Term 2 Week 2 2024

Principal's Message

What is the St Mary’s Warwick story?    PART 2                                 

Over the past term, I have been sharing with you our current educational story and I stated in our last newsletter that “when you belong to a community, you need to understand that community’s story; of who they are, what they stand for and where are they going.”

Last year St Mary’s participated in our quadrennial ‘school improvement cycle’ and at our pupil free day this term, staff began the journey in creating our new strategic plan for 2025-2028. We focussed on the following areas during this session with Marty Savage and Chris Golightly, Senior Education Leaders:

1. Engaged students/ personalised learning
2. Being distinctively Catholic
3. Using resources wisely
4. Valuing our people

During our sessions, we had to read our 2023, School Renewal Improvement report  20231020_stmarysschoolwarwick_sripreport_1_.pdf (schoolzineplus.com), noting our commendations and future recommendations. With this base understanding we then collaboratively discussed within the above 4 areas, themes of need to develop and specifically target over the next 4 year cycle.

Outlined below are the commendations made in relation to our school, St Mary’s Warwick.

Domain 1 Engaged students, personalised learning

• The school is driven by a deep belief that every student is capable of successful learning.
• A high priority is given to building and maintaining positive and caring relationships between staff, students and parents.
• There is a strong collegial culture of mutual trust and support among teachers and school leaders and parents are treated as partners in the promotion of student learning and wellbeing.
• The school works to maintain a learning environment that is safe, respectful, tolerant, inclusive and that promotes intellectual rigour.
• There is a focus on evidence-based practice.

Domain 2 Being distinctively Catholic

• The school explicitly operates as a Catholic school, with a distinctive Catholic identity.
• Staff, students, and parents/carers share in the narrative and charism which encompass the school and so education about its ongoing story involves all in the School’s community.
• In collaboration and partnership with families and parishes, the school prepares young people to live as Christians in the world.
• The Catholic Identity of the School enables it to be an instrument of the evangelising mission of the Church.
• There is an expectation that Religious Education will engage students in thinking about their own spiritual development.
• The Catholic tradition of valuing academic learning is clearly present in the school, including in Religious Education, which is taught with similar rigour to all other subjects.

Domain 3 Staying on mission

• The school leadership team have established and are driving a strong improvement agenda for the School, grounded in evidence from research and practice and expressed in both qualitative and quantitative measures of improvements in student achievement and behaviour.
• Explicit and clear school-wide targets for improvement have been set and communicated to parents and families, teachers and students, with accompanying timelines.

Domain 4 Collective efficacy

• The school is led in a direction that develops and grows collective efficacy, based on the collective self-perception that teachers in a school make an educational difference to their students over and above the educational impact of their homes and communities. This is evident in attributes that convey high expectations to students and foster learner autonomy.
• Staff are supported in building collegiality and trying new approaches based on effective practices, setting challenging goals for students and working collaboratively in attending closely to the needs of students who require extra assistance.

Domain 5 Using resources wisely

• The school applies its resources (staff, time, expertise, funds, facilities, materials) in a targeted manner to meet the learning and wellbeing needs of all students.
• It has school-wide policies, practices and programs in place to assist in identifying and addressing student needs.
• Flexible structures and processes enable the School to respond appropriately to the needs of individual learners.

Parents, your input is welcomed and we have allocated a Parent Engagement Forum, 22 May at 5.30-6.30pm to review our draft strategic ideas, which will be facilitated by Marty Savage and Chris Golightly, Senior Education Leaders.

Community Involvement

Thank you to all students and staff who marched with us at ANZAC Day this week. It is a privilege to be able to acknowledge and support our diggers for all they have given to our country!

Staffing

I can proudly announce that our new First Nations Support Officer begins next week, Morgan Charles. Morgan is a proud Githabul woman and has lots of connections within the Warwick community and we look forward to the wonderful contributions she will make to our school.

It is with sadness that I can announce that Mr Andrew Smith is officially retiring on the 17^th May. Andrew has been at St Mary’s as our groundsman for the past 9 years and has been integral in establishing the wonderful gardens on our new campus. Andrew has always taken great pride in all that he does and goes the extra mile to assist students and staff in times of need. We will certainly miss his friendly face each day at school. We wish Andrew the very best for the future and will plan a farewell to acknowledge his contributions soon.

