Dear Parents, Friends and Guardians

COMING EVENTS

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays On behalf of our staff, I would like to wish our parents and children a happy, holy and safe Christmas break. It has been a long year with many exciting things happening and many more sure to be on the horizon as the thrill of Christmas holidays and Christmas Day approach. It has been a joy to work with the children this year and the support from you as our parent body has been overwhelming. Detailed within this newsletter are the mass times for the Christmas liturgical celebrations. I would strongly encourage all of our families to take the opportunity to be a part of the parish celebrations, not only at Christmas, but also over the next few weeks as the Church moves through the season of Advent – the Preparation time for Christ’s arrival. Please take the time to talk with your children about the real meaning for Christmas as it often gets swamped by the commercial tide of consumerism. I trust that all families get to spend quality time together and with extended family if possible so that all can share in the joy of the new born Christ – a symbol of hope for our world. Goodbye to Fr Rafal By the time we come back for the next school year our Associate Pastor, Fr Rafal Rucinski, would have left our parish to take up his new position. From 1 January Fr Rafal will take up the role as Parish Priest of Nerang parish. Fr Rafal has been a great supporter of our school and he knows many of the children through their involvement with the weekend masses and Sacramental programs. On your behalf I would like to wish Fr Rafal well for his pending move. Father Pat won’t be left all alone as he will be joined by Fr Peter Gablonski during January. Fr Peter comes to us from Surfers Paradise parish where he is an Associate Pastor. Thanks to Staff & Parents A school the size of Marymount cannot possibly run effectively unless our staff and parent body work in partnership. I would like to thank our whole staff who diligently work to create an environment which is conducive to productive learning. This is not only our teachers but also our office staff and specialist staff – without their combined efforts we would not be able to offer the many things which we do to our children. Their efforts would be in vain however if not for the support from yourselves as parents, either through our P & F Association, or through the army of helpers who invade our school on a daily basis. This partnership is crucial to the success of our children and I pray that this tremendous shared vision for our children continues on into 2012 and beyond. Annual Awards Assembly Today we celebrated our last Wednesday assembly with the presentation of our major school awards. These awards are presented to children in the following areas and are selected by our staff. My congratulations go to the children who have received these awards: * Spirit of Mary Award 2011 – Abigail Joseph * St Vincent de Paul Inspiration Award 2011 – Max Miskell * Simon Hogan Memorial Music Award 2011 – Paije Hockings * Sportsperson of the Year 2011 – Jake Lizoguboff * Sports Encouragement Award 2011 – Claudia-Rose Slaven * Pat Dolan Bursary Award –Nash Viso * Charlie Clark Memorial “Aussie Allrounder” Award - Dominic Larkin Grade 7 End of Year Liturgy – Wednesday, 30 November Tonight we will celebrate our Farewell Liturgy for our Year 7 children. Fr Pat Molony, our Parish Priest, will lead us in prayers of thanksgiving for the children and bless them as they leave our school and head into secondary schooling. The liturgy is one which the children and their teachers have put a lot of time into and their theme is one which has been central to their classes throughout the year. I would like the wish our Year 7 children well for their future schooling years – they have been an excellent group of children who have been positive role models for the rest of our school.

continued over...

PO Box 2506 Burleigh BC 4220 Phone:(07) 5535 1803 Fax: (07) 5535 1819 Email: pburleigh@bne.catholic.edu.au

MASS TIMES Children Mass

(Doyle Centre - children read at Mass) 5.30pm 1st Sunday of each month

Children’s Liturgy of the Word (Doyle Centre - children are with-

drawn for brief lesson) 10.00am 2nd & 4th Sundays; 5.30pm 3rd Sunday 8.30am each Sunday at St Benedict’s, Mudgeeraba

Parish Mass Times Sat—5.00pm Miami; 6.00pm at Palm Beach; 6.15pm at Burleigh Heads; Sun-7.00am at Palm Beach & Burleigh; 8.30am at Mudgeeraba & Miami; 10.00am at Doyle Centre; 5.30pm at Doyle Centre

Wednesday 30 November Whole School Assembly— End of Year Awards LAST DAY FOR TUCKSHOP Thursday 1 December Year 7 Activity Day Friday 2 December Yr 7 Breakfast 10.00am-Final School Assembly SCHOOL FINISHES MIDDAY

SCHOOL RESUMES FOR 2012 TUESDAY

JANUARY 24 2012

These are details of upcoming events organised by Patron Parents on behalf of the families in the respective classes. Invitations have also been distributed via your child. In most cases, there is no need to RSVP; you are most welcome to

simply turn up and enjoy the company of others!

