From the Library

Happy Easter and happy holiday reading from the library team!

Thank you for supporting your students with their free choice borrowing this term. We see their joy when they choose fresh books each week and know that by engaging with these books their literacy skills are growing!

During Term 2 we will celebrate great Australian stories and book creators with our library displays, National Simultaneous Storytime and an online visit with author and illustrator Renee Treml as part of the 'Step into Stories" Program.

Book Talks and Learning in the Library

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Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian

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Term 1 Tuition Fees are now overdue

Term 1 Tuition Fees (including the Stationery Levy and Special Purpose Levy) were issued in February. Fees can be paid weekly, fortnightly, monthly, each term or annually in advance to suit your budget.

We offer several ways to pay your school fees:

  • EFTPOS or cash payable by you in person to the front office
  • Direct Deposit: BSB 064786 Account: 100028119
  • Centrepay - CRN 555076771T

If you are experiencing financial hardship, or would like an extension on your account, please see the office to make an appointment with Casey to discuss your options.

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Sight Word Award Week 9

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Happy Birthday!

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Students of the Week - Week 9

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Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

Parent Engagement Network 

Congratulations to our 2024 Parent Engagement Network Executive - 

ChairpersonMelissa Callaghan
SecretaryGabe Groves
Fundraising Coordinator

Michelle Walker

Our next PEN meeting will be on:

Wednesday the 22nd of May in the

school library at 3:30pm

Please contact Casey, Melissa, Gabe or Mandy to add an item to the agenda. 

All parents are very welcome to attend the PEN meeting as a rewarding way to get involved with the school community and keep up to date with school events, policies and projects. 

________________________

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Notices

We are currently looking for relief teachers to fill vital roles at our wonderful school. Relief teaching offers you the flexibility to take on work to match your lifestyle and the opportunity to continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and staff.

Please apply here: https://bit.ly/3HlXcIX or contact our office directly.

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From the Principal

Dear parents and carers,

Thank you for reading our final newsletter for Term 1. As you are reading this, I wonder if, like me, you are thinking 'where has this term gone?'

Shortly we will all be enjoying our holiday break. Staff and students have engaged in a term of rigorous teaching and learning and are looking forward to a well-earned rest and slower pace. As this term draws to a close I would like to acknowledge and thank all stakeholders of St Maria Goretti. Families, carers, students and staff all play their part in making sure our school is a safe, fun and productive learning community and we look forward to continuing our work in Term 2.

From the APRE

Holy Thursday Reflection

The Scripture - John 13: 15

“I have given you a model to follow”.

The Reflection

Over and over, Jesus, you give to us.
You give your time and energy.
You share your teachings. You heal the sick.
You even wash your friends’ feet!
And now, you give your Body and Blood.
Your whole self.
I am so grateful.
But what can I possibly give you in return?
I will remember that you have given me a model to follow.
I will follow.
And still I ask for more.
Please keep giving me your grace and strength,
so that I can give as you give, love as you love,
and live as you live – forever.
I can’t imagine all you are going through.

The Prayer

Humble Servant, you gathered your friends for a meal and washed their feet. If we are paying attention to you and your friends, it looks like the service and the meal go together. Is that what you dream for your Church? for your followers? for us? Do we realise what you have done for us? Amen.

(from Liturgy Ritual Prayer)

Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, c.1490s, Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy.

Holy Thursday Liturgy

MacKillop Way Awards Term 1

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart" - Mary MacKillop

P/1

Werner Kohn - Year 1

Werner consistently uses his manners whether that be to say please and thankyou when giving him activities or resources during class time or to politely ask to get a drink at lunch time. Werner values all the good things in our day-to-day school life in terms of the activities he does, through consistently giving each his best effort and taking on feedback to improve. He shows his appreciation by thanking those that have helped him and giving the occasional hug. 

2/3/4

Sophia Kiehne - Year 2

Sophia always finds the joy in life. Without fault, she always uses her manners - so much so that every student that has been "classroom assistant" has made a comment about her wonderful manners. Miss Barnes is so proud of Sophia.

5/6

Maddie Apted - Year 6

Maddie consistently takes the time to notice the small things that occur around her. Maddie takes note of special events occurring in the lives of others and takes an interest in celebrating or commemorating these events to spread joy and happiness.  Maddie consistently uses her manners without being reminded and uses eye contact to show her peers that she is listening respectfully. Maddie ensures that her peers feel valued each day by asking about their lives and noticing the good in each of us.

Term 1 MacKillop Way recipients

Upcoming Dates

28th March - Last day of Term 1

29th March - Good Friday

15th April - Pupil Free Day - Staff participating in professional development

16th April - First Day of Term 1, Luke Boon visit

17th April - Mac Zone Rugby League Trials

19th April - Cross Country at Yelarbon

24th April - ANZAC Day Liturgy

25th April - ANZAC Day - Whole school marching & attending the ceremony

I wish all families a safe and enjoyable holiday and I hope you get to celebrate with your loved ones and enjoy an Easter egg or two.

Yours in education,

Casey Robinson

Principal

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LIFE IN THE LIBRARY

Students are delivering their book wraps and enjoying the books of Bob Graham as we continue our author study. Year 5 and 6 students are learning to use 3 evaluation questions when locating information online; 1) Can I read and understand this information? 2) Is this information relevant to my task? 3) Can I trust this information?