150 years celebration

Part of our 2-day celebration will be the St Mary’s Festival on Saturday, 19^th October. Please put this date on your calendar as if will be a wonderful day of family fun from rides, side show alley, stalls, talent show, ‘Bushies vs Bobbies’ game and entertainment. If you would like to be a part of our planning committee, please join us at our next meeting on 8^th May at 3:30pm.

How can you help?

If you would like to be a part of our planning committee, please join us at our next meeting on 8^th May at 3:30pm in the boardroom. Any support would be appreciated.

Memorabilia - We are looking for St Mary’s memorabilia. If you have any old uniforms, photos or report cards related to your time here or someone from your family and you are willing for us to display, please let the office know.

Sponsorship - We are also looking for sponsorship for the St Mary’s Festival. If you are interested or you know someone who might be, please share this sponsorship letter with them.

Prizes – We are seeking prizes for this event. If you know any businesses who can donate, please ask if they would be interested and we will recognise their contribution.

Prayer for Loss and Grief

I would also like to acknowledge and pay my respect for the victims of recent violence in our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this time of grief.

God Bless! 

Emma Timmins

Principal 

Religious Life of the School

Easter Celebrations

Easter is a very special time in the Church calendar. On Holy Thursday, a special liturgy was prepared by Year 3 to remember the events of Holy Week.

Then after the school holidays, we gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

Together, we sang hymns, listened to scripture, prayed and remembered why we celebrate Easter. 

Holy Week Liturgy

Resurrection Liturgy

Easter Competition

Congratulations to Emily Nolan for her correct guess of 146 Easter eggs in the Charity Portfolio 'Guess the Easter Eggs' competition.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Easter competition. The Charity Portfolio are to be congratulated on their fundraising; they raised over $120 to donate to Project Compassion.

ANZAC Day Commemorations

St Mary's School remembers on ANZAC Day.

With pride, we gathered as a school community to commemorate this special day with a liturgy led by Year 5. We are grateful for the words of wisdom given by Mr Greg Gutkin and the playing of the bugle by Mr Aaron Buchanan. We were blessed to be joined by parent, Retired Signaller Greg Gutkin, Retired Sergeant Margaret Trahair, Retired Private David Ford, Retired Corporal Tamara Bundy and Fr Terry Hickling, whose father fought in World War II.

In large numbers, on ANZAC Day, we gathered to march and honor those who have served in the armed forces. In Mr Gutkin's words, "On ANZAC day it is important for us all to remember the sacrifices that these men and women made to keep us safe over the years."

Lest we forget.

ANZAC Day Liturgy

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ANZAC Day March

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Mother's Day Celebrations

Mother's Day has a deep spiritual dimension. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the greatest of all mothers. Mary’s unwavering faith and humble acceptance of God’s plan make her a remarkable role model for all mothers. May her example inspire and bless all mothers on this special day! 

At St Mary's we think our mothers are pretty special too. We would like to take the opportunity to thank them at our Mother's Day Liturgy on Friday, 10th May. Mothers, grandmothers and those special ladies in our students' lives are all invited.

If you are able to join us please RSVP by Monday, 6th May, so we know how many treats to bake - https://forms.office.com/r/Cnk8CucxAg

Mother's Day Stall

Thanks to our Parent Network and their team - Rhianna Ryan, Lisa Willi and their helpers there will be a Mother's Day Stall on Thursday, 9th May and Friday, 10th May, where students can buy a gift for their mothers. On Thursday students are permitted to buy one gift for $5 and there will be the opportunity to buy additional gifts on Friday unless stock runs out. Please send money in a labelled envelope for the students' shopping.

Parish News

Sacramental Program - Confirmation

Students who are in Grade Four and have celebrated their First Reconciliation are invited to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please let the Parish Office (email - warwick@ctwb.org.au or phone 4661 1033) know as soon as possible if your child will participate.

Key dates:

• Parent Night Date - Tuesday 23rd April 7pm in Assumption Place (Parish Office) - Please note a new date.
• Welcome at Parish Mass - either Saturday 27th April 6pm or Sunday 28th April 8:30am. Saturday night will be Family Mass. If your child would like to participate please let Mrs Young know.
• First Workshop Date - Thursday 2nd May 2024
• Confirmation Date - Tuesday 4th June 2024 at 7pm

Sharon Young

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

'Mary, blessed among women' (Luke 1:42)

Curriculum

Diocesan Approach to Reading

Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) is currently in the process of rolling out the Diocesan Approach to Reading (DAR)—a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring every child reads proficiently. The program draws inspiration from the Grattan Institute’s “The Reading Guarantee,” emphasising structured literacy and early phonics instruction. The flyer below includes further information from TCS:

What does DAR look like at St Mary’s?

