Week 1, Term 2 2024 - 16th April 2024

Principal's Reflection

Dear parents, staff and students,

Every now and then, we as a school community get an unbelievable opportunity to connect with an amazing person.  Next Tuesday is one of those days, when we have Mr John Coutis visiting St Mary’s school.

John was born with Spina Bifida, a severe physical disability, which led to the amputation of both his legs at the age of 17. He has encountered a mountain of challenges in his life, including bullying and discrimination, managing to rise above it all to lead a happy and productive life.

Nowadays, he rolls around on a customised skateboard, delivering powerful keynote presentations addressing themes of mental health, wellbeing, inclusion and resilience.

He has inspired and educated millions of people and business leaders, school children and sporting legends around the world with countless examples of how our success is already written regardless of the gifts and talents we are born with. He teaches simple principles in leadership, resilience and using your experience in life to touch millions around you.

Find out more at his website, https://www.johncoutis.com/

John will be speaking with our Year 3-6 students next Tuesday 23^rd April from 1:50pm in the school hall.  I am sure this will be a powerful and memorable moment for them.

John will also run a staff and parent session from 3:10pm-4:10pm on Tuesday 23^rd April. If you would like to attend, please click here to RSVP.  This is provided at no cost to you, and is open to all members of the wider community, so feel free to bring along a friend.

I really look forward to seeing many of you attend John’s inspirational talk next week.

All the very best,

Wes Rose
Principal

From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose

Staff News

• Congratulations to Mrs Renee Aslette, who upon successful completion of her university degree, has now received her Qld teachers registration. On behalf of the school community, I congratulate Renee on achieving this and wish her well as she ‘officially’ commences her teaching career at St Mary’s school in Year 2A.
• Please note that I will be absent from school this Thursday. I am travelling to Clermont for the funeral of Dustin Lonergan, a past student of mine who was tragically killed following a motorbike accident over the Easter holiday, aged just 14.  In my absence, Mrs Leotta will be acting Principal.

ANZAC Day Parade

Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.  To commemorate this special national day, I invite all staff and students to participate in the ANZAC Day civic march next Thursday 25^th April. 

Students are to dress in their formal school uniform and assemble in the Canelands carpark (Matsuura Drive) from 8:00am.  Either drop your child off in the allocated drop-off area or park in the upper-level car parking (P1) or and walk your child to the ground-level car park.  Look for the St Mary’s flag and staff members.  The march will start at 8:35am and will proceed down Victoria and Wellington Streets.  Following the march, students can be collected in the usual place, near the roundabout on Alfred and Macalister Streets (between the MECC and Central SS).  For more information, please click on the links below to see the relevant maps that show assembly, the parade route and dispersal.

Enhancing Catholic Schools (ECSI) Survey

Thank you to the families who have so far submitted their ECSI survey certificates.

Responses close Friday 26^th April.

As we want as many parents as possible to participate, we have several incentives, including;

• A class party for the highest percentage (per capita) of completed surveys. (see the graph below for the class survey numbers. Year 2A currently lead the race!)
• A raffle that parents enter once they have completed the survey;
  • 1^st Prize $200 school fee discount
  • 2^nd Prize $100 school fee discount
  • 3^rd Prize $50 gift card

Please note, upon completion of the survey, you will need to print the certificate of completion and hand it in to the office to be eligible for the incentives.  We will draw the parent raffle on Monday 29th April, so be sure to submit your completed certificate to be in the running!

HOW TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY

1. Go to www.ecsi.site/au/user/
2. Enter the ECSI Website password: Ghj654
3. Click on "new user" and enter our school’s survey access code cC7uQg so that your input will be linked to our school.
4. The ECSI survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
5. Upon completion, print the certificate of successful participation and return to our school office.

For further information, please refer to the letter that was emailed to you.  I thank you for your assistance with this important initiative and ask that you take the time to submit a response.

Centenary Cookbook – Recipes Needed!
This August, we are celebrating our school’s centenary and as a part of the festivities, we are publishing a St Mary’s cookbook that will display some favourite family favourites.  Cookbooks will be available for purchase during our centenary celebrations. As part of this project, we ask interested families and staff to submit a recipe of your choice.  Recipes must be submitted (in a word document) via email including these details: 

• Recipe Title
• Submitted by (include your names and grade in 2024)
• Recipe description, special memories you may have of this dish or of St Mary’s. (2-4 sentences.)
• Ingredients
• Method

We ask that you also include up to 3 digital photos of the recipe, your family or both and we will use as needed.  Submissions need to be received via email by 15^th May.  Please note that we may receive duplicates of certain recipes, and in this case, you may be emailed to submit another recipe.  Also, whilst we will try to include every recipe submitted, we are restricted as to the number of pages we can fit in the book.

Also, if your family or business would like to sponsor the production of this cookbook, your name and business logo will be acknowledged within the opening pages. To submit your recipes or for more information, please email smm_centenary@rok.catholic.edu.au

Quote of the Week

Prep 2025 Enrolments

Do you have a Prep student beginning in 2025?

Thank you to those families who have already submitted their enrolment application online. We encourage both existing and new families who have a child starting Prep in 2025 to lodge their enrolment application as soon as possible. Applications are to be made via our online enrolment application available on our website www.smmrok.catholic.edu.au/enrol-now

Applications close on the 3rd May, with interviews commencing on the 17th May.

Please contact the school office for further information or any assistance required.

St Mary's Centenary Shirt

Congratulations Georgie Duncan and Gavin Guo for creating the artwork selected in our Centenary Shirt competition.

We are now offering the opportunity for students, parents and parishioners to purchase a Centenary Shirt (please see design and sizing guide below).

Shirt orders are open now by clicking here. Orders close on the 26^th April (next Friday) and delivery will be in late June.

The cost of the polo is $31.90 and you are able to select “collect from store” to avoid shipping costs. Alternatively you are able to select shipping to have the item/s posted to you.

Students will then be able to wear the Centenary shirt every Friday for the remainder of 2024.

Morning Mass Invitation

Sport News

P & F Pie Drive Collection

Pizza Day

Order via www.quickcliq.com.au

PLEASE NOTE: You must choose the date 24th April in Quickcliq, then select different pizza options in the 'Select Meals' area.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC Badges

ANZAC Badges are on sale from 8:15am outside the school  library this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. All proceeds are going to the RSL.

Community News

Learn To Skate!

If you are interested in learning to skate come on down to the Mackay Leisure Centre on Thursdays from 4pm to 5pm and get your skate on. The first lesson is free and all abilities and ages are welcome. For further information contact Mackay Roller Sports Association at mrollerhockey@gmail.com or phone Lyle Denman on 0432170997.