Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

We all worry from time to time that we are not connecting with our children as well as we could. Do I know my kids well? Do they know I love them and care? We all have those doubts from time to time.  You are already showing you care by worrying about it so let’s look at some suggestions for improving connections.

Talk (and Listen) to Them - This is the most basic way to connect with your children. Tell them about your day and ask them about theirs. Ask them questions. It’s imperative for people to feel like the person they’re talking to cares. Asking questions about your child proves you are listening and want to know more.

Take an Interest in their Interests - Sometimes talking doesn’t work so you can try to get involved in someway in anything they like to do. Try not to be judgmental; they are more likely to respond if they feel you want to appreciate what they love.

Invite Them into Your World - If you’re willing to show your children who you are they may open and do the same. Invite them to one of your favourite shows or sporting events.

Find a new Hobby - If you find you have no interests in common, you can talk with them about finding something new for the two of you to do together. You could try and find an activity neither of you has tried before and start together.

Guilt is not a Weapon - Make it clear that you want to spend time with them and get to know them, but don’t try to make your kids feel bad if it doesn’t work out right away.

There is a Time for Friendship and a Time for Parenting - It’s necessary to find a balance between parenting and friendship. As a parent, you’re there primarily to ensure your child is safe and grows up well.

Don’t get Discouraged - Being a parent is challenging. It may seem that no matter what you try, you still feel just as distant as when you started. Don’t give up. Your children will appreciate that you are trying – even if they don’t always show it.

Acknowledgement: Parenting Today, Child development Institute. 2022

Awards Assembly - I am pleased to announce family members of the children receiving an award, are welcome to attend the Week 6 Star Awards Assembly. Please contact the office to let us know you will be in attendance. Maintain social distancing, sanitise your hands upon arrival and mask wearing is encouraged.

Book Week - Next week is a huge week for the Library! We have two author visits and the book parade! Special thanks to Ms Melville for her preparation, organisation and enthusiasm to get these special events ready for our students. 

COMING UP / DATES FOR YOUR DIARY... Please go to our school calendar on the COMPASS App for more details.

Reminder: Friday 9 September is a pupil free day for professional learning for staff. Students do not attend school on this day. SMOOSH will be available and enrolment for this day will be available to families soon.

• Y6 MyBody / MyLife: Tuesday 23 August
• Book Week Parade: Thursday 25 August
• Star Awards Assembly: Friday 26 August
• St Monica's Feast Day: Monday 29 August
• Pupil Free Day: Friday 9 September
• Walkathon: Friday 16 September 
• Last day of term - Friday 23 September

Peace and Blessings to all families,

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week 

Aidan H, Azalea S, Amelia H, Stacey L, Daniela S, Edward F, Cooper D, Jack R

Year 1 have been learning about the concept of community, what it means to belong to a community and the different roles that people have in our community. On Tuesday we walked to the Evatt shops to explore different areas of our community and make a purchase at our local bakery. We had a lot of fun identifying important places in our community like playgrounds, bus stops, shops, paths, roads and a doctor’s surgery. The best part was enjoying a treat from the bakery!

The canteen is now opening the window on Friday's at recess and lunch playtime for cash transactions. We are still taking orders predominately via Qkr!. Opening the window allows our children the opportunity to utilise cash and work on their communication skills by giving their orders. It also allows our Year 6 Service leaders to have a go at working in the canteen and focus on customer service and hone their real-life maths skills by handling money.

I would like to thank my trusty volunteers over the past few weeks - Katherine O'Sullivan, Tracy D'Ambrosio, Esme Rolleston, Tim Porter, Rach Pentes, Sarah Clark, Jane Rabbets, Megan Rhind and Chris Regan. We have an awesome community, so much so that Katherine, Tracy, Esme, Tim, Rach and Sarah even ran canteen themselves as I had to be away - awesome job team.

We are always looking for volunteers. Please consider joining us, even if just for an hour. Your service is valued, there is always something good to eat and a few laughs, plus your kiddies love to see you.  I could use a few extra hands tomorrow, please consider signing up. volunteersignup.org/FMWEY

Respect, Engagement and Resilience on Display at Soccer Gala

Last Thursday over 50 students from St Monica’s gathered at the National Hockey Centre in Lyneham for the Belconnen Soccer Gala Day. It was early, it was cold and it was damp. Nevertheless, the students were full of good cheer as they farewelled their drivers in the car park and located their team coaches inside the complex. Talk about resilience!

Organised into 8 different grade teams of 8-10 players. The players competed in a round robin of four 20-minute matches against teams from various Belconnen primary schools. The games were played on the synthetic surface of the hockey pitches with smaller fold-up goals at either end.

