International Women's Day Breakfast - Thursday 6 March

We've had a fantastic response to our second International Women's Day Breakfast with tickets selling extremely well. Please get in fast to secure the remaining tickets.

Join us for an inspiring morning! Stella Maris College warmly invites you to our second International Women’s Day Breakfast on Thursday, 6 March, at the beautiful Manly Golf Club. Be uplifted by the stories and insights of two extraordinary Stella alumni as we celebrate the power and achievements of women.

This year’s theme is For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.

Education is a powerful tool in shaping the future of women and girls, and International Women's Day offers a chance to celebrate our progress while looking ahead to the work still to be done in creating a world that empowers women and girls everywhere. Our alumni are living testaments to the transformative impact of education, and we are excited to celebrate that on this day.

The panel will feature alumni Rachel Nunn (SMC Class of 2012) and Gemma Williams (SMC Class of 2016) who will share stories from their personal and professional journeys, reflecting on the challenges they've faced, the triumphs they've achieved, and how they have been empowered along the way, highlighting the role we can all play in empowering others.

We hope you can join us on March 6, alongside your daughters, to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Please note a parent/carer is required to accompany each student.

After School Stella Tutors

Did you know that free tutoring is offered to Stella students from Monday to Thursday after school in the Library?

If your daughter needs assignment or homework help, assistance preparing for exams or just a little guidance grasping concepts covered in class, suggest she signs up to see one of our Stella Tutors.

Our tutors are recent graduates who achieved incredibly well in their HSC.

Please refer to the attached Tutor Schedule for details on how your daughter can access the tutors.

Study Skills Program

Stella Maris operates a Study Skills Program for students utilising both our expert staff and an external expert – Dr Prue Salter.

An outline of the Program follows:

• Year 7: student and parent study skills evening via TEAMS with Dr Prue Salter, 8 May: 6.00 – 7:30pm
• Year 8: Stella staff presentation at a year meeting
• Year 9: Stella staff presentation at a year meeting
• Year 10: Stella staff presentation at a year meeting
• Year 11: student study skills session P5, 20 February with Dr Prue Salter
• Year 12: student study skills session P5, 2 June with Dr Prue Salter

The College is also a subscriber to the study skills website www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

This website has many resources to help develop essential skills for academic success. Topics include: improving time management skills, how to study, research skills, summarising, technology use, brain and memory and much more. Everything needed to become a more powerful learner and improve marks at school can be found on this site. There are also lots of useful handouts, grids and planners at the bottom of the THINGS TO PRINT page.

To access the handbook, go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au or click the tile on the SEQTA landing page and login with these details:

username: stellamaris
password: success52

We hope this valuable resource can help every student become a more efficient learner.

Emotional Coaching for Parents

Macquarie University Psychology Clinic is running a six-week program which assists parents or carers to develop skills to help their children understand and manage their emotions through emotionally responsive parenting. See the flyer for further details.

Supporting Men to Connect to their Teens

This two night workshop (12 and 19 March) provides tips and tools to help dads and male carers connect to their teen. Men's counsellor and father of two teens, Adrian Workman, will lead this interactive forum.

Community Notices

12 Angry Jurors - coming to Star of the Sea Theatre

Point Break Theatre Company is super excited to announce their upcoming production of the brilliant American play, "12 Angry Jurors" (men and women) at the Star of the Sea Theatre, Manly from 27 March to 6 April.

Give Blood

Got a bit of time this month? Time to give blood and change lives? 1 in 3 people in Dee Why will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. We’re rolling into town from 15 to 27 February. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95.

Dee Why Mobile Blood Donor Centre

Friday 21 February 9 am – 2 pm
Saturday 22 February 9 am – 2 pm
Sunday 23 February 9 am – 2 pm

Monday 24 February 1 pm – 6 pm
Tuesday 25 February 1 pm – 6 pm
Wednesday 26 February 1 pm – 6 pm
Thursday 27 February 1 pm – 6 pm

The information below is published to help parents/carers navigate College procedures.

Absences, Early Exits or Late Arrivals

Parents/caregivers are required to notify of a student’s absence as soon as practical and no later than seven days from the first day of absence using our Stella App (under the Absentee tile). Where your daughter is absent with an illness, provide a brief explanation of symptoms (eg cold, headache, COVID-19 etc).

Where students are involved in Elite Sport/Arts, please submit your request for approval via the Stella App.

Early Exit or Late Arrival

Where a student is exiting before the official end of the school day (prior to 3:20pm), is arriving late to school (after 8:50am), or will be absent from a before or after school lesson, please notify Student Services as soon as practical. The student is required to visit Student Services to sign-in or sign-out of school grounds. *Year 7 to 10 students will need to be collected from Student Services by a parent/caregiver when departing the school grounds early.*

Where a student is leaving during a lesson, the student is to visit Student Services (before school, during Recess or Lunch) to obtain a Leave Pass to give to the teacher allowing them to be released from class. The student then proceeds to the Student Services office to meet parent/caregiver and be signed-out of school grounds.

Where a student is leaving during Recess or Lunch, the student is to proceed to the Student Services office to meet the parent/caregiver and sign-out of the school grounds.

* 10 students can leave the school grounds without a parent/caregiver if we have received this request in writing via the Stella App.

Student illness during school hours

Where a student is feeling unwell, they can visit the Student Services office. Our team will conduct a basic assessment with a view for them to return to lessons.

Parents/caregivers will be contacted if it is best for the student to be sent home.

Medical Plans and Medication

Where a student has a serious medical condition which requires a rapid response you must upload information to Consent2Go.

This would include:

• a clearly scanned Health Care Plan (may also be known as a Medical Plan, Care Plan or Action Plan), and

• associated in-date medication (either prescribed or over-the-counter). Parents/caregivers will be notified if medication is due to expire.

Contact our Student Services office for assistance or guidance.

Over-the-counter medication

Our staff do not provide, supply or administer 'over-the-counter' medication (eg Panadol, Clarantyne, Zyrtec etc).

This is in accordance with NSW Government - Education, where schools do not generally supply or administer medications, unless they have been provided by parents/caregivers, as part of an individual health care plan for a specific student.

NSW Health advises that ‘over-the- counter’ medication may still be harmful and schools should follow the same procedures for non-prescribed medications as for prescribed medications.

It should be noted however that in any life-threatening situation, the welfare of the student is paramount and must be dealt with immediate priority, even if there is no appropriate individual Health Care Plan in place.

Special Notes

• Please label personal belongings (including wireless devices), uniforms, pencil cases and lunch containers so they can be returned to students.
• The Kiss and Drop Zones is located at: - Iluka Avenue 8:00am - 9:30am and 2:30pm - 4:00pm. Please respect our neighbours and avoid obstructing driveways.
• P Plate drivers are encouraged to read all parking signage as significant penalties can apply. All student drivers must complete a driving contract - students to see the Head of Year.
  

Cambodia Reflection

By Lily N

I want to share a bit about my experience on the Cambodia trip. It really hit me hard, in a good way. When you step out of your own life and see how others live, you can’t help but be struck by just how much we take for granted.

We visited small villages, where families live in tin shacks or under tarps with nothing but hammocks. The kids we met were so full of joy, smiling with these huge dimples, and grateful for everything they had—even though it was so little. It made me realise how materialism just doesn’t exist in places like this. They live with so much less, but they still have this amazing sense of happiness.

What really stuck with me was how connecting across a language and cultural barrier completely stripped away my ego. For the first time in a long time, I felt authentic again. And watching the other girls in my group—just being themselves, without the pressure of stuff or status—was so powerful.

The kids there, they had such innocent curiosity about us—girls from the outside world—and it hit me how education is their only chance to change their reality. English is their ticket to even a small shot at a better life. But, many of them will never get that opportunity. They can’t afford a bike to get to the city, let alone the chance to learn English and connect with people who could help them.

