LINKS: Term Three Week Five
From the Principal
Catholic Education Week and Grandparent’s Day
During Catholic Education Week we celebrated some of our brilliant staff. Congratulations to Chrissy Border who was nominated for Spirit of Catholic Education Award for her outstanding contribution to Subject Discipline Literacies – well done Chrissy! We also thank and acknowledge the outstanding contribution of 20 years of service to Catholic Education by Deb Parr and Kath Spicer – we are so very blessed to have you as part of this community!!
Grandparents Day was absolutely incredible with over 200 grandparents and significant elders joining us for a beautiful morning! Thanks for your Faith, Hope and Love over the years! Thanks to Karra Suhr for all her work and Year 2 and their teachers for the beautiful liturgy!
Eisteddfod
Good luck to all our Eisteddfod competitors this week! Thanks also to the amazing staff who have helped you prepare!
Prep 2025
We are in the preparation stages for our Prep 2025 intake. Please make sure you have enrolled online. Interviews will take place on 12th and 13th August prior to our Transition Days later this term and early next term. Please make sure you have booked your interview time!
Year 7-10 2025
For budgeting and staffing allocations, we need to know your intentions for 2025 across Years 7-10. Mr Bevin Goodes has sent out an intentions form for students in Years 6-9, please ensure this is completed so we can best cater for your children.
2025 Class Allocations
We will soon be thinking about staffing and class allocations for 2025. Our staff work with great care and dedication to ensure that we place students appropriately, knowing their strengths and needs within the classroom. While we will not be able to accommodate all requests, if there is something that you would like us to consider when allocating staffing and classes for next year, can you please let me know before the end of Term 3.
Leadership Forum
This term’s Leadership Forum will be in Chinchilla and occurs Monday to Thursday of Week 5. I thank Mr John Shaw and the SLT for stepping up in my absence.
Miss Angela Collins
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Hello St Mary’s community,
It’s Eisteddfod week, if you didn’t realise! What a busy week, but it is worth it. I am so thankful for the opportunities afforded to our students to get up on stage, confront their nerves and perform in front of an audience. It is something that many of us as adults either didn’t have the chance to do, or avoided doing, but now wish we had experienced when we were younger.
This is a week when we get to see all of the hard work of the students and their teachers come to fruition.
On Monday the instrumental ensembles performed and did a wonderful job. Tuesday is when all of our P-6 students performed in their “voice-speaking choirs”, i.e. their class poems. Many of the 7-10 students performed in speech and drama categories.
Today is when we showcased the talents of our singing choirs. There are many students performing individually in dance, vocals and instrumental sections. It is a logistical nightmare, but definitely well worth it!
Thank you, parents for all your support too. I hope you had an opportunity to go along and watch.
I wish our brave performers all the best; may they overcome their nerves and perform to the best of their ability, regardless of the outcome! We are all very proud of them!
John Shaw
Deputy Principal
Religious Life
Assumption Mass
The Assumption of Mary on August 15th is a day we remember Mary, Mother of God, having completed the course of her earthly journey before ascending into heaven.
Students will attend Mass on this day in two sessions.
9:30-10:30 – Prep – Year 3
11:30 – 12:30 – Years 4 - 10
Everyone is welcome to join in these celebrations which will be held in the Church.
Confirmation
Congratulations to the 22 students who are preparing for Confirmation in our Parish. The students completed their last formation class this afternoon and are awaiting to be Confirmed by Bishop Ken on Saturday 17th August at 5:30pm.
The students have worked hard in preparing themselves and I would like to thank each student and their family for all their hard work in preparing for the sacrament. We keep these students in our thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks.
Family Mass
Our next Family Mass which was scheduled for Sunday 18th August has been cancelled. This is due to Confirmation Mass on the Saturday; we encourage all our families to attend the Mass lead by the Bishop on the Saturday evening at 5:30pm.
Kaloma Visits
Our Year 6 students are currently undertaking some service learning at Kaloma over the duration of terms 3 and 4. The students have learnt about Aged Care homes and why they are vital organisations within communities. Students will visit Kaloma and their beautiful residents fortnightly to participate in Mass with Fr Bony. We hope the students enjoy these visits and learn from the experience.
Winter Uniforms
The beautiful ladies at the St Mary’s Op Shop wanted everyone to know they have an abundance of great quality winter uniforms if you’re needing a few extra items to see you through the term.
