Dear Parents

This week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week.  We have created a special video for you to celebrate all that it means to be a Catholic School, and I know I’m biased, but we definitely have one of the best!

This week we held our Ash Wednesday Mass (Years 1-6) and Liturgy (Kindergarten).  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.  Lent is the time of preparation for the Easter Season.  Lent is a time for praying, fasting and almsgiving.  I encourage you to think about how you as a family model this at home.  It may be by attendance at Mass, abstaining from meat on a Friday or giving to Caritas Australia through Project Compassion.  While we will teach and focus on all these things at school, your child’s faith and understanding will be strengthened if you also focus on them at home.

I’d like to express my thanks to Kelly Pucillo, our P&F President for her organisation and flexibility this week with organising (then reorganising) our lunch deal this week.  While we would love to have a fully functioning canteen, I am very grateful for the generosity of Ms Briony Start, Mrs Robyn Reiher and Mrs Renae Batur who were able to help with today’s pasta lunch.  Our first P&F meeting is next Tuesday 8 March, 6.30pm via Zoom.  I encourage you all to join us at this meeting. Together we can create great things!

School Photos

Our school photos will be held next Thursday 10 March.  All children will be wearing their full summer uniform on this day.  I continue to be impressed with the very high standard of uniform and pride the students display each day, and I know that particularly on school photo day you will want your child to look their best.  Can I gently remind you that these are school photos and not glamour shots.  While we would expect that your child may have their hair styled to look nice, they still need to comply with our uniform policy.  Hair below the collar should be tied back and only simple studs and sleepers may be worn.  Please make contact with the school prior to the day if you require any further information or clarification.

Uniform Policy

We have begun the process of updating our school Uniform Policy.  Please read the draft policy below.  While there are no changes to the current uniform, we hope this updated version provides greater clarity for you.

We are also considering looking at a new school hat, introducing an option for the girls to wear pants in Winter and a new school bag.  Before we begin investigating these options, I would like to gain your thoughts on these initiatives.  Please complete the Google Form below to share your thoughts on both the updated Uniform Policy and the possible introduction of a new school hat, bag and pants for girls during Winter.

DRAFT Policy:

https://forms.gle/HQsABVA8x4i6xgyD7

Student Attendance - Extended Leave and Exemption from School

Student Attendance is not only an essential element of your child’s learning journey, it is also a legal requirement for them to attend school.  Family holidays during the school term are discouraged, however, if you plan on taking your child on a trip that requires them to be absent from school for more than three consecutive days, you must apply for an Application for Extended Leave.  Without a Certificate for Extended Leave you may be questioned by authorities and potentially fined.

If your child has an ongoing need to be absent from school, (e.g. involved in elite sport or ongoing medical appointments) you also need to apply for an Exemption from School.   Applications must be made in advance and may not be granted.  Each case must be considered and approved by the principal.

Both application forms are available from the school office.  This process can take some time to complete so we appreciate you providing as much notice as possible. 

Kindergarten Enrolments 2023

We are currently accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2023. Applications are available from the school office.

Ms Gabi Tobin - Principal

In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Use equipment for its right purpose
2. Return all equipment to the correct container
3. Return other people’s equipment directly to them
4. Return food containers to the class tubs
5. Tie skipping ropes when returning them
6. Walk on the concrete          

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact Respectful, responsible and safe behaviours when Respecting Playtime to be taught include:

1. Throwing/kicking balls away from the people playing with them
2. Hitting people with equipment
3. Leaving equipment out on the playground
4. Not tying skipping ropes
5. Leaving food containers on the playground
6. Playing chasing games on the concrete

Our PB4L focus for Week 8 is respectful, responsible and safe behaviour when using the toilets.

In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Walk to the toilet
2. Flush the toilet after use
3. Wash hands using one pump of soap
4. Dry hands with one sheet of paper towel
5. Place the paper towel in the green bin outside the toilet
6. Be quiet during toilet visits
7. Walk quickly and quietly back to class

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact Respectful, responsible and safe behaviours when using the Toilet be taught include:

1. Shouting
2. Running and/or playing near the toilet or in the toilet
3. Putting soap on the toilet floor
4. Leaving paper towel on the floor
5. Putting paper towel into the toilet
6. Putting toilet rolls into the toilet

PB4L Data

It is with pride that I inform you that over the last two weeks 48 students were given Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were 5 incidents of Inappropriate behavior recorded.

Congratulations boys and girls. This is wonderful news to share.

Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly and safely.

Me Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal

Catholic Schools Week 2022
We had a fantastic Catholic Schools Week and despite being restricted by the inclement weather and the pandemic we managed to celebrate it in style! Kindergarten and Year 5, and Year 1 and Year 6 did some fun buddy activities, and all classes showed off their learning in many different ways. Combined with a Project Compassion Virtual Launch, Ash Wednesday Mass and Clean Up Australia Day, we had an exciting and jam packed Catholic Schools Week! Check out the school Facebook page for photos.

Project Compassion – ‘Chicken Feedathon’
With the beginning of Lent comes the beginning of sacrifice, and us giving up things we don’t really need for 40 days. It also coincides with the beginning of our Project Compassion fundraising efforts. This year we will be raising money for remote learning centres in the Solomon Islands, and our money raised will be going towards buying chicken food for people living and working there. Each class will be competing against each other to raise the most amount of money by placing donations into their class Mission box. If you can please encourage your child to donate any spare pocket money or loose change from home that would be greatly appreciated.

We will be tracking the donations from each class via a graph visible in the breakout space. One chicken on the graph represent $5, and at the end of Lent the leading class will be rewarded with a prize (to be determined asap!). See the photo below.

Many thanks for your support and generosity!

Ash Wednesday Celebrations
This year we celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass for Years 1 through to 6, and Kindergarten had aLiturgy of the Word with Fr Mark. Both were great celebrations and the children listenedattentively and participated with great interest. We are very grateful to Fr Mark who had a veryfull day, saying Mass at 9am for the parishioners, then a Mass for the students at 10:30am and a Liturgy for the Kindergarten at 12pm, followed by evening Mass at Windang. Thanks Fr Mark!

The Living Classroom Report – Day 1

Earth Care – People Care – Fair Share

On Friday of Week 4 Year 4 and I managed to sneak in a wonderful day of Permaculture in ‘The Living Classroom’.  Despite it being hot and very humid, the children worked tirelessly to make our garden look amazing.
The day began with a site induction where we covered all aspects of safety in the garden. We also had a tour to identify the four-season vegetable beds, the Southeast Asian food forest, the South American food forest and the citrus guild. From there we got to work, and weeding was the main job of the day after the seemingly endless summer rain. In the midst of this the children managed to harvest some beautiful pumpkins and sweet potatoes. A great day was had by all and we are looking forward to our next day in The Living Classroom.

all the best,

Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator