Dear Parents,

Can you believe we are already approaching the end of the term?  It has been wonderful to reflect on all the rich learning experiences and opportunities our students have embraced over the past term including Walk Safely to School, Feast of Pentecost, Reconciliation Week, STEM challenges across various year levels, excursions and incursions.  The student’s growth, curiosity, and enthusiasm have truly shone through all these different opportunities with more to come in Term 3. 

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming several special guests to our school: Blair Boyer MP, Mark Butler MP, Aria Bolkus (Labor Candidate for Colton), Dr Neil McGoran (Executive Director of Catholic Education South Australia), and John Neate (Chair of SACCS). Our amazing Year 6 students gave them a warm welcome and proudly led them through a tour of our Reception classrooms and our unique Marine Discovery Centre. It was a joy to showcase some of the exceptional learning taking place across our school. Our guests were genuinely impressed by the quality of teaching and the engaging, enriching experiences our students are part of each day.

Moments like these remind us of how special our school community is full of vibrant learning, dedicated staff, and students who continue to inspire us every day.

I wish all our families a joyful and restful July school holiday break. May it be filled with fun, laughter, and special moments together. I look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a fantastic Term 3!

Student Reports

Next week, your child’s Semester 1 report will be available via SEQTA. Please ensure you have downloaded the SEQTA Engage app and have the correct login details to access the report with ease.

As a reminder, student reports reflect cumulative learning. The Semester 1 grade contributes to the overall achievement for the year and helps guide ongoing learning and growth in Semester 2.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress further, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher.

It has been a joy to read through the reports and see the wonderful learning, effort and growth that has taken place across the semester. We are so proud of what the students have achieved so far and look forward to seeing their continued progress.

Star of the Sea Recognised as One of Australia’s Best Workplaces in Education

We are thrilled to share that Star of the Sea School has been recognised as one of Australia’s Best Schools for Teachers and awarded a 5-Star Employer rating by The Educator magazine. This national recognition highlights our commitment to fostering a supportive, professional, and values-driven environment where educators feel respected, empowered, and inspired.
This achievement is a reflection of our entire community  staff, students, and families who together help make Star of the Sea a place where excellence in education and wellbeing thrives.
We are proud to be a school where great teachers love to teach and even prouder of the incredible team that makes this such a special place to work and learn.

Strength Switch Parenting Course - Free for Star of the Sea Families

We are delighted to share that we have been awarded a $1,000 grant from Catholic School Parents South Australia to support the delivery of the Strength Switch Parenting Course.

Developed by Professor Lea Waters AM, PhD — a world-renowned psychologist, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, and creator of the Visible Wellbeing SEARCH Framework — the Strength Switch Parenting Course provides parents with a practical and research-based guide to strength-based parenting.

The course consists of three 2-hour workshops delivered on Wednesdays in Weeks 7-9, Term 3 (3, 10, 17 September). Information for booking will come out early Term 3. 

Workshop titles include:

• Discovering Strengths in Your Kids
• How Strengths Help in Difficult Times
• Growing Strengths and Positive Mindsets

Benefits for Parents:
Parents participating in the Strength Switch Parenting Course:

• Develop action plans to start shifting their immediate reactions at home toward strength-based responses.
• Gain confidence in applying strength-based strategies through guided practice and discussion.
• Receive practical activities to strengthen family bonds and promote wellbeing at home.
• Access expert guidance from the course facilitator.
• Build an increased awareness of strengths and their role during both good and challenging times.
• Establish a network of supportive parents to share experiences and learn collaboratively.

Staff News

As we prepare for Term 3, we are delighted to welcome two Mid-Year Reception classes to Star of the Sea. These classes will be led by the familiar and much-loved faces of Abby Griffiths and Chelsea Gilbert. Abby and Chelsea are already well known within our school community; Abby has supported us in various ESO and contract roles over the past few months, and Chelsea has been a valued ESO for the past few years. We are confident that our new Reception students will thrive under their care, and we look forward to seeing the learning journeys ahead.

Next term we welcome back Sam Carpenter from Maternity Leave. Sam will be returning as our Art Teacher in Semester 2, working on Mondays and Tuesdays. We are so pleased to have her back and know our students will enjoy reconnecting with her and her creative energy.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Vivien Iasiello, who has been teaching Art this term. Vivien has done a fantastic job nurturing our students’ creativity and supporting their learning. We are very grateful for her dedication and the joyful experiences she has brought to the Art teacher role. 

This term we also say a heartfelt farewell to Denise Gariboli, who will be leaving us at the end of Term 2. Denise has made an incredible contribution to Star of the Sea over the years, working with countless students and families and offering warm and supportive care, particularly in Playgroup. Her dedication to the learning of our students has been truly appreciated, and we wish her all the very best as she steps into an exciting new chapter in her career.

