From Tuesday to Thursday, our Year 11 Art students attended the Bundanon Camp. On Wednesday we held our Cross Country Carnival. On Friday, Year 7 will be involved in Benedictine Day, exploring the story of St Benedict and Scholastica and discovering what it means for them to be part of a Good Samaritan Education school. On Sunday we farewell our Year 10 Silver Duke of Edinburgh students and staff who are travelling to the Snowy Mountains for a four day/three night hike. Thank you to all the students and staff involved in these great events.

Reflection on our Easter Liturgy

Jesus washes the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-15)

When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples before the Last Supper, his message to us was to serve others. In serving others we build strong relationships which makes us more connected.

At Stella, we can help others by valuing respect and promoting inclusiveness. As servant leaders, we can be a light for others, continuing the mission of Jesus by following his teachings and implementing them in our lives. This gospel message calls us to be agents of change, to transform our world into a more just, loving, and inclusive place.

We do this at Stella when we support each other when friends fall out with each other. We don’t ignore the hurts but help our friends heal relationships with respect and kindness.

We do this when we help someone else with their learning, knowing that by helping them we are paying it forward and developing their understanding and self-esteem as well as building a stronger learning community at the school.

We do this when we are good stewards of the earth, remembering to clean up our mess after recess or lunch rather than standing up, ignoring our rubbish, and leaving it for others to place in the bin. We are showing we care for our environment.

When we do these small things, we are making Stella a better place. We just need to take the first step.

As this is our last Stella News for the term, I take this opportunity to wish everyone a rejuvenating break. A reminder that students return for Term 2 on Tuesday 30 April which will be the Stella Athletics Carnival.

Prayer for the Easter Season

Loving God
Bring to us the message of joy, hope and peace that is renewed each Easter.
May Jesus Christ, who defeated sin and death, support us all, especially those in need.
Guide us in this Easter season to be renewed in faith and hope.
We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.

AMEN

Student Learning Conferences

Student Learning Conferences (SLC’s) are an opportunity for parents/carers, teachers and students to meet and discuss progress so far in 2024 and to identify learning goals and strategies to achieve these.

MS Teams

This year’s SLC’s will again be conducted through MS Teams. In preparation, your daughter(s) will be instructed as to how it will work.

The other SLC sessions are available to all students:

• Wednesday 10 April (4:00 – 7:00pm)
• Monday 6 May (2:30 – 7:30pm)
• Tuesday 13 May (2:30 – 7:30pm)
• Wednesday 22 May (2:30 – 7:30pm)

These sessions will only be six minutes.

For the sessions starting from 2:30pm, students will be dismissed after Period 4. Period 5 students will be learning remotely with all lesson work being on SEQTA.

Login instructions

• Interviews are booked online through an external provider, PTO.
• Please do not attempt to use login details for PTO from a previous year or your Stella Online login, as neither will work. Instructions for obtaining login details will be emailed the day before bookings open.
• Please look out for this email. If you do not receive it, contact College Reception.
• We highly recommend that you leave a gap between interviews (i.e. do not make bookings back-to-back).
• Use a computer to access PTO, not a phone or tablet.

One set of interviews

Both parent/carer emails have been set up in PTO, but please only make ONE set of interviews per daughter unless it is necessary for you to attend separately. You will receive an email from Mark Cruise, Head of Operations, with more information.

Mother's Day Breakfast

We extend a warm invitation to all Stella mums, grandmothers and special female figures in the lives of our students to our traditional Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 10 May from 7.30am. Please note the RSVP date of Friday 3 May and ensure you include your daughter/s in numbers when booking.

Shrek the Musical - Sponsorship Opportunity

If you are a part of a local business who would like to support our upcoming school musical, Shrek The Musical, we would love to hear from you!

Our talented students have been hard at work rehearsing for what promises to be a captivating performance filled with music, dance, and storytelling. The musical will have a six-show run in June (Term 2) and be open to the public.

As we prepare for this production, we are reaching out to local businesses and individuals for sponsorship opportunities. Your generous support will help support the College and its hard-working Performing Arts students make this school musical a resounding success.

