Principal's Message
Dear Parents
Fabulous Vinnies Winter Appeal
There was much excitement at St Monica's today as WIN News arrived to report on our special Winter appeal led by the St Monica's Social Justice Leaders and Mrs Haley Stonham. Check out our great news story - Well done team and a great way to end the term!
Click to view our WIN News Story
Families Leaving
This week we say farewell to the Steele family (Annalise - 4R). We wish Annalise all the best at her new school.
To help with class planning for 2021 please advise the school in writing if you do not intend returning to St Monica's in 2021.
St Monica's New Bus Stop - Ready for use in Term 3
Commencing next term we will return to the new bus stop located near our school hall. This will improve the waiting area for the children catching the bus on the school side of Moynihan Street. Don't forget to check that your child knows the number of the bus they are to catch. We will also arrange for the Hall (NSW) bus to also pick up near the hall in the afternoon.
Late Arrivals - What you need to know!
Children arriving after the 8.55am bell MUST walk through the foyer to access their classroom. Children arriving late are to be signed in by a parent/carer at the Front Office. Do not just drop them off. The information documented on a late slip is now transferred to our new student roll data system to accurately record all arrival and departure times. The class roll is now taken each morning by 9.05am. Any child arriving after 9.05am will be documented as arriving late for school. Eventually, an automated SMS notification will be added to our system which will advise a parent when a child has not been accounted for at school.
Parish Sacramental Program 2020
After a Parish Sacramental Team meeting on Friday, the following dates/times are confirmed. Please note, Sacrament of First Eucharist for Year 4 students, will move over to 2021 in Term 1.
Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Year 3) - Key Dates for your calendar
Term 3, Week 1 - Thursday 23 July 6pm (Zoom) - Sacrament of Reconciliation Information Night
Term 3, Week 1, 2, 3 - Weekend of 25/26 July, 1/2 August or 8/9 August Commitment Masses
Term 3, Week 2-5 - Home Preparation (Book provided to work through as Parent/Child)
Term 3, Week 6 - Thursday 27 August - Sacrament of Reconciliation Retreat Day (at school)
Term 3, Week 6 - Thursday 27 August 6pm (Zoom) - Parent/Child Formation Night
Term 3, Week 8 - Sacrament of First Reconciliation (First Rite). Families to book in a time between 3.30-6pm.
Tuesday 8 September - St Michael's Church (3.30-6pm)
Wednesday 9 September - St Monica's Church (3.30-6pm)
Thursday 10 September - St Monica's Church (3.30-6pm)
Sacramental of Confirmation (Year 6) - Key Dates for your calendar
Term 3, Week 9 - Thursday 17 September (Zoom) - Sacrament of Confirmation Information Night
Term 3, Week 9, 10 and first week of holidays - weekends of 19/20 September, 26/27 September and 3/4 October Commitment Masses
Between Term 3, Week 10 and Term 4, Week 3 - Home Preparation (Book provided to work through as Parent/Child)
Term 4, Week 3 - Thursday 29 October - Confirmation Retreat Day
Term 4, Week 3 - Thursday 29 October - 6pm Confirmation Parent & Child Formation Night
Term 4, Week 5 - Sacrament of Confirmation
Tuesday 10 November - St Michael's Church (6pm)
Wednesday 11 November - St Monica's Church (6pm)
Thursday 12 November - St Monica's Church (6pm)
Parish Sacramental Coordinator
It is with great excitement that we can introduce our new Parish Sacramental Coordinator, Sue Collins. Sue will be your first contact for families with children preparing to receive First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. We welcome Sue and look forward to working with her as you prepare your children for these special events in their faith journey.
Reconciliation
Children in Year 3 who are baptised Catholics and would like to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation are invited to take part in the Parish Preparation Program next term. An invitation from Father Loi is coming home this week (and is included further in this newsletter under Parish News). Please be sure to respond to the invitation and register via Qkr! app under the ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’ account (not the School account) to ensure your child is enrolled in this program.
There will be a virtual information session available via Zoom on Thursday 23 July at 6:00pm. The link for this will be included in the invitation coming home this week.
Books to assist with home preparation in your family will be sent home with your child in Week One of next term. You are asked to attend a Commitment Mass over the coming weeks. Please be sure to register online prior to attending Mass as numbers are limited to 75 people at St Michael’s Church and 90 people at St Monica’s Church per Mass. There will be a family formation evening on Thursday 27 August. At this stage this will probably be run through Zoom unless social distancing restrictions ease – we will let you know closer to the date. After the Information Evening families will be invited to make an appointment time for celebrating the First Rite of Reconciliation on either the 8, 9 or 10 September. This booking will be made through the Parish Office.
Sacramental Invitation Letter - Reconciliation
Planning Term 3
Planning is underway for Term 3 with arrangements all depending on required restrictions. We will welcome back Susan Carswell who is feeling so much better following surgery; sincere thanks to Melinda Brown for supporting 3CD and Kirsty Godschalx for covering 3GB full time, for the last 5 weeks.
For week 1 we will observe the following arrangments -
- School drop off will remain the same with children being dropped off in the hall car park or on the basketball courts.
- Parents will be restricted from entering the school.
- We will no longer provide a drive-thru service. We will return to parking on the blacktop for general afternoon pick up with parents observing social distancing at the bottom of the steps. Kinders will be brought out just prior to the bell to meet parents.
- Canteen will be open on Fridays
- Eldest child to bring in a box of tissues
Wishing everyone a relaxing break and please continue to stay safe and healthy.
Carmel Maguire
Principal