October is the month of the Rosary, a Catholic devotional prayer associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Rosary is the story of the New Testament. Each decade is recited in honour of a Mystery in Our Lord’s Life and that of His Blessed Mother. The Church asks us to regularly pray the Rosary, as our prayers made in union with Mary, can obtain the great gift of conversion of hearts and peace throughout the world. 

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It is great to return to school this term after having another Lockdown holiday.

The pleasant weather and eased gathering restrictions encouraged families to spend time outdoors, bike riding, walking and exercising their family dogs. Many people even braved the 17 degree water temperature without wetsuits! It was nice to re-connect with staff and a small number of children onsite and we are all looking forward to re-building community in the coming weeks at Stella Maris.

TRANSITION BACK TO SCHOOL

You would be aware that the NSW Premier, Mr Perrottet, announced a new school roadmap, which brings forward the student return to school by a week. It outlines when students will be able to safely return to school for face-to-face learning in a COVID-safe way is as follows:

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL ARRANGEMENTS

As previously mentioned the school will be operating under Level 3 restrictions. We have been asked to continue to restrict the number of visitors on site and from 18 October, adults at school, whether staff or visitors, are required to be double- vaxed. We also need to try to limit the number of people gathering before and after school and as a result, the following procedures will be put in place:

MORNING DROP OFF

Where possible parents are asked to take their children to school via car, using the Wilson Street Drop Off area. In order to prevent everyone arriving and gathering at once, we request that parents try to keep to times as listed below:

8-8.10am: Families with surnames between A-G

8.10-8.20am: Families with surnames between H-N

8.20-8.30am: Families with surnames between O-Z.

When the children arrive they will be directed to put their bags on class lines and move to the following areas:

Top Court: Years 5 & 6

Middle Court:Years 3 & 4

Basketball Court: Years 1 & 2

COLA: Kindergarten.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL

As per the morning arrangements, we are attempting staggered pick-up times using the three-gate system. Parents are asked to report to one of the gates at specific times, where school staff will assist in the collection of children, who will be waiting on the school courts.

GATE 1: WENTWORTH STREET: (A-G)

2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between A-C

2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between D-G.

GATE 2: CHURCH GATE: (H-N)

2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between H-L

2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between M-N.

GATE 3: BOTTOM WILSON STREET GATE: (O-Z)

2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between O-S

2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between T-Z.

It would be extremely helpful if parents could support the school by following these arrangements as they will greatly assist in controlling numbers and help keep our students safe. I also ask parents to physically distance and to wear a mask whilst waiting at these gates.

TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN 2022

The transition to school process for next year’s Kindergarten children will be quite limited due to the ongoing restrictions. Once again this year we are unable to conduct the playgroup sessions. We are, however, hoping to conduct two orientation mornings, preceded by an information session for parents via Zoom. The proposed dates and times are:

WEEK  6: Friday 12 November 9-11am: Parent Information Session via Zoom

WEEK 7: Friday 19 November: 9.15-11.15am: Kinder Orientation Session One

WEEK 8: Friday 26 November: 9.15-11.15am: Kinder Orientation Session One.

(PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE SESSIONS ARE DEPENDENT ON RESTRICTIONS BEING EASED.)          

MISSION MONTH

Stella Maris has always been known as a generous community and over the years a great deal of money has been raised during October, which is the Month of the Missions. I would like to thank our families for supporting this year’s fundraiser, Socktober to raise funds for under-priveleged children in Thailand.Please use the following link to donate:

https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/stellamariscatholicprimaryschool

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School photos have been re-scheduled and will now take place on Tuesday 16 November. Further information will be sent out once it is available.

This Sunday’s Gospel

Mk 10:35-45

Whoever aspires to greatness must serve the rest.

All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour

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

19 College Ave, Shellharbour City

MASS ONLINE WITH FR JOE

Watch Mass with Fr Joe live each weekday at 7:30am on the Parish Facebook page

facebook.com/All Saints Catholic  Parish Shellharbour City 

…remember to ‘like’ and ‘share’ & on Sunday morning at 9:00am on the Parish YouTube channel. The YouTube channel is new, so, got to YouTube and search for ‘all saints catholic parish shellharbour city’ and ‘subscribe’, ‘like’, ‘share’ and ‘comment’! Fr Joe would love to hear from you.

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.

SOCKTOBER, MISSION MONTH FUNDRAISER

I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing break. I wanted to reach out with a special message of encouragement on the second week of World Mission Month.

Fittingly, Socktober began on the Feast of St Therese of Lisieux, the patron saint of Missions. While it is still a concerning time for many around Australia, including in Wollongong, I trust you share my sense of hope that October brings, with higher vaccination rates and road maps aimed at returning to some normality.

With that in mind, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of Pope Francis’ call to action this World Mission Month, inspired by Acts 4:20: “We cannot help but proclaim and share what we have seen and heard.”

While the pandemic has again played havoc with our plans, please spare a thought for vulnerable children and women in Thailand who are holding out for good news. For women like Samorn* in Bangkok, the care provided by our partners, the Good Shepherd Sisters, has been life-changing. For the first time, she has been able to work, knowing her son Kusa* is safe and cared for at the Sisters’ Kindergarten and receiving the kind of early education that will set him up for a much better life.

 Even though Covid has shut the kindergarten temporarily, the Sisters are stoically continuing their outreach to these vulnerable families to prevent them from slipping through the cracks. Without the safety nets that we enjoy here in Australia, such an outcome might be catastrophic.

Because of the Covid lockdown of the kindergarten, the Sisters need our support now more than ever to protect vulnerable women and children.

Together, this is our mission through Socktober; and it’s easy for you and your children to be a part of it.

At school, the children will be taking part in a Socktober event and through Remote Learning they have already started learning about the nutritional, medical and educational needs of the children in Thailand.  The Socktober event will involve students shooting penalty goals with their sockball (which they will make during Religious Education lessons either remotely or in class) against their class teachers.  For each goal scored the school will donate $1 to the Mission.  Unfortunately, due to restrictions we will not be able to have family and friends at the event, which will now occur during class sport around week 4.

We encourage you to please share the fundraising page with friends and family so that together we can donate to this worthy cause.

Please use the following link to donate:

https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/stellamariscatholicprimaryschool

 Thank you to those of you who have already donated, supporting our school in Socktober!

The Most Holy Rosary

The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. This is primarily due to the fact that the liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. Students in all classes at Stella Maris will pray the Rosary during this month.

Confirmation | Shellharbour City Parish | Retreat and Sacrament NEW DATES

The rescheduled dates for the Retreat and Sacrament are as follows:

3rd December 2021          Retreat/preparation day 9 am-1:30 pm

Saturday 4th December 2021        Confirmation Mass at 11 am

Sunday 5th December 2021 Confirmation Mass at 11 am

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

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.

School Travel for 2022

2022 school travel applications are now open.
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. 

Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year
or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel
entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. T

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade the system will
automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not
meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to
expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass)
for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal
address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022. 

School Student Transport Scheme site change
On 1 October 2021 the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) information
and application portal was moved to transportnsw.info. This will assist families
to find all their travel information in the one place.

Travel from Term 1 2022

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel, a School Opal card or a School Travel Pass, from the start of the school year.

Applications for the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) open at the start of Term 4 2021 for travel in 2022, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

We recognise that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean
they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel on a
Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Please also remember that students using Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line
with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.

Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/school-travel