2024 Term 4, Week 2 Newsletter

Principals Report - Mrs Janine Butlin

Principal’s message

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting two of our western schools- St Finbarr’s Quilpie and St Mary’s Charleville. During my time in both schools, I interviewed staff, parents, and children and asked them two simple questions. What is working well at the school? And, what suggestions would you have to improve what is happening at school?

It is a wonderful gift for a Principal to be invited to spend time in another school and see how they operate. Here are my highlights.

1. Being welcomed by students who were keen to share the pride in their schools.
2. Happy staff who welcomed visitors and loved the opportunity to share their success stories.
3. The gratitude of staff for the opportunity to work in such a caring work environment.
4. Seeing the similarities between our school and the western schools.
5. The little things, like the morning parade with the school prayer, are such an important part of the school day. Acknowledging birthdays and special accomplishments of children and adults.
6. Sharing of wisdom about all things education between professionals.

Coming back to St Stephen’s, it made me wonder what do new parents and visitors value after they visit our school. Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming kindy children to our early years ‘Read and Roam'. It was a delightful morning of reading, building, painting, and playing. Shortly after, Catholic Mission Month was launched in a liturgy led by Bishop Ken at St Stephen's Catholic Church, where we welcomed St Ursulas, St Joseph’s Millmerran, St Thomas More’s and St Anthony’s representatives to join our students in prayer and song.

I feel truly blessed to be fortunate to work in such a vibrant learning community. I was so proud of our staff and students today. What was truly special, is that in amongst all of this, we were short two teachers, fighting with technology to restore the school server that crashed and the printer that wasn’t printing. And no-one knew these issues because everyone worked together to ensure the day, and the activities went smoothly.

To the members of the St Stephen’s School Community, I say, “Thank you, Thank you, thank you.”

Change of Title – APRE - APMI

In our ever-changing world, it is essential for us to continually reflect on how we bring our Catholic identity and mission to life within our St Stephen’s community. This reflection has led all Toowoomba Catholic Schools to collaboratively review the vital role of religious leadership. As a result, the position of Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE) has been revitalised with a new focus and title of Assistant Principal Mission and Identity (APMI). At St Stephen’s school, our APMI plays a pivotal role in guiding Catholic pedagogy, overseeing the religious curriculum, and nurturing the religious life of St Stephen’s. This work is at the very heart of everything we do. The role of the APMI is essential in ensuring that our Catholic school remains a living witness to Christ’s message as expressed in the Gospels. From the beginning of Term 4, Fiona will now have the new role title of APMI. Could you please congratulate Fiona (APMI) on her renewed and refreshed role.

God Bless

Janine

APMI Report - Mrs Fiona Drew

APMI Newsletter – Term Four

Welcome back to Term 4 and the race to the finish line for the 2024 academic year. This term promises to be a busy one with 10 weeks but lots to fit in! We finished our term last year with a celebration for the students focusing on what we are thankful for at school. 

I hope these holidays were restful for students and families and they have started the term rejuvenated and ready to go.  

Term 4 MacKillop Value – Listen to God’s Call

This term, the Mary MacKillop value for St Stephen’s is ‘Listen to God’s Call’. MacKillop Club members will make this their focus during meetings and activities this term.

Catholic Mission Month – Socktober

October is Catholic Mission Month and St Stephens will be participating in the annual event of Socktober. Catholic Mission is the Australian agency of the International Pontifical Mission Societies. They share in God’s mission to reach out and give life by sharing our personal and financial resources. Students are invited to wear their crazy socks on Friday 18^th October and bring a gold coin donation. Money raised will go towards supporting children in Mongolia.

St Stephen’s was also fortunate to be asked to host the Catholic Mission Launch liturgy. Bishop Ken and Father Thomas led us in a beautiful liturgy. Many thanks to the Catholic Mission team and to the other schools who joined us for the morning – St Ursulas, St Anthony’s, St Thomas Mores & St Joseph’s, Millmerran.

Family Mass/Patronal Celebrations

Our Term 4 Family & Patronal Mass will be held on Sunday 27^th October at 8.30am. This will be followed by Morning Tea and the Silver Circle raffle in MacKillop Hall. Thank you to families who have purchased tickets in the raffle.  Everyone is welcome to come along and celebrate the church’s Patron Saint, St Stephen, together as a St Stephen’s Catholic School and Parish Community.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Dates have been confirmed with families of students who are beginning their Sacramental Journey with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Lessons will begin on Thursday 17^th October and go for four weeks. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held on Friday 8^th November at 5pm in St Stephen’s church. We are keeping the candidates in our prayers as they begin their journey.

Day for Daniel

Friday 25^th October is Day for Daniel. Students are invited to wear red to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. No gold coin donation is required.

Date Claimers

All Saints Feast Day mass – Tuesday 29^th October

Remembrance Day Liturgy – Monday 11^th November

Christmas Concert – Monday 25^th November

Graduation Mass – Thursday 5^th December

Learning Support News - Mrs Kristy Cameron

Everyone is a Superhero, on Superhero Day!

St Stephen’s School community celebrated Duchenne Awareness Day by coming to school as their favourite superhero on 2^nd of September. Patrick Matchett and his family were actively involved in making this day a special day of awareness. Their main goal was to spread awareness to help Patrick’s friends and family understand Muscular Dystrophy a little more.

Diagnosed with DMD at two and a half years of age, Patrick makes the most out of each day. While he appreciates his mates helping him out, he also appreciates their patience while he courageously tries to do things on his own. Patrick truly is a Superhero every day.  Patrick also believes that everyone else at St Stephen’s School is a superhero as they are so kind, and they understand that he can’t do all the things that everyone else can do easily. As a community, it was wonderful to come together to share Patrick’s journey, challenges and successes.

The World Duchenne Awareness Day 2024 theme was ‘Raise your voice for Duchenne’. This day supports creating a society that provides equal opportunities for all, emphasising the importance of amplifying voices to advocate for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

REMEMBER: Together, We are Stronger!!

Enrolments - 2025 Limited Places

Prep 2025 Enrolments

Sport News - Mrs Jodie Ferguson

Inner Downs Trials 

Darling Downs Athletics Team – Evelyn Krieg 

Congratulations Evie on gaining selection into the Darling Downs Athletics team competing this week at the State Championships in Brisbane. It’s a wonderful honour and we here at St. Stephen’s are very proud of your achievements. 

St. Stephen’s Swimming Lessons and Carnival 

Swimming lessons will commence on Monday, 28th October, and conclude with our School Swimming Carnival on Thursday 28th November.  

The allocated swimming block times will be:  

Monday sessions              

11:30am to 12pm  Prep  

12:00 to 12:30pm  Year 1  

12:30pm to 1:00pm  Year 2 

1:00pm to 1:45pm  Year 5/6

1:45pm to 2:30pm  Year 3/4 

Tuesday sessions

1:00pm to 1:45pm  Year 5/6 

1:45pm to 2:30pm  Year 3/4 

Wednesday sessions

10:00am to 10:30am  Prep

10:30 to 11:00am  Year 1

11:00am to 11:30am  Year 2 

Swimming Fees 

The total cost of swimming lessons for 2024 will be $67 per child. 

Families who have a Pittsworth Pool Season pass already or intend to purchase one prior to the 11th of October will only be charged $31 for their lessons. If you have purchased a Season Pass, please let Jodie Ferguson know via email jodie.ferguson@twb.catholic.edu.au prior to 14th October otherwise all students will be charged the full fee of $67.

Payment will be invoiced on the 14th October and is due by 24th October. Payment must be made prior to the first swimming lesson.  

All students are expected to participate in swimming lessons. If your child is unable to attend a lesson due to illness or injury, unfortunately, no refunds will be given. 

Important Reminders  

• Please on swimming days pack extra food in children’s lunchboxes as they will be hungrier than normal. 
• Children are not to wear swimmers to school in the morning.  
• Please ensure your child has an easy-to-carry swimming bag with the following items: swimmers, rash vest, goggles, swimming cap and towel  

Prep and Year 1 Parents if you are able to volunteer your time during these lessons, please notify your child’s teacher asap. You will need to sign in at the front office prior to going to the classroom and ensure you have completed the Volunteer/Student Protection Induction. This can be done via the link. Student Protection and Code of Conduct - Volunteers and VSPs (twb.catholic.edu.au)

Nominations for the Swimming Carnival will be available by Thursday the 7th November.   

Student Sporting Achievements 

Please feel free to send through any photos of students and their sporting achievements if you wish for them to be included in the school newsletter, attention to Mrs Ferguson. jodie.ferguson@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Prep News - Miss Lucy Norman

At the end of last term Prep went on an excursion to Toowoomba! First, we stopped at The Lighthouse Literacy Foundation, where we got to see lots of happy, shiny art. Anna Battle, the artist, was there and she read us a story and told us to never stop dreaming. We became artists just like her! Next, we went to Allstar Gymnastics and got to explore the whole gym, including many obstacle courses, ninja set ups, trampolines and more. It was a great day out and we had so much fun!

Some of our favorite things were, watching the teachers dress up, jumping into the foam pit, swinging on the Ninja course, and being on the bus!

Prep/Year 1 News - Mrs Brittany Robinson

Hello from Prep One!  

It’s hard to believe we are in the final term of the year! Time flies when we are having fun, and we certainly have shared many fun learning activities throughout the year. At the end of last term the Prep and Year One students went to The Lighthouse Literacy Foundation and Allstar Gymnastics Academy in Toowoomba. We started the day at the Lighthouse where we met Emma Mactaggart. She told us all about how to be great writers! We also explored a gallery of Anna Battle, a local artist. Her artwork was beautiful! Next, we went to Allstar Gymnastics for a gymnastics session run by their coaches. The students had a blast!  

I look forward to continuing to support the students with their learning during our final term together!  

Here's a snapshot of what the Prep Ones enjoyed most about their excursion!  

Owen: I loved jumping in the foam pit! 

Charlotte: I had lots of fun on the monkey bars and pretending the floor is lava! 

Phoebe: I liked jumping in the foam pit. It was fun and I got stuck in the foam pit!  

Lochie: I loved gymnastics. It was fun doing a flip and I liked drawing too!  

Bailey:  I liked jumping in the foam pit! 

Adelyn: I loved swinging on the ropes and falling into the foam pit! 

Jasreen: I liked jumping in the foam pit and laughing! 

Max: My favourite part was when we jumped in the foam pit! 

Billy: I liked gymnastics because jumping in the foam pit was fun! 

Addison: I loved jumping on the trampoline at gymnastics and drawing! 

NJ: I loved Gymnastics. It was fun because I jumped in the foam pit and did a flip! 

Pippa: I loved gymnastics and jumping in the foam pit! 

Eliza: I liked gymnastics in the foam pit and drawing!  

George: My favourite part was doing handstands at gymnastics!  

William: I liked swinging on the ropes and the foam pit! 

Sophie: My favourite part was gymnastics because of the lava game, and I won! 

Thea: I loved swinging on the ropes into the foam pit! 

Logan: I loved jumping in the foam pit and doing a flip!  

Year 4 News - Mrs Fiona Drew

Last Tuesday, our Year 4 students visited the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Hermitage Research Facility in Warwick for the Awards Day and Ag Science Expo. Last term our students entered the Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition an annual competition open to all primary and secondary students from P-12 throughout Australia. Many weeks of research and hard work was spent to put together their entries. Thanks to Mrs Drew, Ms Bowdler, Mrs Ferguson and Mrs Dennis for their guidance and support to ensure these entries were ready on time!

The students had a wonderful day and enjoyed the tour of the facility, Scienceshow Ally and the Street Science show. We were even lucky enough to walk away with a number of prizes!

• 3rd place - Overall Class Category (across all year levels)
• Highly Commended - Art in AgRiculTure Class Award (across all year levels)
• Holly R - Highly Commended: Art in AgRiculTure Individual Award
• Lylah W & Charli H - Highly Commended: Plant Science Award

  
  

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Open Days

Piano Lessons with Mrs Ruth Shepherd

If you are interested in your child learning piano from a fully qualified teacher with 30 years of experience, contact Mrs Ruth Shepherd on 0427 910 303 for more information. 

It is essential that students have a piano/keyboard at home on which to do their practice.  Music is fun!

Sentral Parent Portal

Reminder to all parents to access the Parent Portal.

The Parent Portal is used for absentees, newsletters, parent teacher interview bookings, report cards, NAPLAN results, calendar of events, notices and letters to parents.

If you are having difficulty with the Parent Portal please contact the School Office for assistance. The Parent Portal is the communication method used for the day to day running of the school.

Flexischools - Online Ordering System

Flexischools is an online ordering system that the school uses for the ordering of Tuckshop, Event Catering and Special  Fundraising Food Days.

Tuckshop is open one day a week. Special Canteen days are also held sometimes throughtout the year. This is makes it easier for families and school staff.

Community News