Term 1 Week 4 2025

Principal's Message

Welcome to Week 4! In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee year is a special time of spiritual renewal and conversion, marked by celebrations and pilgrimages and Pope Francis has declared that this year's theme is Pilgrims of Hope.

Pope Francis emphasises the need for unwavering hope, grounded in the certainty that nothing can separate us from God's love. In his bull of indiction for the Jubilee Year, Spes Non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint), he urges Catholics to be witnesses to hope. This theme calls for spiritual renewal, forgiveness, and a positive outlook, especially considering recent global challenges like war, racism, extreme politics, and environmental degradation.

“Every school is a sacrament of hope” (Pope Francis)

At SMW we have a belief that students will reach their own successes by empowering them with the necessary skills to achieve this. I came across this article highlighting the differences between cognitive and non-cognitive skills that are required for students to become fully functioning citizens of the future. One of the skills identified is ‘growth mindset’, of which we have been teaching our students for the past 4 years and you may have heard the power of the word yet……Please check this out at In 2025 and beyond, schools need to teach more than just ‘the basics’

Parents play a significant role within school communities, and we value the engagement that you have with us to ensure the academic, spiritual and social/emotional success for your children. Dr Pat Coughlan has written to all staff within Toowoomba Catholic Schools to remind us about our role, which is to focus on the students needs and building a positive partnership with parents. I have included his message for you to read.

Message to Toowoomba Catholic Schools staff from Dr Pat Coughlan.

The relationship between staff and parents works best when it is based on mutual respect and acknowledgement of the value that each brings to the table.

The critical place of parents in the educational journey of their child is well researched, proven, and often undervalued. I haven’t met a parent yet who has not been interested in helping their child through the trials and tribulations of schooling. In many cases, the stumbling block is how.

Working productively with parents is the second most frequently cited challenge by early career teachers behind student behaviour management. Initial and subsequent contact between teacher and parent, whilst cordial, is often backgrounded by suspicion and caution.

Frequent reference is made to parents and schools working in partnership in the best interests of the child. Understanding the concept of partnership in this context is crucial as it is this understanding which ultimately carries the day.

You rarely enter into a partnership with someone who brings the same skills and attributes to the table as you. One person might bring the subject matter knowledge and the other the finance acumen, one person brings marketing skills the other technical know-how. So for a parent/teacher partnership to be mutually beneficial clarity about what each party contributes to the partnership is essential.

The teacher brings the professional skills of pedagogy, curriculum knowledge, and expertise in child and adolescent development. The parent brings a depth of knowledge and familiarity with their child, historical and current, that the teacher will never have. All are essential ingredients if the student is to excel and flourish. Most partnerships fail when one or other partner steps too far into the role of the other or blames the other for perceived inadequacies.

The TCS Parent Engagement Charter and recently released Parent Code of Conduct are designed to clarify the expectations that both school staff and parents agree to. It is not designed to cover every conceivable interaction in detail, but to convey the spirit of goodwill needed for genuine partnerships to thrive. Positive, professional and healthy relationships are a feature of a distinctively Catholic community.

We hope over the past few weeks you have felt welcomed and engaged with our staff through the following:

• Welcome BBQ and Disco
• Parent Information sessions
• Cuppa and Chat
• Collaborate to RISE UP meetings with teachers
• Brett Lee Internet Safety parent forum
• Beginning School Mass

We look forward to sharing many more opportunities with you to be involved and engaged with us all at St Mary’s throughout the year.

God Bless

Emma Timmins

Principal

Religious Life of the School

Lenten Journey

Lent is the period of the Liturgical calendar leading up to Easter. As Christians, we spend Lent journeying towards Easter. It begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes six weeks later prior to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday night.

Lent goes for 40 days, which does not count the Sundays of Lent, since every Sunday is a celebration of the Resurrection.

The season of Lent is a time of preparation for the Easter celebration of the resurrection of Christ. Many people decide to “give up” things for Lent to help them remember that Jesus gave his life for us, but you can also “take on” doing good things, just like Jesus did.

