Achieve - all that you can

Jesus said therefore

‘What is the Kingdom of God like?  And to what shall I compare it?  It is like the mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches’.    

Luke 13: 18-20

St Monica - A Model of Praise

School - Forgiveness, Service & Thanksgiving

Dear Parents

On behalf of the teachers, I would like to extend my thanks to the Community Council for helping to make the teachers feel very special. The staff enjoyed their special lunch on Monday and gifts. They are also looking forward to opening their special post boxes of letters from the children.  The boxes will be presented to the teachers on Friday.

Kinder Orientation

On Tuesday we held our Kindergarten Orientation day with 50 very excited new Kindergarten children who spent a busy morning completing activities. Thank you to our Kindergarten teachers for their organisation – Miss Carmel Rheinberger, Mrs Natalie Currie,  Mrs Kirsty Godschalx and Mrs Helen Houghton. Our new Kinders will visit again on Thursday 14 November 2019 between 9.15am and 11.00am.

Thank you to all current Kindergarten families who assisted with morning tea in the hall. Thank you to Mrs Manning and Mrs Flynn for their assistance, our Fete Team, Fundraising Team, Uniform Team and the SMOOSH Crew for all your help, and to all who presented on the day. The morning was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the many groups that contribute to making St Monica’s a wonderful community-focused school. 

On Tuesday Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, Member for Ginninderra visited St Monica's. She spoke to a group of students about her role and how she can work to support our school community. During her visit, the issues of school buses and the possibility of extending our school boundary were discussed. 

Families Leaving at End of 2019

As planning for 2020 has commenced please advise in writing, as soon as possible, if your child/children will not be returning next year. 

Class Groups for 2020

Much care and deliberation occurs when forming our class groups. Teachers are highly professional and have the main responsibility for placing their current students in the most appropriate class for next year. Over the next two weeks, the teachers will be observing friendships to assist with class groupings.  

While forming class groups we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics when forming a class group. Every care will be taken to ensure that your child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development.

Confidential concerns should be brought to my attention in writing, by Friday 8 November, even if raised in previous years.  Please email directly to carmel.maguire@cg.catholic.edu.au. General concerns should be raised with your child's teacher. Parent concerns will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns. As Principal, I will make the final decision on all class placements. Late requests are very difficult to consider once groups are finalised.

This week the Principals across our Archdiocese will gather on Thursday and Friday to discuss education issues and concerns across our System. Any concerns please direct to Luke Donnelly in my absence.

May God's blessing be with you 

Carmel Maguire

Principal

Due to quite a few disruptions that have happened on Mondays and Fridays we are having a general assembly in the School Hall at 1pm tomorrow, Friday 1 November. Class Awards for Weeks 2 and 3 along with Star and Pride Badges will be presented. Value Awards for Weeks 2 and 3 will also be presented.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thank you to all those who attended last week’s Parent and Child night at St Michael’s, parents, students and teachers. There was a wonderful hum of discussion throughout the classrooms. I hope you and your child were able to share some insights into the Parable of the Lost Son.

All students enrolled in the Sacramental Program should, by now, have attended a commitment Mass at one of the parish masses. If you have not done so please contact me at school tomorrow to make arrangements. Attendance at one of these Masses is a component of the Sacramental Program. A reminder that the cost of the program is $30 and can be made via Qkr! or cash (enclosed in an envelope with your child’s name and Sacrament of Reconciliation on it).

 The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held in St Michael’s Church on Tuesday 12 November and St Monica’s Church Wednesday 13 November at 6:00pm. I will send home with the students a list to confirm which night you wish to celebrate your child’s Reconciliation. Please return to school ASAP. This will allow for the printing of certificates.

All Saints Day

Yesterday the school gathered to celebrate All Saints Day with Mass at 9:30am. Fr Loi told us that the saints all started out their lives just like us- it was their love of God that saw their lives change that led them to become saints. He also asked the Year Six students to remember their Confirmation and to reconnect with the saint they chose.

November marks the beginning of the Month of ‘Holy Souls’ where we especially remember and pray for all those who have died. It is one of the Spiritual works of Mercy – that we pray for the dead. The parish has a special book of remembrance – and tree- where we can place the names of those we wish remembered at this time. A mass offering ($ donation) is usually made at the same time.

Who is your Patron Saint? Our Australian saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop is a favourite of mine, educated as I was by the Sisters of St Joseph. Last year I visited Penola- where Mary established the Josephite Order. It is good to know that she lived and worked in places that resonate with us.

Our Online Safety Guide for this week comes from another popular game, Minecraft. Many students play Minecraft and have merchandise, clothing and other memorabilia of the game. Have you made yourself fully aware of the ins and outs of the game? If not, please download this useful resource to ensure you are informed. 

To see the full list of guides head to https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/wake-up-wednesday/ 

Term 4 School Fees

Term 4 School Fees were posted to families last week. Unfortunately, we are still experiencing technical issues so cannot directly email statements. Please keep an eye out for your statement in the post and contact the office if you do not receive it. A reminder to ensure your address details are up to date with the office.

