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Dear St Monica’s families and friends,
We have just entered the season of Lent, a season of grace, in which our hearts can be softened. It is a time for us to turn radically back to God and to experience true conversion and repentance. Most of ‘give something up’ or fast. However, this is only one of three things we can focus on throughout Lent. The other two, prayer and almsgiving, are very much about ‘taking something up’.
Yesterday we came together as a Parish and School Community for Ash Wednesday Mass. Special thanks to Ms Younger for her preparation of Mass for us and to Mrs Pearson for her work with the school choir. What a reverent and respectful occasion this was, to begin our Lenten journey.
World’s Greatest Shave
I am very pleased to share with you a true act of selflessness and incredible act of charity. Year 6 student, Laura R (6 Maroon), will be participating in this year’s World’s Greatest Shave on Friday 17 March. You’re invited to support Laura in her efforts to raise funds for research and better treatment options for those affected by Blood Cancer. If you would like to donate to Laura’s cause, please click on this link: http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/laurarabbets
Swimming Carnival
It was an incredible day on Monday, out at the Gungahlin Leisure Centre, for the 2023 Swimming Carnival. It is no easy feat organising 300 students into events, marshal them, support and cheer them on. Huge thanks to our parent volunteers, teaching and support staff and the Yr 10 and Yr 11 students who helped the carnival run like clockwork!
Get to Know You Meetings
I trust you have found the Get the Know You Meetings a valuable opportunity to talk to your child’s classroom teacher about your child. These meetings bolster the partnership our families have with the school and lay the groundwork for positive parent – teacher relationships. Thank you for sharing your child’s strengths, interests and areas in which they experience challenge. The Australian Parenting Website – raisingchildren.net.au has some valuable tools and resources to assist families, of school age children. https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/working-with-schools-teachers/problem-solving-for-parents-teachers
Angeth A, Fatmata K, Freddie O, Ramia B, Bily B, Aria G, Jade A-C, Imogen S
Spotlight on Kindergarten
Kindergarten have already been super busy learning about prayer and how it helps us build our relationship with God. We’ve also made a great start with how we listen to Father Mick and join in the singing in church. Our focus is learning the sign of the cross and the prayers we pray regularly, including: our school prayer, a prayer for the end of the day and at lunchtime.
Check out our wonderful craft person that helps us remember how to make the sign of the cross! You might like to make sure you are all practising this with Kindergarten when we as a family say Grace before our meals and for prayers at night.
Religious Life of the School
Shrove Tuesday
Before the fasting and abstinence of Lent, Catholics celebrate Shrove Tuesday. Traditionally this was to use up the last of the flour, eggs, milk and sugar before the Lenten fasting. It has become a wonderful tradition to make pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. Thank you to those who shared photos of their feasting family fun!
Ash Wednesday
Thank you to all who helped with celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass yesterday morning. It was so lovely to be able to gather again and reconnect with our parish in our liturgical season journey. Special thanks to Mrs Pearson and the choir for leading us in song so beautifully. We commit now to prepare ourselves through our Lenten promises for Jesus’ death and resurrection again at Easter.
Whole School Prayer
Our next Whole School Prayer will be tomorrow, Friday 24 February. Year 4 will lead us in prayer exploring our Lenten journey. All families are invited to join us in the St Monica’s Church at 9.10am for this whole school celebration.
Next week Year 3 will lead us in prayer on Friday 3March. All families are warmly invited to join us from 9.10am in the church for this Whole School Prayer Time.
Project Compassion
With the beginning of Lent yesterday we have begun to fundraise for Project Compassion. Caritas, through Project Compassion supports people in crisis all around the world. Aid is currently being focused on those impacted by the Turkish/Syrian earthquake. Project Compassion’s theme this year is ‘Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.’ Each classroom has a donation box where children are encouraged to help fundraise for Project Compassion during Lent. Your family is able to collect your own boxes at all parish Masses this coming Sunday. Check out the Caritas, Project Compassion website for more information about this vital work being done.
If you have a child in Years 4- 6 in 2023 this may be a Sacramental year.
First Eucharist will be celebrated on the weekend of 17 and 18 June 2023 across the four weekend masses.
Confirmation will be celebrated on 4, 5 and 6 September 2023.
Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 1 in 2024.
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
Fete News
Thank you to those families who have returned their volunteer notes and items for the class raffle and chocolate and lolly toss. We really need lots of donations to make the fete successful.
Please continue to bring in donations as soon as possible so we can gauge what we still need to purchase.
There is only 5 weeks left until Fete Day!
COMPASS Assistance Session
On Wednesday 1 March, Campbell Sloane from Catholic Education will be here in our Front Office area to assist with all things ‘COMPASS’. If you need any support, please place this date in your diary. Wednesday 1 March 9.00am, Week 5.
It was a weekend of fun, and extreme heat, however, the girls made it to the quarter finals! They didn't progress any further, but were thrilled to qualify for the finals. At the time, they were ranked 5th of 18 teams, before then going down to a tough team. They were thrilled to come away with as many wins as they did!
Cricket
12 and U Boys and Girls Cricket State Team Selection Trials - Registrations Open
Selections trials for both Boys and Girls 12and U Cricket state teams are now open for registration. These trials have been scheduled a lot earlier than their traditional Term 3, as this year's School Sport Australia Championships is being held in Darwin, NT, and due to the wet season weather in mid November, it has been moved to 3 - 9 June. Registration portal can be found: