Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost - what is often called the

birthday of the Church. Happy birthday to all! We also bring to

completion our celebration of the Paschal Mystery – the suffering,

death, resurrection, ascension and coming of the Spirit on Jesus’

disciples.

Many of us are familiar with the account given in the Acts of the Apostles, where the apostles are all gathered in one room at the time of the Jewish feast of Pentecost, which in the Jewish calendar traditionally falls 50 days after the Passover (or Easter in our Christian calendar).

What follows is a scene filled with scriptural symbols. First, there is the sound of a mighty wind from heaven filling the whole house. The word in Greek for ‘spirit’ and ‘wind’ is the same, so the wind clearly indicates the Spirit of God.

Then there appeared tongues of fire which rested on the head of each one present. Again we have a symbol of God’s presence. We remember Moses speaking to God out of the bush which was on fire. We remember that, as the Israelites wandered through the desert, they were accompanied during the night by a pillar of fire – God was with them. All present are then filled with the Spirit. The sign of this presence is their ability to speak in different languages.

And then Jesus gives the disciples their mission: “As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” Their mission is the same as His; they are to continue doing what he did. Then He breathes on them. Breath symbolises life. At Pentecost He breathes on his disciples and gives them a new life, making them a new creation, giving them the life of his Spirit, saying: “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

On this feast of Pentecost, as we celebrate the formation and the mission of the whole Christian community, we also need to reflect on the particular role that God has for me, to reflect on the particular contribution that I can make to the mission of the Church and of the particular groups with which I am involved.

Have a wonderful week. Sharon Young (For Margaret)

This Week

is Family

Week

** No Homework this week

** Spend quality family time

17th May 2018 Term 2 Week 5

St Mary’s School Warwick Newsletter

Important for next week:

Sunday, 20th May DD Tennis trials

FAMILY WEEK Monday, 21st May DD Tennis trials School Assembly Led by 1B – 2pm Tuesday, 22nd May DD Cross Country trials Friday, 25th May Yr 5 Parish Mass – 9am

163 Palmerin Street (PO Box 555) Warwick Qld 4370 Phone: 4661 1872 Fax: 4661 4809 Email: smwarwick@twb.catholic.edu.au

Website: http: //www.smwarwick.catholic.edu.au

At St Mary’s we will:

RE News Mother’s Day Thank You What a blessing is was for our students and staff this week to have so many beautiful

mothers, grandmothers and special ladies join us for our Mother’s Day morning. The

Prep students were delightful and we appreciate the time and effort that went into

preparing them for our liturgy. Thank you to all who were able to join us.

A big thank you also to the mothers who helped with the Mother’s Day Stall. There

were wonderful gifts and the students certainly enjoyed choosing something for

their special mum.

Sacrament of Confirmation 15th June 2018 Please say the following prayer for our Candidates

Holy Spirit Prayer Come, Holy Spirit.

Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and there will be a new creation;

and you will renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Family Mass – Saturday 26th May Please join us for the Parish's next Family Mass on Saturday 26th May at the 6:00pm Saturday Mass. This is a great community celebration with readings and songs chosen with children in mind. We are looking for families who would like to sing, share the readings, carry the offertory and welcomers. If you would like to do any of these ministries please contact Sharon Young at school or phone 0418 611 872.

Administration P&F Meeting The P&F Meeting has been postponed until next Thursday, 24th May. Our meetings are at 7pm in the Lower Library. You are all very welcome and encouraged to attend.

Walk Safely to School Day

Walk Safely to School Day will be held on Friday 18th May 2018. Parents are encouraged to walk their children to school or to the bus stop on that day. If parents drive their children, it is suggested that they leave the car a good distance from school and walk the rest of the way. More information can be found at walk.com.au.

Until a child turns ten years of age, he/she must always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road.

An Important note from Qld Health and Queensland Catholic Education Commission Schools have been requested by authorities to help prevent the flu spreading by: • promoting flu vaccination to staff and parents

• encouraging staff and children with flu-like symptoms to stay at home

• sending home staff and children who arrive with flu-like symptoms

• encouraging children, staff and visitors to cover coughs and sneezes having tissues and rubbish bins readily available and ensuring used tissues are disposed of immediately • ensuring children and staff wash their hands regularly

• cleaning their facility and resources regularly.

Spread fun not flu!

1. Flu is dangerous for everyone, but particularly for children.

2. Flu strains change each year

3. Flu spreads easily between people, particularly children

4. If you (or your child) are unwell, stay home until better

5. Remember it is not ‘just the flu’, it is a serious disease. Having an annual flu vaccine will help keep you,

your family and the community healthy this flu season.

In 2018, Queensland Health is offering free influenza vaccine to children aged 6 months to less than five

years.

We encourage all staff and parents/guardians to be informed, prepared and proactive as we enter this influenza season.

See https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-

infection/diseases/influenza/resources and https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/schools/influenza

Visit: http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/82/Influenza-The-Flu

Curriculum Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Parent Workshop

Next Thursday we have been invited to attend an

education session about Internet Safety & Cyberbullying at Assumption College (see

advertisement to the left).

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more from a leading expert, Brett Lee (sorry not the famous cricketer!!!) It will give us the opportunity to learn about keeping our children safe online and to learn strategies for when issues online arise. Thank you to Assumption College for the invitation.

The Two Pillars – The Strategic Vision for Toowoomba Catholic Schools and St Mary’s School Warwick

The symbol used by our director Dr Pat Coughlan to

explain what is important in our diocesan schools is that

of two pillars. This image of two upright, straight and

strong pillars gives us structure around which to build

our school’s mission. These pillars enable all staff to

engage in focussed conversations around what they teach and the way it is taught.

The first of the pillars that Dr. Pat mentions is; that schools are exemplary places of

learning where every student experience academic success. Being an exceptional teacher

encompasses many things but first and foremost, is passion. Teachers passionately bring a

love of learning to their classroom and naturally connect with their students. They inspire

students to learn but just as importantly keep learning and developing their own knowledge

and skills to ensure all students experience daily success in the classroom.

The second pillar is; that schools are exemplary places of spiritual life and Catholic faith

where every student comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus in their

lives. Each classroom teacher and staff member are therefore an important part of the lives

of the students at St. Mary’s. Through their actions and words, all staff lead students to see

the love of God and the love and actions of Jesus as underpinning everything they do.

Teachers, with this pillar in mind, intentionally model high expectations of how to treat

others and nurture in all students their own unique catholic identity.

The most common purpose of a pillar is to provide stability and strength therefore the

purpose of the two pillars of Catholic Education is to provide a strong foundation on which

to build an exceptional place of learning.

Library News Premiers Reading Challenge The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual statewide initiative for students at all schools in Queensland. St Mary’s School has participated in this challenge each year. Participation is OPTIONAL. The challenge is not a competition but aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read widely for pleasure and learning. For a student to successfully complete the challenge they must read or experience the allocated number of books for their year level during the reading period. Students who complete the challenge have their efforts recognised through the receipt of a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland. Reading forms are now available at either campus library. The challenge concludes in August.

Helen Gillam’s trip to the Philippines During the Easter holidays, Helen went over to the Philippines to assist with the setting up of a library in a small school on the island of Cebu in the city of Cordova. The school had about 70 students comprising of Prep and Year 1 students. The school’s name is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Integrated

School (OLSHIS). The school had no library at all. The Mini-Vinnies group here at St Mary’s held a fundraiser (an Easter Egg raffle) which raised $600. Helen took this money to the school to buy all the resources, books and library necessities to start a library. Items purchased included pens, pencils, sticky tape and dispenser, rulers, scissors, plastic for covering books, labels, fiction and non-fiction books. One of the major items purchased was a special chair for the teacher to sit on when reading books to the students when they visit the library. The chair was deliberately chosen to be “different” to highlight the “special-ness” of reading. A library aide, Ann, had been employed and she was trained in

manual library cataloguing and borrowing procedures. (There are no computers at the school). At the end of Helen’s time in the Philippines, 348 books had been catalogued for the students to borrow. Borrowing books will be a new experience for the students. Not all the money given by St Mary’s was used and so it was left at the school to pay the wages of Ann and for additional books as the school grows. OLSHIS was so grateful for the generosity of our St Mary’s School community and Helen was so very proud of our community which has helped another school to provide education to those in need.

THANK YOU TO ST MARY’S from Helen Gillam.

Sport Congratulations to the St Mary’s Development Cup team on their win yesterday afternoon. The team impressed spectators watching as the ball was passed along the back line and the encouragement they gave to each other. We will now head off to Toowoomba on the 6th June to compete against other regional winners. Broncos Cup – 8th June. A note will be sent our next week with further details.

DON’T FORGET: Library Book Returns and Borrowing Days Upper Campus: Wednesday

Lower Campus: Book Returns on Thursday. Borrowing on Friday.

Tuckshop News Roster Fri 18/5: Sandra Randall, Damien Young, Jenny McCray, Dave Carr Thurs 24/5: Chris Edmeades, Julie Malbon. Fri 25/5: Rebecca Mack, Fiona Ralph, Michelle Nolan, Melissa Owens.

Notices

We have a few items left behind after the Parish Disco on 27th April. If you are

missing something, please call into our School Office to collect them.