We also farewelled Beth McClean, who has embarked on an exciting overseas adventure. Beth's calm presence and kind nature will be dearly missed, and we send her our warmest wishes for the journey ahead.

Next term, a number of our wonderful ESOs will be heading out on Teaching Placement as they move toward the final stages of their studies. We wish Sally Thompson, Jordan D'Angelo, Sarah Balboa, Kayla Stamoulis, Ryan Schrapel, and Carla De Virgilio all the very best as they undertake their final placements before graduating as teachers. We know they will do a fantastic job and make the most of this important experience.

Finally, we send our best wishes to Maria Ottrey, who will be taking some well-deserved leave during much of Term 3. We hope she has a restful and enriching time and look forward to hearing her stories on her return.

Long Service Leave 

I would like to let our community know that I will be taking Long Service Leave during Weeks 1–3 of Term 3. I'm looking forward to spending some special time with my family on a holiday and taking the opportunity to rest and recharge. I have every confidence that our wonderful school community will continue to flourish in my absence, and I look forward to returning refreshed and ready for the rest of the term.

Anti-Bullying Rapid Review

The Australian Government recently announced an Anti-Bullying Rapid Review.

The Review will look at current approaches to addressing bullying in schools, what is working and what needs strengthening, with the aim of providing options for the development of a consistent national standard for responding to bullying and its underlying causes in schools.

The Review is now accepting submissions. The Review co-chairs, Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson AM, are seeking views from students, parents, teachers, and those involved in school education across the country. Submissions can be made anonymously if preferred.

To provide feedback through the submission process, please visit www.education.gov.au/antibullying-rapid-review.

This link contains instructions on how to participate along with the Review's Terms of Reference.  

Go well,
Annette Diassinas
Co-Principal

Archbishop O’Regan’s Pastoral Letter on the Occasion of 
the Convocation of the 2026 Archdiocesan Synod

"As the Father Sent Me, So I Am Sending You"

A new pastoral letter from the Archbishop is now available for your reflection.
Please follow the link to download, which is also available in multiple languages.

Fluffy Friday - Winter Dignity Drive

A reminder that tomorrow, Friday 27th June is Fluffy Friday.
Students are welcome to wear all their favourite winter woollies (scarves, beanies, slippers, onesies etc) as a reminder of how lucky we are to have warm homes, clothes, and food, especially in these cold winter months. We ask that families donate goods which will go to the Hutt Street Centre and Catherine House to help those in need. A little love can go a long way. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Reception Families: Cotton tips/hair ties/lip balm
Year 1 Families: Adult female socks/spray on deodorant (not roll on please)
Year 2 Families: Muesli bars/packets of crackers or biscuits
Year 3 Families: Toothbrush/small toothpaste/bodywash /shower gel
Year 4 Families: Face cleanser/moisturiser
Year 5 Families: male beanies/male socks
Year 6 Families: Instant noodles/2 min noodles

Other Items that are needed:
New Sleeping bags / Warm blankets / New Pillow Cases

Playgroup News

This week in playgroup our gorgeous little children acknowledged the feast day of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. They wrote their names on a 'heart', decorated their piece & formed them into a chain to display in the church. They also took up a collection for the Winter Dignity Drive. Thank you to the very generous group of families from the community.

Apple StorySchool with Tristan Bancks

StorySchool is a Community of Practice, bringing educators from Australia and New Zealand together to enhance literacy and communication skills using iPads through storytelling and creative expression. Led by StorySchool creator and author Tristan Bancks and Dr. Chris Blundell of Queensland University of Technology, the program provides resources and teaching and learning ideas. This term our digital learning coordinator, Kim, will be engaged in the program by attending 4 out of school hours workshops and implementing her learning into our classrooms alongside teachers.

CESA STEM MAD

We're thrilled to share that our school is participating in the Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) STEM MAD (Making a Difference) program. This exciting initiative encourages students to explore the fascinating worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics in a meaningful way.

STEM MAD challenges students to identify real-world problems and then apply their STEM knowledge and skills to design innovative solutions. They might develop new services, create helpful products, or come up with groundbreaking innovations – all with the goal of making a positive impact on the lives of others or our environment.

This program is not just about learning; it's about empowering our students to become creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and true changemakers in our community and beyond!

We have 3 groups of Year 5 and 6 students who are working regularly with two experienced STEM educators on staff Kim Martin and Bianca Annese as part of an enrichment program towards entering their innovative solutions into the STEM MAD showcase later in the year.

Last week, one of the teams had a sewing lesson with Dee from the tuckshop and Kim!

Children’s University

All students who registered to participate in the Children’s University program for 2025 have now received their passports and access to the online portal to track the events and activities they participate in. The goal is to encourage families to experience a variety of activities and learning events over the course of the year and celebrate learning that occurs outside of the classroom.