Wishing you all a wonderful fortnight,
Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Secondary News
For the next two weeks, our positive behaviour focus is on speaking and acting with kindness. We encourage students to use polite language, offer encouraging words, and maintain a friendly tone. This includes being aware of emotional intelligence—understanding the atmosphere around them, recognising that some actions cannot be undone, and knowing there is a time and place for everything. Remember, you never regret being kind!
Additionally, we will emphasise the importance of taking care of our school resources and equipment. Our students have shown commendable respect for our resources, contributing to the beautiful environment we enjoy. These focuses align perfectly with our behaviour model and help maintain high expectations, nurturing students to become respectful and contributing members of their communities.
It has been incredibly rewarding to see our Year 7 to 10 students fully engaged in their cooking lessons. They have prepared delicious dishes such as chicken vegetable curry, beef stroganoff, lasagna and homemade pizza from scratch. The students have shown genuine gratitude for the food they create and have collaborated effectively in their teams, which change each week. We are excited to see their continued improvement in both practical and theory lessons.
On July 25th, St. Mary’s students participated in a chess tournament in Warwick. I was once again impressed by the spirit and sportsmanship displayed by all competitors. Our students made us proud, with William Robertson achieving second place overall. Congratulations to all participants, and stay tuned for another tournament—this time online—in Term 4!
This term once again appears to be flying by at a rapid pace. Presently, we find ourselves in the middle of the annual Goondiwindi Eisteddfod, a wonderful event that showcases so much talent and is a testament to the dedicated practice that has gone into each performance. Alongside all the extensive musical preparation that is currently taking place, it is truly pleasing to observe students mindfully seeking a balanced approach to their lives. They are diligently dedicating themselves not only to their extracurricular pursuits but also to their academic studies, which is commendable.
The Importance of Kindness
Kindness in school takes many forms, fostering an environment where students feel valued and supported. Simple gestures, like greeting classmates with a smile, waiting for just a moment so that you can walk with others or offering encouragement before a presentation, make a big difference. Students often help each other with studies, form study groups, and share resources. In a compassionate atmosphere, they include others in activities, ensuring no one feels left out. When conflicts arise, students support one another and seek help from teachers or counsellors.
Teachers also play a crucial role by being approachable and understanding, respecting the individual needs of each student. Celebrating each other’s successes fosters a sense of community and belonging. Ultimately, kindness is about building connections, promoting inclusivity, and nurturing resilience, enhancing the learning experience and shaping compassionate individuals ready to make a positive impact in the world.
Mr Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary
Sports Report
This week as we watch the Olympic Games I love to listen to the stories of the athletes. How they overcame injury, nearly gave the sport away, and now are representing their country. Try to sit with your children this week and remind them that the success of sport doesn’t need to happen at school, but the commitment to engage and participate is the key. We celebrate the success of our athletics students this week, as the secondary school students travelled to Warwick and our primary school travelled to Inglewood to compete at the next level of athletics.
Border District Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to Mila Field, Alice Pink, Parker Dillon and Jack Coggan who recently competed at the Border District Athletics Carnival in Warwick. Mila Field came 1st in High Jump and 2nd in the 200m and was place 4th overall in her age group. Alice Pink was 3rd in Shotput, Parker Dillon 2nd in Discus and Jack Coggan 4th in High Jump, 100m, 200m and Long jump. Well done on your efforts! Mila and Alice have now qualified for the Darling Downs Athletics Championships later this month.
Border District Athletics
Mac Zone Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all students who competed at the Mac Zone Athletics Carnival last week in Inglewood. Special congratulations to Hudson Derbidge and Flynn McNaulty who received age champion and also to Spencer Heeson who broke the 9 years high jump record. Congratulations to the following students who are now off to the Darling Downs Athletics Championships in Toowoomba later this month. Congratulations to –
Spencer Heeson, Flynn McNaulty, Ace Jones, Annabelle Makim, Lucy Illing, Laura Bourchier, Oliver Rae, Oscar Brown, Emmert Parcell, Payton McNaulty, Molly Gleeson, Bridie Doherty, Alexis Wiggan, Ivy Offerdahl, Hudson Derbidge, Bronson White, Digby Morris, Lola Tomkins, Georgia Wild, Rory Wiggan, Harry Baker, Molly Giltrow and Dara Avenant.
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things”
(Albert Einstein)
Yours in Sport,
Kathy Spicer
Cultural Report
Eisteddfod:
At the time this newsletter is being published, we are halfway through Eisteddfod week for 2024. We know all our students have been dedicating their time and energy to rehearsing and preparing for this big event on our Cultural Calendar. We wish everyone the best of luck throughout the week.
