Welcome to Term 2 Week 10 2025

Principal Report

Dear Families,

We wish you all the best for the upcoming term break and look forward to seeing you all in Term 3. Our staff and students have welcomed your continued daily support and encouragement. You are all doing a fantastic job of parenting and caring for our young people. Please find time over the next few weeks to reflect on all the positive things you contribute to your family and life. We can, as adults, often revert to having a negative bias towards things, situations and life events. Still, when you look for and acknowledge the positive in all that surrounds us, a light enters that reminds us of just how important we all are.

It is with sadness that I share the recent passing of Andrea Pisano. Lilli Pisano was a past student at Stella Maris Catholic School, and Andrea was a cherished and valued member of our staff from 2021 to 2023. Andrea was also a much-loved staff member at Marist Regional College, serving the community for over 30 years before her retirement in 2019. Please keep Andrea's husband, Frank and daughter Lilli in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you for attending this week’s parent-teacher meetings. Many families have booked to attend these two days, and we appreciate this critical partnership between home and school. Student success and wellbeing are always at the forefront of everything we do here at Stella Maris Catholic School. Below is an article on the importance of parent-teacher meetings. 

Importance of Parent-Teacher Meetings at School

Parent-teacher meetings play a crucial role in the educational ecosystem, offering a range of benefits that contribute to students' overall success and well-being. These meetings are important because they can establish strong partnerships between parents and teachers, fostering a collaborative environment for the child's optimal development.

Communication and Understanding:

• Importance: Effective communication between parents and teachers is fundamental to understanding students' unique needs, strengths, and challenges.
• Benefits: By exchanging information, educators gain insights into the child's home environment, learning preferences, and any factors impacting their academic performance.

Student Progress Monitoring:

• Importance: Regular updates on academic progress are crucial for identifying areas of improvement and celebrating achievements.
• Benefits: Parents receive detailed information about their child's performance, enabling them to support their learning and address any concerns actively and early on.

Collaborative Goal Setting:

• Importance: Setting shared academic and behavioural goals ensures alignment between home and school expectations.
• Benefits: Parent-teacher meetings allow for the collaborative establishment of realistic and achievable goals, fostering a sense of responsibility and motivation in the student.

Problem Identification and Resolution:

• Importance: Early identification of challenges allows for prompt intervention and support.
• Benefits: Teachers and parents can work together to address academic, behavioural, or social challenges, developing strategies to overcome obstacles and enhance the child's overall development.

Building Trust and Relationships:

• Importance: Trust is essential for a successful partnership between parents and teachers.
• Benefits: Regular face-to-face interactions create a positive rapport, enhance trust, and strengthen both parties' commitment to the child's education.

Enhancing Parental Involvement:

• Importance: Actively involved parents contribute significantly to a child's academic success and personal development.
• Benefits: Parent-teacher meetings encourage parental engagement and help parents gain a deeper understanding of the school's curriculum, activities, and expectations.

Celebrating Achievements:

• Importance: Recognising and celebrating a child's successes promotes a positive attitude towards learning.
• Benefits: Parents and teachers can jointly acknowledge and reinforce positive behaviours and accomplishments, boosting the child's confidence and motivation.

Providing Additional Support:

• Importance: Some students may require extra support or resources to thrive academically.
• Benefits: Parent-teacher meetings facilitate discussions about additional support services, resources, or interventions that may benefit the student's educational journey.

Creating a Holistic Approach:

• Importance: Holistic development involves academic, social, and emotional growth.
• Benefits: Parent-teacher meetings enable a comprehensive understanding of the child's development, fostering a collaborative approach that addresses all aspects of their well-being.

In conclusion, the importance and benefits of parent-teacher meetings extend beyond the academic realm. These meetings contribute to the creation of a supportive and enriching educational environment. They strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers, ultimately promoting the best interests of the student.

