LINKS: Term One Week Nine

From the Principal

Holy Week

As we bring Term 1 to a close, we remember Holy Week in Week 10. Easter is the most important event in the Church’s calendar, but before we embrace the joy of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we need to remember the significance of Holy Week. We particularly remember Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. The suffering and death of Jesus on Good Friday shows the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of humankind. I have included a photo for you of myself at the actual steps that Jesus walked down after the Last Supper before he prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane during my trip last September. I hope and pray that you can gather with your family and friends this year to celebrate this Easter Season. I wish you all a happy, safe and Holy Easter.

Photos and Videos of students

Our students’ safety is of paramount importance to St Mary’s School. As such, I just wanted to remind everyone of protocols that are in place regarding taking photos and videos of students other than your own child. Please see information below:

NAPLAN

A huge congratulations to our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students for their efforts in the recent NAPLAN tests. Enjoy your well deserved break.

Miss Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community,

We are quickly approaching Easter and the end of Term One, so this will be the final Links for this Term. I wanted to update you on a few different topics, including Uniform, Interviews and NAPLAN.

Uniform – St Mary’s Sports socks

We became aware of an issue with retailers not having the St Mary’s sports socks available in larger sizes. These have now been ordered in a size 11-14. While not yet in stock, they will hopefully soon be available at Schofields and Gundy Clothing.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Parent-Teacher Interviews are being held on the afternoon of Tuesday 16^th of April, the first day back for students in Term 2. Bookings are now able to be made using the Parent Portal on the Sentral app. Bookings will be open until 5pm Wednesday 27^th March.

Please note that this year, if you wish to make a booking with a Specialist teacher (i.e. a teacher of PE, German, Music/Arts or our Librarian), these will need to be made by contacting the relevant teacher by email to arrange an appointment. The exception is Mrs Klowss for Year 7 and 8 music, whose bookings can be made on the Parent Portal.

NAPLAN (Years 3, 5, 7 & 9)

By the time you read this, the last of our NAPLAN tests will be over, apart from some students who may be sitting a catch-up test, up until Monday 25^th March. I wish to congratulate all of our Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students for the calm and professional way in which they approached these tests. I also wish to thank the other students and all the staff for assisting with the testing regime and their flexibility by making adjustments to their schedules and rooms etcetera. NAPLAN results are expected to be provided to parents, including an individual student report, early in Term Three.

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” ~ Catherine McAuley

We are now well and truly into the Church’s season of Lent. This is a time of almsgiving, fasting and prayer. Talking to a number of students around the school, many have kept their Lenten promises and are so proud of their efforts. We too, commend the students for their commitment to become better people during Lent. This Easter, let us remember the sacrifices Jesus made for each one of us for the beautiful lives we live today. We reflect on the  Easter message with hope and compassion as we await for Christ’s resurrection. 

Harmony Week  

Year 3M will be leading us in their prayer assembly on Friday 22^nd March at 8:45am to talk about embracing diversity in our school and communities. The message of ‘everyone belongs’ is one that Catherine McAuley herself embodied. At St Mary’s, we, too, encourage the notion of everyone belongs and is welcome.    

Easter Liturgy

All students will attend an Easter liturgy next Thursday 29^th March at 10am (before Colour Warrior) in the Centenary Centre. We warmly extend an invitation to any families, friends or parishioners who would like to join us. Our Secondary students will be presenting the liturgy and have worked hard in preparing their presentation. 

Students will participate in an Easter Liturgy celebrating the Resurrection of Christ on the first day back next term.

Caritas Fundraising

A huge thank you to Mrs Tenille White and Mrs Tracey Leadbetter and their amazing Student Council for leading such fabulous fundraising for Caritas this Lent. We have raised a substantial figure for Caritas so far and look forward to collating all funds to reveal our final figure which will be going to those less fortunate than ourselves. Thank you to all our families for always being so supportive and generous during this time.

Year 7 Retreat

Our Year 7 students will be participating in a retreat day, ‘Come as Guest’ on Tuesday 16^th April (first day back). We are looking forward to unpacking the beginning of their secondary school experiences, challenging the students in their thinking and building upon their relationships and unity. During the day, students will have different lunch breaks to the remainder of the school, so we ask that students don’t order tuckshop on this day.

Staff Blessing and Secondary Tie Blessing 

On Sunday 28th April at 9am, you’re invited to celebrate a beautiful Mass celebration with the staff and secondary students. All teaching and school staff from all schools in Goondiwindi will receive a special blessing for a great year ahead and our new secondary students will be presented with their ties at this Mass. Please join us in these celebrations.  

ANZAC Day

Our school will be celebrating ANZAC Day with a liturgy led by 4M on Friday 26^th April at 8:45am. We will also be marching as a school on ANZAC Day and details about this will be in next term’s LINKS.

