Term 4 Week 7

We celebrate ‘Jesus the leader’ and prepare for Advent, we continue to keep a close eye on things as the borders open, we acknowledge our School Board for their hard work and dedication, we congratulate our new Receptions on a most successful transition to school and we celebrate the fun and learning in water safety week. This is Week 7 of Term 4!

FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING AND ADVENT:

When I ask, who do you believe is a great leader, what names pop into your mind? And if I asked you what qualities a great leader has, what would you say? Excellent relationship skills, strong vision, compassion…the list goes on.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Christ of the King. This solemn feast day in the Church is a relatively new feast day (it has only been around for about 100 years) but a very significant one none the less. It is the last Sunday in the Church year and signifies the imminence of Advent and therefore Christmas. For me, this feast is about looking at Jesus as a ‘leader’. A king is a leader isn’t he? A king is actually the highest kind of leader in our society. So when we think about Jesus, on this feast day we are asked to think about Jesus the leader. It would be interesting to hear if anyone thought of Jesus as a great leader when you read my opening line today.

We talk often about leaders leading by example and not just word, and there is no better example of someone who did this than Jesus. When we think about strong leadership – we think about people who are able to stay true to what they believe and ensure they never waver in vision or direction. Again Jesus gets a big tick here. And finally, great leaders have an excellent vision and a strong desire to achieve this vision. Jesus’ vision for our world was for one that was peaceful, giving, compassionate and “in all things, love”. He lived his whole life living this vision and asking others to follow in this way. Perhaps if we had more leaders like Jesus today, our country and our world might look much different than what it does.

This Sunday we begin the very special season of Advent, A four week period leading up to Christmas. We began our Advent learning and preparation this week and will continue with Advent liturgies each Monday for the rest of the year, so that we are able to unpack each of the four weeks while we are here at school. Each week has a special focus and a special significance. I encourage you to chat to your child about their learning over the coming weeks.

COVID CONTINUES:

Well the borders are open, and as we expected already a case or two has crept into SA. I again reiterate my messages over the last few weeks about our preparations and planning for the possible challenges which might occur as we conclude our year together.

We are preparing for all possibilities here at Stella Maris and as always, we are taking a 'hope for the best and prepare for the worst' type mentality. We will of course be guided in the first instance by any directive issued to us by SA Health. If there is a need to contact you regarding a school closure or any other information you need to hear, in the first instance you will receive a text message from the school, and this will be followed up by an email from me.

As always, we are hopeful of a very smooth end to our 2021 school year, but ask for your ongoing support and flexibility should it be required.

PARENT COMMUNICATION:

This week you would have received two important pieces of information from me. These have been sent in both email form and on See Saw. The first provides information about our COVID readiness and a number of key events and activities ‘on the go’. The second, sent yesterday outlines our 2022 Teaching team. I would also like to let you know that class lists are now finalised and so any requests regarding class placements or ‘choosing teachers’ can not be taken into consideration. Thanks for your understanding.  

Further information will be sent to you over the next week detailing information on fees, a building project and various other pieces of important information.

Please ensure you take the time to read this information carefully, and where you are asked to, action the items which require your attention. As always, should you have any questions about the information presented to you, or wish to provide me with any feedback (thanks to those who picked up my incorrect spelling of the word Borders!) then I would pleased to hear it.

AQUATICS WEEK:

This week all students have accessed our Water safety / Aquatics lessons. Our R-3 classes have conducted these at the Marion Aquatic centre and our Y4-6 students headed to Somerton Beach for their lessons.

We don’t call these ‘swimming lessons’ because really they are not intended to teach kids how to ‘swim’ – it is impossible to do so in just one week – and we really believe swimming lessons are an ongoing family responsibility. Rather, these lessons provide our students with opportunities to learn about water safety and techniques and strategies to keep themselves in and around water – both with a pool and beach emphasis.

They are also great fun and very tiring! There are some tired students around the place as we speak.

SCHOOL BOARD:

On Monday night this week our School Board met for the final time of the year. Among the many important discussion points was the approval of our 2022 School Budget.

