Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week 

Ivy D, Tilly G, Faith K, Liam R, Anna V, Saxon H, Cooper D

Special Birthday for Ella C's (1RC) Great Grandmother who turns 100

Great Granny (GG)  and Ella's name sake is a war widow and veteran herself - this is a piece posted by the Department of Veterans' Affairs Minister on Monday - 

Happy birthday to Ella Clark who was born in Sydney in 1922. Today, she turns 100!

At age 19, Ella joined the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) in Paddington, Sydney, in January 1942, attaining the rank of corporal before her discharge in November 1945.

Ella was largely based in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Esk in Queensland, and worked as a highly trained stenographer and typist/secretary to staff officers and senior headquarters staff. As a result, she knew many national secrets, even where and when her new husband Harry was going to be deployed. Harry tried to prise the details from her but Ella never divulged the information!

Ella was stationed in Sydney when the Japanese midget submarines attacked on the night of 31 May/1 June 1942, and the AWAS were told to save their irreplaceable typewriters and take them to the shelter. The Army also attempted to teach Ella how to shoot the ·303 SMLE (Lee Enfield) service rifle but gave up and thought she was more dangerous to the enemy with the stenographer’s pen and typewriter. Ella recalls that typing up the KIA (Killed in Action) and MIA (Missing in Action) letters to families was emotionally hard.

Ella’s brothers also served. Her eldest brother's ship was one of five sunk off Nauru by the German commerce raiders Orion and Komet during December 1940, and he spent most of the war in a German POW Camp for merchant marine personnel. Another brother was a commando in the Libyan Desert, and her youngest brother was stationed in Darwin through the bombing raids.

Ella married Harry Clark in December 1943, and after a very short honeymoon, she did not see him until after the war. She then raised her 3 children and spent time volunteering at their school. When her children were older, Ella worked in hotel services at the Dandenong Hospital, then at an egg production farm and as grandchildren arrived, she became a carer for a second time around. Sadly, Harry passed away in 1997.

Those who know Ella say she is a very wise woman who could give advice in how to live a peaceful, honest, and honourable life. She lived totally independently until she was 93 years old. A natural redhead when younger, Ella believes that is why she has survived so long – she has true Scottish stubbornness in her bones. Ella has never smoked, drank alcohol or driven a car. She used to walk everywhere and was also an avid gardener.

Dear St Monica’s families and friends

In Psalm 46, we pray these words of encouragement:  

‘God is our refuge and strength’. We ask that he hear our prayers for all those affected by the devastating floodwaters throughout southeastern Queensland and across the state of NSW.   

We ask that he give courage and hope in the midst of despair. Grant wisdom to those who assist, especially government leaders, our State Emergency Service, our Australian Defence Force, other emergency workers and aid agencies. By your gracious hand, rebuild communities where men, women and children are nurtured with care and love.  - Amen

Media Permission   

Please inform the front office if you would like to update your Media Permission forms for your child/children. We continue to use permissions previously granted. However, if you would like to update this information, please inform us and we will send a new note home.  

Easter Raffle

NAPLAN 2022  

On 24 March, all schools around Australia will be participating in a NAPLAN school practice test to ensure that our technology is working in preparation for NAPLAN in May of this year. This will also provide an opportunity for our students to use the demonstration site prior to the test to help familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools they will be using.    

We will share more information about NAPLAN closer to the actual testing days. In the meantime, please head to https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site if you require additional information. If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online, please do not hesitate to contact the school.   

COVID 19 Updates

Thank you one and all for supporting our school with the Covid restrictions. I appreciate the efforts you have gone to when testing your children using the RATs supplied, as well as following the procedures when a student has tested positive or showing symptoms. We appreciate your continued support in this area and are hopeful that restrictions will continue to ease.

Second Week of Lent – Coming to Know Jesus through Lent

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.

Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family.

Watch a short film about Biru’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Weekly Tweet from Pope Francis

Today’s tweet from Pope Francis is one of prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Take some time today to say a prayer for Ukraine, praying this prayer from Pope Francis.

Parish Sacramental Program 2022

If you have a child in Years 3, 4, or 6 in 2022 this will be a Sacramental year.

