Filter Content
Mary MacKillop Feast Day August 8
Mary MacKillop Prayer
God of the Pilgrim,
Mary MacKillop trusted your guidance in her journey of life and deepened her confidence in your will.
May we renew our trust in your Providence
to lead us to hope as we bring our prayer before you.
May we grow in the fullness of your love
and the depth of your mystery.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Way,
our Truth and our Life.
Amen.
In 1907 Mary wrote: “WE ARE BUT TRAVELLERS HERE”. As we continue our life’s journey, we are invited to pray the Pilgrim Prayer and reflect on our life’s journey. What have been the blessings? What have been the struggles? Where have you found God?
Dear Parents and Carers
Thank you for your continued respect and support as we return to school with similar tight restrictions. I often reflect and share with others how blessed we are with our wonderful parents and carers. In these challenging times, as a whole staff, we are so thankful for you all and the privilege of educating your children. We take great pleasure in observing their happiness and engagement with their learning, friends and teachers, in a school they love. We are blessed. It’s these ordinary moments that are really quite extraordinary, especially in times like these, where we are truly grateful for what were maybe once, to many of us, the little things.
We have also been amazed by our students, who even as young as Year Prep, have shown how independent they can be and resilient.
Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop
On Sunday 8 August was the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Mary MacKillop was a woman of deep faith and trust. During these difficult times we can ask her to walk with us and pray with us. Her now familiar words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’, are a challenge to all of us to think more consciously about our response to those in need. Thank you to you all for the way, in these challenging times, you reach out to each other and make sure everyone is ok. May her feast day remind us of the kind of life we are called to live as followers of Christ. And may these words resonate with us “All will be right with time and a little patience.” Mary MacKillop 1873
First Eucharist: Over the last two Sundays we were grateful to be able to celebrate the First Eucharist with our Year 4 students. We congratulate Harry Bright, Lillia Casamento, Oliver Chapman, Zoe Clarke, Lenny Cole, Harrison Creak, Lewis Due, Zayne Garner, Matilda Dalton, Reese Liston, Wade Modola, Jessica Neicho, Audrey Reid, Ellie Rundle, Lilian Spolding, Arie Strode, Eden Theobald, Mackenzie Wurfel, Zachary Zarro, Isabella Montgomery, Angus Montgomery, Allegra Aquilina, Braxton Burgoyne, Lila Butcher, Kiara Dean, Jackson Ellis, Sebastian Flanders, Stella Graham, Daniella Leonidou, Flynn Madden, Ned McNamara, Audrey Morgan, Annabelle O’Neill, Maddison Pitfield, Tobie Prout, Sapphire Renkauskas, Jackson Riddle, Kash Singh, Oliver Warren, David Wilkens, Patrick Wolfe, Flynn Simons, Hunter Simons, Arthur Hardwick, Harrison Delrayne on receiving their First Eucharist. We look forward to 4AG receiving their first Eucharist this Sunday 15 August at 1 pm now restrictions have been lifted.
INDONESIAN DAY: This Friday sees us as a whole school celebrate Indonesian Day. Many thanks to Bu Bree and Bu Novy for organising this special day, celebrating the culture and language of our close neighbour.
National Tree Planting Day: Another successful National Tree Day for Schools! Well done to all of our Year 6 and Prep buddies for contributing to biodiversity in our school environment.
TOTAL PLANTED: 375!
95% Bellarine Peninsula Indigenous plants
Every Year level in our school will take time to care for our new plants.
A big shout out to our supporters # Kerrs' Hire, # City of Greater Geelong, # Barwon Water, # Bellarine Landcare and Louise Wakefield
Respect Cup: It was wonderful to send some Year 6 leaders off on Thursday to participate in the annual Respect Cup. This is part of our work in being a lead school in respectful Relationships.
Susan Parker, Health Promotions Officer with Barwon Health sent through this beautiful email acknowledging Our Lady Star of the Sea who were the winners of the Respect Cup for 2021.
On behalf of all partner agencies, I wanted to say how impressed we were with your students. They showed insight and maturity, and were a privilege to spend time with.
Deserving winners of the 2021 Respect Cup as, rather than shine in one component or another, they were consistently displaying respectful behaviours at every opportunity.
It is lovely to know that our young people are ready and able to not only know what is respectful, but show a willingness to stand up for it when they see that it is lacking.
Please commend them and your colleague for contributing to a wonderful day and congratulations to you all
Council Members Update: We welcome Deb Maud as our new PFA rep and acknowledge the great work from Mary McCartney with thanks. We also acknowledge Meg Poirier is stepping down at the end of the year and Briony Darcy. Therefore we have two positions on the School Advisory Council next year to be filled. Please read Our Lady Star of the Sea School Advisory Council Terms of Reference and email me if you would like to express your interest in joining the council. I am happy to answer any clarifying questions.
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS): 30 August – 17 September 2021:
Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence-based research and best practices. A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys. Please keep an eye out for the survey when it is emailed in a couple of weeks time.
Uniform Question: Many thanks to the 163 families who filled out the survey regarding phasing out our girl’s white polo tops. The general consensus (82%) have expressed they would like the white tops phased out. After consulting with the School Advisory Board and Leadership Team we will phase the white tops out. The white tops can be worn for as long as you require or are needing to purchase a new top for your child. Rather than introduce another item or colour, the girls will now wear the green polo tops. Please note the sports tops are only to be worn on Sports Day.
BOOK WEEK: Book Week is Week 7 of this term. We will celebrate with a school dress up day and activities on Friday, 27th August.
This year’s theme is: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.
Students can dress to match the theme or come as a popular book character.
Peaceful wishes to you all over the coming fortnight and stay well.
Kerryn
Students will need to wear their school hat from Monday 2 September.
Please ensure your child’s hat is in good condition and named. Hats are available to purchase from Bellarine Uniforms, Moorabool Street, Geelong.
Bellarine Uniforms
162 Moorabool Street
Ph: 5221 9199
When it comes to using sun protection, temperature isn't a good guide. You can’t see or feel UV but UV is the part of the sun that can damage skin and eyes and lead to skin cancer. SunSmart advises that Victoria’s UV levels start to rise from mid-August. Please remind your child to pack their hat and sunscreen.
Year 6 2025 jumpers and polo tops are now available for ordering at Bellarine Uniforms.
To place an order, please click the following link:
https://www.noone.com.au/school/lady-star-sea/shop Filter by Year/Category/ Click on Grade 6 2025
Please note that all orders must be submitted to Bellarine Uniforms no later than Friday 13 September 2024.
The school canteen operates each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Following guidelines from the Healthy Eating policy, the canteen offers options for students to order lunch on these days.
Ordering is via an online platform, "School24". Following the instructions below you will be able to set up an account and order via an app.
Online ordering closes at 8.15am for same day ordering.
The canteen is operated by manager, Kerry Street. Parent volunteers are welcomed between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Canteen days. Contact Kerry on 0414 926 144.
