Dear Parents

Reconciliation Week - More than a word. Reconciliation takes action

Tomorrow is first day of Reconciliation Week and while we are all pleased to have a long weekend we should also remember to take stock of the reason for this extra day with loved ones. Katarina Markovic will be leading us in a short prayer celebration in the courtyard tomorrow morning to mark the beginning of Reconciliation Week and will then support teachers and students in identifying the importance of not just acknowledging Reconciliation Week but seeing reconciliation as a call to action. You might like to have conversations with your children about the actions they can take for reconciliation. 

White Elephant Weekend 

Wow! What a fantastic weekend we had with the long-awaited White Elephant stall. It was an event that came together so quickly through the coordination of Alicia Prest and so many of our wonderful parent helpers. We are so pleased to have the stage clear and to have raised $1,842.10 for the school. Thank you so much to Alicia and all the parents who committed their time, organisational skills and muscle power to make this event happen.

Year 6 Learning Showcase

Our Year 6 students are working hard on a concert to showcase their learning at the end of the term. Please note that the concert has moved to Thursday 24 June in Week 10. There will be a matinee and evening performance with 140 tickets available for each session. The Year 6 students are currently finalising their marketing strategy and will share more information about this event in the near future!

Enrolment Time

Presentation of Star Awards

Commencing this Friday we will present our star awards at an afternoon gathering in the courtyard starting at 2.30pm. This will enable family members to attend. As SMOOSH needs to set up in the hall of an afternoon our access to the hall is restricted. Remember we need to observe the current COVID restrictions still in place - physical distancing and hand sanitising. Please do not attend if unwell. Register via our CBR Check in QR code that will be located on the wall near the canteen. This will eliminate parents crowding in the foyer of the school. Dust off the cameras!

Compass

Please register with the Compass Parent Portal if you have not already done so. Please ensure your email address is correct for registration to go through. If you are having difficulties with registering please contact the Front Office. Reports will be distributed via Compass so please register. 

SABBATH Week - Next Week

It is hard to believe that we are already at Week 7 of the term! Take the time next week to have a break from Home Learning and enjoy the winter afternoons with your family.

Rostrum School Finals

On Friday morning last week, our school finalists from Years 5 and 6 gave their speeches to an audience of students and our teacher judges. Congratulations to all of the students who spoke so well. We would particularly like to congratulate Holly F who was the winner of our competition and Archie S who was the runner up.

Year 5 and 6 Camp 2022

Assistant Principal  

Over the next two week, we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey that has been sent out via the Compass Parent Portal. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Monica’s Primary.  Any problems receiving the Compass notification please let me know so I can assist. 

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You will able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using a special URL.

The students in Years 4 to 6 will also take part in completing a student survey from Friday.  Please refer to the letter attached. Any concerns regarding your child participating please advise the school immediately.

We will continue to share cheat sheet's following our Cyber Safety with Safe on Social. This week's cheat sheet is a list of 10 strategies to keep your tweens safe online. 

Pentecost

Why is Pentecost an important time in our Christian Church Liturgical Calendar?

To understand the importance of Pentecost in our Christian faith, we have to look at the historical time in which it took place. Pentecost was a Jewish pilgrim festival – kind of like a public holiday, no one was to work, schools were closed, it was a time to celebrate the grand harvest.  

According to Jewish law of the time, all Jewish adult men were to attend and most likely would have packed up their families to attend. They would come from wherever they were living to Jerusalem. Thousands of pilgrims would have packed the streets of Jerusalem. The atmosphere would have been electric, and a little scary for the Apostles.

So, understanding the historical origin of the Pentecost festival helps us to understand the significance for our Christian faith. This festival just happens to occur 50 days after Jesus’ death and resurrection. He appeared from time to time to the apostles then Jesus ascended into heaven, fully leaving them. The Apostles felt alone and scared and were in hiding.

We read in the Acts of the Apostles that the Holy Spirit ascended upon the Apostles and they were filled with courage and confidence to go out and continue Jesus’ ministry on earth. Saints Peter and Paul called the first followers ‘The Way’ and spread the good news to all four corners, taking Christianity to every continent.

First Eucharist

Last week, Year 4 engaged beautifully in their Retreat Day. They learnt so much, baked bread and all decided on what they can do to make a difference in their world as Eucharistic people. I would like to say a big thank you to the Year 4 Team for their help in running the day.

Please continue to keep our Eucharist candidates and their families in your prayers over the next few weeks as they continue to prepare for the Sacrament in Week 8.