This also applies if your child is in Year 5 and he/she has previously missed the Sacraments of Reconciliation and/or First Eucharist.

Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated on the weekend of 18 and 19 June 2022 (Corpus Christi Sunday) across the four Sunday Masses.

6pm - 18 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt

8am - 19 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen

10am – 19 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt and

5.30pm – 19 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen

Registration for the Sacrament of First Eucharist

Registration must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App.

Registrations will open on Monday 4 April 2022 and will close by Friday 29 April 2022.
No further registration will be accepted after the closing date.

Commitment Masses

Students and parents must attend one of the weekend Masses at either St Monica’s Church (6pm Saturday or 10am Sunday) or St Michael’s Church (8am or 5.30pm Sunday) on one of the dates listed below to make their commitment for the Sacrament -

Saturday 30 April and Sunday 1 May
Saturday 7 May and Sunday 8 May

There will be no additional commitment masses beyond these dates.

Confirmation will be celebrated in Term 3 2022.

Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 4 2022.

For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website for updates at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Harmony Week starts on Monday 21 March. Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. Harmony Week  is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. We are proud of our diversity with a wide variety of countries from across the world represented in our staff and student body.

The theme for 2022 is “Celebrating Harmony". St Monica’s will be celebrating Harmony Day on Friday 18 March. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress in their cultural attire or wear orange. Each class will engage with a picture book that explores diversity and respect for everyone and complete a follow up activity.

School Photo Day is Monday 21 March 2022. Envelopes have been sent home with children today. Payment can be made online. Please record your receipt number on front of envelope. Cash payment is also allowed. Children are to wear their full Summer Uniform on Photo Day even if this clashes with your child's regular Sports Day.

Family Photos

We have received notification that Family Photos will be able to go ahead. Payment for family photos is a separate payment to school as this is a fundraiser. The cost is $15 per photo. Please enclose this money in a separate envelope marked Family Photo - with your family name clearly displayed. Payment may also be made through Qkr. If using Qkr please send in a note to confirm your request and method of payment.

School Photo Day -  Monday 21 March 2022. Students are to wear their full school Summer Uniform. All envelopes are to be returned to school by photo day.

Morning Supervision - Morning Supervision starts at 8.25am, students should not be on the school grounds before this time. SMOOSH has places available for families who require before or after school care.

Bell times - The school day begins at 8.55am. We have noticed an increasing number of students arriving after this time. We understand that mornings at home can be busy. However, if your child arrives after this time, you need to come into the office and sign them in. It is important that students start the day together, as this is the time where the teachers go through important information and the disruptions of late arrivals can make the delivery of this information difficult.

• If your child will not be attending SMOOSH due to abscence or leave arrangements. We kindly ask that you let Kamaljit know by calling the SMOOSH office or sending an email. 
• PLACES AVAILABLE.... are you back to work in the office? Would you like to book at place for your child at SMOOSH? Give Kamaljit a call and enrol your child. The SMOOSH team have lots of fun activities planned for you child before and after school. Please check the school website for updated SMOOSH information.

Thank you to Tracy D'Ambrosio, Katherine O'Sullivan, Katarina Pilatic, Jane Rabbets, Samantha Cox, Katrina Ciampa and Udayani Liyanage for volunteering in the last fortnight. We also welcome and appreciate our new volunteers Tim Porter and Claudia Musolino.

With the continuation of COVID restrictions on cohort mixing, the Friday lunch service is very busy indeed. This Friday it looks like we are a little light on volunteers. If you can give your time, even just for an hour, I would appreciate it. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the volunteer signup sheet:

volunteersignup.org/3P9AJ

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

Thank you for volunteering!

MERICI COLLEGE ENROLLING NOW CAMPAIGN

A wonderful opportunity for prospective families to see the College in action, meet our students and attend the Principal’s Address, Year 7 and 11 Information Evenings and lots more.

We are enrolling now for 2023 and beyond!

Please visit www.merici.college for all dates and information for our Open Day, Be a Merici Girl Days and Talk and Tours. Register online now!

Open Day, Principal’s Address and Year 7 2022 Information Night: Tuesday 3 May

Be a Merici Girl Days: 29 April, 2 and 9 May

Talk and Tours: 30 March, 7 May, 20 August, 22 October