2GC - Laguna Park Thursday 15 December—10.00am—Wendi

More Staffing News We will have another staff change for next year with one of Prep Teacher Assistants, Sharon Cooke, deciding to take a year off from her normal duties. Sharon has worked for the last few years in tandem with Jane Lennon in the Prep level and has done a tremendous job. We wish Sharon well for her time of leave and look forward to welcoming her back in 2013. Sharon’s replacement will be finalised before the end of term. Last Day of School and First Day for 2012 This Friday is our last school day for 2011 as we finish at midday. I would remind parents that there are no buses at this time and that there will be no school supervision from this time onwards. If your child is going to Outside School Hours Care then this should have been booked. Please take the time to speak to your child to ensure they are fully aware of their pick-up arrangements for this day. We will be holding an assembly in the Doyle Centre at 10.00am to say farewell to some staff members and after this, the children will go to Morning Tea. Last year we started a tradition for the current Year 7 classes to be awarded a Guard of Honour. This will happen again for these children and they will process through the school and down the Frank Shine Walk to be collected by their parents at 11.45am in the forecourt area of the Doyle Centre. After this, normal classes will conclude. School will commence for our 2012 year on Tuesday, 24 January at 8.40am. (The Monday will be a Staff Development day). Good Luck to those Moving on & Thank You A number of our staff finish with us this Friday as do many families who have been associated with our school for many years. Some of our staff are contract teachers and they may return for future stints with us and so we say thanks for their efforts this year to Melissa Redman and Jane Powell. Our full time staff moving on are Sandra Buttenshaw (Retiring), Iris Burnell (Extended Long Service Leave), Tony Barron (returning to St Joseph’s at Beenleigh) and Gemma Walker (who is on 12 month teaching duties at Jubilee Primary School). I would like to thank these staff members for their support of our children and wish them well. To those families leaving Marymount for the last time I offer our heartiest thanks for the support which you have provided to our school – it has been greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading – enjoy the holidays, I look forward to seeing you all again in 2012. Yours in Christ Greg Casey

Around the classes… Patron Parent Events

Goodbye and Thank you This is my last column for the newsletter. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many wonderful people that I have met in my 18 months here at Marymount. To the children…What a wonderful group of children and young adults we have in our community. A friendly, polite group whom I will miss seeing each day. Best of luck for the future. To the parents….Thank you for your support and friendship during my time here. I have met some amazing people who care greatly about this community. To the staff….Probably the best staff I have worked with in nearly 20 years of Education. Supportive, professional, caring, dedicated and enthusiastic…the list goes on. To Greg, Annette and Bernadette…. A Leadership team who places Marymount first and are nothing but professional in all they do. It has been great working with you all. Next year I return to St Joseph’s at Beenleigh as Assistant Principal where I will take back some wonderful memories. Enough of the sentimental, mushy stuff… Enjoy the holidays, stay safe, and have a wonderful Christmas. Tony Barron PS Go the Broncos and Titans for 2012!!!

Ella-Grace Kerr- 4MQ placed First in 9year old girls

Physical Culture Australian Championships

held at Homebush, Sydney on Sunday

November 27.

TERM DATES 2012TERM DATES 2012 Term 1 — January 24 — March 30 Students commence Tues. 24th Jan. 2012

Australia Day Public Holiday Thurs. 26 Jan.

Term 2 — April 16 — June 22 Term 3— July 9 — September 21 Term 4 — October 8 — December 7

Pupil Free Day Mon. 22 October 2012

Parish News The Parish Sacramental Policy has recently been updated and is now available on the school and parish websites for your information. This document has been prepared by the sacramental team and reflects the most current information and arrangements for this parish. Some requirements and practices vary in other parishes and diocese, so please make yourself aware of the local a r rangemen ts . On the schoo l webs i te–www.mps.qld.edu.au - go to the ‘Our School’ tab and drop down to ‘Parish’. On the parish website - www.burleighheadscatholic.com.au – go to the ‘Sacraments’ tab on the left. Burleigh Parish Mass times for the Christmas season are also on the parish website.

