Term 4 Week 2 2024

Principal's Message

Welcome back to school and Term 4!

This term is going to be an action-packed one for us here at St Mary’s filled with swimming lessons, report card writing, lots of learning, Mini Mary’s transition program, School Ball, UP Day, Year 6 transition, End of year celebrations and our 150 years Festival! Are you exhausted, I am! Seriously, please note that this term is also a ten-week term compared to the normal nine-weeks we are used to, therefore, your child/ren are going to become super tired, exhausted, cranky and will need lots of encouragement, sleep and rest to make it to the end.

As teachers we too will be feeling the same emotions to some degree, which leads perfectly into letting you all know that this week is Queensland Mental Health Week and runs from the 5^th -13^th of October. The theme this Year is “Connect for Mental Health” and there are lots of wonderful resources that you can use to help connect.

At St Mary’s it is important that in our school community that we all look after each other’s mental health and the best way that parents can support staff is by the following:

St Mary’s Communication Protocol:

• Staff-parent communication hours are between 8:00am and 5:00pm on school days.
• Staff should respond to parent communication in a timely manner.
• Communication outside these hours will be addressed on the next school day or as soon as possible.
• Exceptions for responding outside designated hours include critical incidents, public emergencies, potential harm prevention, or legal obligations.

Parent Engagement:

• Mutual, respectful, courteous, and collaborative relationships are required between staff and parents.
• First point of contact for concerns is always the class teacher. 
• We welcome all forms of parents engaging with our school (i.e. reading groups, tuckshop, Parent Engagement Network, excursions, sporting carnivals)

Everyone’s mental health and well-being are important!

We are on the countdown to our 150 years celebrations on the 18 & 19October. Thank you to all the parents and parishioners who have been helping out with the organisation, volunteered for jobs on the day, donated goodies for the market stalls or purchased memorabilia. Every contribution that you make helps us provide a fantastic event, that highlights St Mary's presence in the Warwick community for 150 years. We are so excited about the Festival and hope that you all can support on the day, in whatever way you can!

God Bless

Emma Timmins

Principal

Religious Life of the School

Prayer for Peace

The Australian Catholic Bishops have called for a day of prayer for peace in the Middle East. This was held on Monday, 7th October, on the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. I have attached the beautiful prayer which is a shorter prayer from Pope Francis. 

This is also a shorter prayer you may like to say with younger children:

Lord, help me bring peace to others. 

Where there is hate, help me show love. 

Where there is hurt, help me forgive. 

Where there is doubt, give me faith. 

Where there is sadness, help me bring joy. 

Amen. 

150th Celebrations

The week has arrived where we will celebrate 150 years of the Sisters of Mercy in Warwick. Not only did the Sisters of Mercy, along with the Christian Brothers, build the wonderful school we have, they also cared for the sick and poor throughout Warwick and the district. We have a lot to give thanks for and to celebrate! Please join us when you can.

Please say a prayer that the Sisters of Mercy who are joining us enjoy the events and are pleased with how we are continuing on the legacy they have created for our school.

As an addition to our events, the Abbey Boutique Hotel is now opening on Saturday, 19th October. This is the Sisters of Mercy convent on Locke Street next to Assumption College. At 12.30pm there will be a guided tour or anytime between 11am-2pm for self-guided tours. Cost - $10pp or $5 for kids under 12, children under 5 free. Learn about the history of the downstairs rooms, see the old classrooms, dining rooms and chapel.

It's not too late to order a brick or pre-order some merchandise. Orders for bricks close on 15th November and pre-orders for merchandise close on Monday, 14th October. Don't miss out on getting a bargain with 30 tickets for $20. At the Festival they will be 30 tickets for $30.

As Emma said previously, we are so grateful for our wonderful team of helpers for our celebrations. We still have a few spots on the bar and some class teachers are needing helpers. If you can help please complete this form - https://forms.office.com/r/EjRXf8FTM3

Please keep sending in glass jars/small bottles, takeaway containers, old gift bags, old coffee tins and formula containers - if you have any to donate please send them to the school office ASAP.

For a walk down memory lane we are collecting memorabilia, like past school uniforms, photos and school books. We will take good care of it if you have any to loan to us.

Our Trash and Treasure stall is going to be amazing and it's not too late to send in any donations (no electrical items please).

Many, many thanks for the great efforts people have gone to, to make sure our celebrations are a big success.

Assistant Principal: Mission & Identity

Along with my role title change to Mission & Identity comes a new role description, which aligns the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Key Result Areas. The first one is - Religious Leadership.

