23 Term 2 Week 1

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back for term 2, it really is great to be back! Our students and staff seem very rested and re-energised after a busy Term 1 and there has been a very smooth and calm start to the term. We are looking forward to another busy term at Stella Maris.

Term 2 is an important term for learning as we continue to ‘up the ante’ with curriculum coverage and assessment of learnt topics. Our teachers know the students well and there has been a great structure and routine set up. Along with this, there are a number of things happening this term that will continue to support the holistic development of our students. The Resilience Project will continue to be a significant area of our work, both in the classroom and throughout the school, as we strive to teach and live the GEM principles of gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and emotional literacy.

I believe we do many things exceptionally well at Stella Maris, and one of these things is the connections we have within the school that support our children to become thriving people and capable learners. Being a proud Catholic school, this is a part of who we are and what we strive to do. Our Catholic Identity is interwoven through everything that we do at Stella Maris and contextualised for our students through our school values, our school theme, the curriculum and the opportunities and experiences that they have. These elements, along with our commitment to supporting students to be ‘Stella Learners’ in a safe and supported environment, all contribute to the wellbeing and development of all students.

STAFFING

As has been communicated recently, we welcome 3 new Classroom ESO's to Stella this term. Zofia Craig, Brooklyn Linke and Shannan Herbert all start with us today. 

We also welcome Emilka Ruskecka, who is working with us on Wednesdays for leadership release time in 1NG and 6BP.

We can also let you know that Mrs Nicki McCann (R-2 Science Specialist teacher) has recently won a position as mid-year Reception teacher at Investigator College in Encounter Bay. This school is much closer to Nicki's house and is a great opportunity for her. We wish her well as she begins this new position in Term 3. 

REMINDER - MOTHER'S DAY MORNING TEA AND LITURGY

Just a reminder that all Mum's / Grandma's are invited to join us for a Mother's Day morning tea and Liturgy on Monday 15^th May. Those available are invited to join us in the Parish Hall for a morning tea and coffee/tea from 8:15am and then our Mother's Day liturgy which will take place in the Church from 9:00am. Please rsvp to this event by filling in the following form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q2QiNpggQkGJVNZfIlG_pfvhQh5W_e5MtVMowIUvk1VUMk44M1dTNkUySVNUWEREMERTOE5QTEZTMS4u

PARENT WORKSHOPS

Two parent workshops will be offered this term with dates and details as follows - please note change in dates for BOTH workshops:

• Approaches to Literacy at Stella - what we do and why - and how you can help at home - Monday 22^nd May - 9:00am and 6:30pm (this is the same workshop repeated twice)
• The Resilience Project at Stella - What is it and how can it help create thriving and flourishing people - Monday 19^th June - 9:00am and 6:30pm.

We are really looking forward to sharing this information with families!

INVITATION: Catholic School Parents SA

Catholic School Parents of South Australia (CSPSA) is an organisation that aims to promote and support parents and families by providing a voice for education and issues which affect their children. The website: https://cspsa.catholic.edu.au/home and Facebook page are a great place to find information and resources along with events that are being hosted by CSPSA.

If you use Facebook, I would recommend following the CSPSA page as they are quite active in posting information and promoting events such as the one mentioned below.

The Parent Engagement Program is one of the services provided by CSPSA and welcomes all parents and carers of children in Catholic schools to attend. The next event is an inspirational evening with Gill Hicks MBE AM, who is globally known as a survivor of the London terrorist bombings on July 7th, 2005. She survived, but suffered severe and permanent injuries, losing both legs from just below the knee. Gill is a published author, musician, award winning artist and performer. Gill’s appreciation and gratitude for life is present throughout all her creative works. Her presentation Resilience – will be a raw conversation on her life experience, gratitude for life and how it relates to families.

The event will be limited to 300 in person Catholic school family attendees. There will be online option with live streaming.

The details of the event are in the flyer and below:

Date: 30 May 2023 @ 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Location: Loreto College – Performing Arts Centre, 316 Portrush Road Marryatville SA

Cost: Free

Registration: Registrations can be made via the Registration Centre https://registrationcentre.cesa.catholic.edu.au/event-5247928?fbclid=IwAR1vqNOjaz1eIZ3BEfcVfs6JzwevoVjluZ4CV4uzGEUfnl6kRwgDV5ZEqWY

BUILDING UPDATE

If you have at Stella for pick up and/or drop off this term, you may have noticed that the building site is a hive of activity! This will continue to be the case in coming weeks as the works progress. James will provide a further building update early next week.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our great school. Please feel free to contact me at any stage, via phone, email or in person if there is anything you'd like to discuss.

Kind Regards

Ella Kirkham

Dear families and friends,

Welcome to the 4^th week of the Easter Season and a brand new term – there is so much tangible joy in the air as students, staff and families reconnect with each other after the holiday break!

Religious Education Related Events for Term 2

I have included a timetable below for your information, of Religious Education related events that we have so far scheduled for this term.  Hopefully having some advance notice, may give you the opportunity to attend, especially when your child/children are involved.

DATE                  EVENT

WEEK 2

Tues May 9        9.15am Parish Mass – Yr3 classes attending

                           7-8pm   Reconciliation Preparation Session number 2 (Sacramental Prog)

WEEK 3

Mon May 15      8.15am Mother’s Day Morning Tea in Parish Hall

                           9am      Mother’s Day Liturgy in the Church

Tues May 16      7pm      Reconciliation Celebration in the Church (Sacramental Prog)

Thurs May 18    2pm      Launch of Vinnie’s Winter Appeal in the Church

WEEK 4

Wed May 24      9.15am Whole School ‘Stella Day’ Mass

WEEK 5

Tues May 29      9.15am Parish Mass – Yr Rec/1 classes attending

WEEK 6

Tues June 6        9.15am Parish Mass – Yr2 classes attending

WEEK 7

Tues June 13     9.15am Parish Mass – Yr4 classes attending

WEEK 8

Tues June 20     9.15am Parish Mass – Yr5 classes attending

WEEK 9

Tues June 27     9.15am Parish Mass – Yr6 classes attending

Sacramental Programme

As you can see from the table above, we have one more preparation session for Reconciliation next Tuesday evening and the following week, young people from our Parish will be celebrating a Liturgy and their First Reconciliation.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation has a focus on healing relationships and being reflective of the choices we make in life. 

In Term 3, we will begin preparing young people who have been enrolled in the Sacramental Programme for Confirmation and First Eucharist.  If your child is 10 years or older and you are interested in them receiving these Sacraments, please contact either the parish office or myself and we will send you out a Registration Form.

My email is tanya.stott@smps.catholic.edu.au

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Our Social Justice focus for this term is the ‘Vinnies Winter Appeal’, which we will launch with a guest speaker on Thursday May 18.  Our Social Justice student group will be providing you with more information in the next newsletter, so this is a heads up in case you have good quality, warm clothing that your children have grown out of, or spare blankets, mittens, beanies etc in your cupboards.

Caritas ‘Project Compassion’ Appeal Thank You

On behalf of Caritas Australia, we extend sincere thanks to the Stella Maris community for your generous support in raising over $2,000!   A wonderful effort that we know will make a real difference to the lives of many – thank you!                          

“Thank you for making a difference and helping whole communities to rise up against poverty now and for all future generations.”

(Autumn 2023 Edition of Caritas News)

I will leave you with some wisdom from one of our past popes, Benedict XVI…

“Concern for our neighbour transcends the confines of national communities and has increasingly broadened its horizon to the whole world.”

Many blessings and keep warm,

Tanya Stott