By becoming a sponsor, you will have the opportunity to showcase your commitment to the growth of arts in our school community. To learn more about sponsorship and how you can get involved, please contact Sarah Hipsley, Development Manager via sarah_hipsley@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au

Enrolling Younger Siblings at Stella

A reminder to all current parents that it is crucial that you adhere to enrolment timeframes for younger siblings not yet at Stella. Enrolment occurs when students are in Year 4.

We unfortunately cannot guarantee entry to younger siblings of current students whose parents have missed the enrolment period. Applications for our Year 7 2027 cohort open on Monday 17 June with family enrolment interviews conducted in early September. Please ensure that if your daughter is currently in Year 4, you have completed the Enrolment Register as the initial step of the enrolment process.

Archi-Paws Pet Portrait Competition

Entries are now open for the inaugural Archi-Paws Competition. Create a portrait of your pet, or dream pet using any 2D media - pencil, paint, photography, print, paint pen. Entries close in Week 8 of Term 2. Further details below.

Stella News

Thank you to parents/carers who have provided feedback on our new look e-newsletter. We are currently working with our provider to simplify the layout to present all content on one page with minimal click-throughs. We plan to bring this new version to you next term.

Year 10 Subject Selections

Our Year 10 students will begin preparing for Year 11/12 subject selection shortly. This program runs throughout Term 2. Please note the Parent/Carer Information Night (Wednesday 29 May in the Theatre at 7.00pm) and the MSTeams Forum (Wednesday 12 June from 4.30pm - 5.30pm) in the timetable below.

Careers Expo

St Augustine's College extends an invitation to Year 10 - 12 students and their parents/carers to attend their inaugural Careers Expo on Monday 6 May from 4.00pm - 7.00pm. Visitors will access up-to-date information from a vast and diverse array of Institutions that will assist students with study options and career pathways post school.

This event is free to attend. Students are required to attend in full school uniform. Further details in the flyer below.

Mosman Youth Art Prize

We were thrilled to have six of our talented Visual Arts students enter their art works into the Mosman Youth Art Prize this month.

Organised by Mosman Council, the Youth Art Prize aims to encourage the creative talents of young, aspiring and emerging artists whilst providing a showcase for their works. It was initiated in 1988 by the internationally-renowned artist and local resident Ken Done AM. The Prize is open to all young people aged 12-21 years and is one of the richest Youth Art Prizes in Australia.

Our talented crew consisted of:

• Amelia H
• Sara T
• Georgette M
• Amy H
• Ava W
• Charli M

We look forward to the exhibition as well as opening day this coming Saturday 6 April from 12 – 3pm when the winners will be announced. The exhibition runs from Saturday 6 April to Sunday 5 May and is well worth a visit.

Date: Tuesday 30 April (first day of Term 2)

Venue: ES Marks Athletics Track, Kensington

Time: PC will be held at school at 8.40am. Buses depart Stella from 8.45am and will return at the conclusion of carnival. Buses will be provided to transport all students to and from the carnival. There will be one early bus which departs at 7.30am for house captains and competitors in the discus, javelin and 1500m events.

What to wear: House colours in the theme: ‘animals’. Students may dress up in their house colours in this theme. Please ensure clothes are suitable for athletics events, including appropriate sport shoes.

Special Events: Javelin, discus and the 1500m events will be held before the start of the carnival. Students who have signed up for these events must catch the bus that departs Stella at 7.30am.

The carnival is a compulsory school day. Parents/guardians should follow regular absentee procedures if their daughter is unwell. Carnivals are whole day College events. Students in Years 7 – 12 are required to be present all day.

• Entries for the championship running events and field events will close on Monday. Students have all been emailed the link to sign up for these events. Please note that all field events will require students to sign up prior to the carnival. Students may not enter field events on the day.
• Students may enter the non-championship 100m, 200m, and 800m as well as some fun, novelty events on the day.
• There are no finals for any event. Overall placings will be calculated on times.
• We encourage all students to get involved in lots of events!
• Please bring sun cream and hat
• There will be NO CANTEEN at the carnival. Students will need to pack ALL FOOD AND DRINK for the day.
• Phones should be left at home or at school – NO PHONES at the carnival.
• The carnival will conclude at 2.00pm. Students will then return to school for the athletics carnival presentation. All students will be dismissed from school at 320pm.
• Carnivals are “no drive days” for Senior students.

