Dear Parents

Principal  

Congratulations to the following students who won the class prize draw vouchers for $25.00.

Isabella A (KB), Liam W (KCH), Harriett B (1E), Ryan W (1R), Kobe B (2CP), Ciresa K (2RR), Sienna R (3GB), Aria G (3CD), Emmett J (3LK), Sarah D-H (4MF), Sophie B (4R), Oscar G (5SM), Penelope R (5W), Jesse F (5E), Jack R (6H), Tulli H (6FH), Alani A (6M).

Today is 25 November and that means that this time next month we will have celebrated another Christmas day with family and friends. But what will the next four weeks be filled with? It is so easy to forget what this special season is all about and become caught up in the material elements that can come with Christmas.

The Church liturgical season of Advent begins this coming Sunday, but what does Advent mean? The word “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus meaning “coming or arrival”. It can also mean “new birth or new beginning”, hence its use for this time given to us to prepare for Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Thinking about the year that has been 2020, what a perfect way to end the year – preparing for our new beginning. Like a shaking off what this year has been, and renewing our minds, hearts, and bodies for not only the birth of Jesus but the new year ahead.

This Sunday the first purple candle will appear on the Advent wreath, this is the candle of HOPE. On reading more about hope during Advent, I came across a reading that explained that Advent is a preparation of the heart – is your heart filled with hope? Hope that tomorrow will be better than today, hope to overcome any challenges that may come your way, and when they do, do you walk in hope with Jesus?

Over the next week, try putting your hope in Jesus in the following ways –

• Hope for help – We are invited to come to Him and confidently ask for help
• Hope to overcome – With Christ’s strength you can overcome great obstacles
• Hope for power – we not only need to pray for God’s strength, but we need His strength in us to do what we need to do.

 “May the God of Hope fill you all with joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for catch-up students from 2020
The Sacrament of First Eucharist for the students currently in Year 4 in 2020 will be celebrated in term 1 of 2021.

Registration for the Sacrament of First Eucharist will open on Monday 23 November 2020 with registration made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App. Registrations will close by Friday 11 December 2020 and no further registration will be accepted.

Information Night
The information night is compulsory and will be held on Thursday 3 December 2020 at 6pm via zoom at https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/95777510929

Commitment Masses
Students and parents must attend one of the commitment Masses listed below to make their commitment for the sacrament. 
Please remember to make a booking for the Mass in advance, through the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December 2020

There will be no additional commitment masses beyond these dates.

The Sacrament is available in 2021 for the School of Religion. Any queries can be made to sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

For further information regarding the Sacramental Program for 2021 please contact the Sacramental Program coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au

Library Books 

All library books are due back to school on Tuesday 1 December.  All books need to be back by Thursday 3 December for stock take to commence in Week 9. Overdue notes will be emailed out on Tuesday 1 December. It would be greatly appreciated if these books could be returned as soon as possible. Send me an email if you are unable to locate the books - veronica.melville@cg.catholic.edu.au 

In School Sport Week 6 results

3/4 Touch - Sharks 6 defeated Titans 2

3/4 Soccer - Victory 6 defeated Dragons 2, Wolves 7 defeated Red Devils 1

5/6 Touch - Storm 4 drew with Tigers 4

5/6 Soccer - Wanderers 3 defeated Roar 2, United 1 defeated Glory 0

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 now overdue!

Term 4 school fees are now overdue. 

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 a copy.

Please make full payment of your school fees as a matter of urgency, 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.

If you have older children at Systemic Catholic Schools other than St Monica's, please complete the attached form as soon as possible, by Friday 4 December 2020, please.

This information is required by us to ensure you are charged the correct amount for fees. If you have older children at Systemic schools you are entitled to various discounts on your school fees here at St Monica's, if you do not provide this information you will be charged the full fees.

The following students performed in the End of Year Piano Concert -

Elizabeth D-H (KCH), Zara L (3LK), Jemima B (3LK), Emma N (3LK), Annalene L (4R), Sophie C (4R), Alaina S (4R),  Sarah D-H (4MF), Arina M (5E), Rohan G (5SM),  Sam G (5SM), Mary D-H (6FH), Laura G (6FH) and Caitlin M (6M).

School banking will continue for the remainder of the term. The last date to order rewards will be this Friday 27 November. All orders placed after this time will be held until 27 January 2021. Many thanks -  Samantha Cox – School Banking Co-ordinator.

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week

Jaryd S, Siena D, Juliana D, Finn D, Emily R, Emanuel S, Billy K

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

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.