Week 3, Term 4 2024 - 15th October 2024

APC'S Reflection

This week, we begin preparations for student leadership in 2025.  The leadership team will visit the year 5 students this Friday where we begin by sharing a slide show outlining key qualities, roles and responsibilities, code of behaviour, role descriptions and the election time line. 

It is an exciting time for the whole school as we see another intake of students step up to the role of leading St Mary’s  We will be giving special mention to the fact that although each role has its own key description and responsibilities, it is vital that all of our school leaders actively contribute to school events, sports events, social justice initiatives, ministry and cultural events to ensure the best experience for our whole school community. 

In speaking to the students about leadership, I will be reflecting on one of the memorable leaders of my primary school years, my grade 7 teacher. He embodied the perfect blend of enthusiasm and authority.  Beyond academics, he was passionate about photography and he shared this passion and integrated it into lessons to enrich the curriculum.  We had our very own dark room where we learned to develop photos from negatives, it was so cool!  Reading came alive in his classroom as he expressively brought characters to life using different voices and gestures to captivate the listener.  By creating such memorable storytelling experiences, he instilled a love of drama in me which led to my eight years of specialist primary drama teaching. When necessary, he shifted to a more serious tone, establishing clear boundaries and expectations. His sternness was always balanced with fairness, ensuring we understood the importance of responsibility while feeling supported.  Mr Warby was not just a teacher, he was a mentor, a storyteller and a passionate leader who inspired us to explore and share our own interests and creativity with others.

Good luck to all our candidates and I hope you find a way to share your inner leadership qualities, interests and creativity with us, through your speeches. 

Belinda Battaia
Assistant Principal: Curriculum

From our Principal | Mr Wes Rose

Staff News

• This Tue-Fri, Mrs Caroline Gordon will attend a retreat in Yeppoon called, ‘A pace of grace’. I am sure she will thoroughly enjoy this opportunity. In her absence, Mrs Simpson will cover her duties.
• This Wednesday, Mrs Sibley and Mrs Battaia will attend a HPE workshop. Mrs Cleaver will teach PE during Simone’s absence.

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.

A message to children/families arriving before 8:15am
We have noticed that many students are arriving at school before 8:15am and are spread out across various areas of the school.  I remind students and parents that before 8:15am, there are no teachers on supervision duty.  Therefore, students are to either sit with their parents, or if unaccompanied, sit in the tuckshop area.  There is to be no play before 8:15am.  Once the 8:15am play bell rings, students can play handball/skip/walk the track/visit the library.

Uniform Guidelines
A reminder to all families of our uniform guidelines.  Some important areas to note include;

• Students are to wear plain black footwear (formal shoes or joggers).
• No coloured nail polish or acrylic nails.
• Boys: No earrings.
• Boys hair styles. Be neat in appearance and not falling into eyes or past the collar. Hair may not be dyed or worn in a style that is extreme or inappropriate for school (e.g. no tracks, rat’s tails, mo-hawks, top knots, mullets, hair no shorter than gauge 2 or undercuts that have a large variance between length).
• Girls hair styles. Be neat in appearance and not falling into eyes. Girls with shoulder or longer length hair must have it tied back. Hair may not be dyed or worn in a style that is extreme or inappropriate for school. Hair accessories should be minimal and must be in colours of navy, blue or white.
• Please keep them basic, avoiding electronic watches that include games and cameras, etc.
  
  

Our students demonstrate pride in St Mary’s school by the way they wear their uniform correctly.  From next week, an infringement letter may be sent home to notify parents of any areas that need to be addressed.   If you have any queries about this, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Early Departure and Late Arrival at School
For the safety of all students, it is important that the following procedures are followed when students are collected early or arrive late for school;

• If your child needs to leave school during the day for any reason, they must be collected from the school office and signed out. Advanced notice to the school office will assist in having students ready at the collection time.
• Please do not go directly to your child’s class, as the class teacher is unable to amend the attendance roll.
• When returning to school following an appointment, students must report to the office so that the class roll can be marked accordingly.
• Students who arrive late to school in the morning (after 8:30am) must report to the school office before going to their classroom. This will prevent SMS messages being sent to parents when children are present at school.

