Stella Athletics Carnival

Date: Wednesday 6 May, 2026

Venue: ES Marks Athletics Track, Kensington

Time: PC will be held at school at 8.40am. Buses depart Stella from 8.45am and will return at the conclusion of the carnival.

Buses will be provided to transport ALL students to and from the carnival. There will be two early buses which depart at 7.30am for House Captains and competitors in the discus, javelin and 1500m events.

What to Wear

House colours in the theme: ‘DISCO’

Students should dress up in their house colours, and are encouraged to get involved in the theme disco (glitter, sparkles, tutus, neon/bright, jumpsuits – lots of house colours!) Please ensure clothes are suitable for athletics events, including appropriate sport shoes.

Javelin, Discus and 1500m Events: these events will be held before the start of the carnival. Students who have signed up for these events must catch the bus that departs Stella at 7.30am. A separate Consent2Go will be sent for the early bus.

Please note that the carnival is a compulsory school day.

Parents/guardians should follow regular absentee procedures if their daughter is unwell. Carnivals are whole day College events. Students in Years 7 – 12 are required to be present all day.

• Entries for the championship running events and field events have closed. If anyone missed registration, please email Ms Jenny Wickham with name, age groups and events by this Friday 1 May. (Note: all field events require registration).
• Students may enter the non-championship 100m, 200m, and 800m as well as some fun novelty events on the day.
• There are no finals for any event. Overall placings will be calculated on times.
• We encourage all students to get involved in lots of events!
• Please bring sun cream and hat.
• There will be NO CANTEEN at the carnival. Students will need to pack ALL FOOD AND DRINK for the day.
• Phones should be left at home or at school – NO PHONES at the carnival.
• The carnival will conclude at 2.15pm. Students will then return to school in time for a 3.20pm dismissal.
• Carnivals are “no drive days” for Senior students.

The Athletics Carnival will be a fun day. We encourage all students to get involved in all of the fun events and cheering!

A reminder to all parents/guardians to approve the Consent2Go permission note by Tuesday 5 May.

2026 School Photos

Wednesday 3 June - Main Photo Day (PC Group and Portrait Photos)

Wednesday 10 June - Sibling and Absentee Portrait photos

To order visit: www.advancedlife.com.au and enter online order code: KY8 HAC 97W

OR have your child collect an envelope from Student Services, place cash into the envelope along with order and your child will be required to hand the envelope to the photographer on the day.

Additional Information

• Sibling Photos - You need to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope (collect from Student Services) first thing in the morning of the day of photography.
• 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 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.

Wednesday Breakfast Club - a fun and positive way to start the day

Wednesday Breakfast Club is a positive and fun space for any students who arrive at school early. It’s especially there for those who might not always have a regular place to sit in the mornings, may be navigating some ups and downs with friendships, or simply feel like starting the day with a bit of fun and friendly competition (especially against Mrs Burke and Ms Mezger!!)

At Breakfast Club, we talk, laugh, play all sorts of games, and build genuine connections. There’s something for everyone - whether you’re looking for company, a sense of belonging, or just a chance to show off your competitive spirit!

Of course, there’s also breakfast. Students can enjoy toast, fruit, cereal, and a cup of hot chocolate to kickstart their morning.

Many of our senior prefects join in each week to lead the games and help to create a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome.

We’d love to see you there - Wednesdays from 7:30am in G109.

Mother's Day Breakfast - RSVPs close tomorrow

We extend a warm invitation to all Stella mums, grandmothers and special female figures in the lives of our students to our traditional Mother’s Day Breakfast on Friday 8 May from 7.30am.

Please note, for catering purposes, we have a strict RSVP date of Friday 1 May. Please ensure you include your daughter/s in numbers when booking tickets.

Student Learning Conferences (SLCs)

Student Learning Conferences (SLCs) provide an opportunity for parents, teachers and students to discuss student progress to date in 2026, and to collaboratively set learning goals and strategies for ongoing improvement.