1. Decodable Reading Resources: Our commitment extends beyond the classroom. We’ve invested significantly in decodable reading materials, providing students with tools to decode words effectively. Whether at school or home, these resources enhance phonics instruction and fluency in a targeted, systematic approach.

2. Professional Development: Our teachers and school officers have undergone rigorous training in the Science of Reading. Armed with knowledge, they confidently implement DAR strategies, fostering a love for reading in our students.

3. Assessment Evolution: We’ve bid farewell to PM Benchmark assessments and embraced the SPARKLE Kit. This kit aligns seamlessly with the Science of Reading, assessing decoding and comprehension skills. This will mean a change to the information contained within Academic Report Cards for students in Prep - Year 2; we will share these updates closer to the end of term. 

4. Collaboration and Growth: While our students participate in Wellbeing Tuesday activities, our teachers actively share best practices, discuss strategies, and fine-tune their teaching approaches during Professional Learning Community (PLC) meetings each fortnight. This collaborative spirit ensures dynamic learning environments across classrooms, and consistency in practice throughout the school. 

5. Structured Literacy Block: Every day, in every classroom, we dedicate time to structured literacy. Here, students develop essential skills—reading, writing, speaking, and more. Targeting each element within Scarborough's Reading Rope and Sedita's Writing Rope, as well as the Australian English Curriculum, our students are empowered for success in all areas of literacy!

6. Individualised Learning: Data-driven insights guide our instruction. As we develop our use of new assessment tools, the information gathered will allow us to pinpoint strengths and areas for growth for individuals, small groups, and cohorts. We tailor learning experiences to meet individual needs, ensuring each child thrives on their unique reading journey. 
   
7. Home-School Connection: We’re committed to fostering conversations around reading beyond the school gates. Regular newsletters keep parents informed about DAR updates, strategies, and ways to support reading at home. Together, we’re nurturing confident readers who’ll flourish academically and beyond!

As we embark on this exciting journey with the Diocesan Approach to Reading (DAR), we recognise that it’s a collective effort involving students, staff, and parents alike. Like any transformative endeavour, DAR will take time to become fully embedded within our school community. Our passionate and committed staff are at the forefront, embracing DAR with enthusiasm. They’re well-prepared to answer any questions parents and carers may have. We encourage open dialogue and invite you to reach out to us if you’d like to learn more!

Have a wonderful fortnight!

Jess Harper
Middle Leader: Teaching and Learning

Positive School Culture

Mystery Reader

We’ve had an exciting start to our Mystery Reader program at St Mary's this fortnight!

1. Queensland Fire and Rescue Service: Our inaugural Mystery Reader was none other than the brave firefighters from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. They shared a gripping book about animals caught in a bushfire. To top it off, they even brought their fire truck! The children learned valuable safety tips, including the famous “Get Down Low and GO GO GO!” 

2. Dr. Ruth Parsons: Our second Mystery Reader was the wonderful Dr. Ruth Parsons from Queensland Health. She captivated the children with an ANZAC story, weaving history and courage together. 

We'd like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to these community volunteers who generously gave their time to inspire our young readers.

Remember, Mystery Reader sessions take place every Wednesday at 9:30am in the school library. Families, encourage any preschool-aged children within the community to join us and discover the magic of surprise storytelling!

Class RISE UP Trophy

Congratulations to all SMW students on a very successful start to Term 2! The beginning of a term can be a bumpy transition at times, but our learners have settled back into routines quickly and effectively. 

In Week 1, Mrs Doyle was on the lookout for classes who settled back into school routines, including lining up for prayer each morning. A huge congratulations to Prep Box, some of our youngest learners, for their successful transition back from holidays - their first school holidays! 

In Week 2, the Leadership Team challenged SMW students to continue with the exceptional behaviour they demonstrated at the Cross Country on Monday. Congratulations to Year 2S on receiving the trophy!

Student Awards

Spotted Rising Up

Congratulations to all the students who have been 'Spotted Rising Up'. The prize winners were Alexandria W, Jimmy A, Liam C, Marlee L, Isla R, Zoe W, Xavier B, Nayvie B, Dakota L and Aalia C, which was announced at Assembly on Friday, 26th April.

