It's show time!

By this time next week, our talented cast and crew will have delivered two wonderful shows of Shrek the Musical to audiences in the Star of the Sea Theatre. We are so proud of the commitment they have shown to bring us this incredible production. Don't miss out!

Thank you to our supporters

We are extremely grateful for the generous support from the sponsors of Shrek the Musical. In particular, we would like to thank our platinum sponsors, Kane and MostynCopper, who are also our key partners on the new Creative Arts Centre. Additional thanks go to ASI Solutions, JDH Architects, Supercare Property Services, and the Stella P&F for their support.

Stella Day Reminders...

Stella Day is tomorrow!

Stella Day is a whole school celebration where we celebrate the Mission work of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. We do this by commemorating our Benedictine Values and raising money for the Indigenous community in Santa Teresa and Kiribati.

• This year's theme is Disney+ (inspiration for dress up taken from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic).
• Cash should be brought in on the day for food trucks, sausage sizzle, and for activities. Coins and small notes only, please.
• Your $10 donation through Consent2Go is due.
• Don't forget your donated goodies:

1. Years 7 and 8 - Baked goods
2. Years 9 and 10 - Individually wrapped chocolates or lollies
3. Years 11 and 12 - Cans of soft drink

Day Runsheet:

8:40-8:50 am PC - In PC rooms as normal

P1 & P2 - Mass (walking to and from St. Mary's Manly)

RECESS - as normal

P3 - Assembly (on the deck)

P4 + LUNCH - Stella Day activities

P5 - Lip Sync Battle and Awards

3:10 - 3:20 pm - Pack up, clean up and roll call in PC

Thank you for your continued support in making Stella Day 2024 one to remember.

School Photo Days - next Wednesday!

Stella's school photography days are coming up soon.

• Wednesday 5 June – Main photo day (PC group and individual)
• Tuesday 18 June – Siblings and Absentees (those away on main photo day)

Please ensure your Stella student/s is following uniform guidelines.

• Full winter uniform with blazer: please ensure skirts are at correct length, blazers are crease free with all buttons on and correct black school shoes.
• Hair tied back, natural colour and any accessories to be white or green
• No obvious makeup or accessories
• Correct jewellery – small cross on a simple chain, one pair of sleepers or studs, other piercings to have a spacer.

The students will be sent the Photo Day schedule early next week.

Advanced Life are once again taking our school photos. Please follow the instructions below to order your photos.

Portrait and PC group photos – Wednesday 5 June

These can be purchased by following the link below. Once the link is opened, you will need the following online code: KY8 HAC 97W

If you prefer to order using an envelope (cash only), ask your Stella student to visit Student Services to collect an order envelope and hand your envelope and cash payment to the photographer on school photo day.

Sibling Photos – Tuesday 18 June

Sibling photos can be ordered online - use the same link and code as above – up to 24 hours prior to photo day. If you miss the online order deadline, or prefer to use envelope and pay cash, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope (have your Stella student collect a ‘Sibling envelope’ from Student Services prior to the day or on Sibling photo day.

Other important school photography information from Advanced Life:

• Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school.
• Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately.
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately six weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique nine digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past
• advancedlife would like to express our appreciation to Stella Maris College for placing their trust in us. Please remember we offer a 100% money back guarantee on our products to ensure your peace of mind. We would also love to receive your feedback or resolve any issues you may experience as fast as possible, to ensure your satisfaction. If you have any questions, comments or feedback relating to your advancedlife experience please contact us at: www.advancedlife.com.au/contact

2025 Term Dates

To assist in holiday planning, please note the 2025 term dates:

Stella Standouts

Congratulations to our Stella Standouts who were recognised at Assembly this week:

• Year 7 – Ripley L for her enthusiasm and willingness to always help others in Digital Tech, whilst also being patient, and a good communicator.
• Year 8 – Erin R for her excellent participation in English classes. She always works hard and thinks critically about her work.
• Year 9 – Evie-rose D has consistently pushed herself to engage in every class. Her hard work and dedication have led to well-deserved achievements across her subjects.
• Year 10 – Alissa L for working well in every Maths lesson, completing perfect notes and ensuring all work is always completed to an exemplary standard.
• Year 11 – Holly A for her dedicated approach to her Textiles work. She has shown perseverance in creating amazing embroidery work.
• Year 12 – Eliza L for her dedication and focus in class, particularly in Maths even when learning difficult topics.
• Year 12 – Alexea M for her efforts in Chemistry. She is a curious and hard working student, always actively involved in class discussions and is the first to assist other students when they need help.

