Stella Maris Catholic Primary School

Our Vision:

Reverence the Story of all People

P.O. Box 4126 Shellharbour 2529 (02) 4296 4606 Fax: (02) 4295 1885 www.smsdow.catholic.edu.au

7 March 2013

06/13

STELLA TELLER
Dear Parents and Friends of Stella Maris, Probably, we have all had the experience of tramping along through life, day after day, hoping that God will announce that He is with us all the way. While we are not exactly looking for bright lights or a thundering voice from heaven, we wouldnt mind some sort of sign that He is there. The ever practical St Teresa of Avila assures us that He is, when she says, The Lord walks among the pots and pans. Teresas statement is much the same as saying that we can have something in every pocket or purse without being aware of it, but we make it our own in so far as we become aware of it. Likewise, God is present within us through Baptism; it is up to us to realise this presence. In our society today there are many roads to success: money, glamour, power, prestige and so on. It takes some people longer than others to realise that these cannot satisfy us with the kind of satisfaction we truly want. Each of us is a unique being but we each need to feel the presence of love, care and forgiveness. This we can experience in the awareness that God cares about each of us in a manner tailored to our uniqueness, God loves us individually and God forgives us on a one to one basis. God is always present. There was a time when each of us started the day either at home or a school with a prayer to put us into Gods presence in a deliberate manner. Maybe it was, The Morning Offering which might have gone something like: My God I offer You this day all I shall do or think or say, uniting it with what was done on Earth by Jesus Christ Your Son. However, our spiritual life over the years might have slipped into the storage file and its space taken by a variety of activities. Perhaps our spiritual life has been somewhat like driving in a car while listening to the radio. We have the radio tuned into a favourite radio station but some kilometres down the road, the station begins to fade and suddenly the signal goes altogether. We have driven out of range of the stations signal. The signal is still there, were just not picking it up. Spiritually, we have lost contact with God because we have lessened our prayer life till it is nil. Cardinal Fulton Sheen once said, Sometimes the only way that God can get into our hearts is to break them. Perhaps we tend to use prayer as a last resort when it should be our first line of defence. We pray when there is nothing else we can do, whereas, we should pray before we do anything at all. Prayer can be so simple, as easy as opening a door and slipping into the very presence of God. There, in the stillness, we can petition or simply listen. Just to be there in His presence is prayer. If we are hungry enough, we will get something to eat; if we are hungry enough for God, we will find a way into His presence. If we happen to be in the car that has lost touch with the radio signal, perhaps we could take advantage of an opportunity in the life of our children maybe their Communion Day, Confirmation Day, School mass, etc, to redirect our car and come back into signal range.

Principal: Mr Paul Brady Our Vision: Reverence the Story of All People

God, Replace the tension within us with a gentle relaxation. Replace the turbulence within us with a soothing calm. Replace the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence. Replace the fear within us with a strong faith. God, lead us gently into Your presence. Amen. Peace and Best Wishes.

First Holy Communion Parishioners of All Saints Catholic Parish who would like to present their child (Year 3 or older) should attend one Information Session on 10 March at 10:15am or 14 March at 7:30pm. Meetings are for parents only in the Grealy Centre. Confirmation Parishioners of All Saints Catholic Parish who would like to present their child for Confirmation should attend one Information Session on 17 March at 10.15am or 21 March at 7:30pm.The meetings will be held in the Grealy Centre. Glory Puljak - Religious Education Coordinator Catholic Schools Week Next week is Catholic Schools Week. The theme this year is Every Child Counts. As you would have seen from my letter to you yesterday there are a number of activities we have planned and parents and grandparents are especially invited to join us on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday 12 March 9am Liturgy 9:30am Children as Teacher (classroom visits) 10:15am Morning Tea Wednesday 13 March 9am Open School for Kinder 2014 Thursday 14 March 1:45pm School Assembly Launch of Anti-Bullying Plan Grades will share a song Friday 15 March Year 6 Leaders Day at Nazareth 2pm School Award Assembly Thank you Thank you to the parents and family members who collected and donated Woolies Earn and Learn Dockets last year. This week we received a large consignment of Numeracy and Literacy resources which we are thrilled about. Mufti Day Tomorrow we will be having a Mufti Day to raise funds to purchase items for the Autumn Fair. The usual gold coin donation applies, however, if you have more than one child at the school and you are finding things difficult financially at the present time, one donation will suffice. Diocesan Pastoral Planning As a result of reading the workbook Parishes working together which all families received recently there is an opportunity now for parents to respond. Attached to last weeks newsletter was a feedback sheet. I would be grateful if you could take the time