I am very indebted to the School Board for their outstanding work this year and the unequivocal support I and our staff have felt from them throughout the year. They do an outstanding job of asking questions, debating particular ideas and discussion points and ensuring that at the heart of all we do and all our decisions are the people who matter most in our school – your children.

I thank Rachel Miller (Chair), Tamara Best (Finance Chair), Lyndon Parry, Andy Colette, Katherine Thrussell, Bryan Ward, Brendan Duffy, Maureen Watts (P and F rep), Ella Kirkham (Staff rep) and Cathy Lainio (Secretary) for their late nights and great work as a most important governance body in our school.

TRANSITION TO SCHOOL CONCLUDES:

Today was the last of our Stella’s Stars Transition program for those students who will begin with us next year. These transition sessions have been hugely successful and have provided students and parents with a great lead in to beginning school with us next year.

Over the last two full day sessions they have spent time in their classrooms with their class teacher getting to know their classmates who they will begin their school journey with.

I want to thank Michelle Thomson and Jane Button for their organisation and support of these students and ensuring that the transitions were the success they have been.

I also want to thank a very energetic group of Year 5 leaders who have enthusiastically greeted and welcomed the students, taking them to their classrooms in the morning.

REMINDERS:

Please note important reminders regarding:

• Community Carols Night – next Thursday 2^nd December
• Vinnie's Christmas toy and hamper appeal - donations due by Wednesday next week
• Parents and Friends Raffle – tickets and money (QKR!) due back by Monday
• Parents and Friends Wine fundraiser – last day tomorrow! https://www.behindthedoorwines.com.au/stella-maris.html
• Pupil Free day – Friday 10^th December – last day of term = Thursday 9^th December.  OSHC is available on Friday 10th December.  Bookings are required.

Thanks as always!

James

THE SEASON OF ADVENT

This week as a school community we began to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ at Christmas, with an Advent liturgy. We started a little ahead of the true start of Advent so that we can take part in three advent liturgies together before the school holidays.

The season of Advent has four weeks. At the start of each week, a special candle is lit, in the Advent Wreath.

In the first week of Advent, (commencing this Sunday at Mass) the Prophets Candle is lit. Prophets were special people who spoke God’s word and told people about Jesus coming as our Saviour. It is a candle of Hope.

Prophets ask people to change bad ways of living and to start living better lives by making positive choices that show love in the world. The prophets help prepare a way for the Lord. Mr Molloy’s Yr 5 students helped to unpack this message for us on Monday of this week.

This coming Monday, Mr Pipicella’s Yr 4’s will help unpack the message of the 2nd week of Advent for us.

The second candle is the candle of Peace. John the Baptist remembered Isaiah’s prophecy of Peace. He reminds us Jesus is our peace. His peace is deep within us. It calls us to reach out to friends and strangers and to bring justice to our world.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM FOR 2022

Enrolments for the Sacramental Program for 2022 are being sought in the coming week. If your child is baptised in the Catholic faith and you believe they are ready to take the next step in their faith journey you are invited to enrol them for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (usually around year 3) or for Confirmation and First Holy Communion (usually around year 4). Information and enrolment forms can be collected from either the church foyer or from the front office at Stella Maris School in the coming week. Please feel free to make a time to discuss this with me if you need assistance with this.

VINNIES CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOOD AND TOY DRIVE:                                              

This Christmas Stella Maris is again supporting the ‘Vinnies Christmas Food and Toy Drive’. Items can be sent to school during week 7 and week 8, so they can be delivered for sorting into Christmas hampers.

Donations of non-perishable food and new toys, will be gratefully accepted. Gifts can be placed in baskets in your child’s classroom up until 9am Monday 6 December. Please do not wrap any of the items as this will be done by Vinnies and allows them to allocate gifts appropriately.

