St Monica’s Primary School - Evatt eNewsletter

Thursday 24 June	Year 6 Concert Day and Evening
Friday 25 June	Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day Pride Badges - presented in Courtyard at 2.30pm Last Day of Term 2
Monday 12 July	Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 13 July	Term 3 starts
Tuesday 13 July	Gym - Kindy - Year 2
Wednesday 14 July -Thursday 15 July	Parent Teacher Interviews

Dear Parents

We have almost reached the end of another term. I know many families are hoping to get away so hopefully the borders north will be open to visitors from the ACT. I know many holidays plans are once again in disarray. Please stay healthy and safe over the break. Thank you for your ongoing understanding as we cope and manage the never-ending changes including Compass, COVID restrictions and finding a balance between a focus on learning and reintroducing general school activities.

This Friday we will be issuing our Pride Badges for Term 2 and a number of awards. We are planning to hold the assembly in the courtyard however if it is wet parents who know their child is to receive an award (check the newsletter) are invited to come into the library to capture the moment from 2.30pm. Please enter by the front office if wet to check-in.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day

This Friday we will be celebrating the Parish feast day with various inside activities, now the day is forecast to be very wet. Following our liturgy in the church, the children will be provided with a yummy tasty treat at morning tea to celebrate the day. Wendy Regan, our canteen manager will also be providing alternatives for our children with allergies or food intolerances. Only those parents whose children are involved in the liturgy are permitted to attend the liturgy and must use the CBR app on the church door.

Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favoured by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but the Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as you loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and his mercy is from age to age on those who love him. Our greatest fear is that in time of temptation, we may fail to call out to you, and become lost children. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Amen.

Staffing

This week Luke Donnelly has taken Long Service Leave and was hoping to attend a two-day conference in Brisbane. Ryan Matchett will be attending a two-day Religious Education conference in Canberra with Michael McFadden covering the class for the next two day. We have had several staff off sick this week; many thanks to Jodie May and Bundy Toth for stepping in to ensure we have not had to split classes as has occurred in many schools over the last few weeks.

Our SMOOSH Director, Molly Uelese, has elected to give more time to her studies and so has decided to resign from her position. Molly will be with us until 23 July to allow time to advertise the position. I wish Molly all the best in her future studies.

Medication

A reminder to families that all medication should be sent to the office, first thing in the morning, with clear instructions so that a staff member can supervise and record it has been taken. Medication should be provided in its original packaging. This is a serious safety issue should another child find the medication in a child's bag and self administer.

Allergies

As we have a number of children with serious allergies I ask that nut-based products not be sent to school. This especially includes peanut butter sandwiches and nut-based food bars.

Pupil Free Day

Monday 12 July is a Pupil Free Day. Children return to school on Tuesday 13 July.

Year 6 Expression of Learning

Tomorrow the children will be treated to a special performance by the Year 6 students. Attendance at the matinee and evening performance is via ticketed entry due to a restriction on the number in the hall to 140, as indicated in our COVID plan. Year 6 are to be at school tomorrow evening at 5.30pm, dressed in black!

Absentees

Please make sure all absences are accounted for with a note via Compass, an email to the office or a written note. The class roll is an official electronic document and must reflect why a child is not at school. Parents can check via the Compass Parent Portal.

Compass Parent Portal and School Reports

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 were released today via Compass Parent Portal.

Chess news

Congratulations to the following players who represented St Monica’s at the ACT Primary Open Schools Chess Championship Belconnen Zone on Thursday 17 June: Annalene L, Brando B, Jett S, Michael H, Sarah D-H, Rohan G, Zarah L and Emannuel S. Both our 2 teams have earnt a place in the ACT Primary Open Schools Chess Championship Finals.

Community Council News from Evelyn David Hoole Chair

On Wednesday 16 June the School Council met. At the meeting, we discussed a SMOOSH survey, swimming lessons and school funding. We are planning on convening a meeting early in term 3 to share some of the findings and seek parent views.

Annual Parent Survey

Thank you to the 74 parents who responded to our Annual Parent Survey this year. I look forward to providing feedback on several of the issues raised, early next term.

Special Prayers

Please keep the Bogaart family in your prayers a Lachlan's (5MM) grandfather passed away late last week.

Continue to stay COVID safe and may God's blessing be with everyone.

Carmel Maguire

Principal

The St Monica's staff work hard to provide a quality learning experience for all children in their care. To meet the needs of all children a teacher will often develop a personalised learning plan for a student that allows a school to receive additional funding to support a student's learning via the support with a classroom assistant or through a specialised program. An overview of our student needs is provided annually to access funding. Please read the attached document for more information.

2021_NCCD_Information_for_Parents.docx_1_.pdf

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St Vinnies Winter Appeal 2021!

Thank you to those families who have brought in donations already! It is so great to know that our St Monica’s community is so giving. Our Winter Appeal will continue in Term 3, so if your family needs more time to bring in your donation that’s totally fine!

