Dear St Monica’s families and friends

Aaaah it’s Week Seven, Sabbath Week! How did you spend it? I always look forward to Sabbath Week where there are no meetings, minimal use of paper, being able make things a little low key for the week, time for reflection, leaving work that little bit earlier and going for a nice afternoon walk with my family.  I always feel refreshed during and after Sabbath week as it allows me to catch up on bits and pieces and think about slowing down a little. Normally I am so busy rushing around trying to get things done; I sometimes miss out on the wonderful things that are happening around me. I think I will try and fit in a little bit of Sabbath week into every week from now on! How about you?

World’s Greatest Shave

Year 6 students Joel M and Patrick S are great friends who love to spend their spare time gaming together online, and after this week they will share another thing in common! Both Joel and Patrick have signed up to the World’s Greatest Shave and and after today each will be showcasing a new hairdo to support Australia’s fundraising efforts for the Leukaemia Foundation. Did you know that in 2022 the Leukaemia Foun­da­tion will cel­e­brate 24 years of the World’s Greatest Shave? This makes it one of Australia’s longest-run­ning and most loved fundrais­ing events! People of all ages chan­nel their inner action-hero and shave, cut or colour their hair —sup­port­ed all the way by proud fam­i­ly, friends, col­leagues and classmates. If you would like to assist the students in their fundraising it is not too late to make a donation. Please click through to the links and help support a worthy cause.Thank you for your generosity! 

• Joel's page: Joel Martyn (leukaemiafoundation.org.au)
• Pat's page: Patrick Smith (leukaemiafoundation.org.au)

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week 

Tobias H, Eden L, Ostin D, Spencer L, Stela J, Zara C, Ivana P, Tessa S

School Photo Day is Monday 21 March 2022. Envelopes have been sent home with children last week. 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.

If your child/ren are absent on Photo Day a make up photo will be taken at a later date in the year.

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.

The Harmony Week theme for 2022 is “Celebrating Harmony.  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.

St Monica’s will be celebrating Harmony Day tomorrow Friday 18 March.To celebrate Harmony Day 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.

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

Issue 2 of Scholastic Book Club for 2022 was sent home yesterday. This is a fantastic way to build your child’s/ children’s personal library and love of reading.  All purchases support the school library with the library receiving a percentage of the sales to purchase books for the library. Orders need to be placed by Friday 25 March. 

It is easy to order. All orders are placed using  Book Club LOOP platform which allows parents to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is delivered directly to school and the books will be delivered to your child's classroom. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Last Tuesday the new Children’s Laureate for 2022- 2023 was announced in Melbourne. Gabrielle Wang is our new Children’s Laureate. The Laureate is a national ambassador for reading and Australian literature, promoting the transforming power of reading and creativity and story for children. https://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/our-laureates    Gabrielle has written a number of novels and we have some of these in the library, they include “The Beast of Hushing Wood”, “Ting Ting the Ghosthunter”, “The wishbird” and “A ghost in my suitcase”.  These titles can be found in our fantasy section. Children can learn about Garielle Wang at Meet Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children's Laureate 2022-23 

Thank you

A huge thank you to all the parents who have offered to cover books. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated and the students are loving having new books to borrow.

OzTag News

Nikolas and Josh (Year 4) U9’s oztag team the Sharkies made it into the grand final last week. The boys played the best they have ever played but with a couple of unfortunate mishaps and no subs, they were defeated 5-7. Runners up second year in a row, we are hoping for the win next  year.

Congratulations also to the Rainbow Rangers (Year 2) who won their Grand Final 6-5.

Last night I was lucky to attend a canteen trade show run by ASCA (a not for profit canteen association). It was great to mix amongst other canteen managers in Canberra. From discussion with other managers I realised just how lucky we are to have a wonderful community of volunteers. Without you I would not be able to deliver the amount of lunches we have on a Friday. I was also able to sample products and am hoping to introduce some new things in Term 2.

The canteen will be putting on a special hot cross bun morning tea on Thursday 7 April 2022 (Week 10) in celebration of Easter. The menu will be released very soon. A portion of profits from this event will be donated to Caritas.

As always, thank you to my dedicated bunch of volunteers from last week: Claudia Musolino, Trina Browne, Megan Rhind, Jane Rabbets, Katarina Pilatic, Katherine O’Sullivan, Tim Porter and Chris Regan.  Such a hard working but fun loving bunch. I notice that I only have one volunteer for each session tomorrow, it would be great to get some more help if you are able. You just need your WWVP card, double vax status, a mask and a willing heart…. a sense of humour and fun always helps too! You are also entitled to either morning tea or lunch, so please sign up and join the team – even if you just have 1 hour free.

 volunteersignup.org/3P9AJ

Thanks for supporting our school canteen.

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