Week 6, Term 2 2024 - 21st May 2024
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Principal's Reflection
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From the Principal | Mr Wes Rose
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Quote of the Week
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St Mary's Battlers
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2024 Interhouse Athletics Carnivals
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Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy
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Sacramental Program
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Thank You for Your Support
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National Sorry Day
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Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
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Student of the Week
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Community News
Principal's Reflection
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Yesterday we unearthed the time capsule buried 25 years ago. Having been at St Mary’s for 22 years, I can testify to how fast time passes (when you’re having fun) and it made me also consider what I would have placed in the time capsule? What words of wisdom would I have wanted to tell myself 25 years ago?
Have you ever thought about this yourself?
As parents it’s often in hindsight that we wish we could have re-acted in a different way or enjoyed the great moments more fully.
We all want the very best for our children. We try to provide the most perfect environment at home and school. We cater to them socially, academically and physically. There may even be a tendency to try to remove all obstacles from their lives so that they can avoid struggle or upset. I can remember a friend consoling me in response to my son’s hearing impairment diagnosis, “This will make him stronger.” The words fell like lead and caused only dread. The thought of my son struggling was not reassuring at that time.
Yet, in hindsight I can attest that life isn’t a success only journey and we learn so much from tribulations and mistakes. Our You Can Do It program has more words of wisdom about the power of building self-belief through solving problems. It has been said that self-belief, more than native talent, determines destiny.
The article reveals that…Without self-belief, when faced with setbacks, mistakes and failure, our children change and lower their goals. They often they lack the commitment needed to stay the course.
Self-belief is needed in three areas:
Emotional Life
- Managing emotions when faced with adversity or faced with frustrating events and people.
Social Life
- Confidence in making friends, working with others and solving problems without conflict.
Work Life
- Believing they have what it takes to be a successful learner, particularly when engaging with difficult learning tasks.
Actions parents can take to help strengthen children’s belief in themselves:
- Allow success experiences – especially in areas of difficulty. Make sure what is expected is realistic, let them experience success – even if it requires sustained maximum effort.
- Ensure they complete challenging homework by setting short-term goals and achieving each one-by-one.
- Share your own obstacles and efforts to accomplish something in your life.
- Do not compare your child’s achievements to others. Let them follow their own pace.
- Continuously communicate the message that they have capable brains that are always growing. Explain that the more they try hard and use their brains, the smarter they get. Teach them: “I can’t do this – YET.”
- Teach that they have a choice in their thinking about challenging learning tasks and stressful situations with people. They can think “I can’t do this and never will” or they can think “I have done hard things in the past, I cope and be successful tomorrow.”
- Help them believe they have what it takes to manage stressful schoolwork or friends. Teach them to shift from a negative to a positive mood by finding something fun to do, relaxing or talking the issue out with someone they trust.
- Provide children with positive feedback for times when they have stayed calm and managed their emotions in stressful situations.
- When you see one of your children has not performed at a level consistent with expectations, continue to insist that they persist in trying to do their best work.
- Record and celebrate small and big successes; learning difficult academic content, facing challenging learning tasks or difficult people calmly.
Self-belief is not a guarantee that you will be successful in everything you attempt. Rather it is an energising force that helps you to have a go, to not be afraid when the going gets tough, and to believe in yourself. What can be more powerful than that and needed more than ever before by our children!
https://youcandoiteducation.com.au/2020/10/20/self-belief/
Have a wonderful week,
Terri Leotta
From the Principal | Mr Wes Rose
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Josh Arnold Music Video
This week, Josh Arnold has returned to St Mary’s to begin work on composing our very own school song. The students have been singing the chorus the past two weeks on assembly and it is a very catchy song!
Time Capsule Unearthing
Yesterday, in front of the entire school and many current and past staff members and parents, we ‘unearthed’ the 75th Anniversary time capsule. Dedicated in 1999 by member for Mackay and past pupil, Mr Tim Mulherin, this capsule has sat patiently for 25 years whilst the school has changed dramatically around it. Thank you to Mr Clancy, Mr Kinnane (P&F President) and our school and vice Captains (Ryder, Kalani, Jaylah and Zander) for excavating this piece of St Mary’s history yesterday; it took us a lot longer than expected! We will open the capsule, and display the contents at our Centenary Open day on Sunday 11th August.
