2014 DATES TO

REMEMBER: Term 2: 22 April—27 June Term 3: 14 July-19 Sept Term 4: 7 Oct—5 Dec

Dear Parents/ Caregivers, Last week ended with crazy hair in our Preps, Year 1s and Year 2s. It was a lot of fun and some of the hair was really crazy! This was all part of the celebrations for Under 8 Week. Thanks to the teachers for organizing and running the day and Mrs Lerkenfeldt for her co-ordination of the day. Our 6W class led us at our prayer time on Friday’s assembly. It was a fitting time to re-member the “stolen generation”, to say sorry, and make a commitment to act with justice in all we say and do with all people. Fittingly, our virtue this week is forgiveness. This sits well with National Reconciliation Week. Free Dress Day This Wednesday is the first game in the Rugby League State of Origin series. To help “get into the spirit” and to support our P and F Association, for a gold coin, come along dressed in your team’s colours. I expect the school will be a sea of maroon with a dappling of blue. Thanks for your support. Ipswich Eisteddfod This week many of our older children will be involved in the Ipswich Eisteddfod. Over the last few years we have recorded some very impressive results and been delighted with the level of commitment and preparation that many students have undertaken to ensure success. I wish all competitors every success for their performances. Thanks goes to the many teachers involved in preparing the children and working with them over the last few weeks. Special thanks goes to Mr Fergusson and his co-ordination of the programme. Our oral language programme, run with Mrs Sharon Kennedy, has been significant in building up your children’s skills and confidence. We look forward to hearing the good news stories that will come. Congratulations Last Friday, Jemma Watkins took out the Chid Friendly Excellence Award for Mission Australia here in Inala. Jemma was selected from over 40 entrants. We are very proud of her achievements, as are her parents. Jemma is one of many leading by example, to be the best that they can be. Well done. Cross Country Today, Tesfaye and Ronnie represented us in the next level of cross country running in Ipswich. These boys have shown that they are

very capable runners. We wish them every success and will pass on their results next week. School Disco This very popular evening is set for Friday, 6th June, 6.00 pm—8.00 pm. It is open to all current St. Mark’s students. Please see the posters around the school and come along and enjoy the fun with your children. Prep Enrolments Please spread the word. Applications for enrolment into Prep for 2015 are now being taken. Should you have, or know a family with a child born between 1/7/2009 and 30/6/2010, come in and collect the form from the office now. Interviews are currently underway. Practical Matters

• With the weather cooling (apparently), please be sure to have a green St. Mark’s pull over, named, for your child.

• Children need to arrive at school between 8.00– 8.30 am each school day.

• To assist the flow of traffic, particularly in the afternoon, please do not park in front of the church on Lilac Street.

• Children are to move promptly to designated areas to be picked up after school. All children waiting in the playground must be supervised by an adult.

• Please alert us to any change of address or phone number.

Thank you for your assistance in these matters. Staff Further to Mrs Nhung Vu now working in Prep W, Mrs Hue will work on Wednesdays as our translator. We look forward to getting to know Mrs Hue. Please make her welcome when you get to meet her. Mrs Tonia Schwarten will teach in 2B for the last 2 weeks of term as Mr Biddulph enjoys some well deserved long service leave.

ENROL NOW FOR PREP 2015

27 May 2014 Week 6 Term 2

For Faithfulness

PG: Calvin Le

PW: Alan Nguyen

PB: Sarah Kiriakous

1G: Kevin Nguyen

1W: Catherine Luu

1B: Alivia Le

2G: Jacob Richter

2W: Tayzha Timu

2B: Chloe Curtis

3G: Frances Tignero

3W: Jovany Jirima

4G: Siyama Wani

4W: Amy Nguyen

5G: Robert Bridge

5W: Kynan Tran

5/6B: Daniel Tran

6G: Florence Seumanutafa

6W: Vergedah Kolio

7G: Janice Kirisome

Student Awards

TOUCH FOOTBALL

During Term 2 on a Friday

Morning from 8-8:30 I will be

running a game of Touch

football for students in

Grades 5-7. This is an

excellent opportunity to

develop skills in key areas

while at the same time

increase fitness levels. If

students wish to bring

running shoes for the game

they can pack them in their

bag and change back into

their black shoes before

School starts.

