Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

Names identify who we are, they may have a special meaning, they may reflect your family and culture. Remembering a name, saying it and getting it right, is a genuine compliment. Forget someone’s name, mispronounce it or misspell it, and you’re in big trouble!! This week, I have made it my goal to learn the names of as many students as I can. I am slowly getting there! I look forward to learning all of your names as well!

Year Six Leadership Commissioning Ceremony

Jesus, our greatest leader, was selfless. He put himself and his own needs second and ministered to others beyond the call of duty, tirelessly, lovingly, effectively. This Friday we will be commissioning our Year 6 students into their leadership roles. Last year, the Year 6 students made a very considered decision about which leadership group they would like to be part of. I am very pleased to see a balanced spread of students across the following leadership groups. Sport, Social Justice, Peer Support, Arts, Technology, Service and Stewardship. I am looking forward to working with the students and their teachers to ensure they have success in their roles. Congratulations Year 6!  

Baby News!!

It is with great joy that Mrs Nicole Jenner (6J teacher) and her husband Tristan share the exciting news, that they are expecting their first child in Term 2. We wish the Jenner family all the best as they prepare for the impending arrival.

“Get-to-know-you” meetings Week 4

In Week 4, you will have an opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher. These online meetings are strictly 10mins only and will be time for you to talk to your child’s teacher about their strengths, what they find challenging and how you want them to grow this year. Please fill in the “All about my child form” attached to this newsletter, as this will assist the discussion at these meetings. Information about booking times, will be sent out via Compass tomorrow.

School Council Meeting

Our first council meeting for the year will be held next week. We congratulate all 2022 council members new and returning. At this meeting Sarah Meier and Sarah Rose from Catholic Education will be speaking to the group about the roles and responsibilities of being a council representative. If you wish to contact the council email: council.stmonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au

Drop-off and Afternoon Pick-up   

The new year may bring new after school arrangements for families and in these early weeks, it is timely to revisit routines for travelling to and from school with your child. We thank families for commencing the year with mindfulness as they access the school’s driveways and surrounding roads.

Students can be dropped off from 8.25am. They are to go to their line-up area and sit down until the bell goes. I understand some children, particularly our Kindergarten students, may feel anxious or worried about being dropped off in the morning. Unfortunately, under the current COVID-19 restrictions, parents are not to enter the school grounds to walk their child/ren to lines. In my experience, children are fine once their parents are out of sight. Be cheerful when you drop your child off and promise you’ll be back to pick them up in the afternoon. (See article attached to this newsletter about Reducing Anxiety at the start of the school year).

Afternoon pickup is from 3.10pm. Parents are welcome to park on the Blacktop or wait in their cars for drive-through. If your child is unable to put their seatbelt on independently, we kindly ask you to park on the blacktop or SMOOSH carpark and we will safely cross your child to you. If the carline queues back onto Moynihan St, then we are interfering with the public traffic flow.

Compass Calendar

We have finally been able to sync the Parent Calendar to Compass! Please click on the calendar icon to see what is happening each day at school.  If you are having difficulty downloading the Compass App on your phone or device, please contact Mrs Flynn in the office and she will help you!

COVID updates

The process for distributing each student’s access to RAT kits for the next fortnight is as follows. Next Monday, 14 February, another two-week supply of RATs will be sent home with each student. Whilst it is not mandatory to test twice weekly, we strongly encourage any student who is experiencing even the mildest of symptoms to use these kits. Keeping children at home if they are unwell, even if they have tested negative, is particularly important at this time. We thank you for your understanding and support.

Kindergarten Health Checks

Kindergarten Health Checks will take place around Term 3 this year. Kindergarten Health Check envelopes have been sent home today. Please complete questionnaire and return in envelope provided to Kindergarten teacher.  Questionnaires are due back to school by Friday 4 March 2022.

Warm wishes always,

Lisa