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Dear St Monica’s families and friends,
Welcome to SABBATH WEEK!! For parents new to our school, Week 7 each term is when homework is not set, we aim to have no meetings and focus on FAMILY time. It’s a much anticipated week for both staff and students.
I am in awe of the time and commitment families demonstrate in terms of the provision of love, care and nurturing for their children. Whilst the size, composition and demands upon families can vary, there are many common features.A FAMILY IS A PLACE: to cry and laugh and vent frustrations, to ask for help and tease, to be hugged and smiled at.
A FAMILY IS PEOPLE: who care when you are sad, who love you no matter what, who share your triumphs, who don’t expect you to be perfect, just growing with honesty and in your own direction.
A FAMILY IS A CIRCLE: where we learn to make good decisions, where we learn to think before we do, where we learn integrity and table manners and respect for other people; where we are special.
This year through our theme of FLOURISHING for ourself, others, God and creation, we take time to rest and meditate on the Creation story from Genesis.
The CREATION story is a story explaining God’s plan for each of us to FLOURISH, to become the BEST we can be. God blessed EVERYTHING in creation and wants creation to be happy! That includes us!
At the conclusion of this piece of scripture, we are invited to focus on the importance of Sabbath. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Genesis 2:3.
Lessons from taking SABBATH time:
- Sabbath is God’s provision to help us thrive, to engage in life-giving practices.
- Sabbath is God’s way of protecting us from our addiction to production - time away from devices!
- Sabbath is a great gift of God to help us regain perspective - a time to realign our priorities.
- Sabbath is God’s reminder that he built us for rhythm - we’re not designed to keep going and going. Everything has a time, season and rhythm.
Baby News - Congratulations to the Matchett family - Ryan, Laura and Elijah on the arrival of Nathanael born on Friday 24 May 2024. All are doing well and Elijah is very excited to be a big brother!
Dates for your diary....
- Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June: First Eucharist Celebrations
- Week 8: Semester One Parent / Teacher interviews
- Week 9: Star Awards Assembly
- Week 10: Winter Warmers Day (Thursday 4 July)
Warmest wishes,
Flourishing in the Footsteps
Sabbath Week
This week is Week 7. During Week 7 of each term at St Monica’s, we observe Sabbath week. For Catholics, the Sabbath is a day of rest and worship, typically observed on Sundays. It commemorates the day God rested after the creation of the world, as described in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. The Sabbath is a day set apart from the rest of the week, dedicated to attending Mass, prayer, reflection, and abstaining from work. It serves as a reminder of God’s mercy, love, and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The observance of the Sabbath also provides Catholics with an opportunity to connect with their faith community, deepen their relationship with God, and find spiritual renewal. It’s a significant aspect of Catholic life, emphasising the importance of rest, worship, and the sanctity of time in the rhythm of life.
As a staff at St Monica’s, we observe Sabbath week by gathering in prayer, abstaining from our regular meetings, and taking the opportunity to spend more time in spiritual renewal. How are you spending Sabbath week as a family?
First Holy Communion
This weekend 50 of our St Monica’s students will make their First Holy Communion. In preparation Year 4 have been attending our parish mass as a grade each Wednesday morning. During these weekday masses Father Mick has been blessing each child individually. When we go as a grade for the final time next Wednesday instead of crossing their arms for a blessing they will receive Jesus’ body in the Eucharist. Witnessing this transition in our students is always a highlight of my year and I look forward to it each year. Families are always welcome to join us.
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Term 2 Liturgical Life of St Monica’s Primary School |
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Whole School Prayer |
Grade Masses |
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Week 8 |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Flourishing Resilience Others led by 2 Maroon Friday 9.15am |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 4, 1M and 5M, 1W and 3W |
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Week 9 |
Whole School Liturgy Focus: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day Liturgy 9.15am |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Kinder and Year 6 |
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Week 10 |
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2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in Years 4-6 in 2024.
Sacrament of First Communion
Congratulations to the 77 students who are celebrating the Sacrament of First Communion during the four Parish weekend Masses this weekend.
Please arrive at the Church at least 15 minutes early so that Mass can begin on time.
Please keep these young people in your prayers.
Home Booklets
Home booklets should have been handed back to the schools by now, to allow time for them to be signed by Fr Mick and stamped with the Parish stamp ready to be handed back to the candidates at their First Communion.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on 17, 18, and 19 September. Registrations will open on 24 June 2024 via the parish Qkr! app.
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
Community Council Clippings
Our most recent Community Council meeting saw some changes to our members. We are very pleased to welcome to our newest members, Ellie Little, Natalie Elliot and Bianca Partington.
We also farewelled Cecilia Willis who has made a significant contribution to the Council over the last few years and extend our sincere thanks to the commitment she has shown to the Council. Your valuable input will be missed.
The Council held its annual election of the Council Executive Members and all positions were filled. The elected members are:
Council Chair: Alicia Prest (continuing)
Treasurer: Kate Carey (continuing) and supported by Ellie Little
Secretary: Erin Gilligan (incoming) supported by Natalie Elliot
Lisa presented her Principal’s Report. There are lots of exciting things happening around the school at the moment including the ongoing consultation and planning of the capital works upgrades, including the outdoor classroom development, fundraiser for our sound and lighting upgrade in the hall, and the recent pie drive which we thank Sarah Clark very much for organising.
The Year 4 children are also preparing for their First Eucharist this weekend. The Council’s prayers are with the children preparing for their Eucharist at this time.
Fete Thanks
Council congratulates the Fete Team on a very successful fete day. Not even the weather could dampen the positive vibe that the fete always brings to our school. We appreciate and thank you for the hard work and commitment that goes into the organising of such a key event for our school.
OPEN COUNCIL MEETING
The Council’s next meeting on Tuesday 25 June 2024, commencing at 6.30pm is our open council meeting. We invite all parents, guardians and friends of the school to attend in our library. Why not bring a friend and enjoy some nibbles and wine on us! There will also be a lucky door prize on the night. Come along and hear all the wonderful things the school has been doing, feel free to provide feedback you might have about the school, ask questions and get to know your Council members.
A day of exploring how things move yesterday! We used cars and trucks to mix primary colours together to discover what new colours we could make. We even got messy moving goop and dirt around with the construction vehicles. Next week we will be working out our muscles by doing some gross motor activities up in the Hall.
Please see link below to the iPlay Belconnen Facebook event page with more information for the night and the link to purchase tickets or you can use QR code to purchase tickets.
https://facebook.com/events/s/iplay-belconnen-give-ten-for-g/7553920064703582/
School Student Broadband Initiative - Free internet until December 2025
To find out more call: 1800 954 610 (10am – 6pm AEDT Monday to Friday) or visit https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet/
The Australian Government has announced that they are extending the School Student Broadband Initiative until 31 December 2025. The extension means that the SSBI nomination period will remain open until 31 December 2024 with free National Broadband Network (nbn) internet service for all new and existing families on the SSBI until 31 December 2025. For existing SSBI families who have already signed up, this means their SSBI service will automatically be extended until 31 December 2025 (no further eligibility checks will be required). For eligible families who connect before the end of this year, they will get up to two years of free nbn broadband.
How can the School Student Broadband Initiative help your child? - Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities. Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and participate in a world that is more dependent on digital technology.
Is my family eligible for the School Student Broadband Initiative?
To be eligible, families must:
Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in Qld/Vic/Tas, Kindergarten in ACT/NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT and Pre-Primary in WA).
Not have an active National Broadband Network (nbn®) Internet service at home. Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility.
Live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network via a standard connection – this will be checked for you.
Not have had an active nbn connection during the previous 14 days.