Principal's Message

Dear Families of Our Lady Star of the Sea,

The last two weeks have been filled with such a wonderful sense of joy and community here at Our Lady Star of the Sea, and I write to you with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for the incredible support you have shown for our recent school events.

What a spectacular Book Week parade we had! It was a joyous explosion of colour and creativity, and we were so blessed with beautiful weather for our celebration. Seeing the students and staff embrace their favourite literary characters with such enthusiasm was a powerful reminder of the fun and adventure that books bring into our lives. Thank you to all our families for your support in preparing the amazing costumes. The students had a fantastic week with books and reading front and centre.

We were also overwhelmed by the amazing attendance at our combined Grandparents Day and Newman Symposium. It was truly special to have so many cherished family members on campus, filling our school with warmth and love. For those who were there, and for those who couldn't make it, I wanted to share a summary of the welcome I gave on the day.

Good morning everyone, and a very warm welcome to students, staff, parents, and our most honoured guests. 

My name is Mrs Maria Rose, I am the principal here at Our Lady Star of the Sea. I am also the grandmother of my little Grandson - Henry. I look forward to sharing these special occasions with him in the future.

It is with immense joy that we gather today to celebrate two wonderful occasions: our annual Newman Symposium and our much-loved Grandparents Day.

To all our grandparents and special friends, a particularly heartfelt welcome. Your presence enriches our community beyond measure. You are the foundation of our families, the keepers of stories, and the source of unconditional love and wisdom. We are so delighted to have you with us.

Today is also a day of deep inquiry as we hold our Newman Symposium, inspired by Saint John Henry Newman. He believed education was not just about filling minds with facts, but about forming the whole person – intellectually, morally, and spiritually.

How wonderfully fitting it is that these two events coincide. Saint John Henry Newman’s famous motto was Cor ad Cor Loquitur – "Heart speaks unto heart." We see this lived out in the heartfelt connection between grandparents and their grandchildren, and in our symposium's goal of encouraging sincere, open-hearted dialogue. Today is a celebration of wisdom in all its forms – the wisdom of experience you share, and the emerging wisdom we nurture in our students.

Events like these are only possible with the dedication of many people. A very big thank you to Miss Natalie Burland, our Leader of Learning (Newman), for her brilliant organisation of the symposium. My gratitude also extends to all our staff for their hard work in preparing beautiful classroom displays and student presentations that showcased the incredible gifts and talents of our children.

Finally, I would like to express our deepest thanks to the family of Tate in Year 3. Over the past few weeks, they have generously designed, built, and painted new playground equipment for our school. This incredible donation is something our students will treasure for years to come, and we are so grateful for their time, effort, and community spirit. Also giving up a sunny Saturday. Thank you!

It is your support and involvement that make Our Lady Star of the Sea such a special place.

God Bless,

Mrs Maria Rose

Principal  

'Our love is not just words but something real and active'. Jn 3:18