LINKS: Term One, Week Five

From the Principal

PEN Update

Thank you to all who have been involved in the discernment process of our Parent Engagement Model at St Mary’s. After the initial consultation and the survey results, we will now move towards the Parent Engagement Network Model (PEN). I would like to acknowledge and thank all past and current P&F and SAC members for their commitment and passion over many years. We are blessed to have dedicated parents who want the best for our students and our community. The next phase of this journey will be to ask for Expressions of Interest for the Chair and the Secretary positions. The remainder of the Executive will consist of myself and Fr Fowles. If you are interested in either of these positions, please email me by the end of Week 6 (Friday 7^th March).

P&F Meet and Greet and Student Council Disco

Thank you to the P&F and Student Council for organising a fantastic evening for our community last Friday night. So much work goes on behind the scenes to ensure a great event, such as this, can occur and we are very grateful for the work so many put in to making this night possible.

Principal’s Forum

I am currently in Toowoomba at this term’s Leadership Forum. I thank Mr John Shaw and the rest of the SLT for their leadership in my absence.

Farewell Fr Bony

It is with great sadness that we farewell Fr Bony at the end of next week. I would like to thank him most sincerely for the gift that he has been to this community over the past year. We wish him all the very best for the next part of his journey. We will farewell Fr Bony as a community next Thursday morning.

Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community,

DISCO - What an amazing night! Thankyou to the P&F and Student Council for the sausage sizzle, beverages, glow products and lollies. There were lots of amazing costumes in our theme 'Barbie' and such an amazing night was had by everyone. 

I would like to thank our P&F Committee for their valued support over the years and I am excited to move towards a PEN. 

Naplan begins on Wednesday the 12th March. Students please join your friends for a Naplan Breakfast at 8am in the tuckshop courtyard. 

Naplan Schedule:

Wednesday 12th March - Writing

Friday 14th March - Reading

Monday 17th March - Conventions of Language

Wednesday 19th March - Numeracy

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

Welcome to Week 5!

We're halfway through the term, and there are so many exciting things on the horizon! This week, we keep Pope Francis in our thoughts and prayers with his current health problems. As a leader dedicated to peace, unity, and compassion, his efforts inspire us to strive for a better world. Let us all take a moment to reflect on his messages of love and hope, and wish him a swift recovery.

Farewell

It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of our beloved parish priest, Fr. Bony, who leaves next Sunday. In the year he has been with us, Fr. Bony has touched our hearts and enriched our lives in ways we could never have imagined. His dedication, compassion, and unwavering support have been a beacon of light for our parish and school.

We know that many of you share our feelings of loss as we bid farewell to such an extraordinary man. Fr. Bony's legacy will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on our community, and we will forever cherish the memories and lessons he has imparted.

As we prepare to say goodbye, we also look forward to welcoming Fr. John Fowles to our parish and school community. We trust that he will continue to guide and inspire us on our spiritual journey.

Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Bony by attending his farewell celebration on Thursday 6^th March at 8:45am. The Parish will hold Fr Bony's farewell Mass on Sunday 9th March at 9am. This will be followed by a bbq breakfast. 

For those wishing to contribute to Fr Bony's collection please use the following link or see the flyer below: 

https://app.grouptogether.com/FrBonysFarwell

Lent

Over the next fortnight, we will begin our observance of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and begin our Lenten journeys.

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, marks the day before the start of Lent. It's traditionally a day for feasting and enjoying rich foods, particularly pancakes. The tuckshop is organising pancakes for First break on Tuesday 4^th March. Orders will be open until Friday 28^th March by 3pm. Please order your pancakes through Flexischools (tuckshop App).

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, a period of 40 days of reflection, penance, and fasting leading up to Easter. It’s called Ash Wednesday because of the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of repentance and mortality.

We will be celebrating Ash Wednesday on 5^th March. All students will be attending a short liturgy and will receive their ashes (around our school photo timetable).

Ash Wednesday liturgies will be held at 11:15 – 11:45, 12:45 – 1:15 and 2:00 – 2:30pm. All members of our community are warmly invited to attend one of these times.

During Lent, students will be encouraged to either give up something or take up something extra/good. It's a great opportunity for self-improvement and contributing positively to our community.