Full payment of fees is due within four weeks each term, except for families on Direct Debit payment arrangements.

The school is running on an extremely tight budget, every cent of fees income is expended on students curriculum, resources and school running costs. 

A reminder to families that

Enrolment of children at a Catholic diocesan school in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn carries with it the undertaking by parents/guardians to accept the obligation to pay all school fees. It is, however, a matter of Catholic Education Commission policy that inability (not unwillingness) to pay school fees should never exclude any child from a Catholic school.

Please contact the School Finance Officer or Principal should you be experiencing genuine hardship and will not be able to pay your fees in full by the due date.

Book Fair

We will be holding a Redgum Book Fair during Week 5 Monday 11 November to Friday 15 November. The Book Fair will be held in the Library and will be open from 8.30am to 9.00am Monday to Friday and from 3.10pm to 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

If you are able to help with setting up, packing up, or assisting shoppers at the fair or at the checkout please letter me know.  

We've officially opened the 2020 Illustration Challenge for school-aged children! Can I Sleep Tomorrow? is waiting for some talented young illustrators to bring it to life.

This is now the fourth Illustration Challenge we've run here, giving children the chance to be published illustrators. Previous winners have brought you the wonderful works of Zoo Ball, Yay! It's Library Day and coming out in early 2020, Around Australia in 30 Places. We can't wait to see the illustration spreads for Can I Sleep Tomorrow?

Hop on to the website for more information, or join the Facebook group for regular updates. Entries close November 2020. So there is plenty of time to make your art a masterpiece. Good luck!

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival

Last Friday we had 70 St Monica's students and their families attend the Boorowa Touch and Netball carnival. This is always a wonderful community day built around sportsmanship, having fun playing sport, and making new friends. We had 5 touch football and 3 netball teams participate, with all teams displaying fantastic sportsmanship and skill. Special thanks to our coaches, managers, referees and umpires; Jade Barnes, Tammie Staltari, Adrian Riches, Robert Hennessy, Matt Brown, Glenn Wrenford, Nick Edwards, Mick Bogaart, Aretha McDonald, Tony Howarth, Gemma Hansen, Jeff Melmoth, Michelle Reaney, Sue French, Eliza Fulivai, Charlotte Walsh, Kaye Solari, Ainsleigh Henman, Tanesha Lenson and Hayley Fulivai who contributed to a successful day. Special thanks also to all of the parents who came out to support our students and to Mr Fletcher and Mr McFadden for assisting me on the day. Next years carnival will be held on Friday 23 October. 

Teacher's Day

The St Monica's Community celebrated Teacher's Day on Monday.  A big thank you to Mrs Wendy Regan who decorated 'thank you' boxes for each of the teachers at the school.  There is still some time for students and parents to put pen/crayon/pencil to paper and thank their teachers - please post it into the boxes located in the main school hallway.   Please take the opportunity to thank our teachers for the fantastic job they do each and every day. Please check the app for further details.

Gardening Team

Some of the members of our gardening team have children graduating from school at the end of the year which will result in vacancies.  The Community Council would love to hear from any parents/grandparents/older siblings who would be interested in helping out especially with our vegetable and herb gardens.  

Community Council Meeting

The Council met last night and discussed the school's improved Naplan results, quotes for an outdoor classroom and quotes for safety bollards for Montagu Place. 

If you have any ideas or concerns please email them through to our Secretary Fiona Steinberg at Council.StMonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au  

All parents volunteering at our school must have a current WWVP card.  When your card is due for renewal please ensure you have your updated card copied at the Front Office.

Happy Birthday to the following students -

Emma N, Abigail N, Patrick I, Jack R

Canteen Roster - Term 4, Week 4

Monday - Vacancy

Tuesday - June Manning

Wednesday - Alyson Barnes, Rachele Pentes

Thursday - Vacancy

Friday - Jenny Fulivai, Wilma Hird, June Manning, Wendy Regan

Samantha Manning - Canteen Manager - 6258 4687

Last weekend one of the St Monica's girl's chess teams was invited to compete in the ACT schools chess playoffs. The competition involved 6 long-play (lasting up to 2 hours) games over Saturday and Sunday. St Monica's came second in the ACT Primary Girls event! Congratulations to Mary D-H (5F), Charlize S (5W), Sarah D-H (3M), Annalise S (3L) and Annalene L (3M). 

Every few years we offer our beautiful St Monica's Community the opportunity to have a professional family portrait taken as a school fundraiser (see attached flyer).  

This year the sittings will be held at the School Hall on SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2019. Bookings can be made through the following link 

www.trybooking.com/558649  

For the nominal fee of $20 you can receive a 10"x13" gorgeous professional family portrait (other portraits can be purchased at exceptionally good prices). 

All funds raised will go back to the school and be put towards Robots and Materials for the Information and Communications Technologies Unit. After the resounding success of our team at the Robocup ACT Rescue Competition, this will be a terrific investment for our children.

Book early to get your preferred sitting time and feel free to pass this email onto other members of your families and the community.

 Any queries in relation to this event, please contact Emma Howlett on 0413 660 585 or emmahowlett73@gmail.com