Welcome to Term 1 Week 4 2025

Principal Report

Dear Parents & Carers,

As my time serving in this role at our wonderful school comes to a temporary close, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your support and partnership over the past three years. Together, we have worked to foster a nurturing environment where our children can grow in faith, knowledge, and character.

Your involvement in school events, your encouragement of your child/ren’s education, and your collaboration with our dedicated staff have played a vital role in our shared successes as a community. In times of challenge, I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me and the school, particularly throughout my roles as Acting Principal. 

The relationships I have built with students will remain close to my heart, and I look forward to seeing their continued growth and development. 

While I am stepping into a new role for 2025, I look forward to continuing our partnership in a broader capacity and supporting the growth of collaboration across our North-West Catholic Schools. I also wish the leadership team many blessings throughout the remainder of the year.

Thank you once again for your support, for your involvement, and for your commitment to the success of our school. It has truly been an honour to work with your children, and I look forward to the journey ahead.

With heartfelt thanks,

Ben McCulloch 

Acting Principal 

RE News

Reflection on the Gospel

 Luke 6:27-38

Jesus teaches his disciples to be merciful as God is merciful.

It is easy to choose to be with others when they are acting politely and respectfully. But children do not always act this way, especially with other family members. We can probably all recall a family meal in which such behaviour was not observed. Yet, we probably chose to sit through the meal anyway. We regularly give our children second chances—and often third and fourth chances—hoping that our generosity will be rewarded. That is how God acts with us. The ethic that Jesus describes seems like an impossible task: to give when asked and to do good to those who hate us. Yet family life is filled with opportunities to act generously and to love without measure. This is what we parents try to do every day. This is what we ask our children to learn. We are reminded that when we love generously and gratuitously, we love as God loves us. This is the meaning of mercy.

As you gather as a family, identify some things that family members are expected to do each day (prepare meals, go to school or work, complete homework assignments, complete household chores, behave appropriately at school, at work and at home, and so on). Discuss whether it is easy to live up to these expectations. Why or why not? Then, discuss the meaning of the phrase “go the extra mile” and what it would mean to go the extra mile in the expectations you identified. Introduce today's Gospel: In today's Gospel reading, Jesus describes how we are to act toward one another. What he says may sound like what we mean by the phrase “going the extra mile.” Read aloud today's Gospel, Luke 6:27-38. Discuss whether the actions Jesus describes are easy and consider why we might act in these ways if they seem difficult. Observe that today's Gospel challenges us to make choices based on God's standard; God loves us all the time by going the extra mile for us. During a time of quiet reflection, invite each family member to choose an action for the week in which he or she will go the “extra mile” for the family.

Loyola Press

Whole School Liturgy

Pilgrims of Hope

The school community gathered with Fr. Jesse to commemorate the start of a new academic year. The year 2025 holds special significance for both our global Church family and our school, as it marks a Jubilee Year—a sacred time for spiritual renewal. This year invites us to deepen our love for God, strengthen our bonds with one another, and nurture our care for creation. Embracing the theme of being 'Pilgrims of Hope,' we strive to embody the teachings and compassion of Jesus in all that we do.

Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday

Shrove Tuesday

The Parent Engagement Group will distribute pancakes to the children to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Each child will receive one pancake and will be given the choice to have either plain or added butter.

Pancakes will be provided by Woolworths.

Gluten-free pancakes will also be available. If your child requires gluten-free, please let your class teacher know ASAP.

If your child cannot have a pancake due to allergies and intolerances, please provide a special treat in their lunchbox on this day.

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday, March 5th, the school will come together to celebrate Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a special time when we prepare our hearts for Easter by praying, helping others, and making small sacrifices to grow closer to God.

As part of this important day, students will take part in a school liturgy and receive ashes on their foreheads. These ashes, made from burned palm leaves from last year’s Palm Sunday, remind us to reflect, say sorry for our mistakes, and try to be better. This season of Lent is a chance to be kinder, more patient, and more loving as we prepare for the joy of Easter.

Stella Stars

Sessions for 2025 

Every Wednesday 9.15 am - 10.45 am and  12.00 pm - 1.30 pm 

See our Facebook Stella Stars Early Years Learning for more information

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Tuesday the 4th and Thursday the 6th of March. 

Bookings can be made via Compass/Conferences before Sunday 2nd March.

Uniform Update & Ordering

Dear Families,

Thank you for your continued support and patience while transitioning to our new Smart Play uniform.

Please see the details below clarifying the current roles and responsibilities of Stella Maris and our suppliers, Midfords.

Midfords will take full responsibility for all uniform orders in the coming weeks. Our uniform officer, Cheryl Gration, will coordinate the delivery of the uniform orders once they arrive at Stella Maris. 