Family Mass 

Family Mass is held once a month, with the first one scheduled for Sunday 16th March at 9.00am in the Church. This Mass is fabulous for children and families to attend. It’s child-friendly and during the Mass, students complete a craft activity based on the child-friendly reading chosen for the Mass. The Mass is then followed by a sausage sizzle/morning tea. We welcome all of our families and students to attend this family friendly gathering. 

6P Liturgy – Project Compassion

Our Year 6 students will be presenting our first liturgy for 2025, on Friday 14^th March at 8:45am. The students will be presenting information on Caritas and Project Compassion, the Catholic Church's international aid and development agency, who works hand in hand with the most marginalised communities in Australia and overseas, to confront the challenges of poverty. During Lent, Caritas run Project Comparison, education around poverty and fundraising initiatives which we will also promote during Lent. 

3M Liturgy – Harmony Day

On Friday 21st March, the school will celebrate Harmony Day. Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​ Please join us at 8:45am during assembly in the Centenary Centre.

Easter Liturgy

Our Easter liturgy is scheduled for Friday 4^th April at 9:45am (last day of term). Our Year 8 students will be organising this liturgy. We warmly welcome all our community to join us during this solemn occasion.  The Resurrection of Christ will be celebrated upon the students’ return in Term 2.

Wishing you all a great week!

Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Mission & Identity

Secondary News

The Youth Resilience Survey & Updates from The Resilience Project

This week we conducted our inaugural anonymous Student Resilience Survey, aimed at assessing the strengths and challenges of our students. This survey has already gained valuable insights from over 900,000 students worldwide, helping schools implement targeted initiatives to support youth wellbeing. The results of our survey will remain confidential, and the aggregated data will play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and positive culture within our school community.

We recently held a professional development session with The Resilience Project, focusing on building resilience and mental wellness among our students. Important themes from this session included:

• Mental Health Continuum: Understanding where our students fall within the mental health spectrum allows us to provide more tailored support. This insight is vital for truly addressing their needs.

• Explicit Teaching and Regular Practice: We continue to implement structured programs that emphasise explicit teaching methods while encouraging consistent practices in the classroom. Specifically, we will focus on key topics such as gratitude, empathy, mindfulness, and emotional literacy which are all evidence-based practices known to boost resilience.
• Enhancing Connections: Building strong relationships with our students is paramount. We promote open discussions and encourage sharing personal stories, creating a safe environment where students feel supported.
• Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy: Incorporating mindfulness strategies helps students manage their feelings and reactions more effectively. These exercises aim to enhance emotional literacy, which is essential for personal development.

Whole-School Approach:

We are dedicated to a holistic approach that involves students, staff, and parents. This includes sharing resilience-building activities for home, weekly discussions, and providing resources to support overall mental wellness.

Next Steps:

We encourage you to engage with your children about the lessons and activities they are learning at school. Your insights and feedback are invaluable as we work together to improve our programs for the benefit of our students.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting resilience and wellbeing within our school community. Together, we can create an environment where our young people thrive and succeed!

Preparing for Busy Times: The Eisenhower Matrix

As we find ourselves in the middle of the term, it's natural to experience a slight lull in the whirlwind of school activities. However, this period of relative calm presents a valuable opportunity to prepare for the potentially busy times that lie ahead. Just like the calm before a storm, this is the perfect moment to gather our resources, sharpen our skills, and fortify ourselves for what's to come.

One simple yet powerful tool for time management and prioritisation is the Eisenhower Matrix. It's a simple yet powerful tool for time management and prioritisation named after the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The matrix categorises tasks based on their urgency and importance, helping us allocate our time and energy more effectively.

Here is a breakdown of the concept:

Quadrant 1: Urgent and Important (Do First):

Tasks in this quadrant demand immediate attention because they are both urgent and essential. These are often deadline-driven assignments, pressing issues, or emergencies that cannot be ignored. It's crucial to address these tasks promptly to prevent them from escalating into crises.

Quadrant 2: Important, but Not Urgent (Schedule):

This quadrant is where the magic happens. Here lie the tasks that contribute to our long-term goals, personal growth, and overall well-being. While they may not be pressing at the moment, they hold significant importance in the grand scheme of things. Examples include studying in advance for exams, working on long-term projects, exercising, or spending quality time with loved ones.

