Newsletter 13/2/2023 Term 1 Week 4

Shrove Tuesday 21st of February

Lord help us prepare for the special time of Lent to make us all the best we can be.

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers and community members,

We had a wonderful gathering last Friday for our opening school Mass where we recognised our school leaders, awarded the Jan Richies award to Halle Barake and our Grade 6 studentsd blessed our Foundation children. Thank you to the parents and parishioners who were able to join us on the day. 

Opening School Mass

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Swimming Program

This week is the last week of our swimming program.

The timetable for Week 3 is below.

Our swimming carnival will be held on Monday the 27th February.

Swimming Timetable Week 3

Parent/Teacher Interviews

We intend to conduct parent/teacher interviews later this term to discuss your child's beginning to the school year and gather any important information about them from you. A timetable will be sent out through PAM for either the 7, 8th or 9th of March so please watch for this notification. These sessions will be for 10 minutes for each child. 

Staff Changes

Tarryn Delaney has announced that she is expecting and will be commencing parental leave in May next term. We are most fortunate to have Amy Wynd and Amy Pemberton returning from parental leave at that time and they will take over the 3/4DC classroom. 
Georgia Copeland will also be taking leave for the remainder of the 2023 school year beginning on March 20th. Amy Wynd will begin in this role from this date onwards.

Digital Safety

We are encountering circumstances where students are wearing smart watches to school and we are flagging with parents some of our concerns:-

* These can be a distraction to children's learning.
* They are expensive items that may become damaged or lost at school.
* Some of these have the capacity to record sound and vision of other school members.
* Some have the capacity to contact other people whilst at school.

We understand that many devices have settings that remove these capabilities while at school and we are asking parents to ensure that this is done for your child's safety and the safety of others in our school. These devices are covered in our Digital Technology Agreement that parents are asked to sign each year. Please log onto PAM and go to the Connect fields.

PAM Information Updates

We are asking all parents to log in to PAM and update each childs connect fields. We apologise if you have done this previously but there was a glich in the system and we need them re done at your earliest convenience.

Forrest

Today we had a visit from Georgia Lillie and Forrest to the school. Forrest has been trained as a therapy dog and he behaved beautifully with all the attention he received during his time in the classrooms.

Conveyance Allowance

There is funding available for families if you have to travel more than 4.8km to pick-up or drop off students at Contract or College Bus pick-up points, parents should apply for the reimbursement applicable through the Private Car Conveyance Allowance Application. Please contact the office if you think you may be eligible.

Family Assistance Scheme

Family Assistance Scheme ~ are you eligible?

The Family Assistance Scheme introduced by the Catholic Diocese which reduces your Tuition fee to $520 will continue this year. To be eligible you must produce a Commonwealth Health Care Card to the office (which we are required to photocopy) and complete an application form. This needs to be done by Tuesday 28th of February at the latest as no late applications are accepted.

If you received this last year, we do not require to see your HCC again, your details will roll over.

Nippers Success

On the weekend we had many of our students take part in a Nippers competition. Five students were age group champions on the day:-
Willow Wills
Emma Lillie
George Titmus
Elaine Ryan
Harry Sinnott

Term 1 Known Dates

14/2           Sacramental meeting 8:30am
14/2          SAC meeting 1
16&17/2   Diocesan Leadership - Tim away
17/2          Friday Mass - 1M & 5/6S
21/2          Shrove Tuesday
21/2          Parent’s Association Meeting
22/2         Ash Wednesday Mass 11:30am 

23/2          SAC and staff dinner     
24/2         Friday Mass - FSB & 5/6C
27/2         Swimming Carnival
1/3            Portsea Camp
2/3           Division swimming W'bool
3/3           Friday Mass - FDF & 3/4L
6/3           Nazareth feast day held on 8/3
10/3         Friday Mass - 1WS & 5/6Cook
22/3         Reconciliation @ Church 6pm
13/3         Labour Day Public Holiday
14/3         Regional swimming Horsham
17/3         St Pat’s Day mass & Green Faces   
24/3         Friday Mass - 2DS, 2B & 3/4HP
26/3         Grade 5/6 Parish Mass
27/3          Young Leaders Day
29/3         School Athletic Sports
31/3          Friday Mass - 3/4D & 5/6MJ
4/4           District Aths - Camperdown
2/4           Palm Sunday
6/4           Holy Thursday Liturgy / Easter Raffle
6/4          Last day for students
7/4          Good Friday
9/4         Easter Sunday

Catholic School Culture

Opening Year Mass

On Friday we held our Opening School Mass. The Theme was Rise Up! Don’t Hold Back! Which encourages us all to uphold our school values of Be Your Best. Be Respectful. Be Safe. Throughout the year we will reflect on this theme.

We pray that we find an encouraging and supportive community, ready to inspire us and walk with us as we take up the challenges life presents. Let us be inspired by saints who did rise up to the challenges before them and who didn’t hold back continuing to live lives of service and generosity sustained by their faith and hope in the Lord.

Amen

 Sacramental Program

We are currently in the process of setting up our Sacramental Programs for 2023 which includes the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Eucharist. A parent meeting will be held at our school library on Tuesday, 14th February at 8:30am to provide further information about our Sacramental Program and for any queries you may have. 

 A form has been sent electronically to those children who are listed as Catholic on our records. If you have not received a form, please contact the office. These forms need to be completed by Friday, 24th February. If you have any further inquiries, please contact Tarryn at school on 5593 1962.

 Mass of the Oils 2023

The Mass of the Oils will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023 at St Patrick’s Cathedral Ballarat at 6:30pm. Supper will follow in the Hall.

Piano Lessons

 WANT TO LEARN THE PIANO?

There are some vacancies for students to learn piano with Mrs Michelle Mackinnon (A.MUS.A.  B.MUS.ED.)

Lessons are held on Thursdays here at school.

For enquiries contact Michelle at-Email- m.fra603@gmail.com Phone- 0458345303

Canteen

The Canteen is open every day for lunch orders.

Below is an updated menu and price list for 2023.

Zooper Doopers sold at 2nd Lunch

Throughout Term 1 the Student Representative Council will be selling Zooper Doopers to raise money towards the Grade 6 camp to Melbourne.

These will only be sold at second lunch when the canteen is closed.

The cost will be 50 cents each.

Friendly Reminder

This is a friendly reminder to send your child with their named school hat to school during Term 1 as the weather is warm and the children are not allowed outside without one.

Parish Bulletin

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their this week.

Evelyn G,  Zoe R, Damian M-M & Molly G 

Phone Book helpers

The local phone book is one of the major fundraisers for our school.  This is a Term 1 fundraiser. Grade 5 parents are allocated this job on behalf of the Parents Association.  We have a coordinator assigned to this fundraiser but need some helpers. Please contact the office if you can help with this, thank you. 

Fundraising Coordinators

We are looking for volunteers to coordinate and run the BBQ for both the Swimming carnival and the Athletics carnival and the Easter raffle. If you are able to be a coordinator for any of these please contact the office.

Swimming carnival - Grade 4 - February 27th

Athletics carnival - Grade 1 - March 29th

Easter raffle - Foundation -  April 6th

Students of the Week

COMMUNITY EVENTS