Term 3 Week 2 2024
Principal's Message
Welcome back to Term 3! I hope that you all had a wonderful break and enjoyed some quality family time. We have 2 new families to our school who have joined us this term, so welcome to the Kotlin and Houlahan families.
This week is an especially important time for us here at St Mary's, as we celebrate Catholic Education Week.
Each year we place this week as a time to celebrate the wonderful aspects of Catholic schools, the people who work there and the families who bring life into our school communities. Faith, hope and love is alive at St Mary's, especially in the way that we treat each other, share our faith through prayer and special events, and the hope that we engrain into our school culture by looking after those in our school and wider community. Please join us in our liturgy celebration on Monday, 22nd July at 2:15pm in the MacKillop. This will be led by Year 6.
Our next phase in our 'Reboot for Life & Learning' program is the Quadrants of Engagement. The QofE provide a simple framework for students to understand where they are in their learning journey and what they need to be successful. Self-aware students are better able to manage their learning experience and ask for help and feedback. Being aware of the inevitable challenges that we face in the Learning Zone, including anxiety, frustration and self-doubt, helps us manage these difficult feelings and build learning resilience when they arise. It is easier to take the risk to engage when we know what difficulties we might expect. Building a class-wide collective understanding of the learning process also supports students to become more independent. Please come along to our next parent engagement forum to learn more about this from Sarah Ralston, creator of this program.
At the end of last term, you would have received your child/ren's academic report card to highlight how they are travelling with their learning. The next step is for our teachers to meet you and your child for a 'parent-student-teacher' interview in Week 6, on either the 12th or 13th August. This meeting enables your child to show examples of work, highlighting their achievements and further goals to work upon. This 3-way conversation is valuable in establishing positive relationships between home and school and I hope that you can make a time to join us. Further communication to come for booking in a time.
Have a lovely weekend and stay warm!
God Bless
Emma Timmins
Principal
Religious Life of the School
150th Celebrations
We have a wonderful committee putting together a great program of celebrations for our 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in October. We welcome everyone to the celebrations and also ask for your help to make these special occasions for our school. Ways you can help:
Committee Meeting -please join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, 31st July, at 3:30pm in the boardroom.
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 contact the school office.
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.
Stall Holders - We will be advertising for stall holders in the near future and would like to give our families preference. Please contact the school office if you have a business who would like to have a stall at our event or have an idea about what could be a good stall for us to have.
Talent Show - We are fast approaching our 150 years celebration and one of our highlights will be our 'talent show'. Please have a chat to your child and encourage them to enter and join in the experience of a live audience.
Brick Fundraiser - Be part of our beautiful school's history as we create a walkway of school history! We would love to see the names of past, present and future students, staff and families on our bricks. Bricks for $50 can be ordered with this pdf or click on this link - Online Brick Fundraiser Order Form
Jumpers and Jazz
It's Jumpers & Jazz Season here at St Mary's - at school, at Kindy and at the St Mary's Parish.
From the 18th-28th July there are church tours from 9:30am-4:30pm. Join this with some delicious scones in Assisi Place, at the back of the first St Mary's Church for $6 from 9:30am-12:00pm daily. There will also be an amazing Jazz Mass next Sunday, 29.07.24, at 8:30am.
Arts Extravaganza
St. Mary’s proudly presented its Arts Extravaganza as part of the Jumpers and Jazz festivities. This delightful event combined the Visual Arts Program, led by the expertise of Mrs. Anita Wright, with the school’s Music Program. Our talented school choir, conducted by Mrs. Catriona Lawson, and the Instrumental Program, guided by Mr. Aaron Buchanan, come together to create a harmonious celebration. Additionally, some of Mrs. Jill Hulme’s piano students joined us this year, adding their musical talents to the festivities.” 🎨🎶
Want to Join the Music Fun?
There are still some places for students in Years 3-6 who would like to join the School Band. Practices are on Wednesday afternoons 3-4pm in the MacKillop Centre.
Mrs Jill Hulme also has some music lesson times available at St Mary's on a Monday. Mrs Hulme teaches singing, piano and recorder. If you are interested in these lessons please contact Mrs Hulme on 0407 373 980.
