Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

Through the KinderSTARter program and our Kindergarten Orientation next week, we are preparing our Kindergarten 2025 students, and their parents, transition to Primary School. During these sessions we speak about the importance of being able to develop friendships. As we head towards the end of the year, some of the existing friendships of our current students may become stretched. Our students are tired, it’s getting warmer, some of the winter illnesses are still lingering. At some point, your child has come home and told you, “So and so said, you’re not my friend anymore”.

Albert Camus, a French writer, wrote about how best to be a friend to someone. He stated: “Don’t walk in front of me - I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me - I may not lead. Just walk beside me - and be my friend.”  I’d love to share this passage from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, where the word “love” has been changed to “friends”

We pray today for the gift of knowing how best to “be with” someone, remaining faithful through good times and bad. 

Month of Remembrance: On Monday we gathered together as a school community to remember all soldiers who have died protecting our nation. November is also the month where we remember all those who have died. The Catholic Church uses this end of the year period as a time to think of the end of life and the end of all things and the great hope that our earthly end is transition into a new life in God’s heavenly reality. We give thanks for those who have gone before us, and we look with prayer and hope to their new life in  heaven and our desire to join them there one day. 

School Fees - School Fees are now due. If you have a substantial balance owing please contact Kirralea Thompson (Finance Manager) who can assist you with payment arrangements. If you are not able to clear the balance owing by the end of the school year please contact me urgently. Financial assistance is available, where exceptional circumstances exist. Any requests for support are always treated in confidence. 

School Council News – Due to the resignations and term of membership expiring for some of our current sitting members nominations to be a member of the St Monica’s School Community Council Executive are now open. Sitting members of the council contribute to the school through their interest, expertise, advice and commitment to the development of the school. While all parents in our school community are automatically part of the broader council, the council executive is the key body responsible for leading Council activities and providing advice and support to myself and the Leadership Team. I know that a number of parents are keen to support the school, but struggle making it to meetings or think they shouldn’t be on the Council because ‘that’s for other people in the school’.  Please consider nominating for the council by filling in the form below and returning it to me no later than Monday 25 November.

Whole School Prayer 

Tomorrow Kindergarten Maroon will lead us for our Whole School Prayer on Flourishing in Growth with the focus on our relationship with our surroundings. You are invited to our join our community in St Monica’s Church at 9.15am. Did you know you are also invited to join your child when we attend our parish mass on Wednesday with our buddy class? Look at the timetable below to see when their class is rostered this term. 

Advent 

With only 4 weeks left of our school year we are starting Advent next week at St Monica’s. As we journey through this Advent season each class will engage in daily activities. Keep an eye on Compass where we will be sharing our daily activities with families so you can play along at home. 

The first class activity is the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is a special tradition during Advent that helps families and communities reflect on the biblical story leading up to the birth of Jesus. Named after Jesse, the father of King David, the tree represents Jesus' family line and God's promise to send a Savior. Each day of Advent a new ornament is added to the tree, each symbolising a different story or person from the Bible—like Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and David—leading to the birth of Christ. This activity is a meaningful way to prepare for Christmas, focusing on hope, faith, and the fulfillment of God's promises.  

The second class activity is the Advent wreath. The Advent Wreath is a special symbol used during the four weeks of Advent to help families and communities prepare for the celebration of Christmas. It is typically made of evergreen branches, which represent eternal life. The wreath has four candles—three purple and one pink—each representing a different theme of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. A candle is lit each Sunday, with the pink candle lit on the third week, called Gaudete Sunday, which symbolises joy. The Advent Wreath is a beautiful way to mark the passage of time in Advent and reflect on the coming of Christ. 

The third class activity is a Kindness Advent Calendar. The Advent Kindness Calendar is a fun and meaningful way for families and students to focus on giving and spreading kindness during the Advent season. Instead of opening a chocolate or treat each day, this calendar encourages a different act of kindness or good deed for each day leading up to Christmas. Examples might include helping a neighbour, writing a thank-you note, or donating to a charity. By practising small acts of kindness the calendar helps remind us of the love and generosity that Jesus brought to the world, making Advent a time not only of waiting but also of giving. 

Social Action and Justice 

Tomorrow a note will be sent out via Compass with information about supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Each class will be invited to donate a specific item which will be combined to create a Christmas Hamper for families in our local Evatt community in need. Each classroom will have a basket to place donated items. Please see the table below for the donations your child’s class is allocated. 

We will also have a Christmas tree in our Front Office with a gift tag to represent each child in our local Evatt community in need of a Christmas gift. Families are invited to take a gift tag and return it attached to the outside of a wrapped gift. We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

Sacrament of Confirmation 2024

Congratulations to all the Confirmation candidates and God’s blessings to you on this special occasion.

2025 Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and will be in Years 4-6 in 2025.

Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 1, 2025. Information Evening will be held on 13 February 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 20 March 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 25, 26 and 27 March 2025.

Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated in Term 2, 2025. Information Evening will be held on 1 May 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 12 June 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 22 June 2025 (Corpus Christi).

Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in Term 3, 2025. Information Evening will be held on 31 July 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 4 September 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 10 and 11 September 2025.

For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Thank you again to all of the families who attended the BYOD Parent Information Session on Monday evening. I have sent out the information that was presented and discussed at this meeting through Compass to parents in Years 3-5. 

The key takeaways for families to consider:

• Chromebooks are the required device for students, not iPads. If your child already has an iPad or other device this is fine and will be able to be used at school. 

• Please DO NOT set your child's computer up with a home login/email account. This causes problems at school as students are required to have a school login to access our networks. Please contact me if you would like assistance setting up your child's account.

• When purchasing a device there is no need to purchase Microsoft Office products as students have access to these through their school accounts. 

• Please take the time to discuss with your children the safe use of devices and your expectations as parents.

If there is anything else I can do to assist or clarify any information please do not hesitate to get in touch - ryan.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au or 02 6258 5105.

Last weekend  Elijah G (4Maroon) competed at the Canberra Cup in the Novice Class with a field of 12 karts. Elijah battled all weekend coming away with his first podium. Special mention to Mrs Lustica for letting him have Friday off so he could practise.  Congratulations and well done Elijah!

Nikolas H (6 Blue) has been selected to attend the SSACT Track and Field Championships where he will travel and compete at the Sydney Olympic Stadium between 28 November and 2 December 2024. Nikolas will be competing in the U11's Boys 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay race.

In October 2024 Nikolas attended trials for the 2025 ACT Rep U14 Boys Basketball team. Being one of the youngest boys on the team Nikolas was thrilled to accept his placement. Congratulations Nikolas on these wonderful achievements!

Student Movement Register requirements for all students leaving ACT schools (including Year 6 and Year 12)

Under the ACT Education Act schools are required to obtain details of all departing students for the ACT Education Directorate’s Student Movement Register.

For Year 6 students schools must obtain details of the student’s future school from parents or carers.

Parents or carers of students in other years who are departing an ACT school must also provide details of the student’s future school. This includes families who are moving interstate.