St Mary's School Newsletter Issue 8: Wednesday 20 March 2013 Dear Parents, Early last Thursday morning, the white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, signalling that the Holy Spirit had spoken in the hearts of our Church leaders to elect the successor of Peter. Pope Francis, (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio), aged 76 years, has been elected as the 266 th Pope, filling the role Pope Benedict XVI vacated at the end of February 2013. The former archbishop of Buenos Aires, has long campaigned for the rights of the poor and marginalised. Pope Francis is a Jesuit priest. He has especially sought to lessen the impact of the great inequality that exists around the world and particularly in South America. He is the first Pope from the Americas and the first Pope from the developing world that is now home to the majority of Catholics in the world. Before entering the seminary, Pope Francis received a master s degree in chemistry and later taught literature, philosophy, theology and psychology. I believe we have been greatly blessed by the election of Pope Francis and as we pray for the Holy Father during this time of settling into the role, we look forward to a Pontificate of new horizons. O God, Shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favourably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her Shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. SHELL CAMPBELL
ENROLMENTS FOR PREP 2014 St Mary s School is currently accepting names for eligible Prep students for 2014 PREP AGE Children who were born from July 01 December 31, 2008 and January 01 June 30, 2009 are eligible for Prep in 2014. If you have a child or know of anyone who has a child for Kindy or Prep next year, please ensure that their details are taken by the office staff as soon as possible. Even if you have existing children at St Mary s, you must register your child s name for Prep and / or Kindy. PREP INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD DURING TERM TWO. RELIGION NEWS St Mary s Parish Easter Mass Times Palm Sunday 23/24 March Holy Thursday 28 March Saturday Vigil Mass 6.00pm Mass of The Lord s Supper at 6.00pm Sunday Mass 8.30am Adoration at the Altar of Repose til 10.00pm Adoration 5.00pm Good Friday 29 March (Warwick) Stations of The Cross 10.00am The Liturgy of the Lord s Death 3.00pm Easter Saturday 30 March Easter Sunday 31 March Warwick Vigil Mass 6.00pm Warwick 8.30am Yangan Vigil Mass 6.00pm Killarney 8.00am Gladfield 10.00am
Yesterday, Fr. Franco and Fr. Terry conducted beautiful liturgies at St Mary s Church, to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, for 40 children from our Parish. Congratulations to the candidates, families and members of the Sacramental Team for your preparation and commitment to the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. The children will conclude their sacramental journey after the Easter Holidays as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on 31 May and the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on either 9 June or 16 June. Enrolment for these sacramental programs will occur at the Parish Centre on 27 March at 9.00am or 7.00pm. Parish Mass Year 4 Bourke will be attending the Parish Mass at St Mary s Church on at 9.00am, (weather permitting). Parents are most welcome to attend. Note for a Goat (Annual Staff Mission Money Raising Event) During Lent, Staff try to raise awareness of the plight of children in other countries. As such, they aim to set a personal example by raising money for goats, chickens and cattle to be bought for communities in developing countries. This Friday, all staff will wear a crumpled white shirt and very loud tie to support Note for a Goat and raise Dollars for Charity. Families may also wish to donate money for this very worthy cause on Friday as well. Caritas Australia Project Compassion Each year, our school supports Caritas Australia s Project Compassion which helps pursue justice and help those suffering from poverty and disadvantage in more than 35 countries around the world. Each week during Lent, the children will focus on the story of a child in a particular country which will be supported this year. Week 5: Bernard from Gumbayngirr, Australia The youngest of 13 children, Bernard s dad left when he was only one and as he got older he started to wonder more about him. Bernard did very well at school, becoming the second ever Aboriginal school captain at Nambucca Heads High School. However two years later, his beloved Mum passed away. Soon losing direction in his life, Bernard turned to drugs and alcohol, and at 25 he was admitted to hospital where his father came to visit. Although his father was back in his life, Bernard still desperately grieved for his Mum. A close friend told him about Tom Powell s Red Dust Healing a healing program for Indigenous people and Bernard said it changed everything: Now I know how to express how I feel. I know that it is good to talk about things, to get it out and not bottle it up inside. Recently becoming a father, he understands how important his role within family life is. Thanks to Tom and to Caritas Australia, because Red Dust Healing has taught me about being a man and being a father.
