22 Term 3 Week 1

We welcome a new term with enthusiasm and renewed energy, we celebrate our Parish Saint and the important role of Grandparents, we continue our building work and look forward to many great events throughout Term 3. This is Week 1 of Term 3!

WELCOME TO TERM 3:

It’s great to be back! As I wandered through classrooms this week, I was so pleased to see smiling faces and a readiness to learn. I asked all classes “How were your holidays?” – The answer back was generally “great” or “fun”. I also asked our students who was pleased to be back? And I can report in all honesty that the very high majority of students all indicated that indeed it was great to be back! Although some of the kids will tell you that they ‘want more holidays’ – I can assure you that deep down they are all very excited to be back at school. There are smiling faces, friends they haven’t seen in a while, games they haven’t played and a structure and routine which although they need a break from, provides them with a great sense of calm and peace.

It was also a delight to welcome 25 new students and their families to Stella Maris. Of these, 19 are brand new to our school. We are very pleased that you have chosen us to support your child’s educational journey. We very much look forward to working with you over your journey with us.

FEAST OF ST ANNE AND JOACHIM:

We had desperately hoped that we could gather in the Church for our first whole school Mass since 2020 on Wednesday morning. Alas, COVID disrupted these plans once again. None the less, classes engaged in a liturgy celebrating the Grandparents of Jesus – St Anne and St Joachim. In our liturgy, we were asked to reflect on the role of our ‘Grandparents’. I often joke to my own parents that I sense they love their ‘Grandkids’ more than me! But on reflection, I think it is a very different love to a parents. They have fun, they laugh and give lollies and they provide a sense of the ‘past’ that is so important to our kids.

We also acknowledged the many Grandparents not with us anymore who brought so much joy and love to our world.

BUILDING UPDATE:

If you’ve done a drop off this term, you will see the enormity of the last 4 weeks at Stella. In this time we have transported 5 transportable buildings to the grass space in readiness for our ongoing building works. Paving has been complete to ensure a safe and aesthetically pleasing area. A deck will also be built between the classrooms to allow for ease of access and school bag storage.

It was really a big few weeks. Anyone who has recently tried to get any form of ‘building or improvement’ work done will know the demand on trades is extremely high. I thank the following companies for their very collaborative approach to our work and the hard work they have done to ensure there has been very limited disruption to our learning program.

• A1 Transport (Scott and his team)
• Fleurieu Cranes
• Splendid Creations
• Rhino Steel Fabrication

And I also thank Tony Carbone for his tireless and ongoing work on site in ensuring quality and timely work has been completed.

From here, we continue to move through the approval process with plans currently at Council and CESA for ongoing approval. We are very much looking forward to sharing these plans with you in coming weeks.

REPORTS:

On Tuesday you would have received your child’s Progress Report for Semester 1. As the name suggests, this was a ‘progress update’ on how your child is tracking thus far this year. This formal report is one of a number of ways in which we communicate to you about your child’s holistic development. I hope you found the information useful.

Next week we will follow these reports up with parent-teacher conversations. Details on how to book these conversations have been sent a couple of times via email.

I have been meeting with each of our teaching staff individually this week and having read the reports, have challenged them all to think about how we can ‘progress’ a student in each learning area of their learning development. While it’s not realistic for all students to receive an A grade, it is possible for ongoing improvement and progression. Our staff are committed to ensuring that your child achieves their absolute best while here at Stella Maris.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS EVENTS:

Our Parents and Friends remain a very vibrant group this year! Coming up quickly will be one of the most highly anticipated nights of the year – “Bogan Bingo”. You can see the advertisement with full details in todays newsletter. Please note that tables are selling fast, and with a cap on numbers, they will sell out. Get in fast to secure your ticket (either by booking a table or individual tickets for the night via QKR).

HOMEWORK CLUB:

We are excited to again partner with a number of Y10-12 MSOL students of Sacred Heart College who will support students in Y4-6 through our Homework club. Back by popular demand, not only is this a great opportunity to complete homework with supportive older students, but we found the connection between students and the conversation about ‘high school’ to be of major benefit to those who joined the group.

More information about this initiative will be sent out by Ella Kirkham in the coming days.

