Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

Reconciliation Week – Be Brave Make Change

The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.  Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just in National  Reconciliation Week but every week of the year. We saw unprecedented response to our suggested actions for everyday and for braver action.

This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives; where they live, work, play and socialise. National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June, is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

At this Friday’s Star Awards Assembly, we will acknowledge Reconciliation Week with a special Acknowledgement of Country and a ‘Sea of Hands’ display.

Little MonStars Playgroup - We welcomed our first ever group of families to the The Little MonStars playgroup on Wednesday! Special thanks to the Playgroup coordinators June Edwards and Dani O’Brien, for their organisation and set-up of this important program for our school community. Yesterday was all about getting to know one another, making a monster collage, singing monster songs and reading monster stories. If you know of someone in the local community with infants, toddlers or preschoolers, please invite them along to the playgroup! The theme for next week’s playgroup is ‘Dinosaur Roar’

Visit by Director Ross Fox

Tomorrow, Director of Catholic Education Canberra & Goulburn Ross Fox will be coming to visit St Monica’s. He will visit classrooms, meet with the leadership team, discuss our School’s Annual Improvement Plan and Catalyst journey. He may even join us for the Star Awards at 2.30pm!

Baby News in KB

Congratulations to Josie C in KB on the arrival of her new baby sister. Sending our well wishes to Josie’s family at this very special time.

Staffing News:  We welcome Mrs Linda Baird to the St Monica’s Community. Linda will be joining our Front Office team as Assistant Finance Officer. Another friendly face to greet you at the counter and on the phone!

Lockdown Procedure

Lockdown and Lockout procedures have been developed to assist schools in responding to critical incidents where the threat is located inside and/or outside of the building; and threat to staff and students is minimised through restricting movement within the school buildings and grounds.

Lockdown involves restricting classes to classrooms or buildings, and locking both internal and external doors. During a lockdown, movement within the building is restricted in response to an immediate threat to the school. Individuals are required to remain in their classroom until the situation has been declared safe by the Principal or a Police Officer. Emergency Situations where Lockdown may be an appropriate response include:

• Hostile or armed intruders have gained access to the premises
• Explosions
• Gas leaks
• Dangerous animals eg savage dog, brown snake

It is important that our students routinely practice the lockdown procedure so that they are aware of the requirements and processes that will occur during this time. Next week, St Monica’s Primary School will be engaging in a Lockdown Drill. Your child’s classroom teacher will go through the process of what needs to happen in the event the school needs to go into lockdown. I am giving families advance warning of this, so that it will not be a surprise to you if your child comes home and says, “The school went into lockdown today’ You may like to speak with your child/ren about what might happen during a Lockdown event.

Peace and blessings to all,

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week

Gracie H, Marissa dH, Ante P, Grace B, Ana L, Sian S, Sophie A, Lucas C, Mitchell R, Grayson A

End of May - Hats Off Day

In Canberra sun protection is required for part or most of each day between August and May. The end of May is ‘Hats Off Day’ whilst the beginning of August is ‘Hats On Again’ for all of us. As such, the children will no longer be required to wear their hats beginning Week 7 (30 May).

Pupil Free Days

Friday July 1 and Monday 18 July (Term 3) are pupil free days for all St Monica's students. On these days staff will be involved in teacher collaboration, planning and programming and focusing on our wider system Catalyst priorities. SMOOSH will offer out of school care on all of these days. Enrolment for SMOOSH on Friday 1 July and Monday 18 July will be included in the School Holiday Vacation Care enrolment form, which is coming out soon.

Tell Them From Me Surveys

Parents, Teachers and Students in Years 4 - 6 are invited 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. Earlier this week, I sent out an alert via Compass, inviting you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey.

We value the role of parents and carers within our school community, and we would 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 School. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device through URL link that was sent out via Compass. Information about the Student Survey has been sent home to the families of students in Years 4 - 6.

Parish Sacramental Program 2022

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

Home Booklets – families should now be nearing the end of working through the home booklet with their child in preparation for their ‘retreat day’ on 2 June 2022.

Parent/Child Formation Evening – Thursday 2 June 2022 at 6pm at St Michael’s Church, Kaleen. Families will also require the completed home booklets for discussion at the child/parent formation evening.

Home booklets should then be returned to the school (with the last page ‘Parents’ Discernment of Readiness’ completed) following the evening and no later than Wednesday 8 June. The booklets will be signed and stamped with the ‘parish stamp’ and returned to the candidates at their First Eucharist celebration.

Confirmation will be celebrated in Term 3, 2022 – Registrations will open on 27 June 2022.

Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 4, 2022 – Registrations will open on 19 September 2022.

For further Information regarding the Sacramental Program – 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

BPSSA Cross Country

Congratulations to all of the students who represented St Monica's last week at the Belconnen Cross Country Carnival. Mrs Brown and Mr Fletcher were very impressed with the behaviour and participation of our students, well done! Congratulations to Millie H (6J) and Lily Howlett (5HM) who have qualified for the ACT Cross Country later this term. Well done to the following students who placed in the top 25 of their race out of approximately 100 runners:

• Milla F- 11th 9 years girls
• Aya T- 22^nd 9 years girls
• Lily H- 8^th 11 years girls
• Millie H- 8^th 12 years girls
• Sophie C- 11th 12 years girls
• Grace B- 24^th 12 years girls
• Sonny S- 21^st 8 years boys
• Ater A- 20^th 10 years boys
• Charlie D- 14^th 11 years boys
• Patrick I- 15^th 11 years boys
• Mitchell B- 24^th 11 years boys
• Billy S- 25^th 11 years boys

If parents would like to know the position their child finished in and their time please email me directly- ryan.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au

Ryan Matchett- Sport Coordinator

All schools in Australia are required to participate annually in the National Consistent Collection  of Data for Students with Disability (NCCD). This allows our Catholic sector to continue to  provide and prioritise innovative and high-quality teaching and learning to support all students  on their learning journey.

The collection of this data is designed to count the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability. This national  data collection helps federal and state governments plan for the needs of students with disability. It is  also the way that schools seek and receive funding to support the learning needs of their students. 

Please read the attachment below for further information about the NCCD.