St Monica’s Primary School - Evatt eNewsletter

Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

Welcome.... On Tuesday, we welcomed some of the newest members to our school community at our Kindergarten Orientation Day. The Kinder class of 2024 met with their teachers and completed some fun activities, whilst the parents headed up to the hall for an information session.

I highlighted to our families the importance of, engaging with their child’s learning and working in collaboration and partnership with the school. I asked the parents to turn and take a close look at the people they were sat next to, I said to them, “the people you are surrounded by in this room, are your village for the next 7 years. They are the people who will travel on the same path as you and help you out on WhatsApp when you need to check if you’ve met the due date for that excursion permission note or what uniform your child is supposed to be wearing”!

You too, have your village and support networks here at the school. Thank you for always making our new families feel welcome and Thank you for always walking the St Monica’s Way.

End of Year activities: Did you know there is only 20 school days left this year? We give thanks for the days and weeks that have preceded us and look forward to the many exciting events in the coming weeks! As such, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some important dates. Take a moment, if you haven’t already, to note down these important dates on your calendars. There is lots on for everyone! Hoping you can make it to as many of these events as you can.

Last Day of Term 4 – Friday 15 December is a Pupil Free Day. As such, Thursday 14 December is the last day of Term 4 for all students. TeamKids OSHC is available on the Friday for any families who need this service.

Thursday 23 November: Year 6 Production - Many Dreams ~ One Land…

Matinee Performance: 12:00pm
Evening Performance: 6:00pm
Where: School Hall

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 November: Family Portraits Fundraiser

Wednesday 6 December: St Vincent De Paul Giving Mass – 9:30am

Thursday 7 December: Community Carols Evening – 6:00pm

Friday 8 December:

Y6 Graduation & Awards Ceremony – 12:00pm
Semester Two reports available on Compass – 3:30pm

Monday 11 December: Passing of the Light, Candle Ceremony – 9:15am

Wednesday 13 December:

Wear Christmas clothes
2024 Teacher Meet & Greet session – 9:30am

I am very pleased to announce the following staffing news for 2024.....

Following a successful recruitment process, Mrs Meaghan Younger has been appointed to the position of REC at St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, West Belconnen. Meaghan has been our Acting REC at St Monica’s this year and we are immensely grateful to her for the contributions she has made to our school and wider community. We wish her well in her new community from next year.

Mr Steve Green is stepping down from his role as a full-time classroom teacher. Steve has taught Year 6, Year 3 and in a casual capacity at St Monica’s over the past 2 years. We wish him well for his future plans, which includes serving our community as a relief teacher when he can!

Mrs Viviana Dawe has been working as a classroom teacher in a part-time temporary capacity for the past two years. I am pleased to announce that she has secured part-time permanency at St Monica’s from the 2024 school year.

Mr Jacob Burridge joined us in Term 2, to replace Mrs Anne Hodgkin as our Japanese Teacher. I am pleased to announce that Jacob will continue as Japanese teacher in a permanent capacity, two days a week next year.

Mr Ethan Mass will continue in his role as Youth Ministry Officer at the school and will also be available to work within the Classroom Support Team in a casual capacity.

Mrs Melanie Stratford, has been appointed REC at St Monica’s from the 2024 school year. Melanie is the current REC at St Joseph’s Primary School in O’Connor. Melanie brings her enthusiasm for the role of REC as well as a passion for quality classroom instruction. Melanie will be joining us in Week 10, for the Teacher Meet & Greet session.

All of our amazing Classroom Support Assistants have been offered permanent hours at St Monica’s from next year. This wonderful team works tirelessly across the school running small intervention groups, delivering 1:1 support for students as required, assisting our classroom teachers to break down tasks into small steps. We love them, we appreciate them and we are so thankful for the support they provide our students each and every day.

At this time, I am in the process of finalising the staffing and classroom teachers for next year. I can, however, let you know that Mrs Kirsty Godschalx and Mrs Yvette Rosenfeld have been appointed as the Kindergarten teachers for 2024.

Class Placement Considerations for 2024 –Teachers are beginning to consider class groupings for next year. Please trust that we know your children well and have a very good understanding of their academic, social and emotional needs. We endeavour to balance classes in a variety of ways and any parent requests, regarding placement of children for 2024, must be sent to me, in writing, by 5.00pm on Monday 21 November. It is important to note, requests from previous years will not be carried over or considered for 2024.

Peace and Blessings to all,

Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating a Birthday this week

Mia E, Areesha F, Scarlett T, Gus O, Annabelle W, Amity W, Ariana S, Rory H, Harleen T

Religious Education at St Monica’s

In Religious Education Year 6 students have been investigating the Beatitudes. They have learned about the Beatitudes as they were shared by Jesus for the people of his time but how also they apply for us today. The students are currently writing their own modern context Beatitudes, demonstrating their understanding of the Beatitudes, giving modern day examples of role models of the positive behaviours and linking these to scriptural events. We look forward to Year 6 sharing this wonderful work with the wider school community in coming weeks.

Religious Life of St Monica’s

Wednesday Parish Mass

Due to the Priests’ Retreat at Galong this week Kindergarten have postponed their parish Mass.