NSW da Vince Decathlon

Stella Maris teams from Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 recently participated in the NSW da Vinci Decathlon. The da Vinci Decathlon is a challenging academic competition where students compete in teams across 10 disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography and Legacy.

The competition was held at Knox Grammar school with up to 75 schools from NSW competing in each year group. The Stella Maris teams demonstrated perseverance, diligence and excellent team work throughout the competition and achieved some outstanding results:

Year 7

• 5^th in Creative Producers

Year 9

• Overall 14^th
• 5^th in Cartography
• 7^th in Engineering
• 7^th in English
• 13^th in Ideation

Year 10

• 7^th in Art and Poetry

Year 11

• 11^th in Engineering

Congratulations to the Stella Maris 2024 da Vinci Decathlon teams:

Education Perfect Languages Championships - 2024 Results

Congratulations to the following Year 8 Award winners!

• 7^th for Italian in NSW out of 175 schools
• 8^h for Spanish in NSW out of 164 schools
• 46^th for French in NSW out of 238 schools
• 14^th in NSW for the 501- 1,000 category out of 102 schools
• 15^th for Spanish in NSW for the 501- 1,000 category out of 323 schools
• 19^th for Italian in NSW for the 501- 1,000 category out of 319 schools
• 47^th overall in NSW out of 364 schools
• 224^th overall globally out of 2032 schools

Young Geographer Awards

Congratulations to Year 12 student, Sophie B who was awarded third place in the Young Geographer Awards conducted by the Geography Teachers Association of NSW and ACT. Her Senior Geography project explored the question: "How have blue groupers in Cabbage Tree Bay Reserve been impacted by human recreation?'

Ngapa William Cooper

Last Thursday, the Years 9-12 Elective Music classes attended a performance of ‘Ngapa William Cooper’, a powerful and exciting new work by Australian composer Nigel Westlake. Performed by Lior, Lou Bennet and members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the work is based on a powerful story of an indigenous Australian protest that took place against Nazi atrocities in the 1930s. After the performance, in the City Recital Hall, our students stayed behind to attend a moderated discussion with Nigel Westlake, Lou Bennet and Lior. It was very exciting to have two questions submitted by Stella Maris College read out and answered at the event. With Nigel Westlake’s blessing, some of the Music students then went on to arrange excerpts from the work and perform these at our Sorry Day assembly on Tuesday.

Project Compassion

Thank you so much for donating to Project Compassion. Your efforts will ensure lifelong positive change and practical support for the lives of people facing hardship, disempowerment, and vulnerability. Your generous donations will ensure communities will be able to grow stronger and to lift themselves out of poverty.

The final amount raised by Stella Maris for Project Compassion was an astounding:

Everyone’s contribution is incredible!

The standout PC for this year is PC 7.1 who managed to raise $657.90!

Ms Stojanovski’s 7.1 PC class of 18 students managed to track each week with regular donations from every single member of the class to reach this incredible total which is more than some whole Year Group totals alone! Amazing work 7.1! Thanks for making such a huge difference.

The $660ish dollars you have raised can directly do the following:

• Provide skills training to 15 people for income generating activities
• Start-up business support in the Philippines.

Our final total from the whole Stella community will go towards:

• Improving access to clean water
• Helping communities to prepare for disasters and crises.
• Raising awareness about disability

Supporting children with essential school supplies

Mufti Day for Mater Dei and Peace Egg funds

The Stella community managed to raise some fantastic funds at our Term 1 Mufti Day fundraiser for our fellow Sister of the Good Samaritan school, Mater Dei. We managed to raise:

• $4,174
• and sold Peace Eggs to the total of: $1,099 – that’s a lot of chocolate that got eaten!!

We sincerely thank everyone for their generosity!

Making a Difference (MAD) & Stewardship Club working jointly towards Stella Day this term

Stella Day Eco Stall – come along and help out. Are you crafty and artistic or just would like to have fun with environmentally like-minded people?

Every Thursday in the Chapel we will host our MAD meetings with the Sustainability Club to work towards the events of Stella Day and our very own Eco Stall.

We will be making bees wax wraps to sell as well as seed balls / seed paper / paper flowers / bees wax candles and much more. We would love to hear from you and your sustainability ideas too.

We also plan to have a clothes swap from MAD on Stella Day. Do you have any quality items to bring in for the stall?

