Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

What makes a community?

Strong communities have a significant sense of purpose. People’s roles have meaning in the bigger picture of the community and each member of the group understands how their work connects to others’ and adds value to the whole. As members of a community, people don’t just want to lay bricks, they want to build a cathedral!

2023 Kindergarten interviews have been happening through the week and I am delighted to hear parents commenting on how they are looking forward to joining, belonging and contributing to the St Monica's community. Today, we celebrate "Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day" where we join our friends from the St Michael's community and as a wider Parish community. We have received acknowlegements, from external providers and visitors to our school, who comment how lovely it is to see how the the older children interact with the younger students at our school. There is a real sense of community spirit at St Monica's and I am delighted to be part of it.

Semester One Reports

Student Reports will be available on Compass from 3.30pm tomorrow, Friday 24 June. The A - E reporting scale for each of the subject areas will still apply and under each subject, there will also be a comment which outlines the main content and skills that have been covered. Individual comments will not be included in your child's report. Instead, we have opted to have parent - teacher conferences in Week 10.

This meeting time provides teachers and parents the opportunity for conversations about how each student is progressing and for teachers to share with you your children’s strengths and areas for further improvement. It also enables teachers and parents/carers the opportunity to have 'real time' conversations about development and growth of the child. 

Online Booking for Parent/Teacher Conferencess - Parent / Teacher conferences will take place from Monday 27 - Wednesday 29 June. Bookings are now live on the Compass Portal. It is an expectation that all families book in a time to meet with their child/ren's classroom teacher. Please contact the Front Office if you are experiencing any issues booking these sessions.

Circle Friday 5 August on your calendars people, for the St Monica's Trivia Night!
The theme this year is, "Battle of the Bands" so it's time to think about your costumes and get your brains trained for this super fun event. More information will be coming soon... so stay tuned!

Protected Industrial Action - I ask that you read the attached correspondence from Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, regarding Protected Industrial Action on Thursday, June 30 2022. As a result of this action, our school may experience staff shortages. On Tuesday 28 June, I will advise you of the specific arrangements for St Monica's Primary School. 

Directors_Letter_to_Parents_re_Protected_Industrial_Action.pdf

Directors_Letter_to_Parents_re_Protected_Industrial_Action _pdf 145.94 KB

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 July Vacation Care Enrolment Form, which is in this week's newsletter.

Peace and blessings to you all,

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week

Alexandra S, Eva B, Brando B, Lewis C, Joseph F, Annalene L, Freya S, Dieron B, Emmett J

Sacrament of Confirmation

For eligible Year 6 students. This will be celebrated on 13 September 2022 in St Michael’s Church and 14 September 2022 in St Monica’s Church.

Registrations will open on 27 June 2022 via the parish Qkr! App (NOT the school app).

Important – If your child is eligible to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation – please talk to your child and consider the following:

• Saint’s Name for Confirmation; and
• Sponsor’s Name.

These are two of the requirements on the registration form.

Sacrament of Reconciliation 

For eligible Year 3 students. This will be celebrated in Term 4, 2022.

Registrations will open on 19 September 2022 via the parish Qkr! app.

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 further updates at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Children’s Book Council of Australia Sun Project: Shadow Judging

St Monica’s is participating in the Children's Book Council of Australia Shadow Judging Project. This is a new CBCA initiative to engage children in the judging process.

A  group of 8 Year 4 students will join groups across Australia, to dive deeply into the Shortlisted books and express their opinions and share their responses as judges “shadowing” the CBCA Judges.  The group will use the same criteria to reflect on literary values and to champion their choices. Within the group they will collaborate and develop their own creative response to books and share this with the community. The group will be looking at the picture book category.

We will be meeting with Colleen Caddy-Murphy (Judge for the younger readers category) to explore the selection criteria on Monday 27 June.

On Monday 1 August Emma Allen author of “The Terrible Suitcase" will work with the students on their creative response.

On Friday 19 August we have been invited to the ACT CBCA Award Announcement at the National Library at 11.30am -1pm where they will watch the Book of the Year announcement and with other groups have the opportunity to share their creative response to the books.

Libraries ACT Kids Lit Festival

This weekend Libraries ACT are holding a Kids Lit Festival at their Woden branch.  The children will have the opportunity for budding writers to meet with authors and illustrators. James Knight and Shelly Unwin are running writing workshops.  Amelia McInerney will be doing reading and rhyming games, Danielle McDonald, illustrator of Ella’s Diaries, is running a workshop on creating a journal.  Details can be found at Libraries ACT Kids Lit Festival

Overdue Library Notices Emails

There are some students who have had their library books for several weeks. I will be sending out overdue notices as a reminder of titles that families need to return so they can get new books for the holidays.  I am emailing the notices to parents on Thursday 23 June. This will give families the opportunity to read the stories over the weekend or spend time finding books.

ACT Sport

Congratulations to Mya L (6JG) who has been selected in the ACT Under 12's State Basketball Team to play at the National Championships in Bendigo in August. Congratulations to Jett S (5M) who has been selected as a shadow player for the ACT Under 12 State Hockey Team which will compete in the National Championships later this year in Lyneham. Congratulations also to Jack G (6M) who has been selected in a train-on squad for the ACT Under 12 State Rugby Union Team. The St Monica's community are very proud of your achievements.

ACT Cross Country

Congratulations to Millie H, Lily H and Jaryd S who represented St Monica's at the ACT Cross Country carnival last week. 

Oz Tag Gala Days

Permission notes have been sent out on Compass and paper copies provided at school for Oz Tag Gala days happening in September. Please return notes asap.

Netball Gala Days

Special thanks to Kayla Larkins, Mel Brown and Maggie Lloyd who organised our teams for the Netball Gala Days!

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 July Vacation Care Enrolment Form, which is in this week's newsletter.

Thank you so much to my wonderful volunteers last week: Deanna Robertson, Esme Rolleston, Katherine O'Sullivan, Tracy D'Ambrosio, Katarina Pilatic and Tim Porter.  Speaking of volunteers I notice we are a bit short of help this Friday.  I am expecting a busy day so would love some assistance if you are able - volunteersignup.org/F9Y8K

The last day of canteen service this term will be tomorrow Friday 24 June. The special lunch that was planned for next Thursday has been postponed to early in Term 3.

The canteen marketplace is still open for Juice Bomb orders.  Drinks will be sent home next Wednesday with your child.

Thank you so much for supporting our canteen this term. 

Timetable change for school route 1068. From Term 3 the 1068 will depart at 3.23pm instead of 3.16pm.