Events of the past fortnight have reinforced the importance of community.
Elizabeth Carnegie
Principal
The experience of Stella Day this year was amazing! It reminded me how important community days are for us at the College. For the girls, there were many opportunities to be involved. Some were engaged in the Stella Day mass with Fr Chima. Others were part of the SRC team who set up for the games and lunch activities. Students were challenged by Brooke Prentice’s presentation, where she explained what being Indigenous means for her today. Brooke spoke strongly of the importance of young people in creating a nation that offers a positive future for indigenous Australians. Having worked in many schools, the atmosphere we have at Stella is so collaborative and supportive. We hope that this articulates into learning environments that allow our students to challenge themselves in a space that encourages experimentation and discovery.
Last week we were enchanted by the musical production of Shrek the Musical. Again, for me it highlighted the opportunities we have to build community. To see over 80 staff and students involved in the production was fantastic. The audience was most appreciative of the entertaining performances by the students. Thanks to all involved in making this production such a fun one!
Congratulations to 2025 College Captain Róisín Thompson and College Vice Captains Violette Russell and Destiny Juul who were elected to their leadership roles by the College community. When speaking with the girls about the challenges of the roles, it was heart-warming to hear of their love of the the school and their desire to be servant leaders, listening to the needs of the community. I look forward to hearing what other leadership roles are appointed in the next round of voting. Thank you to Ms Smith, Ms Boyde and Mr Ford for the measured and considered process allowing student and staff to discern who is best placed to take on these roles.
It
was an honour to be present at Fr Chima’s installation as parish priest for
Manly Freshwater parish last Sunday. Bishop Anthony presided, and our own Year
12 student Teresa H was one of the altar servers, assisting the bishop
during the ceremony. Fr Chima presided at our Stella Day mass and made a great
connection with our students.
Blessed are you, winter, dark season of waiting,
you affirm the dark seasons of our lives anticipating the weather of waiting in hope.
Blessed are you, winter, you faithfully guard a life unseen,
calling those who listen deeply to discover winter rest.
Blessed are you, winter,
frozen and cold on the outside, you warmly welcome all that longs for renewal.
Blessed are you, winter, you teach us valuable lessons about waiting in darkness with hope and trust.
Amen.
https://www.sosj.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/04898.pdf
Don't miss this edition's important notices...
Please note traffic changes in Eurobin Avenue on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June. A crane will be in use in Eurobin Avenue towards Collingwood Street. The traffic will be limited to one lane and traffic control will be in place. We suggest parents use the Kiss and Drop Zone in Iluka Avenue, using Pittwater Road as the entry point to our Main Campus to avoid delays and for the safe drop-off for students.
Parents and carers with daughters currently in Year 4 are advised that enrolment applications for Year 7 2027 open on Monday 17 June. All prospective students (including siblings of current students) participate in the enrolment process at Stella with the submission of an enrolment application and a family interview.
Please note the following important dates:
The first step in the process is completing the Enrolment Register via the link below. If you have already completed this online form, you will be emailed the link to the application form on Monday.
We look forward to welcoming Stella sisters into the community. They will be our Class of 2032!
A reminder that sibling photos and photos of students who were absent on our original photo day (5 June) will be taken on Tuesday 18 June. Students will be emailed details regarding time and location.
Did you know that Stella has its very own Breakfast Club? Hosted by our Wellbeing Prefects, all students are welcome to attend on Wednesday mornings from 7.30am - 8.30am in the Hospitality kitchen. Cereal, toast, yoghurt, fruit and hot chocolate is shared over board games, card games and bingo (we try to prevent Ms Burke from making up her own rules). It is a fun atmosphere where students can have breakfast, hang out with friends and meet new people.
Entries in the Archi- Paws competition close on Friday. Entries can be handed in or emailed to Ms Silburn.
It's that time of the year again...
Every year the students and staff of the Duke of Edinburgh program are involved in the Beach2Beach Fun Run event to raise funds for, 'Happy Days' (a Mike Pawley charity, supporting impoverished Cambodian students and families).
Please tell your family and friends to join the 'Stella Maris College' team to help us enter the LARGEST school team in 2024 (prize money donated to 'Happy Days').
Date: Sunday 25 August
Distance:
N.B. Duke of Edinburgh students will enter the 6km event
(Early bird registration closes on 25 June).
Alternatively, you could donate directly to 'Happy Days'.
Thank you, in advance, for your involvement and support of this Duke of Edinburgh initiative.
Melanie Bradstreet
On behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh team
Each year, all schools across Australia take part in the collection of data of students who require extra support or who have a disability or medical issue. The fact sheet below will give you information about this. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this.