Food Suggestions:

• Special items for Christmas such as puddings, cakes, biscuits or treats
• Baby food and formula
• Pre-packaged food like pasta, rice, noodles
• Tinned ham, tuna, salmon
• Christmas crackers or decorations
• Long-life milk or custard
• Jams, spreads- honey, vegemite
• Tinned vegetables and fruit
• Tea, coffee or milo
• Cordial, long-life juice or fruit boxes
• Preserved fruits
• Supermarket vouchers or gift cards to allow families to purchase fresh meat, fruit & vegetables

Toy Suggestions:

• Building blocks, hand-eye co-ordination toys or crawl and play mats
• Musical toys
• Beach or surf gear
• Puzzles and games
• Gift voucher for a retail outlet
• Microscope or science kit
• Teething toys, bath toys or rattles
• Action figures, dolls or dress-ups
• Toy cars (Hot Wheels or similar) or remote control cars/bikes/trucks with batteries
• Backpacks, handbags or accessories
• Arts and crafts supplies or stationery
• Sporting equipment
• Perfume, aftershave or other toiletries
• Movie tickets
• Story books, novels or diaries

******** All items must be in by 9am Monday 6 December.

SOUTHERN CROSS

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,’ The Southern Cross,’ is available at; www.thesoutherncross.org.au

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

We make a living by what we get – we make a life by what we give.

God’s Blessings,

Paula Clark

APRIM

Premier's Reading Challenge

This year we had 187 students participate in the Premier's Reading Challenge. The Challenge is a literacy engagement program that was introduced by the Premier in 2004 and is aimed at improving literacy levels by encouraging students to read more books and to enjoy reading. Students are required to read 12 books between the beginning of the school year and early September. Their achievements are acknowledged by being awarded various medals as they progress through the challenge each year. We have received the medals for this year and they will be presented to students this week. 

Swimming Week

This week, all students from Reception to year 6 have been participating in the school aquatics program. Students in R-3 have been attending SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre (Marion) and students in year 4-6 have been participating in the Surf Education program at Somerton Beach. Both programs are aimed at developing students’ physical skills, knowledge and understanding of a range of aquatic situations while participating in essential water safety and survival skills education. Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to assist our classes this week.

Year 6 Market Day 

On Thursday December 2nd, our Year 6 class will be holding our annual Market Day. This is a significant component of their Business and Economics studies. The markets will be held between recess and lunch and all classes will take part in the event. There will be a number of stalls set up for students to enjoy including food and drink stalls, games, nerf shoot outs, basketball challenges and various other activities. Prices will range from 50c-$2 and children are invited to bring in small change (up to the value of $10) with all proceeds going to community charities in need, including Catholic Charities.  

Families will also be able to enjoy the Market stalls, with a number of them setting up from 5pm-6pm prior to our carols evening. All families are invited to come and join in the fun! Please see the flyer below for more information re: our upcoming Carols Night. 

Ella Kirkham

Assistant Principal (Learning & Wellbeing)

"If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full...." (Frances Hodgson Burnett)

This week we have started collecting food and toys for Vinnies, to make this Christmas inclusive for people who struggle to put food on the table and presents under the tree. Giving can be such a joy, let's celebrate this opportunity to give with our children, and talk to them about how it makes them feel. 

Emily Hughes 

ESO|Pastoral Care Support

As we bring our year to a close, it’s timely to give thanks.

Firstly, to our P & F Committee this year - Tamara Blasbery, Jessica Wight, Kylie Bowman, Lisa Whitburn, Alison Hamilton, Donna Egarr, Helen van Buuren, Marianna Mastrapasqua, Pamela Cook, Tina Napier, Thank you for jumping on board and committing your time and energy to our activities.

To all of our helpers throughout the year. Whenever we put out a call, we have so many offers of help.

Cathy L, Tony and Kathy G, thank you for your ‘behind the scenes’ help with each and every request.

To James and Ella for their support of our activities and our community as a whole.

Most importantly, thanks go to our whole community for supporting each event and activity, from Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift giving, to Muffin and Milo days, right through to putting in such a fantastic effort with the Quiz Night.

Let’s hope that 2022 sees us able to have more community gathering!

Wishing you all a very safe and blessed Christmas.
Maureen Watts

P & F Chairperson

As always, we are very grateful of the support given to Stella Maris by business who help us out with prizes and donations. The business below have supported us this year.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES:

Christmas Eve, December 24

Mass 7pm Holy Spirit Church

Mass 9pm St Bernadette's Church

Christmas Day, December 25

Mass 9:15am Holy Spirit Church

Mass 10:45am Stt Bernadette's Church

* No 6pm Mass on Christmas Day