Newsletter Term 1 Week 8 2025

Principals Report - Mrs Janine Butlin

Principal’s Message

19th March 2025 

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others." - Cicero 

Happy St Joseph’s Day. St Joseph holds a special place in our school community. St Stephen’s School was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, an order established by Mary Mackillop and Fr Julian Tennison Woods in 1867. The first Sisters of Saint Joseph began their mission in Pittsworth in 1916, across the road on Weale Street, where the playground equipment now stands. The original school was named St Joseph’s. In 1958, a new school was built across the road and was named St Stephen’s School. 

Reflecting on my time as a student at St Stephen’s in a previous millennium, I feel immense gratitude for the education I received from the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Although the era of schools staffed by holy orders has passed, the values and lessons imparted by these dedicated sisters remain with me. 

Over the years, many remarkable staff and students have walked through the doors of our school, each becoming an integral part of the green and gold fabric of our history. Sadly, at the end of this term, we bid farewell to two exceptional members of our community: Anita McVeigh and Rachel Harlen. 

Anita joined our school in 2024 to teach drama. In a short time, she has instilled a passion for drama in our students. Last year, as I watched the classes present their poems to the community, I was delighted and entertained by every student. The 100% commitment from all our students is a testament to Anita’s ability to build strong relationships. Thank you, Anita! 

Rachel Harlen came to us from St Saviour’s Toowoomba in August last year, answering our call for an acting Middle Leader while Danielle Conway was on maternity leave. Rachel, thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone and joining our community to teach Year 6 and contribute to the leadership team. Your energy, dedication to developing units of work, guidance in teaching the Australian curriculum, and coordination of NAPLAN 2025 have been invaluable. Thank you, Rachel! 

We are also excited to share that our school will be working in partnership with the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office to embark on a journey to enhance our teaching and support systems through Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). MTSS is a framework that helps us provide the right level of support to every student, ensuring they succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Over the next three years, we will be partnering with Associate Professor Shiralee Poed and Madeleine Hopper from the University of Queensland to guide us in this important work. We look forward to working together to enhance the nurturing and effective learning environment we provide to all our students. 

"The root of joy is gratefulness... It is not joy that makes us grateful;  

it is gratitude that makes us joyful." - David Steindl-Rast 

God Bless 

Janine 

APMI Report - Mrs Fiona Drew

FAMILY MASS

Thank you to the families who joined the St Stephen’s parish for Family Mass on Sunday. It was lovely to see so many people there!

Please see the dates for our Family Masses for the remainder of the year:

Term Two – Sunday 25th May

Term Three – Sunday 31st August (Sacrament of Holy Communion will also be held this day)

Term Four – Sunday 26th October (Patronal Mass and Silver Circle Raffle)

CARITAS FUNDRAISER – Easter Raffle

During Lent, we try to live prayerfully, simply, and generously so that our relationship with God deepens. This is also a time to donate to Project Compassion, coordinated by a Catholic organisation called Caritas who help people around the world who are less fortunate than us. This year, the MacKillop Club will be running an Easter Raffle to raise money for Caritas. We are asking families to donate Easter items for the raffle prizes. This can include chocolates, baskets, stickers, etc. Tickets will be sold in Week 9 and 10, and they will be $1 each. The raffle will be drawn after the Easter Liturgy on Friday 4th April.

ST JOSEPH FEAST DAY MASS

Mackillop Club lead our St Joseph Feast Day Mass on Wednesday 19th March at St Stephen’s church. This day commemorates the life of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary. There is very little about the life of Joseph in the Gospels, but still, we know that he was married to Mary, the father of Jesus, a carpenter and a man who was not wealthy. We also know that he came from the royal lineage of King David. Saint Mary MacKillop’s order was named the Sisters of St Joseph and as they founded our school, St Joseph is a very important saint for us at St Stephen’s.

FEAST OF THE ANNUNICIATION

On 25th March we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, when he told her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As the first disciple of Christ, Mary shows us that we must listen to and do God’s will. Prayer and action therefore go hand in hand. As followers of Christ we are reminded to take the time to talk and listen to God and live our lives as Jesus did.

EASTER LITURGY

The Easter Liturgy will be held in MacKillop Hall at 9.30am on Friday 4th April. All parents are welcome to join us for this Liturgy.

Middle Leader Report - Mrs Rachel Harlen

Wow! How the year is flying by! I would like to take this opportunity to thank the parents, students and staff of the St Stephen’s community for welcoming me in my role as Acting Middle (Curriculum) Leader while Mrs Conway has been on maternity leave.  It has been a privilege to be part of this spectacular community.  With only three weeks left in the role, I hope that I have been able to make a positive impact, and I am so appreciative of the support I have received and the development of my leadership that I have been able to undertake. 

At the time of publication of this newsletter, you will be able to book a time to discuss the progress your child has made this term at the Term One Parent Teacher interviews.  This is an important opportunity for parents to discuss not only any concerns they may have but importantly to celebrate the amazing successes your child has experienced so far this year.  Please contact your child’s teacher or the office for any other questions regarding interview times. 

Parents of students in Years One to Six will notice changes to the Parent Teacher interview proformas.  These changes have been made to help streamline the interviews and ensure that there is time to focus on important matters.  One particular change is the addition of an Effort column.  This addition has been included to align with the wider Toowoomba Catholic Schools requirements and to add depth to the overall picture of your child’s progress.  The five point scale, A to E, is outlined below:

A to E effort scale definitions for Prep to Year 12

This five-point scale will also be used in our Term Two and Term Four report cards for 2025.  This scale differs from an Overall result scale in that it provides greater clarity and consistency around our St Stephen’s learners.  This scale represents change for parents, students and teachers but will allow our school community to identify areas of support needed both individually, and in our wider classrooms.  Specific supports and adjustments that your child receives in their learning will be discussed further with you during the Term One Parent Teacher interviews.  If you have any questions about this, please contact myself, Mrs Kristy Cameron (Learning Support) or Mrs Butlin (Principal). 

Learning Support News - Mrs Kristy Cameron

Healthy Hearing and Vision is essential 

Ensuring our students have healthy hearing and vision is essential for their academic success and overall well-being. At our school, we are committed to supporting the health of our students through regular screenings and awareness programs. Here’s why healthy hearing and vision are so important: 

1. Enhanced Learning: Clear hearing and vision are critical for understanding lessons, reading, and participating in classroom activities. Students with undetected hearing or vision issues may struggle to keep up with their peers. 

1. Early Detection: Regular screenings help identify any hearing or vision problems early on. Early detection allows for timely intervention, which can significantly improve a child's learning experience and quality of life. 

1. Improved Communication: Good hearing and vision are vital for effective communication. Students who can hear and see well are more likely to engage in discussions, ask questions, and interact confidently with their teachers and classmates. 

1. Safety and Well-being: Healthy hearing and vision contribute to a child's overall safety, both in and out of school. Being able to hear instructions and see clearly helps students navigate their environment safely. 

To support our students, we will be conducting hearing screenings of all Prep students in the coming weeks. Please ensure that you have completed your Prep screening consent form online.  We will also have a visiting audiologist at our school next term for other students who may be interested in having their hearing checked at a reduced cost. If you are concerned about your child’s hearing, please email me on: kristy.cameron@twb.catholic.edu.au and I will be in touch as soon as the audiologist date has been booked in. 

Free Prep vision screening will take place this Friday at school. All Prep parents have been encouraged to ensure their child participates in these screenings. If any issues are detected, we will provide guidance on the next steps to take. 

 Why some students need to move and fidget more than others? 

Some students benefit from movement during their learning time: 

1. Improved Focus and Attention: For many students, especially those with ADHD or other attention-related challenges, movement can help improve focus. Short breaks to move around can help them reset and return to their tasks with renewed concentration. 

1. Enhanced Learning: Physical activity stimulates brain function and can enhance learning. Activities like stretching, walking, or even fidgeting can help students process information better and retain what they have learned. 

1. Sensory Needs: Some students have sensory processing issues that make it difficult for them to sit still for long periods. Movement helps them manage sensory input and stay calm and focused. 

1. Physical Health: Regular movement is essential for physical health. Encouraging students to move helps prevent the negative effects of prolonged sitting, such as poor posture and decreased physical fitness. 

1. Emotional Regulation: Movement can also help students manage their emotions. Physical activity releases endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety or stress. 

At St Stephen’s School, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that supports the diverse needs of all our students. Allowing movement during class is one way we can help every student succeed.  

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students healthy and ready to learn! 

Happy Learning, 

Kristy Cameron 

Illegal Parking on Corners

Parents have been spotted parking in unsigned and illegal areas close to the corner of Murray and Weale Streets during drop offs and pickups. Queensland State Government sets rules about parking in their 'Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 2009'. In response to safety and community concerns, Council staff regulate parking on behalf of the State Government. 

Sport News - Mrs Jodie Ferguson

Sports News 2025

Inner Downs Trials  

There will be Inner Downs Trials held throughout the year. If you were born in 2015, 2014, or 2013 and are interested in attending any of the trials, please fill in the Representative Sports Nomination form 2025 which was emailed out to all eligible students. You can either return this form or email Mrs Ferguson at jodie.ferguson@twb.catholic.edu.au. When the nominations become available closer to the trial, Mrs Ferguson will send home the necessary paperwork. The medical/Permission Consent form needs to be filled in and returned to the school for Principal-approved absence. Then it is the responsibility of the child to take this paperwork and pay any fee required for trials prior to the due date. NO PAYMENT = NO TRIAL and NO FORM = NO TRIAL. Please keep your eye out in the school calendar newsletter and the calendar on the parent portal for nomination, trial dates, and further information.  

Note: These dates are subject to change. 

Darling Downs Swimming Team – Gabrielle Simpson 

Congratulations to Gabrielle Simpson who has been selected into the Darling Downs Swimming Team to compete at State Championships in Brisbane later this month. Gabrielle gained bronze in the 12 years 50m Breastroke. We at St. Stephen’s are very proud of your achievements.

Cross Country 

Date:  Wednesday 26th March 2025   

Start Time:     12.00pm (Years 3-6) 

            1.30pm (Years Prep-2) approx 

Location: St Stephen’s Weale Street Oval - Pittsworth 

Order of Events: Races to commence at 12.00pm. 

1. 12 yr olds (2013) - boys and girls (3km) – 6 laps  

1. 11 yr olds (2014) - boys and girls (3km) – 6 laps 

1. 10 yr olds (2015) - boys and girls (2 km) – 4 laps 

1. 9 yr old (2 016) - boys and girls (1.5 km) – 3 laps  

1. 8 yr old (2017) - boys and girls (1 km) – 2 laps  

1. 7 yr old (2018) - boys and girls (800m) – start is marked 

1. 6 yr old (2019) - boys and girls (600m) – start is marked 

1. 5 yr old (2020) - boys and girls (400m) – start is marked 

1. Presentation at 2.50 pm approx 

Year 4 T-Ball Gala Day – Tuesday 1st April  

The year 4 students will be attending a Catholic Schools Gala Day in Toowoomba at Kearney Springs on Tuesday the 1st April. Mrs Drew and Mrs Buckley will be attending with the students. More information will be emailed shortly.  

  Darling Downs Netball Trials - Tuesday 1st April 

Congratulations to our newest Inner Downs Representatives Isla Fitzpatrick Yr.6 and Sophia Sutton Yr.4 who on Monday this week, gained selection into the Inner Downs Under 11’s Netball team. The girls will attend the Darling Downs Trials on the 1st of April. We wish them all the best!

  Inner Downs Rugby League Trials

On Tuesday afternoon this week, we had a number of boys demonstrate their league skills at the Inner Downs Rugby League Under 11's trials.  The boys displayed some fantastic skills with George Cherry, Sam Clarke, Carter Laine, and Ryan Suell all successful in being selected to participate in the Bunya League Trials. Good luck on the 3rd of April boys in the next round of selections for the Darling Downs team.

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  

Congratulations Gabrielle

Prep News - Miss Lucy Norman

Our Prep students have been busy settling into their classroom routines with a sense of curiosity and eagerness. From mastering the morning jobs to diving into our UFLI Phonics lesson, their progress has been steady and encouraging.

Learning is not just about books and numbers—it's about having fun, too! We've been mixing educational activities with plenty of play, story’s, show art, and reading eggs. One of the highlights has been our buddy program with the Year 6 students, forming special bonds and enjoying being together, playing games, and learning from each other. Last but certainly not least, our excursion to Toowoomba for The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show was an absolute hit! The students were mesmerized by the colourful puppets and captivating storytelling.

We’re so proud of our Preppies and can’t wait to see what other exciting adventures this year has in store for us. Thank you for your continued support!

Miss Norman & Mrs Chappell

Prep Fun

Prep / Yr 1 News - Mrs Brittany Robinson

Hello from Prep/One!

Wow! What an exciting start to the year we have had getting to know each other. The first few weeks have been a busy time for our new preppies getting to know regular routines and expectations within the learning and play environments at St Stephen’s. The Prep students have done an amazing job at adapting to school life and have been managing a busy five-day week well. The Year One students have also done an amazing job at adjusting to a more formal school setting and have been fabulous role models for our preppies.

Below is a snapshot of some things that have been happening in Prep/One.

We had a blast at our excursion to Toowoomba. We watched The Hungry Caterpillar at the Empire Theatre and finished our day off with a park play at Queens Park.

The Prep and Year One students have been enjoying their daily UFLI phonics lessons. This has lots of hands-on opportunities for the children to read and write the focus sound/concept. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence improve within these lessons.

In maths, the Preps have been learning numbers to 10, while the Year One students have been learning numbers up to 100. The students have engaged in a variety of maths lessons and group work focusing on counting and place value.

The students are about to start learning the Easter story in Religion. We have started to get our hearts ready for Easter during Lent. We have discussed Lent and ways we can live our lives like Jesus (include our friends, forgive people, be thankful, be loving, share kindness). Please come check out our writing on the window when you have a chance!

Thank-you,

Brittany Robinson

Year 1 / 2 News - Miss Sophie Shelton

Hello from Year 1 and 2!

We are nearing the end of a very busy term. We have had lots of fun settling in to Year 1 and 2, and are beginning to get into the Easter Spirit.

Below is a snapshot of what we have been up to:

In English we have been learning about the structure and features of narratives. We explored different text types, how vocabulary is used to make a story more exciting, along with using dialogue between characters! After learning all about narratives, we then wrote our very own story about Bev the giraffe and Kev the bird! In Maths, we have been learning all about numbers! Year 1 have been learning to count up to 120, and Year 2 have been learning to count all the way to 1000. We have begun to focus on partitioning our numbers (breaking them up into groups), as well as patterns!

In Religion, we have been learning about how we live in Relationships with God, with each other, and with Creation. We have been learning how God teaches us to forgive and have positive relationships with the people around us.

Wishing you all a great end of term!

Sophie Shelton

Year 2 News - Miss Jacqueline Klaassen

It has been all systems go in Year 2! We have had an exciting term so far, including having a session of Auskick and visiting the Empire Theatre to watch The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  

In English, we have been working on our writing through the use of our mentor text Bev and Kev. Students created puppets and planned a puppet show retell of the book. Needless to say, these were incredibly entertaining. Students also adapted the story to make their own version of the text and published their writing into a mini handwritten and hand illustrated book. We have now started our next unit, which is based around the book, Can You Teach a Fish to Climb a Tree? In addition to this, we have been working on our handwriting and learning how to write between the lines using our Year 2 books. This has been a bit of a challenge for some of us!  

In Maths, we have spent a lot of time on numbers and are now currently working on learning about a variety of addition facts. 

Last week, we finalised our HASS unit for the term which was focused on changing technologies. The Year 2 students seemed to really enjoy exploring old vs new technologies and had many discussions around how a variety of items have changed over time and why, including fridges, mobile phones and forms of payment.  

In Religion, we have been focusing on relationships and the things we can do to help encourage a positive relationship with others. We have read and listened to the stories of The Unforgiving Servant and will be looking at Zaccheus and The Good Samaritan next.  

In Health, we have been learning about showing respect, acts of kindness, and how to keep our bodies calm when we might feel angry.  

In Technology, we have been learning about the difference between software and hardware and have more recently been learning about peripheral devices.  

It has been a busy, yet very fun term! I look forward to more learning, fun and laughs throughout the year and I thank you for your assistance and support so far.  

Kind regards, 

Jackie Klaassen 

Year 3 News - Mrs Fiona Drew

Year 3 Class Highlights for Term 1

This term has been an exciting and productive one for our Year 3 class! The students have shown wonderful growth and enthusiasm in all their activities. Here are some of the highlights:

Literacy and Numeracy: Our Year 3 students have been diving deep into reading, comprehension and writing. They have explored narrative and persuasive genres and had lots of opportunities to look at the difference in these structures and write their own pieces.  In numeracy, the focus has been on numbers to 10 000 and recognising the connection between addition and subtraction. We are also working on our rolling numbers in 3,4,5 and 10 to help us with our multiplication and division facts. We were also very proud of the efforts of our students completing the four NAPLAN tests over the last few weeks.

Science: The class have loved learning about living and non-living things, looking at lifecycles of animals and comparing the similarities and differences.

Art: Creativity flourished as students completed their show art with the theme ‘Under the Sea’. The students did a beautiful job of drawing their sunrise and ocean and then painting using the watercolours. They then drew a whale tail to paint and add to their work. These looked so good at the Pittsworth Show!

Overall, it has been a fantastic term filled with learning, creativity, and fun. We are incredibly proud of our Year 3 students and look forward to more exciting adventures next term!

Year 4 News - Miss Tanya Hearne

We've had a fantastic start to the term in Year 4, taking the time to get to know each other and settling into our new routines. It's hard to believe how quickly this term has flown by—we’ve certainly been busy!

In Maths, students have been exploring various strategies to support calculations in addition, subtraction, and multiplication. We've worked with place value charts, area models, and algorithms, all of which have helped strengthen our understanding. The enthusiasm and determination students have shown in Maths has been impressive, and they particularly enjoy using Mathletics to reinforce their learning.