The game will take place

on the Junior Oval outside

the library.

Regards…….Mr Biddulph

Date Claimers ...

RE NEWS

Feast of the Ascension 29 May

• Our class Mass this week is on Thursday 29 May at 9:30am with Prep G and 5G in St Mark’s Church.

• State of Origin free dress day is on Wednesday 28 May. Bring along a gold coin donation.

• Our assembly prayer this week will be led by 4G at 8:45 on Friday morning.

• School Disco is on Friday 6 June from 6-8pm.

• Public holiday is on Monday 9 June.

• St Mark’s annual Harmony Week runs from 10-13 June.

Mrs Nikki Lysaght

Assistant Principal Religious Education

What is Forgiveness?

Everyone makes mistakes. Being forgiving is overlooking the mistakes others

make and loving them just as much as before. Forgiving does not mean that all

of a sudden you do not feel hurt or that the wrong choice someone made was

right. It means that you find it in your heart to give the person another chance.

You can even forgive yourself. You sometimes do things that you are sorry for

and wish you hadn’t done. It’s moving ahead, ready to do things differently,

with compassion for yourself and faith that you can change.

You are practising Faithfulness when you …

• Remember that everyone sometimes makes bad choices.

• Honour your feelings without taking revenge.

• Decide to correct your mistakes instead of punishing yourself.

• Learn from your mistakes.

Virtue of the Week: Forgiveness Markus says when you

forgive you builds positive

RELATIONSHIPS!!

Visitation means "visit." The Archangel Gabriel told the

Blessed Virgin Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was going to

have a baby boy in her old age. Mary loved Elizabeth

and knew she could use some help. So she set out at

once on the journey.

Mary too was expecting a baby, the baby Jesus. The trip

into the hill country where Elizabeth lived was long,

dangerous and uncomfortable. But that would not stop

Mary and she rode there on a donkey, as that was the

best way to travel in the hill country.

Mary reached her cousin's house and greeted Elizabeth.

At that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed to Elizabeth that

Mary had become the mother of God our saviour.

Elizabeth asked joyfully, "How have I deserved that the

Mother of my Lord should come to me?" Mary was not

boastful or proud of this great honour, but remained

humble and quickly gave all the credit to God. He had

blessed her so richly.

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in

God my Saviour," she said. "For he has regarded the

lowliness of his handmaid, and holy is his name."

What graces the Blessed Mother brought to the home of

her cousin! St. John, while still hidden in his mother's

womb, was cleansed of original sin. His father Zachary

who had lost his voice, was able to speak again. St.

Elizabeth was filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Mary stayed three months at her cousin's home. With

great kindness and love, she helped Elizabeth.

Jesus’ disciples spent three years following Him. They

heard Him teach about God’s Kingdom and witnessed

Him perform many miracles. When they saw the Son of

God nailed to a cross and die they may have

experienced feelings of abandonment. They believed

Jesus was God’s Promised Messiah and now He was dead

and His body had been placed in a sealed tomb.

Feelings are not always the truth of what is really

happening in a situation. If the disciples had felt

abandoned when Jesus died it was not the truth. Jesus

told them very clearly before He was nailed to the cross

that He was going to suffer and would rise again. “But

after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into

Galilee.” (Matthew 26:32)

Three days after Jesus was buried in a sealed tomb, God

raised Him from the dead! He did exactly what He told

the disciples He would do. To prove that Jesus was really

alive and not a figment of the disciples’ imaginations,

Jesus stayed on the earth for 40 days after His

resurrection. God’s plan was for Jesus to return to

heaven. Jesus had chosen His apostles to be messengers

for Him after He left. “Therefore go and make disciples of

all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and

of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to

obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am

with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew

28:19-20) When Jesus finished instructing the apostles, His

feet lifted off the ground and He began to ascend or go

up into the sky. As He went up into the sky a cloud hid

Him from the apostles’ sight.