 Family Mass 

Our next Family Mass is Sunday 21^st April at 9:30am where we will be focusing on the story of the Good Shepherd. Please join us for a lovely morning of Mass, Craft and a BBQ.  

Many blessings for a wonderful Easter with your nearest and dearest. May you and your family come back rested and hearts full for a busy Term 2.

Easter blessings, 

Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Religious Education

Secondary News

Unlocking Growth: The Power of Self-Reflection

In the journey of personal growth and academic achievement, one tool stands out as indispensable: self-reflection. As we navigate through the bustling corridors of learning, it’s essential to pause, introspect, and ponder upon our experiences. Self-reflection isn't merely a passive activity but a proactive approach towards continual self-improvement.

At its core, self-reflection involves the thoughtful consideration of one's own experiences, actions, and motivations. It's a process of looking inward to gain insight into ourselves, our behaviours, and our goals. Just as a mirror reveals our physical appearance, self-reflection illuminates our inner selves, helping us understand our strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.

In the academic setting, self-reflection is a powerful tool for students to assess their learning journey. By taking time to reflect on their academic performance, study habits, and learning strategies, students can identify what's working well and where they might need to make adjustments. Did that study method yield the desired results? Could I have approached that assignment differently? These questions foster a deeper understanding of how we learn and how we can improve.

Self-reflection also plays a crucial role in personal development beyond academics. It cultivates self-awareness, a fundamental trait that empowers individuals to make informed choices and navigate life's challenges effectively. By examining our thoughts, feelings, and reactions to various situations, we gain insight into our values, beliefs, and aspirations. This self-awareness forms the cornerstone of emotional intelligence, enabling us to build healthier relationships, manage stress, and pursue our goals with clarity and purpose.

Furthermore, self-reflection fosters accountability and ownership of our actions. Instead of attributing successes or failures to external factors, individuals who practice self-reflection take responsibility for their choices and outcomes. This mindset shift empowers them to learn from setbacks, adapt to change, and strive for continuous improvement.

Incorporating self-reflection into our daily lives doesn't require elaborate rituals or hours of solitude. It can be as simple as setting aside a few minutes each day to journal our thoughts, meditate on our experiences, or engage in meaningful conversations with peers and mentors. Whether it's a quiet moment of introspection or a collaborative dialogue, the key is to create space for honest self-examination and reflection.

As educators, parents, and students, let's embrace self-reflection as a cornerstone of our learning community. By fostering a culture of introspection and self-awareness, we empower ourselves and each other to reach new heights of academic achievement, personal growth, and fulfillment.

So, let's pause, ponder, and embark on this journey of self-discovery together. As we unlock the transformative power of self-reflection, let's embrace the limitless possibilities for growth and learning that lie ahead.

Mr Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Sports Report

Sports Report

Dates for Mac Zone 2024 – Term 2

School Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to MacKillop House on taking out the Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Friday.

I was extremely proud of every swimmer for ‘having a go’.  It was good to see so many lanes filled with swimmers.  Special congratulations to the following age champions and record breakers.  Also to our ‘Queen of the Pool’ – Bridie Bate and our “King of the Pool’ – Alex Galvin.

New Record breakers

Darling Downs Netball

Congratulations to the following students who represented Mac Zone at the recent Darling Downs Netball trials.

Boys – Sam Bishop, Jonathon Webb and Bronson White

12 years girls – Milly Doherty, Molly Giltrow and Annie McDonald

11 years girls – Kate Quinlan, Penny Quinlan, Grace Vukovich, Lizzie Hayes, Isobelle Pink and Abbie Pimm

A huge congratulations to Sam Bishop, Jonathon Webb and Bronson White on their selection in the first Darling Downs boys netball team and also to Abbie Pimm on her selection in the 11 years netball team.

State Swimming

Best wishes to Jim Jekyll who is off to the State Swimming Championships next week, for the 50m butterfly.  Jim will also compete in two relays on the first day of competition.

DD Touch 

Best wishes to Hudson Derbidge, Max Burrow, Harry Baker, Annie McDonald and Bridie Bate who have made the Mac Zone touch team and are off to the Darling Downs trials, early next term.

DD AFL 

Congratulations to Ella Dunmill, Sam Bishop and Jonathon Webb who have made the Darling Downs AFL team.  Their next adventure is on the Sunshine Coast in May when they will compete at the State Championships.

DD Tennis 

Best wishes to Charlie North, Jono Webb, Alfred Charles, Milly Doherty and Penny Quinlan on making the Mac Zone tennis team.  These students will now compete at the DD tennis trials early next term.

Cross country training

Cross country training has started. Those born 2015 onwards are welcome to join in. Please meet Mr Goodes or myself in the Undercover Area by 7am.  Most sessions will be held at the town park.  We will run down there and run back to school.  We should be back on campus by 8.15 to allow for you to organise your own breakfast and get changed.

DD Basketball 

Best wishes to Rory Wiggan, Jonathon Webb, Fergus Murray, Sam Bishop, Alfred Charles, Rueben Rae, Lola Tomkins and Bronson White who are off to the Darling Downs Basketball trials next Monday. 

Dates for Secondary School Sport

Laura Geitz Netball

Congratulations to our Laura Geitz Netball team on your recent success at the Laura Geitz Carnival. 

The girls had a couple of wins and just missed the finals.  A huge congratulations to:

Charlotte Ambrose, Bronte Dennis, Lexi Boyd, Mila Field, Annie Keeping, Alice Pink, Zara Dennis, Grace Leadbetter, Stella Reardon and Scarlett Reardon.

Please find below the age group maps for our upcoming Cross Country Carnival

Friday 19th April 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”.

Winston Churchill

Yours in Sport,

Kathy Spicer

(Kathy.Spicer@twb.catholic.edu.au)

Library News

Library News

Holiday Borrowing

In Week 10 students are invited to borrow for the holidays should they wish to do so. We ask that all current loans are returned or brought in to re-borrow during Week 10 should students wish to borrow.

We have lots of great new books ready for reading on the break!

Genrefication of our fiction section

We would appreciate the return of all books where students have not intentionally borrowed for the holidys as each book will be scanned into the library system over the break to update our library management system to reflect our new shelving arrangements

If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail the library staff at:

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Book Club

BOOK CLUB ISSUE 2

Items will be sent home as soon as they arrive at school.

Thank you so very much for your orders!

Emma Petrie
Teacher Librarian

Careers

Carly Sheridan
Career Development Practitioner

Guidance Counsellor

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Councellor

Cultural Report

Instrumental Ensembles:

A reminder that Mr Jessen has notified ensembles of his absence from school throughout Weeks 9 and 10 with some ensembles cancelled.  Please refer to the weekly overview and his email for specific details.

Term 1 instrumental ensemble rehearsal schedule:

Choirs of Angels:

Reminder:  There is no Angel Choir morning rehearsal during Week 9 as Mrs Klowss is absent.  Morning rehearsals will continue in Week 10.

Term 1 Choirs of Angels rehearsal schedule for Weeks 7-10:

Lion King Jr Musical:

Rehearsals for Term 1 include the Week 10 rehearsal on the final day of school.  Students and parents are kindly reminded to notify Mrs Klowss of any absences prior to rehearsal.  Consecutive unexplained absences will result in the student being removed from the cast.

Students and parents can now access the rehearsal schedules which list the focus points for each rehearsal for the remainder of Term 1 and all of Term 2 in the Sentral app, in the activity section.  Both the Term 1 and Term 2 rehearsal schedules have been added. Named characters should check which specific scenes or songs they should be preparing at home each week to ensure productive rehearsals.

Year 7-10 Dance Group:

A keen group of students have commenced a dance group which rehearses two times a week in the Mercy Hall Music room.  The students have selected the music and are choreographing a dance routine themselves.  Congratulations to these students who are showing leadership, camaraderie and inclusion amongst their peers.

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader - Culture

P & F News

There will be a P&F Meeting and AGM next Tuesday, 26 March in the school Library at 5.15pm. During this meeting we will be getting everyone up to speed with the model P&F Constitution provided by the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office. This Constitution can be viewed below. If you have questions or would like input into the areas requiring a vote (quorum number etc) please get in touch prior to the meeting.  There are changes under this model Constitution which the P&F will be working through in the coming months, with help from school administration. I am happy to answer questions.

We will also be discussing our 2024 projects.  A Team’s link will be available for anyone wanting to join the meeting that way.

We will come back in Term 2 with some announcements of our upcoming 2024 projects.

If you wish to contact the P&F the email address is GOOPandF@twb.catholic.edu.au

 Denise Ellis
P&F President

Colour Warrior

Thursday 28^th March

$5 per student to be paid at the school office

Years 1 & 2: 11:30am

Prep: 11:45am

Years 3 & 4: 12:00pm

Years 5 & 6: 12:15pm

Years 7 -10: 12:30pm

Please bring:

Old white clothes, goggles/glasses, towel and a bag.

For students in Years 3 + you will need to bring shoes to slip on to jog around the school block.

Parents are welcome to watch! All classes begin on the bottom oval and finish on the bus oval.

We are also running a raffle to win the chance to throw water balloons and coloured powder at Miss Collins, Mr Shaw, Mr Goodes, Mrs Suhr or Fr Bony.  $2 per ticket. This can be paid at the office.

All money raised will be donated to Project Compassion.