Term 2 Week 5 2025

From the Principal

Dear Families and Friends,

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the term! The weeks are flying by, and there’s been a real buzz of energy around the school as students settle into their learning routines and embrace the many opportunities on offer.

Interschool Sport has kicked off again, and it’s been fantastic to see our students representing our school with such enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We are proud of the way they conduct themselves on and off the field.

On a more serious note, I’d like to take a moment to remind everyone about the importance of safety during afternoon pick-up. It is vital that we follow the PATH when collecting children.

Please remind children to give the teacher on duty a thumbs up and wait for wheels to stop before moving to cars. If you are parked in the carpark we ask that you come across to collect your children. We appreciate some students are capable of crossing however many others are not and are watching and thinking this is ok. This simple step helps us keep all students safe and ensures the pick-up process runs smoothly.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our school remain a safe and vibrant place to learn and grow.

God bless,

Lisa Fitzsimmons

Religious Life of the School

Dear families,

Thank you to all of the families and staff who came to our Youth Mass last Sunday. Your presence is greatly appreciated by our school and the parish. A special thank you to those students who helped with readings and the offertory.

Our Lady, Mary Help of Christians

Tomorrow is the feast of Mary, Help of Christians. Today we acknowledged the occasion with a Whole School Christian Meditation.

We celebrate the Feast of Mary Help of Christians (May 24), a special day in the Catholic calendar that honours Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a source of help, protection, and comfort. The title "Help of Christians" has been used for centuries, but it became especially well-known in the early 1800s when Pope Pius VII turned to Mary for strength during a time of great difficulty for the Church. In 1815, St John Bosco began spreading devotion to Mary under this title, especially among young people. The devotion soon grew around the world.

In Australia, the first Catholic bishops placed the country under Mary’s care in 1844, naming her our national patroness under the title ‘Mary Help of Christians’. Since then, Catholics across Australia have looked to Mary for guidance and support. At our school, we celebrate this feast day by reflecting on Mary’s example of faith, love, and courage, and we pray that she continues to watch over our families, our school, and all of Australia.

Laudato Si’ Week

As we approach Laudato Si’ Week (24-31), we reflect on Pope Francis’ letter to the world about caring for our common home — the Earth. In this important message, the Pope reminds us that the environment is a gift from God, and it is our responsibility to care for it with love and respect. Laudato Si’ encourages all of us — families, schools, and communities — to take action by living more simply, reducing waste, and protecting the beauty of nature for future generations. At school, we are helping students understand that even small choices, like recycling or saving water, can make a big difference. Together, we can help care for God’s creation.

Sacramental Program

This week, many of our Year 4 students began their Sacramental journey toward becoming fully initiated members of our Burdekin Parish community. In the weeks ahead, the children and their families will come together to learn more about the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion. This is a special time of faith and growth, and we ask our school community to keep these students in their prayers. May the Holy Spirit guide and support them as they take these important steps in their faith journey.

Have a wonderful week,

God Bless,

Maria

Learning Corner

LEARNING and TEACHING

Every minute counts!

 PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE - How many books has your child experienced OR read so far?

The PRC is not a competition but a way to encourage students to develop a love of reading for life. Students are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability and record books read during the reading period, from 6 May to 22 August.

To complete the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
• Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
• Years 5 to 9 must read at least 15 books.

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books. The aim of the 2025 challenge is to encourage students to make time to read. Last year, more than 216,000 children from around the state participated.

A list of suggested books can be found here.

Remember, shared reading at home is a powerful tool for your child's learning. Keep up the good work!

Rita

Guidance Counsellor

In this edition of SchoolTV - BODY IMAGE

Kids today are more obsessed with their body image than those in past generations. This is partially influenced by the media and their social connectivity. Encouraging kids to have a healthy body image in childhood, can lay the foundations for good physical and mental health later in life.

A recent study highlighted that body image is one of the top three concerns for Australian youth. Over half of girls in high schools have tried to lose weight. One-third of teenage boys wanted to be thinner and another third wanted to be larger. Children need to understand that their body shape and size is not a reflection of their health or success. Parents and schools need to work together to help kids understand that everyone is born with their own ‘body-suit’.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn how to encourage their child to have a positive body image and why it is so important to their mental health.

Here is the link to the Body Image edition of SchoolTV
https://sfatsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/body-image

Class in the Spotlight - 4/5A

This week, Year 4/5A became young scientists as they explored the states of matter through a fun and messy investigation using Oobleck! Students learned that matter usually exists in three main states: solids (which keep their shape), liquids (which flow and take the shape of their container), and gases (which spread out to fill the space around them).But Oobleck doesn’t fit neatly into any one category! It’s a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it doesn’t behave like typical liquids or solids. When you press or squeeze it, it acts like a solid—but when you let it sit or slowly move it, it flows like a liquid. Our curious learners asked questions, made predictions, and had a blast testing and observing the strange behaviour of this fascinating substance. Science has never been so slimy—or so much fun!

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