More light than we can learn,

More wealth than we can treasure,

More love than we can earn, More peace than we can

measure, Because one child is born.

Christopher Fry

Bernadette Christensen

Spirit of Mary Award 2011 – Abigail Joseph St Vincent de Paul Inspiration Award 2011 – Max Miskell

Simon Hogan Memorial Music Award 2011 – Paije Hockings Sportsperson of the Year 2011 – Jake Lizoguboff

Sports Encouragement Award 2011 – Claudia-Rose Slaven Pat Dolan Bursary Award –Nash Viso

Charlie Clark Memorial “Aussie Allrounder” Award - Dominic Larkin

The extended family of Pat Dolan presented Nash Viso with his award at today’s assembly.

CHRISTMAS MASSES

You will be warmly welcomed at our Parish Christmas Masses. The timetable is: Christmas Eve…

6 pm Marymount Hall - this will be a family Mass with involvement for the young ones. We would love them to dress as shepherds, kings, angels..etc and please be there 10 or 15 mins early to make sure you have a seat.

Miami - 5 pm Palm Beach— 6 pm Mudgeeraba— 5 pm Infant Saviour— 7.30 pm

Infant Saviour - Midnight CHRISTMAS DAY

Infant Saviour 7 am Palm Beach 7 am Miami 8.30 am Mudgeeraba 8.30 am Marymount Hall 10 am

Seven Year 10 boys visited the Year 2

classroom yesterday where they read to the students. The

stories were written by students in Year

10 class for the Religion unit relating

to Parables in the bible.

BURLEIGH HEADS CATHOLIC PARISH

Parish Office Hours 9.00am to 5.00pm 3 Sunlight Drive, Burleigh Waters (Postal PO Box 73, Burleigh Heads) PHONE: 5576 6317/5576 6466 FAX: 5576 7143 Parish Manager: Mr Jim Littlefield Parish Pastoral Team EMAIL: burleigh@bne.catholic.net.au

Parish Pastor: Fr Pat Molony Associate Pastor: Fr Rafal Rucinski Pastoral Associates: Sr Patricia Tomlinson, Sr Moira Broderick

TENNIS AND SPORTS CLINIC Held from Monday 5 December to Friday 9 December

9.00am to 2.00pm All ages and standards catered for.

Sports include: Tennis; table tennis; cricket; basketball; soccer; swimming and much more.

Bookings essential Collect booking form from Student Reception or

contact John Greig on 0417 634 524

It is hard to believe today is our last newsletter for 2011. The tuckshop has had a fantastic year with the introduction of our veggie patch; nude lunches and some fun food theme days. Thank you for your support. The tuckshop cannot operate without the generous support of our volunteers. Thank you so much to the small band of ladies and gents who keep our children fed and happy. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy holidays. I have made some great friendships during this year and look forward to welcoming you back in 2012. Calling all HELPERS...the tuckshop needs volunteers for 2012, PLEASE fill out the slip below and return to the tuckshop no later than this Friday, or call and let me know the day you would be able to help out. Farewell and thankyou to our Year 7 students. You have been a very courteous group of children. Your help throughout the year has been greatly appreciated. Good luck and best wishes as you head off to high school!

THE TUCKSHOP WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Merry Christmas to all and may you enjoy

safe and happy holidays.

Vicki Turner

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO THE TUCKSHOP BEFORE THE END OF TERM.

Name:_______________________________________ Contact Phone No:____________________________ Child’s Name and Class: ________________ Preferred Day or Days: _________________________ Anyone in particular you would like to work with

_____________________________

N.B. Please note, due to Health and Safety requirements children are not permitted in the tuckshop.

“Christmas in Miami” … calling all little angels, young shepherds and

wise men!

You and your family are invited to Calvary Church

Miami on Wednesday 7th December at 7pm to hear the retelling of the Miracle of Christmas, sing some

Christmas Carols, enjoy a sausage sizzle and some Christmas treats!

To make sure we will have plenty of snags, ask your parents to drop an RSVP into the box near the Piety Stall at Calvary Church, Miami on it! See you there!

FOR SALE—Temby Signature flute. Great flute for beginners. Excellent condition. Phone Sonia 5576 6776

or 0427 758 280 for more details.