Next week Year 4 are invited to join the parish at Mass on Wednesday morning at 9.30am. Families and friends are welcome to join them in celebrating Mass.

Whole School Prayer

Congratulations to Year 4 with Mrs Lustica and Mrs Currie on their engaging Whole School Prayer Time last Friday. They presented some new scripture to consider how we walk together with Jesus.

Our final Whole School Prayer Time will be led by Kindergarten in Week 8. This prayer time we will celebrate the first week of Advent. All families and friends are warmly invited to join the whole school in prayer on Friday 1 December at 9.10am in St Monica’s Church.

Journey with Jesus

Wow! What a wonderful afternoon of games, fun, reflection and prayer last Thursday for Year 5. Mr Luke Maher from Catholic Education, a visiting Youth Minister, Zoa, and our own Youth Minister, Mr Ethan Mass, led Year 5 on a Journey with Jesus. This was a special time to pause and reflect on how Jesus walks with us always. From here the Year 5 students are invited to nominate themselves to be a part of the Youth Ministry Team for 2024 and support other students to likewise consider their relationship with Jesus.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers

As we prepare for Christmas it is important to keep in mind those within our own community who are struggling and are facing hardships. To support our local chapter of St Vincent de Paul we are once again inviting families to donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers Appeal. Your children’s classes have each been given a basket and a suggested list of items for donating to the Christmas Appeal. All food donated must be non-perishable - tinned, jars, boxes and packets and have an expiry date of not less than 6 months. Please check with your child as to the items being asked for within their class but of course all donations will be welcomed. How lovely it would be if we were to need to get more baskets if we fill these up quickly! All items in the baskets will be donated to St Vincent de Paul at our Giving Mass on Wednesday 6 December. Thank you in anticipation of your generosity.

2024 Parish Sacramental Program

For students who are baptised and in Years 4-6 in 2024.

Information Session

An information session for the 2024 Sacramental Program will be held at 6pm on Thursday 8 February 2024 in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen.

If your child is baptised and will be in years 4-6 in 2024 please put this date in your diary.

Sacraments to be celebrated in 2024

Sacrament of Reconciliation - will be celebrated in Term 1, 2024.

Sacrament of First Communion - will be celebrated in Term 2, 2024.

Sacrament of Confirmation - will be celebrated in Term 3, 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

This year through our St Monica's Stars we will emphasise the ways we live out

Respect, Resilience, Engagement and Growth

through a focus on

Myself - Academic

Others - Social

Our Surroundings - Community

so we come to know Jesus.

Class	Student	Focus
K Blue	Ben A	Myself
K Blue	Eleanor B	Myself
K Maroon	Isabella A	Myself
K Maroon	Conor G	Myself
1 Blue	Archer P	Myself
1 Blue	Azalea S	Others
1 Maroon	Lewis M	Myself
1 Maroon	Daniel S	Myself
1 White	Lara Mc	Myself
1 White	Bella O	Myself
2 Blue	Faustina A	Myself
2 Blue	Ashlee H	Myself
2 Maroon	Edward D	Myself
2 Maroon	Catherine V	Myself
3 Blue	Max G	Myself
3 Blue	Sierra G	Myself
3 Maroon	Selina L	Myself
3 Maroon	Xavier P	Myself
3 White	Ilina D	Myself
3 White	Elsa H	Myself
4 Blue	Hirute B	Myself
4 Blue	Lucas C	Myself
4 Blue	Zara C	Others
4 Blue	Mason Mc	Myself
4 White	Isreal O	Myself
5 Blue	Alexis B	Myself
5 Blue	Emanuel S	Myself
5 White	Pasquale A	Myself
5 White	Felix R	Myself
6 Blue	Sienna R	Others
6 Blue	Massimo S	Myself
6 Maroon	Emma N	Myself
6 Maroon	Joshua S	Myself
6 White	Zarah L	Myself
6 White	Gus O'C	Myself

Star Awards for Week 9 will be given out at Assembly on Friday 8 December at 9.10am in the School Hall.

Every_Student_Every_Day.pdf

Every_Student_Every_Day _pdf 752.35 KB

BYOD Presentation Slides and Information

Thank you to all who attended on Monday evening. As promised, please see attached the slides I presented and our School BYOD policy.

A few key takeaways from the night:

- Please ensure you have looked at the Chromebook spec requirements before you purchase a device for your child. Protective cases and insurance cover are also recommended.
- We do have a bank of Chromebooks at school so no child will be disadvantaged if families are unable to purchase a device for their child.
- Do NOT purchase any Google or Microsoft software products. Students have access to these through their school account.
- When setting up your child's computer, please set it up using their school login, NOT a personal or parent email. This causes issues with accessing our school Wi-Fi networks and school apps/programs.

BYOD_Policy_St_Monica_s_Evatt.pdf

BYOD_Policy_St_Monica_s_Evatt _pdf 122.88 KB

BYOD_Information_Session_Monday_14_Novemeber.pptx

BYOD_Information_Session_Monday_14_Novemeber _pptx 837.64 KB

Please contact me (ryan.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au or 02 6258 5108) or pop in to see me if you have any questions or require support with setting up devices.