Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

The second half of this term has been in full swing. Our school theme of “Walking together / You’re invited” has flourished, with greater numbers of attendees at community events such as Morning Assembly, Whole School Prayer and the Get to Know you Meetings. I know this is primarily due to the lifting of COVID19 restrictions, but it is warming to see parents and visitors back on school grounds again.

Students in Years 3 and 5 have participated in NAPLAN over the past week. I thank the supervising teachers for making sure the program went smoothly and ensuring the testing was considered a regular part of the teaching and learning day. The results of the NAPLAN testing will come out later this year.

Earlier this week Maggie Lloyd and I presented a webinar (to our colleagues across the Catholic Education System) on the implementation of the InitiaLit, Math Mastery and Spelling Mastery programs into the school. We recognise a need to inform parents about these initiatives. As such, we have begun the process of scheduling suitable times to run some parent workshops, webinars and / or video recordings. This is to ensure our parents have a greater understanding around the ‘why’ St Monica’s has gone down the path of teaching this way.

Next term on 10 and 11 May St Monica’s Primary School will undergo the School Improvement Review and Compliance Registration process. A panel of visitors will come into the school and speak with all stakeholders, including representatives from the parent community, about the following 5 Strategic Domains:

• Catholic Identity & Culture
• Partnerships & Community
• Excellence in Teaching & Learning
• Stewardship & Resourcing
• Staff Capacity & Leadership

School Fees are now due. Reminder notices have gone out to families today and we hope to have fees settled by the end of term. If families are experiencing difficulty in meeting the school fee payments, please make an appointment to come and see me. I understand there has been some confusion, around the payment options for this year. School Fees can be paid in full or via instalments by BPAY, EFTPOS, or Cash.

For families wishing to pay their fees via BPAY instalments, please establish a recurring fortnightly or monthly payment from your nominated bank account. You will find the BPAY Biller Code and your Individual Reference Number at the bottom of your Fee Statement. If you need an updated BPAY Instalment schedule, please email Kirralea Thompson who will work out what your individual payments will be.

It's not too late to volunteer for the Fete!! Please consider offering some time to help out at the Fete. We are in particular need of afternoon volunteers. Huge thanks to Kirralea Thompson and her team of helpers for their fabulous coordination of this extraordinary event. Special thanks goes out to the businesses from our local area for their sponsorship and kind donations. Big thanks also to all St Monica’s families for the selling of raffle tickets, donations for the cake stall, white elephant stall and more…. It is going to be a magnificent day!!

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

Ava F, Isreal O, Aleer A, Stefan J, Sehajnoor K, Nicholas P

Spotlight on Year 5

Year 5 have been learning about Jesus’ Commandment to ‘love your neighbour’ and how to live that out in our every day. To deeply understand this we first explored the historical and cultural context as well as the literary style of three different pieces of Scripture that share this important commandment. Year 5 have reflected then on how real people of inspiration live out Jesus’ commandment of love. Some of their reflections:

Amar Sing is the president and founder of the charity organisation, ‘Turbans 4 Australia.’ It is a charity that gives food to people in need. Amar is showing justice and care to people in need.   - Nikolas H

Keith Parker acted as an Australian representative helping negotiate weapons surrender during a period of conflict in the Solomon Islands. He volunteers in an ambulance as well. Keith helps people, showing how Jesus wants us to love one another. - Lachlan D

Sacha King set up a charity in 2019 delivering mental health training and community workshops. She helps people with mental health issues all around Australia. She cares for others like she cares for herself. - Daniel H

Shamuruh Mirza co-founded SiTara’s Story in 2017 after encountering many women with depression. She volunteered among culturally and linguistically diverse groups in Canberra. She reflects Jesus’ commandment of charity because she helped a lot of women and volunteered for CALD.

Whole School Prayer

Thank you to Year 2 for your fabulous whole school prayer last Friday. I think everyone was singing R E S P E C T all weekend!!

You’re Invited!  Our next Whole School Prayer Times are in Holy Week which is in Week 10.

All of our prayer times will be held in the Hall. See below for each event:

Monday 3 April – 9:15am Palm Sunday WSPT Kindergarten

Tuesday 4 April 9:15am Washing of the Feet (hands) (Year 3)

Wednesday 5 April 9:15am Last Supper / Agape Meal (Year 4)

Thursday 6 April 9:15am Stations of the Cross (Year 6)

All families are warmly invited to join us in the Hall for each of these special reflections on Jesus’ Passion. Year 5 will have their own prayer reflections on camp each evening.

Project Compassion

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.

The Social Justice group are excited to be encouraging student donation to earn some rewards around the school. Our first target was $100 and the students enjoyed their reward of 10 minutes extra lunch play time on Friday last week. Our next goal will be to raise over $400 when the students could be treated to a movie afternoon in their classes. Keep that cash coming in!!

Caritas works across the world helping people to live better lives. Each week they focus on one real story of how your charity changes someone’s life. This week’s focus is Thu from Vietnam:

Thu in Vietnam

Thu lost his leg after stepping on a land mine in Vietnam. In addition to being the breadwinner for his family, Thu had to take on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.  

Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD). 

The Empowerment of People with Disabilities program supports people living with disabilities to establish Village Saving and Loans Associations (VSLA) so that they can access affordable loans. Through the VSLA he was able to obtain a low-interest loan, which he used to open his own barber shop on a new road that was constructed near his home. 

Check out the Caritas, Project Compassion website to learn more about Thu and the vital work being done by Caritas.

Harmony Day  

On Tuesday we celebrated Harmony Day with students wearing a splash of orange or their national dress. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the wide range of culturally diverse backgrounds. During library lessons and in class the students have had the opportunity to discuss inclusiveness and the wonderful gifts that these families bring to St Monica’s and our wider community and country. 

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

Sacrament of First Eucharist - will be celebrated across the four Parish Sunday Masses:

5pm - 17 June at St Monica’s Church – Evatt

8am - 18 June at St Michael’s Church – Kaleen

10am – 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).
If you are registering more than 1 child you will need to fully complete and pay for each separate registration.

No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

Commitment Masses

Students and parents must attend one of the weekend Masses at either St Monica’s Church (5pm Saturday or 10am Sunday) or St Michael’s Church (8am or 5.30pm Sunday) on one of the dates listed below to make their commitment for the Sacrament.
Saturday 29 April and Sunday 30 April
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May
There will be no additional commitment masses beyond these dates.

Purchasing a Stole for First Eucharist

Purchasing a stole is optional and is not compulsory (you can borrow one on the day). If you wish to purchase a stole please make a payment of $20 through the Qkr! with the registration and the stole will be delivered to the schools and the School of Religion (SOR).

Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on 5, 6 and 7 September 2023.

Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 1, 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

Belconnen Swimming

Best of luck to the students who are attending the Belconnen Swimming Carnival on Tuesday. We know you will do us proud and demonstrate the footsteps of St Monica in all of your events. Thanks to Mr Meagher and Mrs Patterson who are going along to assist.

Save the Date

Cross Country Term 2 – Thursday 4 May

Parent helpers will be invited to assist on the course at checkpoints. Further information to come.