Each team was under the care of a parent who served as a trainer, coach and lost property manager!  With 7 players on the field, the coach had to make sure they were warmed up and ready to go, call the rotations and assess minor injuries. A big shout-out to those who stepped up for this role. It made the day go very smoothly.

Some students were there for a kick and a giggle but others came to showcase the skills honed to perfection on the school oval during recess and lunch. It was a delight to watch the enthusiasm and joy each child carried out onto the pitch. Talk about engagement!

In between games, the students were supervised by four very resilient teachers who hardly ever complained about the cold. Instead, they monitored visits to the bathroom and canteen and kept everyone safe on the treacherous steps of the grandstand.

Throughout the day, the kids from St Monica’s were well behaved, played with a sporting spirit and listened carefully to instructions. They certainly showed respect.

We all owe a big thank-you to Mr Matchett who did the hard yards organising the teams, chasing up permission notes and communicating with families. Every school needs a Mr M!

Reporter: Mistamac

Sacrament of Confirmation 

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

Saint’s Name for Confirmation and Sponsor’s Name

URGENT - If you did not provide this information in your registration form, please provide this information now to the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

Sacrament of Reconciliation

(For eligible year 3 students) will be celebrated on 8, 9, and 10 November 2022. Registrations open on Monday 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

Athletics

Today we had 49 students compete in the Belconnen Track and Field carnival at the AIS. We look forward to sharing results with you in the coming weeks. Special thanks to the parents who volunteered their time to assist.

Basketball

This week Mya L (6JG) has been competing in the School Sport Australia Primary Schools Basketball Championships for the ACT. Mya has played some strong opposition and was MVP in a win over NSW. We look forward to hearing more about her week in Bendigo and to hear about how the team went!

Oz Tag

The Oz Tag Gala days are coming up in Week 7- Thursday 1 September for the boys and Friday 2 September for the girls. Team lists will be finalised next week and sent out to students and families. Both days will be held at Southwell Park in Lyneham. Draws will be sent home when we receive them.

Soccer 

Special thanks to Miss Rheinberger, Mrs Lustica, Mr Mac and Mr Green who attended with our teams. A big special thank you to our community of families who coached our teams. 

Shadow Judging

If you have been walking near the school you will have noticed that we now have our own Street Library. This was given to St Monica’s by Street Library Australia through the CBCA ACT Branch in 2021. It was to be launched in Book Week last year but Covid lockdown prevented this and after a few delays we are now having an official launch on Monday 22 August at 2.50pm.  Julie Long OAM, the CBCA ACT Branch President, will be present for the launch. Parents are most welcome to attend. If you are attending and would like your child/children to attend please email and I will bring them to the launch. I am hoping that Harry Laing our visiting author may be able to join us. veronica.melville@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Book Character Parade

On Thursday 25 August we will be dressing up as a book character.  he theme of the CBCA Book Week this year is “Dreaming with your eyes open”.  It would be great to see students link their character/ costume to the theme. This is also a wonderful opportunity for students to be creative and make a costume, a time to think about what could be recycled, upcycled or repurpose to the costume. I had a student ask if she could sew her costume and I replied “most definitely”.  From conversations with students I am expecting dirty dinosaurs and some fairies to visit St Monica’s on Thursday and i am sure there will be lots of other interesting characters.

Our CBCA Book Week dress up day will be a fundraiser for the Story Dogs Program to assist them to continue the great work they are doing. Students will be asked to bring in a gold coin donation.

There will be a parade in the courtyard area at 9am and parents are welcome to attend and watch.

Throughout the Week

There will also be lots happening throughout the week including lots of reading.  Students will have the opportunity to read silently each day, and some of our classes are completing the Story Box Reading Challenge and they will enjoy doing book activities with their teachers.  t lunchtime teachers will be reading a story and doing a craft activity in the library.

There will be a guess at the teachers’ favourite book competition, with some teachers being quite clever in how they hide behind their books.

 Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge

The Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge finishes on 19 August. Students are required to give their completed reading records to Veronica Melville by Friday 19 August for verification. 

St Monica's Chess Tournament

We will be holding our annual St Monica’s Chess Tournament in the Library on Monday 5 September. It will be open for students from Year 1 to Year 6. There will be a Year 1-3 category and a Year 4-6 category for students to enter. The students will play approximately 7 games depending on time. Students will be expected to have knowledge of chess to enter the tournament.  

Thank you to Mr Drake and Mr and Mrs David Hoole for their support with running the tournament on the day. If you would like your child/children to participate in the tournament please email me - veronica.melville@cg.catholic.edu.au

Please find attached Information Sheet and Permission Slip.