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- School Theme Term 1
- Weekly Happenings
- Principal's Message
- Religious Education News - Haley Stonham
- Library Term Overview
- Drama Term Overview
- Emerging Minds
- School Fees - Term 1
- St Monica's Rewards and Awards 2020
- Uniform Shop News
- Fete News
- Community Council News - Evelyn David-Hoole
- Parish News - Sacramental Dates
- Happy Birthday
- Canteen News - Wendy Regan
- Working With Vulnerable People Card
- Orienteering 2020
- Lunchtime Clubs Term One
- Extra Curricular Activities
- St Monica's Community General Volunteering
- General Community News
- College Enrolment Information
- Irish Dancing
- Code Camp - April School Holidays
| Friday 6 March |
School Prayer - 1pm |
| Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13 |
School Camp |
| Friday 13 March |
Assembly - Star Awards - 1pm |
Dear Parents
Awards System in 2020
You would have noticed that our rewards and awards system has changed with the removal of our M&M's system at the end of last year. We have also finished the use of value and class awards on a weekly basis and moved to an award system that relates to our focus every three weeks and each term. At the end of each 3-week focus, 1 student from each class will receive a St Monica's Star Award at the Friday assembly for emulating the focus. Then, on the last day of each term, 2 students from each class will receive a St Monica's Pride Badge for emulating the term focus on St Monica. Our current focus for this 3 week period is Support and our term focus is Prayer.
Whole School Gatherings 2020
As a result of our renewed award system, and our strategic goal of improving Literacy and Numeracy, we have streamlined our whole school gatherings. The new structure will be as follows:
- Monday morning gathering at 9:00am in the courtyard for messages and occasional acknowledgement of student achievements
- School Prayer led by one class in Weeks 1,2,4,5,7 and 8 on Friday at 1:00pm in the Church
- Awards and Grade Assemblies in Weeks 3,6,9 and 10 on Friday at 1:00pm in the Hall.
Year 5/6 Camp
There are a number of excited students in Years 5 and 6, and perhaps some who are a little nervous, about going to Camp Cooba next Wednesday to Friday. We are sure that all of these students will return on Friday looking a little weary but having had a fantastic time. Thank you to all our wonderful staff who go above and beyond to sacrifice time with their families to attend camp and be on duty 24/7.
Conversations on Goal Setting (CoGS)
The school was a buzz of excitement during Tuesday and Wednesday evening as our students came with their parents to participate in their Conversations on Goal Setting (CoGS). In 2020 our grade teams decided the approach they felt would best suit their students' ability to set goals and prepare for the meeting. We hope all families, teachers and students were able to engage in a collaborative conversation to create two individual goals. The conversations will continue next week.
Cross Country Format Change
In 2020 we have changed the format of our school Cross Country Carnival to be held on Monday 30 March from 9:00am - 12:30pm. The Carnival will take place on tracks mapped out around the school, similar to those used for our Walkathon. This will alleviate costs involved with hiring Stomlo and buses and ensure students do not miss out on valuable learning that is lost through a whole day event. Thank you to Mrs Russell and Mrs Brown for coordinating the new course and obtaining approval from TAMS.
Class Raffle Baskets
The class raffle baskets have been distributed to classes for our Fete. Families have the option to contribute an item to the class raffle basket or donate a family pack to be sold.
Kindergarten - Better Homes and Gardens, Year 1 - Boredom Buster, Year 2 - Easter, Year 3 - Celebration, Year 4 - Easter, Year 5 - Stationery and Craft, Year 6 - Cookin' up a storm.
Tombola Day
On Monday 23 March we will have Tombola Day. For our new families Tombola Day is when the children bring in a bottle or plastic jar or goodies for prizes of a number game coordinated by the school staff on Fete day. The bottles/jars can be filled with lollies, pencils, erasers, stationery, licorice, musk sticks, bubble bath, hair ties. The options are endless. It will be a uniform free day on Tombola Day. Children can wear casual clothes but must wear their joggers and hat. For each bottle/jar donated children will receive a ticket into a lucky draw to win their choice on the tombola jars.
Welcome Monica Culas - Youth Minister
On Wednesday we welcomed Monica Culas to our school community as our Youth Minister. Monica has been engaged in the Parish for the past 12 months. In 2020 St Monica's has engaged in the Primary Schools Youth Ministry Program with the Archdiocese, resulting in the employment of Monica to work in our school 1 day per week developing youth ministry with our Year 6 students and providing support to students and classes. Monica is currently studying a Bachelor of Education at the University of Canberra so will bring many gifts to our school through her faith, ministry and vocation in education. The students were thrilled to meet Monica and even tried to convince her to come to Camp Cooba next week!
Wishing God’s blessing on you and your families.