Stella Maris

• The uniform shop will be open every Monday from 2.30-3.30 pm.  This will allow families to try on stock and then order online.
• To deliver stock to families upon arrival.
• To communicate information that Midford has provided.

Midford

• Processing online orders.
• Communication about deliveries.
• Notifying parents about stock availability.
• Delivery of stock to Stella Maris.
• Providing an estimated time of arrival for backorders.
• The shop is open in Devonport so that parents can buy directly from Midfords.
• Organising a pop-up shop at Stella Maris.

Midford Trading Hours:

• Monday 8.30 am - 12.30 pm
• Wednesday 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
• Friday 8.30 am - 12.30 pm
• Saturday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
  
  If you have any ordering enquiries or concerns, don't hesitate to get in touch with Midfords via the following:  info@midford.com.au or 0410684589.
  

Assembly News

Congratulations to our 2025 Grade 6 students who were presented with their badges. We wish them well as they begin their new leadership roles at Stella Maris and look forward to watching their leadership skills and confidence develop throughout the year.

Stella Cup

We would like to congratulate Miss Denman and the students from Grade 2 Room 8 for their positive behaviours in last week's  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

Kindergarten & New Families Welcome BBQ

A Warm Welcome to Our Kinder and New Families

Our school community came together for a fantastic Welcome BBQ, celebrating our newest members in the best way possible—under clear skies, with great food, and even better company.

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, with the sunshine creating the ideal setting for families to connect and enjoy a relaxed evening. Parents, children, and staff gathered on the school grounds, sharing sausages and hamburgers fresh off the grill while mingling and making new friendships. Laughter and chatter filled the air as our new families embraced the opportunity to get to know each other.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. From the volunteers working behind the scenes to the families who brought their warmth and enthusiasm, your contributions made the night truly special.

We look forward to many more opportunities to come together as a school community.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

Green Team News

The Green Team had their first meeting this week with many returning members and plenty of new students keen to join this year. We have had an outstanding parent volunteer, Katrina Jamieson, helping with the mural art project!

There are lots of projects we want to work on this year, and we look forward to providing updates in the future. 

Kinder Blue Fun

Our Kinder Blue students enjoyed some fun with Mr McCulloch recently with a fast-paced game of

Duck, Duck, Goose.

Grade 2 Data Collection

Grade 2 is learning all about posing questions and collecting categorical data.

On Monday, they thought of their own question and surveyed their classmates to collect their own data. 

Former Student Achievement

Stella Maris' very own Taran Armstrong has achieved his lifelong dream of making the NBA this past week.

Taran attended Stella Maris and Marist before finishing his schooling at the Australian Institute of Sport and in the United States. We are very proud of Taran and have many excited students and staff in our school. Taran will move to San Francisco on Wednesday this week and begin his career with the Golden State Warriors.

Below is a piece of work he completed in Grade 5 when Miss Wilkin was his teacher. Taran's success goes to show if you want something bad enough and work hard enough for it, you can reach the top.

Congratulations Taran! 

Important Upcoming Dates

CLICK TO SYNC TO YOUR CALENDAR

Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th - Lions Health Eye Check

Tuesday 4th & Thursday 6th March - Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday 4th March - Shrove Tuesday

Wednesday 5th March - Ash Wednesday Liturgies

Monday 10th March - Eight-Hour Day Public Holiday

Tuesday 11th March - NWCSSA Combined Swimming Carnival (selected students)

Wednesday 12th - Monday 24th  March - Naplan Testing for Grades 3 & 5

Monday 17th March - Grade 4 Formation Day Camp Clayton

Monday 31st March - Kindergarten Athletics (2.00 pm - 2.45 pm)

Friday 4th April - Stella Athletics Carnival

Sat/Sun 5th & 6th April - BTAS Primary School Championships

Thursday, 10th April - Term 1 concludes

Friday 11th April - Student Free Day: Staff Spirituality Day

Monday, 28th April - Term 2 commences

Wednesday 7th May - Stella Maris Cross Country

Friday 16th May - NW Cross Country (selected students)

Friday 23rd May - Student Free Day: Staff Discernment Year Day

Friday 6th June - Student Free Day: Staff Planning Day 

Monday 9th June - King's Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 17th June - Tas All Schools Cross Country (TBC)

Friday 20th June - Netball Tasmania Primary School Championships

Monday 30th June - School Photo Day

Friday 4th July - Term 2 concludes

Tuesday 22nd July - Term 3 commences 

Friday 26th September - Term 3 concludes

Tuesday 14th October - Term 4 commences

Monday 3rd November - Recreation Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 12th November - NW Athletics (selected students)

Friday 21st November - Schools Triathlon Challenge

Wednesday 17th December - Term 4 concludes - Final day for students & teachers

* Stella Stars Early Years Learning - Every Wednesday - bookings via Facebook

Outside News