Welcome to Term 1 Week 1 2024
Principals Report
WELCOME TO 2024
Welcome back, everyone, and welcome to our new students and families. As we begin a new school year, we thank you all for the hard work and organisation that prepared your children for a new school year.
We have been working diligently over the summer break to ensure the school is clean & tidy, the classrooms are well-resourced, and the staff are ready to deliver a rich knowledge-based curriculum.
We are excited and nervous about beginning our new lunch & recess times this week. Please ask your children what they think about the changes over the next few days and weeks. A reminder that students will go out to play at 10:50, return and eat between 11:20 - 11:30. This will be the main lunch meal of the day. The afternoon consists of a play at 1:20 - 1:50 and a recess eating break between 1:50 -2 pm.
New eating and play times for 2024:
LUNCH
- 10:50 - 11:20 Play
- 11:20 - 11:30 Lunch eating time
RECESS
- 1:20 - 1:50 Play
- 1:50 - 2:00 Recess eating time
CONGRATULATIONS
We congratulate our Deputy Principal Ben McCulloch, his wife Jackie and their children Valerie and Julian on the arrival of Miles Rudi McCulloch at the end of January. We wish Ben, Jackie, Valerie, Julian and Miles all the best in this new chapter of their lives.
STAFF UPDATE
Catholic Education Tasmania has forwarded to me the statement below in relation to Kathy Tapp and asked the school to share the exact wording with staff and our wider community.
We wish to announce Kathy Tapp has resigned from her position at Stella Maris Catholic School as a result of her serious and ongoing health concerns.
Kathy joined the school in March 2006 and in that time has provided unwavering support of the school and the wider Catholic family.
We would like to thank Kathy for her service and wish her all the best in the future.
NEW STAFF
Welcome to our new staff for 2024. We are pleased to have the following new teaching staff on board at Stella Maris:
- Prep Room 4: Miss Emily Probert
- Grade 1 Room 6: Miss Claire Guest
- Grade 2 Room 7: Miss Kelsey Stribbling
- Grade 5 Room 13: Mrs Anna Hart
- Grade 5 Room 14: Miss Montana Bradley
CANTEEN
Due to the different eating times in 2024, we have had to make the following changes to our Canteen arrangements.
- Canteen days for 2024 will be Monday to Friday.
- Canteen orders via QKR will now close at 8:30 am. Due to time constraints, orders received after this time will only be offered a toasted sandwich.
- Canteen orders will now be distributed at our new lunchtime, 11:20 am.
- Over-the-counter Canteen sales will only be available on Fridays from 1:20-1:50 pm. Students can purchase the snack items offered at the Canteen during this time.
IMPORTANT: STUDENT MORNING ENTRY
Classrooms are open from 8:35 am each morning. Students can only move around to their classroom entrance once the duty teacher announces the school is open. Playgrounds are not supervised and are closed during this before-school period.
FORTNIGHTLY ASSEMBLY
In 2024, we will have a new assembly time. Assemblies will now be held in weeks 2,4,6,8 each term (Week 9 in Term 1) on Fridays at 2:10 pm. Families will be invited to attend if their child is to receive an award.
RE News
Reflection on the Sunday Gospel –Mark 1:40-45
A man who has a skin problem comes to Jesus and asks to be healed. Jesus makes
the man better but asks that he not tell anyone what has happened. Instead, he asks
the man to visit the priest and give thanks to God for his cure.
How do you think this man felt when he realised that Jesus had healed him?
The man does not do as Jesus asks; instead, he goes around telling everyone the
story. Why do you think he did this? Perhaps it was because he was just so happy to
be well again and wanted everyone to know about it.
Next week, we enter a significant time in the Church calendar year – Lent.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter.
During Lent, we are called to Pray more, give up something and participate in
almsgiving – doing good deeds for others.
In our school, we strive to be just like Jesus by being brave, curious and kind.
We live with Jesus in our hearts. We try to be like Jesus today in our world by caring
for others and by showing kindness in our actions and words. We don’t do this for
accolades or recognition, we do this to be closer to the person of Jesus.
I wonder, how can you be more like Jesus? What things could you give up? How
could you help another person?
https://cafod.org.uk/education/children-s-liturgy
The Lenten season within the Catholic Church begins on Ash Wednesday – 15 th
February. To mark the significance of this season of the Church, the children will be
participating in Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday activities.
Up-Coming Events
Shrove Tuesday – Children will have the opportunity to have a pancake next
Tuesday to mark this significant day. These will be offered either as plain or with
raspberry jam. If your child has an intolerance, could you please inform your child’s
class teacher?
Ash Wednesday – To mark the beginning of the 40 days of Lent leading up to
Easter, the children will be participating in class Liturgies. In these Liturgies, the
children will receive ashes on their foreheads. These will be happening throughout
the day. If you would like to attend your child’s class Liturgy, please contact your
child’s teacher for further information.
Uniform Shop
Opening Hours
Each Tuesday, 8.30 am - 12.30 pm.
Orders placed via Qkr after 10.00 am on a Tuesday and before 10.00 am cutoff the following Tuesday will be processed when the shop is open and sent home with children on the day.
Alternatively, orders can be collected after 11.00 am on Tuesday during opening times if preferred.
Stella Stars
Sessions: 9.15 am - 10.45 am & 12.00 pm - 1.30 pm
Bookings through Facebook: Stella Stars Early Years Learning
First Session: Wednesday, 14th February 2024
Grade 1 Room 5 First Day Fun
Bubble fun in Grade One! Our new Grade Ones had a fantastic first day. We spent some time out in the sunshine, blowing bubbles and having fun.
Parent Resources
CATHOLIC EDUCATION COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT PROCESSES
Complaints Management Process for Parents
Complaints Management Process for Students
BASKET CASE
by Steve (Mr P.) Puccetti
Our very clever Mr Puccetti has been busy creating this wonderful new book with the help of former student Chia Gbenga's amazing illustration talents.
Books are available from the school office for $20 (cash only)
Important Upcoming Dates
CLICK TO SYNC TO YOUR CALENDAR
Monday 12th February - Grade 4 Formation Day Camp Clayton
Tuesday 13th February - Shrove Tuesday (pancakes in classrooms)
Wednesday 14th February - Ash Wednesday (In classroom liturgies)
Tuesday 5th & Thursday 7th March - Parent Teacher
Monday 11th March - Public Holiday (Eight Hours Day)
Tuesday 12th March - Kindergarten & New Families: Welcome to Stella BBQ (4 pm - 5 pm)
Tuesday 12th March - School Advisory Board Meeting No. 1 (5 pm - 6 pm)
Tuesday 12th March - NW Swimming Carnival (selected students)
Friday 29th March - Good Friday (public holiday)
Monday 1st April - Easter Monday (public holiday)
Tuesday 2nd April - Easter Tuesday (public holiday)
Monday 8th April - Kinder Athletics (TBC)
Wednesday 10th April - Stella Maris Athletics Carnival (TBC)
Thursday 11th April - Last Day of Term 1
Monday 29th April - First Day of Term 2
BNA Netball Winter Roster - Saturday 4th May: Starting
Friday 24th May - Stella Maris Cross Country Carnival
Friday 7th June - NW Catholic Schools Cross Country Carnival (selected students)
Monday 10th June - King's Birthday (public holiday)
Tuesday 18th June - All Schools Cross County Symmons Plains (selected students)
Monday 1st July - School Photo Day
Friday 5th July - Last Day of Term 2
Tuesday 23rd July - First Day of Term 3
Friday 27th September - Last Day of Term 3
Friday 4th October - Burnie Show Day (public holiday)
Tuesday 15th October - First Day of Term 4
Wednesday 20th November - NW Athletics (selected students)
Friday 22nd November - All Schools Triathlon Devonport
Tuesday 17th December - Last Day of Term 4 : For Staff & Students
Outside News
