The American poet, Walt

Whitman, who died in May

1892, said: “In the faces of

men and women, I see God.”

The musical of “Les

Miserables” has these words

in its Finale:

“To love another person is to

touch the face of God.”

A Church document says that,

“The human person is the

clearest reflection of God

among us.”

God of Love, as I come to

recognise you in the faces of

those people you have placed into

my life, I ask that I may grow as

the loving person you call me to

be. Amen

Hearts, Hands, Mind

Important for next week

Monday Assembly, 2.10pm, MacKillop Centre – Led by 2D

Tuesday Darling Downs Cross Country (10-12 years – Toowoomba)

Friday Parish Mass – 9am – Year 4

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

21 May 2015 Term 2 Week 5

St Mary’s School Warwick Newsletter

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Monday of this week, the school community participated in a prayer

service for the people of Nepal. We are truly blest in the safety of our

lives and tragedies such as earthquakes remind us of the fragility of life.

At times, in these tragedies, people are overwhelmed with loss and a

sense of hopelessness. Our prayers on Monday were for the strength

from those communities not affected, to reach out in support.

The students and teachers are now finalising assessment pieces in

readiness for reporting. This also is a time for strength and resilience.

Our geography knowledge may remind us that Mount Everest is part of

the Himalayas mountain range in south-east Asia, on the frontier of

Nepal and Tibet. It is the highest peak in the world.

After many unsuccessful and sometimes fatal attempts to reach the top,

Mount Everest was finally “conquered” on May 29, 1953 by two

members of a British expedition – Edmund Hillary from New Zealand,

and Tenzing Norkay, a local guide from Nepal. They stayed at the

summit for only 15 minutes, and whilst there planted the flags of Britain,

Nepal, India, and the United Nations.

This was a very great achievement. No-one we know is likely to achieve

so much, but each of us has “Mount Everests” in our own lives –

various difficulties that need effort and maybe team work to conquer.

We can think, too, that a walk of 20 metres for a person with a physical

disability or serious illness may be one of the greatest achievements of

that individual’s life. Such a short walk would be taken for granted by

most people. What one person may achieve with very little effort, may

be a great achievement for someone with different abilities.

What really counts is the effort we put into something to make it our

best. Each of our own “success” and “achievement” can only be

measured against our individual potential.

Loving God, I ask that you inspire me always to do my best – not

comparing myself with others, but only with myself. Lead me, Lord, to

discover and use my own talents to the full. May I live in such a way that

I help others to experience success. Inspire me to be generous in

praising others for the good use of their abilities- looking not so much

at the degree of achievement but at the effort put in. Amen

Have a wonderful week. Margaret

Have a wonderful week. Margaret

Administration Prep enrolments for 2016

We are currently accepting enrolments for Prep for the 2016 school year. It is vital that all

families considering a placement for their child in Prep for 2016 contact the school office

with their details. Interviews with the Principal will be held in Week 2 of Term 3. Anticipated

enrolment numbers for Prep are an integral part of the prediction for the staffing allocation

for the whole of St Mary’s School for 2016. Parents/caregivers are reminded that enrolment

at St Mary’s Kindy and current family enrolment does not automatically mean enrolment in

Prep. Each Prep child and his/her family (2016) must have participated in the enrolment

process:

Completion and return of the Application for Enrolment

Meeting with the Principal

Received an offer of a placement

Accepted the offer of placement

(where possible) Participate in designated Open Morning/s for 2016 Prep children

Each family’s support of this process is greatly appreciated.

2 DOYLE Over the Term 1 holidays, one of our

classmates broke his leg and was unable

to climb the stairs up to our classroom.

Because we are bucket fillers, we decided

it best to move down to the music room

each morning so that Aaron could still be a

part of our 2 Doyle family. Each morning

we make sure we are Olivia Organised

and collect all of the items we need to

make sure we can have a productive day.

Teaching Reading

Before Reading: Before your child even attempts to read a book it is important to read the title to them and then have a ‘book walk’:

Have your child and yourself predict what the book may be about. Go through the book just looking at the illustrations (without reading the words) and

continue to make predictions about the story events. Ask them to tell you, in their own words, what they think is happening in the book

just by looking at the pictures. Ask them to share stories and experiences that relate to what they see in the book.