In the Catholic tradition, Lent is a time to focus on:

• Prayer – we are called to pray that our hearts will turn back to God. Lent is also a time of more reading of the scriptures.
• Fasting – we are called to acts of penance and self denial. This may include fasting, abstaining from meat, going without every day pleasures.
• Almsgiving – we are called to give to those in need to do works of charity.

Lenten Prayer

God of our journey

we are all pilgrims of hope

brought together by your love

and your wish that we may all be one.

We pray that in this Year of Jubilee

when we are called to greater justice

and care for our common home

that we may Unite Against Poverty.

May we work in unity for the freedom of the oppressed

and the renewal of creation.

May our compassionate minds and generous hearts

help bring about a world where all can live in peace.

May our Lenten pilgrimage of fasting, almsgiving and prayer

bring us closer to your loving heart.

We ask this in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Ash Wednesday

Our classes will attend services to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday this year is on the 5th March.

• Years 3-6 will attend Parish Mass at 9am in the church.
• Prep - Year 2 will attend a Liturgy at 12pm in the church.
• Parish Mass for families and parishioners at 9am or 5:30pm.

One way we focus on Almsgiving during Lent is to raise money for Project Compassion and each class has a money box to collect money to support the mission projects of Caritas.  Places they are currently supporting are the people of Somoa, Vietnam and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More information about the projects can be found at Project Compassion.

Parish News

Lenten Liturgy Program - the following services will take place at St Mary's Church over the coming weeks:

• Lenten Program - for times contact Parish Office
• Stations of the Cross - Fridays 5:30pm
• Reconciliation - TBC
• Anointing of the Sick - TBC

First Reconciliation - please continue to pray for the students who are preparing for their First Reconciliation.

Baptisms - if you or your child would like to learn more about being baptised into the Catholic Faith please contact Mrs Young or the parish office on 4661 1033.

Altar Servers - once students have celebrated their First Communion they are able to perform the ministry of Altar serving. If you child is interested in this important ministry please contact Mrs Young.

Confirmation -the parish is now taking enrolments for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Children who are in Grade 4 and above and will have completed their First Reconciliation are welcome to enrol. To enrol or if you have any enquiries please email warwick@ctwb.org.au

Weekend Masses - Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 8:30am

Sharon Young

Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity

“Those who hope in the Lord will be strengthened and will be able to run and walk without growing weary.” Isaiah 40:31

Curriculum

Term 1 Curriculum Overviews

As we embark on a new academic year, we're excited to share with you the Term 1 Curriculum Overviews for each year level. These documents replace the Course Descriptions previously found in report cards. Our aim is to foster a more engaging and informed learning environment for our students and their families.

Understanding the Curriculum Overviews
The Curriculum Overviews are designed to give you a glimpse into your child's learning journey before it unfolds. This proactive approach ensures that you're not just a spectator but an active participant in your child's education. By moving away from the retrospective Course Descriptions, we're inviting you to look ahead and join us in this exciting educational adventure.

Why We Chose to Share in Print
In an age where digital communication dominates, we've chosen to print these overviews for a reason. A physical copy, easily accessible at home—be it on your fridge or noticeboard—serves as a constant reminder of your child's learning topics. It encourages spontaneous and meaningful conversations that can significantly enhance the learning experience.

The Power of Everyday Conversations
We've all been there—asking, "What did you learn today?" only to receive a vague "Nothing much." The Curriculum Overviews aim to change this narrative. Imagine sparking a conversation about the water cycle over dinner or discussing the significance of a historical landmark on your way to school. These are opportunities for your child to share, teach, and take pride in their learning.

The Impact of Shared Learning Experiences
The benefits of these shared moments extend far beyond academic achievement. They foster a sense of value and self-worth in our children, reinforcing the importance of their daily learning and efforts. When children see their family's genuine interest and pride in their education, it motivates them to engage more deeply and enthusiastically in class.

How You Can Make the Most of the Curriculum Overviews
We encourage you to use the Curriculum Overviews as a springboard for daily conversations. Whether it's a playful game of "I spy" with 3D shapes or a discussion about local history, these interactions can transform into rich, educational experiences. Your engagement not only supports your child's learning but also strengthens your bond with them.

