Week 7, Term 4 2022 - 15th November 2022

Principal's Reflection

There are times in our lives of great importance, what we often call ‘rites of passage’.  These ceremonial events exist in all societies and mark the transition from one social or religious status to another. 

As we near the end of the year and our grade 6 students prepare to conclude their time at St Mary’s, we have established ways of marking this occasion. They include the graduation dinner, the end of year Mass and the ‘handing over’ ceremony.  These rites of passage are special, meaningful and necessary.

However as Arne Rubenstein writes, as a society the marking of key times in the lives of our young adults has been eroded.  Rubenstein’s article raises some important points for parents and adults about the importance of marking these special times in appropriate and meaningful ways.  I include his brief but thought-provoking article below for your reference.

Healthy Rites of Passage: Arne Rubenstein

Rites of passage have always been a significant part of community life, until now. Each stage of a person’s life was marked and celebrated including the significant step of moving into adulthood. The shift from childhood to adulthood has always been marked by a rite of passage, which represents entry to the adult world and the rights that go with it. This new set of rights is also accompanied by a responsibility to serve and contribute to the community.

The loss of healthy rites of passage.  For many young people Schoolies Week, the annual Year 12 endless party, is the only rite of passage they have. The loss of meaningful rites of passage is having disastrous consequences on young people.  Too often we see young men in their twenties and beyond acting like boys in constant need of acknowledgement from their peers, dodging responsibility and still seeking approval from their mother. Many young women are stuck in perpetual adolescence, more worried about how they look than how they can contribute to their communities.

Adults have a role to play.  It’s the role of adults to recognise and bring out children’s strengths and natural gifts so they can contribute fully to their communities as adults. One of the most significant roles of the elderly is to care for and pass on wisdom to the young. Not surprisingly in the past it has been the elders who were responsible for overseeing rites of passage and their timely delivery.  Rites of passage are not supposed to be done in isolation. As a child becomes a young adult, parents also need to take a step and move to the next stage in their lives. Each new stage of development for a child or young person represents a new beginning for parents as well.  Unfortunately, elderhood is not highly coveted or respected in these modern times and there is a global marketing campaign telling us that youth is the desirable and only really acceptable life stage. When adulthood is not fully appreciated or understood, then it’s little wonder that many young people are hanging on to their adolescence well into their twenties. Some never make the leap into adulthood.

5 features of healthy rites of passage.  There are five distinct parts to healthy rites of passage activities. These rites features are common in all rites of passage activities created by First Nations people across the globe.

1) An event: Usually there is a gathering of significant adults in a young person’s life to mark their coming of age.

2) Story: Rather than telling young people how to live their life adults tell them stories of their lives, their challenges and their joys.

3) Challenge: In the absence of overcoming an adult-initiated challenge that signifying the moving away from adulthood teenagers will often create their own high risk-taking challenges. The challenges adults provide can be physical (difficult hike), intellectual (speak to a group) or spiritual (spend time on their own).

4) Vision for the future: It’s important to provide young people with the opportunity to voice their vision for their future life.

5) Honouring: A valued adult, often a parent, should acknowledge the gifts, talents and special genius of the young person in front of others

Families and communities can rediscover the notion of rites of passage and begin to invent their own pathways to adulthood, complete with markers and appropriate recognition.  Parents and schools can put their own celebrations in place that mark significant ages, and the all-important transition to adulthood. These celebrations should include a bringing together of significant adults and a passing on of wisdom and stories from past generations to a young person. These rites of passage can be creative, must be inclusive and need to be appropriate to each family or community situation.

Source:https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/healthy-rites-of-passage?utm_source=Blog+Subscribers&utm_campaign=0612aa985f-parenting_Blog_Self_Rites_of_passage&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f488c60967-0612aa985f-180218917&mc_cid=0612aa985f&mc_eid=9e41614931

All the very best,

Wes Rose
Principal

From our Principal - Mr Wes Rose

Remembrance Day Commemoration
Last Friday, we gathered as a whole school to observe Remembrance Day. On the 11^th hour on the 11^th day of the 11^th month, a minutes’ silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect our nation. We welcomed RSL President, Mr Ken Higgins, to our assembly who spoke passionately about the service on the native Papua New Guinean people who provided assistance to the injured Australian soldiers.  Then our Year 3 students led a reverent and solemn Remembrance Day service and minutes’ silence.  I thank all involved for making this day special.

