This week we celebrate National Reconciliation Week with the theme “Be Brave, Make Change”, this is a challenge to all of us as individuals, schools and members of our wider communities. The idea of reconciliation is so closely related to the tenements of the Catholic community and therefore our St Mary’s community. We ask our students to be active in speaking up for the vulnerable in our community and to seek healing of relationships wherever possible working towards a just and peaceful community. 

I am pleased to let you know that we have appointed Ms Hayley Bassett to the position of Teacher - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at St Mary’s Star of the Sea. Many of you would be aware that Hayley has been working in the area of Visual Arts this year and has been a wonderful addition to our team. In addition, Hayley will now be working in Indigenous Education three days a fortnight (Fridays / every second Thursday). Her role will include working closely with all Aboriginal students and their families to support and promote cultural identity and academic excellence. Hayley will also be working with all of our students to provide cultural education and Indigenous perspectives on curriculum to all students and staff. We are looking forward to the many gifts that Hayley will bring to our school community. 

Our teachers are working hard at the moment preparing mid-year reports. I would like to acknowledge the enormous work that goes into producing a report for each child that is an honest reflection of learning and development. Kindergarten do not have formal reports this semester  but will be given an opportunity to meet with their teachers in Weeks 9 and 10. 

We are trying to make arrangements for our Athletics Carnival, with the wet weather it has been a challenge to say the least. You will have received the Compass alert regarding the arrangement between our oval and Lighthouse Oval. Please be mindful of our oval out the back that is quickly becoming a muddy swamp, try to avoid driving onto our soccer field as we are trying to preserve our playing field. 

I look forward to seeing many of you at the school gate for parent pick up. 

Yours in partnership,

Laurinda Nelson

Monday 23 May - Friday 10 June - 

2023 Kindergarten Interviews

Monday 30 May-Friday 3 June

National Reconciliation Week

Friday 3 June

Retreat Day for Confirmation Candidates

Sunday 5 June

Confirmation - 11am Holy Family Ulladulla

Friday 10 June

St Mary's Athletics Carnival - Field Events

Monday 13 June

Queen's Birthday Long Weekend

Friday 17 June

St Mary's Athletics Carnival - Track Events

Friday 24 June 

St Mary's Athletics Carnival - Backup Day Track Events if required

It's Reconciliation week, and in kinder, we have been learning a little about what this means and, in doing so, are developing a deeper understanding of Indigenous people, history, language and culture. More specifically, we have been learning about the country in which we live and go to school, Yuin Country. We have been reading books, listening to Aboriginal music, learning some language, viewing authentic artworks and learning through story, art and play. Yesterday, creativity was in full swing as we contemplated local cultural landforms and expressed what we thought Yuin country may have looked like before European settlement using watercolour. Here is just a snippet of the fantastic artworks Team Kinder produced.

Our Environmental Leaders, Chiara G, Abby L, Noah H and Aska P, attended the Convoy of Hope Regrow Conjola last week and proudly handed over the seedlings which Years 5 and 6 have been the caretakers of. Convoy of Hope is an organisation which has responded to the bushfires in Conjola Park, donating many plants for the residents gardens. Here is a copy of the speech which they confidently gave in front of a large crowd of residents and officials.

We have been watering and caring for these plants for the past few months and we are proud to hand them over to the residents of Conjola Park. We are glad to have had the opportunity to be involved in this project. A greener environment helps us to feel calmer and more connected to our community. One day soon we will come back to Conjola Park and we can feel proud of the part we played in regrowing Conjola. 

This project has helped us to understand how to grow seedlings and it has inspired us to grow seedlings of our own.

On Monday 30th May, the EALD language group and Mrs Chard enjoyed a picnic outside on our playground.

The students helped set up our picnic with a rug and some bowls of food, before eating the fruit and treats and playing some games together. They then helped pack away our picnic just in time for the rain to come! This picnic will be used in the coming weeks to inform the students’ writing tasks as we focus on past tense verbs. 

What an exciting way to begin a writing project!!!

Fr Michael as our Parish Priest.

We are very blessed to have Fr Michael installed as our Parish priest. Last week our staff were able to celebrate with Fr Michael for a special morning tea in his honour. Check out the short clip on our Facebook page and listen to the voices of our students wishing Fr Michael well in his new role. 

Confirmation

This Sunday at 11am at Holy Family Church our Year 6 Confirmation Candidates will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Brian and Fr Michael. Please keep them in your prayers. We are very lucky that this occasion falls on Pentecost Sunday which has great meaning and significance for Confirmation. Our Year 6 students  have been conscientiously preparing for the sacrament and will join with the parish this Friday for a retreat day in our school hall. Please join us for Mass this Sunday if you are able to.