EMAIL COMMUNICATION:

One of the key ways we communicate with parents is via email. Often whole school messages are sent out to the email address we have on file. This week, emails have been sent out to all parents regarding:

• Reminders about the Music Concert and ticket sales, Parent-Teacher conversations and COVID reminders – sent from me
• Address collection and privacy information – sent from Cathy

We have been notified that at times these emails are going straight to spam or junk files, and some parents have chosen an email address which they rarely check and as such not getting the information in a timely manner. We would ask that you ensure that you have received these emails and if a change of email address is required, you contact Cathy in the front office.  

NCCD:

In 2016 the Federal Government implemented the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability. This is an annual, national collection of data that anonymously counts the number of school students with a disability and the level of educational adjustments they are provided with.

The Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Standards use a very broad and inclusive definition of what constitutes a disability, it does not necessarily require a medical or professional diagnosis.

This can include students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and asthma.

The decision as to whether a particular child falls within this definition for this data collection relies on the professional judgment of school staff about each child's additional educational needs. Throughout the year, parents of students who are counted on this list, are consulted with and provided with information about the adjustments occurring for their child. If you have a question regarding whether or not your child will be counted on this list, or you do not wish your child to be included please contact me as soon as possible.

2023 PLANNING:

Believe it or not, we are well and truly in planning mode for 2023. Enrolments and enrolment interest at Stella Maris is at an all time high and we have very limited places available throughout the school. As such, I would ask that if you know for any reason you will not be returning to Stella Maris next year you let me know as soon as possible. Our 2023 Reception enrolments are now at a maximum number and a waitlist has had to be started. We are also close to doing the same for 2024 already.

As always, please know that my door is open and I am always interested to hear from you about any aspect of your child’s growth and development.

Stay safe,

James

CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION PARENT/CHILD MEETING 9 AUGUST, 6.30PM HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH

On Tuesday 9 August, 6.30pm at Holy Spirit Church, we will hold our next meeting for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. At this meeting we will be exploring more closely the Sacrament of Confirmation. We ask that all children preparing for these Sacraments are in attendance at this meeting, with at least one of their parents. A reminder to please return the Confirmation name and sponsor form at this meeting.

YEAR 5 CLASS MASS TUESDAY 9 AUGUST 9.15AM HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH

Parents of our Year 5 Students are invited to join us at our Parish Mass on Tuesday 9 August. Students will be involved in the Mass and will bring joy to the Parishioners with their singing which will be led by our music teacher, Victoria Traeger. We look forward to seeing those who are able to join us at this Mass.

WALK A MILE – HUTT STREET FUNDRAISER – FRIDAY 12 AUGUST

This year as a school community we will be holding a ‘Walk a Mile’ fundraiser in support of the Hutt Street Centre for the homeless. By walking a mile or more, students will be showing solidarity with people doing it tough, as well as funding essential meals, hot showers, loads of laundry, and much needed support so people can rebuild their lives.

In 2022, the aim for the walk is to collectively walk 60,000 miles, for the 6,000 people experiencing homelessness in South Australia. This walk will be undertaken on the week of 7-13 August, which is the week just after National Homelessness Week.

At Stella Maris we will hold our walk on Friday, 12 August. The Year 3-6 students will begin the day with Community Prayer followed by a 1 mile (1.6km) walk around the neighbouring streets. The R-2 classes will complete their walk at the park, starting at approximately 9am and following this will hold their Community Prayer. The prayer services will be held in the Church.

As a school we are excited to help highlight awareness of homelessness in our community and to raise much needed funds. We are therefore asking all students to bring in a gold coin donation on the day, or to make their donation using the QKR app (we will open the QKR app facility to make donations during the week of the 8-12 August).

FEAST OF STS JOACHIM AND ANN, MOTHER AND FATHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 26 JULY

This week we had hoped to hold our first Whole School Mass in the Church on Wednesday to celebrate the Feast of Saints Joachim and Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Due to the current recommendations from Catholic Education to hold off non-essential gatherings, we made the decision to place this plan on hold. Instead, each class has participated in a liturgy in their own classrooms to celebrate this important feast. Students reflected on the role of Grandparents, or those who are like Grandparents to them and made links to how Saints Joachim and Ann were the Grandparents of Jesus.

SOUTHERN CROSS:

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,’ The Southern Cross,’ is available at: www.thesoutherncross.org.au

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

A kind word spoken can make another’s day. A kind word not spoken leaves an empty hole.