Religious Education News

Reading for today ...And Moses, entering into the midst of the cloud, went up into the mountain: and he was there forty days, and forty nights." [Exodus 24] All Saints Catholic Parish Shellharbour Mass times: All Saints Church College Ave, Shellharbour City 6:00pm Saturday Vigil 9.00am Sunday, 6.00pm Season of Lent This Sunday is Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. We've passed the midpoint of Lent, and the Church offers us a little break today, substituting rose vestments for the penitential purple usually used during the Lenten season and reciting the Creed for the first time since Ash Wednesday. If our Lenten fasting has been strenuous, now is the time for a little celebration; if we still haven't quite hit our stride, now is a good time to redouble our efforts, starting with Confession. St. John Chrysostom, in a famous Easter homily which is still read in Eastern Orthodox and many Eastern Rite Catholic churches on Easter, reminds us that it is never too late to get our spiritual house in order-both the man who has fasted from the beginning of Lent and the one who only fasts for a day or so at the end share in the joy of Easter. Catholic Schools Week Liturgy Next Week is Catholic Schools Week. We will be celebrating with a Liturgy under or COLA at 9.00am on Tuesday 12 March. Parents and friends are welcome to join us followed by Catholic Schools Week activities. Mass at Stella Maris Years 1 and 2 will be celebrating Mass at 9.45am on Tuesday 19 March. Parents are welcome to join us.

Principal: Mr Paul Brady Our Vision: Reverence the Story of All People

to complete the sheet and return it to school. As I have previously stated, this is an important time in the development of our Diocese and all stakeholders should have the opportunity to respond to the Bishops invitation for feedback. The second information meeting will be held tonight in the Grealy Centre from 7.30pm. Working Bee On Monday a note was sent home asking for helpers for the Working Bee on Saturday (from 1pm). I would be grateful for more helpers as we want the school grounds looking good for the Autumn Fair. Staff Member of the Week Our staff member of the week is Mrs Janet Sykes. Mrs Sykes is currently teaching Year 3B. Mrs Sykes is a long term member of staff at Stella Maris who contributes generously to our school not only as a valuable classroom teacher but also in many ways behind the scenes. We thank Mrs Sykes for her good work with the students and staff of Stella Maris. Uniform Changeover After the school holidays the children change to Winter uniform with short sleeves. Long sleeves are worn after the long weekend in June. If you need to order Winter uniform items I suggest you order them from the Uniform Shop as soon as possible. Kinder Enrolments 2014 Application forms for Kinder 2014 are now available from the school office. All forms should be returned by Friday, 12 April. Interviews will be held during Term 2. Kinder 2014 Open Days Parents who are interested in seeking enrolment for their child in 2014 are invited to attend one of two Open Days on 13 and 20 March from 9am 10:30am. Senior students will act as guides and take parents on a tour of the school. Catechists Needed Catechists are needed in our parish to assist with teaching Religious Education to students in local state schools. If you have one hour per week that you or someone in your family could give please contact Melissa on 0408531974. Full training is provided for volunteers. Premiers Reading Challenge Our school will be participating in the 2013 Premiers Reading Challenge. We are very proud of the fact that for the past two years, 100% of children from Kindergarten to Year 6 have successfully completed the Challenge. The

Challenge aims to encourage students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and to enable students to experience quality literature. The Challenge also helps to develop essential learning habits: being organised, meeting deadlines, being accountable and taking responsibility for their reading. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Challenge is available for all children from Kindergarten to Year 6 and finishes in September. Kinder to Year 2 children need to read 30 books and Year 3 to Year 6 need to read 20 books to complete the Challenge. All students who successfully complete the Challenge will receive a Certificate and appear on the PRC Honour Roll. Therese Peterson Literacy Coordinator Funding of Catholic Schools Accompanying todays newsletter is an update for parents from the Catholic Education Commission regarding State Government funding to Catholic Schools. I urge you to read this important notice. Numeracy Problem of the Week Thank you to all the children who solved last weeks Problem of the Week. The answer was A 6 groups of 5 pens is the same as 3 groups of 10 pens. Excellent problem solving! I loved your working out and your pictures this week too! The new problem for this week is: Write down all the letters of the alphabet in capital letters. Which letters are symmetrical? Circle the letters that have one or more lines of symmetry. Draw all lines of symmetry on the letters that are symmetrical. Please put your answer (with your working out) in the red box next to Mrs Honeys stairs or give to me by Wednesday 13 March. You must show your working out to receive your SMIGGLE reward! The answer will be revealed in the newsletter on Thursday 14 March. Mrs Honey, Numeracy coordinator Award Assembly Tomorrow Year 5B will be sharing at the Award Assembly beginning at 2pm. Gold Awards Congratulations to Ceilie C 6B on receiving a Gold Award. Principals Awards Congratulations on receiving a Principals award: KB - Jay C, Reon M, Noah J KG Elle C, Jake P, Emily C 1B Isabella S, Isabelle D, Abbie R, Ava R 2B Jessica R

