Well here we are, at the end of Term 2 and into the second half of 2025- the year is certainly flying by! The end of term two is always an exciting (and somewhat tiring) time of year as we conclude a great first semester of learning, fun and friendships and look forward to all that is to come in the second half of the year.
The end of this term was made even more exciting by the celebration of our biannual dance concert, which was themed ‘When I grow Up’. What a great couple of nights we have had this week as we came together as a school community (twice) to celebrate the Arts at Stella Maris. We hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did. Experiences such as these are so important for our students and build skills and capacities which transcend the Dance and Movement skills our students have learnt. We again thank the many people at Stella who have worked tirelessly to put the show together and ensure it ran as smoothly and successfully as it did. I particularly thank Georgia Burbrook for her energy, leadership and organisation of the concert this year. It was a fantastic concert and a testament to Georgia’s vision, hard work and passion for the arts.
As we end term 2, we reflect on some key moments from the last few weeks:
CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Nineteen students from Stella Maris recently celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Spirit Church. This Sacrament acknowledges the 'coming of the Holy Spirit' to the candidates. This is a significant moment in their faith lives and were pleased to have the Vicar General of the Adelaide Archdiocese – Fr Dean Marin preside over this ceremony. Following this, students then celebrated the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, which was presided over by our Parish Priest, Fr Joseph Raja. We congratulate all students on this significant milestone in their faith journey.
In the lead up to these celebrations, students and their families undertook a number of preparation sessions led by Fr Joseph, members of the parish and the schools APRIMs, in readiness for this celebration. We thank them for their hard work and support throughout the sacramental program.
EXHIBITION OF LEARNING
In week 8, we invited families in for our Exhibition of learning, which was an opportunity for students and their families to celebrate the wonderful learning that has occurred this semester. It was great to see so many families come in and there was certainly a real buzz in the yard with students eager to show their parents and family members their classrooms and keys pieces of work. We really hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did as a school community!
SPORTING SUCCESS
During the second half of the term, Stella Maris students have continued to excel on the sporting front, with some excellent achievements including:
Hadlee- SAPSASA Netball
Sonny, Koby & Gus- SAPSASA Football
Nicholas & Gus- Boys Netball
Maklin, Sonny, Kai & Ariana- Cross County.
We have also had students represent Stella Maris at various carnivals including the Catholic School Netball Carnival, Boys Knockout Netball, Boys and Girls Basketball and Boys Knockout Football. We are always so proud of the way our students represent our school and the great sports that they are. Well don’t to all students involved and a special thank you to the staff members and volunteers who make these experiences possible for our students.
TERM 3
As we head into Term 3, we look forward to welcoming our Mid-Year intake class who will begin their schooling journey with us, under the guidance of their teacher Ms Shannan Herbert. I know that you will join us in welcoming these students and any new families to our Stella community.
We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday 21 July. In the meantime, we wish all of our families a wonderful holiday break and hope that you have the opportunities to rest and reset before a busy term 3. As always, thank you for your ongoing support and involvement throughout the first half of 2025!
Kind Regards
The Leadership Team
Hello to all the families at Stella Maris,
Wow this term has gone by so quickly, the winter holiday program is now online and bookings are open, please book early to ensure you place as we are expecting to reach capacity some days, so the early birds will get the bookings.
This term, the children have been immersed in a world of creativity, expressing their ideas through painting, drawing, and fashion design. These artistic opportunities allowed them to explore their ideas and emotions, experimenting with mixing colours and observing how new hues emerge from blending different shades. This hands-on process sparked curiosity and imagination, encouraging children to discover the endless possibilities that colour offers. As they played with light and dark tones, they developed a deeper understanding of how colours interact, which not only enhanced their appreciation for art but also strengthened their problem-solving skills. Their efforts have resulted in a collection of stunning masterpieces, now proudly displayed in our OSHC space.
At the science table, the children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm while exploring the concepts of light and magnetism. Through hands-on investigations, they discovered which materials are magnetic and experimented with moving various objects across the table using magnetic force. They learned about the different polarities of magnets, observing firsthand how opposite poles attract and like poles repel. It was wonderful to witness their excitement as they watched objects like paper clips and marbles move seemingly on their own, deepening their understanding of invisible forces. The theme of light has also captivated the children’s interest. Using torches, sunlight, white paper, and prisms, they enjoyed experimenting to create rainbow effects. Educators supported their curiosity, helping them understand how white light splits into the colours of the rainbow. These explorations have fostered critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a growing appreciation for scientific discovery.