Carmel Maguire
Principal
Growing Together – through Prayer
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Our overarching school theme this year is ‘Growing Together’ and each term we will be guided by St Monica’s example. This Term, we are being guided by St Monica’s example of prayer. St Monica was known for her persistence in prayer and through her persistence, those around her came to know God. As a school community, we too can look to St Monica’s example of prayer as we continue to grow together. |
Many of the children have made Lenten promises around praying more and Fr. Loi encouraged us all to find time to converse with God every day. In June last year, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of prayer and explained that “the heart of the Church’s mission is prayer.”
When we pray, we are committing to our relationship with God. We are seeking the renewal of heart that helps us to be witness to the transformative power of prayer. I am a parishioner at St Gregory’s Parish in Queanbeyan and during mass on the weekend we have been praying for rain. As a parish community we prayed this prayer regularly every weekend since I have been back from Brisbane. I have been told that this prayer was prayed throughout last year as well. As I am writing this and looking out my window, enjoying the sound of the rain and the beautiful green that surrounds us now, I give thanks to God for listening to our heartfelt prayers. Prayers are not magical requests where God waves his hand and grants our wish, don’t get God confused with Aladdin! This coming week, find a quiet minute to sit and talk to God, open your heart and mind to the conversation. Notice how it makes you feel. It is this feeling that will help us to continue to grow together, the St Monica’s way.
Parent’s Prayer Group – Expression of Interest
In Term 2, I would like to facilitate a parent’s prayer group. This will be an opportunity to examine God’s word, explore the power of prayer and connect with each other in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The sessions will also have some practical ways for you to strengthen prayer as a family and will also be linked to the Church’s liturgical calendar.
If you would like to be part of the Parent’s Prayer Group next term please fill out the form below and send it in to the front office by Wednesday 18 March.
Haley Stonham
Religious Education Coordinator
Parent’s Prayer Group – Expression of Interest
I would like to participate in the Parent’s Prayer Group in Term 2.
Name: _____________________________________
Contact: M) _______________________________ E) _____________________________________
I would prefer: (Please tick)
- Thursday morning - 8am
- Thursday Morning – 10am
- Friday Morning – 8am
- Friday Morning – 10am
Who is Emerging Minds?
For over 20 years Emerging Minds has been dedicated to advancing the mental health and emotional wellbeing of Australian infants, children, adolescents and their families. The organisation now leads the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health, delivered in partnership with the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the Australian National University (ANU), the Parenting Research Centre (PRC) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. We partner with family members, national and international organisations to implement evidence-based practice into the Australian context. Our resources are freely available at this web hub www.emergingminds.com.au
At this online gateway you have access to free training, practice guides, webinars, tools, information and news. You can also sign up for a free and informative newsletter.
Term 1 school fees have been emailed and sent home to families.
Generally, statements are not sent to families with a formal Direct Debit Arrangement in place as it causes some confusion as to whether we are asking you to make an additional payment. If you would prefer to receive a statement when fees are invoiced please let the office know.
The school runs 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.
Full payment of school fees is due by Friday 20 March 2020, except for families with a Direct Debit arrangement in place. Please don't hesitate to contact the School Finance Officer, Allison Walsh should you need to discuss your school fees.
Volunteers - Uniform Shop Team
Thank you to all who have made contact with our current Uniform Team to take over the operation. We have received many enquiries and offers. Our new team will be announced soon.
As you will be well aware our fete is coming up - 28 March - save the date!! We appreciate any donations you can provide and the fete team have already advertised all the possible ways you can donate. We would also really appreciate any spare time you can provide us either on fete day or before (helping sort donations for the white elephant stall, clothing or books). It is a lovely day for the kids and our community and while it can be tiring it is a great lot of fun when you get involved.
Fete Volunteer Form
This form is not activeFete - Baking Assistance
This form is not activeFete - International Cooking - Donations Required
This form is not activeWhite Elephant Stall Drop Off Times
Just a reminder that the first opportunity to drop off items for the 2020 Fete White Elephant Stall will take place on Monday 9 March from 2.00pm to 4.00pm in the School Hall. This gives families time over the long weekend to go through the house, garage and shed to find items that are too good to throw away but are no longer needed or used. Given rain is predicted, please only bring donations between 2.00pm-4.00pm on Monday. Please do not leave anything outside the hall at any other time.
Please ensure that your goods are clean, stain-free and in good used condition. No mattresses, children’s car seats, broken or unusable items.
There will be further drop off times over the following weekends leading up to the fete (Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March and Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March).
Items can also be dropped off in the School Hall each morning between 8.30am and 9.00am up until Wednesday 25 March prior to the Fete.
We also have a limited ability to collect items for those in the community that are not able to get items to the school due to illness or disability. These collections will be done during school hours over the next few weeks. Please text “Fete Collection” to 0408 637 232 and one of the fete team will contact you to discuss collection.
The Community Council met last week where we elected our office bearers for 2020 - Council Chair - Evelyn David-Hoole, Council Vice Chair - Alicia Prest, Council Secretary - Fiona Steinberg, Council Treasurer - John Alston-Campbell. Council also discussed the 2020-2022 St Monica's Strategic Plan and the 2020 Annual Improvement Plan.
If you have any ideas or concerns please email them through to our Secretary Fiona Steinberg at council.stmonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au
Grace-Lenten Program 2020
The Parish will be offering Lenten Groups again during Lent. The program we will use is called GRACE and is published by the Diocese of Wollongong. It is perfect for both group or individual reflection. The daily reflections and Gospel reading (Ash Wednesday 26 February to Easter Sunday 12 April) are accompanied by beautiful artworks. We hope to offer two evenings (one at Kaleen and one at Evatt) in the parish meeting rooms. The room at St Monica’s is available on Wednesday night only. Everyone is welcome to join a group. Sign-On sheets, indicating your preference, have been placed in the foyer of both churches. The booklet cost is $5.00 and may be purchased from the church.
Thank you for all the support in the first few weeks since the canteen has reopened.
Now that we are back into it, a few reminders. If you have ordered your child a lunch, but they are absent that day, please contact the school prior to 10.30am on that day. This will enable me to postpone your child's order for the next week. If it is after that, we are often in the process of preparing the hot items and it then goes to waste.
If your child has forgotten their lunch, dropped it, lost it... we will supply them with a lunch. A note will be forwarded home to advise you and request a payment for this service. If you do not want your child to be automatically supplied with a lunch, you need to advise me (opt out). If you have not paid for a paper bag, please remind your child to put in their lunch wallet.
The volunteer app has been well received, we have already had some new helpers in the canteen and they have survived!! Fridays are definitely our busiest days, we are supplying well over 130 lunches and sometimes up to 180 all for one service time! This is definitely a job that takes a village, so if you even have just half an hour on a Friday, your help would be most appreciated.
Lastly, please pass on my thanks to all my little customers; they have wonderful manners, are being very patient on busy days and giving me some great feedback on new products. Working with these lovely children is one of the best parts of my new job.
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.
DANCECORE - Dance classes are held on Wednesdays at lunchtime in the school hall. Forms are available at the Front Office. Contact Cassie 0417 442 750.
CHESS - Chess classes are held in the library on Mondays at lunchtime. Forms are available by contacting Sydney Academy of Chess (02) 9745 1170.
GUITAR - Guitar lessons with Geromy are on Thursdays. Please contact Front Office for Geromy's contact.
PIANO - Piano lessons with Lis O'Daly. Pease contact Front Office for Lis' contact.
Instruments- Small group intstrumental lessons for Years 2 - 6 available on Tuesdays throughout the day. Enrolment fliers can be collected from the Front Office.
School Choir & Japanese Choir - Children self nominate to attend choir led by St Monica's teaching staff.
Here at St Monica's we are fortunate to have a great community of students, teachers and families who provide a caring, enthusiastic and positive place for our children to learn, grow and shine. We invite you to get involved in our community!
We understand that families have busy lives at work, at home and with other communities that they are part of. As such, we have a varied number of opportunities for involvement with differing levels of time commitment - we value them all. We also take this opportunity to give a heartfelt thanks to all our current and past volunteers who help make this community function and thrive - THANK YOU!
Please consider this an invitation. If you are looking to connect, improve your sense of wellbeing and your child/ren's happiness, we invite you to consider volunteering and complete the form below. Spending a little time volunteering at St Monica's may be your best-spent time yet!
Please don't hesitate to contact us via email if you have further queries or ideas. Council.StMonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au
We would love to hear from parents/carers, grandparents and older siblings. We encourage existing volunteers to list the activities they are already involved in.
MERICI COLLEGE ENROLLING NOW CAMPAIGN
A wonderful opportunity for prospective families to see the College in action, meet our students and attend the Principal’s Address, Year 7 and 11 Information Evenings and lots more.
We are enrolling now for 2021 and beyond!
Please visit www.merici.college for all dates and information for our Open Day, Be a Merici Girl Days and Talk and Tours. Register online now!
Open Day and Year 7 2021 Information Night: 7 May
Be a Merici Girl Days: 30 April, 4, 5, 12 May
Talk and Tours: 22 February, 4 April, 9 May, 15 August, 24 October
Daramalan will be holding Pre-Enrolment Orientation day for Year 6 2020 students on Wednesday 8 April. The Year 7 2021 Enrolment Period is from Monday 4 May 2020 until Friday 22 May 2020.
St Francis Xavier College
Thursday 30 April 2020 is our St Francis Xavier College Expo Day. This is a day when we invite Year 6 students from the Belconnen Catholic Primary Schools to experience high school for a day.
We will provide buses with the hope that you may release your Year 6 students for most of the day. Buses will leave your school between 9.30am - 9.45am and will arrive back at approximately 2.20pm.
While the students are at St Francis Xavier College they will have the opportunity to tour the College and to experience classes in learning areas such as: Music, Drama, Food and Fabric, Art and Ceramics, Industrial Technology, STEM and the Middle School. We will also provide them with morning tea and lunch.
Students will NOT need to bring anything with them.