Principal: Mr Paul Brady Our Vision: Reverence the Story of All People

School Anti-Bullying Plan Launch Next Thursday at 1.45pm, as part of Catholic Schools week, we will be holding a special assembly to formally launch our new Anti-Bullying School Plan. This plan has been in draft form over the last twelve months and has undergone an exhaustive development process. Input has been received from students, parents, Catholic Education personnel and teachers alike. Mr Noel Henry from the Catholic Education Office will be present and parents are invited to attend this most important occasion. National Anti-Bullying Day Friday March 15 Next Friday, 15 March, is National Anti-bullying Day. This is an annual event that Stella Maris is registered to participate in. During the day students will be engaged in specific learning activities which have an anti-bullying message. Parents and students may wish to visit the following website www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to participate in this event at home. Year 6 Leaders Day/ Stage 2 Hosting Nazareth Year 4 Due to the Year 6 Leaders Day taking place at Nazareth next Friday 15 March, we will be hosting Year 4 Nazareth students at our school. These students will take part in an Activity day with our Stage 2 students. During the day they will be involved in sporting activities as well as the sharing of class work with each other. Clean Up Australia Day - Postponed Last week we had to postpone Clean Up Australia Day due to the weather so tomorrow Stella Maris will once again (weather permitting) try to participate in this important community event. Students will be cleaning up not only our school grounds, but also the local playing fields at Keith Hockey Oval. Whilst Shellharbour Council does a great job in supporting our efforts by providing rubbish bags, gloves and a collection service it is advisable for students to bring along a pair of their own gardening gloves on this day if possible. South Coast Swimming Carnival Yesterday, 27 of our students competed in the South Coast Swimming Carnival at Corrimal Pool. Stand out performers for Stella Maris were Sydney B., Lexie B., Maddison F., Mitchell M. and Lachlan C. all of whom will now go forward to trial for places in the Diocesan Swimming Team. Congratulations to all of our swimmers for your outstanding behaviour and your dedication both to training and as shown at Corrimal.

School Cross Country Carnival Week 10 of this term will see the running of our school cross country carnival. Students can start preparing for this by doing some extra running with mum or dad. The date for this carnival will be Friday, 5 April. Parents intending to come along and support their children are asked to please consider putting their names forward to help out. It is a great way of enjoying the day and meeting new parents. Dont worry if you have little experience as we provide a fantastic on the job training program. All offers are accepted! If you would like to help out please complete the slip below and return it to Mr Brown asap. Cross Country Carnival Helpers Note I . am available to assist at the Cross Country Carnival on Friday, 5 April. The age grouping and time I would be able to assist is: (please circle) Primary Classes 8:30- 11:00 / Infants Classes 11:00 12:30/ Both Infants and Primary 8:30- 12:30 OR The job I would most prefer is:(please circle) recording/ribbons CANTEEN ROSTER 11 Mar 13 Mar 15 Mar Melissa N, Dolores M Julie K, Elizabeth P, Polly M Vanessa O, Tammy K, Michelle M

March 8 9 11 13

19 20 21 23 29 April 11 End Term 1 for students 12 Staff Development Day

Autumn Fair Mufti Day Working Bee Catholic Schools Week Autumn Fair Meeting Kinder 2014 Open Morning P & F Meeting (& Autumn Fair) Kinder 2014 Open Morning Autumn Fair Final Meeting Autumn Fair Good Friday

Mr Paul Brady Principal Inserts/Attachments: Parenting Information, P&F newsletter, CEC newsletter

Principal: Mr Paul Brady Our Vision: Reverence the Story of All People