There are two more dates available to book

• SLC #3 - May 5 2026 - Term 2 Week 3
• SLC #4 - 22 July 2026 - Term 3 Week 1

MS Teams

This year’s SLCs will again be conducted through MS Teams. In preparation, your daughter(s) will be instructed as to how it will work.

Login instructions

Interviews are booked online through an external provider called Booked. Please do not attempt to use your Stella Online login, or your past login details for Booked (previously known as PTO), as neither will work. Instructions for obtaining login details are below and are clearly explained within the document. Although you will be able to obtain login details, please be aware that you will only have access to book at the times/dates mentioned above. We highly recommend that you leave a gap between interviews (i.e. do not make bookings back-to-back). Use a computer to access Booked, rather than a phone or tablet.

One set of interviews

Currently only one parent (Carer 1 as registered on our records) has been set-up in Booked to avoid both parents inadvertently making a booking. Once the booking is made however, both parents can attend the interviews, on separate devices if needed. In this scenario, the teacher will “call” the student’s laptop (as per all interviews), and any parent not physically sitting with the student will be waiting in the MS Teams lobby (more info to follow) once they click on the teacher’s link.

Shared custody arrangements

We recognise that shared custody arrangements can make SLCs more complex for families. However, we are unable to offer separate meetings for the same student. Many of our teachers are fully booked and unable to accommodate all existing requests, so allocating two slots for one student would not be fair to other families. In addition, our conferences are student-centred, and the student’s presence is essential to meaningful discussions about their learning. Attending two meetings with each teacher places undue stress and anxiety on the student. We aim to keep the experience supportive and positive for them, and suggest the following options to support shared participation:

• Divide subject areas so that each parent can attend some conferences.
• Alternate attendance year by year.
• Use SEQTA to stay informed about your daughter’s progress and feel free to contact staff via email with any concerns.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation and please refer to further instructions on the College app.

Beach2Beach - Super Early Bird Registrations Now Open

Each year, students and staff involved in the Duke of Edinburgh program proudly participate in the iconic Beach2Beach Fun Run to raise funds for Happy Days—a charity founded by Mike Pawley that supports the education of disadvantaged students in Cambodia. We warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join the college team in this year’s event and help us achieve the title of the Largest School Team for 2026! All prize money received will be donated to Happy Days in support of this wonderful cause.

Event Details
Date: Sunday, 23 August

Courses:

• 3 km: Mona Vale to Newport Beach
• 6 km: Warriewood to Newport Beach (Duke of Edinburgh students will participate in this event and will be registered by staff)
• 14 km and Half Marathon (16+ years): Dee Why to Newport Beach

Please use the Stella Maris College TEAM LINK to register with our team.

The Super Early Bird registrations are on now. Register before they sell out.

English News

Welcome back! I hope everyone is feeling well rested and ready for a fantastic and academic Term 2. Our Year 12 students were refreshed and eager to start work on the first morning back at school.

Here’s what we have to offer this term in addition to all the work going on in our busy English classrooms.

• Anything English - every morning at 8.00am at Bennies, every lunch time 1.45pm in the library, and Tuesday afternoons 3.30 – 4.30pm in the library. All are welcome. Please drop by if you have any questions about your English work, or if you need help with anything. An English teacher is rostered on every day and would love to help you.
• Classics Challenge – read 16 classics before you turn 16. See your English teacher or Mrs Christensen in the library for information.
• Read for Your House – every book you read will earn points for your House. See your English teacher or Mrs Christensen in the library for information.
• Debating - our debating team commences coaching and the ANVDC competition this term. We wish them luck!
• Writing Club – there are several good quality writing competitions open this term with great prizes on offer. See your English teacher or email me alison_tedman@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au for details.
• Education Perfect - is up and running for Years 7 – 9. Term 1 has seen a successful rollout and Term 2 will see a more focused approach as we target specific literacy skills for each cohort.
• Atomi - for Years 10 - 12. Work has been set for the term across most classes. Students can also opt in and do extra enrichment work to brush up on their skills. See your English teacher for guidance.

