Achieve - all that you can

Jesus said therefore

‘What is the Kingdom of God like?  And to what shall I compare it?  It is like the mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches’.    

Luke 13: 18-20

St Monica - A Model of Patience

School - Patience, Stewardship, Acceptance

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Term 3. It was wonderful to see all the children greeting each other and their teachers on Monday morning. Our new term calendar is now up to date on the school webpage and the SZapp. Please visit the calendar regularly to stay well informed about school happenings

Outdoor Seating

Over the holidays additional seating was added to our playground. Thank you to Peter Fleming from ACT Home Improvements for taking on this project. Also, thank you to Paul Raadts from Red Gum Tree Service for cutting back the hedge and spreading the bark near the Kinder play area. Our grounds are starting to really take shape.

God bless

Carmel Maguire 

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in our Archdiocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement and the development of the St Monica's 2020 - 2022 Strategic Plan. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. 

Parent surveys will be launched via email on 29 July and close on 9 August 2019 using the parent email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey please email the school office and we will send you a link. Children will be provided with the link to the student survey at school.

Below are the Term Overviews for each grade. The overview is a summary of the teaching and learning planned for the term ahead. It is also a tool that you can use for projects of inquiry your child may like to do in their own time in addition to Home Learning.

As we continue to be at home more often, we felt it was an opportune time for families to engage in conversations and learning around child protection. Child protection is essential in ensuring the safety and welfare of all of our children.

Attached is an overview of the program that will be taught during Term Three, however, we are encouraging families to engage in the lessons each week whilst we continue remote learning. Each grade will have the same learning intention and teachers will use the appropriate book and lessons to teach their class at their level.

We have now launched the new Home Learning Policy, which was reviewed last term. Each student has been given the attached infographic for you to see what Home Learning now looks like at St Monica's. The full updated policy can be viewed here on the website: https://www.stmonicas.act.edu.au/policies-guidelines 

Thank you to the students, staff and parents who contributed their voice to the review of the policy. Special thanks to the staff and parents who formed the committee and attended the Home Learning Workshop. 

NAIDOC Week

This week as a school we have celebrated NAIDOC week. This years theme is Voice, Treaty, Truth. The Indigenous voice of this country is over 65,000 plus years old. They were the first words spoken on this continent, languages that passed down law, culture and knowledge for over millennia. They are precious to our nation. With 2019 being celebrated as the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, it’s time for Indigenous languages to be heard through our voice. 

As part of our celebrations, we started on Monday with a visit from Philip Green. Philip is a well travelled presenter, photographer and researcher who shared with our students methods of Aboriginal survival technology. The students were engaged in his stories, knowledge and passion for Aboriginal culture, traditions and customs.

Tomorrow, we have a small group of students attending the Archdiocese NAIDOC Mass at St Christopher's Cathedral with Miss Rheinberger. As a school we will also be holding a liturgy in the Church at 1pm, all are welcome to attend. 

Dress Up as a Book Character Day

Dress up as a Book Character Day will be held on Thursday 22 August. The theme of Book Week this year is Reading is my Secret Power.  This theme lends itself to students thinking about books and characters that have inspired them, challenged them or taught them a lesson that has changed them for the better.  In the next few weeks spend time talking and reflecting with your children on characters that have had a positive impact on them. Choose one of these characters rather than a superhero such as Spiderman.  There will be a parade in the school hall at 9.30am.  Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed in each year level.

Chief Minister’s Reading Challenge Ambassador Visit

This year St Monica’s is participating in the Chief Minister’s Challenge.  The challenge involves students reading 30 books before 21September.  Information about the challenge can be found at this link The Chief Minister's Reading Challenge. The students have received their Individual Student Reading Record.  When the students finish a book, it must be initialled by their parents or teacher.

On Friday 16 August the Chief Minister Challenge Ambassador, Jack Heath, will be visiting St Monica’s to share a story and his experiences as a writer and reader. It would be great for students to have their updated reading record ready to show Jack.

Wellbeing is about balance in all aspects of life

It encompasses the health of the whole person – physical, mental, social and emotional. A person’s wellbeing can change moment to moment, day to day, month to month and year to year. It can be influenced by what’s happening in a specific moment and the actions that people take.

One factor that can contribute to the mental health and well being of children is resilience. Children and young people need resilience to manage ups and downs, both during and after difficult or challenging situations. Ups and downs can range from everyday challenges like conflict with friends or falling off a bike. There can be emotional experiences such as loss, rejection, disappointment or humiliation.  Some children and young people face serious challenges like disability, learning difficulties, family separation, family illness or death, or bullying. 

Get tips on building resilience on Beyond Blue’s Healthy Families website

https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/healthy-homes/building-resilience

Change and loss affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Monica’s we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, young people benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. Seasons for Growth  is an Australian program that provides opportunities for students in Years 1-6 to integrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and cope with change, loss and grief, using the symbolism of the four seasons.

Beginning early in Term 3 we will be offering the Seasons for Growth program. Mr Bob Fletcher, a trained ‘Companion’, will spend time with small groups of students who are dealing with some aspect of change, separation, loss or grief. The sessions do not provide counselling or therapy and are not designed to prepare children for imminent grief or loss. Instead, the program aims to specifically assist children who have had a change in their lives through death, separation or divorce. It does this through encouraging the expression of thoughts and emotions, educating about the grief process, developing a peer support network and drawing on extensive research in developing a sound educative response to loss and grief.