Cath Douglas
Head of Inclusive Learning
To assist in holiday planning, please note the 2025 term dates:
Term 1 |
Thursday 30 January |
Friday 11 April |
Term 2 |
Tuesday 29 April |
Friday 27 June |
Term 3 |
Tuesday 22 July |
Friday 26 September |
Term 4 |
Tuesday 14 October |
Tuesday 2 December |
Meet our College Leaders for 2025...
Stella Maris College is delighted to introduce our 2025 Student Leaders. Róisín Thompson has been appointed as College Captain after a rigorous selection process involving a written application, nomination, speech, staff and student voting and interviews.
Our sincere congratulations also to Violette Russell and Destiny Juul who will support Róisín in their roles as Vice Captains.
Hailing from Dublin, Róisín moved to Australia at age six. She has been a contributing member of the Stella community since Year 7 with a passion for the performing arts (she played the lead role in Matilda the Musical in 2022 and was an ensemble member in Shrek most recently). Róisín participates in Vocal Ensemble, Drama Ensemble, sailing, Tildesley tennis and academic competitions.
Róisín is particularly humbled to be selected as College Captain. Her goal is to ensure that “every girl feels safe and loved, and is supported in taking on new opportunities.”
Russell family connections run deep at Stella with Violette the eldest of four sisters who are current students! Violette is an integral member of Stella’s sailing program and will officially represent Australia at the J-24 World Championships in Seattle, USA, later this year having won the national championships in January. She augments her sailing with participation in academic competitions and debating. Post school, Violette has her sights set on a career in law.
Another seasoned member of the Stella community, Destiny has big ambitions for her leadership year. She aims to foster an environment of inclusivity where “every girl wants to come to school.” Destiny is a regular tour leader at Open Nights and college tours and has a long history of representing the Stella community with distinction. Destiny hopes to pursue a career as a physiotherapist following school.
Stella Maris College is thrilled to have Róisín, Violette, and Destiny lead the College in 2025, inspiring our entire community through their outstanding example.
Congratulations to Sami W and Annika S who represented Stella at a Parliament Youth Leadership program.
The program gives student leaders the opportunity to develop their knowledge of our system of government, parliamentary proceedings, the role of members of parliament, and the role of the Governor of NSW.
Welcome to this fortnight's Sports News.
Jenny Wickham
Sports Coordinator and Teacher of PDHPE
Congratulations to the Stella students who competed at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park on May 30 – 31.
The Stella results were outstanding! Our 15/16 relay team represented NSWCCC in the 4 x 50m medley relay and the 4 x 50m freestyle relay. They achieved a PB in both events, finishing 5th and 8th in the state! Well done to Zara D, Jess O, Zoe B and Mila C on such fantastic results. Special mention also to Jess O and Zara D who competed in individual events. Well done to Zara who finished in 3rd place in the 100m backstroke!
Congratulations to the Stella students who competed at the NSWCCC Cross Country Championships at Sydney International Equestrian Centre on June 5. The Stella students all ran so well and had amazing results:
Well done to all students. Special congratulations to Piper, Emily, Amelia, Lyla, Pip and Amber who have been selected into the NSWCCC team to compete at the NSW All Schools event in Term 3.
Our Bill Turner Soccer team is on fire! The Stella team played their round four match of the Bill Turner Trophy against Pymble Ladies College on Friday 7 June. It was their toughest match so far in the competition, against a strong Pymble team who have had a great deal of success in this tournament in the past. We were down 1 – 0 at half time, but had a strong second half, coming back to win the game 3 – 1.
It was a fantastic effort from all players and they are very excited to have made the final 32 of the competition! We will play the area final in the coming weeks. Well done to all members of the squad!
On Wednesday 12 June, the junior touch teams competed at the NSW Touch Metro South Championships in Bankstown. Stella had the largest number of teams at the event, with a team in all three pools.
All the Stella teams performed very well, winning games and improving as the day progressed. The Stella 1 team was very unlucky to miss the final on a countback.
Well done to all players!
Congratulations to our hockey team who will play in the Grand Final of the Mollie Dive Hockey Competition next week.
The Stella team has had a fantastic first season! They were undefeated all season and had a great 3 – 0 win over Barker in the semi final. Best of luck in the grand final!
Registration for Term 3 sports will be released next week. Expressions of interest for Semester 2 Basketball have been sent to students already.
Don't miss out on tickets to our Winter Concert Series...
