LINKS: Term Four, Week Seven
From the Principal
Catherine McAuley’s Feast Day
Monday 11th November was Catherine McAuley’s Feast Day. Catherine founded the Mercy Sisters who began our school in 1911. As a school community, we celebrated Mercy Day earlier in the year, but it is important to remember Catherine and her works at this time of her Feast. Catherine’s humble works and her commitment to service and charity are a part of our charism that we strive to live out each day. Through our Service-Learning program, our students strive to make the Mercy Charism be a part of who we are as a community.
“If we are humble and sincere, God will finish in us the work He has begun. He never refuses His grace to those who ask it.” Catherine McAuley
Awards Night and Strategic Plan Launch
We will celebrate the great achievements of our students at this year’s Awards Night on Monday 25th November. As we did last year, the evening will be split with P-3 Awards at 5pm followed by a Sausage Sizzle, before the 4-10 Awards at 6.30pm. During my address for the 4 – 10 Awards ceremony, we will be launching the Strategic Plan for 2024 – 2027. I’d like to thank the staff, students, the School Advisory Council and P & F Association for their assistance in putting this document together. I look forward to seeing this document come to life over the next few years. After the Awards Night, this will be placed on our website and social media for everyone to view.
Remembrance Day
On Monday 11th November we commemorated Remembrance Day as a community. Thanks to Mrs Suhr, Mrs Richards and 6R for leading us in our liturgy to start the day. A huge thanks also to Mr Goodes, Mrs Klowss, our school captains and Cherubim and Seraphim Choirs who represented our school so well at the town service. I was greeted with so much fantastic feedback from community members about the beauty of our choirs. Thanks also to Mr Sam Jessen who played The Last Post and The Rouse at both events.
Year 10 Graduation
Time at St Mary’s is running short for our Year 10 students. November 19 will see our Year 10s participate in their Retreat, Graduation Mass and Dinner. They will then finish their time here officially on Friday 22nd November. I’d like to congratulate and thank Jack, Parker and Anne for the gift they have been to this community. All three students have always acted with absolute integrity and have been tremendous role models for our younger students. All the very best for the next chapter and may God be with you as you go. Remember you always have a special place here at St Mary’s.
Year 12 Mass
This week, we invited the Goondiwindi State High School Year 12 cohort to join us for Mass as they finish their schooling. It was lovely to have them all here and to welcome back some past students. This is such a lovely tradition and shows the strength and unity of the Goondiwindi community. All the very best Year 12s.
Choirs of Angels and Instrumental Concerts
On Tuesday 5th November, we were treated to an evening of great entertainment in the Church by our three sensational choirs. I am always overwhelmed by the bravery and talent of our students and how their commitment to rehearsals results in such amazing work. Thank you to all of you and Mrs Benita Klowss, Mrs Ina Winter and Mr John Shaw for your help with making this all possible. We will be spoilt again on Friday 22nd November with the Instrumental Concert.
Transition Activities
On the 6th November our Year 5 cohort joined the Secondary School for a BBQ and lunch time activities to see what 7-10 at St Mary’s is like and to start forming some great relationships.
On Friday 8th and 15th November our Year 6 students, along with those from other schools, who are joining us for Year 7 experienced Transition Days in 7-10. Some great relationships were formed, and the students will no doubt feel more comfortable about starting their Secondary Schooling because of these days. These students will have two more transition days in the last week of this term. Thanks to Mr Goodes for organising these events.
Year 3 Camp
On Thursday 7th and Friday 8th November, our Year 3 Camp was held at Camp Laurence, Moogerah. Thanks to Ms Mykytowycz, Ms Reithmuller, Mr Shaw, Ms Dorey and Mr Alister Persse for attending camp with our students. I have heard many great stories and know that our Year 3 had a great time.
Angela Collins
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Hello St Mary’s community,
Year 3 camp:
I had the privilege of attending the Year 3 camp on Thursday and Friday. It was a wonderful camp in a beautiful setting. Some of the campers were nervous about being away from home and family for a night, and some were nervous about the activities such as the giant swing, but they all coped very well and had a great time. We certainly are so fortunate to have such a great camp program at St Mary’s!