I encourage all students to do their very best in English this term, come along to Anything English whenever you need help, and get involved in one of the extra curricular activities on offer.

Please email me or one of the English team if you have any questions.

Mrs Tedman
Head of Department

Alison Tedman – Head of English alison_tedman@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au
Chloe Christensen – Assistant Head of English chloe_christensen@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au
Jocelyn Christensen – Teacher Librarian Jocelyn_christensen@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au

Geography News

Geography Excursions

Geography fieldwork is one of the most engaging parts of this contemporary subject, giving Stella students the chance to step beyond their classroom and experience the places they study firsthand. Exploring Sydney’s diverse environments helps bring the key concepts we learn in the classroom to life and makes learning both meaningful and memorable for years to come.

Year 8 students recently travelled to Narrabeen to investigate the coastal environment. From examining the formation of the headland and lagoon to observing longshore drift in action, students were able to see how natural processes and human management strategies shape our coastline.

Year 9 students explored Barangaroo as part of their Changing Places unit, gaining insight into how this once-industrial site has been transformed into a vibrant and sustainable urban precinct. It was a great opportunity to see how thoughtful planning can create spaces that are both functional and environmentally responsible.

Our Year 12 Geography students have also been busy in the field. At Darling Harbour, they analysed the area’s character, challenges, and sustainability initiatives, while their visit to the Careel Bay wetlands supported their study of ecosystems and biodiversity, offering a closer look at the complexity of natural systems.

These experiences not only strengthen students’ understanding of the syllabus but also highlight the enjoyment of studying Geography, a subject that encourages curiosity and a deeper connection to the world around them.

Thank you to Ms Kalinic and the HSIE Department for organising and supporting these wonderful experiences.

We can’t wait for our next excursions.

Abigail Walker
Teacher of Geography

Entertainment News

Year 11 and 12 Entertainment students seized an incredible real-world opportunity during the Easter holidays, taking their skills beyond the theatre and into one of Australia’s most iconic events - the Sydney Royal Easter Show. From orchestrating the flow of the iconic Grand Parade to working shoulder-to-shoulder with industry professionals, our students have been right in the thick of it. Handpicked to work alongside the Entertainment Directors of the Main Arena evening shows both in the control room, on the field, the wood chop and Woolworths Fresh Dome, they’ve not only gained invaluable behind-the-scenes experience, but have built genuine connections with the professionals who make it all happen. It’s been a masterclass in the industry - and our students have risen to every moment.

Mitchell Smith
Teacher of Entertainment

da Vinci Decathlon News

At the end of last term, two teams of Year 9 and 10 students represented Stella Maris at the da Vinci Decathlon. This highly challenging academic competition requires students to work collaboratively across ten disciplines, including Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography and Legacy.

Held at Central Coast Grammar School, the event brought together teams from across Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle, with strong competition in both year groups. Our Stella Maris teams demonstrated impressive persistence, diligence and teamwork throughout the day, achieving the following outstanding results:

Year 10

• 2^nd in Creative Producers
• 3^rd in English
• 3^rd in Art & Poetry

Year 9

• 3^rd in Engineering

Congratulations to these Stella Maris 2026 da Vinci Decathlon teams:

Year 10
Katie C, Chiara D, Kiera D, Charlie F, Isla K, Ruby M, Erin R and Eva S

Year 9

Mabel B, Ella C, Emma D, Femke E, Ella G, Maya H, Ava M and Lucy M

Year 7 and 8 will be competing in the da Vinci Decathlon later this term. We wish them the best of luck.

Cath Douglas
Head of Inclusive Learning

Library News

Classics Reading Challenge

Congratulations to Harper D (Year 8) and Taya W (Year 9) on completing the Classics Reading Challenge!

Harper and Taya have each read 16 classic novels during their time at Stella Maris College, demonstrating dedication, curiosity, and a genuine love of literature.

Harper’s selections included The Wizard of Oz, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. Taya’s reading journey featured The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Little Prince, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Their commitment to reading has been outstanding, and they should be very proud of this achievement.