ADMINISTRATION School Assembly This Friday, 22 March, Year 5 Norton, will lead our whole School Assembly at the Upper Campus commencing at 9.00am. Everyone is warmly invited to attend. Lockdown St Mary s seeks to ensure that students and staff are safe in situations where there is a hazard in the school grounds or outside the school that requires students and staff to be locked within buildings for safety. This may occur if there is an emergency situation including a hostile intruder, terrorist attack, criminal activity, chemical spill or extreme weather event. On Monday, all classes from Prep to Year 7, along with St Mary s Kindergarten, participated in a Lockdown Drill. Lockdown procedures were explained to the children during the week and the Principal also outlined the Lockdown procedures at last week s assembly. We were very pleased with the practice. All students and staff participated in the appropriate manner. Congratulations to all! School Fees School fees are now overdue. If you have not yet paid your account, please do so immediately. Your account can be paid by Direct Debit, Internet banking (Commonwealth Bank, BSB 064 786, A/c 518206001) and at the School Office (please note we are still without an eftpos machine). A reminder also that if your child has nominated for any of the Southern Downs or Darling Downs sports, fees must be paid with your nomination as the school will be sent an account for your child s participation. Reminder letters will be sent out this week if your account has not been settled. Welcoming BBQ Congratulations Sensational congratulations are due to the P & F Association for their wonderful organisation of our Term One BBQ, held in the grounds of the Upper Campus last Saturday afternoon. There were train rides, cricket games, tug-of-war, very loud disco, basketball and lots of fun for everyone. So many families attended and had a wonderful time filled with free ice blocks and free BBQ. Student Congratulations Congratulations to the following children who received school awards at last Friday's Assembly: Ella Young, Riley Bacon (Prep Lawson) Felicity Mitchell (Prep White) Amy Cartwright (Prep Williams) Sharnie Mitchell, Trey Williams (1 Doyle) Tanaya Lambert, Ben Carey, Azaria Farrawell (1 Preston) Lachlan Watts, Ella Cahill, Meghan Blake (1 Shooter) Sophie Brennan, Glen Jhon Cruda (2 Brosnan) Hayley Black, Martin Bell (2 Byrne) Isabel Natividad, Riley Brodrick, Keeley Lockhart (3 Jervis) Hugh Inmon, Lily Osborne (3 King) Maddie Roche, Richard Watts, Tyler Domjahn (4 Bourke) Kiarra Watson, Gus Hutchinson (4 Lancuba) Olivia Smith, Jordan Ball, The Whole of 5 Carr Tori Abood, Tyson Stevens, Tiffany Walker, Adam Baguley (5 Norton) Claire Shadlow, Darcy Tattam, Mitchell Thompson (6 Collins) Rielly Byrne, Dana Mitchell (6 Dearden) Luke Radford, Ben Pickering (7 Hamilton) Patrick Wallis, Claire Hockings (7 Rutledge)
Darling Downs Golf Congratulations to Declan Murphy (7 Rutledge) who has been selected in the Darling Downs Golf team. Declan was placed second in the golf trials earlier in the week and will now compete in the Queensland titles in Brisbane in July. Well done Declan. St Mary s Cross Country Championships Our school cross country events will be held again this year in Victoria Park (opposite the Warwick Hospital). Children born in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 will compete on Tuesday 26 March. Children born in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 will compete on Wednesday 27 March. Children need to wear sports uniform on the day they are running. Children are encouraged to wear a polo shirt in their House Colour for the cross country, (Rooney Red, Potter Blue and Kelly Gold). Shirts must have sleeves and a collar and be a plain colour. Samples of this shirt are on display in the Lower Campus Foyer. They are usually available from Big W for around $4.00 - $5.00. No spikes are allowed, as it is an unlaned event. Predominantly white school sports shoes must be worn. Approximate starting times are listed below: Tuesday 26 March Wednesday 27 March 9.30am 9.30am Boys 12/13 years (born 2000/2001) Boys 8 years (born 2005) Distance 3000m Distance 1200m 9.50am 9.45am Girls 12/13 years (born 2000/2001) Girls 8 years (born 2005) Distance 3000m Distance 1200m 10.10am 10.00am Boys 11 years (born 2002) Boys 7 years (born 2006) Distance 3000m Distance (800m) 10.30am 10.15am Girls 11 years (born 2002) Girls 7 years (born 2006) Distance 3000m Distance 800m 10.50am 10.30am Boys 10 years (born 2003) Boys 6 years (born 2007) Distance 2000m Distance 600m 11.10am 10.45am Girls 10 years (born 2003) Girls 6 years (born 2007) Distance 2000m Distance 600m 11.30am 11.00am Boys 9 years (born 2004) Boys 5 years (born 2008) Distance 2000m Distance 400m 11.50am 11.15am Girls 9 years (born 2004) Girls 5 years (born 2008) Distance 2000m Distance 400m 1.30pm Presentation of House Trophy at Upper Campus
P&F News P&F Meeting this The meeting will commence at 7.00pm at the Upper Campus Library. Everyone is warmly invited to attend. Tuckshop Roster Thurs 21/3: Jo Bell, Anna King, Rebecca Boal Fri 22/3: Melanie Joyce, Rowena O Dea, Alex Shah Mon 25/3: Kerry Murphy, Theresa Ryan Thurs 28/3: Kathy Moses, Krystyna Cahill, Melanie Blake Fri 29/3: Good Friday Tuckshop News Please ensure that all children put a separate morning tea and lunch brown paper bag in for tuckshop. There is no hot food available from the tuckshop at morning tea time. No frozen food i.e. iceblocks or frozen yoghurts available for lower campus children. Parents please remind children to put their lunch bags into the boxes provided in each classroom. TERM ONE DATE CLAIMERS Wednesday 20 March Friday 22 March Friday 22 March Sunday 24 March Tuesday 26 March Wednesday 27 March Thursday 28 March Thursday 28 March Friday 29 March Sunday 31 March School Board Meeting 6.00pm Parish Mass Yr 4 Bourke Southern Downs Rugby League Trials Southern Downs Netball Trials Darling Downs AFL Trials P&F Committee Meeting 7.00pm School Assembly Note for a Goat Staff Mission Raising Event Palm Sunday St Mary s Cross Country Trials 9 yrs to 13 yrs St Mary s Cross Country Trials 5 yrs to 8 yrs End of Term One Holy Thursday Good Friday Easter Sunday
STRANGER DANGER AWARENESS As we approach the holiday period, it is timely to remind your children about Stranger Danger. Please, continue to be proactive and regularly remind your little ones about safety at home and in the community.
P & F Welcoming BBQ