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- CATHOLIC SCHOOLS GUIDE - TREASURE HUNT COMPETITION
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- HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
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The Fast Life
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.
Author Unknown
Our PB4L focus Week 5 is Respecting Playtimes
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
i. Use equipment for its right purpose.
ii. Return all equipment to the correct container.
iii. Return other people’s equipment directly to them.
iv. Return food containers to the class tubs.
v. Tie skipping ropes when returning them.
vi. Walk on the concrete.
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact respectful, responsible, and
safe behaviours when Respecting Playtime to be taught include:
i. Throwing/kicking balls away from the people playing with them.
ii. Hitting people with equipment.
iii. Leaving equipment out on the playground.
iv. Not tying skipping ropes.
v. Leaving food containers on the playground.
vi. Playing chasing games on the concrete.
Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 6 will be: Having a Conversation
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
i. Look at the person.
ii. Use a pleasant voice.
iii. Listen to what the other person says.
iv. When there is a break in the conversation, ask a question or share your
thoughts.
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviour when Having a Conversation to be taught include:
i. Looking away from the person speaking.
ii. Shouting
iii. Ignoring what the other person is saying.
iv. Interrupting
We would very much appreciate you discussing these weekly focuses with your
children and reviewing the expected and non-acceptable behaviours in our endeavour to see that St Patrick’s is a more respectful, responsible and safe learning community for all.
PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that in the past two weeks 51 students were given
Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards
whilst there were 6 incidents of Inappropriate behaviour recorded.
Cuppa Sunday!
The St Patrick’s staff will be attending Mass on Sunday March 3 at 9am, and will be serving morning tea afterwards for the monthly ‘Cuppa Sunday’ gathering in the hall. All children and their families are warmly welcome to attend. We would love to see as many of you there as possible!
If your child would like to read at the Mass, or take up the offertory, please email or phone the school to let us know.
Save the date for one of the great weeks in the school calendar, St Patrick’s Week! Starting on Monday March 18 with a 9am Mass to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. We will be having a week long celebration, where each day we will be showing off our amazing school and doing a whole bunch of fun, interactive activities. Plans are being finalised, but lock these dates in your calendar: March 18 to March 22!
Spiritual Reflection
A Spiritual Boot Camp | LENT 2024
Christ in the Wilderness
Moretto da Brescia (Alessandro Bonvicino)
(ca. 1515–20)
In this image of Jesus in the wilderness, the artist depicts Jesus as being surprisingly calm, pensive and unfazed amongst the stark, rocky landscape, surrounded by wild animals including a small dragon at his feet representing Satan. The protective angels overhead suggest the reason for his calm demeanour.
When we adopt a view of Jesus as the Son of God, it is hard to imagine him even facing temptation, let alone the possibility of him giving in to it. However, when we see Jesus as also being fully human, we realise that he was just as likely to face temptation as we are. But what might have tempted Jesus? Was he tempted to simply go back to his life in Joseph’s carpentry business and not respond to God’s call? Was he tempted to display his power in flashy demonstrations for all to see? Was he tempted to despair at what lay ahead of him? As we anxiously embark on our physical and spiritual bootcamp, the prospect of growth and development is exciting, yet the prospect of not being strong or resilient enough is real. We need to remember that our God protects us from nothing, but sustains me in everything. The ‘angels’will always be with us.
Physical Fitness: Cardiovascular Endurance:
1. Activity: Cardiovascular exercises (running, cycling, or aerobic workouts)
2.Catholic Social Teaching Focus: Dignity of the Human Person
3. Scripture: Mark 1:12-15 (Jesus' temptation in the desert)
This week we connect the physical challenge of cardiovascular endurance with the inner strength and dignity of the human person. We are all made in God’s image. We reflect on Jesus' journey into the desert and the importance of resilience.
The EXTRAS – Samples of practices for Highly Motivated Cr+ssfitters
Points to Ponder
How are we tempted every day? (Food, drink, social media, bad habits, selfishness…)
Who and what are our ‘ angels’ that protect us from the temptations?