The Athletics Carnival will be a fun day. We encourage all students to get involved in all of the fun events and cheering!

Parents/guardians will need to approve the Consent2Go permission note prior to the end of Term 1.

Stella Cross Country

The Stella Cross Country Carnival was held on Wednesday 3 April at Queenscliff Lagoon. It was a beautiful day to run the event, after being postponed due to wet weather the day before. The conditions were a little hot, but fantastic for a nice run around the lagoon and beachfront!

It was so great to see over 100 Stella girls participating in the events this year!

There was lots of cheering, very enthusiastic participation, and some outstanding performances. Well done to all of the students who took part in the event.

Stella will have a very strong cross country team to participate in the interschool events in Term 2.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top three in their age groups:

IGSA Swimming

Congratulations to the Stella swimming team who competed at the IGSA Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday 22 March. The Stella team was a very young group, with some Year 7s and 8s competing up in the senior events!

Well done to all members of the team, especially Jess O, Zara D, Mila C and Zoe B who made finals on the day. A big thank you to the younger students who swam up in older age groups!

Best of luck to Jess, Zara, Zoe and Mila who will be competing at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships on Thursday 4 April.

CGSSSA Netball

On Wednesday 27 March, the Stella junior and intermediate netball teams played at the CGSSSA Netball Championships at Blacktown Leisure Centre. This was the first time that Stella has played at this event, and the teams had a fantastic day! Playing against schools such as Monte, Loreto Kirribilli, St Scholastica and Santa Sabina, the Stella teams played very well across all games.

Congratulations to both teams on their fantastic results, with the junior team winning the silver medal, and the inter team finishing fourth.

A big thank you to Sophie B, Jemma K and Lily H who umpired on the day.

Well done to all players:

Junior: Audrey R, Ava S, Celyn E, Maya H, Mila C, Sophie R, Taylor J and Eve K.

Intermediate: Asher S, Avie R, Charlotte C, Claudia P, Elena C, Georgia B, Leila H, Mia L and Sienna S.

Interschools Mountain Biking

Congratulations to Kate S who recently competed at the NSW Interschools Mountain Bike Championships in Thredbo. This is a huge event, with lots of competitors from all over NSW. Kate had a great time at the event, with fantastic results. Kate finished 22^nd in the all mountain event and an amazing 9^th in the flow event! Congratulations Kate on these outstanding results!

Broken Bay Basketball

Congratulations to the Open Basketball team who played at the Broken Bay Basketball Championships on Thursday 21 March. The Stella team had a fantastic day, winning most of their games to finish in fourth place!

Well done to all members of the team:

Olivia B, Leisha C, Indie C, Lara F, Katie F, Ivy H, Lily M, Ruby P and Maeve R.

AFL

Good luck to the junior AFL team who will play in the grand final of the Sydney AFL Independent Schools Cup this Saturday!

Term 2 Sport

Term 2 sports registrations have been sent out this week. All students have been sent the link to register interest in Term 2 sports. Information on Term 2 sports has also been sent to parents. Some of the sports on offer to the students in Term 2 are:

Here we are, nearly at the finish line of Term 1—anticipating what's in store for next term. I hear your eager queries! Here's a rundown of key dates to mark on your calendar:

• Mother's Day Breakfast & Raffle: Friday 10 May
• P&F Annual General Meeting: Thursday 16 May
• Stella Fellas Trivia – Nomad Brewery: Sunday 19 May
• Term 3 Parent & Carer Trivia Extravaganza - tickets on sale Friday 31 May
• Vivid by Night at Luna Park Friday: Saturday 14 June

Now, let's dive into the details

Year 7 Mixer

Well, our current Year 7 parents/carers proved they are very social with over 100 turning out to get to know one another. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the Year 7 Social at Freshwater Brewery. And a massive shout out to Catriona for hosting! It looked like everyone had an absolute blast.

Year 7 showed us how it is done, and we look forward to hosting more events like this to strengthen our school community.

Thank you once again for your participation, and we hope to see you at our next gathering!

