We hope you enjoyed hearing about the St Monica's Way and exploring our footsteps with your children. Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing some of the images from our students that depict the footsteps of St Monica and potential logos for the school to replace our existing vision logo with. 

This week you might like to take the time as a family to watch the short film 'Ian'. The students were shown the film last week and asked to compare it to our footsteps of Respect, Resilience, Engagement and Growth. Where can you see the footsteps in Ian's life?

Dear Parents

It has been wonderful to see all the parents connecting up with their child's teacher/s during this week. We have had a terrific uptake on the offer of face to face or zoom meetings. I am sincerely grateful to the staff for their generosity of time; they are very keen to learn all they can about their new class group. 

Principal  

This year we welcome Miss Nicole Jenner to our Year 6 team and Miss Katarina Markovic to our Year 4 team. This week we welcomed Miss Erin O'Leary and Mrs Jamie Austin to our Learning Support Team. Erin and Jamie will be working with various groups across the school to support the learning needs of our children. They are very excited to be joining the team and our community.

The Kinder Team 

Miss Clare Battye

Mrs Helen Houghton

 

Firstly, welcome back to all our families and friends who help to make our school community a vibrant place to belong. We have launched our new St Monica’s Way and I am sure that you all could name the four footsteps already – RESPECT, RESILIENCE, ENGAGEMENT and GROWTH!

Last Friday we were able to gather as a whole school to welcome in the new school year with our Opening School Mass. Fr Loi helped us to understand what ‘one body, many parts’ meant in the first reading from 1Corinthians and introduced us to Mr. Potato Head. He explained that just like Mr. Potato Head has one body and many interchangeable parts, we also have many parts to play in being the one body – God needs all of us to play our part. We each are unique and bring gifts to our world.

First Eucharist

Our Year 5 candidates are busy preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist in two weeks’ time.  Please keep our candidates and their families in your prayers.

Parent/Child formation evening via zoom: Thursday 11 February 2021

St Monica’s Retreat Day: Thursday 18 FebruarySacrament of First Eucharist Masses:

St Michael’s – Tuesday 23 February 6pm

St Monica’s - Wednesday 24 February 6pm

St Monica’s – Thursday 25 February 5pm and 6:30pm

Sacramental Program 2021 – First Eucharist for catch-up students Y4 from 2020

The Sacrament of First Eucharist for the students from Year 4 in 2020 will be celebrated in term 1 of 2021 on the following dates:

• Tuesday 23 February at 6pm in St Michael’s Church
• Wednesday 24 February at 6pm in St Monica’s Church
• Thursday 25 February at 6pm in St Monica’s Church

Please keep the candidates for First Eucharist in your prayers.

Parent/Child Formation Night for First Eucharist – Term 1 (catch-up students from Y4 2020)

The parent/child formation night is compulsory and will be held on Thursday 11 February 2021 at 6pm via zoom at https://cgcatholic.zoom.us/j/98091975011

Home Booklets

The home booklets should be completed ready for the parent/child formation night on 11 February 2021. The completed booklets are then to be returned to the school no later than Monday 15 February 2021 with the ‘Parents’ Discernment of Readiness’ (the last page of the booklet) completed and signed ready for Fr Loi to also sign. The booklets will be returned to the candidates on the night of the Sacrament along with their certificates. .

There will be a further celebration for First Eucharist in Term 2, 2021 for students in Year 4 in 2021. More information will be available in the school and church bulletins and also on the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

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

SAVE THE DATE - Wednesday 5 May Parent Cyber Safety Session with Safe on Social

To celebrate National Safer Internet Day we would like to announce our Parent Cyber Safety Session with Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social. Kirra is the CEO of Safe on Social Media who support schools and parents to ensure the safety of our children online. Kirra is an advocate for children, provides practical advice to parents and is an engaging presenter who will leave a buzz in the room. You can hear her here with Mia Freedman on Mamamia: https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/no-filter/kirra-pendergast-safe-on-social-media/ 

We would encourage all parents to attend the session on the evening of Wednesday 5 May and will ensure that childcare is available and a zoom link for those of you at home. Here is a blog from Kirra to celebrate National Safer Internet Day:

Today is Safer Internet Day and we have been speaking in Primary Schools all day as we believe the younger children learn about being safe online the better. Please feel free to share this information with the parents and carers in your school community.

When your child reaches 10 – 11yrs (or even earlier), they may start asking for their first smartphone and to use social media. So here are ten things to keep your Tweens safe online:

1. If your child is asking for a phone, make sure that you get them to do a little presentation, or write a small project sheet, on a topic of cyber safety every week in the lead up to getting their phone.

2. Think about the age recommendations; it is not illegal for a child to use social media under the age of 13yrs with their parents’ permission. But they need to remember to update their age on any site that has asked for it when they actually turn 13yrs. Like Facebook, for example. This way, the app will not think they are older. As an extreme example…if your child signs up to use Facebook when they are 10yrs, and they have to lie and say they are 13yrs…so by the time they are 15yrs if they haven’t adjusted the year they were born, the app will think they are 18yrs. Then they can get a Tinder account as it relies on Facebook for verification!