Quadrant 3: Urgent, but Not Important (Delegate or Minimise):

Tasks in this quadrant may seem urgent, but they don't necessarily contribute to our goals or priorities. These are often distractions, interruptions, or other people's priorities that can eat up our time if we're not careful. It's essential to delegate or minimise these tasks whenever possible to free up time for what truly matters.

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important (Eliminate):

Finally, we have the quadrant of tasks that neither demand immediate attention nor contribute to our goals. These are time-wasters, distractions, or activities that provide little to no value. It's best to eliminate or minimise these tasks altogether to focus on what truly matters.

So, why is it crucial to focus on the "Important, but Not Urgent" quadrant during this lull in the term? Because this is where we lay the groundwork for success. By investing our time and energy into activities that align with our long-term goals and priorities, we set ourselves up for future success and reduce the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed when deadlines loom large.

As we navigate the middle of the term, let's use this period of relative calm to prioritise tasks, plan ahead, and focus on what truly matters. By doing so, we can approach the busy times ahead with confidence and resilience, knowing that we've prepared ourselves to tackle whatever challenges come our way.

Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Pastoral

Navigating Friendships and Peer Rejection

It is so hard watching our child/students get rejected or have a falling out with a friend/group of friends. The best thing we can do is validate their feelings AND give them the tools and mindset to move forward. These conversations don’t fix everything, but they sink in, little by little. They teach our children/students how to bounce back and that’s how they grow resilience.

I recently read a blog article written by Maggie Dent (Australian parenting author, educator and speaker) “Navigating Child Friendships: What to do when your kid has been rejected.” In my role, I often deal with these friendship falling outs. Not only is it upsetting for the child, but it is also a very common worry for parents. I find Maggie’s practical common-sense approach to parenting an easy read and instructive. I have attached the link below for those who might be interested.

https://www.maggiedent.com/blog/navigating-child-friendships-rejection/

For more information or Pastoral concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Nicki Wyllie
Middle Leader: Pastoral

Nicola.wyllie@twb.catholic.edu.au

Sports Report

Cross country training

Cross country training will commence on Friday, 28^th February.

Those born 2016 onwards are welcome to join in.  Please meet myself and Mr Goodes 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 8.15am to allow for you to organise your own breakfast and get changed.

There will be no training next Friday (due to the swimming carnival) but it will continue in Week 7, 8 and 9. 

Year 3-10 School Swimming Carnival

Please see the information letter and order of events for the upcoming Years 3-10 Swimming Carnival on Friday 7^th March.

Border District Winter Trials

Congratulations to Lexi, Bronte and Zara who attended the Border District Netball Trials in Warwick last Tuesday. The girls played several games in very hot weather and should be proud of their efforts.

Darling Downs Swimming

Best of luck to the following students who will be competing at the Darling Downs Swimming championships on Wednesday 5^th March in Gatton

9 year olds – Annie Kerlin, Sophie Hayes, Hudson Kelly

10 year olds – Sam Scudamore, Spencer Hesson, Tom North, Archer Heath, Flynn McNaulty, Lucy Illing

11 year olds – Payton McNaulty, Jim Jekyll, James Benson, Oscar Browne, Fletcher Rae

12 year olds – Bronson White, Charlie North, Lizzy Hayes, Piper Rose, Maggie Prior

Triathlon and Aquathlon State Championships (11-19 years)

Congratulations to Bronson who competed at the Aquathon State Championships last week in Hervey Bay. Bronson came 47^th overall and was the 5^th Darling Downs athlete in his age group.  We are all very proud of your efforts, Bronson. Congratulations!

Mac Zone Netball

In Week 3, we held school netball trials to select a group of students to represent St Mary’s at the Mac Zone Netball trials. The afternoon was competitive, and students demonstrated great sportsmanship. Congratulations to the 23 students selected and good luck at Mac Zone Netball trials on Friday 28^th February!

Mac Zone Cricket

Congratulations to the 25 boys we had trial for the Mac Zone Cricket team last Friday. Charlie, Hudson and Chase were successful in making the team and will compete at the Darling Downs Country Cricket Trial in Stanthorpe this Thursday. Best of luck boys!

Darling Downs Cricket

Best of luck to Piper and Georgia who will be attending the Darling Downs Girls Cricket Trials in Highfields on Thursday 6^th March!

