Term 2 Week 3 10 May 2011 Dear Parents and Caregivers Well, at last, we managed to get a school event completed without postponement due to rain or soggy grounds!

Thankfully, last Thursday and Friday were beautiful, sunny days and, although the grounds were still quite waterlogged, all races were run and all field events finalised, with the following results and age champions announced at a school assembly on Friday afternoon:

House Champions - Munnum

Age Champions: Year 3 Boys - Jake Edgar Year 3 Girls - Prue Rezes Year 4 Boys - Carter Michael Year 4 Girls - Holly Nicholls 10 Years Boys - Josh Fuller 10 Years Girls - Cartia Thompson 11 Years Boys - Lachlan Shields 11 Years Girls - Taniah Meyers 12 Years Boys - Debela Savimaki 12 Years Girls - Olivia Lanskey 13 Years Boys - Sam Mason & Tye Hayes 13 Years Girls - Chloe Travers

Congratulations to every single student who competed, with very special mention to our preps and Year 1’s who scooted down the track with wide smiles and no concern at all for their placing; they were just happy to run and receive their sticker at the end. Some, of course, took very interesting routes to the finish line, often via the lanes of many other runners. Rather than 60 metres, I’m sure they ran closer to 80!

Good sportsmanship was displayed by all and the Maroochy High grounds were left immaculately. Well done everyone. And, of course, a very special thank you to Gerard Fleglar for his meticulous preparation and thoughtful organisation which allowed for the smooth running and subsequent success of the event. Your skills on the field and in the kitchen are appreciated Gerard!

Fast ForWord Has Started This ground-breaking program is now underway with 30 students from Years 2 to 7 getting off to flying starts. All parents with participating students should now have received the student timetables which were sent home Monday of last week. For those who haven’t had the opportunity to attend parent meetings,

Fast ForWord is an Individualized

Adaptive Scientifically developed and researched

Brain training programme Designed to build students’ learning capacity.

Fast ForWord trains the key cognitive skills of memory, attention, processing and sequencing and is suitable for all students, having proven particularly beneficial to under-performing students and those with reading difficulties, ADD/ADHD and Autism/Aspergers. Advanced students and ESL students also benefit.

The programme is based on over 30 years of brain research and has been developed by the world’s leading neuroscientists, speech pathologists and psychologists.

Fast ForWord is a five-day a week individualized programme delivered via computer over a 12 to 24 week period. We are running five, 50 minute sessions per day with six students in each session. A number of staff members have received training in the program with Allison Brown working closely with the students each day.

If anyone can remember the ice-cream graphic we used to describe our approach to supporting student learning at Stella Maris, Fast ForWord lies at the tip of that cone in the Significant Intervention section which is supported by the two layers above, namely classroom and whole school support. We look forward to providing you with feedback on the programme at its completion later in the year.

Enrolment for Prep 2012 If you are yet to get your application in for a student starting Prep next year, please do so as a matter of urgency as applications already exceed 100. We would not want an existing family to miss out.

A reminder that interviews for families with a student already enrolled at Stella Maris are not compulsory unless the student has a special need of some description or there is other important information necessary to successful transition to school by the student.

Interviews are now underway; just ring the office to book your time if necessary. Of course if you simply would like an interview or you are concerned about readiness, then we are more than happy to meet with you and your child.

Please note that we will hold a Prep Parents’ Enrolment Morning Tea on Monday 20 June at 9.15 am at which time you can meet other parents with a student starting next year. The Year 7 students will also provide school tours for new families and those existing families who are also interested in a tour from a student perspective.

Have a great week everyone. �������

Due to NAPLAN Testing there will be NO Assembly this Thursday.

Dear Parents/Caregivers, The Virtue of this fortnight, LOVE, was chosen with the Easter story in mind – the greatest love story ever told. It tells of the kind of love which

can forgive even whilst in the midst of great pain; a love which enables us to make decisions for the benefit of all; a love to which we are called:

Love is patient; love is kind… It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,

endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7).

We are loved Love is at the centre of our being. It is the vital force that gives us energy and direction. It connects one heart with another and is the attraction and affection for a person, a place, an idea, or even for life itself. Love is cherishing others, treating them with tenderness. It thrives on acceptance and appreciation, having the power to heal, calling us to continually hone ourselves, while releasing the need to control or make someone in our image. Nurtured by commitment and seasoned by kindness, Love is our greatest gift.

How do I practise Love? Love is putting myself in someone else’s shoes and caring about what they feel. It is accepting them, loving them just as they are. I can even be loving to people I don’t know, just by caring about what happens to them and sending loving thoughts. Sharing is a way to show love, sharing my belongings, my time and myself. Love is thinking about how I want to be treated and treating others the same way. The practice of Love involves:

Allowing myself to connect deeply; Committing myself wholeheartedly; Showing Love through acts of kindness; Accepting and appreciating the ones I love; Doing the work on myself that love requires; and Cherishing the loves of my life.