In addition, children designed and constructed complex marble runs, intricate K’Nex structures, and imaginative LEGO creations. These building projects provided rich opportunities for problem-solving and creativity. As they planned, built, and tested their marble mazes, children learned to anticipate challenges, adapt their designs, and think critically about guiding marbles through twists and turns. This process helped them develop spatial awareness, logical reasoning, and perseverance. With K’Nex and LEGO, the open-ended nature of the materials encouraged experimentation, collaboration, and iteration, as children worked together to solve problems and refine their ideas. These hands-on experiences not only introduced foundational concepts in engineering and physics but also brought excitement and a sense of accomplishment, making their OSHC experience both joyful and deeply rewarding.
We hope children have been sharing some of these wonderful experiences with you all at home and we look forward to a fun filled holiday program, we hope to see you there.
Thankyou from you friendly oshc staff - Linda, Ben, Harrison, Nikita and Sophie
🎉 Boombox Bingo is coming to Stella Maris! 🎶
We’re calling on our amazing school community—especially our fabulous local business owners! Our big Bingo Night Fundraiser is happening on 16th August 2025, and we’re on the lookout for prize donations to help make the night a smashing success. Whether it’s a voucher, product, service, or something fun and unique, your support will help raise funds for our school in the most exciting way!
If you’d like to get involved, please email kylieabowman@gmail.com or message Kylie through Messenger. Let’s make this night one to remember!
🎉🎶 Get ready to rewind the fun! 🎶🎉
Stella Maris & Quiz Meisters present…
🌟 BOOMBOX BINGO 🌟
A night of music, madness & major prizes!
📅 SAVE THE DATE: August 16th, 2025
🕺 A wild and wonderful P&F fundraiser event
Think throwback tunes, epic bingo vibes, and a whole lot of laughs. You won’t want to miss this one!🎤💃
🎟️ Tickets on sale soon – stay tuned!
It’s going to be bingo with a beat! 🔊💥
Important Dates
First Day of Term 3
Showdown Donuts
Parent-Teacher Conversation Week 2
Student Casual Day/Donation Collection
Book Week Parade
School Photo Day
Father's Day Stall
School Photo catch up day
Term 3 Pupil Free Day
Father's Day Morning Tea & Liturgy
RUOK Day
Year 6 Market Day
Italian Day/Last Day of Term 3
School Disco
Term 4 Pupil Free Day
Christmas Carnival
School year concludes
Student Absence Notification
Please use one of the following options to notify the school that your child will be absent:
Select Option 1 when calling telephone 8306 4888 to advise absentee information. If after hours please leave a detailed message.
Or EMAIL to absent@smps.catholic.edu.au
Volunteering
Before any volunteering can occur, there are a few steps you will need to complete to ensure you understand your responsibilities and you have obtained the relevant clearances.
Step 1: Complete the RRHAN fundamentals online course via Plink (www.plink.sa.edu.au).
Step 2: Complete and sign the declaration forms located in the front office.
Step 3: Provide 100 points of ID to the front office OR a valid DHS working with children clearance.
Step 4: Provide all the above documents to the front office and complete a short induction.
Step 5: Keep an eye on your inbox (including junk) for further steps to confirm and obtain your catholic clearance card.
Step 6: Provide a copy of your catholic clearance card to the front office which you will receive in the post.
If you have any questions or require any assistance with the above, please contact our front office staff.
Music Tutors
Guitar - Chris Larsson
Mobile: 0424 241 040
Email: chrislarsson01@gmail.com
Piano - Patricia Heller
Mobile: 0403 645 271
Email: patricianheller@gmail.com
Singing - Hallmark Music Studio
Email: kylie@hallmarkmusicstudio.com.au
Violin - Jenny McDonald
Mobile: 0410 441 974
Email: jenjen7@outlook.com
Drums - Gianni Pedicini
Contact Kylie - Hallmark Studios
Ph. 8277 8656
Holy Spirit Church
Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9am - 2pm
Phone: 08 8298 1044
Email: stannparish@adam.com.au
Address: 24A Ramsay Ave Seacombe Gardens SA 5047
PARISH MASS TIMES:
St Bernadette's Church:
Sunday 10:45am
Wednesday & Friday 12 noon
Holy Spirit Church:
Saturday 6pm
Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday 9:15am
Drakes Community Dollars
Uniform
Contact Details
Uniform Shop Loaction:10 Newton Rd Campbelltown SA 5074
Phone: 08 7095 2535
Email: campbelltown@noone.com.au
Stella Maris Parish School | Noone
https://www.noone.com.au/school/stella-maris-parish-school
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