League Tag Gala Day Yrs 2 and 4

Thank you for the interest and nominations for the Year 2 and Year 4 League Tag Gala Day. The Gala Day will take place on Wednesday 26^th March. Please note a letter will be sent out with more information, we are just waiting for the draw and more information from the NRL.

Please check your emails for the medical and consent form. Please either print and return to the front office or email you response to cynthia.bowen@twb.catholic.edu.au or Rommy.Beckinsale@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Term 1 Primary Sport Dates

Term 1 Secondary Sport Dates

Rommy Beckinsale
rommy.beckinsale@twb.catholic.edu.au

Cultural Report

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture

Library News

Reader’s Cup meetings will begin this week and continue on Thursdays at morning tea up until the competition in June. We have a number of students in Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 participating and will look forward to many fun meetings in preparation!

Library lessons are in full swing and routines fine tuned over the past few weeks. Please ensure children have their library books and bags on their day to avoid them having to borrow during other classes’ times.

Book Club

Book Club Issue 1 will be sent home this week. If your items do not arrive by Thursday afternoon, please contact the school office.

Thank you once again for your orders, we have purchased some great new books with the points received from parent orders!

Have a great week everyone!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email the library staff at:

goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au

Student Support

Sound Scouts – Prep Hearing Screeners

At St Mary's this semester, we are offering free hearing checks to our prep students. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please complete the attached consent form and return it to school. After I have completed the screener on your child, I will email you with the results, and share any further steps the program recommends.

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.

Allison Marsh 
Middle Leader - Learning Support & Student Services

Guidance Counsellor

24th – 26th March 2025 Gold Coast – Qld (A Virtual Component Available)

Bright Minds, Bright Futures: Enhancing Child and Adolescent Wellbeing

This opportunity is something for our whole community. As they say it takes a village to raise a child.

Here’s a snapshot of delegates you can connect with at CAMH25

CAMH25 brings together CAMH sector workers, mental health professionals, education workers, policy-makers, youth advocates and peer workers and as well as young people with lived experience to progress mental health and wellbeing for children and adolescents. Delegates include:

• Psychologists, Psychiatrists, GPs
• Speech pathologists, Occupational therapists, Social workers, Nutritionists, Allied Health Managers, Disability support workers, Mental health nurses working with the CAMH sector
• Team Lead, Program Managers, Project Lead of Hospital and Health services and PHNS 
• Directors & CEO’s of youth mental health agencies and sector supplier organisations  
• Researchers & Academics 
• Counsellors & Consultants (who work with young people, families, support workers)  
• Youth mental health advocates and lived experience  
• Education professionals & School wellness professionals 
• Peer Support workers
• Creative Arts Therapists

The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference brings together some of the country's most dedicated CAMH sector leaders and workers, mental health professionals, bright minds, youth advocates and service providers in the one place for three big days of learning, listening, strategising and conceptualising advanced mental health outcomes of all young people.

Your link to investing in our children's mental health & wellbeing

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor 

Student Council

The Barbie and Ken Disco was a huge success—it was truly a "Dreamhouse" party!  Thank you to all the parents and students for your incredible support. Everyone had a fantastic time, and we're thrilled to announce that the money raised will be spent on equipment for the St Mary's sports shed. 

Save the Date! Colour Warrior Run 

Get ready for the most colourful, fun-filled day of the year! 

Join us for the Colour Warrior Run and experience a whirlwind of vibrant colours, exciting obstacles, and endless laughter. Bounce over hay bales, commando crawl under cargo nets, ooze through the orby obstacle pool and dash through the colour stations. Have a blast while raising money for those less fortunate through Project Compassion. Don't miss out on the fun—mark your calendars and prepare to get messy for a great cause! 

 Date: Friday, 4th April
Cost: $5

What You Need:

• Old white clothes
• Goggles/glasses
• Towel
• Plastic bag
• Shoes (for Year 3+)

Donations Needed:

• Hay for Hay Mountain
• 6 x $150 donations (for 5 colour stations, water slide detergent, and water beads).

Contact: Mrs. White at Tenille.White@twb.catholic.edu.au if you can help out.

All money will go to Project Compassion!

Grace Morrissy
Student Council Executive

Tuckshop Talk

COMMUNITY NEWS