St Monica’s is a vibrant Catholic school community that is growing together, being guided by St Monica. Jesus is always at the heart of what we think, say and do. Students are empowered to explore their faith across learning areas, connecting Catholic tradition, values and beliefs with their everyday life experiences. Concepts explored in 2020 include Community, Identity, Roles and Responsibilities, Resilience, Energy, Relationships and Choices. 

Encountering the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments is a special time within our school year for students, their families and our school community. St Monica’s Primary School is part of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, North Belconnen.  Sacramental programs are now Parish based and are offered for; Reconciliation (Year 3), First Eucharist (Year 4) and Confirmation (Year 6).

Students in these grades are supported through high quality, contemporary learning experiences and a home preparation program, which allows families to come together to strengthen their own faith journey. We understand that the home and school are not separate entities, they are intrinsically connected. Our school is dedicated to supporting each student and their family by providing a consistent approach for all involved to ensure we are building, maintaining and restoring positive relationships throughout the school and at home.

Students in Year 3, supported by their families, peers and teachers recently made their First Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers self-reflection through conversation. It is a way to experience God’s forgiving grace, so that we too can be people of forgiveness and love, and actively live out our school motto of respect for our Creator, ourselves, others and the environment. The opportunity for each family to attend the church individually created a beautiful and peaceful experience where the Holy Spirit was fully present and felt by all who were present. 

We spoke to Lily about her Reconciliation conversation and what she has learnt about reconciliation. 

“Reconciliation is about choices we make and to forgive and I learnt to always forgive no matter how bad they hurt me,” Year 3 student, Lily H, said. 

Teachers at St Monica’s are passionate educators who program contemporary Religious Education through Conceptual Inquiry. Conceptual Inquiry provides teachers with a pedagogical framework for connecting religious concepts with the learning areas of the Australian Curriculum.