Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I hope all our families have a safe, relaxing Term 3 holiday filled with opportunities for rest, play and just having the time to enjoy each other’s company. I thank our students, staff and parents for working in partnership over the last ten weeks. Hopefully this beautiful springtime weather will enable us to venture outside and enjoy the many natural features that our local area has to offer.

NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

Parents and carers are reminded that due to the National Day of Mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, the school will be closed tomorrow, Thursday 22 September.

STAGE 3 CHRISTMAS STORY ART COMPETITION

Congratulations to the following students whose artworks have been selected for the 2022 Diocesan Christmas Story Art Competition:

Year 5: Peyton Gelfius, Isabel Scott, Aerin Ling

Year 6: Abbey Mansbridge, Noemi Branchi

After judging took place this week, Noemi Branchi's artwork was shortlisted for the awards night, which will be held at the Wollongong City Art Gallery from 5.00pm-7.00pm on Wednesday 12 October.  Congratulations Noemi.

LEGENDS LEAGUE DAY

The Catholic Legends Rugby League and League Tag Gala Day was held at Dapto last Thursday 15 September. Boys from Years 3-6 participated in Rugby League and girls from Yr 5 & 6 participated in League Tag. The day was facilitated well by the NRL and the students represented Stella Maris with great sportsmanship, team comradery and a huge physical effort. It was a fun day and a great experience for students who do not usually play Rugby League or League Tag, to have a go. A big thankyou to the many parents and staff who supported and managed the teams. It is so wonderful to be enjoying gala days again.

CATHOLICCARE COUNSELOR

I received the unexpected news last week that Bree Lord, our CatholicCare counselor for the last four years has taken a position with the Shepherd Centre and will be finishing at Stella Maris at the end of this week.  Our school community has really appreciated Bree's counselling and kind nature and she will be greatly missed.  Many families have received support and guidance from Bree and she built a close rapport with lots of students across the school.  We wish her well in all her future plans and endeavours.  We should be notified of a replacement after the holidays. 

PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

After the holidays students in Year 5 and 6 will participate in a school based competition in order to send school representatives to the Regional Final, which will be held at St John’s Dapto on Wednesday 26 October. Good luck to the children who will be preparing speeches in the coming weeks.

MACKILLOP ATHLETICS

Congratulations to the following children who represented the Wollongong Diocese at the Mackillop Trials held at Homebush today, Wednesday 21 September: Justin Lakeman, Mason Soligo, Isabella Clowes, Sidney Bartle, Reid Coelho, the Senior Boys Relay Team (Elijah Sim, Ryze Smith, Mason Soligo and Campbell Knox).  We look forward to hearing how they performed. 

STUDENT APPEARANCE

As we approach the Term Three holidays, I would like to thank parents and carers for ensuring that their children wear correct uniform on a daily basis. The standard of uniform at Stella Maris is very good and we all work together to continue this trend. Holidays are the ideal time for haircuts so please be mindful of school policy hence no shaved symbols or alternate styles such as mullets or mohawks. There has been an increasing trend of boys/girls having bangles/bands on their wrists. These are not a part of school uniform so as such they need to be left at home. The changeover to summer uniform officially starts on the first day of Term Four, Monday 10 October.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS 

This Sunday’s Gospel

Lk 16:19-31

Parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

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 

Grade Masses take place at our Stella Maris church on Tuesdays at 9:30am.  Parents, grandparents and carers are most welcome to attend.  Please find below a schedule of the Masses for next Term.

Week 1 - Yr 3 - 11 October

Week 2 - Yr 5 - 18 October

Week 3 - Kinder - 25 October

Week 5 - Yr 1 - 8 November

Week 6 - Yr 2 - 15 November

Week 7 - Yr 4 - 22 November

Week 8 - Yr 6 - 29 November

Join us for a Cuppa!

Additionally, we would like to invite parents, grandparents and carers to please join us for a cup of tea or coffee after Mass in the school staffroom.  Simply follow the students and Mrs Sanchez-Levine through the gates after Mass to join her, Mr Sykes, Fr Joe and Sr Kerry for a 30 minute informal gathering.

The Sacraments

Communion - Year 3 or Older 

Commitment Mass this weekend for children and parents at any of the Masses - Compulsory attendance required.  Prayer cards will be distributed.

At Masses on the 8/9 October, parents will be advised of the workshops to which they have been allocated.  If there are difficulties, please email the parish office requesting a change.