St Mary’s Fair
I look forward to celebrating the St Mary’s Fair, this Saturday 19^th November from 5:30pm.  Please see below some notes on the preparations for the fair;

• I sincerely thank all the parents who have already indicated they can assist on the night.  I ask that if you are able to help your year level stall, even if only for a short time, that you make contact with the year level coordinator.  Many hands make light work. 
• We require several parent helpers to assist with the fair set-up. We will set up tables and chairs on Thursday (17/11) afternoon from 1:50pm in the Basketball area (due to Swim Carnival Fri)
• We require assistance to pick up a lighting tower on Friday morning. If you have a car with a towball and can assist, please let me know.
• Raffle books went home with the eldest child in the family. This major raffle is a big fundraiser for the Fair, so I ask that each family try to sell at least one book of 10 tickets.  Please return the ticket stubs and correct ticket money to the school office by this Friday.  If you require more raffle books, please see the office.

2023 Orientation Morning
We are preparing for our upcoming orientation morning for all students on Thursday 24^th Nov. Students currently in Prep – Year 5 will spend the morning in their 2023 classroom, meeting their 2023 teacher.  Our current Yr 6s have their orientation day at their respective Catholic Colleges.  Our incoming 2023 Preps will also visit St Mary’s from 9:15am-10:30am.

Leadership Speeches
Next Tuesday 22^nd November, our current Year 5 students will present their leadership speeches to the school community.  The session will start from 8:40am in the Hall and all parents and friends are invited to attend.  Following the speeches, the Year 4,5 and 6 students and all staff members will vote for thir preferred leaders across various positions.  Students will then break up into their sporting houses to vote for sports captains.  The locations for the sports captain speeches are; 

Illawong: Hall
Eungella: Library
Iluka: Music Room

Please click on the link below to view a list of nominees for 2023 leadership positions.

We will announce the 2023 school leaders at assembly on 25^th November.  All parents and relatives are most welcome to attend.

Rite of Reconciliation
All the best to the Year 3 students who will make their first Reconciliation this Thursday from 6:30pm in the St Mary’s Church.  I also thank Mrs Leotta, Mrs Eva, Mrs Burchill and Mrs Simpson for preparing the students for this sacrament.

Swimming Carnival
I look forward to our annual swimming carnival this Friday, and invite as many parents and relatives as possible to attend the Memorial Pool.  A reminder that the Junior Carnival students (b. 2014-2017) will catch the bus to the pool at 8:45am, with races starting from 9:15am. They will return to school approx. 11:15am.  Our senior students (b. 2010-2013) will catch the bus from school at 10:45am for the 11am carnival start.  Students will return to school approx. 2pm via bus.

Supervisor Visit
We welcome Mr Michael McCusker (Regional Assistant Director: Schools) to St Mary’s this Wednesday. Michael will be visiting some classrooms and meeting with the school leadership team. 

Pick-Up Zone Reminders
We have noticed parent queueing in our pick-up zone quite early, which can prevent the normal flow of traffic into the carpark.  I ask parents to avoid queueing in the line until 2:40pm; if you arrive early, please park in the church carpark until 2:40pm.

Quote of the Week

From the Office

Tuckshop News

St Mary's Swimming Carnival

Please click on the links below for  Junior and Senior Carnival officials list.

St Mary's Christmas Fair - Saturday 19th November

Major Raffle
REMINDER: Please return the sold tickets stubs with correct money included, to the school office no later than Friday 18th November. If you require additional raffle books, please contact the office.  

Unlimited Rides - Early Bird Sale!

Our 'Early Bird Sale' for the ‘Unlimited Rides Wristband’ at the Christmas Fair is on now! Your child will receive a handwritten receipt the week of the fair for proof of purchase when collecting their wristband on the night at the Ticket Box.

Please click on this link to purchase your tickets or scan the QR code below. 

End of Year School Mass Invitation

St Mary's Christmas Concert

Christmas Under the Stars!

On Thursday 1st December from 6-7pm in the basketball court we will host our Christmas Concert. Our students have been busily learning several Christmas dances under the expert tutelage of our Performing Arts Teacher, Mrs Wood. 

Letters were sent home with students last week with details of costume requirements. These letters can also be found by clicking on the appropriate link below. 

Student of the Week

Week 6, Term 4 Student Award Winners

Community News