Accessing reports:
This is a heads up to those of you who have children who are finishing up at St Mary’s at the end of the year. You will need to access and download your child’s reports from the Parent Portal app before the end of December, because after that time you will no longer have access to the Parent Portal. We will provide another reminder closer to the end of the school year.
Uniform:
Although we only have a few weeks left of school, please be vigilant of your child’s school uniform. Some of the uniform items are looking very shabby. I know it is tricky as you probably don’t want to be buying new uniform items until just before school starts (due to the inevitable growth spurts, or because your child is graduating from St Mary’s), but perhaps they have a spare hat or shirt (etc) that is in better condition than the faded or worn one.
Attendance:
Please also be mindful about ensuring attendance does not slip in the final weeks, as can so easily happen. Even though much of the assessment is complete or nearing completion, our students’ learning continues right up to the last day of school.
Have a great week!
God bless,
John Shaw
Deputy Principal
Religious Life
Dear Families,
Welcome to Weeks 7 and 8! It’s a busy time at St Mary’s with so much happening around the school, and I always look forward to this part of the term. The end-of-year celebrations are such a wonderful way to reflect on all we’ve accomplished and to enjoy this special time together. Let's make the most of these last weeks and celebrate all our hard work!
Remembrance Day
On Monday the school was led by 6R in a moving Remembrance Day liturgy. The students were prepared beautifully and were so respectful at honouring this important day in our calendar.
We also had our school captains and Seraphim and Cherubim choirs attend the service in the Town Park. Our choirs sang beautifully, and many commented on the way in which they represented their school. Thanks to Mrs Klowss for preparing the choirs to sing at this event. Our school captains also laid a wreath in honour of those who had fallen in war.
Family Mass
Our final Family Mass for the year is scheduled for this Sunday 17th November at 9am. Please mark this date on your calendar. We would love to see you there!
Other upcoming end of year events:
Tuesday 19th November | Year 10 Retreat Day Year 10 Graduation Dinner |
Monday 25th November | Awards Night |
Monday 2nd December | Prep Christmas Play and End of Year Mass 9:30am |
Wednesday 4th December | Year 6 Graduation Mass 9:30am followed by Pool Party |
AWARDS NIGHT 2024
- Awards Night is scheduled for Monday 25th November (Week 9). Please see Invitation at bottom of page.
Prep – Year 3 Session – 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Sausage Sizzle 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Years 4-10 Session: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
- During the second session, Miss Collins will be launching our new four-year Strategic Plan. If you’d like to see the launch of this, please stay for the start of the Years 4-10 Session.
- Students will be having a small practice the morning of Awards Night at school during school hours.
- Students may wear their sports uniform on Monday 25th November to allow for their formal summer uniform to be clean and ready to go.
CHANGE IN DROP OFF PLANS:
- We ask that Prep – Year 3 students are dropped off at classrooms prior to Awards Night at 4:45pm
- Students in years 4-10 need to be dropped at the bottom oval by 6:20pm, before the 6:30pm start.
SAUSAGE SIZZLE:
- Please RSVP your numbers (including your child/ren) using the link below to assist us in catering. Please note we will only be catering for those who have responded. Please do this by Wednesday 20th November by 3pm.
- Please note there will be no movie or babysitting operating this year.
Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight ahead,
Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity
Secondary News
As we approach the end of the term, there is an exciting array of activities and work ahead to ensure we finish this year on a high note!
Last Friday, we hosted the first of four Transition Days for our incoming Year 7 students for 2025. The day was a resounding success, and I am confident that the upcoming transition days will be equally enjoyable and productive. These days are designed to give new students a true taste of what a typical school day is like while helping them build connections with our current students.
Last week on Wednesday, we welcomed our Year 5 students for a sausage sizzle and ice block treat. It was wonderful to see interactions between the older and younger students as they played together outside on the oval or engaged in activities indoors. All participants conducted themselves commendably, displaying politeness and good manners. A sure sign that a great time was had by all was the many comments made about how time seemed to fly by!
I had the honour of attending this week’s Remembrance Day ceremony alongside several of our students. It was a privilege to lay wreaths in memory of the brave individuals who served in the armed forces. This year, our choir distinguished themselves by representing our school beautifully during the ceremony — well done! We are incredibly proud of you all.
