Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

What are some of the things in life that you are grateful for? A loving family, spouse, your children, a best friend, good health and well-being, education, pets, your home, your job?

I am very grateful for the enthusiastic and committed staff, with whom I have the pleasure of working with. I am very grateful for the amazing parent community, who work in remarkable partnership with the school. I am very grateful, for the 374 students under my care. Each and every child at St Monica’s is unique and they bring individual qualities, skills and brilliances. This gives me great joy!

It is easy to be thankful for the good things. However, a life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive, here are some ways to be thankful for your troubles, so that they become blessings!

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire - if you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something - for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times - during those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations - because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge - because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes - they will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary - because it means you've made a difference.

Staffing News

I am very pleased to welcome 3 new staff members. Ms Emily Carroll who is joining our Classroom Support team,  Mr Ethan Mass who will be our Youth Ministry Officer, and Miss Lily Ridley, student from Melba Copland College, who is assisting with our Playgroup and Classroom Support team.  I know that our school community will make them all feel very welcome!

We are working through a few issues around appropriate toilet behaviour.  This is affecting students from Kindergarten right through to Year 6.  

We ask that you assist us by having a conversation with your child/ren about suitable toilet behaviour.  For example, ensuring that we are not wasting our resources such as paper towels, respecting personal space, being hygienic and washing our hands with soap, flushing the toilet when we use it.

We thank you for supporting us with this.

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week.

Kobe B, Noah Z, Lillian W, Selina L, Kushi R, Isabella A, Lincoln L, Chloe W

Fete News

If you have a child that has been baptised in Years 4- 6 in 2023 this may be a Sacramental year.

Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated on the weekend of 17 and 18 June 2023 across the four Parish Sunday Masses - 

5.00pm - 17 June at St Monica's Church, Evatt

8.00am - 18 June at St Michael;s Church, Kaleen

10.00am - 18 June at St Monica's Church, Evatt and

5.30pm - 18 June at St Michael's Church, Kaleen.

Registrations open on Monday 3 April 2023 and will close by Friday 28 April 2023. Registration for the Sacrament must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (not the School App). No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

Sacrament ofConfirmation will be celebrated on 4, 5 and 6 September 2023.

Sacrament of 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

Big Fete Raffle Tickets

Raffle tickets will be sent home with the eldest child from each family early in Week 6. Please return all tickets (sold or unsold for auditing purposes) to the front office. This year you also have the option to pay for your tickets via the QKR! app. All ticket books sold or unsold need to be returned to the office by Monday 27 March.

Fete Class Raffle

Reminder of what each grade is required to bring in

Each year we do class raffle baskets. This year we are giving parents the option to either contribute an item to the class raffle baskets or donate a family pack to be sold.

Each grade has been given a theme and a basket. If you choose to participate in this option we ask that your child/ren contribute something to their basket to be raffled at the fete. The themes of the baskets are below.

Alternatively, your family might like to donate a pack of some description, for example a cooking pack (mixing bowl, cookbook, wooden spoon) or a craft pack (colouring book, pencils, and stickers).  If you choose this option one donation per family will suffice.

The themes for the raffle baskets are:

Kindergarten – Easter

Year 1 – Boredom Buster (think ultimate rainy-day fun – puzzles, books, games, stickers, colouring books, cards etc.)

Year 2 – Easter

Year 3 –Cookin’ up a Storm (all things kitchen, baking and cooking ready for holiday baking days)

Year 4 – Easter

Year 5 – Arts & Craft (make writing and drawing fun with gel pens, pencils, notebooks, post-its,  glitter, glue, and feathers)

Year 6 – Holiday Cookin’ up a Storm (all things kitchen, baking and cooking ready for holiday baking days).

A reminder that if your child is not at school, but has a lunch order, there are a number of things you can do so that we can ensure your child gets their order.  If it is prior to the 8.45am cut-off you can cancel the order on Qkr! and you will be given a credit to use at a later time.  If you are aware of an absence in the morning but it is past the cut off time you can either telephone the school or email me - wendy.regan@cg.catholic.edu.au.  If you are picking your child up from sick bay, you can let the staff know that you have an order, and we can ensure you get it to go.  Please assist me to eliminate food wastage and keep our prices low.

Many people have enquired about the birthday ice blocks.  I have one week's notice on these, firstly to ensure I have stock frozen and secondly because I am part-time (Wed - Fri).  If you need the class treats for a Monday or Tuesday I can negotiate with our lovely class teachers to set this up if I have enough notice.  Please don't forget to let me know what Friday lunch food and drink your birthday child would like as this is all part of the wonderful deal (zooper doopers for the class, a Friday lunch food and drink - all for just $12.50).

We have had a few wonderful weeks with lots of happy customers enjoying making their purchaes at the canteen.  This is in no small part thanks to our super volunteers - much appreciation to Chris Regan, Esme Rolleston, Katherine O'Sullivan, Kathy O'Rourke, Rach Pentes, Angalea Turnbull, Fiona Steinberg, Shannon Nott, Samantha Cox, Udayani Ilianage, Tim Porter, Tracy D'Ambrosio and Katarina Pilatic.  Please join the team, all you need is a WWVP card and your sense of humour.  There are always plenty of laughs and of course always a chocolate biscuit or two!  Children love to see their special person in the canteen too.  Simply sign into the link, so that I know I am covered for the shift.

volunteersignup.org/3RPFL

Volunteers 

Volunteers are always welcome in the library. If you have an hour or two to spare and would like to help with shelving or covering books we would love to have you join us in the library. You will need to have a current “Working with Vulnerable People” card. Please email me to let me know your availability - veronica.melville@cg.catholic.edu.au

If you are unable to come to school but would like to cover books we are able to send bundles of books home for you to cover. Please email me if this is something you would like to assist with.

Street Library

Minecraft Competition

A reminder for parents to email me if your child would like to be involved in the Minecraft Education competition.

Cybersafety tips

Please see attached tip sheet to help monitor and set boundaries for screen time.

Meninga Cup

Netball Gala Day

Thank you to Miss Larkins, Mrs Russell and Mrs Friend who are organising our teams for the upcoming Netball Gala Days. Please contact these staff members if you have any questions regarding these days.

Oz Tag

Congratulations to all of the students involved in the Oztag finals series over the past few weeks. Kane O, Leo S, Owen D-C and Ryan W capped off a great season by winning their grand final in over time.