Welcome to Term 2 Week 7 2024

Principal Report

Dear Families,

I hope that you had a wonderful King’s Birthday long weekend. I spent the weekend with family and friends exploring our Central Highlands and was reminded of the natural beauty of the region. Taking these moments to step away from the ‘busyness’ of our lives is so important and can greatly support the balance of the family unit. 

The family is the most important unit in society.  It is where we learn to love, to trust, and to be responsible. It is where we find support and guidance throughout our lives.

This Sunday we hear in Mark’s gospel the parable of the mustard seed which can be viewed as a reminder of the importance of family. In the parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who plants a mustard seed in his garden. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows into a large tree that provides shelter for the birds of the air.

Just like the mustard seed, families can start out small, but they can grow into something great. Families provide us with the love, support, and guidance we need to grow and reach our full potential. Many of the things we do within the family seem insignificant. They are part of our daily activity and attract little attention. Yet they show our love and concern for one another and overtime have a significant impact on shaping who we become. 

Take some time to appreciate your family. Let them know how much you love and appreciate them. For those who have lost a loved one, I pray that you find solace in knowing how that person shaped you. 

Kind regards,

Ben McCulloch

Acting Principal

RE News

Reflection on the Sunday Gospel – Mark 3:20-35

Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.

Families are places of beginnings. Within our family, we first learn what it means to be part of a community. We share a closeness and experience mutual understanding and support. We learn how to love one another, how to ask for and receive forgiveness, and how to apply all these lessons to the world outside our homes.

As you gather as a family, talk about what makes your family special. Share some of the lessons you have learned together about love, forgiveness, and understanding. Jesus wants us to understand that by doing God’s will, we are part of a bigger family. Choosing to follow Jesus, being his disciple, means we must treat one another with kindness and mercy. We must become a family. Conclude by asking God to bless your family and to help you do God’s will by seeing all his people with the same kind of love and compassion.

Loyola Press

Grade Level Liturgy Reflections…

Grade 5 Liturgy

The Grade 5 students gathered to hear the Word of God. The theme of the Liturgy was Seeds of Love. Students listened to the Parable of the Mustard Seed and then spent some time reflecting on what this might mean for them.

Reflection…

When Jesus told this parable he compared it to loving God. When children, like you, or adults begin to love Jesus, their love is like a tiny mustard seed before it is planted in the ground. It starts out very small at first. Then when you keep on listening to what Jesus says and obeying Him, then the love grows bigger and bigger. Soon it will grow like the big mustard tree. 

A prayer for us all…

Lord, just as seeds grow into beautiful plants, we want the seeds of love that You plant in us to grow strong and tall. Teach us to be kind and loving, to help those in need, and to show Your love in everything we do. Help us to listen carefully to Your word, to learn from it, and to let it guide our actions. May we be like good soil, nurturing the seeds of love so they can grow and flourish.

We ask for Your blessing on our time together. Fill us with Your Spirit and help us to spread Your love to everyone we meet.

Grade 2 Liturgy

Grade 2 students and families gathered in the MPR to listen to and hear the Word of God. The theme of the Liturgy was - 'Thank you for our Wonderful World.'

Students listened to the creation story from God’s special book, The Bible and then spent some time in reflection.

I wonder …

I wonder if you have ever found something that is beautiful and precious?

I wonder what you would like to say to Jesus about this?

I wonder what your favourite part of creation is?

I wonder how we can look after God’s wonderful world? 

Thank you to those families who were able to come along and celebrate with us during this special prayerful time.

New Uniform Update

We are writing to provide you with an update on the progress of the Stella Maris Catholic School student uniform changes. 

We have been informed by Midford that the uniform is on track to be ready and accessible in September which will allow for a launch at the beginning of Term 4. 

Please see the link to our finalised Design Board. 

From our latest update on 13/12/2023 you can see that we have further refined the design of the polo top as well as adjusted the design of the soft shell jack and track pants. We removed the piping on both the track pants and the soft shell jacket due to minimum order requirements and costs. 

The school is in the process of composing a new school uniform policy which will be released prior to the end of Term 3. 

We understand the current state of uniform and that there are challenges with access to items meaning student presentability may not be at the standard we like. Thank you for your patience and understanding regarding this. 

We hope to provide you with further updates and information regarding this transition over the coming months.

Parent Teacher Interviews

We have Parent Teacher Interviews scheduled for week 10.

Please see the following dates:

• Tuesday 2nd  July - Grade 4 Room 12 and Kinder Blue
• Wednesday 3rd July - All Classes
• Thursday 4th July - All Classes - Excluding Grade 4 Room 12 and Kinder Blue
• Please book an interview through Compass/Conferences

Parent Engagement Group

Our next Parent Engagement Group meeting will be held on Thursday 1st of August, 9.45am - 10.30am in the staff room, new members are always welcome.

Uniform Shop

Important Update: Term 2 Week 8-10

Tuesday 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm

Orders placed via Qkr after 10.00 am on a Tuesday and before 10.00 am cut-off 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.

School Photo Day

Monday 1st of July

The uniform for photo day will be our current sports uniform (black shorts or tracksuit) with the rugby top on. We will provide a rugby top to any student who does not have one for their photos on the day.

