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Dear St Monica’s families and friends,
The Feast of St Monica
This Sunday, 27 August, is the feast day of our patron Saint, Monica. On this day, we honour a woman who was patient, persistent and prayed through years of tears and against all odds for her pagan husband and wayward son. That son, who became Saint Augustine, later wrote gratefully of his mother, “She said little, preached not at all, loved deeply, prayed without ceasing.”
Next Monday, a number of exciting activities have been planned at school for the children, in celebration of her life. Thank you to Meaghan Younger (REC) for her work in preparing the Mass, Maggie Lloyd, Sharon Friend and the K and Year 2 teachers for organising the walk-a-thon and Wendy Regan and the crew from TeamKids for the preparation of the treats and fruit platters when we return. We appreciate your work in organising these wonderful opportunities to celebrate St Monica’s amazing life in an appropriate manner. There is one other surprise for the children in the afternoon, but we are keeping that super-secret!!
Prayer to St Monica
Dear St Monica,
We now ask you to pray with us for all those sons and daughters that have wandered away from God, and to add your prayers to those of all mothers who are worried over their children.
Pray also for us that, following your example, we may,
in the company of our children, one day enjoy the eternal vision of our Father in Heaven.
Amen.
Book Week celebrations - A huge thank you to Veronica Melville for all her enthusiasm, efforts and organisation of our Book Week celebrations once again this year. Last Friday, our shadow judging students from Year 4 attended the Book of the Year announcement at the National Library, on Tuesday we welcomed author Maura Pierlot, who brought along her book “What will you make today?” Today we had our Book Week parade and it was great to see the students (and staff) dressed up as their favourite book character. So many costumes were imaginative and creative, and we acknowledge the time and effort from parents that goes into putting a costume together. Tomorrow author Sami Bayly will be in to share with us information about weird and wonderful animals and in week 9 we welcome another author Nat Amoore. What a wonderful way to celebrate all things books and literature!!
Father’s Day celebrations – Friday 1 September - Next Friday, all fathers and significant males in our lives are invited to grab a coffee and a donut on us. We will then have the annual Fathers' Furthest Footy kick off at 8.50am.
There is also an opportunity to purchase a Father’s Day gift from the Father’s Day stall. We sincerely thank Sarah Clark (mother of Ella in Year 2) for all her organisation to celebrate the important males in our lives. If you are able to assist with the stall, please let Sarah know.
Staffing news – I am pleased to announce that Melinda Brown has been appointed Acting Coordinator whilst Liz Foster is on Maternity Leave. Congratulations Mel!
Prayers please – Please keep in your prayers the Solari family and the Carr family who have had loved ones pass away recently. “Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon their souls. May they rest in peace. Amen”
Warmest wishes,
Today the children enjoyed dressing up as their favourite characters and parading in the courtyard. Even Monty joined in on the fun dressed up as Frank from Frank's Red Hat!
Religious Curriculum of St Monica’s
In Year 2 students are weaving learning in Religious Education with their conceptual inquiry unit. The RE focus is on understanding life in Jesus’ time and the power of oral stories. When investigating Scripture we use an investigative tool called, 3 Worlds of the Text.
Initially students learn about the world in which the scripture was written (World Behind the Text). For the Gospels we know this is many years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Each of the Gospel writers was writing for their own particular community and this flavoured their choice of words and stories. It is unlikely any of the authors of the four Gospels actually met Jesus, but rather relied on stories passed down in oral tradition from those who had lived with Jesus. Year 2 will look at what life was like in Jesus’ time and in the 30-40 years later when the Gospels were written.
Students then look at the World Of the Text, which is essentially looking at the text type chosen. So often Jesus chose to preach using parables, a popular and very familiar way of imparting messages used in Jesus’ time. Parables hold truth but are not factual stories or events, they can be likened to Aesop’s fables that hold a moral and help us understand larger concepts and themes like God’s unending love. Some of the parables students will investigate will be the Good Samaritan and the Loving Father (or Lost Son).
Our final world of the text is the World in Front of the Text. This is where students will consider what message the scripture has for us today. How is it relevant to our lives in 2023? What truths do we see that we can use in our own prayers and living as faith filled people?