Please celebrate with your child if they have brought home a Spotted Rising Up slip. It means that they were 'spotted' displaying one or more of the RISE UP positive behaviours. 

Administration

Enrolments are open for 2025 - please encourage your friends and family to come and be part of the St Mary's School community. Please see our school office for an enrolment pack or visit our school website to enrol - https://www.smwarwick.catholic.edu.au/enrol

Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

Our wonderful Parent Engagement Network will be supporting SMW in their 150 year celebration event. This means that unfortunately there will be no Trivia Night this year as all efforts will go towards making our Festival a time to remember. 

This will be a mammoth task to organise these celebrations and if you can assist in anyway, whether on the day setting/packing up, helping with a stall, sourcing prizes or sponsorship, creating signage etc. this would be much appreciated. Please have a chat with Fiona Ah-Loy, Emily Cross, Mandy Moretto or the school office. 

Attached below is our sponsorship letter, please help us find some to support our Festival!

Library News

Premier’s Reading Challenge 

The annual Premier’s Reading Challenge is almost here again, with the reading period starting soon on 7 May.  Students will receive a Reader Record form next week, which they can then use to record the details of the books that they read between 7 May and 23 August.  All students who complete the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement. 

The Premier's Reading Challenge is not a competition but a way to encourage students to develop a love of reading for life. Through the challenge children and students are given an opportunity to develop their appreciation of the English language and additional languages, and are encouraged to explore and enjoy a wide range of literary texts. 

Children and students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement.  

For a student to successfully complete the Premier's Reading Challenge they are required to read or experience the number of books indicated below: 

• Prep to Year 2—read or experience 20 books. 
• Years 3 to 4—read 20 books. 
• Years 5 to 6—read 15 books. 

Experiencing a book includes classroom or at-home activities such as shared reading, listening and reading along with a book, or being read to. 

The requirement for Year 5 through to Year 9 students to read 15 books rather than 20 books acknowledges that older students are likely to select longer, more complex books that may take them longer to read. 

Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability. While there is no compulsory reading list for the challenge, book lists are available to help students, teachers, parents and guardians select appropriate reading material. 

 See https://readingchallenge.education.qld.gov.au/ for this year’s recommended reading book lists and more details. 

Term 2 Book Club

Term 2 Scholastic Book Club brochures were sent home with students last week.  As always, Book Club provides a fantastic opportunity to replenish your child’s home library and to encourage a lifelong love of reading.   

Did you know that every purchase you make on Book Club earns our school 15% of the order value in Scholastic Rewards? We use these to purchase more books and educational resources for the school. It all helps!   

Orders for this issue can be submitted online via Loop or returned to the school office with cash payment by 1 May 2024. 

Sport

Cross Country

What an amazing day at our Cross Country yesterday! Despite the unpredictable weather and gusty winds, SMW students rose to the challenge at Morgan Park Raceway. A huge thank you to everyone who made it possible: Morgan Park Raceway for the amazing venue and support given to our school, the supportive families who cheered along the course, the dedicated staff, particularly Mrs Wright, who ensured everything ran smoothly, and of course, our brave students who gave it their all!

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Age Champions

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Congratulations Rooney Red

Southern Downs Cross Country

Congratulations to the students who have been selected to attend the Southern Downs Cross Country trials this Thursday, 2nd May - Ciann R, Erin R, Caitlyn M, Maddison E, Bobby-Lee S, Mckenzie M, Luke N, Riley B, Deakon B, Thomas C, Declan R, Theo G, Harper B, Sammy G, Katelyn M, Xavier F, Alexander M, Boyd T, Josh M, William P, Emily N, Willow D, Joshua R, Mason W, Grayson H, Xyreece S, Darcy B.

To be selected to attend SD Cross Country students must make qualifying times.

Mrs Chrissy Byrne and Mrs Wendy Ryan will be at the trials but it is the responsibility of parents to take students to and from the event. Permission forms will be taken to this trial by Mrs Byrne.

Darling Downs Sport Representation

Congratulations to the following students who have represented the Southern Downs and our school at these sports:

Hockey - Josh M and Maddie E

Touch Football - Bailey C, Emily N, Harper B and Sammy G

Rugby League - Riley B and Luke N

To be selected to attend the Darling Downs trials our students need to be among the best in the Southern Downs for their sport, show exceptional ability and be able to work as a team. Well done students!

Parents please don't forget to send in photos as we love celebrating our students accomplishments.

Notices