Week 6, Term 2 2024 - 21st May 2024

Principal's Reflection

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

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 75^th 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 11^th August.

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

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

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

Youth Mass & Children's Liturgy

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

Please see below for information about the upcoming Sacramental Preparation sessions for Confirmation and Holy Communion.

Thank You for Your Support

National Sorry Day

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

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

Community News