Welcome to Term 3 Week 10 2025
- Principal Report
- RE News
- Stella Stars
- School Reminders
- Uniform Update
- Footy Colours Day
- Grandparents Day
- Chess Competition
- Maths Relay
- Grade 1 Circus Excursion
- Grade 2, 5 & 6 Astronaut Excursion
- Grade 5 Burrowing Crayfish Session
- Grade 4 Excursions
- Metro Bus Route 874 Change
- Parent Resources
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Outside News
Principal Report
IMPORTANT - NEW CET GAZETTED TERM DATES FOR 2025
Please find below the new CET Gazetted Term Dates for 2025. This version includes a change to the final day of the school year for students and the final day for staff.
Teaching Staff:
Commence: Monday, 3 February 2025
Conclude: Wednesday, 17th December 2025 (New finish date)
Students:
Commence: Friday, 7 February 2025
Conclude: Tuesday, 16th December 2025 (New Finish Date)
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING - YOUR VOICE MATTERS
Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) aims to enhance its support for mental health and wellbeing in schools. Attached is a letter from Catholic Education Tasmania Executive Director Dr Gerard Gaskin inviting parents and carers to participate in upcoming special meetings in Launceston and Hobart.
SAFE TERM BREAK
As we come to the end of another busy and successful term, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families, students, and staff for their ongoing support and commitment to Stella Maris Catholic School, Burnie. It has been a term filled with learning, growth, community spirit, and many extraordinary achievements across all year levels.
We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by our students throughout the term. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or participating in school events and liturgies, their enthusiasm and positive attitude have been inspiring. Likewise, we extend our deepest gratitude to our families for their ongoing support in promoting student learning and wellbeing. Your involvement and encouragement are genuinely valued and make a significant difference in the life of our school.
As the term break begins, we wish all our students and families a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday. May this be a time to rest, recharge, and spend quality moments with loved ones.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back for a new term of learning and shared experiences. Until then, take care and thank you once again for being an essential part of the Stella Maris community.
RE News
Reflection on the Sunday Gospel
Lk 16:1-13
Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward who is commended for his prudence; one cannot serve both God and money.
Today's Gospel sounds puzzling to contemporary readers, but it can be made less so by considering the economic system that stands behind the parable. A steward is dismissed because he is squandering his master's property. He is called dishonest because he is not serving the interests of the rich man, his employer. In response, the steward, in an attempt to ensure favour for himself among the rich man's debtors, brokers repayment of the rich man's loans by foregoing the interest and fees that had been levied to line the steward's pockets. It is this action, in which the steward puts aside his greed and takes the longer perspective in order to enhance his security, which is commended by the rich man.
The passage concludes with three morals for the listeners. The first exhorts the listener to be prudent about the use of wealth. Like the steward in the parable, those who would follow Jesus must put transitory affairs in proper perspective. Christians should handle the affairs of temporal life with an eye toward eternal life.
The second concerns trustworthiness. Those who can be trusted in small things can also be trusted in great things. If Christians handle money and other passing things responsibly, then they can also be trusted with the affairs of the Kingdom of God.
Finally, Jesus tells his listeners that no one can serve two masters simultaneously. God must be put ahead of money.
Celebrating the Sisters of Mercy – Our Feast Day.
In week 8, our school community gathered with Sr. Margaret and Fr. Jessie to celebrate our Mercy Feast Day. Together, we listened, responded, prayed and sang to honour the life and teachings of Jesus and the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy. Sr. Margaret also spent time with some of our children, sharing the story of the Sisters of Mercy through Godly Play.
During week 10, students lived out the Mercy charism by engaging in acts of service, bringing God’s love into our local communities. Each year level participated in a service activity, demonstrating kindness, gratitude, and compassion in action:
- Kindergarten – Cleaning the school grounds
- Prep – Rubbish collection at Marist
- Grade 1 – Thank you cards for Specialist Teachers and get well cards for Parishioners
- Grade 2 – Thank you cards for Community Helpers (Police, Firefighters, Nurses, Doctors, etc.)
- Grade 3 – Thank you cards for Teacher Assistants and Office Staff
- Grade 4 – Singing at Umina and reading to a resident
- Grade 5 – Cards for residents at Yarandoo
- Grade 6 – Cards for residents at Umina Park
Through these actions, our students have embraced the Mercy values of service, compassion, and faith, making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Kinder Liturgy
The Kinder students and their families gathered in joyful celebration to celebrate kindness and love.
All present at the Liturgy joined together to listen, reflect and respond through prayer and song.
We listened to the story from the Gospel of Luke
Jesus told a story to help us learn about kindness.