(Adapted from “The Virtues Project – Virtues Reflection Cards”) What happens when things go wrong in my life

and I can’t bear the pain? The following is an extract from ‘Jesus Calling’ based on scripture (Exodus33:14; Deuteronomy 33:25; Hebrews:13-20-21; Psalm 29:11):

Walk peacefully with me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you. You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time. Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step. The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me. …When you don’t know what to do, wait while I open the way before you. Trust that I know what I am doing, and be ready to follow my Lead. I will give you strength and I will bless you with Peace.

God bless, ������.

• Trivia Night 21st May @ 7pm flyer coming home today. • All entertainment books/money is now

overdue! • P&F meeting tonight 10th May @ 6pm in Staffroom everyone

welcome.

There are still a few Stall Conveners needed. If you are interested please contact Michelle on 0411 178 411 ASAP. Are you interested in Fair Sponsorship. A great way to get your name out there. Please contact Michelle on 0411 178 411 ASAP. Please contact Andrew if you wish to help in any way. sim.andrew@bigpond.com your help will be so greatly

appreciated.

Sunday Aug 7 2011

Notice No: 02

Would You like to Join the Stella Maris “TravelSmart” Committee

Would you like to discuss ways to - · Reduce school traffic congestion; · Increase health and physical activity levels of students; · Improve road safety for all school families; · Influence your school culture; and · Help protect the environment?

Stella Maris will be starting a TravelSmart project to reduce the number of cars and congestion around the school during the peak times of morning and afternoon. To do this, we will need people to help with planning activities and assisting the school coordinator run the project. For more information, please send in a note, addressed to Mr Grogan, to express your interest in being involved. The first Committee meeting is scheduled for Friday 27th May at 11.45am in the Hall.

HELP THE ORPHANS OF CAMBODIA Food for the Soul Cambodian Cookbook is a project to raise funds to help 65 children living in an orphanage in Siam Reap, Cambodia. Local Sunshine Coast publisher Michael Kramer, plus local designers, and photographers from Austra-lia and Italy, have freely given their time to produce a beautiful 148-page cookbook. 100% of the proceeds from the purchase of the cookbook will be transferred direct to the orphanage, so every purchase will make a difference. A sample of the cookbook will displayed in the office. If you would like to make a pur-chase, please email or phone Karen Teljega at kaz.mt@optusnet.com.au or 0403 313 988. Cost is $20.

Sunshine Plaza is once again holding their Shop for Kids program, where receipts for purchases from Sunshine Plaza stores are converted to points for a

nominated school.

Stella Maris has been lucky enough to secure a place in this competition and we are asking all parents/families/friends to consider nominating Stella Maris School during this time – Monday16th May to Thursday 23rd June, 2011.

Receipts for purchases need to be lodged at the Customer Service Centre along with a registration form. Please help benefit the school by registering your receipts and nominating Stella Maris School any time purchases are made from Sunshine Plaza during this competition.

May 9 - 12 Book Fair May 10 P&F Meeting 6.15pm in Staffroom Tuckshop Mum’s Afternoon Tea May 10 - 12 NAPLAN Yr 3,5 & 7 Testing May 16 Catholic Cup - Girls Netball May 21 Trivia Night @ School 7pm May 24 Coastal Districts Athletics Carnival May 26 Reconciliation Day Assembly June 8 HALL BLESSING and OPENING June 13 Queen’s Birthday Holiday June 17 Nambour Show Holiday June 24 Last Day of Term 2 July 11 Pupil Free Day

MUSIC NOTES Mothers Day Stall - We hope you all enjoyed you

special day and your special gift for the Mother’s Day stall. A very special thanks to co-ordinator, Mrs Leanne Dowe assisted by Mrs Deb Strazzari & Mrs Loretta Martin with their

children Ricky Yr 5, David Yr 7 & Sarah Yr 3 and supported by our Friends of Music.

Speech Choir - Thanks to all those who have expressed an interest in being in 2011 Speech Choir. This year we have it separate to SM Singers. Rehearsals commence this week – Tuesday at lunchtime in the music room. Speech choir is similar to a singing choir, however, the text is more spoken, acted and dramatised as opposed to being sung. The commitment will be to attend all rehearsals, learn the chosen texts and then perform these items with the group at the Sunshine Coast Junior Eisteddfod (which is early in August). The school organises getting the students to and from this event and there is no additional charge to be involved. Student will get a commitment letter this week.

Musica Viva - Stella Music was very pleased to host music teachers from around the region and this year’s talented Music Viva performers called “Makukuhan” last Thursday evening. We received lots of lovely comments about our music room and the program. We will all participate in the concert in July.