St Monica’s Primary School families are warmly invited to participate in Archdiocesan events taking place at St Christopher’s Manuka on Sunday 30May to celebrate Marriage and Family Sunday and to launch the Year Amoris Laetitia Family announced by Pope Francis which will be celebrated in the Archdiocese until June 2022. 

On Sunday 30^th May you can participate in:

• Marriage & Family Sunday Mass with the Archbishop, 11am at St Christopher’s Cathedral or watch via https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/
• A Marriage & Family Expo 12-1pm in the Haydon Hall, behind the Cathedral, including a free lunch and a launch by the Archbishop of the Year Amoris Laetitia Family

Register here for the Expo, Launch & free lunch 12-1pm http://bit.ly/mfsregistration

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for Year 4 students in 2021

The Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated in term 2 of 2021 on the following dates:

• Tuesday 8 June at 6pm in St Michael’s Church
• Wednesday 9 June at 6pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 10 June at 5.30pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 10 June at 7pm in St Monica’s Church

Please keep the candidates for First Eucharist in your prayers.

Home Booklets for the Sacrament

Books should be completed (including the last page with the ‘Parents’ Discernment of Readiness’ signed and dated) and handed into the school by Wednesday 2 June 2021.

Registration for the Sacrament of First Eucharist

Registration have now closed and no further registration can be accepted.

Commitment Masses

There will be no additional commitment masses.

Booking a Mass time for the Sacrament

Bookings for the Sacrament have now closed.

Purchasing a stole for First Eucharist

Purchasing a stole is optional and is not compulsory. If you wish to purchase a stole, please make a payment of $20 through the Qkr! App and send an email to sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au and arrangements will be made for delivery/pickup.

For further information please contact the Sacramental Program coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Rostrum Public Speaking

Last Friday we had our school Rostrum Public Speaking Competition final for Year 5 and 6. Two students from each class were chosen to present their speeches based on the following topics; A Better Way, Assistance Animals, Cars of the future, Escape from the city, Glaciers, Going to Mars, I took a big risk and The Year of the Ox. Congratulations to Vsevelod K, Sophie C, Emilia H, Eamon F, Archie S, Emma S, Holly F, Shaye S, Jesse F and Samuel G who presented fantastic speeches. Special congratulations to Holly who won and Archie our runner up. Holly will now represent St Monica's at a regional quarter final early in term 3. 

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week 

Alec F, Rohan G, Tobie S, Eden T, Joel M, Lachlan D, Adelina S

St Monica’s is a Restorative Practices School

Restorative Practices in schools is about building relationships for learning and for life. It is about getting to know each other better, it is about listening and sharing. It is about teaching children questioning techniques so that they can learn to solve their own problems. What happened? Who was hurt? How can we fix it?

Restorative Practices Circle Time

At St Monica’s we use Circle Time for a variety of purposes in developing emotional literacy and relationships for learning. Some of the circles we use across the school include:

Morning Prayer Circle - to gather, pray and set the tone for the day.

Learning Circle - an opportunity for children to share their work and understandings.

Restorative Circle - may be a whole class circle focussing on a particular concern or a circle to repair harm following an incident.

Formal Restorative Circle - requires a formal script and are to be used only when appropriate, when all who have been affected agree to the process and have been prepared.

Read more at https://www.restorativepractices.org.au

Thank you so much to last week's amazing volunteers - Neridda Leen, Tracy D'Ambrosio, Katherine O'Sullivan, Samantha Cox, Esme Rolleston and Evelyn David-Hoole.

I would appreciate it if anyone has the capacity to assist this Friday, we are a little light on.  The peak times are 11.00am - 11:30am and 12:30pm - 1:30pm,  so even assistance at just these times would be awesome. If you can help please sign up on our Canteen Volunteers web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:

volunteersignup.org/XF84H

To sign up just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.

Thank you for volunteering!

As of 1 July 2021 the canteen will no longer have single use plastic cutlery. This is in line with new ACT government regulations.  We have made the decision to try to utilise metal cutlery.  If any families have a cutlery drawer overcluttered with metal teaspoons or forks the canteen would be very grateful for any donations. We will be encouraging the children to return their cutlery once they have finished eating to designated containers at the canteen. More news on this closer to transition date.

Reminder all families: 

Catholic Education COVID-19 Website - Click to open web updates

If you have any ideas or concerns please email them through to our Secretary Noel Chan at council.stmonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au