Week 4, Term 2 2024 - 7th May 2024
Week 4 Reflection
Dear Parents,
A mother’s love is endless and the care she gives is infinite. This week we thank you for your grace, resilience, persistence and love. Motherhood changes you forever, it is rollercoaster with no return ticket. For all mothers - here are some signs that you may be on the ride of your life….
- Your heart is too big for your body.
- When you use the phrase “Hold on. Let me put on my good yoga pants if we are going out in public.”
- You hear someone call “Mum!” in public and turn around, maybe even answer, before you remember that you came alone
- Every app on your phone is kid related
- When the sound of silence worries you. You never know…
The Calling
We call ye forward all who dare
For a life of worry, toil and care.
A tiny baby will be placed in your arms,
You’ll be instantly seduced by this elfin’s charms.
Never again shall your sleep be sound
Even if you try to hide, you will be quickly found.
Your child will grow and accomplish many things
For you who gave them life, will next, give them their wings.
With blessings and prayers for all Mums, today and every day.
Terri Leotta
Deputy Principal
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
Welcome Josh Arnold
We warmly welcome Josh Arnold who is visiting St Mary’s to begin work on composing our very own school song. This Wednesday and Thursday, Josh will work with a group of Yr 3-6 students, undertaking the songwriting component of the process. He will then return to St Mary’s on 21st and 22nd May to record and film the music video. For a sample of Josh’s work, please check out the school songs he has produced for St Paul’s Gracemere and St Peter’s Rockhampton.
Mothers Morning Today
It was lovely to see over 50 mums and grandmothers attend our first ever P&F Mum’s morning today. Attendees started the day by celebrating a Mass in St Mary’s Church, and then spent some time with their children until 9am. Afterwards, mums enjoyed a morning tea and fellowship. I sincerely thank Mel McGuiness, Sam Dawes. Lisa-Ann McNamarra, Emily Camilleri and their band of helpers for coordinating this lovely morning.
Prac Student
This week we welcome Mr Liam Williams, who is completing his final university placement in Year 5M over the next 6 weeks.
Time Capsule Unearthing
On Monday 20th May from 1:45pm, we are pleased to announce that we will be ‘unearthing’ the 75th Anniversary time capsule. Dedicated in 1999 by member for Mackay and past pupil, Mr Tim Mulherin, and with students and parents watching on, this capsule has sat patiently for 25 years whilst the school has changed dramatically around it. All parents and past students are most welcome to attend this unearthing. We will display the contents of this time capsule at our community open day on Sunday 11th August!
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 15th 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
“Courage is being yourself everyday in a world that tells you to be someone else.”
- Robert Braathe
Mother's Day Stall - Last Day Tomorrow
Walk Safely to School Day
When: Friday 10th May
Where: Mackay Basketball Stadium Car Park
Students will walk from the car park to school, supervision will
be provided
A free Breakfast will be provided upon arrival at school
Time: Student drop off 7.30am, for a 7.45am walk
RSVP: Friday 3rd May
Please Accept/Decline via Parent Lounge/Events
St Mary’s will be participating in this year’s Walk to School Day on Friday 10th May. If your child intends on participating in the walk, you will need to accept the event invitation through the Parent Lounge for each child. This will ensure we have enough food for the free breakfast back at school. The event registration will need to be completed by Friday 3rd May.
Parents and siblings are invited to attend and do the walk with our students. We invite parents to park or drop students to the bitumen carpark across from Mackay Basketball Stadium on the corner of Juliet Street and Bridge Road and we will gather participants on the grassed area. Students can be dropped off from 7:30am for a 7:45am walk departure. We will proceed down Juliet street toward St Mary’s with an approximate arrival back at school of 8:00am. Breakfast will be served to participating students at this time.
What are the benefits of riding or walking to school?
It helps children get enough exercise
Ideally, everyone aged under 18 should have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. There isn’t time for this much sport as part of the school day every day, so riding or walking to school is a great way to help students get enough physical exercise.
It reduces pollution
If we want to care for the planet, we need to reduce pollution as much as possible. If more children ride or walk to school, this reduces the number of cars on the road. The result is cleaner air and a healthier environment for all of us.
It improves children’s health and wellbeing
Physical activity is extremely beneficial to our health - it’s one of the most important things we can do to reduce our risk of illness. It also improves educational outcomes. Children who have travelled to school in an active way arrive more alert, so they’re more able to concentrate and retain information.
It helps children learn about road safety
Road safety is such an important topic. Ride to School Day gives you the perfect opportunity to teach children how to stay safe while walking or riding.
It’s fun!
Riding, walking, scooting and skating are all great communal activities that children can enjoy with their friends, helping them to build stronger social connections. Families can get involved, too!
Belinda Battaia
Assistant Principal: Curriculum
Sacramental Program
Please see below the information about the upcoming Sacramental Preparation sessions for Confirmation and Holy Communion.
St Mary's Trivia Night Sponsors
We greatly appreciate the support from local businesses like yours and we simply could not achieve the fundraising outcomes we do without your help. We still have some sponsorship opportunities for our St Mary's Trivia Night available if you wish to support us. Please click here.
