From the Principal….

Each month when we host a P & F Association meeting, the attendees continue to grow in number. There was not one spare chair at the staffroom table last week as we gathered for our meeting. During our meetings, we discuss the future direction of our school with a clear focus on improving student learning. At our most recent P & F Association meeting, we discussed the need to purchase an Intervention Program to continue to support our students to grow and flourish in the area of Literacy. The P & F have committed to fund a program called InitiaLit. This program starts with a whole class lesson to explicitly teach children the relationships between sounds and letters. These skills are taught in a set sequence. Children learn letters and sounds in isolation, then they are taught how to blend the sounds together for reading and segment words into component sounds for spelling. This program also focuses on children working at a sound, word and text level. Mrs Krystal Land will be attending training in January 2019 and this program will be rolled out in Term 1, 2019. InitiaLit will be phase one of our whole school Intervention Program. In 2019, the P & F Association and school will work together to fund MiniLit and MacqLit Intervention Programs, which will support all students from Prep to Year 6. Several school officers will also travel to Brisbane to participate in a two day training session. This is a massive commitment on behalf of our P & F Association and is a testament to the fact that our school and P & F Association have a shared goal, which focuses on student learning. If you have any questions about these programs, please come and have a chat :)

Week 9| Term 3 | 2018

Colette Williams

Principal

Religious Life of the School

Every Wednesday and Friday we gather as a school community to listen, reflect and respond to Scripture. We read Scripture from the Bible and then break open the “word” with the children. By doing so, we begin each day hearing the words of Jesus and consider how we should be carrying out our daily activities by

following in His footsteps. Each day we show genuine care and compassion towards all students to assist them on the educational and faith journey.

At St Mary’s Catholic School, we acknowledge and celebrate the individual talents of each child as being gifts from God. All children learn in different ways and experience success at differing times. Last week we held Parent / Teacher interviews where teachers discussed the many achievements of your children and how we can work together to continue to help your child grow and flourish.

In the words of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. God doesn’t require us to succeed, He only requires that we try. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things”.

We focus on the word “try” at St Mary’s Catholic School. Each day, we set our students up for success and encourage them to persist and to try their very best.

God Bless

Colette Williams

APRE

Term 3

16 July - 21 September

Week 9

15 Sept P & F Trivia Night

Week 10

17 Sept Year 6 transition at

St Catherine’s Catholic College

21 Sept School Mass

21 Sept NO TUCKSHOP ON FRIDAY

Term 4

8 October - 7 December

Week 3

22 Oct Pupil Free Day

News from our School Chaplain…

Mini Vinnies news – Thank you for your wonderful support

by supplying all the necessary items for the Mini Vinnies and

through the purchase of Friday ice creams. Last week $11

was raised to Assist-a-Student.

Lizzy, Matilda and Keeley visited

Murroona Gardens on Wednesday

to brighten the day of the many

residents that they visited. They

handed out one birthday card

which was painted by the Prep

class. Thank you Preps.

‘You contain within you what

you should offer.’ (St Augustine)

16 Sept Chase Lowcock

19 Sept Robert Sam

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows – 15th September

The Seven Sorrows:

1.The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)

2.The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)

3.Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)

4.Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31;

John 19:17)

5.Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)

6.The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130;

Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)

7,The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-

42; Mark 15:40-47)

YCDI Awards

Congratulations and well done to our Awardees for Term 3 Week 8

Back L to R: Aki Nisbet Roth, Bethany Dowling, Zac Lowcock,

Chloe Gordon,

Front L to R: Blake Williams, Kye Land and Indi Johnson.

Principal’s Award Congratulations to the following students who received a

Principal’s Award .

L to R : Charlotte Davies-Williams Prep, Domingo del Solar

Yr 1/2, James Finn Yr 1/2, Jayden Sablik Yr 3/4 and Poppy

Nobes Yr 5/6.

Congratulations to Keeleigh Muir the winner

of the YCDI award Week 8

Thank you P & F

On Saturday 15th September, we will be hosting a Trivia Night from 6:30pm. All staff would like to thank Aleisha Johnson and Angela Stevens for coordinating this event. They have volunteered many hours to ensure that this night will be a massive success. We also would like to thank all of the parents who have raised their hand to help out at this event. See you at the Trivia Night!!! On Wednesday 19th September we are holding our end of term school Disco with the theme “Hollywood”, starting at 6pm. This event is open to all students and siblings of our school community. See flyer for more information. Students need to return their “Meal Deal” orders to the school office by Tuesday 18th September. Looking forward to seeing everyone dressed in their “Hollywood” fashion!!! Next term the P & F Association will be hosting a “Ladies Night” and we also will be meeting to chat about updating our school uniforms.

BOWEN TOWN

LIBRARY WILL BE

HOLDING ACTIVITIES

OVER THE SEPTEMBER

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

PLEASE CONTACT THE

LIBRARY FOR MORE

INFORMATION

Every

Friday

Term 3

and 4

9am—2pm