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Regional Principals Meeting
This Friday, we welcome the eleven Primary and Secondary Catholic Principals from across the Mackay region for this term’s Principal’s meeting at St Mary’s. At this meeting, we also farewell Michael McCusker (Assistant Director: Schools) from his current role, as he goes on to commence as our new Diocesan Director in June.
St Patrick’s Cultural Performance
This Thursday at 1:45pm, we welcome the students and staff of St Patrick’s who will perform for our school community. Consisting of several bands, ensembles and vocal groups, they will showcase the rich music co-curricular opportunities on offer at the College. I am sure the students will really love this performance.
Quote of the Week
“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday.”
- Fr Henri Nouwe
St Mary's Battlers
Another tight but great game by the St Mary’s battlers, gaining the win with a finishing score of 12-8 over Eimeo Road State School. Ewan Ruddick was fierce as always, never shying away from a tackle and Chase Tudman fought hard in defence to run down several players saving the day for the Battlers. Brady Vassallo was back and had several strong carries through the middle along with Hudson Porter, Jack Davies and Noah Sommerfeld. It was again great to have so many parent supporters, particularly those of captains on the day Aston Mills and Max Kinnane. Tomorrow, we play Victoria Park State School on field 3 at 3:45pm.
2024 Interhouse Athletics Carnivals
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Our Interhouse Athletic Carnivals are to be held across 3 days in week 8 and 9 this term. Information with full details were emailed home to all Year 3 to 6 parents yesterday.
- Monday 3rd June will be the Interhouse Field Events for 9,10,11 and 12 year old students (2015 – 2012) on St Mary’s oval.
- Friday 7th June will be the Interhouse Track & Field Events for all Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex, Boundary Road, Ooralea.
- The Prep- Year 2 Carnival will be held on Monday 10th June on St Mary’s oval. Prep- Year 2 will participate in a 65m sprint and rotate through modified field events and tabloid activities.
I will need volunteers for our Interhouse Track Carnival on Friday 7th June. Helpers are needed for marshalling, judging and set up/pack up. Please email simone_sibley@rok.catholic.edu.au with your preferences if you can help. Thank you in advance for your support.
Simone Sibley
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Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy
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PLEASE JOIN US!
St Mary's School will join with St Patrick's College to celebrate our Youth Mass on Saturday 25th May, St Mary's Church at 5pm. This is also the Sacramental Program enrolment Mass for Confirmation and Children's Liturgy will be held.
Mass will be followed by a pizza outside the church. Everyone is most welcome to attend.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
Sacramental Program
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Please see below for information about the upcoming Sacramental Preparation sessions for Confirmation and Holy Communion.
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Thank You for Your Support
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National Sorry Day
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Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.
National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. St Mary’s School is committed to working towards reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community.
Please enjoy this clip "Here We Stand", by Andrew Chinn.
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month
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In Qld, the month of May is dedicated as Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.Police frequently use DV safe phones and distribute them to victims/survivors. DV Safe Phones generously provide free smart phones to victims/survivors where their phone has been destroyed during an act of DV and they have no safe way to contact Police. DV Safe Phones wipes and resets all phones received and applies a DV Safe application that allows the victims/survivor to safely use the phone.During May, St Mary’s School will act as a collection point for old mobile phones and chargers.Families are invited to bring in smart phones in working condition. These will then be passed on to QPS who will re-task them for use by victims/survivors of Domestic Violence.If you have any phones which you would like to donate please send them into the school office and they will be erased and forwarded to the QPS.
Further Domestic Violence resources can be found on the following sites;https://domesticviolence.com.au/https://www.qld.gov.au/.../domestic-and-family-violence...
Many thanks for your support for victims of Domestic and Family Violence.
