Dear St Monica's families and friends,

What a wonderful start we have had to Term 4, the warmer weather has arrived and COVID restrictions have been lifted. This will indeed be a term of excitement and celebration. Our school focus is on the Footstep of Growth, how have we grown in our learning, in our relationships with others, in growing our school community?

I am really looking forward to the many celebrations that are coming up, including but not limited to; Grandparents and special friends day, Crazy Sock Day, Catholic Leaders Day, Reconciliation, Trivia Night, Kindergarten Orientation, Year 6 Graduation and the Community Carols. It is a rather colourful and eventful calendar this term!

Year 5 & 6 Camp – The Year 5 and Year 6 students are thoroughly enjoying themselves on camp at Stanwell Tops. I sincerely thank their teachers; Brendan Hague, Jack Harris, Katarina Markovic, Liz Foster, Michael McFadden, Steve Green, Kathy Moir and Maggie Lloyd for giving up their personal and family time to go on camp. Please follow the posts and updates on the school’s Facebook page. We welcome the campers back to school tomorrow!

Catholic Mission Month – I wish to thank Haley Stonham for her preparation and organisation of Catholic Mission month. Socktober cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage their local community and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer. We will be celebrating Mission Month on the 28 October by having a crazy sock day. We will also be having games of soccer and using class made sockballs!! Did you know, a sockball was what Pope Francis kicked around in the school yard when he was at school! Check out our Facebook page for Mission Month updates! 

Parish News – If you haven’t heard already, Fr Loi has been appointed Parish Priest of Batehaven on the South Coast. We offer Fr Loi our prayers and wish him all the best in his new Parish. From January 10, we welcome Fr Mick MacAndrew as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Baby News - Congratulations to the Rutter family (Joshua - 3CG) on the arrival of a baby sister last weekend.

SMOOSH update –  You may be aware that Kamaljit Kaur has resigned as Centre Director from SMOOSH. I am very pleased to welcome Bec Villatobas as Centre Director from next Monday. Bec is currently the 2IC at St Clare of Assisi Condor, School Age Care Service. I know that our families will make Bec and Cate feel very welcome up at SMOOSH

Thank you – Noel Chan for her service as Parent Representative on our School Council. Noel has stepped down from this role from this term. We thank Noel for her valuable contributions to and support of school initiatives.

Nominations for Parent Representatives on the 2023 School Council – Attached is a Nomination form for election to the 2023 School Community Council executive. The return date for the form is Friday 25 November.  If you are interested, or there’s someone in our parent community who you think would like to serve on our council please encourage them to fill in a nomination form.

Teaching and Learning news– This week we welcomed our Catalyst coach Toni Hatten-Roberts to the school. Toni observed some of our teachers whilst they delivered an English or Maths lesson. Toni offered these teachers feedback on their lesson and ideas as to how they can further develop their classroom practice. Liz Foster and Kirsty Godschalx represented St Monica’s at a 3-day intensive Catalyst PL during the school holidays.

Peace and blessings to all families,