In English, students have focused on identifying and creating texts using both subjective and objective language. They then applied this new knowledge by collaborating in groups to create and present slides about an animal’s diet, appearance, habitat, and migration. This also ties in with our HASS unit, where we explored the significance of vegetation and biomes. Our Science unit has further supported this learning, as we’ve studied the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers within biomes. To bring our learning to life, the children enthusiastically participated in a hands-on science experiment, where we monitored the rate at which a cucumber decomposed in both sand and soil.

Looking forward to an exciting year ahead!

Tanya Hearne.

Year 5 News - Mr Benjamin Minnikin

Term One in Year 5 has been a fantastic start to the school year, with students demonstrating enthusiasm and engagement across all subjects, particularly in Science, where they have been exploring and experimenting to see how animal and plant adaptations help living things survive in different environments. In HASS, students have been diving into Australia’s past, gaining insights into life in the 1800s. 

In Mathematics, students have been refining their fraction skills, building confidence in adding and subtracting fractions. Meanwhile, in English, they have been developing their creativity as future authors, crafting engaging narratives. In Religion, students have been deepening their understanding of the Eucharist and its significance in strengthening our faith community. 

It was impressive to see the wonderful work students entered into the Pittsworth Show’s writing, art, and handwriting competitions! Their creativity and effort were evident in each piece, and it was fantastic to see their talents on display in the community. 

In these last two weeks, the students have been diligently applying themselves to their NAPLAN testing. Their hard work and perseverance have been evident, and they should be very proud of their efforts! With the holidays fast approaching, they will certainly deserve a well-earned break to rest and recharge for another action-packed term! 

Ben Minnikin

Year 6 News - Mrs Rachel Harlen

Term 1, 2025 has been a wonderful start to the Year Six students’ final year of Primary School.  Mrs Bingham and I have been impressed at the dedicated and determined way the students have taken on their leadership roles.  All students have been active in ensuring that responsibilities are completed, and that positive examples of leadership are being demonstrated for the wider St Stephen’s student community. 

Our St Stephen’s Prep and Year Six buddy program is vital because it provides social, emotional, and leadership benefits for both younger and older students.  For Prep students, having a Year Six buddy helps them feel welcomed and secure as they transition into school. Their buddy provides a familiar face in the playground, supports their social development, and helps them build confidence in a new environment.

For Year Six students, the program fosters leadership, responsibility, and empathy. Students learn to be role models, develop communication skills, and build connections across different age groups. Our program contributes to a positive school culture, helping to create a sense of community and belonging across year levels.  It helps to prepare Year Six students for the transition to high school by developing their leadership and interpersonal skills.  This program also reinforces our St Stephen’s school values of Love, Service and Respect. For the first few weeks of this term, students spent time mixing with different buddies and last week was the official announcement of our ‘formal’ Prep Buddies.  The Year Six students are eagerly anticipating the rest of the year with their Buddies!

On another note, I want to thank each and every one of the Year Six students for their open acceptance and willingness to form positive, reciprocal relationships with Mrs Bingham and I.  With only three weeks left of my Secondment here at St Stephen’s Primary – I will certainly miss this AMAZING group of Year Six leaders.  Thank you for being an AWESOME class! Ms Harlen

School Photos - all students to wear formal uniform

EASTER EGG RAFFLE

Principal's Tours

Prep Enrolments 2026

Public Holiday

Drama Festival Finals

Library News - Mrs Kellie Craft

Music & Indonesian News - Mrs Suellen Dennis

Footsteps Dance Lessons

Dear Parents,

Next term, (Monday 28^th April, Tuesday 29^th April and Wednesday 30^th April), the Footsteps Dance Company will be coming to St Stephen’s to teach a number of dances to the students across the school.

This year, the theme will be Dancing Through the Ages, and each class will learn a dance from a different decade, ranging from the 1950s through to 2020s.

On Wednesday 30^th April at 6:00pm, there will be a concert in the sports hall, showcasing the dances that the children have learnt throughout the week. Performance is an integral element of the dance curriculum. Children will be assessed on their dance skills and performance over the three days.

To enhance the performance, the following are some suggestions for some simple costume ideas.

A reminder that these lessons are being paid for through the incursion/excursion levy.

We are looking forward to Footsteps being a part of St Stephen’s for a few days and providing quality dance lessons for our students.

Take care,

Suellen Dennis

Costume Ideas

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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!

PEN (Parent Engagement Network) News

Outside Hours School Care News

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 on a Thursday. Special Canteen days are also held sometimes throughout the year. This makes it easier for families and school staff.

Community News

Ursie girl for a day !