• enliven the religious life of school and implementation of the Religious Education program display knowledge in matters of spirituality, faith and Church life.
• connect the work of the parish and school to enrich the spirituality and life experiences of all community members.
• empower teachers to work confidently as witnesses, moderators and specialists in the pedagogy of encounter and dialogue.

We are fortunate to have teachers dedicated to teaching a rigourous Religious Education (RE) Program. Teachers are continually involved in Professional Development to learn more creative ways of bringing the teachings of Jesus to life and receive feedback on how to improve their teaching in this area.

We are blessed to live in Warwick and to be part of a thriving parish. Under the guidance of Fr Franco, our bonds with the parish are strong and the class Masses and Liturgies are testament to that. The Sacramental Program and Family Masses also deserve special mention in showing how closely linked we are to our parish.

I am excited to announce that next year we will participate in the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Illuminate Program, which will further enhance our RE Program through empowering our staff to be witnesses, moderators and specialists in the pedagogy of encounter and dialogue.

Feedback is always welcome and I would love to hear your ideas about how I can ensure that this Key Area flourishes at St Mary's.

National Police Remembrance Day Service

During the holidays representatives from St Mary's gathered with the Warwick Community and the Queensland Police Service. We are grateful to the students and staff who joined in this important service and we pause to remember those police men and women who have given their lives in their service.

There was a great article in the Town and Country Journal about what this day meant to Ms Hopkins and Annabel. We thank the Journal for recognising our students and staff at the service and asking them for their thoughts.

May peace be with you,

Sharon Young

Assistant Principal: Mission & Identity

'Let us pray well and never get weary of doing what is good.' - Catherine McAuley

Curriculum

Persuasive Writing in Year 4

In the lead-up to our 150 Years Celebration next week, Year 4 students have been writing persuasive arguments to convince festival attendees to visit their class stall. By linking the curriculum to a real-life context, students were able to put their powers of persuasion to the test! Are you feeling lucky? Great work, Year 4!

Auslan Reflection from Year 5

During their first Auslan lesson of the new term, Year 5 students were asked to reflect and share what they already knew about Auslan, and their responses demonstrated both their curiosity and their growing understanding of the language.

Mila M began by explaining, "There are different hand shapes that make up signs," showing an awareness of the physical structure of the language. Koa B added, "I know the ABCs," which is foundational to communication in Auslan. Isabel H highlighted the practical use of Auslan, saying, "Auslan can be used by deaf and mute people," while Rory F noted that there are "different dialects of Auslan (Northern and Southern)," adding a cultural perspective to the language's diversity.

Thomas C shared an interesting fact: "Each finger on the hand represents a vowel—A, E, I, O, U," which links language learning to physical gestures. William H confidently stated, "I can greet someone completely in Auslan," reflecting the real-world application of their lessons. Clare W reminded us that, "Anybody can learn Auslan to communicate with others," emphasising the inclusive nature of the language.

Our exploration into animals saw Naish B sharing that, "I know how to sign many different animals in Auslan." Macey M explained, "Not all signs can be in Auslan. Sometimes we have to fingerspell, like names and places," helping us understand that while Auslan is comprehensive, it sometimes relies on spelling for certain words.

Thomas C also brought up an interesting point about the global context of Auslan, noting, "You can sometimes use Auslan to communicate with others who use British Sign Language (they are very similar)." Meanwhile, Mila M compared Auslan to its American counterpart, saying, "American Sign Language is different to Auslan, especially with the alphabet. Auslan uses two hands and Americans use one hand only." Lastly, Abby L highlighted the accessibility of the language: "There is an Auslan signbank available that you can look up signs and how to do them."

Through these lessons, our Year 5 students are not only learning a new language but also deepening their understanding of how we can build bridges of communication and inclusion within our community.

Using Auslan in the Community

We have also been hearing about interactions that our students have been having in the community with others who use Auslan. We learned about one student who was able to support a deaf community member at the supermarket who was struggling to communicate a request with staff. This exceptional learner was able to determine that the customer was asking about Vegemite, and relayed this information to the staff member. The customer was so appreciative and impressed with her skills.

Another star SMW student assisted a young child at a playground who was upset and trying to communicate in Auslan to the people around them. This student was able to recognise the signs, ask the child what they needed and who their parents were; then helped the child get back to their family safely.

There was also a student who was observed practising Auslan by another customer while shopping. Their family was approached by the customer, who was absolutely thrilled to see a child using sign language so effectively, and they then participated in a conversation together using Auslan.

