St Stephen s Catholic School Newsletter T E R M 2, W E E K 1 1 2 2 N D J U N E 2 0 1 6 Principal s Message Find happiness in making others happy. Mary Mackillop - 1867 Reminder: School Banking - Thursdays. TERM 3 BEGINS: 11TH JULY 2016 Student Protection Resources for Parents Legal Aid: For free legal advice 1300 651 188 Looking forward, looking back It is timely at the end of Semester one to look back on the first part of the year and acknowledge everything we have accomplished as a community at St Stephen s School. Last Wednesday night I was fortunate enough to be at the Empire Theatre to hear, and see, our school choir perform. What a wonderful night! The joy on the faces of all the children who participated in the Sing-Out event was contagious with many members of the audience. Not only were the children entertaining in their performance, they are also to be commended on the way they conducted themselves throughout the day. Their behavior was admirable. It s the extra-curricular activities like Sing-Out that add a richness to the education of our children. These activities are numerous at St Stephen s. Throughout Semester one we have celebrated masses, liturgies, visits to Beauaraba Lodge, Palm Sunday Parish Mass, Road to Jerusalem, ANZAC day parade, mother s day stall, cross country, athletics carnivals, swimming carnivals, gala days and grandparent s open day. It s a long list of accomplishments. The MacKillop Club, under the guidance of Lisa Cavanagh organized a magnificent morning tea as part of the cancer council s Biggest Morning Tea to help raise funds for cancer research. We all know someone who has cancer or been touched by cancer. Showing support for members of the community in which we work, and live, is an important part of the ethos of our school. Thank you for the support you have shown me and my family over the past six months. We have a lot to look forward to during Semester two. The school s Centennial Celebrations on the 6 th and 7 th August will be a wonderful time to reflect on the St Joseph s/st Stephen s School community. It is shaping up to be a truly memorable week-end. I m sure you won t want to miss out on the numerous activities that are planned. If you can help out in any way, please complete the form in the newsletter and send it back into the school by the end of this week. Finally, enjoy your break with your family and friends. God Bless, Child Safety Services: You can make a report or voice your concerns - 1300 683 390 2017 PREP Interviews in July. Interviews for Prep 2017 will be held in July, if you have any siblings who have not enrolled yet, please collect an enrolment package from the office and return to the school by Friday 24th June 2016.
P A G E 2 From the APRE s Desk Community and Eucharist We are truly blessed at St Stephen s with such a vibrant and passionate community. The many family members who attended our Grandparents Prayer Celebration is testament to this fact. This sense of community was also present at the Athletics Carnival with the many willing parents to be involved in managing teams or participating in the annual ball games. I have heard it from good authority that the local supply of Deep Heat was completely exhausted by 3.30pm on the afternoon of the athletics. Our school community is one of inclusion, where students, parents, teachers, grandparents, great grandparents and supporters are welcomed and invited to be part of the school fabric. Community is also reflected in the Eucharist. I remember Father Michael Taylor of Charters Towers reminding me that the Celebration of the Eucharist each Sunday is essential to living a Catholic life. In the Eucharist and through the Holy Spirit, led by Jesus in a Priest, we, through the action of the Holy Spirit, use bread and wine to make present among us the crucified and risen Lord and the saving action of his death-resurrection experience. The sharing of bread and wine during Holy Communion provides an opportunity to not only become closer to Jesus but also to each other as a Catholic Community. So please pencil in Friday 24 June when we can come together as a Catholic community to celebrate Mass. Mrs Lee and the Year 4 students will lead this whole school Mass. Mass will commence at 9am in the Church. Queensland Cancer Council - Fundraiser Just a quick reminder about our focus charity for Term 2 and the activities planned for our final week. On Wednesday 22 June at 10.50am, the whole school will participate in the Biggest Morning Tea. This will take place in the usual eating areas during Morning Tea. The School Fun will take place on Friday during HPE. This will take place on the Parish Oval. Mr Doherty has done a wonderful job to organise this special event. All the money raised with these two events will be donated to the Queensland Cancer Fund. Have a safe and happy break with your children over the coming weeks. Find some to relax and enjoy this wonderful country of ours. God s Blessings Keith Blaikie
