Newsletter Term 4 Week 7

Dear Families,

How quickly is this term moving by!  We are really getting into the Christmas Spirit here with all classes decorating their doors this week.  There is plenty happening in the final weeks, so please take notice of all the dates and events. 

The big event for today is our Principal (Ariana), Deputy (Ben) and APRIM (Salina) for a day.

REPORTS
As for semester 1, your child/ren’s reports will be emailed home, on Tuesday, December 5^th.  If you have any changes to your email addresses, please make sure you update these with the front office before this date.

STAFF FAREWELLS

Sheena Pattinson
We congratulate Sheena on winning an Acting Assistant Principal role in Religious Identity and Mission for the 2024 year.  Sheena will be heading over to Tenison Woods Catholic School at Richmond to take up this position.  I am sure you will join me in wishing Sheena all the best in this new role.

Gemma D’Angelo
Throughout semester 2 Gemma has been our Acting Deputy and Acting Principal.  Gemma brought a wealth of knowledge to this position and our school has benefited greatly from her wide experience in education.

Gary Pascoe
We thank Gary, who joined our staff mid-year to teach our Year 4 students.  Gary came to us “on loan” from the Catholic Education Office and masterfully slipped into the role at our school and have given 4L students a fantastic second half of the year.  We wish all the best for Gary as he moves to St John the Baptist, Plympton in a permanent position.

Georgia Burbrook
Georgia joined our staff mid-year and taught one day a week in one of our Transition classes.

Resignations
In the last newsletter we announced the resignations of Eva Lake and Laura Pedron

Education Support Officers
We congratulate the following ESO’s who will qualify as teachers at the end of this year.  This will mean they will complete their work with us in their ESO roles and move into working as teachers.  Congratulations go to Chloe Gariboli, Hannah Dalidowicz, Georgia Adamson.

STAFF WELCOMES
Annette Diassinas
We welcome Annette in the position of substantive Deputy Principal (that means she is with us for a while).  Annette most recently has been the Acting Principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Iliana Toumbas
Illiana has spent the last 12 years teaching at St George College, all in the Early Years.

Gabriele Di Bartolo
Gabriele comes to us from Flinders Park Primary school where she has been teaching a Year 5/6 class.

THE OVAL
The School Board has been investigating the oval situation and have decided to have one more attempt at laying and growing new turf.  This will happen before Christmas, weather permitting.  While everyone on the Board would prefer turf, our school has always been challenged by the ability to keep the lawn in a healthy state.  We have thrown everything at the oval the last few years, including a maintenance program run by experts in the field. The experts are quite open about the need to limit traffic on the lawn to keep it healthy.  For term 1, we are going to ask students not to play on the oval before and after school.

THE NEW BUILDING
This is progressing extremely well and will undergo a number of certification processes once the school year finishes.  This will be followed by a defects process in January.  If everything falls into place, it could be an exciting start to the year.  Keep an eye on our socials to see how things are progressing.  On January 22nd 2024, we will send all families an email confirming where we are up to.

Our builders will still be on-site in term 1, 2024 Our builders will still be on-site in term 1, 2024 completing the External works of the Stage 2A which includes the finishing touches on the façade, landscaping, refurbishing the courts. They will also be moving onto the stage 2B works. This stage is about converting a number of spaces: 

Science room (at the end of the library) will be converted into music tutorial rooms
The current Transition classes will be converted, after the stairwell going down to the library is demolished.

Just a reminder that in 2024 school resumes on Monday 29 January 2024.

Regards
Damian Weeks

Principal, Deputy and APRIM for the day.

Hi everybody! We are Ariana and Benjamin. We are the Principal and Deputy of the school today. Today we delivered drinks to all the teachers in the school, the teachers enjoyed the drinks we delivered. After that, we went around classes and areas around the school, so we could take pictures of all the Christmas decorated doors. We were with bigger year fives, and they assisted us while taking photos. Our favourite one was the one from 3S, it was a giant snowball!

In the afternoon we got the chance to visit the new building! The building was really big!

We even set up the school's Christmas Tree.