With so much happening, let’s continue to embrace this exciting time of year together!
Play Hard, Work Hard: Finding Balance in School
"Play Hard, Work Hard," a reminder that while we are here to learn and grow, it's equally important to enjoy the journey. This balanced approach is crucial for maximising our potential, especially within the structured environment of school.
During the school day, students engage in periods of focused work, where they are challenged to tackle new concepts, complete assignments, and enhance their understanding across subjects. This dedicated time is not just about the grades; it’s about building skills and knowledge that form the foundation for future success. Research has shown that consistent, hard work in school is essential for developing habits that lead to lifelong learning and personal growth.
It's equally vital however to incorporate play and downtime into our daily routines. Just as kids are encouraged to take breaks between their exercises, we advocate for "downtime" in the form of recess and leisure activities. These moments allow students to relax, recharge, and prepare for the next period of learning, ultimately improving their focus and productivity. Play fosters creativity, critical thinking, and social skills, essential components that contribute to overall development.
As we look towards school breaks, we recognise that these times off provide a much-needed opportunity to step away from the intense academic rigor. Holidays and weekends allow students to recuperate, enjoy family time, and engage in activities that invigorate their minds and bodies. This cycle of hard work followed by reward ensures that when students return to school, they are refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges head-on.
This concept can be applied on a smaller scale throughout the school day. Each period is deliberately structured to alternate between work and play, providing an excellent balance that keeps students engaged and mentally agile. The integration of both elements helps students understand the value of commitment to their studies while also appreciating the benefits of teamwork, collaboration, and friendship that come from play.
Let’s all embrace the "Play Hard, Work Hard" mentality. The holidays are far more enjoyable if we know we have put the work in during the term and have strived always to do our best.
Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary
Pastoral
The Importance of Being Kind
Today is World Kindness Day.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”- Aesop
We’ve all seen and heard this famous quote. I often use it with our students when we work through friendship issues, when explaining the importance of kindness. But how do we get our students to live with kindness? We teach them to be kind- even when no one is watching, even when they’re online.
Studies show that children who exhibit kindness are more socially accepted by peers. In other words, students who are kind are more well-liked and have more friends. Not only that, but students also who engage in acts of kindness improve their own wellbeing. This is where the explicit teaching of friendship skills through our URSTRONG program allows us to continually foster a culture of kindness across our school.
Kindness when online also matters. I recently came across an excellent article in the Sunday Mail by Rebecca Sparrow, titled ‘Our kids need us to step up and protect them.’ Rebecca is a teen specialist in friendship issues amongst many other things. Maggie Dent, (parenting author and educator’s) response to the article, “Well said Rebecca Sparrow. We must stop giving our kids smart phones until they have the cognitive maturity and digital education to be responsible and respectful online.” If you have not already, I encourage you to go to her Instagram page and have a read (link below):
Nicki Wyllie
Middle Leader: Pastoral
Nicola.wyllie@twb.catholic.edu.au
Sports Report
Legends of League
What a fantastic opportunity to have the ‘Legends of League’ firstly visit our school and secondly play against the local ‘legends’ of our town. If you were able to get to the fields on Saturday afternoon, you would have witnessed a fun afternoon. It was a shame our school teams couldn’t play, but I have been told that once they visit the town, they do like to come back, so hopefully we could be on their circuit again.
During their visit to the school, ‘Legends of League’ representatives, Craig Teevan, Reggie Cressbrook, Kevin Campion and Peter Gill spoke to students from years 5 – 10 about ‘Dream, Believe, Achieve’ and the ‘Legends of League’ program. Not only did they meet one of their youngest team mates, Chase Ambrose, but they also shared inspirational stories that highlighted the importance of having a dream, believing in yourself and working to achieve your goals. Hearing these success stories told by players who had come from small rural towns made the students realise that with the right attitude and lots of hard work, they too could achieve success in whatever sport they choose.
Prep – Year 2 Swimming Carnival
On Friday, 8th November, the year 1’s and 2’s had their annual swimming carnival. The preps will have their carnival during their lesson time this coming week. If parents are able to pop on down during their swimming time, please come and see them.
