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Dear St Monica’s families and friends,
It is hard to believe that we have hit Term 4! Our footstep of Growth is timely this term as this is when we see your child’s learning, friendships and personal resilience all come to fruition. I am so proud of all the students at St Monica’s who have returned to school ready to learn. As I walk through the corridors and in and out of classrooms I marvel at the engaged, attentive and focused students’ I see each day.
A warm welcome to all the new families who have joined St Monica’s this term. We wish the Ferreira Da Silva, Olagunju, Lau, Albuquerque and Bowyer families a very long and happy association with St Monica’s Primary School.
Students Leaving St Monica’s
If your child won’t be returning to St Monica’s next year, except for Year 6 students, please email me. In the coming weeks, we will begin the process of developing class structures for 2025!
Congratulations Laura Frogley – Laura has been awarded an ACT Children’s Week Award for her outstanding leadership in and dedication to inclusive education. The
Important Dates: I am sure your calendars, like mine, are quickly being filled with end of year events. All-important school events for this term have been listed on the Compass calendar and communicated to you via your child’s, ‘Year Level – Parent Overview’
Listed below are some key dates, pertinent to all families in Term 4:
- Thursday 24 October: SILLY SOCK DAY for Catholic Mission Month
- Friday 1 November 9:15am: Grandparents and Special Friends Morning
- Thursday 7 November: Mitch Tambo Performance & Storydogs fundraiser
- Friday 15 November, 6:30pm: Trivia Night
- 18 – 22 November: Book Cow Book Fair
- Monday 9 December: Year 6 Graduation ceremony
- Wednesday 11 December: 2024 Teacher meet and greet. Wear Christmas clothes!
- Wednesday 11 December: Semester 2 Reports sent out on Compass
- Thursday 12 December 6:00pm: Community Carols Evening
- Monday 16 December: LAST DAY OF TERM 4
- Tuesday 17 December: Pupil Free Day for all students. TeamKids Program available
For your 2025 calendars – Catholic Education determines the term dates for the school year and next year, there will be Pupil Free Days at the beginning and end of each Term. Please read the attached letter from the Director of Catholic Education, which outlines these dates and the purpose for having these across all CECG schools.
Wishing all of our families a terrific term 4. I look forward to catching up with you at the many events that are occuring across the next few weeks.
Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating their birthday this week
This term our whole school focus is Flourishing through the Footstep of Growth. Growth is the process of getting better at something, getting bigger or stronger.
Growth can be physical like growing up, growth can be mental like learning a new skill or getting better at something through practice. This term in particular we are noticing the growth your children have undergone throughout the year. Have you thought about how you will use the Footstep of Growth to Flourish and be your true self?
Tomorrow 6 Blue will lead us for our first Whole School Prayer on Flourishing in Growth with the focus on ourselves. You are invited to our join our community in St Monica’s church at 9.15am.
Archdiocesan Assembly
Alongside our upcoming local elections, the Archdiocesan Assembly is being held this weekend 18 - 20 October 2024. This is a chance for all to gather, discuss and discern the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. On Saturday our St Monica’s Leadership Team and many staff will be attending the assembly as representatives of St Monica’s and their own parishes.
This Archdiocesan Assembly is a time to celebrate the fruits of the Year of the Holy Spirit, whilst also exploring new opportunities for evangelisation and synodality in the life and mission of our Church. In many ways, the Archdiocese is walking along a similar path as the first Apostles. It took time for the early Church to discern and declare: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28).
Social Action and Justice
Socktober
Next Thursday, St Monica‘s is holding a Silly Sock Day to raise money for Catholic Mission. All are invited to wear silly socks for a gold coin donation. This year we are raising awareness and funds for the Caring Center in Mongolia. The Caring Center provides a home for Otgonbayar and his friends who have no where else to call home.
Did you know you can donate to our dignity donation station all year round? One additional item added to your shopping each week is a small action that can have a significant impact. Sending your donations in with your child to add to our donation station is a fantastic way to show your child that charity can be all year round.