Religious Life of St Monica’s
Year 6 Retreat Day
Our Year 6 Retreat Day will be next week on Thursday 31 August. Students are allowed to come in free choice of clothing – please be mindful of our changeable weather and the need to be active on the day. Morning tea is being provided by our wonderful Mrs Regan. The parish is providing pizza for lunch – students will be consulted this week on their choice of toppings. Please be sure to alert your child’s teacher to any food allergies/special needs.
Thank you to all the parents and sponsors who have written a letter of affirmation for their Year 6 child. These letters will be shared with the students at their Retreat Day. I am still seeking a few letters so please send these in if you have not done so already.
The Retreat Day will conclude with Mass in St Monica’s Church and all families are warmly invited to join us in the Eucharistic celebration at 2.20pm.
Confirmation
Whole School Prayer
Our next whole school prayer time will be next week on Friday 1September, in Week 7, with Kindergarten leading us in praying for our Dads and special men who look after us. You are all invited to join us in giving thanks for our Dads at this whole school prayer time at 9.10am in St Monica’s Church.
St Monica’s Feast
Sacrament of Confirmation
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on:
Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 6.00pm in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen;
Wednesday 6 September 2023 at 6.00pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt; and
Thursday 7 September 2023at 6.00pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt.
Home Booklets
Parents should now be working through the home booklet with their child in preparation for the Sacrament. The booklets will need to be completed ready for retreat day and the child/parent formation night on 31 August 2023.
Home booklets can either be handed back to the school or handed in at the end of the child/parent formation evening so that they can be signed with the parish stamp and then be available with certificates at the liturgy celebration.
Child/Parent Formation Evening
This will be held in St Monica's Church at 6.00pm on Thursday 31 August 2023. Please bring your completed home booklet to the evening.
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 at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
| Class | Student | Focus |
| K Blue | ||
| K Blue | ||
| K Maroon | ||
| K Maroon | ||
| 1 Blue | ||
| 1 Blue | ||
| 1 Maroon | ||
| 1 Maroon | ||
| 1 White | ||
| 1 White | ||
| 2 Blue | Owen D-C | Others |
| 2 Blue | Ryan W | Myself |
| 2 Maroon | Valentino A | Myself |
| 2 Maroon | Gracie H | Others |
| 3 Blue | Nuhamin B | Myself |
| 3 Blue | Chelsea T | Myself |
| 3 Maroon | Clementine A-C | Myself |
| 3 Maroon | Ronan G | Myself |
| 3 White | Fraser C | Myself |
| 3 White | Jett T | Myself |
| 4 Blue | Aarshi A | Myself |
| 4 Blue | Ante B | Myself |
| 4 White | Juan D | Myself |
| 4 White | Areesha F | Myself |
| 5 Blue | Daniel H | Myself |
| 5 Blue | Mia M | Our Surroundings |
| 5 White | Eleanor B | Myself |
| 5 White | Myka D | Myself |
| 6 Blue | Isabelle J | Myself |
| 6 Blue | Harley T | Myself |
| 6 Maroon | Akol A | Others |
| 6 Maroon | Ivana P | Myself |
| 6 White | Aryaan F | Myself |
| 6 White | Lachlan J | Myself |
Due to their excursion on Friday 1 September, Year 3 will have the opportunity to purchase Father's Day gifts on Thursday 31 August 2023 after lunch. Please ensure if your child wishes to purchase a gift that they have money to make a purchase.
On Friday our CBCA Shadow Judging Group attended the Book of Year Announcement at the National Library and were able to share their creative responses to the Early Childhood Shortlisted books. They performed scenes from the books Jigsaw: A parcel in the post, Snap and Market Day and showed their response to Where the lyrebird lives, Lionel and me and Bev and Kev. he responses demonstrated the students' fantastic creative skills.
Clinical Psychologist Andrew Fuller, in conjunction with Catholic School Parents Association of Canberra and Goulburn, invite you to attend this parent workshop "Support your child in Learning" For further information and how to register, please see the attached flyer.
If you would like to learn more about how we are engaging our children and their learning we will be running a parent session in our school library on Tuesday 12 September from 3.30pm-4.30pm.
This session will be facilitated by Toni Hatten-Roberts who has been supporting our school over the past three years with our Catalyst journey.
Compass
Campbell Sloane from Catholic Education will be here on Tuesday 19 September at 8.30am to assist families with any COMPASS issues. If you are not familiar with Compass this would be a great opportunity for you to come along to.