A huge thank you to the sports captains for helping to run the carnival on Friday. Without this support, the carnival would not be possible. I was extremely impressed with the confidence shown by our young students and I hope the parents were equally blown away by their desire to ‘show you what they have been learning’ this term.
Over and out
This will be my last contribution to Links as I take leave for 2025. I just wanted to thank everyone who has supported me during the last 8 years I have been in the ‘Sport’ role. I am hoping to do some relief work next year, so it’s not goodbye, just see you later.
“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get”. (Michael Phelps)
Yours in Sport,
Kathy Spicer
Cultural Report
Choirs of Angels:
St Mary’s Choirs of Angels 2024 Choral Concert
On November 5, the beautiful voices of The Choirs of Angels filled St Mary’s Church for their annual Choral Concert. The packed audience was treated to an incredible range of music, from jazz and music theatre to folk songs and Australian compositions. It was a night to remember, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of our three choirs. Bravo to all the performers and a special thank you to Mrs Ina Winter for her dedication as our accompanist!
On Monday November 11, Seraphim and Cherubim choirs participated in the Remembrance Day service at the Town Park, our singers embodied our Mercy charism through their heartfelt singing. In singing, the choir honored the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve our country. The choir, united in harmony, sang as a tribute to their bravery and a reminder of the peace we strive to uphold. The choir’s participation in this solemn occasion reflected the core values of the Mercy charism—compassion, service, and a deep respect for the dignity of every person.
Instrumental Music Concert:
Mr Jessen and the instrumental students are busily preparing for the end of year Instrumental Concert, which will be held in the Centenary Centre on Friday November 22, from 6-8pm. Everyone is welcome to attend this event to support and enjoy the performances of our dedicated instrumental students.
Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture
Library News
Last Borrowing for Year
This week we have our last borrowing sessions of the year. This is to accommodate stocktake and maintenance tasks. Students are welcome to keep their books for a little extra time as all books are due back on or by Friday 22nd November (week 8)
Book Fair – Thank you!
A massive thank you to all for your support of our Book Fair. It was our first using ‘The Book Warehouse’ and we received some positive feedback (also some negative from students because they missed the pens etc!!) All feedback is welcome, please email the library on the email below if you would like to pass on something to us.
Your purchases raised over $1000 in books for our library, and we are most grateful! We have many children who love to browse the library, and we have a fabulous collection due to the generosity of our families and admin of the school. Thank you to those families who also donated to the Book Fair – you are fabulous!
Some books purchased for our school with funds raised at Book Fair.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email the library staff at:
Student Support
10 Free Hearing Screeners Available
At St Mary's this year, we offered free Sound Scout hearing checks to all prep students. We still have a few free screeners available to use before the end of the year, so would like open this opportunity up to any student in the school.
An estimated 1 in 10 children suffer from hearing loss which left undetected can lead to speech, learning and behavioural problems. The Sound Scout App allows us to screen our students through 3 interactive games, testing speech-in-quiet, tone-in-noise and speech-in-noise. Collaborating with the National Acoustic Laboratories, Sound Scouts have created this online hearing test app that delivers an immediate report, including next steps if a hearing loss is detected.
If you would like your child to have a free Sound Scouts hearing screener, please complete the attached form and return to school. Once I have completed the screener, I will email the report to you.
Allison Marsh
Middle Leader - Student Support
Extension & Enrichment
ICAS Results for 2024 – These students - George Frost, Elsie Erbacher, Isabelle Erbacher, Harrison Prior, Aria Schubert, Adeline Ommensen, Georgina Mooney, Malcolm Mooney, Alfred Charles, Philippa Mooney participated in a difficult set of online exams including Digital Technology, Mathematics, English and Science and Spelling.
Students had to use higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. This is a great experience for students to have a go at exams under different conditions and online.
Merit - Georgina Mooney for English
Credit - Elsie Erbacher for Science
George Frost for Maths
Malcolm Mooney for Maths
Distinction - This goes to Harrison Prior receiving a Distinction in English, Mathematics and Writing.
Specifically: in Mathematics Harrison achieved in the top 6% of participants his age in Australia, and in the top 2% for English!
Wow Harrison – Congratulations!
Louise Cowley
Student Support Services/Extension and Enrichment
COMMUNITY NEWS
