Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of Week 2. Our students are well and truly into back-to-school mode and adjusting quickly to the routines and structures of their new classrooms.

Tomorrow is the February Census for all schools and this timely update, on the demographics of our community, tells us that we have started the year with a total of 384 students, 43 Kindergarten students, 258 families and 45 staff members.At St Monica’s, we hold the partnerships between home, school and the wider local community in the highest regard. Staff, parents, Fr Mick, parish, TeamKids, neighbouring schools, childcare centres, shopping centres and local business; all play a vital role in the nurturing of your children and contribute to a warm and inviting school climate we are able to offer. This is not a random occurrence, it is something that takes planning, hard work and consistency and I thank each and every person who has made a contribution to our school, no matter when or how big or small.

On Tuesday night we welcomed families to our Parent Information Night, and I sincerely thank the teaching staff for their preparation of the information packs, presentations and overviews for families in their grade level. If you couldn’t make it on Tuesday night, please make sure you have been given a copy of the information that was handed out. It was lovely to mingle with many of you afterwards, when we gathered in the courtyard over light refreshments. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and my staff and sharing your stories with us.

Tomorrow, You’re Invited to our Opening School Mass. This important event officially launches the 2024 school year and our theme ‘Flourishing in the Footsteps’. Staff and students will be blessed, our Kindergarten and new students warmly welcomed and our Year 6 students commissioned as the Student Leaders of our school. Join us at 9.30am for this important celebration. Special thanks to Mrs Stratford and Mr Mass for their careful preparation for the Mass and to the Year 6 teachers for readying the Year 6s for their important role this year.

I wish each and every one of you a happy association with the St Monica’s school community in 2024 and I look forward to catching up with each and every one of you, in person, at some point throughout the year.

Dates for your diaries:

• Friday 9 February: Opening School Mass and Year 6 Leadership Commissioning Ceremony 9.30am 
• Wednesday 14 February: Ash Wednesday Mass 9.30am
• Monday 19 February: School Swimming Carnival *NB: change of date from the printed calendar.
• Monday 19 – Wednesday 21February: Get to Know you Meetings                                                     
• Tuesday 19 March: School Photo Day
• Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April: Easter Long Weekend
• Saturday 6April:  St Monica’s School Fete
• Wednesday 10 April:School Athletics Carnival

Peace and blessings to all families,

2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in Years 4-6 in 2024.

A Parish Sacramental Program Information Evening will be held tonight Thursday 8 February 2024 at 6pm in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen for the families of students who are baptised and are in Years 4-6 this year and wish to celebrate the Sacraments.
You are very welcome to attend the information evening where all the relevant information will be available. If you are unable to attend, please check the school newsletters or the parish website for relevant dates regarding the Sacramental Program.

Sacraments to be celebrated in 2024

Sacrament of Reconciliation – will be celebrated during Term 1, with registrations opening on 19 February via the parish Qkr! app (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), not the school app.

Sacrament of First Communion - will be celebrated on the weekend of 15 and 16 June.

Sacrament of Confirmation – will be celebrated on 17, 18, and 19 September.

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

Update from the Fete Committee – Volunteer information Session Tuesday 13 February - 6-7pm

Keep an eye out for the Fete Information Letter. This will go home to families in the coming days. This letter provides information on how families can assist us in preparing for the school’s biggest fundraiser.

We are holding a Volunteer Information Session on Tuesday 13 February from 6-7pm in the library for new stall coordinators and general volunteers. If you are interested in helping out and want to know more about the opportunities please come along and enjoy a glass of wine and cheese.

Make sure you check out our volunteer sign up. There are a range of roles available to suit your availability – from fete set up through to helping out at a stall for an hour or so. Click the link here to sign up or get in touch with the fete team if you have any questions.

Our stall coordinators will receive an email shortly from the fete committee with information on how to get started with preparations.

Want to be a stall coordinator? We are looking for coordinators for the Popcorn, Pick a Duck and Raffles stalls. We are also keen to hear your ideas for new stalls that reflect our diverse community.

Please get in touch – we’d love to hear your ideas and happy to answer any questions. You can reach us via stmfete@gmail.com.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and the newsletter for regular Fete Committee updates.

The best gift any parent can give a child is the love of books and the joy and benefits of independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start on reading success in school. 

Our class is participating in Scholastic Book Club this year. Up to twice a term, during the school year, I will send home a Club catalogue with a different selection of books offered for all ages. You will find award-winning books and bestsellers, as well as old and new favourites. I recommend them because the books span a wide range of children’s reading levels and interests and because they are inexpensive (some books cost as little as $3). 

It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school safe and sound and the books will be delivered to class. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. 

Owning your own books is something special! I hope that you will encourage your child to order books this year. Each order helps earn free books and teaching materials for our classroom, however there is never any obligation to order. I know of no better way to encourage reading than to allow children to choose the books they want to read. 

Wednesday 14 February is Library Lovers’ Day. The library is at the centre of St Monica’s and is a space for students to read, connect with friends, explore the world and where their lives are enriched. I would love for families to write about what the St Monica’s library means to your family and we will display your stories in the library. 

We will be open from 8.30am on Wednesday morning for families to come and visit and go in the draw for a lucky door prize. I look forward to celebrating with you and your family. 

This Safer Internet Day we are encouraging you to take three simple actions when approaching online safety: Connect. Reflect. Protect.   

Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly.  

Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety.  

Protect yourself and others by visiting  Online safety | eSafety Commissioner to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse. 

We talk to students throughout the year about online safety, but this may be a time for you to look at the eSafety Commissioners resources and webinars to ensure that you are having conversations with your children about staying safe.  

Four supervised afternoon pick up locations are provided to St Monica’s families (refer to the image below). 

Montagu Place is not a supervised afternoon pickup location.

Parents who are collecting their children from Montagu Place, are advised that there are ‘No Stopping’ signs clearly displayed in this street (8.30am-9.30am and 3.00pm-4.00pm School Days). This is because vehicles stopping here may impede the safe flow of traffic and create line of sight issues for residence and pedestrians.  By parking in this location, you may be issued an infringement notice (Road Transport (Road Rules) Regulation 2017 Section 167).     

We understand the new adjustments to our parking arrangements can take some time to get used to and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding to keep our children safe.

A few suggestions for you to help ease afternoon traffic congestion around our school include:

• Pre arrange a pick up place with your children
• Choose a supervised pick-up point located a little further away from the school (Chomley or Copland) as these are not as busy as the blacktop in the afternoons
• Arrange to collect your children 5 to 10 minutes later than school finish time to avoid the congestion of the blacktop carpark. All pick up points are supervised until 3.30pm.

We thank the community for their ongoing support to the safety and security of the children of St Monica’s.

Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher/s to share any important information in Week 4. Bookings will open on Compass on Monday 12 February and close on Friday 16 February.

Students with a known medical condition are required to complete an Individual Medical Response Plan. Students who suffer from seasonal or sport induced asthma will also need to complete a plan. The school will attach photos of the students to these plans.

A Medication Authorisation Form needs to be completed for any student requiring medication to be administered throughout the school day. The school will attach photos of the students to these plans.

Attached are both forms. The forms can be printed, filled in by hand and returned to the Front Office or completed electronically and returned via email to office.stmonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au. Please complete and return to school by Friday 23 February 2024.