There was a man walking down the road. Oh no! He got hurt!
Two people walked past and didn’t help him.
But then, someone stopped! A man called the Good Samaritan.
He was kind. He helped the hurt man, gave him water, and took him to a safe place.
Jesus said, “Be kind like the Good Samaritan.”
Empathy means being able to understand how someone else is feeling. It’s like
putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, imagining what they might be going
through, and caring about it. When we show empathy, we become better
friends, better family members, and better people.
Students were asked how they can show kindness to others and given a heart to share with someone special to them. Thank you to all those who joined in this special prayer and celebration.
Grade 1 Liturgy
The Prep students, together with their families, gathered in the church to reflect on Seeds of Love.
Students listened to the Parable of the Mustard Seed –
One day, a man took a mustard seed and planted it. The mustard seed grew slowly. The rain came, the sun shone, the seed grew bigger and bigger and bigger. After many years, it had grown into the biggest shrub of all. It was like a tree. The birds of the air came and built their nests in it. The mustard seed had become what it was meant to be.
And then spent some time in 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, the love grows bigger and bigger. Soon it will grow like the big mustard tree.
Students then reflected on the gifts that God has given them to take with them and use for his work and for good.
Thank you to all the families that were able to join us in prayer.
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
School Reminders
Just a reminder that if students arrive at school after 8:50 a.m., a parent or guardian must sign them in at the office. This ensures every child’s safety by accurately recording attendance and streamlining the process for our staff.
Additionally, if your child is absent, please record the absence on Compass or contact the school office directly, rather than the classroom teacher. Messages sent through Seesaw may not always reach us on time, and notifying the office ensures accurate and timely record-keeping.
We also ask that students refrain from using the front office entrance to access their classrooms in the morning.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Uniform Update
Midford would like to let you know that their East Devonport store is relocating to a new address: 60A Stewart Street, Devonport
Key dates to note:
Last day of trade at East Devonport: Friday 26th September
Order cut-off: Orders placed before Wednesday, 24th September, will be ready for collection by the close of business on Friday, 26th.
Uncollected orders & holiday orders: These will be processed during the school holidays and will be ready for collection when the new store opens on Monday, 13th October 2025, or delivered to schools as requested.
New Trading Hours (from 13th October):
Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to our new location.
Footy Colours Day
We are excited to celebrate Footy Colours Day on the last day of Term 3!
Students are encouraged to come dressed in the colours of their favourite AFL, soccer or other football team.
Students who choose not to dress up are asked to wear their school uniform as usual.
It promises to be a fun, colourful and spirited way to end the term
If you would like to donate to the Fight Cancer for Children cause, please click on the link on the poster.
Grandparents Day
Chess Competition
The Stella Maris Chess Team participated in the third inter-school tournament of 2025 at Somerset Primary School. Our players showed fantastic skill and teamwork, finishing in second place overall. As a result of their strong performance throughout the year, eight of our students have qualified to represent Stella Maris at the State Finals in Launceston during Term 4. Congratulations to the team on this outstanding achievement. We wish them all the best as they prepare for the next stage. Joe Carlon
Maths Relay
On Monday, 22nd September, a team of year 5 and 6 students attended a Maths Relay at the Burnie Arts Centre. We competed against at least 15 other schools. From Year 6, we had Patrick Kelly, Bihandu Mahadurage, Hugo Pointon and Ibrahem Al-Shamri. From Year 5, we had Indi Wells, Thomas House, Piper-Rose Jones and Eli Keygan. The students represented our school with great pride and showed exceptional behaviour and engagement throughout the competition. A special thank you to Mrs Wells for assisting us on the day.
Grade 1 Circus Excursion
Grade 1 Room 5 and Room 6 went to the Slipstream Circus in Ulverstone. It was a fantastic display of community and working together to foster one another's talents. The performance included incredible balancing acts, gymnastics, dancing, aerial acts and much more!
Grade 2, 5 & 6 Astronaut Excursion
On Tuesday, our Grade 2, 5, and 6 students attended a session with Australian astronaut Eric Phillips. The children were captivated as they listened to Eric, who shared his amazing journey from curiosity to the edge of space.
Eric encouraged students to reach for their goals and highlighted the importance of resilience, teamwork, perseverance, and problem-solving to help them achieve these goals.
Grade 5 Burrowing Crayfish Session
On Tuesday, our Year 5 and 6 students participated in a special Claws on the Line incursion led by Dr Clare Hawkins and her team of volunteers, based on the research of Dr Alastair Richardson. Students were introduced to the cryptic world of the Burnie Burrowing Crayfish, a threatened species found only in our region.
