LINKS: Term One, Week Seven

From the Principal

Welcome Fr John Fowles

Last weekend, we bid a fond farewell to Fr Bony and we wish him all the very best for his new chapter in Warwick. We now offer a very warm welcome to Fr John Fowles. Originally from Victoria, Fr John has most recently ministered in Murgon. Fr John is looking forward to living rurally and getting to know our community. Welcome Fr John!

Lent

Last week, we commemorated the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Lent is a time of self-reflection as we prepare for the Easter Season. We live in fairly indulgent times, and I guess Cyclone Alfred has again showed us this with the panic buying that has occurred. May this Lent be a time of self-reflection to truly focus on the gift that we can be to others and this community.

After School Pick up

Just a reminder that students are to remain seated after school until they are picked up. Students should not be playing on any playgrounds or equipment, even under parental supervision. Thanks for your support with this.

NAPLAN

Good luck to all our Years 3, 5, 7, 9 students who will be sitting NAPLAN over the next two weeks. We pray that you work to the best of your ability!

Secondary Twilight Tour

On Thursday 20^th March from 5.30 – 6.30pm any current or prospective parents of Year 7-10 students are welcome to join us for an information evening outlining the fantastic work that is being done in Years 7-10.

PEN Update

With the incoming Parent Engagement Network, I am still seeking Expressions of Interest for the Chair and the Secretary positions. The remainder of the Executive will consist of myself and Fr John. If you are interested in either of these positions, please email me by the end of Week 9 (Friday 28^th March).

Swimming Carnival

A huge thank you to Miss Rommy Beckinsale for her leadership in our Years 3-10 Swimming Carnival last week. A huge thank you also to all parent and student volunteers along with the staff who supported Rommy. I would also like to thank Amy and Scott Brennan and the staff at the pool, along with Kristy Collins and Courtney Doherty and the Gundy Swimming Club for their help with the timing on the day. Congratulations Loretto and to our King and Queen of the Pool: Bronson White and Lizzy Hayes; as well as all the Age Champions and Record breakers.

Angela Collins
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Hello St Mary’s community,

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing kicks off this week for Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia. Here at St Mary’s, Mrs Nicki Wyllie put on a NAPLAN breakfast at 8am Wednesday 12^th March.

Our students have been working hard doing practice tests and other preparation in readiness for NAPLAN. We wish them all the best and just ask that they complete the tests to the best of their abilities.

This week we have:

Wednesday 12^th March - NAPLAN Writing test

Friday 14^th March - NAPLAN Reading test

And next week:

Monday 17^th March - NAPLAN Conventions of Language test (spelling, grammar, punctuation)

Wednesday 19^th March – NAPLAN Numeracy test

If your child misses any of the tests, there will be opportunities for them to sit the test in a catch-up session.

Swimming Carnival

We had a wonderful Swimming Carnival last Friday for Year 3 to 10 students. We were so blessed with the weather, as the forecast rain and strong winds did not eventuate, and the overcast sky made for a more pleasant day. This year we had a large number of parent volunteers, and I wish to thank them for their invaluable help. Our students participated with enthusiasm, and I was grateful to be able to speak to many of them after their races and experience their joy and excitement. This was another amazing St Mary’s community event!

Upcoming Events

Here are a few of the upcoming events on our St Mary’s calendar for the next week or so:

• This Sunday 16^th March is the Laura Geitz netball tournament at Glennie school – we wish our students all the best.
• Monday evening, 17^th March is our Year 6 Canberra Tour information evening from 6 to 7pm. If your child is in Year 6, please come along (with them) to learn about this amazing experience.
• Our Year 7 to 10 Twilight Tour is on Thursday 20^th March, beginning at 5.30pm. This is perfect parents of students in Years 4-6 especially.
• The Hell of the West is on the weekend of 22^nd-23^rd Many of our students and some of our staff and parents are competing or helping. We wish you all the best!

God bless,

John Shaw
Deputy Principal

Religious Life

Welcome to Week 7! On the weekend we farewelled Fr Bony. Fr Bony will be in the Warwick parish for the next three months, we wish Fr Bony all the best in his future endeavours. We also extend a warm welcome to our new parish Fr John Fowles. Fr John arrived last week and has settled in nicely. We look forward to learning more about Fr John in the coming weeks.

Family Mass 

Family Mass is held once a month, with the first one scheduled for Sunday 16th March at 9.30am 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 Compassion, 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 in 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

Think Tank Update

As we look to the future, the Think Tank will transition its functions to the newly formed Parent Engagement Network (PEN). We are incredibly grateful to all Think Tank members for their dedication and significant contributions to St Mary's School. Your efforts, including the initial whole-school survey and successful initiatives have played a crucial role in maintaining strong student numbers in Years 7-10. The PEN will now take up this crucial agenda, providing an opportunity for all to contribute to the continuous improvement of St Mary's.

The Resilience Project (TRP) Summary

Four resilience pillars:

1. Gratitude: When you pay attention to what you have and don’t worry about what you don’t have.
2. Empathy: This is where we learn to feel what others feel.
3. Mindfulness: This is the ability to be calm and the ability to be present.
4. Emotional Literacy: This is the ability to label the emotion you are experiencing as you are experiencing it.

We're teaching these through explicit weekly lessons, emphasising consistent practice. We also explore the mental health continuum, vulnerability, and mood-boosting activities like music, exercise, and laughter.

We launched our first Youth Resilience Survey. We will, in collaboration with the TRP staff, analyse and discuss the data, to help ensure a supportive school environment.

“DIS”

The Resilience Project's gratitude practice draws inspiration from Stanzin, a young boy in India who struggled to pronounce "this," instead saying "DIS" when acknowledging things he was grateful for. Stanzin's simple act highlights that gratitude isn't about ignoring life's challenges but about recognising the positive amidst them. By focusing on what we have, even during difficult times, we cultivate resilience and shift our perspective from what's lacking to what we possess, promoting a more positive and appreciative outlook.

Use the following link to access a short animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J93pi0Hg_s

Overcoming Procrastination and Mastering Organisation

Avoiding Procrastination:

Procrastination, the arch-nemesis of productivity, can derail even the most well-intentioned students. To combat this, prioritise tasks, schedule study sessions, and hold yourself accountable for meeting deadlines.

Organisation: Why Bother?

Organising study materials not only ensures preparedness but also makes studying more efficient and less stressful. By maintaining tidy notes, utilising a designated study space, and adhering to a study plan, students can optimise their learning environment both at home and at school.

Time to Study:

Effective studying isn't a last-minute sprint but rather a steady marathon. Allocate time to study incrementally in the weeks leading up to assessments to reinforce learning and reduce stress.

How to Study:

Adopting effective study strategies can make a world of difference in retention and comprehension. Techniques such as drawing mind maps, creating study cards, summarising key points, and teaching others can solidify understanding and boost confidence.

Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary

Pastoral

Mobile phone and wearable devices  

At the beginning of Term 1, 2024, then Education Minister Grace Grace announced mobile phones and certain wearable electronic devices like smartwatches would be banned at all Queensland state schools during school hours – including break times. This policy was introduced to reduce the distraction of mobile devices and to provide for optimal learning environments for all students. 

At St Mary’s we ask students to hand their mobile devices into the school office upon arrival to school and collect them at the conclusion of the day.  

This currently runs on an ‘honesty’ system and we would kindly ask our parents and carers to support the school with reinforcing this. This can be done through regular reminders to your child/children to hand in their mobile phones if they have one at school that day. 

Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, must be on ‘school mode’ so that notifications are switched off and no phone calls, messages or other notifications can be sent or received during school hours. 

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is an adolescent psychologist, a well-respected speaker and one of Australia's leading authorities on teenage behaviour. Below is his response to a recent article written about mobile phone bans, that is very on point, and I agree with his sentiments. 

“As a long time proponent of restricting mobile phones in school, I feel compelled to address the critics who doubted the efficacy of this policy. The results are in, and they speak volumes.  

A Recent survey of over 3,000 submissions from parents, staff and students has revealed an overwhelming evidence supporting the ban’s positive impact. Students are now more engaged in positive activities during breaks and demonstrate improved focus in class. Critical incidents involving social media have plummeted by 57% and behaviour issues related to devices have decreased by 38%. 

Perhaps most tellingly, one principal remarked that “the schoolyard now looks like the schoolyard in the 1990s”. This nostalgic observation underscores the policy’s success in fostering genuine social interactions and creativity amongst students. The skeptics were wrong. The ban has not only improved the learning environment but has also positively influenced students’ lives beyond the classroom. As we look towards the future where Australian children under 16 will be banned from social media altogether, it’s clear that these measures are steps in the right direction for well-being and development of our youth.”

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

Year 3-10 School Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to Loretto House on taking out the Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Friday. I was extremely proud of every swimmer for giving their best on the day.  Thank you to all parent helpers for their support on the day.

A special congratulations to our ‘Queen of the Pool’ – Lizzy Hayes and our “King of the Pool’ – Bronson White. Congratulations to the following age champions and record breakers.

New Records:

Darling Downs Swimming

Congratulations to our team of 19 who headed to Gatton on Wednesday 5^th March for the Darling Downs Swimming Championships.  The Macintyre team were successful in winning the Average Trophy for another year. All students swam exceptionally well with many smashing their PBs! Congratulations to Sam Scudamore who placed first in every event and was Age Champion for 10-year-old Boys. A special congratulations to the following swimmers who will be representing Darling Downs and competing at the Swimming State Championships on 23-25th March in Chandler:

10 year olds – Sam Scudamore

11 year olds –  Jim Jekyll, James Benson

12 year olds – Bronson White & Piper Rose

Darling Downs Cricket

Charlie, Hudson and Chase attended the Darling Downs Country Cricket Trial in Stanthorpe in Week 5. Congratulations to Chase Ambrose who was selected in the Darling Downs Country Cricket Team to compete against the Darling Downs City Team. Unfortunately, this trial has been postponed due to the weather, but we wish Chase all the best for the upcoming trial!

Laura Geitz Cup

Best wishes to our Laura Geitz team who will compete at the Laura Geitz Cup on Sunday 16th March.  These students will be presented with their uniform at assembly on Friday, the 14th March.  Best wishes to:

Bronte Dennis, Anabelle Hilton, Pip Mooney, Stella Reardon, Lara Schmidt, Eliza Scudamore, Lexi Boyd, Jarin Charles, Tyler Dillon.

A special thank you to Grace Leadbetter and Zara Dennis who have been coaching and mentoring the team! Thank you girls!

Cross country training

Cross country training will continue on Friday Week 7, Week 8 and Week 9.

Those who are 9 this year and onwards are welcome to join in.  Please meet me 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.

Term 1 Primary Sport Dates

Term 1 Secondary Sport Dates

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

Cultural Report

As we travel through the back half of Term 1, the Choirs of Angels Students have their after-school rehearsal scheduled and approaching quickly. Please see the schedule below. If your child is unable to attend an afternoon rehearsal, please email me in advance.

Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture

Library News

We have now purchased, catalogued and covered an additional 600 decodable readers for our prep and year one classes to use in their reading lessons. This brings our total of decodable readers to 2500 giving our teachers and students a great variety of texts to use along with predictable readers and our authentic texts (picture books, NF, novels etc). We will now move on to other projects in the library such as our re organisation of our Non-Fiction area.

50c book sale. In week 10 we will be holding a 50c book sale with all funds going to Caritas. All books are in good order but are now surplus to the needs of our students. More information will be provided in the week 9 newsletter.

Book Club

BOOK CLUB ISSUE 2 catalogues went home last week. Orders are due online by Monday 17^th March at 8pm. There are remaining catalogues in the library if you did not receive one and would like a copy.

Some highlights from this issue are:

Please order online through ‘the loop’ as we no longer accept cash orders at school.

All purchases contribute to funds for our school library with all popular fiction titles in our library purchased due to the funds raised through orders – we are most grateful for this – THANK YOU!

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 click on the link below to give consent for the hearing screener or complete the attached consent form and return it to school.

https://ssimpl.soundscouts.com.au/portal/players/intake_form/3730ec53-d30c-41f2-afe6-bcd4d072dab9/

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

Seasons for Growth - Learning to live with change and loss.

Everyone is affected by change and loss at some time in our lives. At St Mary’s we recognise that when changes occur such as separation, divorce, grief, school transitions and natural disasters children may benefit from learning the skills to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering an education program called Seasons for Growth which will commence in Term 2 and run once a week for 8 weeks. This program is facilitated in small groups of up to 7 participants and is based on research which highlights the importance of social support and the need the practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on building skills such as how to manage feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and develops peer support networks. Participation in the program can promote improved self-esteem and self-confidence as well as giving children the opportunity to find their own voice amid change. If you think your child/children would enjoy joining the Seasons for Growth program, we encourage you to talk to them about it. We are pleased to be able to offer this successful program across Year 4 & 5 and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those involved. Later in the year there will be an opportunity for Year 6 students who might be struggling with the idea of transition to a new school or entering the secondary hub. If you require further information, please contact me at the school:

E Paul.Fomiatti@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor 

Student Council

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

COMMUNITY NEWS

Goondiwindi Show - Friday 2nd - Saturday 3rd May 2025

Please see below link to the Show Schedule Cookery and Entry Form. White plates will be available for collection at the school office.