Feast of the Visitation 31 May

This week we celebrate 2 feast days in the Church. Here’s some information about these special days ...

Wellbeing Program Timetable Community Educator: Amanda Bowden Phone Number: 3848 1600 / 0431 267 301

Name of Group: St Mark’s Catholic Primary School - Parents Location: 92 Lilac St, Inala

Contact Person: Jo Patrick – Guidance Counsellor Contact Details: 3372 3408 jpatrick@bne.catholic.edu.au

Session

Dates

Activity

Presented by

5 3rd June 14 9:00am – 10:00am Positive Thinking

10:00am – 11:00am Nia Dance

Amanda

Carmen

6 10th June 14 9:00am – 10:00am Recovery from Hard Times

10:00am – 11:00am Relaxation

Amanda

Kristin

Wellbeing Program—Grandparents, other relatives and friends—all welcome.

CONGRATULATIONS TO JEMMA WATKINS (Faith and Mission Captain) for living out her faith and being an

example to us all. Jemma was nominated for, and WON, a Mission

Australia Communities for Children 2014 Child Friendly

Excellence Award for the Inala to Ipswich region.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO ALL OF OUR

STUDENTS WHO

WON SPORTS

MEDALS AT LAST

WEEK’S ASSEMBLY

Samoa Language Week is Samoa Language Week is Samoa Language Week is Samoa Language Week is

25252525————31 May31 May31 May31 May

LIBRARY

Please note that

last day for

book

club is tomorrow

(Wednesday)

Another First for St Mark's!

Last Thursday, all Year One

students completed a short

Role M maths test on line. The

results provided immediate

feedback to each teacher of

their children's progress and

understanding of

mathematical concepts. This vital

information will inform teacher

planning for the rest of the school

year. The children will repeat the

online test again at the end of the

year to see what improvements

have been achieved.

Wear your colours to support your TEAM!

This Wednesday 28th May “STATE OF ORIGIN MATCH”

Gold coin donation to wear your team colours.

Congratulations to Christiel for achieving the lifestyle she deserved! Today an excited Christiel celebrated her win in negotiating a new employment contract that

gave her the hours to suit her family and a salary that matched her valuable skills. Christel is a positive St Mark’s mum who changed her focus and achieved her dream job.

Join us next Tuesday in Mercy Hall to share tips on “Positive Thinking” - an important factor in

succeeding in everyday life.

NEXT TUESDAY 3RD JUNE 9AM in MERCY HALL

POSITIVE THINKING —The Importance of Being Positive followed by an hour of Nia Dance

FAMILY & FRIENDS WELCOME !

Courtesy of Courtesy of Courtesy of Courtesy of HARMONY PLACE HARMONY PLACE HARMONY PLACE HARMONY PLACE , , , , 3848 1600 3848 1600 3848 1600 3848 1600 , 30 Shottery St, Yeronga30 Shottery St, Yeronga30 Shottery St, Yeronga30 Shottery St, Yeronga

St Mark’s Disco Date : Friday 6th June

Time : 6pm – 8pm @ Mercy Hall

Gold Coin Entry— St Marks Students only

Resident DJ Waites & Co.

$1.00 poppers, $1.00 pkt chips, $2.00 soft drink can OR bottled water

Parents & Carers—Please join us on the night.

Welcome to St Marks -

Cylus and his baby

sister!

Important Dates to Remember!

Wednesday 11th June 5.30pm—P&F Meeting

Friday 15th August—Lap-a-thon

Major fundraising event

Monday 28th July—Presidents Dinner

Brisbane P&F Annual Dinner celebrating Catholic Education Week

Friday 29th Sept—Family BBQ

Afternoon Sausage Sizzle—Celebrating Families & Fathers

Sunday 15th September—Family Portraits