That’s when I really understood how lucky we are. We have access to an education, incredible teachers, and opportunities that they could only dream of. So, if there’s one thing I want to share with all of you, it’s to never take that for granted. Cherish your education, give it your all, because it’s something that can truly change your life—and for some people, it’s the difference between staying stuck or moving forward. You can be whoever and do whatever you want with these opportunities.

I’ll never stop questioning why I was born into a life of privilege, while so many others have so little. But, if anything, it’s made me even more determined to make the most of what I have, and to never forget how lucky I am.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

Exclusive Shopping Program at Kathmandu for Stella

Kathmandu Macquarie is pleased to invite Stella families to its exclusive shopping program. They offer a one-off Gear-up discount on purchases across the entire range.

During this event, Kathmandu staff will offer guidance and expertise, from important information on correctly fitting backpacks, different sleeping bag options, choosing the correct footwear, to technical information on clothing and apparel.

This is an ideal opportunity to learn more about what is needed for upcoming adventure to ensure you will be safe and comfortable. Present the flyer below to gain access to the community discount.

OnSTAGE Excursion

On February 10, the Year 11 and 12 Drama class attended OnSTAGE at the Seymour Centre's York Theatre. OnSTAGE is an annual event that showcases exemplary individual and group projects from the previous year's Higher School Certificate (HSC) Drama students.

The program featured a variety of performances, including video dramas and moved readings of scripts. These pieces were selected for their excellence in execution and artistic vision. The students had the chance to experience a wide range of work, gaining a deeper understanding of the diverse approaches to Drama within the HSC.

In addition to the performances, the OnSTAGE exhibition displayed a range of projects such as costume and set designs, promotional materials, and theatre reviews. It was inspiring to see how the students expressed their creativity beyond performance, showcasing their skills in multiple aspects of theatre production.

Attending OnSTAGE allowed the students to gain valuable insights into the level of work expected at the HSC level. It also provided them with the opportunity to learn from the success of other students and find inspiration for their own future drama projects.

Some of the exhibited works are included in the photo gallery below.

Term 1 Sport

It has been a wonderful start to the year in Stella Sport! There are hundreds of Stella students enjoying participating in a wide range of sports. All of our development programs are at capacity and the students are having fun getting fit and learning new sports!

Our sporting teams have also had a great start to their seasons.

Touch Football

This term we have two teams entered in the Independent Girls' Schools Association (IGSA) touch competition which is played on Saturday mornings, and 11 teams in the Peninsula Cup competition on Monday afternoons.

Our IGSA teams are both off to a fantastic start, winning all games so far.

Our Peninsula Cup teams had a wash-out in round one but had great games in round 2. It is wonderful to see so many Stella teams out at Nolan Reserve on Monday afternoons.

Water Polo

The junior competition kicked off a couple of weeks ago. Stella has four teams playing in the Northern Beaches Water Polo competition at Manly Pool on Friday evenings. Our Year 8 teams has the advantage of a year of water polo experience, so have had great success in their games. Our Year 7 teams are all new to the sport of water polo, so are enjoying learning a new sport and are improving with each training session and game.

AFL

Stella has teams playing in the IGSA competition on Saturday afternoons. The Year 9/10 team has had an amazing start to the season, winning both of their games by more than 70 points! The Year 7/8 team have had a win and a loss, and are learning quickly how to play AFL!

Tennis

This term we have lots of tennis: there are 40 students participating in tennis lessons, our Tildesley squad is training twice a week in preparation for the Tildesley Tournament and we have two teams playing in the weekly IGSA competition on Saturday mornings. The IGSA competition is proving more challenging this season, which is great practice in the lead up to Tildesley. Our Year 8/9 team remains undefeated at this stage!

Basketball

The Manly Warringah Basketball Competition commenced this week. The Stella teams are enjoying the start to the season and have been pleased to train at our new indoor training venue in Seaforth. We look forward to a great year of basketball.

