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A Mothers' Day Prayer
Dear Lord,
We thank you for our mothers. We thank you that they gave us life and nurtured us all those years. They gave us our faith, helping us to know you and to know Jesus and his ways. They taught us how to love and how to sacrifice for others. They taught us that it was okay to cry and that we should always tell the truth.
Bless them with the graces they need and help them to feel precious in your eyes and to know that we love them. Give them strength and courage, compassion and peace.
Father, please bless all our mothers each and every day. AMEN
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We trust that all our mothers and grandmothers had a very special Mother’s Day last Sunday and were thoroughly spoilt by their families. It was lovely to see all the dads out shopping at Stockland with their children on Saturday, trying to find something nice for the mums. I believe the Mother’s Day activities held at school including the breakfast, stall and raffle were well supported. Unfortunately I missed the day as I was on a Principal’s Appraisal Panel at another Diocesan School. The feedback I received regarding the breakfast was so positive and it is great to see our community come together to acknowledge all our amazing mums. A big thank you to our P and F for facilitating these events and in particular Amy Jennett, Sammy Badger and Sarah Roche for their planning and organisation. Thanks also to all parents who helped on Friday.
NSW CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE
Next Wednesday to Friday, May 22-24, I will be attending the NSW Catholic Schools Principals Conference in Sydney. The theme of the Conference is “What Matters Most: Faith, Learning and Wellbeing.” The Conference will allow me to reflect on how our staff can continue to facilitate learning that is engaging, relevant and impactful, how to ensure that our school climate is safe and growth promoting and the importance of connecting our students to the Gospel story. Whilst I am mindful of the time I spend away from the school, ongoing professional learning and reflection is an important aspect of the role of leading a school community. In my absence Miss Angela Crandell will be Acting Principal.
COLOUR EXPLOSION
I know that the children are extremely excited about tomorrow’s Colour Explosion, which will commence at noon at Keith Hockey Oval, Shellharbour. Thank you to all those who have sponsored the students and registered online. My gratitude also goes to the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes by our P & F. They work so hard to not only raise funds for the school, but to organise fun activities for the children.
SOCIAL MEDIAThe response to the Stella Maris Facebook and Instagram Pages has been overwhelmingly positive. The school will continue to support parents in this area with regular information being sent home and a parent workshop to be scheduled before a P & F Meeting next term.
NAPLAN
Our NAPLAN testing for Years 3 and 5 students continues on into next week and by all reports our children are doing well and enjoying the experience.
DIOCESAN CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL
Last Tuesday, the Stella Maris Cross Country team travelled to Willandra to compete in the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival. After seven weeks of hard training and preparation, the children were ready to put on a great show and that is exactly what they did. We were very successful on the day with many wonderful performances from all of the children. Through their commitment and team work, we came second out of thirty schools in the overall pointscore and the Stella Maris boys won the Champion Boys School trophy. Congratulations to all the children involved in the Cross Country squad. You showed excellent team spirit and sportsmanship on the day. All of us here at Stella Maris are very proud of you.
Finally, a big thank you to all the parents who helped over the course of the six weeks in transporting the students to and from training sessions and for helping out on the day. Without your generosity and assistance, the success of the students would not be possible.
Congratulations to the following students who will be competing for the Wollongong Diocese at the Mackillop Carnival at Eastern Creek on Friday 14 June: Lily Griggs (3rd), Campbell Knox (8th), Joshua Lakeman (4th) and Will Fowler (8th).
FOUNDATION DAY LITURGY
Next Tuesday at 1.50pm, parents and grandparents are warmly invited to our Foundation Day Assembly, an annual event, where we acknowledge the wonderful contributions the Sisters of Charity have made in establishing and developing Stella Maris over the last sixty years. A highlight will be the Mary Aikenhead Awards, which identify students who live their lives following the example of the Sisters of Charity in spreading the Gospel message and reaching out to those in need through word and action. Our Foundation Day celebration is an opportunity to thank God and the wonderful people who have supported us here over the years at Stella Maris Catholic School and to look to the future with hope and trust.
SPORTS NEWS 
Congratulations to Adella Hopkins on her selection in the Mackillop Netball Team. She was chosen after performing strongly in the Winter Trials in Canberra last Friday. Well done Adella!