Stella Day is on tomorrow - Friday 31 May

Social Justice and Stewardship student leaders and Making a Difference students play a pivotal role in our annual celebration. This year, we are honoured to host Indigenous Leader Brooke Prentis as our special keynote speaker. Brooke, a proud descendant of the Wakka Wakka people, serves as the CEO of Common Grace and coordinator of the Grasstree Gathering.

Stella Day is not just about fun and festivities; it's a time for our community to reflect on the values of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Ministry and the Benedictine principles that underpin our school's mission.

This year, we're focusing our efforts on fundraising for Santa Theresa in the Northern Territory and Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean, highlighting the Indigenous connections to Country and the urgent need for environmental sustainability.

Brooke Prentis will share insights into the Indigenous concept of Country, offering our students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of interconnectedness and environmental stewardship.

During the Assembly, we'll explore the theme of being a good neighbour through engaging activities and fundraising initiatives.

Together, we can make a difference by:

• Consulting and listening to Indigenous voices
• Supporting Indigenous initiatives and advocating for Indigenous rights
• Promoting ecological justice and fighting climate change through sustainable practices
• Contributing to our fundraising efforts to support the Good Samaritan Sisters' mission work in Santa Teresa & Kiribati

All proceeds from Stella Day Market stalls and activities will directly support the Sisters of the Good Samaritan outreach work in Santa Theresa and Kiribati.

News from Mr James Griffen, MP, Member for Manly

We're excited to announce that our Stella Maris students received formal recognition for their impactful social justice work in our local community. Recently, Mr. James Griffin, MP, Member for Manly, delivered a moving speech at NSW Parliament House, highlighting the importance of the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH) and the support it receives from our community.

Mr. Griffin praised our students for assembling and delivering thoughtful care packages to patients and families at AYAH. He also acknowledged the widespread support from local businesses and organisations, including Stella Maris.

In conclusion, Mr. Griffin shared touching words from a volunteer team member, emphasizing the enriching experience of volunteering at AYAH and the significance of the hospice in supporting young adults facing life-limiting illnesses.

Mr Griffin spoke about the difficult situation patients at AYAH face, and it was important to hear that he valued the remarkable work that is being done at the Hospice and the local community support that is occurring at the grass roots level.

Community Service Opportunities

If you are seeking ways to give back to the local community and to undertake social justice action for commitments such as the Duke of Edinburgh program, you may like to consider the following options:

One Meal Northern Beaches delivers food relief through weekly Community Meals (general support), and a Delivery Program (targeted support) getting fresh hampers and cooked meals directly to people referred by social service agencies and community groups.

Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice (AYAH)

• Fund raising for care pack items or donation of items – gift cards / small luxury items for self -care (hand cream / body lotion/ face masks)
• Volunteer time through art or music therapy sessions

Please email Ms Metcalfe for further details

MAD Club

• Knitting beanies for Vinnies Winter Drive care packs for the homeless during Term 2. Approximately four beanies may equate to six to eight hours of volunteer hours.

Eco Club

• Making bees wax wraps / bees wax candles for the Stella Day Eco Stall
• Can constitute approx. 4 hours of volunteer time at school via the MAD Club each Thursday

Cross Country

The cross country carnivals for 2024 have come to an end! The Stella team has competed at several events in recent weeks – the Stella carnival, CGSSSA, IGSA and Broken Bay carnivals. The performances at these carnivals was amazing. All of our Stella runners competed with determination and enthusiasm.

We had some fantastic results at all three carnivals. Our main event was the Broken Bay carnival, as this is our pathway event. Stella won overall champion school at Broken Bay, and took out places in many age groups:

• 12 years team: 1^st place
• 13 years team: 2^nd place
• 14 years team: 2^nd place
• 15 years team: 1^st place
• Stella was OVERALL CHAMPION SCHOOL for the third year running.

Congratulations to the students who finished in the top six and progress to the NSWCCC Championships next week:

Piper B (silver medal), Emily C (bronze medal), Amelia M (gold medal), Andrea Nel (silver medal), Lyla R (silver medal), April U (bronze medal), Pip Q (gold medal), Amber K (silver medal), Eadie P.

Well done to all of our runners who have trained hard and enjoyed a great cross country season.

Touch Football

The Stella Year 9/10 representative touch team competed at the NSW Touch Metro North All Schools Championships at Parramatta on May 22. The level of competition was high and the Stella girls did well through the round games to progress into the finals series. They faced a tough team from Westfield Sports High in the semi, but had a convincing 5 – 2 win to move onto the grand final.

