Principal's Address

Dear Families,

Reports

Semester One Reports were emailed home yesterday and staff look forward to discussing them with families on Thursday July 16. Students can be collected from 1pm and taken home. For those unable to be collected, appropriate supervision will be provided at school until 3:15pm. Please refer to nForma for communication sent on June 10 for more information about the reports and how to make a booking for the conference.

Discussing Reports with Your Child

At Stella Maris, we encourage parents to review school reports alongside their children in a supportive manner. This is a valuable opportunity to celebrate their achievements and collaboratively identify future learning goals.

When discussing the report with your child, we suggest the following approach:

• Commence with Positives: Begin by asking your child what they are most proud of or what they feel they have accomplished throughout the semester.
• Emphasise Effort: Recognise the persistence your child has applied to their learning, highlighting their effort. 
• Focus on Individual Achievement: Every student’s learning journey is unique. We recommend focusing purely on your child’s personal milestones and avoiding comparisons with siblings or peers.
• Maintain a Growth Mindset: If there are areas requiring further development, discuss them calmly. Frame these as opportunities for future growth rather than problems.
• Conclude with Encouragement: Reaffirm your child’s strengths to ensure they feel confident and motivated as they move into the next term.

Podcast

From the previous newsletter, we began a podcast organised by our students. Today you can access Episode Two with students discussing Sport, Chess Club and the Kitchen Garden. I hope you enjoy hearing from our students as much as I did.

Empowering Students through Safety & Sexuality Education 

We've booked in the dates and times for our Family Life sessions in Term 3. There will be a Parent Information Zoom session run in the first three weeks of Term 3, as well as a consent form to complete. We are partnering with Sex Ed 4 Schools, led by veteran educator Cath McCallig, which provides age-appropriate, respectful and curriculum-aligned programs that bridge the gap between school and home. 

The sessions are:

• Curriculum Aligned: Content follows the Department of Education’s “Catching On Early” guidelines and supports Victorian Child Safe Standards. 
• Family-Centred: Programs encourage meaningful dialogue between students and their parents/carers. 

Our Years 3/4/5/6 students will undertake 3 x 50 minute sessions held over three Thursdays in August for Sexuality Education - for our Year 3/4 students, these sessions will focus on families, bodies, and bodily autonomy (consent). For our Year 5/6 students, these sessions will focus on puberty, physical/emotional changes, and reproduction.

Our Prep/1/2 students will take part in a 1 hour Feeling Safe Protective Behaviours session, which will focus on using 'Protective Behaviours Australia' guidelines, and students learn skills to prevent abuse, understand consent and build the confidence to seek help.

School Advisory Council

Last Tuesday we came together for our first School Advisory Council meeting, marking an exciting beginning as we start this journey together. During the meeting, we covered the logistics, goals and intentions for our work moving forward, and discussed how we can collaborate to help build a bright future for Stella Maris.

Reflecting on the history of the school, it was wonderful to have some council members whose connection with Stella Maris spans many years, a demonstration of the strong commitment we all share in ensuring Stella Maris continues to thrive.

We feel incredibly honoured to be part of this team and look forward to working alongside our school community to support meaningful improvements that will positively impact our children and the school.

Thankyou to the following members of the School Advisory Council: Simon Millar, Peggy McDonald, Ben Hamilton, Jen Willian, Cassandra Piacentini, Liz Bradley (Secretary), Angela Palombi, Ben Fitzpatrick, Clara Vernengo & Dale Seymour (apology) & Fr Justin (apology).

Student Voice

Over the previous weeks the Student Representative Council has been asking for designs for a new kitchen garden. We received 36 outstanding designs from our students. On Wednesday, students were invited to vote on their top designs. These have been forwarded to our landscape designer. The students selected were: Alex M, Bay R & Zac B. We thank every student for their interest and to Mrs Palombi who facilitates the SRC meetings. We also thank our Parents and Friends who are saving funds for the kitchen garden to be designed and built.

Newsletter

Please note that our last two newsletters and future additions will be accessible from our school website with all current photo permissions being observed. As previously mentioned, 95-98% of school provide public access as a promotional tool to help attract prospective families.

Inform & Empower Cyber Safety & Digital Wellbeing program

Commencing in Term 3, our school will be participating in the Inform & Empower Cyber Safety & Digital Wellbeing program. 

Students will participate in termly live-streamed incursions that focus on topics such as:

• Digital Literacy
• Healthy Digital Habits
• Critical Thinking
• Cyberbullying
• Online Security
• Upstanders
• Help-seeking
• Consent
• Artificial Intelligence

Parent Support

Parents and carers will be given resources to support conversations with your children at home. Information will be sent home each term that outlines what your child learned about in class and how you might open up important conversations.

In addition to this, we will also be arranging a Parent Webinar in Term 3 (date TBC). Marty, (expert educator) and Carley (experienced psychologist) will present ‘Raising Kids in a Digital World’ exclusively for our school community. This will include:

• Live Q&A
• Parent toolkit (PDF) with key information and links
• Access to the recorded webinar if you are unable to attend the live session

Further details about the Parent Webinar will be provided in the newsletter once a date has been confirmed.

Inform & Empower is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider. 

Crystal Ibel - ICT Leader 

Last day of Term Two

Tomorrow we are looking forward to our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal Liturgy from 11:30am followed by Australia verses Paraguay in the Soccer World Cup. Students are invited to wear green and gold or another soccer uniform (or their sport uniform). Parents are welcome to attend the liturgy with only limited numbers able fit in to watch the soccer in the Multi-Purpose Room.  Students are finishing school at 1:30pm.

Term Three

A reminder that school will be begin for students on Tuesday July 14 with the staff participating in professional learning on the day prior.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday period.

#CourageAlways

Simon Millar

Principal