If your child misreads a word: Ask yourself: “Does it matter?” Saying ‘house’ instead of ‘home’ or misreading a character’s name won’t change the meaning of the story. Let it go. If it changes the reading meaning. Try some of these strategies:

Comprehension Strategies:

This week will have started to focus on the ‘Questioning’ comprehension strategy.

Questioning

Description Learners pose and answer questions that clarify meaning and promote deeper

understanding of the text. Questions can be generated by the learner; a peer or the

teacher.

Example questions/statements What in the text helped me/you know that?

How is this text making me/you feel? Why is that?

When you read/viewed/ listened to that text did it remind me/you of anything I/you know

about? Why did it remind me/you of that?

What did the composer of the text mean by …?

Whose point of view is this? What points of view are missing?

Student Travel Rebates Student Travel Rebates, Semester 1, 2015.

Visit the website to see if you qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of

school bus transport. Apply at www.schooltransport.com.au by 31 May 2015.

Late applications cannot be accepted.

Walk Safely to School Day

Walk Safely to School Day will be held this Friday, 22 May 2015. Parents are encouraged to walk their children to school or to the bus stop on that day. If parents have to 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.

Student Awards This week’s award recipients:

Class Student Achievement Award Living Like Jesus Award

Prep Lawson Thomas Beard Hugh O’Dea

Prep Mathews Sebastian Baker

Chelsea Pratt Phoebe Fretwell Abigail Mitchell

Year 1 Shooter Rory Farrell Isabelle Ryan

Year 1 Woodbridge Harlee Mack Gabby Riordan

Year 2 Brosnan Corbin Amos Samantha Boal

Year 2 Doyle Riley Cottee Jessica Elliott

Lauren Trotman Declan Nowlan

Year 3 King Taylah Krause Luis Collman

Year 3 Oldham Thomas Blake Cooper Morton

Year 3 Williams Claudia Bonser Kayden Domjahn

Year 4 Carr Sarah Walker Chace Arazie

Year 4 Gaffney Alex Newley Caitlyn McMahon

Year 5 Norton Hugh Inmon Jack Collman

Year 5 Preston Kaleb Baker Olivia Stupple

Year 6 Dearden Matthew McGahan Jazmin Ward

Year 6 Rutledge Christopher Watt Ethan LeSueur

Computer Skills Ariel Walsh Felicity Mitchell

Tuckshop Roster Fri 22/5: Karla Grant, Anna Collins, Rowena O’Dea

Thurs 28/5: Del Mack, Julie Doyle Fri 29/5: Madonna Scheiwe, Tamme Ragh, Jo Swift A tuckshop helper is needed for the following Fridays: 5 June; 17 July; 14 August; 11 September; 23 October and 20 November. If you are able to help please contact the office. We take this opportunity to thank all our valued tuckshop helpers.

P&F News

Thank you to everyone who came to the P&F Movie Night last Thursday night. Special thanks must go to Jason and Sarah Worth from the Sovereign Hotel for generously donating the drinks for the evening. Also, special thanks to Sarah Elliot and her helpers for organising the evening. This event was a great social night out and raised around $650, which will go towards the Upper Campus Grounds Development Project.

The regular P&F monthly meeting will be tonight Thursday 21st May, at 7:30pm in the Upper Campus Library. Items on the agenda are:

The Upper Campus Grounds Development Project

Trivia Night

Fathers Day Stall

All contributions are welcomed, so please come along. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute your thoughts please let us know via our email address- SMWPandF@twb.catholic.edu.au

The P&F is aiming to set up an email list as a means of getting information out to families. If you would like to receive P&F information via email please send us an email to the above address so we can add your email address to the list.

NOTICES

Assumption College Warwick Open Day Friday 29 May 2015 3.30pm to 5.30pm

*Tours of the College * Meet with Staff *Subject Displays *Hands-on Science *Curriculum Information *Religious Education/Retreat Display *Pastoral Care & Behaviour Management *Learning Support *IT Information *Choir & Music Groups *Sport & Co-curricular *School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Hospitality Students Take-away Coffee Koisk will be in operation Phone: 4660 4000

Discount Vouchers There are some Theme Park discount vouchers available on the counter at both Campus offices. These vouchers are valid until Tuesday 30 June 2015.

Every June 4GR’s Give Me 5 For Kids appeal raises money for the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation. Both the Foundation and 4GR work closely with local businesses and the local community to raise funds for children’s health, to buy much needed medical equipment that assists in helping seriously ill children. This year some great events are planned throughout June. Below is the calendar of events for this worthwhile cause.