The incursion linked perfectly with our Biological Science unit on Adaptations, helping students see how animals are shaped by their environment. After a short presentation, students rotated through three hands-on activities. They explored how scientists map habitats, built their own mud chimneys out of clay, and created crayfish models from natural materials to highlight structural features and survival needs.
Students loved the chance to learn directly from scientists:
“I didn’t know crayfish could build chimneys – that was awesome!”
“Making the clay homes was my favourite, it was messy but fun.”
“I liked learning how crayfish survive and making my own out of sticks and leaves.”
It was a fantastic day of science in action, showing how local wildlife connects with what we’re learning in the classroom.
Grade 4 Excursions
Innovation, Energy & Exploration!
This week, our Grade 4 students went on an exciting and educational excursion that brought their science learning to life! Their first stop was The Hive, where they explored the wonders of renewable energy and got hands-on building their own miniature cars. They also visited the planetarium, where they were taken on a journey through the night sky, discovering constellations and the science behind what we see above us.
The adventure continued at Penguin Composites, where students learned about fibreglassing and how different materials can be combined to create strong, durable panels used in caravans, trucks, buildings, and other applications. This experience is directly linked to their science unit, helping students understand how materials can be changed and combined to suit different purposes.
A big thank you to Chris from Penguin Composites for sharing his wealth of knowledge and for welcoming us as the first of many school groups to visit their business for an excursion. We’re so grateful for the opportunity and excited to see more students benefit from this hands-on learning experience.
It was a day full of creativity, discovery, and real-world science in action!
Umina Park Excursion
Grade 4 walked to Umina Park for our Mercy Week act of service today. Students had the opportunity to speak with residents about their lives and how things have changed since they were children. We sang some songs and had some students play the piano for the residents. Everyone had a great time, and it was fantastic to see students showing our mercy values.
Metro Bus Route 874 Change
Metro wishes to advise of a minor alteration to school bus Route 874 from Marist Regional College and Stella Maris to Montello, Acton, Romaine, Brooklyn and South Burnie.
Effective from the start of Term Four on Monday, 13 October, this service will no longer travel via Mace St in Montello. Instead, the bus will travel via the current route to the junction of Morse Street and Talina Street, then via Talina Street, Truganini Street, and Morrison Street, then as per the current route. Students living in Montello will now be able to alight at the bus stop on Morrison Street, between Truganini Street and Mace Street. A copy of the updated route map is attached.
Any questions should be directed to the Metro Hotline on 13 22 01, or email contact@metrotas.com.au
Parent Resources
Important Upcoming Dates
Thursday 25th September - Grade 6 Graduation Photo Day/ Catch Up Day
Friday 26th September - Footy Colours Day
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 27th October - Inter-school Chess Final (selected students)
Thursday 30th October - Kinder Wonder Walk - Rhododendron Garden
Monday 3rd November - Recreation Day Public Holiday
Tuesday/Wednesday 4th-5th November - Grade 5 Camp
Wednesday 5th November - Whole School Liturgy
Wednesday 5th November - Hobart Hurricanes Clinic - In Class (Prep-Gr 4)
Thursday/Friday 6th-7th November - Grade 6 Camp
Wednesday 12th November - NW Athletics (selected students)
Thursday 13th November - Kinder Grandparents Day (2.15pm - 2.45pm)
Friday 14th November - Grandparents Day (12.20pm - 1.20pm)
Friday 14th November - Humphries Cup Commences (selected students)
Friday 21st November - Schools Triathlon Challenge
Monday 1st December - Grade 6 Marist Orientation Day
Monday 8th December - Reports Live/ Book Packs Home
Tuesday 9th December - Grade 6 Fun Day
Tuesday 9th December - 2026 Classroom Orientations (10.00 am-11.00am)
Wednesday 10th December - Whole School Mass
Thursday 11th December - Christmas Concert - Marist Harcombe Centre (5.30pm - 7.00pm)
Friday 12th December - Grade 6 Award Assembly (2.00pm - 2.40pm)
Friday 12th December - Hobart Hurricanes After School Program Commences
Monday 15th December - Grade 6 Graduation Liturgy (9.00am - 10.00am)
Monday 15th December - Grade 6 Dinner (5.00pm - 7.00pm)
Tuesday 16th December - Kinder Graduation
Tuesday 16th December - Term 4 concludes - Final day for students
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
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
Friday 23rd October - Student Free Day
Recreation Day - Monday 2nd November
Friday 18th December - Term 4 concludes
* Stella Stars Early Years Learning - Every Wednesday - bookings via Facebook
Outside News
Noticeboard
14 Nov 2025 - 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM