Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, a day which begins the season of Lent, a period of forty days before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together like the people of the Old Testament to remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and need to ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, and to have a change of heart, so that we can live in right relationship with God and each other. Ashes were sprinkled on our heads and we were asked to:
Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Fasting reminds us that food alone cannot make us happy. We must also be fed with prayer, with God’s Word and by meeting Jesus in the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation (Confession) and Eucharist (the Mass). The small sacrifices we make during Lent make room in our hearts to welcome the risen Jesus at Easter.
ASH WEDNESDAY MASS
Unfortunately, due to the weather Father Joe was unable to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass with us yesterday. Our younger children were able to participate in an Ash Wednesdsay Liturgy, which will prepare them for the Lenten season.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
This week is Catholic Schools Week. It is a national celebration of Catholic Education and an opportunity to recognise the importance, the value, and the contributions of Catholic Education to the Church and the world. Due to the steady number of positive Covid-19 cases at school, we will schedule open classrooms for later in the year during Foundation Day and Grandparents’ Day.
PENANCE WORKSHOPS
The Penance Workshops have continued at school, in preparation for the children’s First Reconciliation in Week 8. Thank you to the staff who have volunteered their time to lead the workshops.
PROJECT COMPASSION VIRTUAL LAUNCH
On Tuesday, Year 5 and 6 students participated in the virtual launch of Project Compassion 2021, “For All Future Generations.” This fundraising project is organised by Caritas and encourages us to donate to help various groups around the world who experience great poverty. It is good to encourage your children to put some of their pocket money into the Project Compassion boxes, located in classrooms.
PRINCIPAL’S RENEWAL LEAVE
I will be taking four week’s Principal’s Renewal Leave commencing Monday 14 March and returning at the commencement of Term 2, Tuesday 26 April. In my absence Miss Angela Crandell will be Acting Principal. The purpose of the leave is to undertake professional learning, which will deepen my knowledge and commitment to my role as a leader of a Catholic School Community. I will firstly be travelling to Uluru to participate in a number of Aboriginal cultural and spiritual experiences. This is extremely relevant as this year we have the largest number of students from an Aboriginal background at Stella Maris (28). I will then be undertaking a pilgrimage, “Travelling in the Footsteps of Mary Mackillop,” which explores significant places and times in the life of Australia’s only Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop, who was instrumental in opening Catholic Schools in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. This tour commences from Mary’s birthplace, Fitzroy in Melbourne and concludes where the first Catholic School was opened in Penola South Australia.
REGIONAL SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Due to the persistent heavy rain, the Regional Swimming Carnival, set down for Monday 7 March has been cancelled.
In it's place will be Selection Trials on Monday 14 March and students who are eligible need to meet a qualifying time for each event. A letter will be sent out to parents of the original swim team today indicating which students will be participating at the Selection Trials
SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
The Stella Maris School Cross Country Carnival will be held at Keith Hockey Oval, Shellharbour, next Thursday 10 March, weather permitting. An information note was sent out yesterday via Compass.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Maya Huetter who was selected in the Diocesan Girls Cricket Team this week.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
This Sunday’s Gospel
Jesus is tempted in the desert.
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
Unfortunately, at this time, we will not be celebrating class Masses with students at Stella Maris.
The Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation)
Reconciliation Workshops continue at Stella Maris 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 support their children in these experiences.
This weekend the 6 and 7 March, parents will be advised of the 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. 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 make a confession with their children. Please allow 15 minutes after Mass.
Next weekend the 13 and 14 March, parents will be advised of the day and time of their ceremony. The celebration of Reconciliation will take place the week commencing the 14 March. Allow about 75 minutes. Parents and elder brothers and sisters of the candidates are also encouraged to celebrate the Sacrament. The sacrament will be celebrated in groups of about 50 with about 5 priests in attendance (subject to Covid-19 conditions).
If there are any questions related to any of the Sacraments, please contact the parish office via email shellharbourcity@dow.org.au
Lent, Project Compassion & Catholic Schools Week
We began Lent this week, anticipating 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.
As part of Catholic Schools Week, on Tuesday, Stella Maris’ Year 5 and 6 students attended the Virtual Project Compassion Launch from their own classrooms. It was a beautiful Liturgy leading us to raise awareness and funds - ‘For All Future Generations.’
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.
Stella Maris’ vision as ‘a faith-filled, respectful community of learners’ engages us in our mission to ‘reverence the story of all people’ and as such lead us this year in Catholic Schools Week to begin raising funds to support all future generations, irrespective of where they come from. Our Year 6 Leaders of Fundraising will lead this year's Project Compassion campaign for the school.
God Bless
Alicia Sanchez-Levine
Religious Education Coordinator
Kindergarten 2023
Just a reminder that enrolments for 2023 are now open and will close at the end of Term 3 - 8 April 2022. Please complete an enrolment form, available from our website or from the school office, and drop it back to the school office, with all supporting documentation required, as soon as possible.
Please read the letter below regarding the procedures for taking leave during the school term.
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.
Just a friendly reminder to all school students and staff that masks are still mandatory on all public transport buses including school buses.
We understand that even though in recent times mask wearing mandates and restrictions have been easing, we wish to remind you that it is still mandatory on buses, at bus stops and interchanges such as train stations for students 12 and over.
Students under 12 are still encouraged to wear face masks but it is not mandatory.
These restrictions are still in place under the public health act and we ask for the school communities support and assistance in maintaining this practice during this time.
Premier Illawarra remains committed to the ongoing safety of the students and school community relying on our buses daily and we hope we can rely on your assistance in maintaining a safe environment while travelling on our buses.
Details relating to what is required can be found at the following links:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/advice-for-families
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules/face-mask-rules
If you have any questions or enquiries please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We thank you for your support in this matter.
Kind Regards,
P: 02 4271 1322