2024 SCHOOL FEE INFORMATION
School fees for 2024 have now been invoiced and statements will be issued by the end of Week One with annual or first instalment payment due on 28 February 2024. You may also view your school fee account in the Compass Parent Portal. Please note that if you have instalments, they will only be visible on your school fee statement and not in the Parent Portal.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
▪ The invoicing of school fees and the distribution of school fee statements each month, is now a function carried out by the Catholic Education Office.
▪ Payment of fees, whether as an annual payment or payment by instalments is due on the date/s provided on your school fee statement.
▪ If an amendment is made to your school fee account eg your child changes subjects in a secondary school, etc. you will be emailed a statement which will provide a new schedule of payments and due dates. Please review this schedule to make any changes to your payments that are necessary.
REMINDERS FOR LATE PAYMENTS
SMS and email reminders are automatically generated by our accounting software based on the number of days a payment is overdue and are distributed by the Catholic Education Office. For those families that may have difficulty in paying their school fees, these reminders may cause some distress. This is not our intention. Our intention is to support the collection of school fee accounts central and in so doing, alleviate some of the administrative work of our schools.
SCHOOL FEE ACCOUNT ENQUIRIES
Please note, despite the centralisation of various functions, your school/s will always be your point of contact for matters pertaining to fees. If you wish to discuss your school fee account, please contact your school office. The role of the Catholic Education Office is to action centralised tasks on behalf of schools.
IF YOU WISH TO PAY BY INSTALMENTS
Many families have already elected to pay their school fees by instalments. If you wish to avail yourself of this option please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on your school’s website or at your school’s office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at your school’s office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your account and a schedule of payments and due dates will be provided on your next school fee statement. Please note it is only necessary to complete this form once during the period of child/children’s enrolment unless you wish to amend your payment frequency.
DIFFICULTY WITH PAYMENT
If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we encourage you to contact the school in which your child/children are enrolled to discuss an arrangement that will assist you meet your commitments. This may include the completion of a Diocesan Application for Fee Concession which is available from the administration office of each school. Be reassured that your situation will be treated with strict confidentiality and respect for your circumstances. If you wish to submit an application, please do so at your child’s school. Please note, if you have children in more than one school, it will only be necessary to submit one application.
For those families that received a Fee Concession in 2023, you will receive an email prior to your annual review date attaching a further Application for Fee Concession. You may also initiate an earlier review if you wish to do so by contacting your school office.
For further information regarding school fees, please access the Diocesan School Fee Management Policy and Frequently Asked Questions which is available on your school’s website.
Kind regards
Catholic Education Office Finance Department
Thanks to Mrs Cudina and Miss Casey, we have been fortunate in securing a Sporting Schools Grant for Term 1. This allows us to provide Netball Clinics for all the children from Years K -6.
The Netball Clinic will continue over the next 3 Wednesdays (28 February, 6 March, 13 March).
All children should wear their sports uniform on these 3 Wednesdays as these will be their sports lessons.
The children from K,1,3,4 and 5 should continue to wear their sports uniform on Tuesdays for their PE lesson. with Miss Elchaar.
Children in Years 2 and 6 should continue to wear their sports uniform on Friday for their PE lesson.
Last year, at the Transition to School Playgroup sessions the new Kindergarten children got to meet their Year 5 Buddies. The children made welcome cards for their Kindergarten Buddies with sunflower seeds inside. Kindergarten planted the seeds over the Christmas holidays and now they have flowered. What a wonderful representation of the growth in this friendship over the first semester.
Well done to Joey Habak who attended the Wollongong Diocese Cricket Trials at Figtree Oval on Thursday! Joey gave his best shot at the trials producing some wonderful leg spin, but was unlucky to miss out on making the team. Great effort Joey, we’re proud of you!
Families have been doing it tough over the past couple of years. That’s why we are keen to share with you that one lucky family will win $2,000 worth of school fees! Runner-up prizes also include Roblox Robux vouchers.
Every student attending a Catholic school in Australia is invited to enter this competition to win. Happy Treasure Hunting!
To enter, visit
