Week 9, Term 3 2024 - 3rd September 2024

Principal's Reflection

Effort Wins Success! – St Mary’s great NAPLAN 2024 Results

Earlier this term, Year 3 and 5 families received their individual student results from the 2024 NAPLAN tests.  Covering Maths, Spelling, Writing, Reading and Language Conventions, the results of these tests can sometimes be used inappropriately to compare schools and push particular political agendas, but at their heart, provide good information about each student’s learning and progress compared to other Australian children.

St Mary’s also receives school-level data that can be used to complement other datasets we collect throughout the year.  I am pleased to announce that this year’s NAPLAN results from St Mary’s indicate some of our highest scores in recent times, with 9 out of 10 areas showing improvement.

The table below indicates our 2024 school average in each domain, compared to the QLD and National averages.  As you can see, we have scored substantially above the QLD and National average in all areas.  This is an outstanding result, and our students and staff are to be congratulated on this effort!

As I continually remind my staff, data is not the work – it just measures the work.  This data gives evidence to the dedication of staff and students to continually strive for learning growth each and every day.  High quality teaching practices, supportive ancillary staff, signature whole-school programs (such as Soundwaves, Heggerty Phonics, BOOST reading and RTI Maths) and a focus on student wellbeing all result in scores like these.  Congratulations to all involved!

All the very best,

Wes Rose
Principal

From our Principal | Mr Wes Rose

National Child Protection Week
In 2024, the National Child Protection Week message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’ will be complemented with the theme ‘Every conversation matters’.  Conversations are powerful tools to keep children and young people safe and well.  Conversations can help us understand issues, craft solutions, value community knowledge, and build the brains and social connections of children and young people. Conversations between:
…children and their caregivers matter (from the very earliest days)
…children and their peers matter
…families with teachers, doctors, and other professionals matter
…friends or neighbours matter
…decision-makers and the communities they serve matter.

And, of course, conversations in the public realm and media matter…

So this National Child Protection Week we invite you to speak up – and speak together – about what needs to change for every child in every community to have a fair go.

This theme provides a platform to:
- engage in important conversations,
- promote the value of conversations, and
- equip us to have conversations that keep kids safe.

Below is a link to some webinars this week that may be of interest to you.
https://www.napcan.org.au/final-official-program-webinars-events-2024/

2025 School Fee Information
All parents received a letter this week, outlining the 2025 school fees increases.  I ask that all families take the time to read this so they are fully aware of the changes, which are necessary due to a change in government funding arrangements for non-government schools.  Across the 38 schools of the Rockhampton Diocese, there has been a huge amount of work done to bring each of our schools into line with the funding regime set by the Federal Government.  Essentially, the government is decreasing their level of funding to schools, so parents will see a fee increase to cover the shortfall.  We will always do what we are able to support families in financial hardship. I greatly appreciate all of those families who meet their commitment and get fees in on time and finalised each year.  More detailed information is available on our school website, as well as in our newsletter archive.  If you have any additional questions about this, please let us know.

Terri Leotta – Resignation
All members of the school community received a letter today regarding the resignation of our APRE, Mrs Terri Leotta. On behalf of the school community, I thank Terri for her outstanding service and leadership over many years in Catholic Education and particularly at St Mary’s. Terri will be greatly missed.  As we approach the conclusion of Terri’s employment, we are working to establish interim arrangements for Term 4.  Additionally, we will begin the process of advertising for the substantive APRE role, with the new appointment to commence in 2025. If parents have any questions about this, please let me know.

Catholic Identity Conversation
This Thursday 5^th September we welcome Mrs Kellie Jenkinson (Assistant Director: Mission), Mrs Belinda Smith (APRE: St Mary’s Rockhampton) and Mr Derek Worden (Religious Education consultant) to St Mary’s.  Kellie, Belinda and Derek will be assisting the school in monitoring our Catholic Identity, as well as working through the results from the ECSI surveys that Year 5-6 students, staff and parents completed in April this year.

St Mary’s Feast Day
This Friday 6^th September, we will celebrate the Feast day of Mary’s birthday.  On this day, we will have several events that parents are most welcome to attend;

- Mass from 9am in our Hall. I thank Fr Anthony for presiding at this Mass.  We will cut Mary’s birthday cake
   afterwards.
- Centenary time capsule dedication and burial. 11:30am in the grassed area near our school flags.  Witness our
    time capsule be buried, to be opened at the school’s 125^th celebrations in 2049!
- International Food Day. From 12:30pm-1:30pm, we will have food from many different cultures available for
    students and staff to sample.  I sincerely thank the parents that are assisting with preparing food for this
    event; it is always a highlight of the school calendar!

Centenary Yearbook and Cookbook
We still have copies of these books available to purchase from the school office. All students who are enrolled this year have their photo included in this book, which will be a great keepsake for families.  Please see the ladies in the school office to get your copy.

Quote of the Week

Farewell from our APRE | Terri Leotta

Dear Parents and friends,

After 22 years of teaching and leading at this wonderful school, the time has come for me to say goodbye. As I reflect on the past two decades, I am filled with deep gratitude for the journey we’ve shared.

It has been an absolute privilege to be part of your children’s lives, to watch them grow, learn, and blossom into the amazing individuals they are today. Thank you for your trust, support, and the strong partnerships we’ve built over the years. Your involvement and encouragement have been instrumental in making the school thrive.

