LINKS: Term Three Week Seven
From the Principal
The Feast of the Assumption
As a St Mary’s community, we gathered last Thursday to celebrate our Feast day. The 15th August is a Holy Day of Obligation and it was a joy to share this with our Parish community. Thank you to Fr Bony, Mrs Karra Suhr and all students who helped lead these meaningful Masses.
The Lion King Jr
The time is almost here! The Circle of Life is almost complete for the life of this year’s musical: The Lion King Jr. Our students, staff and parents have worked tirelessly to put together an amazing show and I thank you all for your great dedication and enthusiasm. Chookas to all cast and crew – I can’t wait to see the final result!
Health Alert
As you would already know our community is experiencing illness at the moment, in many forms, including Whooping Cough. Please keep an eye out for any symptoms as shown in previous correspondence and inform us immediately of a positive case. We are obliged to report all cases to the Darling Downs Health Unit.
As I wrote to all families last week, I would like to remind you that when children are absent due to illness, the focus should be on resting and recovering. Teachers will not provide additional work apart from reading and homework books for absence from class.
Eisteddfod
Congratulations to all of our Eisteddfod performers in Week 5. How lucky are we to have so many talented students in our midst? A huge thank you to all of our dedicated staff who helped support the students in the lead up to this big week.
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 are currently 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.
Miss Angela Collins
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Hello St Mary’s community,
Student absences
At the moment, there is quite a lot of sickness around. As such, this is a timely reminder to please ensure that you contact the school to let them know that your child/children will be absent from school on any given day. Our school has an unexplained procedure policy in place. This policy requires us to follow up any absent students, to make certain all students are safe and accounted for.
Please also ensure school emergency contact details are up to date and contact the school if any changes need to be made. In line with our legal obligations, our office staff will endeavour to follow up unexplained absences by contacting a parent/carer, and if they cannot contact them, they will then try the emergency contact.
Other events:
We wish our Darling Downs Athletics students all the very best as they compete this week!
Musical rehearsals are almost done! This means our musical is just around the corner; next week in fact! If your child is in involved in the musical please ensure they eat healthily and maintain good hygiene so they don’t become sick before or during the performances!
John Shaw
Deputy Principal
Religious Life
Confirmation
Congratulations to the 26 students who made their Confirmation on Saturday night. These students have worked hard during their formation classes and preparing for this sacrament. We thank Bishop Ken for coming out and confirming our students. It was a lovely night of ritual and celebration.
We congratulate –Audrey Bell, Henry Bland, Joven Candido, Abbey Clarke, Leah Clarke, Mark Dannoy, Maddison Doust, Jurence Fernandez, Aiden Gallucci, Ben Gleeson, Molly Gleeson, Sophie Hayes, James Griffin-Hunt, Flecther Kelly, Hudson Kelly,Sarah Kelly, Annie Kerlin, Thomas Leadbetter, Annabelle Makim, Louis McClymont, Sandy McClymont, Zymoune Palaming, Bryll Rapacon, Bronson White, Willow White, Sophia Woods.
Father’s Day
We will celebrate our father and father-like figures at our Father’s Day liturgy on Thursday 29th August at 8:45am. This liturgy has been prepared and will be presented by our students from 1C. We hope all our fathers have a lovely day celebrating next Sunday.
Family Mass
Our next Family Mass is scheduled for Sunday 20th October at 9am. Please mark this date on your calendar. We would love to see you there!
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.
Karra Suhr
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Secondary News
The anticipation is building as we prepare for our upcoming Musical! This event has brought a wonderful energy to our school, and I want to recognise the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in making this a memorable experience. Best of luck to all performers!
This week, we encourage students to take charge of their own learning and choices. As we dive into another enriching month, we invite everyone to actively engage in classroom activities, set personal academic goals, and make thoughtful decisions that contribute to their growth and success. By embracing this responsibility, students can uncover new interests and enhance their critical thinking skills. Let’s support one another on this journey, celebrating our unique paths and the progress.
