Week 6, Term 3 2022 - 16th August 2022
APRE's Reflection
The Assumption of Our Lady - 15 August
On Monday, 15 August the Church celebrated the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times. The Assumption signals the end of Mary's earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus.
From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose
Year 5 Camp to Seaforth
All the best to the Year 5 students who will attend camp at Seaforth Pines this Wednesday-Friday. Students will enjoy low ropes, orienteering, beach games, archery and team building games. I thank the staff (Mrs Rokic, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Gordon) and parents (Mr Ricciardi, Mr Stables and Mr McNamara). A reminder that Yr 5 students need to arrive at school by 8:15am tomorrow (Wed 17/8) and will return to school via bus Friday afternoon 2:30pm.
Staff News
I am away for the remainder of the week, attending the Year 5 camp. Mrs Leotta is acting principal in my absence.
Lockdown Drill
Today we practiced our school lockdown procedures. In the event of a human threat, severe storm, etc., the school will go into lockdown. During a lockdown, students and staff are alerted via a calming song over our PA system. On this sound, everyone moves indoors, locking door and windows and shelters inside under desks until the threat passes. Afterwards, students return to their normal classroom and the attendance roll is taken. I thank staff and students for practicing this drill today with sensibility and urgency.
Uniform Reminders
I issue an important reminder to all parents about our school uniform guidelines. We are noticing the vast majority of students are adhering to the uniform expectations, which is pleasing to see. However, we have noticed that there are a couple of areas that some students and parents need to be reminded of. They include;
- Boys hairstyles. 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, hair no shorter than gauge 2 or undercuts that have a large variance between length). This includes mullets.
- Girls earrings. We are noticing some girls wearing large, dangly earrings that are not appropriate for school. Girls are reminded that studs and sleeper style earrings are preferred.
- Winter clothing. A reminder that the school jumper is to be worn. Navy trackpants (boys/girls) or navy tights (girls) can also be worn. Please avoid undershirts and other, non-school jumpers.
- School shoes. Plain black footwear is to be worn each day. An all-black jogger is recommended.
To access our full uniform guidelines, please click here.
Reading Assessments
You may have noticed that your child’s teacher has been released over the past week to conduct Diagnostic Reading Assessments (DRA) with their students. As a school, we use DRA to track reading growth and achievement. DRA is also used to identify strengths and weaknesses and set reading/comprehension goals for each student. I thank the teachers for their diligent work in administering these tests, which form an important part of our ongoing monitoring and assessment practices.
Quote of the Week
"Nature always wears the colours of the spirit."
-Emerson
APRE: Terri Leotta
October - Month of the Rosary
Next Term all classes will pray The Rosary each day in October. St Mary's honours the Blessed mother of Jesus and our school booklist requires that each student have their own set of Rosary beads throughout Prep to Year 6.
If your child does not have rosary beads, please purchase a set through our school office for $12 or source them from home, St Vincent de Paul or South Mackay Newsagency.
Book Fair
Open Monday 15th to Wednesday 17th August!
8am-3pm in the Makerspace (Library)
Come along to find the best new books and help earn free books for our library! EFTPOS available.
Book Week Parade
Book Week will officially run from 20th-26th August 2022.
St Mary’s will be holding its annual Book Week Parade during this week on Tuesday 23rd August. This year’s theme is 'DREAMING WITH EYES OPEN...'
Students are encouraged to start thinking about their favourite book characters and how a creative costume might come to life for this celebration.
Premier's Reading Challenge
READ, READ, READ.....! ONLY 10 DAYS TO GO!
Reading period finishes on Friday 26th August
The first class to submit all their student's
reading forms will win a fabulous prize.!
Sport News
At last Friday's assembly Mrs Sibley presented special sports awards for outstanding effort at this year's St Mary's Athletics Carnival.
Well done to:
- Oliver S for breaking the under 10's girls 800m record;
- Ava C for breaking the under 11's girls high jump and 100m sprints; and
- Tommy H for breaking the under 12's boys 800m record.
We would also like to congratulate Tommy H and Madison M on their performance at the Mackay District School Sport Athletics trials and their selection to compete for the Mackay team in both 100m and 800m at the Capricornia Athletics Trials.
St Mary's Battlers
The Battlers had another great win last week against Marian with a final score of 26-nil. We play our final round game tomorrow against Fitzgerald State School at 4pm on field 4. We invite any school supporters to come and join us at the game where we hope to secure a spot in the finals.
A further message to any under 12 girls interested in participating in the Karen Murphy Cup on Tuesday 13th September from 4-6:30pm, please see me for more information.
Mrs Belinda Battaia
belinda_battaia@rok.catholic.edu.au
Jump Rope for Heart
JRFH is still going strong at St Mary’s with students mastering more skills each week. Congratulations to Eddie and Yongkang for mastering the ‘Dipsy Doodle’ which is an advanced skipping trick!
Well done to the 24 students who have been raising money. You have raised a combined total of $3077.77 for Heart Research so far.
This week our skipping challenges are the ‘Running Man’ and the ‘Flip Turn’.