Thank you for this wonderful day, we loved the opportunity to be the Principal and Deputy for the day.

We hope we can do it again sometime! But not tomorrow because we are very tired and need a rest!

APRIM for the day

Hi everybody my name is Salina and I had the responsibility of being APRIM today,

Today I have delivered coffees for all the staff, I have made the important decision to extend recess for all the children at Star of the Sea, we gave out free ice blocks to all the students at Star of the Sea, we even got to have a tour of the new building and then we went around the school and judged all the decorated Christmas doors. Later in the day, we helped to put up the Christmas tree, Advent Wreath and Nativity set in the office. It was a very busy but fun day.

Now time for the moment we have all been waiting for, the judging for the Christmas doors. My favourite was 3S’s snow globe. What I liked about their door was the snow and I really liked all the decorations they put on the door.

Thank you
Ariana, Benjamin and Salina

Dear Star of the Sea Families

As we prepare for the end of a wonderful school year together, there is much to celebrate.

Thank you to all Star students for your efforts this year and the many ways that you have grown since the year began.

Thank you to all Star parents and caregivers for working in partnership with the school throughout the year, so that students can make the most of their learning opportunities academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

Thank you to all of the Star staff for the many roles that work together to ensure a safe and thriving learning environment for every student every day.

Thank you to all members of this vibrant school community, it has been a privilege to work at Star for this semester. I wish you all every blessing for the future.

An Advent Prayer

God of Love 
We pray that there will be joy, peace and love everywhere during the season of Advent.
Thank you for your special Advent light that brings joy and love to all.
Help each of us to share that light with everyone we meet at school, at home and in the wider community.
God of Hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us.

Amen

Kind regards
Gemma D'Angelo

Season of Advent

First Sunday of Advent - Monday December 3, 2023
Advent provides us with the opportunity to slow down, to reflect, to take the time to prepare our hearts for Jesus once again. It is time to think about how we may truly receive Jesus, God-with-us (Emmanuel) this Christmas. Advent is a wonderful time in the school year for us all to live the gifts of waiting, patience, anticipation and hope.

The First Candle
This is called the ‘Hope Candle’ or ‘The Prophets Candle’. It reminds us of the prophets, especially Isaiah who reminded the people to always live in hope for the coming of Jesus.

Gospel:   Mark 13:33-37  (Stay awake).

Jesus said, ‘Stay awake and be alert, because you have no idea when the Son of Man will come. Think of the man who leaves his servants in charge while he travels abroad. He warns them to watch for his return, whenever that might be, so he doesn’t find them sleeping when he returns unexpectedly. So to all you I say, stay awake and keep yourselves ready!

The Gospel of the Lord.

Wondering questions.
Have there been times when you could stay awake no longer?
Have you missed out on something when you fell asleep?
How did you feel when you woke up and realised that you had missed out on something?
What can you do to stay alert for Jesus’ coming at Christmas?
Is this time of Advent a time for us all to live lives that allow others to see Christ in us?

Sacramental Program 2024
In the Archdiocese of Adelaide, Sacramental Catechesis occurs within the local parish with the focus on a strong partnership between families, parish and school. We acknowledge that parents are the first and enduring nurturers of faith in their children. The local Catholic community supports parents and families in their role and the parish community welcomes and supports each family as they undertake the sacramental journey within the community.

This journey begins with the decision taken by the family to initiate their child into the faith and life of the Christian community through the sacrament of Baptism. Parents then make the decision for their child to participate in the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion based on the readiness of each individual child.

A letter of invitation has already gone out to all current Year 3 families, however if you feel your child is ready to embark on this journey and you would like them to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion in 2024, then we ask that you fill in the questions via the Forms survey to show your interest and commitment towards the program. https://forms.office.com/r/LHAYP46Kiq

As I look back at the year and reflect on my first year of being APRIM, I feel very blessed to be part of a school community that is so welcoming, generous and giving of their time. Together as a community we have achieved so much and have changed the lives of others through our many outreach initiatives.

I wish you all and your families a very blessed and special Christmas.

I look forward to continuing to work with you all next year.

With Gratitude,
Dominique Laurendi