In Week 8, our focus will be on being on time and ready to learn. Arriving promptly is crucial for fostering a positive and productive school environment. It allows students to settle in, connect with their peers, and engage fully in lessons from the start. Punctuality demonstrates respect for both teachers and classmates, cultivating a culture of responsibility and commitment to learning.
As the weather warms up, it’s essential for students to prioritize self-care, especially during puberty—a time marked by significant physical and emotional changes. Personal hygiene becomes especially important as the body undergoes various transformations, including increased oiliness in skin and hair, new hair growth, and heightened perspiration, which can lead to body odour.
To maintain healthy skin and hair, students should wash their hair regularly with warm water and a mild shampoo and cleanse their faces once or twice daily to prevent acne. Daily bathing or showering with mild soap is vital for controlling body odour. While deodorants can be helpful, it’s important to use them safely, particularly aerosol types, which can be flammable and may cause respiratory irritation.
Maintaining clean teeth by brushing after meals and changing clothes daily can help combat the effects of increased sweating. Proper foot hygiene is also crucial, as feet tend to sweat the most. By following these hygiene practices, students can feel confident and comfortable, ensuring they present their best selves to friends and classmates.
Mr Bevin Goodes
Assistant Principal Secondary
Sports Report
We are starting to get to the quieter end of the sports calendar. We have 23 junior athletes and 2 senior athletes heading away this week for the annual Darling Downs Athletics championships. Best of luck to all competing and results will be published in the next newsletter.
Darling Downs 10-12 years athletics carnival –
Congratulations to the following students who travelled to Toowoomba on Tuesday, 20th August for the Darling Downs Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to Spencer Heeson, Flynn McNaulty, Ace Johns, Annabelle Makim, Lucy Illing, Laura Bourchier, Oliver Rae, Oscar Brown, Emmett 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.
Darling Downs 13 – 19 Years Athletics Carnival
Best wishes to Alice Pink and Mila Field who are off to the Darling Downs Athletics championships in Toowoomba on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd August.
“If it doesn’t’ challenge you, it won’t change you”.
Yours in Sport,
Kathy Spicer
Cultural Report
Eisteddfod:
A hearty congratulations to our students who performed at the Eisteddfod last week. We experienced numerous successes throughout many sections. We especially acknowledge and congratulate the St Mary’s groups and individual students who received major trophies.
Thank you to Mr Jessen, Mrs Winter, Miss Border and all teachers who helped prepare the students to experience such success.
2024 Eisteddfod Major Trophies
Groups:
Year 6 Ensemble – Best Performance in a Primary Ensemble
6P – Most Outstanding Primary School Verse Speaking Performance
Cherubim Choir – Shield for Champion Primary School Choir
Seraphim Singers – Trophy for Champion Secondary School Choir
Individuals:
Molly Giltrow & Alfred Charles – Best Piano Performance (12 Years & Under)
Eloise Gee – Encouragement Award for String Instrument (12 Years & Under)
William McNulty – Encouragement Award for Percussion
Harry Schramm – Encouragement Award for A Guitarist
Choirs of Angels:
Angel Choir students are excited to be performing as the curtain raiser at The Lion King Matinee performance on Saturday August 31. Angel choir parents are asked to read the email arriving this week from Mrs Klowss in detail.
Lion King Jr Musical:
Musical week has arrived! Week 8 will be a very busy one for students, staff and their families involved in The Lion King. Please be sure to refer to the Production Week Schedule for week 8. See below Mrs Klowss’ tips for making it through the week!
Benita Klowss
Middle Leader: Culture
Library News
What’s happening - Book Week
Library Open Night / Storytime in the library
Tonight, we invite all families to come along and take a look at our lovely library. Read a bed time story, have your children show you where their favourite books live and colour in a bookmark to use when reading at home together.
The library will be open from 6pm until 7:30pm. Mr Shaw, in another highly anticipated ‘performance’ will read to the children at 7:15pm in readiness for bed…….take note Mr. Shaw; readiness for bed!!
Dress Up Parade Information
Book Week is an initiative of the
Children’s Book Council of Australia.
Our annual Book Week Dress Up Parade will be held on Friday at 9am in the Centenary Centre. It is our culminating celebration for this special week on the school calendar and we hope to see you there!