Navigating NAPLAN

As we approach the second half of Term 1, our Year 3 and Year 5 students will be participating in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. These assessments provide valuable insights into your child's educational progress in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy.

Preparation through the OMNIBUS Practice Test

To ensure students are well-prepared and confident, we will administer the OMNIBUS practice test during Week 5. This practice session will familiarise students with the digital platform used for NAPLAN, enabling them to navigate the questions with ease. It is important to note that the OMNIBUS test is solely for practice purposes; no student data will be collected. This experience aims to mitigate test-related anxiety and enhance students' comfort with the digital tools.

The Significance of NAPLAN

NAPLAN provides essential information for parents, educators, and students. It assists in identifying strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring our teaching strategies are tailored to meet the individual needs of each student. Furthermore, NAPLAN results offer valuable data on the efficacy of our educational programs, guiding us in refining our curriculum to better serve our students.

Information and Support for Parents

We recognise that NAPLAN can generate questions and, at times, concerns for parents. To address this, we will be providing more detailed information in forthcoming newsletters. These updates will cover all aspects of NAPLAN, including strategies for supporting your child during this period.

Attached are informative infographics provided by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). These visuals are designed to provide a clear understanding of NAPLAN, including its objectives, structure, and how the results are utilised to enhance your child's learning. We encourage you to review these resources, as they offer a comprehensive overview of the NAPLAN process. You can also find further information at this link: NAP - For parents and carers

Should you have any immediate inquiries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our aim is to ensure that you and your child feel supported and well-informed throughout this process.

Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight!

Jess Harper
Middle Leader: Teaching and Learning

Student Awards

Spotted Rising Up

Congratulations to all the students who have been 'Spotted Rising Up'. The prize winners were Emily L and Ruby A, which was announced at Assembly on Friday, 21st February 2025.

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. 

Tuckshop

Tuckshop is available at St Mary's on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It would be great if orders can be placed by 12pm the day before but all orders need to be placed by 7:30am the day of your order (and can be cancelled up until that time if your child is away) at www.flexischools.com.au or on the Flexischools app.

If your child is sick or not at school on a day you ordered Tuckshop please cancel the order by 7:30am or contact the school office after 8am.

Tuckshop helpers for the next three weeks:

Wednesday, 26th February - Mary Jane Aniciete

Thursday, 27th February - Bianca Dusting

Wednesday, 5th March - Lyn Flint

Thursday, 6th March - Emily Cross

Treat Week - Wednesday, 12th March - Stacey Gabriel & Tracey Leven

Treat Week - Thursday, 13th March - Jared Knapp & Stacey White

Thank you, helpers. Your help is really appreciated.

Sport

Southern Downs Cricket

Congratulations to Declan, Riley, Josh, Mitchel, Tom, Hugh, Brady and Jack who trialed for the Southern Downs Cricket team. There was a high level of competition and the boys should be proud of their efforts.

Southern Downs Swimming

Best wishes to the 18 students attending the Southern Downs Swimming Trials next Tuesday, 25th February. Mrs Rhianna Ryan will be our team manager and will take your permission forms to WIRAC.

School Hockey

Thursday afternoons, starting at 3:30pm with training and warm up. Games at 4:00 and 4:45pm. Our students represented our school with pride this week. We still have a few places if there are other students in Years 3-6 who would like to join our team. Please contact Mrs Young if your child is interested.

Cross Country

We will hold our annual Cross Country Competition on Monday, 31st March, at Morgan Park Raceway, for Prep-Year 6 students.

In the lead up, we will have Running Club on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings to increase running stamina and the enjoyment of running. If students would like to participate but their formal shoes are not the best for running they are welcome to bring their running shoes to change into for their run. 

Administration

School fees have been emailed to all parents. If you have not received the email or if you have any queries or concerns regarding the fees, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Notices

Future Kindergarten Enrolments

If you have younger children or know anyone who plans to express interest in SMW Kindy then please complete the SMW Kindy Waitlist – as per the flyer attached.  Children can be booked in from birth and we are nearly at full capacity for 2026 and 2027-2029 places are filling very fast.  We certainly do want to support our families across the school campuses and the parish.