The Wiz - On the weekend, Siena College presented their fabulous musical “the Wiz” – a pop version of The Wizard of Oz”. Congratulations to all those past & present students and staff of Siena who performed. It was pleasing to see so many past Stella Maris students shining on stage, backstage and in the pit.

Date claimer - the Concert Band will be performing at Sunshine Plaza as part of MUSICFEST on Sunday 29 May. Please come along and support these students.

Good luck to all students who are involved in Music Examinations in coming weeks.

Music in the Community - Songs @ Sunset is an outdoor family concert being held Strawberry Fields in Palmview on Saturday 4 June from 4pm. Many of our Instrumental Tutors will be featured in addition to the choral groups from Siena College and Primary School. Tickets are available from the office at Siena, or by emailing Mr Wynyard for an order form.

Jacinta Lanskey - Music Specialist - jalanskey@bne.catholic.edu.au Todd Wynyard - Instrumental Music Co-ord - twynyard@bne.catholic.edu.au

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Book Fair This week Monday 9 May - Thursday 12 May

8.00am - 4.00pm In the Library

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CHOCOLATE CAKE, MUFFIN, PIKELET MIXES & APPLES

Week 3 Ending 13/05/2011 A Corboy, J Ellery, T Di Pietra, M Champron, T Northey, L Wiseman, F Coombes, K Sullivan, R Miller, V Flower, M Austin, T Maas, S Seignior, S Murray, E Peters, S McGahan, K Elder,

Wed 11/05 Thurs 12/05 Fri 13/05 Mon 16/05 Tues 17/05

S Pentland S Parker C Monteith

L McClure K Loe J Fuller

H Cruise C Mayfield

M Wyatt H Person

Thank you to: Ellie Hardner, Tim Scanlon, Alexi Champion, Thomas Ryan,

Zac Ryan, Ashton O’Keefe-Teed, Kirra Deighton, Summer Crabb. Congratulations to the following people who have been selected for Sunshine Coast Regional

Teams and will be competing in State Championships: Connor McCann - Hockey - Mackay - June;

Jai Larkins - Basketball - Gold Coast - June; Piper Tenquist - Runaway Bay - June.

We wish you all the best!

Congratulations to Enya McNabb who placed 1st in Uptemp Modern and 3rd in Classical Ballet and to Imogen Witt who received Highly

Commended for both Uptemp Modern and Classical Ballet at the Dance Eisteddfod.

What an inspiring effort Girls!

TENNIS NEWS MOOLOOLABA TENNIS CLUB Children of all ages and their parents are invited to a FREE Family Fun Day at the Mooloolaba Tennis Club on Sun-day 15th May from 3pm till 5.30pm. Racquets and Ball machine available for use on the day. Free Sausage Sizzle. Courts at Lady Musgrove Drive, Mountain Creek. (next to Moun-tain Creek High School) Information 5444 0033

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���� ��� Semester 1, 2011, online applications for the

the Students with Disabilities Scheme will be accepted

To lodge an online application for this program, go to:

www.schooltransport.com.au Further enquiries to: 3336 9192 or

schooltransport@qcec.catholic.edu.au Applications received after 31st May 2011

Sushi is now available at the Tuckshop. 2 varieties only Tuna/California Rolls.

$2.40

Christine Craig (Guidance Counsellor) email:ccraig@bne.catholic.edu.au

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is an umbrella term that refers to an unexplained difficulty in learning to read and spell. Reading experts once believed that reading, spelling and some writing problems resulted from a difficulty in recognising letters. However, using brain imaging technology known as MRIs, neuroscientists have shown that the same areas of the brain involved in oral language and comprehension are in fact involved in reading. Dr Burns, Associate Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University, put this eloquently when she said “…As far as the brain is concerned, reading is language, so if a child’s language abilities can be improved, they’ll find it easier to learn to read…” So today it is understood that rather than being a primarily visual task as once thought, reading is principally an auditory task. If your child has a language difficulty then that must be addressed through Speech Therapy to work on literacy difficulties. In addition if we look at the auditory (listening) environment children are exposed to there is often very little training to listen involved: if you can’t hear something make it louder, if it’s quiet make a noise, let’s have competing noises wherever we go and if all else fails let’s use earphones to block out all natural sounds. Conversations reduced to as few words as possible, films with more action than dialogue and limited time spent on talking and listening all combine to make it harder for children who have auditory weaknesses. Dyslexia is not a disease, it is not caught, and it is not a life sentence. It is an area of difficulty which can be overcome with patience and adjustment. Exposure to good oral language is available through interaction with others, listening to quality audio books and practice. Challenging, yes, but impossible, no!