Catholic Education Commission Tasmania - 2025 Recognition Awards and 25 Years of Service Awards

Below is an invitation to the CECT 2025 Recognition Awards Presentation, which will take place during Catholic Education Week.

A special congratulations to Shabana Cumming from Stella Maris, who has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to Catholic Education Tasmania.

RE News

Reflection on the Sunday Gospel

Mt 16:13-19

You are Peter; and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

In today's Gospel, Jesus refers to Peter as “Rock” and says that the Church will be built upon him. We refer to someone as a “rock” when they are very reliable. Talk as a family about who has been and is a rock in your extended family.

The Gospel reminds us that the Church is built on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. It is faith that makes Peter the Rock upon which the Church is built. The family, as the domestic church, has this same faith as its foundation.

Talk about people whose faith has helped you to be a member of the Church, and talk about what you have learned from leaders in our Church today. Read together today's Gospel, Matthew 16:13-20. Talk about what you know about Peter and his importance to the early Christian community. Talk about what we can learn from Peter and his profession of faith in Jesus. Conclude in prayer together by praying today's Psalm or an Act of Faith.

Grade 2 Liturgy

Grade 2 children and their families gathered in prayer to celebrate the gift of Creation.

The children listened to the  Gospel of Matthew 13:45-46 

The parable of The Beautiful Pearl, and then spent some time reflecting

Jesus said it will be like this when ‘everything is one with God’ – beautiful and precious. 

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?

We then joined together for prayers of thanks.

Thank you to all those who could join us in this special prayer experience.

Community Safety Reminder

Dear Families,

As part of our shared commitment to student safety and respect for our community, we kindly remind everyone of the following important expectations for students walking home or to a pick-up point. 

Use the Footpath, Not the Car Park
For safety reasons, students must not walk through the car park. Please ensure they use the designated footpaths to avoid moving vehicles and stay visible to drivers.

Cross at the Designated Crossing
All students and families are asked to use the school’s designated crossing point when crossing the road. This helps keep everyone safe.

Walk Safely and Respectfully
Please remind your child to walk calmly, be aware of others, and follow instructions from staff or crossing guards.

We will address these expectations with our students, and we would appreciate your support in reinforcing these safety messages at home. 

By working together, we can help keep all our students safe on their journey to and from school.

Symmons Plains Cross Country

Last week, a group of our Stella Maris students took on the All Schools Cross Country in true champion fashion, despite the cold, wet and muddy conditions. They ran with determination and gave it their all, showing great resilience and effort from start to finish.

It was fantastic to see so many families there to support – cheering loudly, offering encouragement, and helping out wherever needed. Your involvement helped create a positive and supportive atmosphere for our runners.

Well done to all our students for representing Stella Maris with pride and enthusiasm. 

Primary Netball Champions

Eleven talented Grade 5 and 6 girls proudly represented Stella Maris at the 2025 Hart Sport Primary Netball Championships – and what a fantastic day it was! The team went through the entire day undefeated, finishing with an impressive 17-3 win in the grand final.

The girls played with skill, determination, and great composure. They showed excellent teamwork and were gracious in every victory. Their positive attitude and support for one another were a true credit to them.

A big thank you to Mrs Murton for her wonderful coaching and support on the day – your guidance played a huge part in the team’s success.

Congratulations, girls – what an outstanding achievement!

Leigh Hobbs visit to Stella

The creator of characters such as Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Mr Chicken, Leigh Hobbs is visiting our school in Term 3!!! Leigh is coming on behalf of the Australian Children's Laureate Foundation, and Stella Maris is acting as a host school - one of four in regional Australia, that will welcome a past or present Laureate during Children's Laureate Week.

BOOK SALES: Anyone wishing to purchase Leigh Hobbs' books online can do so using the attached form. Books will be delivered to Stella Maris prior to the event, signed by Leigh and handed out on the day. Online book orders close on the 22nd of July. Leigh will also sign any of his books you may already have. 