It is absolutely heartwarming to hear about these interactions occurring, showing the true SMW RISE UP value of inclusivity. The additional advantage of learning an Australian language means that students are more likely to encounter authentic interactions with Auslan users within the community and beyond, putting their skills to the test in real life and building their fluency of the language.   

Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight!

Jess Harper
Middle Leader: Teaching and Learning

Positive School Culture

Class RISE UP Trophy

Congratulations to the latest winners of our Class RISE UP Trophy, Year 5F and Prep W!

Mrs Dearden awarded the trophy to Year 5F in Week 1, after she challenged the school to be ready and lined up by the bell each morning and after breaks. Year 5F demonstrated a consistent effort towards this goal, and were thrilled to receive the trophy!

In Week 2, Mrs Fox was looking for the class that demonstrated the most effort towards keeping our school clean. As we approach the 150 Years Festival next week, we were thrilled to see Prep W receive the trophy for their exceptional work in picking up stray pieces of litter - even when it didn't belong to them. We are so proud of the youngest members of our school!

Student Awards

Spotted Rising Up

Congratulations to all the students who have been 'Spotted Rising Up'. The prize winners were Korbin C and Lachlan G, which was announced at Assembly on Friday, 11th October.

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

Rodeo and Day for Daniel Dress Up

Please note that we have had a change in days for the rodeo dress up. It will now be Thursday 24th October. With Prep-Year Two swimming starting next week we decided that rodeo clothes and getting changed for swimming would not be a good combination!

On this day we encourage our students to come in their rodeo gear and add some red as we also celebrate Day for Daniel. Please click on this link below to learn more about a Day for Daniel - https://youtu.be/BxvkYozlCq0

At school we will be educating the students with the message - recognise, react, report.

Annual Warwick Rodeo Parade

It's rodeo season in Warwick and we are getting involved!

Next Saturday, 26th October, we are entering a float in the Rodeo Street Parade. We are very excited because we will be partnering with Southern Downs Steam Railway again to have our old train for our smaller children to travel in.

Students will need to meet near the northern end of Queens Park near the skate park/Hockey park between 8:00-8:15. The parade will begin at 9am and make its way up Palmerin Street to Fitzroy Street and finishes back at Queens Park at approximately 9:30am. It would also be great if some parents can help at 8am with decorating the train with the decorations the students are working on.

We would love for all of our students to join us for the parade and if your child would like to participate with us please complete this permission form on Sentral. Students are to wear rodeo items such as cowboy hats, boots, jeans, clown wigs, bandanas, rodeo queen sashes, tiarras, etc. Please make sure your child has a protective hat and send along a water bottle as it is often hot. 

When your child arrives to march please see SMW staff to mark off your child's name. We will march to Leslie Park and back and students will need to be marked off by SMW staff before they can leave.

Let's rodeo up!

Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS)

Semester 2 applications for the Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme must be submitted by 31 October. Applications can be submitted here: www.schooltransport.com.au. 

Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we extend our gratitude to our incredible sponsors.

Your generous support has made this milestone event possible.

Your commitment and contributions have not only helped us honor our rich history but also paved the way for a bright future. We are truly grateful for your partnership and look forward to many more years of collaboration and success.

Thank you for being an integral part of our journey!

Parent Engagement Network (PEN) Forum

We invite you to this great opportunity to learn about how to support our children with life's ups and downs. To register please scan the QR code below or click on this link - https://tinyurl.com/42mpdn8p

Tuckshop

Tuckshop helpers for the next fortnight:

Wednesday, 16/10 - Jo Mundey

Thursday, 17/10 - Jared Knapp

Wednesday, 23/10 - Mandy Moretto

Thursday, 24th October - Emily Cross

Treat Weeks for term 4 will be Week 5 & week 8.

Library News

This year the library will be closed from Weeks 7-10, Term 4 to conduct our annual stocktake and audit of resources. Please continue to return books in a timely manner so that all students can have access to the wonderful books we have. 

Sport

Swimming

Swimming will commence again this week for all students Prep-Year 6. This is covered by the School Fees Activity Levy.

This swimming note has all the details, including dates and what to bring. We have also secured a date for the 9-12 year old swimming carnival next year - Monday, 3rd February 2025.

State Athletics Champions

We are so proud of these students who competed last week at the State Athletics Championships in Brisbane. 

Beckett threw a massive 24.52m to place him 16th in the State for 10 years discus.

Bobby-Lee jumped 1.18m which placed her 29th in the State for 11 years girls high jump.

Sammy nearly cleared 1.37m, which was a PB for her and placed her 10th in the State for 12 years girls high jump.

State Cricket Championships

Best wishes to Xavier who competes at the State Cricket Championships this week.

Notices