The Stella team played a strong Mount St Benedict team in the grand final. Despite taking an early lead, the scores were locked at 3 – 3 at the end, pushing the final into a drop off. Summer B scored a great try right at the start of the drop off, and it was a nervous couple of minutes in defence until the siren sounded. Congratulations to the Stella team on winning this tournament. The team will now progress through to the State Final in August. Well done to all members of the team:

Zsa Zsa B, Kayla A, Charlotte B, Summer B, Lara M, Mia L, Siena A, Holly G, April U, Matisse F, Indie C.

NSWCCC Soccer

Congratulations to the Stella students who represented Broken Bay in the NSWCCC Open Soccer Championships at Valentine Park from May 28 - 29. The Broken Bay team had a tough draw, playing a strong Newcastle team in the first game. This was the only game that the team lost over the tournament, finishing in second place in their pool. The Stella students played so well throughout the competition, with many of our players being very young in the open division. Well done to the students involved:

Bonny A, Jade G, Sophie L, Amber K, Emma B, Jess P and Camille C.

NSWCCC Hockey

Congratulations to Riliegh S (Year 10) who played at the NSWCCC hockey selections in Bathurst earlier this month. Riliegh was successful at being selected into the NSWCCC team. She will now play at the NSW All Schools event later this term. Well done Riliegh!

Netball

Our Peninsula Cup netball competition is well and truly underway. After a wet start to the season causing a delay in the first rounds, the teams are now enjoying the fun competition which is played on Tuesday afternoons throughout Term 2. The teams are improving with each game and having a great time!

A reminder to any student in the 16 and over age groups who has representative netball experience, registrations for the Broken Bay trials (to play at NSWCCC) will close on June 7. Registrations are to be done directly on the CSBB website.

Attendance at Training Sessions

Over recent weeks we have seen attendance numbers drop at various sport training sessions. While we understand that students will occasionally miss training sessions due to illness or injury, we expect a high level of attendance for the entire season. When a student signs up to play in a sport, they are committing to the sport for the length of the competition or term. This means ensuring that they make the effort to attend both training sessions and games.

Our Stella fellas - what a great bunch of blokes!

Thank you to everyone who came out and made the Stella Fellas Nomad Trivia afternoon a fantastic success! These events only work with your support; we have an amazing community. A lot of fun was had by all, and a special congratulations to the winning team, Tequila Mockingbirds.

Thanks again to Nick Poutney for organising such a great way to spend a few hours. We couldn't have done it without you!

P&F AGM

Thanks to all those who attended the P&F AGM on Thursday 16 May. A copy of the minutes can be found below.

The key takeaways were:

• Elizabeth Carnegie reported a positive start to the 2024 academic year. ​She highlighted the success of various events, including the Anzac Day Assembly and the Stella Maris College AGM. ​
• Mrs Carnegie announced that this would be her final P&F AGM as Principal as she is retiring at the end of the year. ​
• Clare Cahill discussed the achievements of the P&F executive and the wider P&F body in building a foundation for the future.
• Mentioned various initiatives, such as building guidelines and communication channels, establishing a WhatsApp channel for dads and male carers, and bringing in an event playbook for planning. ​
• Mother's Day Raffle raised $5040. ​The funds were proposed to be split between the Northern Beaches Women's Shelter, the College Musical, and the P&F.
• We discussed moving to a Parent Engagement Group (PEG) model; further research and recommendations will be gathered for discussions at the next general meeting in Term 3.

All of School Trivia Night - tickets are on sale this Friday!

Don't Miss Out on the Event of the Year!

Mark your calendars! Tickets for our highly anticipated school Trivia Night go on sale this Friday, 31 May at 9.00am sharp. Last year, this event sold out in just 48 hours, so don’t delay—secure your spot as soon as sales open!

• Date: Friday 23 August
• Time: 7:00pm
• Venue: Manly Leagues Club

Ticket Pricing:

• Individual Tickets: $60 each
• Table of 8: $480 (Grab a group of friends for a fun-filled night!)

Stay tuned! The theme for this year’s event will be announced closer to the date.

Please have your daughters come to the canteen to see if they have left a lunch box/drink bottle or any container. We have many items in lost property that are missing their homes!

Week commencing Monday 3 June

Week commencing Monday 10 June

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

Black socks ($3.00) are now available to wear with pants and as an alternative to stockings with the skirt. We do hold limited stock as girls are able to purchase their own elsewhere.

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 2