3. Teach your kids to think twice before they accept a friend request. Just because someone is a friend of their big brother or sister or cousin who goes to another school does not mean they should let them into their life.

4. Engage with them about their favourite social media app and get them to teach you about it so you can at least know the basics. Get them to show you how to block and report so you can be sure they know how too.

5. Be a good role model. Keep your screen time in check. There is no use banning the phones from bedrooms if you go to bed with yours each night, for example.

6. Help them to check and manage privacy settings. This is something you can do together when they are younger by making it a shared experience.

7. Think twice before “sharenting.” Do not post photos of your kids in school uniform or school events or holding certificates with their full name and school name on it. You are letting the whole world know where they go to school. This can happen by “checking in” or geotagging a school as well.

8. Ask them first when you are about to share their photo. Let your kids be involved in the decision making on whether they are ok with you posting a photo of them or not as young as possible. This will teach them to ask others first before they post pictures as they grow up.

9. Put healthy boundaries in place. Don’t ban them from their device if they forget to do a household chore or are naughty for something totally unrelated to their device. Do not take it off them if they speak up about something that has happened online because you are scared either. This is the quickest way to drive all the conversations that you want to be having underground. Instead, if you have a healthy boundary like all devices are banned from the bathroom or bedroom. So then if they are caught with their device in either place, you ban them for a week. This way, they will learn that it is safe to speak up about what is going on online without punishment unless they break the rules about device use.

10. Respect the classifications. The average age of a gamer is 35yrs old. Classifications are there for a reason. It is not ok for a child under the age of 18yrs to be playing R Rated games…even with their parents!!! If your child is playing online games, set healthy boundaries around time playing as well. All of the other tips above also apply to gaming.
 

Today we are offering a special on our Safe on Social Toolkit for parents - use the code sosparent for a 20% discount on check out making it only $6.50 per month. www.safeonsocialtoolkit.com

This year we have approximately 45 students, from ages 10 to 12, registered to participate in our St Monica's Competitive Swimming Carnival on Monday 22 February. Due to numbers, we are happy to invite the competent 8 and 9 year old swimmers to join in the carnival and provide them with the experience of a competitive carnival. An entry form was handed out to interested students today. 

School Sports ACT will only be accepting students from ages 10, 11 and 12 to attend regional and championship carnivals. Additional parental assistance is required on the day of our carnival. 

Enrty forms attached in case your child was away when the forms were handed out.

Today the first issue of Scholastic Book Club for 2021 was sent home with the eldest member of each family.  Orders need to be placed by Monday 22 February. The books can only be ordered through the Loop at www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP.  The orders will be delivered to classes on arrival. This is a fantastic way to grow your child’s love of reading. If you have any questions please contact me. 

***Attention families with older children at other ACT Catholic Systemic Schools***

Do you have older children attending St Francis Xavier College, John Paul II College, Merici College, St Clare's College or Mary Mackillop College? Or another ACT Catholic primary school? You are entitled to a discount on your school fees here at St Monica's but you must submit the form below please, so I have your correct information.

Family circumstances change therefore you must notify the school at the commencement of every school year. Please do not assume that if you received this discount in previous years that it carries over to the next year. This information is wiped from our database at the end of every year.

If you have not submitted this information, please do so as a matter of urgency. Term 1 school fees are being invoiced this week - if we haven't received your information we cannot provide the discount for you.

Link to complete & submit form online: 2021 Fees Systemic Sibling Discount Form

Information related to school fees is available in our school app, under Forms & Documents. You can access the 2021 fee schedule, Direct Debit forms, remission application forms and other fee-related information.

Term 1 school fees will be invoiced to all families this week.  Invoices will be emailed where possible, otherwise sent home with the eldest child, as Australia Post is not delivering efficiently.

Full payment of school fees is required by Week 4 each term, except for families who have a formal Direct Debit arrangement in place. Fee concession may be available to families experiencing genuine financial hardship. A remission application form and supporting information will need to be submitted. The application form may be downloaded from our Schoolzine app - under Forms & Documents. Applications for fee concessions are treated in the strictest of confidence.

Applications for a 2021 fee concession must be submitted no later than Friday 26 February.

Apology - It has been brought to our attention that a number of families (with Direct Debits) did not receive notice of their 2021 debit amount during January. This information was posted to families in mid-January however many have not been received. It was not possible to email this information to parents due to the high number of families with Direct Debit arrangements.

We re-printed and posted this information last Wednesday. Please allow a week or so for it to arrive, and if not received please contact Allison Walsh.

A friendly reminder to families that the final instalment payment of $200 for camp is due by Friday 26 February. Payment must be received in full prior to departure for camp. Please contact the office if you are not sure of your balance.

FYI, the first instalment of $140 was due on 4 December 2020, total cost is $340.

Happy Birthday to the following students  celebrating a Birthday this week 

Liam S, Daniel I, Amelia B, Lucy D, Esther L, Dallas M

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