooperation in keeping student numbers as manageable as possible. All non-core curriculum related activities have currently ceased, as have canteen/uniform services and P & F Meetings.

THANK YOU

Our staff has been touched by the many messages of support we have received from parents, along with donations of cakes, coffees and gift baskets. It is always pleasing to know that our work and efforts are acknowledged

 and appreciated.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

Parents are reminded to contact me at school if I can be of any assistance to help you through these troubling times. I am extremely conscious that some families
are experiencing significant hardship in so many ways. I am also aware that children may be struggling and worried about the health of a loved one or even the disconnection they are experiencing from extended family members such as grandparents or elderly relatives.

ZOOM ASSEMBLIES

With no face-to-face assemblies being conducted at the moment parents and children learning from home are invited to tune into our Friday morning Zoom Assemblies, which occur at 9am. The code from tomorrow will be 955 491 655 and the password is sms.

CONDOLENCES

We recently learnt that Sister Kathleen Munce, the foundation Principal of Stella Maris in 1958, passed away in Brisbane last week. Known to the students and parents as Sister Mary Regina, she was instrumental in developing the school into the wonderful community-minded school it is today. We thank Sister Kathleen for her leadership, together with all Sisters of Charity and we pass on our condolences to her family and friends. Her funeral was held today in Queensland via live stream.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS 

This Sunday’s Gospel

Mt 6:25-34

Jesus tells us not to worry.

All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour

Mass times: All Saints Church - All Masses have been cancelled till further notice.

Please visit the online Masses @allsaintsshellharbourcity 

19 College Ave, Shellharbour City

Mass at Stella Maris has been put on hold until we have further information.  Any missed masses will be rescheduled later on in Term 4.

Year 2 Blue Week 5 - 10 August TBC

Whole School Mass under the COLA - Week 6 - 17 August TBC

Year 6 Blue Week 7 - 24 August TBC

Year 5 Gold Week 8 - 31 August TBC

Year 5 Blue Week 9 - 7 September TBC

Year 4 Gold Week 10 - 14 September TBC

Family Week 8 – 14 August 2021

This year we are celebrating 200 years of Catholic education in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.

Parents and carers are the primary educators of their children, and as crucial partners in each student’s learning journey. To recognise the significant contribution families have made to the foundation, growth and continuity of Catholic schools in Australia over 200 years, a Family Week will be celebrated nationally from 8 August 2021 - 14 August 2021.

The week coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Here is our prayer for you!

Sunday 8 August marks the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint who was born in Australia to poor Scottish immigrants. When she was 14, MacKillop began working, and she was often her family’s main source of support. In 1860, she moved to the small rural town of Penola to serve as governess for the children of her aunt and uncle. There MacKillop provided her cousins with a basic education and soon extended this to the poor children of the town. 

A young priest, Father Julian Tenison Woods, encouraged her to continue this work, assuring her that educating the poor would be an ideal way to serve God.  In 1866, MacKillop and Woods founded Australia’s first order of nuns, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and also established St. Joseph’s School in a converted stable in Penola, providing free education to children from the area. In 1867, MacKillop took vows and became the first mother superior of the sisters. The following year, the sisters opened schools in other Australian cities, as well as an orphanage and a refuge for women.

Let us pray to Saint Mary MacKillop, 

Ever generous God, 

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop 

To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and constant in 

bringing hope and encouragement 

to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy. 

With confidence in your generous providence and through the 

intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop 

We ask that you grant our request to keep safe at these times.

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so 

that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness. 

Ever generous God hear our prayer. 

We ask this through Jesus Christ. 

Amen. 

Mary MacKillop 

Amen.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

On 9 August each year we celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. We give thanks for the sacredness of the traditions and cultures of our Indigenous sisters and brothers, whom through their example have enlightened our way to walk gently upon this earth which our Creator has gifted us.

As we go forth with grateful hearts thanking God for the blessings we enjoy we pray together

our Walk As One Prayer...

Confirmation | Shellharbour City Parish | 29 August 2021 

As you may have anticipated due to the current ‘lockdown’ both the programmed upcoming Retreat/Preparation Day and Confirmation Day for this year’s Confirmation candidates have been cancelled and rescheduled. The rescheduled dates are as follows:

Friday, 20 August          Retreat/preparation day To Be Rescheduled

Sunday, 29 August          Confirmation Masses at 11 am and 2 pm TBC

We will be utilising the time preferences for Confirmation previously supplied. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to ask.

…………………………………………………………………………………...………………......

God Bless and Keep Safe

Alicia Sanchez-Levine

Religious Education Coordinator

This year our Book Week Parade will be conducted via a virtual platform for those who wish to participate.  As a result and given the current situation, there will be no dressing up or book parade at school.

What parents/carers will need to do:

Take a photo or 5 second video (in landscape orientation) of your child or children dressed in a character costume holding the book. If you do not have the book then a sign that includes the character and the title of the book will suffice. Please do not go to great expense in hiring/purchasing costumes.

Please post the photo or the video to this link:

https://forms.gle/xjSmHgc5sy2FCexm9

Due Date: 26 August

Students may wear their costumes for their Zoom or class meeting on 26th August.

A video will be compiled and given to your child's teacher to share with you on SEESAW/Class Dojo/ Google Classroom. etc. It will also be posted on our social media pages. Unfortunately, if we do not have Social Media permission for your child/children they will not be in this video.

If you have any questions please email the school office on info@smsdow.catholic.edu.au with Book Parade in the Subject field so that the office staff can redirect the emails to me.

Canteen News

Unfortunately, at this time, our canteen is not permitted to open.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.