Evan Browett
Head of Performing Arts
The end of this semester welcomes our Performing Arts Winter Concert Series. This is a chance to showcase the ongoing hard work and dedication of our students in their solo, small, and large ensemble settings. There are three evenings taking place over the coming weeks (with two shows available for a Celebration of Dance). Congratulations to the students who have auditioned to take part in these evenings and many thanks to their teachers' and tutors' hard work to get them to this point. Tickets (all free) can be booked via the links below.
Drama Gala Evening 2024: Monday 17 June at 6:30pm
Celebration of Dance 2024: Friday 21 June at 5:00pm and 7:00pm
Showcase of Music 2024: Wednesday 26 June at 6.30pm
This past weekend, our talented students brought the enchanting world of Shrek the Musical to life on stage. From the opening number to the final curtain call, the audience was treated to a spectacular display of talent, hard work, and creativity.
Our students took on the challenge last year in October and have worked with incredible enthusiasm and dedication. Their performances were heartfelt and captivating, showcasing their remarkable abilities, vibrant costumes, incredible sets, and fantastic choreography. Whether it be the Shrek leads, principal leads, fairytale cast, orchestra or crew, each student contributed to the production's overall success and left a lasting impression on all who attended. Congratulations to everyone involved and thank you for making Shrek the Musical an unforgettable experience for our school community.
Welcome to the Week 7 P&F Update!
Clare Cahill
P&F President
Can you believe we are only three weeks from the end of Term 3? We are almost halfway through the year!
Here are the proposed events in Terms 3:
Don't miss out on the event of the year!
We are so excited! We took the risk of increasing the venue size, and you have responded. Over 75% of tickets have already sold, so don’t delay—secure your spot now!
Date: Friday 23 August
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Manly Leagues Club
Ticket Pricing
Got an idea for a theme? Last year, we did colour, and you all grabbed it and took it to the extreme. What do you think? Any ideas for a theme, please let us know via p&f@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au
It was hard to change the date, but it was outside our control.
The proposed new date is Saturday 14 September. We will be at the end of winter sports and before the start of spring.
Let us know here: https://forms.gle/h6q9533hStwxPk2MA if that works for you and your clan.
The number we say helps negotiate the ticket price. Over 100 attendees is the magic number to unlock better pricing. Last year, it was $42 for those over 14 and adults, and $32 for those under 13; pricing is to be confirmed by the park. We need to purchase tickets and pay for them a week prior.
We look forward to seeing which parents will try out the sledgehammer – Linda Rowe was a legend last year!
Thank you to our volunteers in the Canteen over the next fortnight.
Bernie McGrath
Canteen Manager
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!
Monday 17 June |
Tuesday 18 June |
Wednesday 19 June |
Thursday 20 June |
Friday 21 June |
Agnes Villanyi |
Theresa Buchanan |
Nell Laime |
Orla Neville |
Lilian Henley |
Lindie McKay |
Louise Stedman |
Catherine Hodson |
Sarah Bernie |
Duncan Barnett |
Rachel Bijl |
Amy Keary |
Ruth Richter |
Nicole Holmes |
Lisa McGregor |
Joanna Brown |
Kristy McNab |
Joanne Bright |
Marie Watson |
|
Bridget Cargill |
Nicole Covich |
Monday 24 June |
Tuesday 25 June |
Wednesday 26 June |
Thursday 27 June |
Friday 28 June |
Lisa Thorpe-Apps |
Joanne Robinson |
Peta Alpen |
Jill Sholl |
Carmel MacLeod |
Paul Masluk |
Heather Lawson |
Jude Furniss |
Ashleigh Hough |
Brooke Mountford |
Joanna Brown |
Riany Tanner |
Cathy Shanahan |
Sharman Walker |
David Laime |
Kim Singleton |
Belinda Vumbaca |
Emily Brannan |
Prue Berne |
|
Rosetta Papallo |
Taemar Handes |
Year 7 art packs now available...
Gail Hickey
Uniform Shop
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
Year 7 students studying Art next term have been emailed. Please purchase the Art Pack online and collect before June 26.
The Uniform Shop will be closed on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th June for stocktake. Please make any purchases and collect orders prior to these dates.
The Uniform Shop will reopen on Tuesday 23rd July at 8.00am. Online orders placed over the holidays can be collected from Recess that day.
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. Reminders are generally not sent. Please use your daughter’s name on the order.
There is space under ‘Billing Address’ on the order for your daughter’s name.
Please follow this link to the P&F Facebook second hand page:
Monday 17 June | Semester 1 Drama Night | |
Tuesday 18 June | Sibling and Absentee Photo Day | |
Friday 21 June | Semester 1 Dance Night | |
Wednesday 26 June | Semester 1 Music Night | |
Friday 28 June | Last day of Term 2
Years 7 - 10 Semester 1 reports available on SEQTA |