Only 1 more borrowing session left before the term holiday so please support your students to have their loans returned and their library bags with them on Thursday 21st March so they can have books at home over the holidays!

Week 7

Happy Reading

Anne Anderson

Teacher Librarian


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Term 2 Dates

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Reflective Roo Award

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Term 1 Tuition Fees are now overdue

Term 1 Tuition Fees (including the Stationery Levy and Special Purpose Levy) were issued in February. Fees can be paid weekly, fortnightly, monthly, each term or annually in advance to suit your budget.

We offer several ways to pay your school fees:

  • EFTPOS or cash payable by you in person to the front office
  • Direct Deposit: BSB 064786 Account: 100028119
  • Centrepay - CRN 555076771T

If you are experiencing financial hardship, or would like an extension on your account, please see the office to make an appointment with Casey to discuss your options.

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Sight Word Awards

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Happy Birthday!

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Students of the Week - Week 7 & 8

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Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

Our next PEN meeting will be our Annual General Meeting, on

Wednesday the 20th of March in the school library at 3:30pm.

Please contact Casey or Melissa to add an item to the agenda. 

All parents are very welcome to attend the PEN meeting as a rewarding way to get involved with the school community and keep up to date with school events, policies and projects. 

________________________

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Notices

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From the Principal

Dear parents and carers,

Valuing Our People

In 2024, our Annual Action Plan prioritises 'Valuing Our People' and engaging our parents and carers in the importance of valuing the education of their children. 

Term 1 has presented many opportunities for us to share, educate and engage parents in their child's learning journey and the life of the school.

Parent Info Sessions

We have recently been offering some parent information sessions for the parents of children in the lower years to assist them with supporting their child at home. Thank you to the parents that came to the sight word session earlier this week. I am glad to hear that your feedback from the session was positive. Our next parent info session is on Monday the 18th of March at 3:15pm in the school library where we will be guiding you through how to support your child with their home reading.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Our parent teacher interviews begin next week. Thank you for booking a time to meet with your child's teacher. If you haven't yet done so - please use the Sentral for Parents app to make your booking. 

These interviews are short meetings – about 15 minutes – between you and your child’s teacher. Every parent is invited to attend two interviews a year.

Parent teacher interviews give you an opportunity to:

  • learn more about your child’s academic, emotional and social development
  • meet and get to know your child’s teachers
  • help your child’s teachers understand more about your child
  • make plans with the teacher about how you can both support your child
  • build a relationship with your child’s school.

Parent Engagement Network

St Maria Goretti is committed to promoting and nurturing active partnerships with families and the wider community so that all have authentic opportunities to participate in the life and activities of the school. Student learning is enriched through positive and reciprocal partnerships with parents.

Our first PEN meeting for the year is on the 20th of March at 3:30pm in the school library. We need new people to get on board and get involved and we invite all parents and carers to come along to our first meeting to see what the PEN is all about.

Work of the PEN includes, but is not limited to the following - 

  • Parenting: Support the home environment and strengthen families so as to support students at school.
  • Communicating: Create effective modes of school-to-home and home-to-school communications regarding school programs and child progress.
  • Volunteering: Recruit parents to support school endeavors.
  • Learning at Home: Share information regarding ideas for learning at home, as well what is going on in the classroom to support family-school alignment regarding educational endeavors.
  • Decision Making: Empower parents to share their ideas, and involve them in school decision-making.
  • Collaborating with Community: Identify and integrate resources and services from the community to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning and development.

I strongly encourage you to come along and get involved. You will get the opportunity to meet and work with people who are passionate about our school and want to make a difference. 

Whole School Assemblies

Thank you to all the parents, friends, grandparents and community members for your support of our weekly assemblies. It is fantastic to see so many people attending our assemblies to support the achievements of all of our students.

From the APRE

Fourth Week of Lent

In the fourth week of Lent, the Project Compassion story features Memory.

Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory had to take on many household chores and farming activities to support her parents. They struggled to pay for Memory’s school fees and school supplies, and Memory often had to walk to school barefooted. 

With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory was able to enrol at a technical college where she learnt technical skills in carpentry. She undertook a three-year carpentry course, with CADECOM supporting part of her tuition and boarding fees.

Memory became the first female carpenter from her village. Today, she works as a carpenter at one of Malawi’s largest hydroelectric power stations. With the income from her job, she can provide financial support to her family and inspire other young women in her community so that they may have the opportunity to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

▶️ Watch Memory’s story here: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/memory-story-video

🙌 Support Project Compassion today: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Upcoming Dates

18th & 19th March - NAPLAN Online (Year 3 & 5)

18th March - St Patrick's Day - Wear Green & Bring a Gold Coin for Project Compassion

18th March - Parent Info Session - Helping your child with their decodable readers at home - 3:15pm in the library

20th March - Parent Engagement Network AGM  - 3:30pm in the library

21st March - P/1 Easter Bonnet Parade on Assembly - 9:00am

21st March - Harmony Day - Wear Orange (no donation today)

22nd March - 9:30am Opening & Year 6 Leadership Commissioning Mass

25th March - 2:30pm Holy Week Liturgy at the church

26th March - 1:30pm Coin Line Challenge & Sponge the Teacher for Project Compassion

27th March - Excursion to the Empire Theatre & the Cobb+Co Museum in Toowoomba

28th March - Last day of Term 1, Cross Country at Yelarbon State School


Yours in education,

Casey Robinson

Principal

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