Lunchtime Philosophy Club for curious students

Would you pull the lever?

A runaway trolley is speeding down the tracks. Two scenarios are at play that require an immediate decision to pull a lever to determine the destiny of the trolley.

What do you do?
Welcome to Philosophy Club — where we explore big questions, strange ideas, and real-life dilemmas… with zero pressure.

Who Should Come?

• Anyone who likes thinking, talking, or arguing (nicely!)
• Anyone who’s ever said, “that’s not fair” or “why?”

When and Where:

Location: G207
Time: Lunchtime
When: Every second Tuesday

Next Meeting : Tuesday 5 May

Music Updates

Anzac Day Assembly

Thank you to the Zara P and Vivienne T who played a moving rendition of the Last Post and Reveille at our Anzac Day assembly on Tuesday. Thank you also to the Year 12 Music 1 class for their performance of John Farnham's You're the Voice at the assembly. A highlight was Year 10 student, Daisy F on bagpipes.

We are so lucky to have such talented musicians who are always willing and prepared to perform in front of our school community at such a special assembly honouring our war veterans.

Battle of the Bands @ Stella Day

This year at Stella day, we will again be running ‘Battle of the Bands’. As usual, there will be an emphasis on fun performances and seeing who can get the crowd most involved. Elective Music students have been emailed with details but should you wish to take part, please get in touch with Mr Browett.

Dance News

Lat week the dance students were in full rehearsal mode during the two days of Dance Camp (Thursday and Friday). Whilst only 10 groups, out of the 24 dance groups that we have running this year, were involved in Dance Camp, it was incredibly valuable and not a minute was left to spare. The girls rehearsed non-stop all day, working hard on choreography, staging, and performance quality. It was intense, fun, exhausting, and rewarding. All the routines are starting to come together, and I cannot wait for them to hit the stage.

A huge thank you to all the girls who attended Dance Camp, and to our many talented teachers.

We kick off the competition season with the Extension Company teams at IRBD on May 23. All groups will then be showcased at the Semester 1 Dance Night on Friday 19 June, followed by the Extreme Eisteddfod Competition on Sunday 21 June. More competitions and performances will take place over Terms 3 and 4.

Rochelle Jones
Teacher of Dance

Sport Report

NSWCCC Touch Football

Congratulations to the Stella students who competed at the NSWCCC Touch Football Championships in Tuggerah from 21 - 22 April:

Under 15: Claudine S, Ruby H, Ella F, Beatrix B, Siena A

Open: Summer B, Ellie F, Charlotte B, April U, Lara M

These students were selected to represent CGSSSA at the Championships. Both teams played extremely well, with the U15 team making the semis, and the Open team winning the Championship! Special mention to Ellie F, who was selected into the NSWCCC Open touch team!

Well done girls!

CGSSSA Soccer Championships

The CGSSSA Soccer Championships were held at Macquarie University Sport Fields on Tuesday 28 April. It was a very high standard of competition, and our Stella teams were outstanding. Both our U15 and Open team went through the round games undefeated. The Open team had a tough semi final against Mt St Benedict, and were unlucky to lose in extra time golden goal.

The U15 team had a fantastic final series, winning the semi final 7 – 0 against Santa Sabina, and moved on to win the grand final 3 – 0 against Mt St Benedict to be crowned the 2026 CGSSSA Football Champions. They will now progress onto the NSWCCC Football knockout tournament. Well done to all players!

Emerging Matildas

The Emerging Matildas tournament was held in Melbourne over the holidays. Two students from Year 9: Evie M and Gracie B represented NSW at this tournament, which showcases the best football talent from all over Australia. Evie and Gracie had the most amazing time at this event! They experienced what it was like to play at the highest level of elite sport, play at the top football facility in the country and both played exceptional football! Their NSW team was successful in winning the GOLD MEDAL!! Both Evie and Gracie were instrumental in helping their team win the championship, scoring many goals between them and dominating all across the field. To top it all off, Evie was named Most Valuable Player for the whole tournament! Congratulations Evie and Gracie – we are all very proud of you!

