23 Term 3 Week 5

The sun is shining, spring is in the air, it feels like the dark, wet winter is behind us, and there is a great energy at our school currently. Welcome to Week 5 of Term 3!

CONFIRMATION CEREMONIES:

On Wednesday night this week, we had a number of our students receive the sacrament of Confirmation with the Archbishop of Adelaide – Patrick O’Regan preceding over the ceremony. This is a special and significant celebration in their faith journey. The ceremony itself is steeped in tradition and symbolism and involves the ancient tradition of the ‘Laying of Hands’ and the use of the ‘Chrism oil’. Candidates are asked to select a ‘Saint’ and a special person to be their ‘sponsor’ as they continue their faith journey.

We congratulate and acknowledge Maya, Willow, Ethan, Patrick, Imogen, Sebastian, Sam, Will, Bryn and Alisa on this important step in your faith journey.

BOOK WEEK:

This week is Book Week! A great opportunity for us to acknowledge the amazing things books do for us. The theme for this years Book Week is “Read, Grow, Inspire”. We have had a number of activities running throughout the week and it was great to see so many great dress ups at school today. A special thanks to Chandra Payne for her organisation of the week!

SPORTING SUCCESS:

As I write this article, our Year 5/6 boys football SAPSSA knockout team is through to the State Grand Final after a comprehensive victory in their Semi-final today.

This year has again been a huge year of sporting success for Stella in this highly competitive competition, with the following teams still alive and playing:

• Semi-final - girls football
• Semi-final – girls soccer
• Grand final – girls basketball
• Grand final – boys football
• Grand final – boys netball
• Semi-final – boys and girls cricket

What an outstanding effort! Good luck to all of out teams competing this year and thanks and congratulations to our coaches and organisation committee – including Kym Hill, James McCarthy and Brooke Penney.

PUPIL FREE DAY:

A reminder that we will hold a Pupil free day next Friday 1st September. This day will be used a whole staff spiritual reflection and formation day and as such the front office will be closed for the day. Camp Australia will be running a whole day program for those families who require it. Please book in via the normal means.

2024:

We are well and truly in planning mode for the 2024 school year. At our Principal Tours as part of Catholic Schools Open Week this week we had over 35 families present for our tours. We are finalising enrolments and continue to receive lots of interest in various year levels. To allow us to plan as effectively as we can, I would ask that you let me know if you do not intend on being here at Stella Maris next year. If you know of anyone who wishes to enrol with us, please encourage them to contact us here at school as soon as possible. 

MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN:

I say it often, and I do mean it! Please know that should you wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s growth, development or wish to share any celebrations or otherwise with me, my door is open, my phone is on the hook and my email is checked regularly. It has been really beneficial to have met with a few parents over the last few weeks about their child and their schooling experience, I do thoroughly believe it is the most important part of my role at our great school!

UPCOMING WHOLE SCHOOL EVENTS:

• School photos – Wednesday 30^th August (Sibling photos and catch up day – Monday September 4^th)
• Pupil Free day – Friday September 1^st
• Father’s Day liturgy and morning tea – Monday 4^th September
• Touch football carnival – Wednesday 6^th September
• Cybersafe Families – Student and Parent workshops – Wednesday 14^th September
• Stella’s Market Day – Tuesday 26^th September
• Italian Celebration day – Friday 29^th September  
• Last day of Term 3 – Friday 29^th September

Regards,

James

Dear families and friends,

Lots to Celebrate!

Celebrations are scattered throughout our life journey, marking significant events in our lives.  A number of families in our school and parish are particularly blessed at the moment, having just celebrated their children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday evening and looking forward to them experiencing their First Eucharist on Sunday morning.  After Sunday, Willow, Sam, Maya, Ethan, Patrick, Imogen, Sebastian, William, Bryn and Alisa will be fully initiated into the Catholic faith.  You are warmly invited to join us at the 9.15am Sunday Mass at Holy Spirit Church and for morning tea afterwards.

 Archbishop Patrick O’Regan who officiated at the Confirmation, was very engaging and had many words of wisdom to share with our young people and their families on the night.  Amongst them was the suggestion that each day we pray a very simple, but powerful three word prayer – ‘Come Holy Spirt’ – to welcome God’s presence into our lives and use the Spirit’s gifts for the benefit of all. 

Fathers’ Day Liturgy – Monday September 4

We want to celebrate dads and all the significant men in our lives, so you are invited to morning tea from 8.15am, followed by a Whole School Liturgy in the church at 9am.

Please remember to RSVP so we can cater for the numbers who are able to attend – hope to see you there!

I will leave you with some wisdom from Mother Teresa…

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

Sharing our gifts can involve as little as smiling, but the effect can be very powerful.

Many blessings to you all,

Tanya

Dear School Community,

I am attending a Parenting Conference on Saturday 2nd September in Modbury. It "is a one-day event for parents and professionals who live and work with young people. It’s a place where Australia’s top parenting experts come together to offer you insights on cutting-edge issues affecting today’s kids and teenagers". Tickets are $85.00. To find out more check out resilientkidsconference.com.au 

Also, you may have heard that Stella Maris has been running a Scarecrow Club, many children have been involved in the design, decoration and creating of the Scarecrow. The aim is to enter it into a competition for the Royal Adelaide Show. If you are planning on attending, please visit our Scarecrow (yet to be Christened with a name!) 

Emily Hughes

Pastoral Care Support

MSP Photography envelopes/order forms has been provided to families last week.

If you require another envelope or a sibling envelope, please collect from the office.

P & F Fathers Day Stall - Pre-orders

Fathers Day gifts are available to purchase via Qkr until Sunday 27th August 2023

These can be taken home the last week in August.

There are limited mugs if you are interested in these designs. I would suggest buying ahead if you want to ensure you dont miss out.

Please contact the office if you would like more information.