Visual Arts Exhibition
Choir and Music Performances
Parish News
First Communion
Students who have celebrated their First Reconciliation and Confirmation are invited to prepare for their First Communion. Please contact the Parish Office if your child would like to register your child for this sacrament. Dates will be:
Parent Night Date – Wednesday 7th August 2024 7pm
Commitment Masses – Saturday, 10th August (Family Mass) 5pm or Sunday, 11th August 8:30am
First Session Date – Thursday 15th August at 4pm or 5:30pm (4 sessions)
First Communion – Saturday, 7th September 6pm or Sunday, 8th September 8:30am
Parish Celebration – Sunday, 8th September after Mass
Parish Masses
Please note a new church time for Saturday nights - For Winter, Saturday night Mass will be starting at 5pm. Sundays will continue to be 8:30am. There is also Children's Liturgy on Sundays during Mass time (not through school holidays).
May God bless you,
Sharon Young
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
'Be thankful for the blessings in your life, no matter how small' - Catherine McAuley
Curriculum
St Mary's NAPLAN Results
This week, we received the individual NAPLAN results for our Year 3 and Year 5 students. Individual Student Reports will be sent home in the coming days, providing a detailed look at your child's performance in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation, and Numeracy.
Understanding Your Child's NAPLAN Report
We understand that NAPLAN reports can raise questions. The reports use national benchmarks and proficiency standards to provide a snapshot of your child's learning progress compared to their peers across Australia. It's important to remember that NAPLAN is just one measure of your child's achievement and should be considered alongside classroom assessments and teacher observations.
For your reference, we've included a helpful resource from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA): NAPLAN Individual Student Reports - Parent and Carer FAQ
This guide explains NAPLAN in more detail, including:
- What NAPLAN is and how it assesses students
- How to interpret your child's individual student report
- How NAPLAN results are used to inform teaching and learning
Next Steps
We are thrilled with the initial results that have come through for St Mary's; these are a testament to the exceptional efforts of both SMW students and staff! In the coming weeks, we will be diving deeper into the data to help determine the next steps for Year 3 and 5 in their learning.
Student-Parent-Teacher Meetings
We encourage you to attend the upcoming Student-Parent-Teacher Meetings later this term in Week 6. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child's learning journey so far in 2024 in more detail with their teacher.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the Leadership Team if you have any questions about NAPLAN or your child's individual student report.
Auslan Learning at SMW
This year at St Mary's, we have immersed ourselves on an exciting journey of learning Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as our Languages Other Than English (LOTE) subject curriculum. During Semester 1, our Prep, Year 2, and Year 4 students eagerly took to this new form of communication. Now, in Semester 2, our Year 1, 3, 5, and 6 students have joined in, starting their Auslan lessons last week.
The enthusiasm from our students and staff in learning sign language has been absolutely heartwarming. Every morning, the entire school recites our School Prayer in Auslan, creating a beautiful wave of hands communicating in unison from Prep right through to Year 6. From my personal perspective as the Auslan teacher, it is an absolute joy to witness this shared experience, really highlighting our RISE UP value of Inclusivity.
Part of our Auslan learning has included mastering the practice of fingerspelling the alphabet. This skill is crucial, as it allows us to spell out words when we don’t know a specific sign. Additionally, our students have been learning various songs in Auslan, such as the colours of the rainbow, the Australian national anthem, "I am Australian," and more. Take a look at our Choir students practising ‘Hail Mary’ with the exceptional Mrs Lawson this week!
Our Auslan curriculum also aims to deepen our understanding of various disabilities and hardships that some members of our community face in connecting and communicating with others. Through learning sign language, we access a new mode of communication that goes beyond those who are deaf. Sign language is also used by people with hearing and/or speech difficulties, some neurodivergent individuals, including those with Autism, and others who may find verbal communication challenging.
To support your child's Auslan learning at home, we have included some flash cards with common signs for Emotions and Family Members, as well as the Auslan Alphabet. We encourage you to practice together and discover the joy of communicating beyond speaking. While we use the Northern Dialect of Auslan at SMW, it is important to remember that Auslan is a living language, and there can be variations in signs across different communities, regions and states. These flash cards provide a general guide to help you get started.
At St Mary's, we are committed to fostering a community where everyone feels valued and respected. Learning Auslan is one important step towards achieving this goal. We are excited to continue our Auslan journey and look forward to sharing more of our progress with you.
