Term 4 Week 3

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope this message finds you and your families in good health and high spirits. This term is certainly presenting us with another full calendar and many extra curricula opportunities for our students, alongside their engaging learning.

At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the First Nations people as they take  time in silence and to heal. We pray that the awareness raised over the past months, will enable us to find another, beneficial way to achieve better outcomes for our First Nations people, listening and consulting on the challenges within their communities., walking together with them. Miriam Rose reflects as she does so well through the spiritual practice of Dadirri (da-did-ee). She identifies, 'Our culture is different. We are asking our fellow Australians to take time to know us, to be still and to listen to us.' Education is key in supporting this understanding and knowledge and at Our Lady Star of the Sea we continue to facilitate the learning of Australian History, including our First Nations people and their culture, to  to our students.

Our Year 3 students are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, also known as the Sacrament of Penance or Confession, is an essential aspect of the Catholic faith for Year 3 students. This sacrament provides children with an opportunity to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their relationship with God. In Year 3, students typically start to understand the concept of right and wrong more deeply. This sacrament is relevant to the lives of students by helping them understand the concepts of forgiveness, personal responsibility, growth, and community within the context of their faith. It encourages them to develop a strong moral compass and build a deeper relationship with God, knowing, no matter what, God is there loving them unconditionally and as Mary Mackillop’s message was, “lean into God” who is always there.

Congratulations and warmest wishes to the following children who will receive this sacrament this coming week: Evelyn Bernazzoli, Asher Birrell, Gus Buhagiar, Sienna Clarke, Maxwel Cole, Elijah Dickeson, Jed Douglas, Jemma Geerings, Flynn Hall, Lenny Jeanes, Billie King, Airlie Learey, Ashton McKnight, Ruby Prout, Asher Riddle, Estelle Robins, Erin Scott, Alfie Ward, Sunny Williams, Jett Baker, Remy Bonde, Maisy Chapman, Harris Wood, Jesse Currie, Connor Durling, Annabelle Dyer, Stevie Ellingsen, Milla Jacimovic, Alex Knowles, Harper Marsh, River McCoy, Annabel Peace, Marley Raicevic, Tom Rundle, Scarlett Tyers, Thomas Van der Heyden, Taj Williamson, Harris Wood, Kenzie Andrews, Isabelle Batters, George Dickinson, Percy Evans, Sophie Foulsham, Henry Hackwill, Maddi Hodges, Zara Knights, Nate Liston, Indi Madden, Eli McKay, Oliver Mullen, Scarlett Palmer, Alira Preston, Fletcher Reid, Sonny Reynolds, Grace Riddle, Max Schomacker, Eden Stanley, Lucy Warren, Ivy Williams, Olive Bryan, Jamieson Burgoyne, Moby Campbell, Olivia de Zoete, Mitchell Dunn, Max Harry, Isla Kerr, Matthew Love, Evelynne Maloney, Millie McCormack, Malakai McLauchlan, Brody MacPherson, Bethany Mifsud, Saoirse McKerracher, Josh Paganini, Isla Pascoe, Samuel Perkins, Evie Sinnott, Ailani Songsaeng, Connor Murphy.

Mission Fete: In the spirit of our Catholic faith and, complementing our Beacons of Hope Theme, we strive to instill in our children the values of compassion, love, and service to others. We aim to nurture the hearts and minds of our students, helping them grow into faithful and compassionate individuals who are ready to take on the world with a spirit of mission.

Our annual Mission Fete on Friday 10 November is a wonderful opportunity to do this.

Please take the time to read your hub news for more specific details relevant to your child (ren) and further details in the tab below this message.

Alison Healy: It is with much nostalgia and a sense of sadness, we are farewelling Alison Healy at the end of the year from her classroom teaching role  after 36 years of teaching. Ironically, I had the pleasure of working with Alison, as a graduate at St Andrews Werribee, for a few years from 1990 and we found ourselves again as colleagues in the same school here at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Back then and now, Alison has been a totally committed and passionate teacher facilitating, nurturing and supporting the growth of so many students over the years. Teaching has always been a true vocation for Alison and we have gratefully benefited from her many strengths she has brought including kindness, compassion, integrity, love of learning, fun, commitment, persistence and love.  Alison is stepping into retirement and we warmly wish her many happy years enjoying this time. Fortunately, Alison may still be seen around in a casual relief teaching role so not fully leaving our learning community.

I am sure you will join us in celebrating, thanking  and wishing Alison the very best over the coming weeks.

Working Bee Thank You: What a wonderful turnout we had for the Working Bee on Sunday with at least 15 families and 50 volunteers. Teneille Pasque and Kellie Clark led the spring clean and mulching. We were thrilled at what was achieved by all. Many thanks to the following for giving of your time which is so gratefully appreciated; Leah Cole, Mark and Elsie Walter, Penny Freeman, Jimmy, Elsie and Edward Dalton, Sinnott family, Wheeler family, Furness family, Ryan/Harsley family, Fay family, Butters family, Hamm family, Salter family, McDonald family, Toscano family, Pasque family. 

It was fun and enjoyable to build more positive relationships across the school and for the students to experience how much joy you receive from volunteering and making a positive difference to the school grounds.

Principal for the Day: Congratulations and many thanks to Reuben Sheridan for stepping into the role of Principal so well and his Deputy Harry Miller. Reuben achieved so much in the role on Friday, including his personal Principal message at assembly, attending an enrolment meeting and a 2024 canteen meeting, handing out gotcha awards, reflecting on the current Masterplan for capital works, cooking lunch for his class and more. A great day’s work Reuben.

School Concert: Save the date for our upcoming School Concert Tuesday 5 December  which the students are currently beginning rehearsals for, after selecting their song. Helen Stephenson, our very talented Performing Arts Teacher, has been doing an amazing job behind the scenes to bring forth the theme for this year’s concert SHINE. 

Helen shares, 2023 has been our Beacons of Hope year. We have celebrated the shining lights our students bring to our community.  Our ‘Beacons’ burn bright, sharing Hope, Love and Understanding in an increasingly complex world. Now, it's  time for our students to become the stars, shining on the stage. Our students, our Beacons of Hope, are having their moment to truly shine!    

Bike shelters: Great news. Our bike shelters are finally coming along very nicely. A special thank you to Chad Ellis for sourcing some funding from Kingston Ocean Grove. We would like to acknowledge and thank Kingston Ocean Grove for their kind donation of $12,500 to go towards the bike shelters.

Canteen 2024: Kerry Street, our amazing canteen provider, has decided it is time to close her service to us. Kerrie has done a simply brilliant job in bringing such a great menu and hours of tireless work our way and we will miss her cheery disposition and amazing service over the last 10+ years.

In light of this news, we have decided to outsource moving forward in 2024, meaning the lunch orders will be made off site and delivered to the school. We are currently in chats with a couple of providers and have the wonderful Amy Hill working with us to enable a healthy menu to come our way in line with our healthy eating and oral health policy. Once we have more details we will communicate further.

Wishing you all a fabulous fortnight ahead.

Kerryn