Check out the infographic below to see the extent of exposure our students experience throughout the week. Thank you to all of the teachers involved in preparing our students for their performances, and to the parents for your unwavering support. This event provides healthy competition and feedback to our students to develop their performance skills.
A full Eisteddfod wrap with results will be included in the Week 7 newsletter.
Choirs of Angels:
Due to the extra time commitments for the Musical, please see the following changes to the Term 3 Choirs of Angels rehearsal schedule for weeks 5-10 below:
Choir | Before School rehearsal |
Angel Choir | Thursday: 7:45 – 8:30am CANCELLED for rest of term |
Cherubim Choir | Tuesday: 7:45 – 8:30am CANCELLED for rest of term |
Seraphim Singers | N/A |
Lion King Jr Musical:
The musical is approaching quickly now, and we are entering the final stages of rehearsal at the Cinema. Please continue to attend all rehearsals as scheduled and notify Mrs Klowss of any unexpected absences prior to the rehearsal. We can’t wait for opening night!
Rafiki on Pride Rock
Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture
Library News
Book Week – Dress Up Parade Information
Book Week is an initiative of the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It is held annually to celebrate the fabulous literature and authors we are privileged to have in Australia. Our annual Book Week Dress Up Parade will be held on Friday 23rd August at 9am in the Centenary Centre. It is our culminating celebration for this special week on the school calendar. Each costume is hopefully inspired by a love of stories and books enourcaging us all to pick up a book and read. We have been reading the picture books nominated in the Early Childhood category and, despite them being aimed at young children, each class has found something to enjoy about the books.
Please take a look at the nominated books on the Children’s Book Council of Australia website.
Please note that the children have been asked not to bring along pets/animals on the day.
If you would like some help to find a book for costume motivation please come on in and see Deb or myself, we would love to help you find something that works for your little person.
Storyfest – St George
Storyfest is on its way to St George! This is a fabulous event and for it to be held so close to Goondiwindi is amazing. Our year 4/5F class were thrilled to see author Nat Amoore in action earlier this year and thoroughly recommend her author talk!
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail the library staff at:
goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au
Pastoral
Put simply; happier children make better learners (Wellbeing Research Centre, 2022)
Last week, I was fortunate to be able to attend a ‘Wellbeing for Future Focused Schools’ conference in Brisbane. One of the main themes that was explored, and that we at St Mary’s already value highly and emphasise, is the ability to foster deep connections with our students.
According to two decades of research, a student who has high levels of wellbeing is also likely to have better physical health, better social relationships, more optimism for the future and higher academic performance. (Waters, 2018)
At St Mary’s I take great pride in our teachers making strong connections in and outside the classroom with our students. They are constantly creating a sense of belonging in their classrooms and building on students’ sense of self-efficacy.
To develop and nurture ‘happy children’ we continue to explicitly teach social and emotional skills through our URSTRONG program and have found value in using a common language across the school to deal with conflicts.
As we know schools can’t be void of conflicts, stressors and bad experiences. As mentioned in previous newsletters, this is where it is imperative that at both home and school, that we continue to foster a positive mindset and resilience in our students when faced with adversity. It is important to realise that failure is OK and some of the greatest learning and growth occurs from our failures. A great demonstration of this, if you haven’t already seen it, is the Today Show interview with Olympian Harry Garside.
One presenter, Dominique Jones, spoke about the importance of us as teachers and parents validating our children/students and being present for them in times of need. She emphasised the fact that behaviour is our children/students form of communication. We are all busy people and have our own stressors and factors that trigger us, but because we the adults have a fully developed brain, we can recognise our body clues to regulate our nervous system, whereas the underdeveloped child brain cannot do this. Therefore, it is our job as parents and teachers to meet their need by co-regulating with them how to calm their heightened emotions.
Two podcasts I recently listened to around the topic of supporting children with big emotions to co-regulate are listed below:
“Unruffled” Faced with Troubling Behaviour-Now What? (With Susan Stiffelman and Maggie Dent)
“Happy Mama Movement” Ep#140 Regulating Emotions with Heidi Garcia
As always, please feel free to reach out to me for any more information about anything discussed, or for any further concerns or questions regarding your child.
Nicki Wyllie
Middle Leader: Pastoral
Nicola.wyllie@twb.catholic.edu.au
Guidance Counsellor
Some thoughts about fear and the associated trauma:
Paul Fomiatti
Guidance Counsellor