Rugby 7s

Rugby 7s training commenced this week. Our teams are preparing for the Peninsula Cup Carnival which will be held in April. Any student who is interested in playing but has not yet signed up, should email Mrs Jenny Wickham to sign up before next week.

Cross Country

The Stella Cross Country Carnival will be held on Tuesday 1 April.

Training is held on Wednesday mornings at 7.15am at school. Students who would like to get fit in preparation for the races should sign up on the link they have been emailed. All students are welcome to attend training.

Upcoming Events

• NSWCCC Triathlon: Thursday 27 February
• Stella Swimming Carnival: Friday 28 February
• CGSSSA Netball: Tuesday 11 March
• IGSA Swimming and Diving: Friday 14 March
• CGSSSA Swimming: Tuesday 18 March
• Tildesley Tennis: Wednesday 19 – Friday 21 March

Stella Sporting Stars

Congratulations to our Stella sporting stars who have achieved success in their various sports:

Lara M (Year 10) played in the NSW U16 rugby 7s team against Queensland last week. The NSW team won all four games of the series!

Zoe B (Year 12) competed at the Australian Surf Rowers event last week. Zoe’s team won the U17 event and finished 5^th in the U19 event.

Stella Swimming Carnival

Date: Friday 28 February, 2025
Venue: Manly Pool (Andrew Boy Charlton Aquatic Centre)
Dress: House colours in the theme of “Animals”

The Stella Swimming Carnival is a compulsory school day for all students in Years 7 – 12.

Time: 8.40am – 3.20pm

All students should be at school by 8.40am for PC. Students will walk to the pool in PC groups. All students are required to walk back to Stella at the conclusion of the carnival and will be dismissed from school at 3.20pm.

No student will be permitted to go home directly from the pool.

What to wear:

HOUSE COLOURS in the theme: “Animals”

All students will need a one-piece swimming costume and house coloured swimming cap (available from the uniform shop).

No singlet tops or inappropriate length shorts. Covered shoes must be worn for the walk to and from the pool.

Other important information:

• There will be NO CANTEEN on the day. Students will need to bring all food and drink for the day.
• Bring a hat and plenty of suncream
• No coloured hair spray, feathers or coloured streamers allowed at the pool
• Students must remain in their house areas when they are not competing. The indoor pools and children’s pools are out of bounds.
• Normal school rules apply for the day.
• NO PHONES will be allowed. All students should leave their phone at school in their locker or home.
• WET WEATHER: Please keep an eye on emails for any changes to the carnival due to wet weather.

The events:

Entries for Championship events will close at 5.00pm on Friday 21 February. All students have been sent the link to enter championship races.

Students may enter non-championship races on the day (50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Backstroke).

It is expected that all students will participate.

There will be fun out of the water as well: students are encouraged to dress up for the fashion parade, as well as get involved in the cheering, relays etc.

There is no scheduled lunch break. Students are encouraged to bring their own healthy snacks and lunch for the day. THERE IS NO CANTEEN AVAILABLE FOR THE STUDENTS.

WE ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE! IT IS A FUN DAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE STELLA GIRLS SWIMMING, CHEERING AND BEING INVOLVED IN THIS GREAT EVENT!

Risk Warning

Stella Maris College is obliged to share the following risk warning with parents and carers regarding sporting activities.

(Under Section 5M of Civil Liability Act 2002)
On Behalf of Stella Maris College and IGSA.

Sporting Activities

Stella Maris organises many individual and team sporting activities during the course of a year. Some of these are organised in conjunction with IGSA Sport, a sub-committee of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools NSW (AHIGS), now trading as IGSA. Students participating in these sporting activities take part in practice and in competitions.

Stella Maris and IGSA Sport expect students to take responsibility for their own safety by wearing compulsory safety equipment, by thinking carefully about the use of safety equipment that is highly recommended and by behaving in a safe and responsible manner towards team members, opponents, spectators, officials, property and grounds.