Seasons for Growth is an eight session program and will be conducted during school hours with children being withdrawn from class. It is recommended that at least six months passes after the loss, as children are then in a better position to cope with the program.

If this is the first time your child/children will be participating in the program, it is essential that you have this information in order to ascertain if the program will meet the needs of your child/children. Please indicate on the return slip if you would like to personally discuss the program or require more information in print.

Please contact Bob Fletcher, our program co-ordinator if you would like more information.

The following table provides an overview of the way in which Season for Growth integrates the grief tasks with the program contact.

 Overview of Program and Content Topics

We celebrate Social Justice Sunday on 29 September. This year, the Australian Bishops' Social Justice Statement is titled: 'Making it Real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world'. It shares Pope Francis' challenge to us to 'boldly become citizens of the digital world'. It points out that we are called not just to be inhabitants of this world, but active citizens shaping it.

For further details about the Social Justice Statement, visit the Office for Social Justice website (www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au) or call (02) 8306 3499. Order the Statement online at: bit.lysocialjusticeshop. Follow us on Facebook: @socialjusticeACBC or Twitter: @JusticeCatholic

Term 3 School Fees will be invoiced next week. Full payment of fees is due within four weeks each term, except for families on Direct Debit payment arrangements.

We have over $90,000 outstanding in past fees. Please settle your account as a matter of urgency.

A reminder to families that

Enrolment of children at a Catholic diocesan school in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn carries with it the undertaking by parents/guardians to accept the obligation to pay all school fees. It is, however, a matter of Catholic Education Commission policy that inability (not unwillingness) to pay school fees should never exclude any child from a Catholic school.

Please contact the School Finance Officer, or Principal should you be experiencing genuine hardship and will not be able to pay your fees in full by the due date.

Sport Clinics

This term students will be involved in Touch Football clinics on Wednesday's in Weeks 2, 3 and 4. Students will also have three weeks of Oz Tag clinics in Weeks 6, 7 and 8. Thank you to Touch Football ACT and Oz Tag ACT for providing these free clinics for our students, it is much appreciated.

Boorowa and Catholic Schools Netball

This year we will be participating in the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival (Friday 25 October)  and Catholic Schools Netball Carnival (Saturday 19 October). Further information will be sent out later in the term. 

Belconnen Athletics

Students who have qualified to represent St Monica's at the Belconnen Athletics Carnival will receive their permission and information note tomorrow. Please contact me if you have any questions. The carnival will be at the AIS on Monday 19 August (Week 5). 

Touch Football and Oz Tag Gala Days

Thank you to the students who have returned their permission notes and expressions of interest for these gala days. Thank you to Mel Brown who will be attending the Touch carnival with our four Year 3/4 teams and for coordinating our participation in the Oz Tag Gala Day.

Happy Birthday to the following students - 

Jesse F, Layla R, Iyin A, Olivia S, Brock S, Jasper T,  Sophie B, Isabella C, Liam K

Canteen Roster - Term 3, Week 2

Monday - June Manning

Tuesday - Evelyn David-Hoole

Wednesday - Alyson Barnes, Rachele Pentes

Thursday - June Manning

Friday - Wilma Hird, Jenny Fulivai, June Manning, Wendy Regan

Samantha Manning - Canteen Manager - 62584687

Community Council Open Meeting 

Our next meeting is at 6:30pm on Wednesday 7 August and will be an open meeting.  All parents/community members are invited to come along. Drinks and nibbles will be available on the night.

 If you have any ideas or concerns please email them through to our Secretary Fiona Steinberg at Council.StMonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au  

St Monica's Chess Annual Chess Tournament

Our Annual Chess Tournament is on again on Friday 2 August. This tournament is free for anyone who would like to enter and is open to ALL students who can play chess from Years 1-6.  Refer to the entry form for further details.  Entries have to be returned to the office by Thursday next week!

St_monica_s_chess_tournament_flyer_2019.pdf

Don't forget to book your tickets for the 'Tiara's, Tradies & Trivia' night, next Friday 2 August! Invite all your friends, family & colleagues, the more, the merrier!

Follow this TryBooking link to secure your tickets. https://www.trybooking.com/523366

Can't make up a full table? Don't worry, we can find one for you.

Silent auction items on the night include a Makeover Pack with a $100 gift card & cookbook from Birdsnest, as well as a stunning watch from Tony Peters at Exquisite Jewellers in Kippax. Lot's more on offer!

Come out for a night of great fun, a great opportunity to meet some fantastic parents from our school community.

#getyournameonthebrain!

  Friday 9 August - Movie & PJ Night - Instant Family (PG)

Year 5 & 6 only -  6:00pm – 8:30pm

Bootcamp Winter Special

Over winter Mighty Janes Bootcamp runs on a  Monday and Friday at St Monica's from 6.00am - 6.45am. It is a social and inclusive ladies only fitness group based at St Monica's Primary School. 

This winter we have a special promotion. If you join during winter your first week of Bootcamp is FREE and the remaining weeks of winter are 50% off at only $15 per week. This offer is for new members only and T&C apply.

 Email admin@purewill.com.au for more info and to register your interest.

 Staff and Parents of St Monica's get a 5% discount on full price membership fees.