Stella Sport Stars Shine at National Events in the Holidays

In addition to our soccer stars achieving outstanding results at the Emerging Matildas Championships in the holidays, we had several other students participating in national sporting championships! Well done to our elite athletes who are performing so well at such a high level!

Athletics

The Australian Junior Athletics Championships were held in Brisbane over the holidays. Ellie F and Bella R represented NSW at this event. Congratulations to Ellie who made the final of both the 100m and 200m, finishing 8th overall in both! Congratulations also to Bella R who ran PBs in both of her events, the 400m and 800m, finishing 12th and 14th overall. Well done!

Water Polo

The National Club Championships were held in Brisbane over the holidays. Stella had six students competing at these championships: Piper B, Florence M, Charlotte H, Heidi H, Isabella L, Florence W. Congratulations to the girls on their outstanding results. Special mention to Piper and Florence M who won medals in their teams!

Hockey

Well done to Isla S, Hannah L and Rileigh S who represented NSW in the National Hockey Champs over the holidays. Isla’s team won the silver medal – a great result for NSW! Best of luck to these girls who are playing at the NSWCCC trials this week.

Swimming

Congratulations to Zara D who swam at the Australian Age Swimming Championships in the Gold Coast. Zara had excellent results, topping off a great few days at the NSWCCC Championships earlier this month.

Sailing

Congratulations to Alana H who had a busy time sailing over the holidays. She started the holidays at the Nacra 15 National Championships in Lake Macquarie and finished second overall! From this great result she has been selected into the Australia Sailing National Youth Squad. This is a national development program for sailors training and competing in recognised youth pathway classes. This meant that in the second week of the holidays she took part in a three day residential camp at AIS in Canberra, learning about the training required to be at the top of your sport, including nutrition, mindset and strength and conditioning. Alana also competed at the Australian All Schools championships at Belmont in the holidays, finishing in 2^nd and 7^th in her events. Well done Alana!

Holiday Highlights

During the April school holidays, a group of our international students enjoyed a day out at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. From meeting farm animals to trying classic show treats and exploring Australian traditions, it was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience local culture and spend time together outside the classroom.

We also warmly welcome two new international students who have commenced this term. We look forward to supporting them as they settle into life at Stella Maris College.

Upcoming events

Mother's Day Raffle

Watch this space for details of our Mother's Day Raffle. The ticketing link will be distributed via the Stella App and WhatsApp groups in the coming days.

We have nine fabulous prizes up for grabs thanks to the generosity of the Stella community

1. Snowboard Nitro Women’s Alternator 146cm
Value: $999

2. Manly Pacific Hotel - overnight stay in an ocean view deluxe room including breakfast for two
Value: $950

3. Orthodontic assessment - free consult with X-rays and $500 off treatment
Value: $770

4. PharmaCare hamper
Value: $250

5. Harvest Lane voucher
Value: $200

6. Boathouse Group Voucher
Value: $100

7. Aquavitae 30-minute hot stone massage
Value: $120

8. 4 Pines Brewery Tour
Value: $100

9. Magnolia Home voucher
Value: $50

Trivia Night - Friday 12 June

Back by popular demand, Trivia Night is almost here! This parents-only favourite promises plenty of laughs, friendly competition and a great night out at the Manly Leagues Club. Start forming your tables of 10, dust off your best costumes, and get those thinking caps ready — you won’t want to miss it. Tickets go on sale in Term 2.

Week commencing Monday 4 May

Week commencing Monday 11 May

Thanks – hope you had a lovely ANZAC long weekend.

Majella and Cheryl

Uniform Shop News

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

Blazers and skirts that have been ordered are now ready for collection. Students were notified last Tuesday. These are to be worn from Week 3.

The Athletic Carnival is on Wednesday 6 May. Please purchase any required track suits prior.

Please encourage your daughters to collect their online orders.

Online Uniform Orders

2026 Pricelist

Second Hand Uniforms

Term 2

2026 Term Dates