Term 3 Week 3

We acknowledge Catholic Schools Open week, we celebrate some important Saints in our Stella Maris lives, we look forward to meeting with parents about progress and development and we introduce some new staff who have started with us. This is Week 3 of Term 3!

I promise I won’t say too much about COVID! I am sure you, like me, are almost over hearing about it and I provided a further update in email form to all parents yesterday. As such, I simply wish to again thank you for the way you continue to support our efforts as we continue to live and work through these ‘interesting’ and ‘unpredictable’ times. Please know that while this is taking up some of our energy, we are well and truly focussed on ensuring we are providing the high quality teaching and learning programs which we always have.

Term 3 is an important term for student learning and growth. It is often the term where ‘everything comes together’. The students know the teacher and class routine well, the teachers know the kids inside out and the structures and learning programs are well entrenched. It is an important time for students to be at school and focussed on their learning tasks and activities.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OPEN WEEK:

This week we celebrate Catholic Schools Open Week – an opportunity to showcase the outstanding work we do here at Stella Maris and in Catholic Schools in general. As I mention later in my article, our enrolments and interest in our school is at an all time high level, but this is an important chance to continue to promote who we are and what we do.

COVID has derailed a few of these plans, including an initial plan to have a current parents and friends Open morning and afternoon where you would spend time exploring your child’s classroom and the school in general. Unfortunately restrictions have meant we have had to postpone this – we are still committed to have this occur later in the term.

Principal tours will occur after hours and with limited adults on site, again a change to how we normally run our Principal tours. Finally, you might have seen our advertisements in print – the Advertiser on Saturday had the Catholic Schools lift out and the photo above shows Grace adorning an advertisement in Brighton Central. We also have Jackson’s image on a bus shelter on Sturt road.

SOME IMPORTANT FEAST DAYS:

We have and will acknowledge some important Feast days recently. While in lock down it was the Feast of St Ann and Joachim – the Grandparents of Jesus. St Ann is also the Patron saint of our Parish community. Grandparents are essential people in our children’s lives. The relationships between Grandparents and their grandchildren is different to that of the parents and as it should be. I’m sure Jesus’ Grandparents spoilt him as most Grandparents do and were positive and affirming role models for him.

Coming up on Sunday the 8^th August is the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary is Australia’s first (and only) Saint and provides us, particularly in education with an amazing role model who started the first Catholic School in Penola and whose vision for education for all is still a calling we hear today.

Again, while COVID has interrupted our planned celebrations for these days, we have (and will) acknowledge them here at school.

PARENT-TEACHER CONVERSATIONS:

As you know we were ready to hold Parent-Teacher conversations last week. Unfortunately, the ongoing restrictions have put these on hold. However, we do value how important these conversations are and as such have re-scheduled these to Week 5 of this Term. We are hopeful of restrictions lifting by then and having face to face interviews, but if this is not able to occur, we will conduct these conversations over the phone. Due to this change in date, we have asked all families to re-book their conversation time and further information about this was sent home on Monday.

SOME NEW STAFF:

I’m pleased to let you know we have employed some extra ESOs to support our teaching and learning program in various classes and year levels. Jane Agiannidis, Vanessa Kay and Milano Vizzari will all have a specific focus on supporting students in Literacy and Numeracy and these appointments align with our vision to ensure that all students are provided with the necessary support and attention to ensure they continue to grow and flourish at Stella.

USE OF CCTV CAMERAS:

A number of years ago Stella Maris had CCTV cameras installed at various points throughout the school. I write to let you know that the CCTV cameras we have are operational. We use the CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of our students, staff and property of our school. Only authorised people are permitted to view the footage and this will only occur with my express permission for the purposes of ensuring the safety of our community and school. Please feel free to come and see me if you need further information about this. 

2022 PLANNING:

We have well and truly begun our planning for 2022 and at this point in time we are looking at enrolment numbers and initial class structures. Interest in our school across most year levels in high with little wriggle room in most year levels for new enrolments. As such, if you know that you won’t be at Stella Maris in 2022, I would ask that you let me know of this information as soon as possible. 

Thanks as always for your support.

James

THANK YOU

I’d like to begin my article today by thanking all parents and family members who continue to support the health and safety of all with in our community by wearing masks and observing social distancing requirements. It is great to see the support for the common good.

CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CELEBRATIONS 17-19 AUGUST

In week 5, 17-19 August 36 Students from Stella Maris, who are a part of St Ann’s Parish, will be celebrating their Confirmation.  On the three Sunday’s following this these children will then celebrate their First Holy Communion. Please keep the following students in your prayers; Logan, Violette, Zion, Shant, Tegan, Sophie, Rosie, Emily, Marcus, Sacha, Darcy, Phoebe, Sienna, Timothy, Errin, Matilda, Zuri, Cian, James, Mary, Blake, Emily, Louisa, Ella, Emily, Tyler, Grace, Annalise, Sophia, Hamish, Noah, Diana, Noel, Fraser, Levi and Elise.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LITERACY ASSESSMENT TEST (RELAT)

During the week of August 16-22, each of the Year 4 students will sit the Religious Education Literacy Assessment Test (RELAT). The purpose of this test is to provide a snapshot of Year 4 students’ basic religious literacy knowledge within a broader suite of assessment approaches used in Religious Education in Catholic schools which will inform teacher professional learning, curriculum design and pedagogies into the future.

ADELAIDE DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY 17 AND 18 SEPTEMBER 2021, CABRA DOMINICAN COLLEGE

In the coming week each family will receive a postcard with information about the upcoming Diocesan Assembly to be held here in Adelaide at Cabra Dominican College, from Friday 17 September through until Saturday 18 September.

 ‘What is an Assembly?’

A Diocesan assembly is a gathering of representatives from the various communities within the Archdiocese of Adelaide to discuss the life of the local church and to make recommendations for the work and mission of the archdiocese.

What role can we play?

The preparation for a Diocesan Assembly begins with a period of consultation. Each person can have input to help to shape the agenda for the assembly.

Every person is encouraged to,

Think about:

• The Challenges and opportunities in the community:
• How can we as church best fulfil our mission to be the People of God in this place?

Respond to the question:

• What do you think are the most important things to be discussed at the Diocesan Assembly?

Using the information on the postcard you are able to respond to the questions posed and thus have the opportunity to shape what happens with in our diocese.

Responses are due in by Monday 16 August.

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:

“Try at least to excuse what you cannot understand and bear in mind that you have only to answer for your own faults.” Mary MacKillop. May 21, 1877 (Aged 25).

God’s Blessings,

Paula Clark

APRIM

Homework Club

We are looking forward to recommencing Homework club in week 6 of this term, following a successful trial in term 2. Although we had planned to begin in week 3, this has not been possible due to covid restrictions. Homework Club will continue to be run in partnership with Sacred Heart College (Senior School), through their MSol program.

MSol is a social justice group aimed at supporting those with needs through fundraising, awareness campaigns and/or outreach. MSol was established through ‘Marist Solidarity’, one of the four branches of the Marist Association for St Marcellin Champagnat, whose main focus is on charity and outreach to support local and global communities.

The Homework Club at Stella Maris will be supported by the MSol group which is made up of students from Yr 10-12.

We see a number of great benefits with being involved in this initiative. In addition to assisting students and families with the pressures of homework, it will also allow us to continue to strengthen our partnership with the college. With many of our students transitioning to SHC for middle and high school, it will also be a great opportunity for students to become aware of possible future pathways while connecting with and conversing with students currently at Sacred Heart.

This program will run on Monday afternoons from 3pm-4pm in the Resource Centre, during weeks 6-10 of term 3. It is offered to students in years 4-6.

Please register your interest using the following link https://forms.office.com/r/yTGMXctpbU

A confirmation email will be sent to registered families during week 5.

Year 1 Phonics Screening

We are in the process of completing the Year 1 Phonics Screening on all of our year 1 students. Following the successful trial in 2019 and 2020, the Phonics Screening Check has been made mandatory in all CESA Diocesan Schools in 2021. The PSC is a 5-7 minute assessment for children in Year 1, which is undertaken with children 1:1 by their class teacher. It is a diagnostic tool used to provide information about how well students are learning to decode and blend letters into sounds - one of the building blocks of reading.

One of the main purposes of gathering this data is to ensure that students who are struggling with phonics are identified early, which guides our teaching, learning and intervention programs.

Living Learning Leading Survey

Next week, our students and teachers will be completing the Living Learning Leading survey, which is an initiative from CESA aimed at gathering feedback from all stakeholders about the performance of our school against the Living Learning Leading Framework. It is an opportunity for our school community to share their thoughts on a range of elements within our school. Parents will also be invited to complete the survey, as your valued feedback can assist us in ensuring that Stella Maris continues to be a great place to be.

Kind Regards

Ella Kirkham

Assistant Principal (Learning & Wellbeing)

This week I found inspiration while watching the movie 'Barnyard' with my three year old.  It fit perfectly for the term 3 theme of courage, so as a wise cow once said: "It takes a strong person to stand up for themself, but a stronger person to stand up for others!" 

Emily Hughes 
ESO|Pastoral Care Support