St Mary's Trivia Night - Friday 31st May
It’s a Mexican Fiesta!
Don’t miss out on your tickets to our annual St Mary’s Trivia Night.
This is a highlight in the Mackay community social calendar with a chance to win a $1000 cash prize!
This year we aim to deliver a fun community event with all funds raised going towards projects that will enhance the educational experience for the students of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.
Drink tickets can be purchased on the night or Pre-Purchased Drink Tickets can be bought through the link below - 10 tickets for $30 (1 ticket = $3 water/soft drink), (2 tickets = $6 beer/wine), (3 tickets = $9 slushies, UDL, spirits)
https://events.humanitix.com/st-mary-s-trivia-night-2024
Student of the Week
Week 3, Term 2 Student Award Winners
| Prep P | Skylar | For wonderful work during our literacy rotations activities this week. You are on your way to being a great reader and writer! Keep working hard Skylar! |
| Prep R | Greta | For trying super hard when completing your work. Thank you for always working to the best you can and always doing it with a You Can Do it attitude! |
| Prep R | Shanaia | For your growing confidence across the year. It has been pleasing to see you contribute to class discussions more often. Keep up the amazing work Shanaia! |
| 1B | Nina | For the enthusiasm and interest you show when writing. Your work is so beautifully presented too. Super effort Nina! |
| 1B | Alexander | For the very informative and fascinating show and tell about pumice stones and volcanoes. Well done! |
| 1S | Flynn | For always being one of the first to volunteer to help your teachers or classmates. Thank you Flynn! |
| 1S | Tyson | For the smile and positive attitude you bring to every learning task. Keep it up Tyson. |
| 2A | Bowen | For being an insightful and reflective learner who always contributes to classroom discussions. Your mathematical brain was outstanding during 'Problem Solving Wednesday'. Keep up the great work Bowen! |
| 2A | Jasmine | For the effort and enthusiasm you have put into all areas of the classroom this week. You have been contributing to class discussions and working so hard. I can see you becoming a more confident learner. Well done Jasmine! |
| 2L | Asha | Asha, every single day your teacher can look up to find you focused on the activity at hand. You take pride in the completion of your schoolwork and in doing your very best. You are a wonderfully diligent student. Excellent work! |
| 2L | Nathanial | Nate you are amazing! You have blown away your teacher with your organisation skills, your attention and your positive ‘can do’ attitude! You are a star!!! |
| 3C | Paulo | For always bringing a positive mindset to class each day. It has been wonderful to see your growth this year. Keep smiling and putting your best foot forward Paulo! |
| 3C | Tayla | For the outstanding effort and pride, you demonstrate in both your learning and bookwork. Your knowledge and understanding are blossoming. It’s wonderful to see Tayla! |
| 3P | Millie | For always being kind, polite and an active learner in the classroom. Keep up the great work! |
| 3P | Bianca | For your persistence and eagerness for learning. You are always working hard in class! Well done Bianca! |
| 4C | Jayda Roberts | For a wonderful effort with your focus and attention this week. It is great to see you join into class discussions. Keep up the great work! |
| 4C | Lily | For your great participation in class discussions and willingness to offer wonderful insights to our conversations and learning. Keep up the wonderful effort. |
| 4R | Artik | For always being ready to learn and putting in your best effort. Thank you for your ‘can do’ attitude. Well done, Artik. |
| 4R | Jasleen | For the enthusiasm and effort you put into class discussions and all your work in class. You are a great role model Jasleen. |
| 5C | Eirian | For your amazing writing this week! Eirian you have purposely selected vocabulary from a range of sources, to express you ideas clearly and as a result have produced an amazing piece of writing. Well done! |
| 5C | Kolby | Kolby you have participated in classroom discussions and activities thoughtfully this week. Your attention to detail with two digit by two digit multiplication has meant you have achieved great success. Keep up the hard work! |
| 5C | Millie | Millie this week you have effectively used language features to show how your ideas can be extended to create a high quality piece of writing. Your informative paragraph for M is for Mutiny is amazing, keep up the great work! |
| 5M | Shanya | For always applying yourself 100% to every learning opportunity. You are an inspiration to others Shanya. |
| 5M | Mark | For your insightful and interesting contributions during HaSS lessons. You are inspiring others to join in and share their ideas also. Thank you Mark! |
| 6T | Gavin | For your enthusiasm and persistence, especially during Visual Arts. We can’t wait to see your finished masterpiece. Keep aiming high Gavin. |
| 6T | Indy | For your positivity and ‘have-a-go’ attitude. You’re not afraid of a challenge and always do your best. Keep up the hard work Indy! |
| 6V | Nikol | For demonstrating the virtue of organisation at the beginning of each lesson and using class time efficiently. You have been working hard to develop your research skills and present work of a high standard. |
| 6V | Peyton | For the persistence and methodical approach you have shown when solving maths problems. Keep up the great work. |