Article from Adella
Last Friday I went to Canberra and represented Wollongong in the Mackillop Netball Trials. I played four games against Orange/ Goulburn, Parramatta, Sydney and Wagga Wagga. I made the possibles and probables group and from that they pick the team to represent MacKillop. I got chosen for the MacKillop team as goal defence. Now I go to Orange in July to compete at the PSSA Netball State Carnival.
SHOALHAVEN EISTEDDFOD
Last week, the school band and the eisteddfod choir had a chance to perform for the school community. This was a perfect opportunity to help us prepare in “performance mode” for our upcoming eisteddfod sections. I think the audience enjoyed what they saw/heard!
Next Thursday May 23, our school eisteddfod choir will compete in the Primary Schools Choral Section at the Shoalhaven Eisteddfod. We are the last competitor in the last section of the day. This will test our patience, nerve and preparedness but we are well and truly up for the challenge! Our section is to be held at t
he Nowra City Church, North Nowra, which is a change of venue this year. The following week on Thursday May 30, our school band will compete in the School Instrumental Section. Vocals are optional in this section, so we have decided to prepare with that option in mind. Everyone has been practicing hard, meeting each Thursday morning before school to work on our repertoire. Our section will be held at the Nowra School Arts Hall. This will only be our second time competing, but we are ready!
A big thank you to all of the children involved in these two ensembles. Great work everyone – I hope you are all as excited as I am! A shout out too, to Mrs Mansbridge and Miss Carman who have helped with the organisation of both groups. It truly is a team effort!
Jenna Hogan (Music Teacher) 
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
This Sunday’s Gospel,
Jn 13:31 - 35
Jesus issues a new commandment, love one another
All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour
Mass times: All Saints Church
19 College Ave, Shellharbour City
Saturday 6.00pm Vigil
Sunday 9.00am inc. Children’s Liturgy
5.00pm (6.00pm daylight saving)
Mass at Stella Maris
We would like to welcome all friends and families to the following School Masses this Term.
18/6 Stage 2 Mass
25/6 Kinder & Year 1 Mass
Foundation Day Liturgy
Parents, Grandparents, family and friends are warmly invited to our Foundation Day Liturgy on Tuesday 21 May at 1:50pm.
Easter Season
Students are currently developing their familiarity with the Easter Story. At Easter we celebrate Jesus rising to new life. Students will be introduced to the stories of the Ascension and Pentecost and engage in the mystery of God’s abiding presence.
Alleluia! Jesus is Alive
May - The month of Mary
For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honor Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May, but the entire month.
She has a unique role in salvation history as the Mother of God, conceived without Sin, who by her own free will agreed to bring the “Word made flesh", (John 1:14) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the world.
Her life in the Gospel years was one of service and great devotion to Jesus, from the stable in Bethlehem where she gave birth to Him, to Calvary in Jerusalem where she stood by His cross in His Crucifixion. Mary was a woman of great faith and courage.
Reconciliation Day Liturgy
Parents, Grandparents, family and friends are warmly invited to our Reconciliation Day Liturgy on Tuesday 28 May at 2.00pm.
Julie Hopkins
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Our School Athletics Carnival is anticipated to be held at the end of June (date to be confirmed), at Myimbarr Sports Fields, Wattle Road, Shellharbour. Please note that all students will compete in preliminary trials for field events prior to the carnival. During the preceding weeks, students will compete in such events as part of their PE lesson and their Friday’s Sports lesson to determine whether they will, on the carnival day, enter in “Competitive” or “Non-Competitive” events. Our Athletics Carnival is a compulsory school learning activity and so it is expected that all students will be in attendance on the day.
Catholic Primary Schools Basketball Challenge
Team ‘Try-Outs’
Basketball try-outs will commence in Week 2 of Term 2 for several weeks during recess and lunch. Students who completed and put forward a CPSBC expression of interest note to attend this sporting event in Albury during Term 4, are required to attend the try-outs for the grading of school teams. Selection is also based on observations at last years' Basketball Challenge as well as observations in Sport Lessons and Playground participation.
Where possible, students will trial during their allocated basketball court time on the playground roster. eg. Year 3 & 4 girls will trial when year 3 or year 4 girls are rostered on. Students should refer to the Term 2 Playground Games Roster for Basketball in regards to what day and time slot that they are required to try-out at. No basketball experience is necessary and every effort will be made to include all children, but attendance at the try-outs are necessary for placement in a team. Please discuss with your child their availability to take part in these trials.
The school’s Basketball Committee’s decisions will be final.