At the end of Masses on the 15/16 October, books will be distributed for the workshops which begin on Monday 17 October.  Families will also be able to select their preferred Mass time for First Holy Communion after these Masses 

If there are any questions related to any of the Sacraments, please contact the parish office via email shellharbourcity@dow.org.au

Praise Be! Living Our Ecological Conversion

On Monday 12 September, Stella Staff engaged in a Spirituality Day run by Beth Riolo from the CEDoW Catholic Life, Education Mission Team.  It was an inspiring opportunity for staff to hear creation’s song and contemplate the wonderful, glorious mystery of the world around us. More importantly, we were attentive to creation’s cry, becoming painfully aware of the ecological crisis.  Let us all respond with hope in action as we discern ways to care for our common home as individuals and as a community.

World Catholic Mission Month

The school captains Mae Bremner and Nash Lewis travelled with Mr Sykes to St Thomas More last week for the launch of World Mission Month. The theme again this year is Socktober.

This year our school is again participating in Socktober. We are partnering with Catholic Mission to invite our students to connect with young people experiencing challenges in the developing world through education and the world game of soccer. 

This year, our collective fundraising efforts will support vulnerable children in Ethiopia who are experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition. One example of what we are supporting is the Deberety Farm project in Emdibir, four hours from the capital, which aims to address these issues, primarily by raising goats that produce life-giving milk for infants who are most at risk. 

As a school, we can contribute in a special way, but only if all our stars jump onboard. I’d like to invite you to take a moment to sign your child/ren up for Socktober so they can join their friends and make a difference for children in need in Ethiopia. It takes only a few minutes. 

SIGN UP NOW https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/stellamariscatholicprimaryschool. 

The fundraising can be shared around by inviting family and friends to sponsor the goals your child/ren kick. Goals can be found in four pre-set Goal Packages after you sign up. Choose one package and work through the goals, or set your own goals at home. 

You’ll be asked to pick a fundraising target when you register. Whatever your child/ren raises towards this target can support the basic needs of vulnerable children in Ethiopia and around the world, such as food, clean water, healthcare, and education. You might choose from one of the targets below: 

$35 can help towards the construction of the shaded area for the goats at the Deberety Farm. 

$77 can help to cover the food, medicine and care for the farm animals for 2 weeks 

$135 can help to support the stipend of a caretaker for the goats for three months. 

$476 can help provide scholarships for two children at the Lideta Catholic Cathedral School in Addis Ababa 

In Term 4, we’ll have a chance to come together at our school’s Socktober Event Day, where the children will be able to literally kick goals for good during a Socktober Shootout. This is a fun and educational day, and you are invited to join us if you are able. We will keep you updated in school newsletters and emails throughout Term 4 as we continue to build momentum towards our Socktober Event Day.  Thank you for your support and for helping your child/ren kick goals for good. 

Activate

Last week, Year 6 students took part in Activate, a day of reflection where they were immersed in a Spiritual experience based on ‘Celebrating the Gift of the Holy Spirit’. This day was an opportunity for students to encounter Christ with students from neighbouring schools who they will be attending High School with next year. 

ACTIVATE was inclusive of all students regardless of their intention to receive the sacrament of Confirmation or their religious background.

SEASON OF CREATION 

We are in the Season of Creation and there are some wonderful activities and resources for families to delve into at https://seasonofcreation.org

Take the time as we move into Spring to pray, to plant, to recycle and enter into the awe and wonder we find in dwelling on and being in God’s creation.

WAYS FOR YOU TO REFLECT

• Watch the sun rise and set
• Step outside and look at the stars
• Have a digital device free day
• Read an article addressing environmental concerns
• Purchase less of what you need
• Be conscious of the water you use
• Pray for people who are victims and survivors of extreme weather events
• Take your family for a picnic

NSW Police would like to advise all school principals of the increased possession of gel guns by young people in NSW. These guns are illegal in NSW and are considered to be firearms.

If a student is found to have a gel gun they can be arrested and charged for possession of a firearm (under Section 36 (1) of the NSW Firearms Act 1996).

In the interest of community safety and student welfare, NSW police have requested all education sectors disseminate the attached information.

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.

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please see below, an invitation to an anxiety awareness program being presented by Small Steps.

This presentation will be held on Tuesday 18 October 2022 at Nazareth Catholic Primary School, with two sessions available to attend at 1pm or 5pm.

Sessions will run for approximately 1-1.5 hours and will be presented by Small Steps presenter, Madii Himbury and CatholicCare School Counsellor, Lauren Hutchinson.