Just a reminder that all donations must be new ?

This year we are particularly looking for:

Blankets
Large jackets
Large Jumpers
Warm gloves and socks
Sleeping bags

Don’t forget that your donations will help make a difference to those in our local Canberra community this winter!

Thank you for your support - Year 6 Social Justice Team

Sacramental Program 2021

The Sacrament of Confirmation - will be celebrated during Term 3 on the following dates:

Tuesday 7 September in St Michael’s Church
Wednesday 8 September in St Monica’s Church
Thursday 9 September in St Monica’s Church

Registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation

Registration must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App.
Registrations will open on 12 July 2021 (when school resumes after the holidays). The opening date is a correction to the previous advice last week – apologies for any inconvenience.

The parent information session is scheduled for 22 July (additional information will be provided in coming weeks).

The Sacrament of Reconciliation - will be celebrated during Term 4.

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

During the school break we will be stocktaking and replacing some of our very loved but worn home readers.

Please return all of your child’s home readers by Friday.

Wushka is available for all grades and so are library loans over the holidays.

Maths Questions

Thank you to the families who have submitted answers across the term for my mathematic problems. I will continue putting questions in each fortnight next term.

Maths Videos

Special thanks to the Year 2 Teachers who recorded some instructional videos for parents to assist their children with Mathematics at home. These videos have been uploaded to the Year 2 SeeSaw account and we would love to hear your feedback.

Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week

Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Week will be held from 21 -27 August (Week 7). During Term 3 the students will be looking at the Shortlisted books and engaging in a wide range of activities that help them explore the themes and illustrations in the books. The theme this year is “Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds” which has inspired the Book Week artwork by Shaun Tan. The holidays are a chance for students to start thinking about this theme when choosing their character for the Book Parade and be creative and imaginative with their design and construction of their costume.

Holiday Reading and Sora

The holidays are a great time to relax with a book so students have been able to borrow extra books for the holidays. If they read all these books they can access eBooks and audio books. Your ACEN Overdrive and Sora eBook/audiobook online system is accessible to you with your CE network login over the school holidays 24/7.

The ACEN OverDrive website is located at http://acen.lib.overdrive.com or by searching in the Apple store or Google Play for the OverDrive app. (link). When asked to search for a library, click to search by ‘Name’, not location, and then search for ‘ACEN’.

ACT Cross Country Results

Congratulations to the following students who achieved excellent results at the ACT Cross Country Carnival last Wednesday at Mt Stromlo Running Track -

Milla F- 9th
Charlie D- 12th
Mitchell B- 19th
Ater A- 35th
Finn D- 31st
Aiden S- 35th

As a school we are seeking expressions of interest from parents regarding participation in Oz Tag Gala Days. Earlier in the year we received enough interest to field 4 boys teams and 3 girls teams across Years 3-6. We now require parents or carers to coach these teams. We will only be able to enter teams if we receive enough parent support. A teacher is required to attend on the day to assist with supervision.

Grades: 3-6

Dates: 11 August Boys and 12 August Girls

Venue: Dickson Playing Fields

Time: 8:30-3:00pm approx

We are calling for parents in Years 3-6 to provide expressions of interest for these days. Parents interested in participating MUST have a WWVP card if they are coaching a team.

Please fill in the slip attached and return to the front office by the end of Week 1, Term 3 (Friday 16 July). Once I have received these forms back, I will be able to send out permission forms to children who were interested with further information about the day.

Gala_Day_Expression_of_Interest_Oz_Tag.pdf

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SSACT 12&U Hockey Boys and Girls State Team Selections Open for Registration

SSACT, working in collaboration with School Sport Victoria, will be hosting an Interstate Series here in Canberra from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 September at the National Hockey Centre.

Registrations are now open on the Hockey page of the SSACT website for students turning 10, 11 or 12 this year (no Age Dispensation for this tournament) to register their interest in attending the selection trials in July. Please note that parents new to the system need to register themselves first then commence the trial process for their child. Full details to be found on the website.

https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/hockey/

SSACT 12&U Rugby League State Team Selections Open for Registration

SSACT, working in collaboration with School Sport Victoria, will be hosting an Interstate Series here in Canberra from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 September at the NSWRL Headquarters in Bruce.

Registrations are now open on the Rugby League page of the SSACT website for students who have turned 11 by the trial or turning 12 in this year of competition to register their interest in attending the selection trials in July. Please note that parents new to the system need to register themselves first then commence the trial process for their child. Full details to be found on the website.

https://schoolsportact.org.au/sports/rugby-league/

Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating a Birthday this week and throughout the school holidays -

Alexandra S, Brando B, Joseph F, Annalene L, Dale S, Freya S, Savannah L, Dieron B, Annabelle F, Emmett J, Cameron H, Adele M, Isaac B, Lily H, Noah P, Charles V, Yar A, Charlotte T, Mya L, Ruby M, Aiden Mc, Toby Mc, Archer P

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

insights_use_your_words_dad.pdf

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