Families Leaving
As our total enrolment drives many aspects of our school (staffing, budget, class sizes and structure) it is important that we try to be as accurate as possible in predicting the school enrolment for 2025. If you know that you will be leaving at the end of the year, please notify the office as soon as possible. Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.

Quote of the Week

School Fees

School fees were issued on 3^rd October 2024 and are due for payment this Thursday, 17^th October 2024.

Thank you to all those parents who have paid fees or entered into a payment plan to pay off their fees over the course of 2024.

If you are on a payment plan, fees are required to be finalised for the 2024 year by the last day of school term, Friday 6^th December 2024.

If you have any questions in relation to school fees, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Kathy Parrish
Finance Officer

Important Dates

Booklists 2025

**PLEASE NOTE: 2025 BOOKLISTS HAVE BEEN EMAILED TO ALL PARENTS**

Orders can be placed online here or by emailing your order to admin@mackayschoolsupplies.com.au  Orders are due by Tuesday 22nd October and must be paid for prior to delivery.

PLEASE NOTE: Orders can still be placed after 22nd October, however these packs will need to be collected directly from Mackay School Supplies located in the Mackay Showgrounds. 

Book pack collection times are: Friday 29th November 2:30-3:30pm and Monday 2nd December from 8am-8:45am in the School Hall. 

If you have any queries, please contact Michelle at Mackay School Supplies on 0432 515 407 or ask at the school office.

Each year level booklist can be viewed by clicking the appropriate link below.

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, which will be hosted in our school hall. The cost to participate in these 3 sacraments is $50, which covers the cost of the preparation materials the children receive.  If you would like further information please contact the school office.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

• Workshop 1 – 17^th October 3:15pm-4:15pm (Hall)
• Enrolment Mass: Sat 19^th October 5pm (St Mary’s Church) (all candidates need to attend this Mass)
• Workshop 2 – 24^th October 3:15pm-4:15pm (Hall)
• Rite of Reconciliation: Tuesday 29^th October 6pm (St Mary’s Church)

Belinda van Lint 
Assistant Principal: Religious Education (Acting)

October - Month of the Rosary

We continue praying a decade of the Rosary each day in October. 

St Mary's honours the Blessed Mother of Jesus and our school booklist requires that each student from Prep to Year 6 have their own set of Rosary beads.

If your child does not have rosary beads, please purchase a set through our school office for $12 or source them from home or St Vincent de Paul Store in Macalister St.

Thank you. 

Belinda van Lint
Assistant Principal: Religious Education (Acting)

St Mary's Christmas Fair

Donations Needed

The St Mary's Christmas Fair is a wonderful social event and an annual end-of-year celebration organised by St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and St Mary’s Parish, South Mackay.

We are currently seeking donations for our Christmas Fair Raffle/Cent Sale and would greatly appreciate your assistance. Donations can be in the form of goods, cash, or gift vouchers for your business products or services.

As a token of appreciation, all supporters will be listed in our school newsletter, acknowledging your sponsorship and encouraging our school community to support your business.

If you would like to donate, can you please kindly respond by Friday, 1^st November 2024.

We sincerely thank you for your generosity and hope that you will consider contributing to our Christmas Fair.

Tanya Davies
Fair Coordinator
Mobile: 0438 138 392

Term 4 Clubs

Many of our students have been enjoying our term 4 lunch time clubs. Please encourage your child to participate if they are interested. 

P & F Bike-a-Thon

The rain held off on Sunday for our ‘All Things Aussie’ Bike-a-thon, and it turned out to be a lovely morning for a casual ride! Well done to the Perkins and McGuinness Families on being named the best dressed families and to Riley, Ashton, Mia and Imogen on their amazing costumes. A shout out to our many parent helpers who made the morning a success and sincere thanks to Tracey and Kyle from Mackay Cycles for sponsoring the event.

State Chess Championships

Congratulations to our chess team who participated in the Qld Schools Chess Championships at St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace over the weekend. Our team, consisting of Creed, Gavin, Mitchell and Woodley, played really well, scoring several good wins and forcing some thrilling stalemates. Thank you to Mrs Berardi who accompanied our team to the Championships.

Chess club will continue every Tuesday at first break for the remainder of the term in the music room.

Student of the Week

Week 2, Term 4 Student Award Winners

Community News