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Dear Parents
This week we welcomed back our whole school. It was wonderful to hear the happy sounds of children playing outside and the wonderful interactions - what a great feeling now to go into the school building and hear the joyful interactions and seeing smiling faces all around. Thank you for your support in preparing your child/ren to return to school so positively.
Today is World Teachers Day – a day where I’m sure you will join with me in thanking our wonderful teachers and support staff who have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges. I also acknowledge the role parents and carers played during this tough year.
Today reinforces the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families, and communities.
Leadership positions
Yr 5 are currently submitting their nominations for the following leadership roles:
School Captain (2)
Vice - Captain (2)
4 Colour House Captains ( because of the large number of applications successful applicants may need to change house colour)
Liturgy Leader
Environmental Leader
Community Leader
Calendar ( subject to change)
Nov 1 – all Saints Day
Nov 2 – All Souls Day
Nov 11- Remembrance
Nov 5 –Swimming lesson 1
Nov 12 Swimming lesson 2
Nov 19 – Swimming lesson 3
Nov 26 – Swimming lesson 4
Dec 3 – Swimming Carnival
Dec 14 – Year 6 Graduation ( Mass and Dinner)
Best wishes to you all for the weeks ahead!
Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal
KEMBLA ST ARRIVAL PROCEDURE
Could I ask for your assistance with a modification to our before school arrival at Kembla St.
As from next Monday would you please ensure that your child/ren remain in your vehicle until your vehicle is first in the queue. The teacher will them invite your child(ren) to alight and enter the school grounds
KEMBLA ST. DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
Could I ask for your assistance please with a modification to our after-school dismissal via Kembla St.
Please remain in your vehicle.
Your child(ren) will be called from the playground when your vehicle is first in the queue. For the safety of the children, one family will be dismissed at a time.
PLEASE BE PATIENT. This revised routine will quite likely slow the dismissal process.
PLEASE DO NOT SIT DOUBLE PARKED while you are waiting for your child(ren). Please keep circling the block until there is space in ‘no parking (pick-up/drop-off)’ zone for your vehicle.
REMEMBER THAT THE ‘NO PARKING (PICK-UP/DROP-OFF)’ ZONE HAS
A TWO MINUTE LIMIT
TO HELP MAKE THIS TIME MORE MANAGEABLE FOR THE STAFF AND STUDENTS PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE PICK-UP/DROP OFF ZONE BEFORE 2:55PM
Please note that the students are well supervised during the afternoon dismissal. Teachers are on duty at the Kembla St entry/exit until at least 3:15 and I advise parents to delay their pick-up for 10 or 15 minutes so that the congestion is lessened.
If you are collecting your child/ren in person, please remember to maintain 1.5m physical distancing whilst you are waiting outside the school gate.
REVISED BREAKTIMES
Please be advised that in accord with Level 3 and Level 3+ Guidelines that we will be introducing staggered playtimes
As such, from Monday of Week 4, (October 25) break times will be as follows:
LUNCH A (Years 4-6) 10:15 – 10:25 (time to eat), 10:25-10:55 (time for play)
LUNCH B (Years K-3) 10:45 – 10:55 (time to eat), 10:55 – 11:25 (time for play)
RECESS A (Years 4-6) 12:25 – 12:55 (including eating and play time)
RECESS B (Years K-3) 12:55 – 1:25 (including eating and play time)
Please also note that each class will have a designated playground.
Mr Hoctor - Assistant Principal
REC Update – W4 – T4
Term 4 Prefects
Congratulations to the following girls and boys who are the class prefects for Term 4:
Kinder: Lucy Williamson & Abbie Ruprecht
Year 1: Chloe Dimitrijevic & Marko Milenkovic
Year 2: Elyssa Sirijovski & Oscar Ernst
Year 3: Makayla Gladden & Joey Habak
Year 4: Mila Manevski & Jacob Svarc
Year 5: Jacob Markovski and Paige Lukarovski
We will have a prefect induction ceremony in the coming days, and we will likely livestream the ceremony. Please keep an eye out in the coming days for a Compass message for details.
Remote Learning Videos with Fr Mark
During remote learning the girls and boys were lucky enough to be joined (virtually) by Fr Mark, who created a number of great videos for the children. He covered such topics as environmental stewardship, the importance of ‘mission’, the relevance of the sacraments, and just this week he shared a ‘welcome back’ video. He did a great job, and it was great for the children to be able to stay connected with Fr Mark and the parish during lockdown.
You can view a few of the videos by opening the links below:
Fr Mark – ‘Caring for Creation’
Fr Mark – ‘The Sacraments’
Fr Mark – ‘Welcome Back’
All Saints & All Souls
All Saints and All Souls Day are significant days in the liturgical calendar and are coming up in November. Please see below further information about these feasts:
As we enter the month of November we begin our Church’s feasts on the first day of the month with All Saints Day. A solemnity where we celebrate the saints of the Church, whether they are known or unknown. The word saint comes from the Latin word sanctus meaning ‘holy’ and refers to a person who is in the state of being eternally in the presence of God after death in Heaven. Therefore, any deceased person in Heaven is a saint. What a beautiful thing to celebrate! Our fellow brothers and sisters who are in the very place our soul desires to lay rest. Together, eternally, with our loving Creator which our every yearning is craving. We pray that we may join together one day with our loved ones in heaven in the eternal heavenly feast.
The very next day on 2 November we celebrate All Souls Day where we as a Church are called to assist all the faithful departed including those who have not yet recognised or accepted the times they turned away from God (sinned) during their lives and need our prayers to help them accept God's forgiveness and grace.
As people of community, we are called to join with the communion of saints, in prayer, for all those who have gone before us.
Prayer
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
May Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Reflection
How do I attend to my relationship with God so that I am fully aware of God’s presence leading me to holiness?
You may like to spend some time reading with the Saints, gaining insight from their wisdom on how to live in relationship with God.
In our tradition we are invited to pray for the dead, those known and unknown to us. For whom will you include in your prayer?
Sacraments Postponed
Year 3 and 6 parents and carers, in case you missed it please read the update below regarding the postponement of First Holy Communion and Confirmation:
It was announced via the Parish bulletin that due to time constraints and restrictions caused by the pandemic that the sacraments of First Holy Communion for Year 3 students, and Confirmation for Year 6 students have been postponed until next year.
These sacraments will take place at roughly the same time as they were originally scheduled for this year, which means Confirmation will take place around August, and First Holy Communion around November. These dates will be confirmed and shared with you early in the new year.
Should you require further information please contact Fr Mark or Sr Miriam at the Parish Office on 42 741192
All the best,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
Recent times have been a very unusual time for everyone, and now with schools re-opening, children have a lot to process. Not only will they be working through their experiences of lockdown, but they will also be managing the changes in their school lives, like staggered breaks and designated play areas.
During this transition they are likely to experience a range of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Often when we have a lot to deal with in our lives, it can affect our thoughts and our wellbeing. We might find ourselves thinking more negatively or not feeling settled and happy because of the changes.
It is important that we encourage and teach children to be aware of their thoughts and take care of their own wellbeing. This is a valuable lesson for life and will help them to develop their emotional intelligence and to cope with stress or difficulties in their lives as they grow.
The the wellbeing of our students is very important to us we will do all we can to help them BOUNCE BACK!!!!
To celebrate our bouncing back to school, each student was gifted a handball.