Week 5 Skipping Champions
Prep C - Asha S Year 3M - Elly
Prep P - Remi and Hudson Year 4C - N0 PE lesson in week 5
Year 1B - No PE lesson in week 5 Year 4K - Brinda
Year 1L - Ellie Year 5L - No PE lesson in week 5
Year 2A - No PE lesson in week 5 Year 5R - No pe lesson in week 5
Year 2B - Saylah Year 6M - Suporna
Year 3B - Nina Year 6V - Harry & Kaylani
Simone Sibley
HPE Teacher
From our P & F
REMINDER: Paint & Sip with the talented Kylie Ferriday
Sunday 21 August 10am - 12.30pm
Tickets on sale now. www.trybooking.com.CBKRW
Uniform Price Increase
Due to an increase in yarn costs, labour costs, import charges and local freight charges, Lowes has advised that they will be increasing their uniform prices from Term 4 2022.
Please find following a list of increases that will take place next term. We suggest if you are looking at purchasing new uniforms to do so before the price increase comes into effect next term.
Student of the Week
Week 5, Term 3 Student Award Winners
| Prep C | Alexander | For your excellent work in our maths rotations this week. You worked really hard at learning how to read number names. Well done! |
| Prep C | Bridie | For your amazing reading this week. You were so focused and read beautifully - you are a reader! Keep it up! |
| Prep P | Declan | For great work in maths rotations this week. You worked quickly and carefully to complete your number words worksheet. Keep up the wonderful work Declan! |
| Prep P | Ainnah | For your wonderful work in maths this week. You showed us that you can read all your number words to ten! Well done Ainnah! |
| 1B | Heidi | For the wonderful responses you had in the writing task Messy Habits! You are amazing! |
| 1L | Eileen | We are so impressed with you efforts in behaviour, listening and aways trying your best in class! |
| 2A | Santiago | For the wonderful effort you are making in your learning. You are improving every day! Keep persisting, Santiago! |
| 2B | Oliver | Oliver, you are becoming an amazing reader. We can see you are putting great effort into your fluency when reading. Keep it up! |
| 2B | Jayda | Jayda, thank you for being a great role model in PE. You are continuously kind and encouraging to your peers & always helpful with retrieving equipment. You are a Super Star! |
| 3B | Ashton | For being a subtraction with trading, Super Star. You have worked hard to master the strategies and calculate correctly. Well done! |
| 3B | Isabella | For the joy and positivity you bring to every part of the day. You look for the best in every situation. |
| 3M | Lexie | For the focus and determination you showed when completing your reading assessment this week. You are an amazing reader who thinks critically about what you have read. |
| 3M | Ava | For the improvement you have made with your reading so far this term. All the practice you are doing in class and at home is paying off. Keep up the great work Ava! |
| 4C | Asha | For your conscientious approach to learning and active participation in all class activities. It is great to see the start you have made to learning this semester. Well done Asha. |
| 4C | Charlie | For your commitment to reading and your approach to tackling unfamiliar words in texts. It's great to see your reading fluency improve as a result. Great work Charlie! |
| 4C | The Dingoes Boost Group | For amazing Mrs Brazil - your Boost Leader, with your diligence and initiative. Well done Rahill, Ava, Zander O, Isabelle and Sefton. |
| 4K | Blake | For your wonderful work in BOOST reading. Mrs Brazil was very impressed with your care, consideration and use of the glossary to create a meaningful summary of your favourite chapter. Well done! |
| 4K | Indy | For your wonderful work in BOOST reading. Mrs Brazil was very impressed with your use of the glossary to create a meaningful and cohesive summary of your favourite chapter. Keep it up! |
| 5L | Emelia | For the resilience you've shown this week and for your courage when asking for assistance. Absolutely wonderful to see your efforts to improve your understanding. Keep it up! |
| 5L | Victoria | There's always a reason to make someone smile and you found it this week. Thank you for taking the time to share your humour and kindness with your teacher!! |
| 5R | Ava | For your improved effort and attitude towards maths lessons. Keep trying hard, you are going great. |
| 5R | Harry | For continuing to try hard and persist through challenges. You have been working really hard and taking on feedback to improve. Keep it up! |
| 6M | Lennox | For your creative, original and humorous fantasy narrative. You have used rich vocabulary and riveting descriptions to bring it alive. Amazing work Lennox. |
| 6M | Layla | For the joy and positivity you bring to the classroom every day. You work hard, try your best and always have a smile on your face. |
| 6V | Gracie | For using descriptive, emotive vocabulary choices in your writing this week . Great work Gracie! |
| 6V | Armani | For displaying the virtues of persistence and determination in all learning tasks this week. Your teachers are so pleased with how hard you have been working Armani. Keep up the great work. |
Community News
MACKAY OZTAG SUMMER JUNIOR SEASON
Registration now open!!!|
FREE come and try day September 21st & 28th
Souths Junior Rugby League Fields (25 Casey Avenue)
4:15pm - 5:15pm
Bring along a waterbottle, joggers/football boots and a friend
Summer Season
Kicking off October 5th - runs for 10 games
Ages u6 - u15 boys & girls
Registration $11 membership, $85 Rego, Official Oztag shorts $25 or Tights $35
Games played from 4pm on Wednesday's with the draws released the Sunday prior
Bring along your team (minimum 11 players), or bring a small group or just yourself and we can help find you a team.
No experience needed as our dedicated referees are there to help along the way
ALL players receive a medal
WE ALSO ACCEPT FAIR PLAY VOUCHERS!!!
For more information please contact Courtney on 0431 081 712 or jump on our website www.mackayoztag.com