Jess Harper
Middle Leader: Teaching and Learning
Positive School Culture
Mystery Reader
We have had two fabulous mystery readers this term - Ms Liisa Hammond, Principal of Assumption College and Mr Ken Brown from Headspace.
Ms Hammond entertained the visitors with the book 'Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones but Words (Can Never) Hurt Me!' by Heath McKenzie. There was some very interesting conversation about kindness and choosing how to treat others.
Mr Ken gave a great lesson about oral storytelling, including a story about kangaroos and emus. Then had our students laughing with joy as they moved around the sacred space to the beat of the boomerangs clapping together in the way of our Australian animals.
Everyone under school age is invited to our Mystery Reader story time each Wednesday at 9:30am in the School Library.
Class RISE UP Trophy
Congratulations to the latest winners of our Class RISE UP Trophy, Year 5F and PW!
Year 5F won the award in Week 1 from Miss Butler, for being safe in the wet weather. Congratulations, Year 5F!
Prep Walker won the trophy in Week 2 from Mrs Lawson, for having 100% of names on jackets. Fantastic work, Prep Walker (and their mums and dads!)
Student Awards
Exceptional Learning Award | Making Jesus Real Award | |
Prep B | Sammi G, Asher C | Janine H, River O |
Prep W | Fletcher M, Finnegan M | Scarlett M |
1D | Chace A | Mckenna L |
1H | Thomas P | Madelyn B |
2D | Maddox L | Leo F, Olivia D |
3L | Archie K, Sheila L | Riley F, Blaire M |
3B | Madison B, Lisna J | Liam S, Declan A |
4ML | Jayden G | Annabel H |
4K | Deakon B | Luke N |
5F | Aylisity D, Caitlyn M, Abby L | Isabel H, Koabella B |
5/6D | Aoi G, Connor B | Willow D, William H |
6H | Bailey C | Halle-Belle T |
Spotted Rising Up
Congratulations to all the students who have been 'Spotted Rising Up'. The prize winners were Kevin H and Ezekiel S, which was announced at Assembly on Friday, 19th July.
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
School Fees
A reminder that school fees were sent out last week and are due on the 2nd of August.
Should you have any questions please contact the school office.
School Tracksuit Pants
Lowes have advised that they now have new stock of our sports tracksuit pants available for purchase.
Tuckshop
Thank you to our wonderful volunteers. A new roster for this term has been emailed out. Please note that orders after 7:30am cannot be accepted and will not be filled this term. Also, if your child is unwell you can go to your orders and cancel up until 7:30am which will give you a refund.
Please note that Treat Weeks have changed to Week 5 and Week 9 of each term.
Parent Engagement Network (PEN)
Welcome back to Term 3! As we commence the second half of the year the PEN executives would like to thank all the parents and carers of the school for your contributions to the PEN survey, attending the wonderful cyber safety PEN forum in term one, and of course more recently the strategic plan discussion at the PEN forum for term two. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all the parents and carers at the school that these forums are open to all, and that we welcome any discussion topics people may want to raise after the chosen forum topic has finished.
We invite all parents and carers to the next PEN Forum for Term 3, which is being held on the 30th of July. The topic for this forum is “Reboot – The Quadrants of Engagement” which relates to the Reboot program practiced by the students and staff in the school. This is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about this program so that you can understand the terminology the children may use, and even take away some tips to use at home!
A big thank you is also due to all of the parents, grandparents, teachers, former teachers and St Mary’s community members who have been assisting with and attending the 150-year celebration meetings. We will now start the process of seeking volunteers who might be interested in helping either on the day, or in the lead up to the event. Please feel free to reach out if you feel that this is something you can assist with.
As you may have seen, the next 150-year organisation meeting will take place on Wednesday, 31st, July 2024 at 3:30pm. We would welcome parents, grandparents and carers to attend, any and all input into the festivities is appreciated.
The PEN executives hope that everyone had a safe, happy and restful school holiday break and we look forward to all the exciting things to come in Semester Two!
Kind regards,
Emily Cross, Fiona Ah-Loy and Mandy Moretto
PEN Executive Team
Sport
Southern Downs Athletics Trials
Congratulations to our huge team of athletes who have qualified to attend the Southern Downs Athletics Carnival at Allora State School.
If your child is not attending please let Mrs Young know. If your child is only in one event they only have to be at the carnival for that event. However, please note that the times on the timetable are only estimates and if your child is late they will miss their event.
Notices