Student of the Week
Week 5, Term 2 Student Award Winners
PP | Lucia Z | For working so hard during learning time in Prep. You approach all tasks with enthusiasm and always try your best. Keep up the great work Lucy! |
PP | Nikolas P | For wonderful work during our rotations sessions this week. You are on the way to becoming a super reader and writer! Keep working hard Nikolas! |
PR | Tariq B | Wow Tariq! What an improvement you have made in all areas of school life. You are trying your hardest in everything you do and we are so proud of how far you have come! |
PR | Dhanudri R | For working so hard in our literacy rotations. You are staying focused and trying your best with your reading. Keep up the fantastic work! |
1B | Easton B | For the remarkable way you can calculate math problems so easily. You amaze your teacher every time you use one of your many strategies. What a star you are! |
1B | William D | For the way you impressed your BOOST group teacher this week. You put in a lot of effort and determination when working with her. Well done William! |
1S | Luis C | For working hard to bump up your sentences by adding detail and adjectives. Great effort Luis! |
1S | Leo A | For the quick and accurate way you worked during our equal groups investigation in maths this week. You are a Sharing Superstar Leo! |
2A | Emerson M | For the expression you used when reading in your Boost group this week. I can see how hard you are working towards your goals. Keep up the great work Emerson! |
2A | Amelia B | For the happy and enthusiastic attitude you have towards school. You brighten my day every morning when you come bouncing into the classroom, eager to see what the hermit crab has been up to. Keep being you Amelia! |
2L | Raine M | For trying your best to work independently during writing time this week. Well done, Raine! Keep up the big effort!! |
2L | Cara M | Cara you are a little ray of sunshine! We love your shining smile! Thank you for brightening our classroom every single day! |
3C | Jackson C | For the amazing effort, you have shown in Boost groups this term. Your reading has improved out of sight! Keep it up Jackson! |
3C | Andre K | For always being a conscientious learner and trying your best. Keep up the fantastic work Andre! |
3P | Dominic W | For working exceptionally well in RTI this week. You are a math star! |
3P | Elena V | For always working to the very best of your ability in every subject. You are quiet, polite and a beautifully positive member of our classroom. |
4C | Mila L | For a great effort with your reading during Boost sessions this week. I love the way that you skim ahead in your text to help you read more fluently. |
4C | Ayden B | For your conscientious approach to learning and always showing that you are ready to listen. You set a wonderful example for your peers. |
4R | Elouise R | For the initiative you displayed in designing your own object, an ice cream van to use for our ‘forces’ experiment in Science. Your persistence in working hard has contributed to your success in this task. Well done Elouise! |
4R | Lucas D | For the effort you have put into your Maths lessons on fractions this week. Your success has been a result of you trying hard and paying attention to all details. Keep up the good work Lucas! |
5C | Gemma C | For your persistence with fractions this week. You can know convert between mixed numerals and fractions and place them on a number line because of all your hard work. Well done! |
5C | Ashton C | For your amazing work ethic this week. Ashton you have completed all tasks on time and with great depth this week. Keep up the amazing work. |
5M | Hannah H | For always being a conscientious worker. It was especially pleasing to see your enthusiasm for converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. Keep up the great work Hannah! |
5M | Oliver D | You are always offering to help around the classroom and you are such a considerate classmate by quietly going about your work. We are lucky to have you in 5M. |
6T | Jack D | For demonstrating great leadership skills in wellbeing groups. You created a positive and inclusive environment for everyone in your team. Well done Jack! |
6V | Harper J | For the effort and determination you have displayed when solving harder maths problems. Your 'You Can Do It' attitude was impressive Harper! |
6V | Anna M | For your quiet presence in the classroom, consistent effort and confidence to give things a go are appreciated by your teacher. Keep up the great work Anna! |
Sport Award | Mackenzie P | You shine each week in PE with your ‘can do’ attitude. You lead by example by always doing the best you can when participating in activities, listening to instructions and working cooperatively with your peers. Keep up the hard work. |
Sport Award | Mack J | You have certainly been trying your very best in the last few weeks. It has been great to see you confidently demonstrate to your peers how to listen attentively and follow instructions. Keep it up. |
Drama Award | 6T | For successfully implementing the organisation key to create incredible junk instruments! You are AWESOME! |
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Community News
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