I will forever cherish the memories of the countless moments of joy, discovery, and growth that I’ve been fortunate enough to witness. Each child has left a lasting impression on my heart, and I know that they will go on to make their way in the world with confidence, kindness and capability.

As a long-term member of the Leadership Team and the school P and F Committee, I can attest to the impact a committed group of parents can make,  not only to the resourcing of a school, but also to the palpable sense of pride, joyfulness and community. Thank you to the committee and all parents who have given their time to build the Spirit of St Mary’s School.

To the staff who give so much of themselves, always striving to create a school where our motto, 'Learn from Christ,' remains foremost in your thoughts and words, thank you for the years of camaraderie and care.

As I move on to a new career, I carry with me the love, laughter, and lessons from these 22 years. Though I will miss being part of this community, I leave with a heart full of gratitude and fulfillment.

Thank you for making this journey so special. I wish you and your children continued happiness, success and bright futures.

With heartfelt thanks and warmest regards,

Terri Leotta

St Mary's Art Extravaganza

The St Mary’s Art Extravaganza is drawing ever-so-tantalisingly closer! We are in the final stages of our art works and enjoying playing with paint, pens, printmaking and faux stained glass.   

The Prep classes this year have enjoyed learning about one of America’s most inspirational women.  Alma Thomas was the first negro artist to have her work hung in the White House.  We have used her unique style of painting abstract and repeated shapes in vibrant colours to depict the beauty in what she observed.  She loved celebrating beautiful flower gardens, and through printmaking, we have created our own radiant gardens of colour! 

Grade One have explored the beautiful scenery of the Yukon in North America through the eyes of Canadian artist Ted Harrison.  His works are characterized by their almost psychedelic colour palettes, in which the sun and mountains are given mystical credence.  We have used our own beautiful environment here in Mackay, Eungella, The Pioneer Valley, The Whitsundays and surrounding beaches to show our vision of our part of the world.  We have learnt how to make tints with the limited colour palette we were given and to explore how to apply these in our artwork.

Grade Two have shared in the heartbreaking and courageous life story of Frida Kahlo and learnt about the inspiration behind her art.  We have analysed the imagery in her self-portraits and how this reflected so much about her.  We learnt the process of drawing our own faces using mirrors and the basic proportions to make our face realistic.  We added our own imagery to share details about ourselves with our audience.

Grade Three have been on a fun adventure into the world of Glen Allison.  Glen is most famous for his amazing photographs from around the world which he contributes to Getty Images.  We found another side to Glen and his art, which was the world of whimsical animals.  He creates some crazy, fanciful artworks  that, “exude a childlike curiosity that transcends age. They remind us to embrace whimsy in life and never to lose our sense of wonder. The innocent faces and mischievous grins of my characters embody a celebration of life itself. They invite us to laugh, dream, and explore with abandon.” 

Grade Four were chosen this year to create our beautiful religious imagery.  We have looked at religious stained glass and its history from the 1500s until today.  We have taken a more modern approach in our work for this exhibition, by looking at Henri Matisse in the latter stages of his life, in the period where he was using cut outs to create both artwork and stained glass imagery in churches and chapels.  The Grade Fours have created faux stained glass work that is just vibrant, radiant and imbued with religious symbolism.

Grade Five have looked at the work of contemporary American  artist  J. Vincent Scarpace whose main focus for his pieces are around sea creatures, especially fish.  His work is created using vibrant colour, focusing on circular, organic shapes that create a sense of flow and movement in his work.  The process the children have followed, is to create movement in their backgrounds using printmaking and then to create an impasto-style application of paint to create layers that they can sgraffito into and scratch back.

Grade 6 have used Phlegm’s idea of creating surreal illustrations to tell stories and weave a visual narrative to explore the unreal through creatures from their own imagination.  Phlegm is a Welsh-born Sheffield-based muralist and artist who first developed his illustrations in self-published comics. His work features in run-down and disused spaces in the urban landscape.  He has created his intricate and unusual imagery around the world. To emulate his style we have developed drawing techniques to add light and shade to our work, to hatch and crosshatch to build up areas of contrast and to add dimension to our drawings.

Tuckshop Day - 11th September

Sacramental Program

Students in Year 3 or above are invited to begin preparing to receive their Sacraments; Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Communion.

Enrolment forms are available at the school office and can be completed and brought along to the first workshop.

If you would like further information please contact the school office.

St Mary's
Workshop – 17^th October 3:15pm
Workshop – 24^th October 3:15pm
Tuesday : Reconciliation –  29^th October 6pm

St Francis Xavier
Workshop – 14^th October 3:15pm
Workshop – 21^st October 3:15pm
Monday: Reconciliation – 28^th October 6pm

St Michael’s
Workshop 1 - Sunday 13^th Oct 
Workshop 2 - Sunday 20^th Oct 
Sunday: Reconciliation – 27^th October after 9am mass

Workshops will take place at the school.

Terri Leotta
Assistant Principal: Religious Education

HPE Week

As part of HPE week there will be a themed free dress day tomorrow, Wednesday 4th September. The theme - your favourite sport team or colours. Students are encouraged to dress in the colours of the sport team they play for or the team they barrack for.

Students cannot wear football boots or crocs to school.

Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher

Centenary Dinner Photo Gallery

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