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Term 4 Liturgical Life of St Monica’s Primary School |
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Masses |
Whole School Prayer |
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Week 1 |
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Whole School Prayer Focus: Flourishing Growth Self led by 6 Blue Friday 9.15am |
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Week 2 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 3M and 5W
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Whole School Prayer Focus: Flourishing Growth Others led by 4 Maroon Friday 9.15am |
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Week 3 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 4W and 2W |
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Week 4 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Kinder and Year 6 |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Flourishing Growth God led by 1 Maroon Friday 9.15am |
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Week 5 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 4M and 2M
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Whole School Prayer Focus: Flourishing Growth Surroundings led by K Maroon Friday 9.15am |
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Week 6 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 4B and 2B |
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Week 7 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 1W and 3W |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Advent |
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Week 8 |
Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 1M and 5M |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Advent |
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Week 9 |
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Whole School Prayer Focus: Advent |
Sacrament of Confirmation 2024
Congratulations to all the Confirmation candidates and God’s blessings to you on this special occasion.
2025 Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and will be in Years 4-6 in 2025.
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 1, 2025
Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated in Term 2, 2025
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in Term 3, 2025
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
Story Dogs @ National Library of Australia!
Story Dogs will be at the National Library on Saturday
9 November 2024 for the launch of Dog Beach, a new children’s book.
There will be reading circles with a Story Dog for primary school age children. Bookings are essential and can be made on the National Library website.
Come and join us for some fun reading and craft.
For more information about Story Dogs contact jennyd@storydogs.org.au or telephone 0439 419 181, website www.storydogs.org.au
Body Image
Body image starts developing in early childhood. Parents can have a positive or negative impact on the way a child feels about the way they look and their self-esteem. Helping your child develop a healthy body image is important as it can also strengthen their relationship with eating and exercise and reduce the risk of developing disordered eating and eating disorders.
Here are some tips on ways you can be a good body image role model for your child:
Reflect on your own relationship with your body.
Being aware of your attitude towards your own body will help you be conscious of the messages you send to your kids. Try to avoid looking in the mirror and making negative comments about the way you look. When your child sees that you feel comfortable and happy with your body this can help them feel comfortable in their own skin. Avoid talking about diets. Dieting is the biggest risk factor for an eating disorder.
Try to avoid talking about diets, your “naughty” eating habits, or your weight and size.
This can give kids the impression that weight and size are highly valued by you and they might feel pressure to look a certain way or be a certain size. Celebrate diversity and emphasise how loved and valued your child is no matter what their weight, shape or size.
Talk to your child about the way they feel about the way they look.
Create space to talk about things on a daily basis including what is happening with their friends. When your child feels safe to talk to you then they are likely to share feelings about their bodies with you.
Despite best parenting efforts serious body image issues and eating disorders do develop. It’s important to recognise the warning signs of body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem as early as possible.
Here are some warning signs to keep an eye on in your child:
- Withdrawal from social events and activities that they used to enjoy.
- A focus on diets, calories, health and particular foods. They might talk about wanting to be healthier or fitter and become obsessive about checking the nutritional content of what they are eating.
- They might become irritable or anxious around dinner time. They may refuse to eat certain foods or whole food groups.
- Complaints about the way they look, e.g. “I’m ugly” or “I’m fat”, or negative comments about their abilities, e.g. “I’m hopeless”.
- Frequent self-scrutiny – such as weighing themselves or excessively looking at their reflection.
- Change in clothing style such as wearing baggy or oversized clothing.
Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673) or email support@butterfly.org.au
Read more:
This week Milla F (5W) has been competing in Perth at the Primary National Football Championships. We are very proud of Milla and Milla's mum sent though an update on the week so far - "It's been a great week so far. There's certainly some tough competition, that's for sure!! They've played 4 games so far and although they haven't had a win, they did draw to a tough NSW team today (there's two teams from NSW). The team is gaining confidence each game and improving in their defence. It's certainly a great opportunity and experience for Milla."