Athletics Carnival - 10 June 2016 Sing Out It was an early start to the day for fifteen students from Years 4, 5 and 6 last Wednesday as we boarded the bus for the biennial Sing Out festival at the Empire Theatre. There was an air of excitement and anticipation for the events of the day ahead. The children joined another five hundred students for rehearsals with the very talented Miss Astrid Jorgensen who was the guest conductor for the combined choir. She took the children from being fifteen individual choirs when we arrived to one massed choir with her exceptional talent. Our children performed admirably in their individual performance, and while we had a slight bee malfunction during the rehearsal, the performance on the night was buzzing!!! Many conductors from other schools commented on our choir and Astrid Jorgensen herself, in her written comments of our performance, mentioned that the children used their faces to make a connection to the funny lyrics and praised them for working so hard to learn all the lyrics. She said, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance from beginning to end. Thank you. I would like to thank everyone for their support of our efforts for Sing Out. There have been some early morning starts for rehearsals at school and lots of dedicated lunch time practices as well. To see the excitement and enjoyment and satisfaction of a job well done on the day is worth every bit of effort. Congratulations! We look forward to 2018! Suellen Dennis
P A G E 4 Student of the Week Awards Week 9 Term 2 Congratulations to: Thomas, Tahlia, Jillian, Callum, Chloe and Milla Week 10 Term 2 Congratulations to: Will, Kassidy, Matthew, Logan, Madison Centenary Display If you have any old preschool uniforms from 2003-2006, it would be much appreciated if they could be dropped to the office for the Centenary Display at our Centenary Celebrations.
If you would like to purchase tickets to the Twilight Art Show, you can do so by contacting the School Office by phone or email for BPAY details, or alternatively please complete attached slip and return with cash/ cheque in an envelope to the school office, and your tickets will be sent to you. Twilight Art Show. Name: Number of tickets: @ $5 each. Total enclosed: $
Tennis Coaching Pittsworth $80.00 Tues & Wed afternoons Phone Ruth Von Pien 0412 396 609 Children s Yoga Classes Dates for Term 3: Thursday 14th July 18th August (6 weeks) Where: Pittsworth Function Centre (Hume St) Time: Prep-Grade 2 8-8.30am Thursday Grade 3-Grade 6 3.45-4.30pm Thursday Cost: $4 per child ($1 goes to sponsoring a child in Nepal) $10 per family Enquiries Phone : 0427 931 963 PITTSWORTH PURPLE PRIVATE POLICE KIDS BIBLE HOLIDAY PROGRAM THIS HOLIDAYS 27 th June to 1 st July VENUE: Uniting Church Pittsworth COST FOR THE WEEK: $30.00/child or $50.00 for 2, or $60.00 for 3 or more children (from same family) PROGRAM: Mon Fri 8.45am 12.30pm Sports, games, craft, Bible stories For children in primary school Apply early limited places Register online at www.kidsgamesqld.com.au or contact Karen on 46933202
Help required for the Centenary on Saturday 6th August 2016 We are seeking volunteers to offer part of their time on Saturday to help sell the centenary books, stubby coolers and raffle tickets as well as take orders for the School group photos. We also require baked donations for Morning Tea on Sunday 7th August 2016. Could you please complete the below slip and return to the office, and a roster will be made. Many Thanks, Centenary Committee. I can help on Saturday 6th August Centenary Celebrations. Baked Goods donation. (for Sunday 7th August) Centenary book and Stubby Cooler sales (Sat 6th August) Assisting photographer for taking Group photos. (Sat 6th August) Raffle Ticket sales. (Sat 6th August)
What s On. Date Activity JUNE 24 Last day of Term 2. End of Term Mass, 9.00am and Fun Run. JULY 11 Term 3 Commences 12 Centenary Committee Meeting 3.30pm in the Library 15 Gore Highway Athletics Trials Bridgeman Oval 8.30am 28 P & F Meeting AUGUST 6-7 Centenary Celebrations 11 P & F Meeting 19 Bishop s Inservice Day Pupil Free Day 28 School Family Mass 31 Fathers Day Prayer Celebration SEPTEMBER 6-7 Kids Connect Conference Wellcamp Airport 14 Parent Teacher Interviews 3.30pm MacKillop Hall 16 End of Term 3 Mass 9am in MacKillop Hall Last day of Term 3 St Stephen s Catholic School PO Box 285, Pittsworth QLD 4356 Tel: 0746931627 Fax: 07 46932156 Email:pittsworth@twb.catholic.edu.au