Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

Musical - It has been musical production week at school this week and what an incredible experience this has been for our students. 'Somewhere between here, there and everywhere' has been more than just a performance; it’s been a journey of growth, collaboration, and participation for everyone involved.

Whilst there are many people to thank, for making our musical a huge success, I have to give a special mention and express my deep gratitude to Mrs Alissa Pearson who has made a 2-year dream of mine come true. Without Alissa’s expertise, dedication, creativity and love of all things theatrical, this musical would not have been possible.

To the talented St Monica’s staff, thank you for your patience and commitment to the hours of rehearsals, choreography, set design, backdrop painting, prop making, costume planning, flexibility with timetable changes and the planning of this event. Your dedication has truly paid off, and the impact you've had on our students will be etched in their memories forever.

To our St Monica’s families, it is events such as this that brings our community together. To look out at the sea of proud faces, the fist pumps, high fives and tears of joy after seeing your child on stage is heartwarming and means the world to them. Thank you for helping with their costumes, giving up 2 nights of precious family time and cheering on your children this week.

To Ryan d’Argeval (d’Arge) and his Sound and Lighting crew from St Francis Xavier College (SFX) thank you for being so giving of your time and for bringing our performers to life! To Child Players ACT, your prop and costume lending made life a little less hectic for our school.

And finally to our students, we wouldn’t have even had a performance if it wasn’t for you. We have future Oscar winners, Grammy Award winning singers, script writers, costume designers, set and prop creators, backstage managers waiting in the wings! Congratulations on showcasing your talents, teamwork and perseverance, and a love for the Musical Arts. You are inspiring and I am so proud of every single one of you.

Baby News - Congratulations to the Yemofio family - Tewa (3 Maroon) and Nahum (2 Maroon) on the arrival of their baby brother Noam, born on Tuesday.

Long Service Leave - Next week, I am privileged to be attending a Trans-Tasman Principal’s conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. This conference happens once a decade and brings Primary Principals from all sectors, states and territories in Australia and New Zealand together. In Week 10, I will be taking Long Service Leave. Maggie Lloyd will be Acting Principal during my absence, and I know the school is in very capable hands under her leadership and the support of our dedicated staff.

In light of this, I wish you a wonderful spring break with your children in the coming weeks and I look forward to catching up with everyone in Term 4!

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Among the hustle and bustle of our musical, our Year 6 students have also been quietly preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Holy Spirit has been walking with these children as they prepare to say yes to using their gifts. A big part of the preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is the retreat day. Last Thursday we held our first Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Confirmation retreat day at St Michael’s, Kaleen. It was a huge success!  

Thank you to the Year 6 teachers who have supported the students in their faith formation. Thank you to our Youth Minister, Ethan Mass. We are so blessed to have his witness and guidance for our students in their faith. We also thank St Francis Xavier College. In preparing for this retreat we also started a partnership with St Francis Xavier College and had 3 past St Monica’s students, Katie, Sam and Bailey volunteer to join us and help to run retreat activities. The icing on the cake was the presence of Archbishop Christopher Prowse who came to meet the children and captivated them with his stories about faith, the Sacrament of Confirmation and jokes. We continue to pray for these children as they prepare to make the Sacrament next Wednesday and Thursday evenings at St Monica’s Church. 

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

Sacrament of Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on - 

Tuesday 17 September at 6.00pm in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen;

Wednesday 18 September at 6.00pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt; and

Thursday 19 September at 6.00pm in St Monica’s Church, Evatt.

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

What is Neurodiversity?

We all experience and interact with the world around us in many different ways. The word neurodiversity supports the idea that there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.

For many children and families, the current landscape of friendships and social spaces can feel unwelcoming. Flexibility and inclusivity are often lacking, leaving little room for children who are neurodiverse, such as those who are on the autism spectrum or who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or intellectual disability.

Becoming aware and accepting of these differences creates room for people who are neurodiverse to participate in social spaces just as they are. By making room for differing abilities, we demonstrate that we value authenticity and diversity.

It may help to know that:

• Many children who are neurodiverse engage in self-stimulatory behaviours like rocking back and forth, hand movements, or pacing. This may be a helpful way for them to self-soothe or might satisfy sensory needs such as feeling too much stimulation or not enough stimulation.
• As with all children, behaviour is communication and expresses desires, wants, needs, and dislikes.
• And as is true with many children, some behaviours, like silly noises or loud remarks, can also be ways of communicating what is wanted, or not wanted.

Expanding from inclusion to belonging

Inclusion is the practice of making someone part of a group. Sitting next to someone new at lunch or inviting someone to join a game or activity on the playground helps others feel invited and included. Belonging goes one step further by ensuring that people feel valued and fully a part of their community. For children, cultivating belonging could mean: inviting a new friend to join a game of soccer and making sure to pass them the ball; at the lunch table or at a birthday party, including a child with neurodiverse abilities into the conversation and creating the space for them to participate. Parents, teachers, and other adults can help by modelling inclusive conversations, educating children what differences they may see, and/or giving them friendship skills such as below:

• Clear communication
• Use clear and concise language and repeat information as needed.
• Let friends know in advance when a particular event, activity, or social interaction might need to be cut short.
• Explain the reason when a problem arises (no sarcasm or passive aggressive comments).
• Awareness and openness
• Be aware of sensory sensitivities and needs. Adjustments to lighting, noise, and seating can help create a more sensory-friendly environment.
• A consistent social space may be more comfortable for some. Learn the types of socialising and social gestures your friend appreciates best.
• Be welcoming to different ways of communicating, whether through signs, gestures, pictures, devices, or other equipment.
• Help your friends be themselves and be comfortable by accepting how they talk, dress, play, and learn.
• Find strengths, passion, shared interests, something new in your friends.
• Listen and learn
• Listen and learn how to support people who are different from you — don't assume!
• Ask questions to understand social preferences and needs. Figure out together what fosters connection and comfort in your friendship.

Read more:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/creating-communities-that-help-support-neurodiverse-children-202307172956

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-neurodiversity-202111232645

We are now accepting enrolments for Semester 2 in all year levels. Do you know of someone who is considering a transfer across to St Monica’s but they are worried they have left it too late to enrol or about how their child will transition to a new school? Please encourage them to make an appointment with me and reassure them that the St Monica’s community is comprised of families and teachers who genuinely care for one another and it is a place where you will instantly feel like you belong.