Stella Stars

Sessions: 9.15 am - 10.45 am & 12.00 pm - 1.30 pm

Bookings through Facebook: Stella Stars Early Years Learning

Kindergarten 2025

If you have children ready to enrol in Kindergarten in 2025, our Kindergarten applications close on Monday 1st of July 2024. At this time, families will recieve correspondance detailing the next phase of the enrollment process. 

Please see the office for a copy of the Enrollment Application Form or download here:

Assembly Awards

Congratulations to the students who received Achievement Awards and the "Just Like Jesus" award in our recent assembly.

Our "Just Like Jesus" award recognises those who have been 'caught' treating others with extra respect.

Stella Cup

We recently introducted the "Stella Cup" concept to encourage positive behaviours throughout our fortnightly assemblies. 

We would like like to congratulate Miss Beveridge's Grade 1 class for their positive behaviours in last weeks  assembly and showing:

 -Reverence when entering/exiting assembly

-Clapping in a responsible/respectful way (no yelling or screaming)

-Standing up/sitting down silently for the National Anthem

- Right Time Right Place (RTRP) when watching the PBS videos

Grade 1 University Classroom Visit

In Week 6, Clarissa Boyd from the University of Tasmania joined Room 5 to educate us on a project she is working with at the University of Tasmania with Little Penguins in the North West Region. The children loved this activity! They drew penguins and completed an information session with Clarissa.

Grade 2 HIVE Excursion

Grade Two students went to The Hive in Ulverstone last week. They had the wonderful experience of watching a show called Guardians of the Earth at the Planetarium and then had time in the science centre. In the science centre the students made cars, tested and timed them; used a ping pong wheel, played with colour and light and built magnetic structures in the comfortable bean bag area. It was a fun and educational day.

PCYC

Our Grade 5 and 6 classes are participating in sessions at the Burnie PCYC throughout Term 2. The sessions are designed to build team work and resillence.

Grade 6 Winter Appeal

Stella Maris’ SRC ‘Mini Vinnie’s’ have been collecting woollen clothes, blankets and non perishable items as part of the Winter Appeal. One goal that the SRC had this year was to reach out to others in the community. 

Students are invited to bring items that would be useful in Winter and there is a box in each classroom where Winter items can be placed. The SRC will be collecting items for two more weeks and they look forward to passing on these items to members of the community that are finding it tough this Winter. 

NW Catholic Schools Cross Country

Congratulations to all Stella students who participated in the combined cross country.

Ideal running conditions and great spectator support made our hosting of this event a success. Stella Students who featured in the top 4 places in their event were:

Harrison Leary and Harper Buckley 1st in Gr 3

Taiden Bolch and Piper Gleeson 1st in Gr 4, Will Grice 3rd Gr 4, Quincey Sucic 2nd Gr 4

Meg Rawnsley 1st Gr 5, Amelia Britton 3rd Gr 5

Makenzie Faulkner 3rd Gr 6

Big thanks to Liz Murton, Mike and Varieta McKenna and to the MRC  students who helped out.

We wish all of our students selected to represent Stella Maris at Symmons Plain next week all the best.

Presentations for our Stella Maris Cross Country Champions, Allistair Crawford and Makenzie Faulkner were made at our last assembly, well done again to both students on your wonderful achievements. 

School News

Important Upcoming Dates

CLICK TO SYNC TO YOUR CALENDAR

Monday 3rd June - Monday 1st July - Grade 5 & 6 PCYC Sessions (see Compass/Events)

Friday 14th June - Inter School Chess Tournament (selected students)

Tuesday 18th June - All Schools Cross County Symmons Plains (selected students)

Friday 21st June - Netball Tasmania Inaugural Netball Championships (selected students)

Wednesday 26th June - Grade 5 HIVE Excursion

Monday 1st July - School Photo Day

Monday 1st July - Kindergarten 2025 Applications Close

Monday 1st July - Mid Year Reports 

Tuesday 2nd July - Parent Teacher Night 1 for Gr 4 Room 12 and Kinder Blue ONLY

Wednesday 3rd July - Parent Teacher Night 1

Thursday 4th July - Parent Teacher Night 2

Friday 5th July - Last Day of Term 2

Tuesday 23rd July - First Day of Term 3

Thursday 1st August - PEG Meeting 9.45am - Staff Room

Friday 9th August - Grade 2 MRC - MRC Frozen Excursion

Friday 16th August - Prep, Grade 1, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6 - MRC Frozen Excursion

Monday 2nd September - Grade 2 & 3 Swimming Program - 2 weeks

Thursday 12th September - PEG Meeting 9.45am - Staff Room

Saturday 21st September - BNA Winter Roster Concludes

Friday 27th September - Last Day of Term 3

Friday 4th October - Burnie Show Day (public holiday)

Tuesday 15th October - First Day of Term 4

Thursday 24th October - PEG Meeting 9.45am - Staff Room

Monday 28th October - Grade 4, 5, 6 Swimming Programs - 2 weeks

Wednesday 20th November - NW Athletics (selected students)

Friday 22nd November - All Schools Triathlon Devonport

Monday 2nd December - Grade 6 Marist Orientation Day

Tuesday 17th December - Last Day of Term 4: For Staff & Students

7th February - Term 1 2025 commences

10th April - Term 1 concludes

28th April - Term 2 commences

4th July - Term 2 concludes

21st July - Term 3 commences 

26th September - Term 3 concludes

13th October - Term 4 commences

18th December - Term concludes

Term Dates 2025

Outside News