Please note that the children have been asked not to bring along pets/animals on the day.
Our week so far!
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail the library staff at:
goondiwindilib@twb.catholic.edu.au
Creating our own ‘Concrete Garden’ as seen in ‘The Concrete Garden’ by Bob Graham
Concrete Garden
Finished Garden
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. Please take a look at the website, it would be well worth the trip!
If you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail the library staff at:
Book Club
BOOK CLUB ISSUE 6 is due Friday 30th August 8pm (Pupil Free Day)
This issue contains:
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!
Student Support
Free Prep Hearing Screeners
At St Mary's this year, we are offering free Sound Scouts hearing checks to our prep students. If you haven’t already given consent and would like to take advantage of this opportunity before the end of the year, please complete the attached form and return to school.
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 - Student Support
Careers
Gateway to Training – Regional University Centre
Discover Goondiwindi’s Regional University Centre (RUC), your local study hub for high school and tertiary students.
Conveniently located at the Gateway to Training Facility next to PCYC, the RUC provides essential amenities, including free Wi-Fi, printing services, and complimentary tea and coffee. The dedicated learning/study space ensures a quiet environment for focused work.
The committed staff at Gateway to Training offer personalised in-person support, catering to individual study needs. Additionally, students can enroll in industry training programs such as first aid, CPR, LVR, QLD boat and Jet Ski licenses, firearms licensing, forklift training, white card accreditation, and working at heights accreditation.
The RUC is a great option for our secondary students and/or parents that require a dedicated and supported study space.
For more information contact the Gateway to Training facility:
Phone: 07 4671 2258
Address: 15 – 21 Russell St, Goondiwindi, QLD 4390
Email: info@gttc.com.au
Website: www.gttc.com.au
Year 9/10 Work Experience (Week 10: 9th – 13th September):
Year 9 and 10 students participating in Work Experience are encouraged to contact their host employers to confirm all details (first day meeting location/time, uniform requirements etc.) by the start of Week 9.
Both students and parents/guardians are encouraged to read through student pack documents sent home via email and hard copy with students to refresh on all requirements of the placement.
For any questions or concerns, please contact myself, Carly Sheridan via email or school phone number.
Carly Sheridan
Career Development Practitioner
Pastoral
Eyes Open Social Media Safety
We are excited to be welcoming Tricia Munn from ‘Eyes Open Social Media Safety’ to our school early next term on Tuesday 8th October.
Tricia is passionate about providing education about the risks & dangers associated with social media use, the knowledge and empowerment to immediately apply privacy & security with easy to follow practical solutions, to ensure the maximum enjoyment and the lowest risk is achieved, when interacting in the digital world.
She will be providing student workshop sessions with our Years 5 -10 students during the day, followed by a staff presentation in the afternoon.
We are pleased that we are also able to offer our parent body with the opportunity to listen to her in the evening.
Please see the flyer attached to the end of this newsletter, for more Information regarding this Parent Social Media Safety session. Click here to RSVP
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
P&F
Market Day is the first Friday back next term, Friday, 4 October, from 5.30 to 7.00 pm. Make sure you come along to the market and support our young entrepreneurs who have made a range of products to sell or worked on services to offer. There is a wonderful range of things on offer. The participating students have learned some of what it takes to start a small business and are not only selling their products and services at the market, but they made a business plan to think through what they are doing, including profit analysis and marketing considerations.
There will be close to 60 stalls, including:
- Food and drinks, including carbonara and garlic bread, spring rolls, hot dogs, ice cream, cakes, biscuits, sushi, and more.
- Crafts like key rings, woodwork, metal art, candles, decorations, cards, and more.
- Dog treats, and homegrown produce.
- Face painting, boot polishing and more.
Some of the students have food items for sale, so the P&F will not be holding a BBQ. Please note each vendor has a limited number of items at each stall, so if you want a particular food, get in quick.
Well done to the students who were able to participate. We have enjoyed reading your business plans and look forward to Market Day. It is now time to promote your business and let everyone know what you will be offering on Market Day. You can hand your posters in to the office for display at school (max A4 size).
Denise Ellis
P&F President
Community News
