Term 1, Week 9 - Edition 4 22.03.2022
Principal News
Dear Parents and Carers,
As this will be our final newsletter for the term, I wanted to offer a very sincere thank you for your continued support of the College. At events like the "New Families Evening", your support and connection to St Mary's is obvious and very welcome. Thank you for what you do for your sons and St Mary's, and we look forward to and pray that the rest of the year will be a little less disrupted compared to Term 1!
Strategic Planning for St Mary's College, Toowoomba
Many of you will be aware of the success of the College over the past 5 years. Part of the reasons for this has been the superb vision for St Mary's, documented in the current strategic plan, due to be finalised this year.
To that end, the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) have embarked on a new strategic vision for the school, with one of the products being the new strategic plan to be released at the start of 2023. To achieve this, we need your help! It is customary to consult with the community to achieve the best result for the plan as possible. In recent days, you have been sent an invitation in your emails. If you wish to be part of the process, please get in touch.
We look forward to working with you this year to achieve the best Strategic Plan possible for the next chapter of the life of St Mary's College.
Peace,
Mr Brendan Stewart, College Principal - principal@stmaryscollege.com
Reflection for Lent
(Adapted from St Theresa's Parish, Toowoomba)
Sometimes you hear Indigenous people refer to Jesus as a ‘person of country.’ What might this mean? It is hard to imagine the Gospels without the connection of Jesus to the sea, the river, the desert, the fields and the mountain. His teaching often featured seeds and birds and sheep and corn. In today’s Gospel, we hear the parable of the fig tree. The impatient person wants to cut it down. A wiser person is prepared to work with nature by putting manure on the tree and looking after it. This is a story of growth. God is creative. God is patient with us. God gives us another chance.
We have so much to learn from the depth and resilience of Australian Indigenous culture and spirituality, both of which are intimately linked to Country. This week, Project Compassion features the story of Janice, Wagilak woman from the Northern Territory. Janice, who lives in a remote community, is part of the Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, supported by Caritas Australia. Janice is among those overcoming many obstacles to keeping their culture strong. She does this through dance. She honours the generations who have come before her and taught their community how to respect the land and live in harmony with it. Our response to Project Compassion is providing practical support for the blossoming of Indigenous culture For All Future Generations.
God calls us all to be people of country. We pray for the work of Caritas Australia through Project Compassion. We pray also for greater respect for the environments. May we care deeply for the Earth that God has entrusted to our care. May we realise that we are on Holy Ground.
What's On - Week 10
Mr Stephen Monk, Deputy Principal - monks@stmaryscollege.com
Enrol for 2023
Library News
Mrs Gemma Tracy, Teacher Librarian - tracyg@stmaryscollege.com
2022 Next Step Survey
The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2021. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.
Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2022.
Further information on Next Step, including results from previous years, is available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.
Careers News
Contact the Careers Team
Please phone the College or email us at smc-careers@stmaryscollege.com to make an appointment (by phone, in person or Microsoft Teams). We’re more than happy to assist you and your son with any queries you may have in areas such as, school-based apprenticeships, work experience, TAFE and university applications, career decision-making or industry connections.
Mr Kris Glass, Career Development Practitioner glassk@stmaryscollege.com
Mr Paul Barber, Career Support Officer barberp@stmaryscollege.com
Ms Bronnie Littlewood, Career Support Officer littlewoodb@stmaryscollege.com
Anzac Day 2022
A Message from Qld Transport
A message from Queensland Transport. Thank you for your attention to this notice:
My name is Bridgette Singleton and I would like to introduce myself as the new Road Safety Officer for Toowoomba Region, replacing the lovely Di Burton who held this office for many years.
Since starting I have noticed an increase in incidences of parents parking in No Parking zones that are close or next to school crossings. This puts our School Crossing Supervisors and the children they are helping across the road at risk, as the Supervisors are unable to see incoming traffic as clearly. Could you please put a notice in your newsletters and/or Facebook page to remind parents of the importance of following the rules so that all children and Supervisors are safe on the roads? Your help is much appreciated in keeping our kids safe.
The Hub
Support is available to all students who require assistance with homework, assignments or reviewing current classwork. Support is available with Mr Roy in the Hub every morning before school from 7.00am and at both lunch breaks. Support will also be available after school on Thursday afternoons from 3.05pm until 4.00pm. If you would like further information, please contact Mr Dave Roy - royd@stmaryscollege.com
Additional Information & Resources