Stella Maris and IGSA Sport also expect parents, spectators and other participants to behave in a safe and responsible manner, to comply with the Codes of Conduct and to set a good example for the girls.

While Stella Maris and IGSA Sport take measures to make the sporting activities as safe as reasonably possible for participants, there is a risk that students can be injured and suffer loss (including financial loss) and damage as a result of their participation in these sporting activities, whether at training or in actual events.

Such injury can occur while the student is engaging in or watching a sporting activity, or travelling to and from the event. The injury may result from a student's actions, the actions of others, the state of the premises or equipment failure.

On some occasions, an injury can be serious (such as torn ligaments, dislocations, back injuries, concussion or broken bones). In very rare cases an injury can be life threatening or result in permanent disability. If a student has a pre-existing injury, participating in a sporting activity could result in an exacerbation of that injury.

Students could also suffer loss as a result of their personal property being lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

Stella Sunset Social is on Tonight!

Stella Sunset Social: Thursday 20 February - welcome to (or back to) school

This is your last chance to join us for the Stella Sunset Social tonight. It’s a welcome back-to-school event for all parents and carers across any year (please note that no girls can attend). It also serves as an opportunity to welcome our Year 7 parents and carers and our new principal, Sharyn Quirk. Tickets are still on sale for $29. It’s not too late to grab your ticket and join us this evening. $2 will be donated to the Good Sams Foundation from each ticket sold.

🔗 Click here and join us tonight: https://events.humanitix.com/stella-sunset-social-2025

Year 7 Social at Freshwater Brewery: Thursday 20 March

Join us for a unique social event exclusively for Year 7 parents and carers at Freshwater Brewery in Brookvale on Thursday 20 March. Hosted by your Year 7 WhatsApp admin and P&F Exec, this casual and enjoyable evening will be held on Thursday 20 March.

Tickets are $19 and include your first drink and nibbles.

🔗 Grab your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/year-7-parent-and-carer-mixer

Stella Fellas Barefoot Bowling – Sunday 30 March, at Manly Bowling Club

You're warmly invited to join the Stella Fellas for an afternoon of Barefoot Bowls on Sunday 30 March 2025, at the Manly Bowling Club (59 Raglan Street, Manly, NSW 2095), just a short stroll from Manly Beach.

Look forward to some friendly competition and a chance to connect with other dads and male carers. This includes thorough instruction and all the necessary gear to guarantee a fantastic bowling time.

🎳 Tickets are on sale now for $29
🔗 https://events.humanitix.com/stella-fellas-barefoot-bowling

Help Needed - Open Evening BBQ – Wednesday 19 March

On Wednesday 19 March the school will host its Open Evening for prospective students from 4.00pm - 7.30pm. The P&F will operate the BBQ to support the school, and we need volunteers to help set up, cook, and serve about 500 sausages within three hours.

If you can spare an hour or two, we’ll need around 20 volunteers to cover one-hour shifts from 3.00pm to 8.00pm.

🔗 Sign up by Friday 11 March: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4CADA823A5FA7-54503467-stella

Save the Date - Term 1 P&F General Meeting with Special Q&A

Join us for the P&F General Meeting on April 3rd at 7:30 PM, where we’ll discuss the exciting opportunities to take on roles within the P&F at the upcoming AGM in May. This is a fantastic chance to contribute to our community and shape the future of our programs. We’re also thrilled to host a special Q&A session with our new principal, Sharyn Quirk. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Principal Quirk and learn about her vision for the school. Be sure to secure your spot now by registering at https://events.humanitix.com/s....

The Uniform Shop is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 8.00am to 4.30pm during term and can be emailed on:

uniform_books@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au

Year 9 and 10 Elective Music books have arrived at the Uniform Shop. A few students are required to purchase this from the Uniform Shop.

The Swimming Carnival is on Friday 28 February. Coloured house swim caps are available in limited numbers online. These can also be purchased elsewhere.

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

Term 1

2025

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4