Dear Parents

 

Next week we are expecting 43 very excited preschoolers to our orientation sessions. While beginning school is a very exciting time for all, it can also be rather intimidating for the little ones. To help the child settle into the routines of school life, our orientation program will include the attendance of all 2021 Kindergarten students at two afternoon sessions on

Principal  

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation has begun this week with the first liturgy last night at St Michael’s Church. The liturgies continue tonight and tomorrow night here at St Monica’s church. Pope Francis reminds us that we all have the Spirit within us – our heart and our soul.

‘Jesus gave his disciples a truly great mission - - to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The Spirit guides us in life so that we become the right salt and the right light for humanity’

Pope Francis, 2018

 Please continue to pray for the Year 6 candidates, their families, and our whole school community. May we all be guided by the Holy Spirit to be the right salt and light for each other as we continue to grow together. 

Sacramental Program – Confirmation Liturgy 2020
Congratulations to the candidates celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this week on:
Tuesday 10 November in St Michael’s Church at 6pm
Wednesday 11 November in St Monica’s Church at 6pm
Thursday 12 November in St Monica’s Church – 2 liturgies at 5.30pm and 7pm.

Please arrive at the church/liturgy that you have booked for, at least 15 minutes prior to commencement of the sacrament.

For further information please contact the Sacramental Program coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

This week, along with the rest of Australia we are celebrating NAIDOC week. The 2020 Theme: 'Always Was, Always Will Be', recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. 

As a nation, it is essential that we acknowledge that hundreds of Nations and our cultures covered this continent. NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 or 1606 - with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. 

As a school community, we will be completing activities throughout the week which celebrate NAIDOC. Year 1 will be leading the school in prayer on MS teams on Friday afternoon. I look forward to sharing with you next week some of these wonderful events.

24/7 Book Fair, Open Online until 16 November 2020.

https://www.redgumbookclub.com.au/bookfair/R00145

Remember to nominate St Monica’s to receive reward points which will go toward the  purchase of books for the library.

The St Monica’s staff are organising our Neighbourhood Walkathon for Friday 20 November. The teachers and students will be going on a walk around Evatt and Melba. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will only be asking for a maximum of two parents to walk with each class and volunteers to be at various checkpoints around the course (this will be done on a first in first served basis). These volunteers are identified as essential. Students will leave the school grounds from 10:00am in year level groups and with their buddy class, following their morning fruit break, to walk a loop around the pathways of our local suburbs. Volunteers must hold a WWVP card, register with the Check In CBR app and observe all COVID-19 protocols.

The walk will lead the students back to school for recess. The distance for the Neighbourhood Walkathon is approximately 3km and will take about one hour to complete (Kinders will walk a slightly shorter route).  As this is a community event the students will accompany their school ‘buddy class’ for the walk. Please no pets on the walk!

The Neighbourhood Walkathon is traditionally one of our major fundraisers. However, due to COVID and the financial strain it has placed on families we are only asking for families to obtain sponsorship donations if you feel comfortable doing so.

Our preferred payment method is Qkr! Cash collected needs to be returned by Friday 20 November to be included in the draw. Cash needs to be returned in an envelope clearly marked with the student’s name, the amount of cash inside and the pledge card. Money raised from the Neighbourhood Walkathon goes towards the cost of purchasing resources needed in our school. This year our focus is on upgrading the classroom Maths equipment.

There will be one small prize ($25 gift voucher) for each class group. Children will be issued an entry into each prize draw for every $5 receipted against their name. The prize draw will occur after lunch. All money must be in by the Walkathon day to be included in the prize draw.

Please return the permission note or offer of assistance

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Each year St Monica’s School participates in the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. The local conference of the Society packs and distributes over 50 hampers to families in our parish just prior to Christmas. Over the years, the generosity of the St Monica’s School community has filled many hampers. The Appeal will launch again shortly. St Monica’s School will collect items up until Friday 11 December. This year classes have been allocated a food group to collect. Donations are not limited to the listed items but providing these will enable the Conference to provide a Christmas dinner to their clients.

6H - Minced pies and fruit tarts

6FH - Long life custard and packets of jelly crystals     

6M -  Sweet and savoury biscuits

5W  - Packets of muesli bars/fruit bars

5E - Tinned vegetables beetroot, potatoes

5SM -Tinned vegetables – carrots, peas, corn,

4R -  Tinned fruit – pineapple, peaches, pears

4MF -  Packets of pasta

3CD - Packets of chips/pretzels/etc

3LK -  Packets of coloured popcorn

3GB - Boxes/packets of chocolates (without nuts)

2CP - Christmas Bon-Bons

2RR – Drinks – Fruit juice 1 litre

1E -  Cordial - 1 litre 

1R – Tin salmon

KCH -  Sponge jam rolls – check expiry date is after Christmas

KB - Packet of sweet or savoury biscuits

Staff - Tinned hams 

Many thanks for your generosity.

Fees are due by Friday 13 November

Term 4 school fees invoices have been issued.  Statements were sent home with the eldest child as we are still unable to email them. Statements were posted to any families who have a split account. 

Please let us know if you have not received your fees statement. Statements were not issued to families with a direct debit arrangement in place, however, please let us know if you wish to receive it.

Please make every effort to settle your account on time, and get in touch with our School Finance Officer, Allison Walsh should you need to discuss your account.

Any families who are leaving us this year must ensure their account is settled in full, please.

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week

Brooke D, Diego C, Zander R, Lucas B, Gus O

Reminder all families: 

Catholic Education COVID-19 Website - Click to open web updates

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

St Monica's Annual Chess Tournament

Students are invited to participate in the St Monica's Annual Chess Tournament on Friday 27 November.  Students do not need to be chess experts and will play within their divisions (Years 1-3 and Years 4-6).  Entry forms are available via the Schoolzine App or from the Front Office.  Entry is free. Forms need to be returned to school by Tuesday 24 November.

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.