Fun in Grade One

Grade One Room 5 has been doing some fun and calming end-of-term activities this week in room 5. The students requested to do some Art. We had a great exploration and play with clay!

Library Updates

Library hours
The library is currently closed before and after school. It will reopen in the second week of Term 3. 

The Premier's Reading Challenge - Preps to Grade Sixes, remember to keep track of all books read now and throughout the holidays. Every book read is logged and will earn points for your House Team. The winning House will enjoy an Epic Afternoon of Play at the end of Term 3. 

Book Week 2025—This year's Book Week theme is "Book An Adventure!" Celebrating 80 years of Book Week, this theme conjures characters trekking through jungles, flying aeroplanes, and making fantastical journeys abroad. Pop your thinking caps on: the Book Week parade is at 10 a.m. on August 21st. 

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

The Resilience Project

Empathy is one of the key pillars of The Resilience Project, focusing on understanding others feelings and perspectives and is practised through kindness, compassion and curiosity. Developing empathy fosters deeper connections, increases our likelihood of acting kindly, and helps us experience positive emotions. 

Our focus on empathy is not just for our students and staff but across our whole school community. We love this quote below by Brene Brown and the attached activity is a lovely one to do as a family over the school break. 

Uniform Shop Updates

Stella Maris Hair Accessories are now available to order online!

Stella Maris Shop

• The uniform shop will be open every Monday from 2:30 to 3.30 pm. This will allow families to try on stock and then order online.

Midford East Devonport Trading Hours:

Orders are processed online, through their Website:

https://www.midford.com.au

• 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 contact Midfords at info@midford.com.au or 0410684589.
  

Parent Information & Resources

Important Upcoming Dates

CLICK TO SYNC TO YOUR CALENDAR

Tuesday 1st July - Parent Teacher Night 1

Thursday 3rd July - Parent Teacher Night 2

Friday 4th July - Term 2 concludes

Monday 21st July - Student Free Day

Tuesday 22nd July - Term 3 commences 

Tuesday 5th August - Catholic Education Week - Grade 6 Excursion

Monday 18th to Friday 22nd August - Book Week

Wednesday 27th August - Dockers Football Begins 4 Weeks 

Monday 1st - Friday 12th September - Learn To Swim Grade 2 & 3

Friday 26th September - Term 3 concludes

Monday 13th October - Student Free Day

Tuesday 14th October - Term 4 commences

Monday 20th - Friday 31st October - Learn To Swim Grade 4,5,6

Monday 3rd November - Recreation Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 12th November - NW Athletics (selected students)

Friday 21st November - Schools Triathlon Challenge

Monday 1st December - Grade 6 Marist Orientation Day

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

2026

Friday 6th February -Term 1 commences for students

Monday 9th March - Eight Hour Day Public Holiday

Easter - Friday 3rd April - Public Holiday 

Monday 6th April - Public Holiday

Tuesday 7th April - Public Holiday

Thursday 16th April - Term 1 concludes for students

Monday 4th May - Term 2 commences

Wednesday 21st May - Grade 3 Madagascar JR Excursion

Thursday 22nd May - Grade 1   Madagascar  JR Excursion

Monday 8th June - King's Birthday Holiday

Friday 10th July - Term 2 concludes

Tuesday 28th July - Term 3 commences for students

Thursday 1st October - Term 3 concludes 

Monday 19th October - Term 4 commences

Recreation Day - Monday 2nd November

Thursday 11th December - Christmas Concert PM

Friday 18th  December - Term 4 concludes

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

Outside News

2026 Somerset Roos Junior Football Program!

We’re now recruiting Under 12 and Under 14 players. 

If your child is keen to play footy — whether they’re new to the game or already love it — this is a great opportunity to build skills, have fun, and be part of a supportive club environment.

 All skill levels welcome
 Great coaching & team culture
 Learn, grow, and enjoy the game.

See attachment for contact details. 

 Join the Roos family in 2026!