Mother's Day Breakfast - raffle tickets now on sale!

Your generosity has blown us away; over 30 prizes valued at $8,000. Today, we are delighted to announce tickets are now on sale!

Tickets are:

• 3 for $10
• 8 for $20
• 25 for $50

Most of the proceeds will go to Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter, and we will also donate $1000 to the school musical Shrek.

There is still a chance to donate a prize for our raffle. Click here to provide prize details or use the QR code below. One of the P&F team will be in contact.

Thanks in advance for any support.

Stella Fellas, grab your tickets - join the trivia fun!

Hey, fellas, don’t forget to grab your tickets for an afternoon of excitement and friendly competition because it is the first Stella Fellas event of 2024.

Join the crew at Nomad Brewery in Brookvale on Sunday 19 May, 2024, for an unforgettable trivia showdown from 3.00pm to 6.00pm.

This event, exclusively for dads and male carers, promises to be a blast! You'll have a fantastic time with Nick Poutney as our charismatic host and the Nomads team.

Plus, proceeds from your $10 ticket purchase goes directly to supporting the school musical—talk about a win-win!

Secure your spot now by grabbing your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/CPYGG.

Vivid by Night – Luna Park is in the Dark!

Our Luna Park date clashes with the Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh camp. We have taken this on board and will see if we can host another date. We are in touch with the park as ticketing may be a chance for a third party this year.

Last chance to let us know if you are interested – date pending!

https://forms.gle/WZVupPSzwC3pSdnA7

Mark your calendars – P&F Annual General Meeting, Thursday 16 May at 7.30pm

Are you interested in the P&F and maybe getting more involved? We have our Annual General meeting on Thursday 16 May from 7.30pm. If you want to attend, watch out for more details at the start of next term. If you want to be kept informed, drop us a note at pandf@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au, and we will add you to the list. Click here for the meeting agenda – we would love to see you all there!

Save the date – Term 3 Trivia Night - Friday 16 August

Last year, this event sold out in 48 hours – this year, we have a bigger venue! Mark your calendars – tickets go on sale at 9.00am, Friday 31 May – first in best dressed!

Week commencing Monday 8 April

Week commencing Monday 29 April

A massive shout out to the whole cast of Shrek as we have been powering through rehearsals and continue to learn lines and choreography at a blistering pace! Your dedication is adding to the success that is our production of Shrek the Musical!

Term 1 and Holiday Rehearsals

As we head to the end of Term 1, we have the following rehearsals occurring, which have been previously communicated. A reminder will be sent to students via Ms Mitchell.

We are now at a point where we are running the show, so everybody's attendance is imperative. If you are unwell or cannot attend any of the rehearsals, please email Ms Mitchell at sarah_mitchellpater@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au

• Monday 8^th April 3:30pm - 5:30pm
• Tuesday 9^th April 3:30pm - 5:30pm
• Sunday 14^th April 9:00am - 4:00pm (school holidays)
• Saturday 27^th April 9:00am - 4:00pm (school holidays)

Reminder

• A reminder that all students need to wear comfortable rehearsal clothes to actively walk around in.

Ticket Sales

• Cast release date: Monday 29 April
• General Public release date: Friday 3 May

The Uniform Shop is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 8.00am to 4.30pm during term and can be contacted via email:

uniform_books@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au

The Uniform Shop will not be open during the holidays or on the first day of Term 2 (Athletics Carnival on 30 April).

Winter uniforms are to be worn from Week 3 of Term 2. During Weeks 1 and 2, either summer or winter uniforms can be worn. If wearing Winter uniform during these weeks, the stockings and blazer must be worn.

Year 11 can buy the pink senior blouse.

Junior skirts are expected this week. Please ask your daughter to look out for an email advising that her ordered skirt has arrived. Please top up her student card with $72.

Please ask your daughter to collect online orders from Recess after the order has been placed. Please use your daughter’s name on the order.

Please follow this link to the P&F Facebook second hand page:

Term 1

Wednesday 31 January - Friday 12 April

Term 2

Tuesday 30 April - Friday 28 June

Term 3

Tuesday 23 July - Friday 27 September

Term 4

Tuesday 15 October - Tuesday 3 December