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Dear Parents,
As we kick off week 4 in our final term many of the organisational pieces for 2025 have started.
This is a balancing act of maintaining the focus on the classroom and the continuation of learning which will go right through until the 16 December for all students. We ask that all Christmas cards and Christmas decorations/costumes be worn in the last 2 weeks (1 week and 2 days of term ). This is the week beginning the 9 December. We also ask that with Christmas decorations - hats and earring etc that they align with our uniform policy which was sent out this week and also added to the uniform section in theis newsletter. This policy is as much about the safety of our students as the pride students take in wearing their uniform.
Separation requests for students have now closed as we work towards entering all information into the platform which will assist with grade structures for 2025.
Students will be asked to fill out a form listing 5 students who they work well with.
All students are guaranteed to start the year with ONE of these students. We cannot accommodate requests as students leave part way through the year.
Teachers will be talking to students about this to prepare them with the emphasis being on learning in class time and friendships for playtime.
We have had a number of requests from parents requesting that their child be paired with another student as they assist them with their learning. It is not fair to ask another child to be responsible for your child/ren’s learning and we will never put that pressure on another child.
Our crazy sock day which supported the Caritas event of Socktober went very well, thankyou to all families who supported this cause.
Grade 5 students have started the preparatory work for applying for school leadership positions which will happen later in the term.
We are continuing to have parents contacting us regarding online issues between parents. We ask that parents continue to consistently monitor the use of devices and the platforms their children are on.
Our students have been participating in Inform and Empower sessions at school which educates them around the safe and appropriate use of ICT devices as well as the positive and negative aspects of popular games and youtubers.
Many of our students have accounts which have age limit restrictions, many of which are 13 years and over. And although we will continue to educate and engage services with expertise in these areas, ultimately parents are responsible for their child’s access and use of devices outside of school on personal devices.
Any student using school devices inappropriately will lose their rights to use these for a period of time as per the ICT agreement signed at the beginning of the year.
I would like to remind our families of our processes in regards to raising concerns for your children.
The first port of call is always the classroom teacher.
We ask if it is a detailed or lengthy question, or something of a sensitive nature or something needing a longer conversation, to please make an appointment via the office so we can ensure the teacher is available to devote the appropriate attention to your concerns. The classroom teacher may escalate this to the appropriate member of leadership or if a request by parents after first speaking with the classroom teacher. We ask that all phone calls and interactions be done respectfully so that these issues can be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
Monday (4 November) is a closure day. This will be used for Professional Development and the completion of child safety Modules as well as data interrogation and the writing of reports. The office will be closed as the administration staff are working on the preparation of rolling over information in preparation for 2025.
I hope you all have a lovely long weekend and maybe even back a winner!
Regards
Anna
Crossings and Parking
We ask that all students and parents are using the crossings that are clearly marked and manned as these are safe ways to cross the road. The council have also notified us that this is a concern and have asked that parents and students use the designated crossings when crossing Ridgemont Drive and Meadowlands Way.
We are aware that parking can be problematic but also ask that parents do not park in the Great Beginnings child care Centre carpark or block the entrances as there are cars coming and going from here at all times.
Parent Access
We understand that, during COVID, access to the school was restricted. We are trying to provide more opportunities for families to have access to the school. Times have changed about this and we as a school have to adapt. The fact that our driveway goes through the middle of the school grounds also creates many risks in the afternoon to all members of our community.
Please be assured that parents and carers can and come onsite walk students into school in the morning before 8.50am. In the afternoon please meet your children at the rebound wall if walking or parking in the vicinity of the school and coming to meet your children . This limits foot traffic through the school in the afternoon to assist with keeping our community safe as well as alleviating traffic on our driveway and streamlining the student collection processes.
If you ever have any concerns or want to chat with staff or leadership, please contact the office to make time to meet that suits everyone. This ensures the correct person is available at a mutually convenient time.
Student Attendance and Late arrivals
Our classes start at 8.50am, students are expected to be at school and ready to start instruction at 8.50am. Any child arriving after this time is late and will need to be signed in by an adult as per legal requirements. If a child arrives late and does not have an adult accompany them to sign them in, parents will be contacted to come and fulfill their legal responsibility.
Any students coming after the bell are impacted as they can miss vital instruction and the beginning of Specialist subjects. Students on scheduled out-of-classroom intervention programs may also miss their session, as many of these start as soon as the bell goes in the morning.
Regular late arrivals will trigger our attendance/absence processes which means parents and carers will be contacted by classroom teachers at first but may be escalated to other governing bodies.
You may notice that emails are starting to be sent to those families of students who regularly arrive late.
Hats and Uniform
We are noticing a large number of students who are not wearing the correct uniform and we will be addressing this with the students and after repeated warnings , parents will be contacted.
Jewellery , makeup and fake nails are NOT part of our uniform and students will be requested to remove these. A necklace with a crucifix on it is allowed to be worn but be tucked into the uniform for safety reasons. Small sleepers and studs are the only earrings permitted and smartwatches can only be worn if they are set to school mode. Many of these rules are for safety reasons so that injuries do not happen during playtime and P.E.lessons. All other jewellery is to be kept safely at home as the school will not be responsible for loss or breakages.
Full school uniform should be worn at all times but if for some reason it cannot, parents are to provide a note or communicate this with staff prior to the start of day.
Hats will be mandatory and are to be worn (not just carried around). Any student without a hat will be sent to a designated shaded area for play times.
Out of School Hours Care Program
Contact Camp Australia if you’re interested in your child participating Out of Hours School care or in the Holiday program offered.
2025 Enrolments
We are currently taking 2025 Enrolments. If you are an existing family please get your forms in asap to guarantee you a spot. Our Prep numbers are getting quite high so if you know of anyone considering St Catherine’s for their child please ask them to contact the Office for a tour.
GRANDPARENTS MORNING - FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2024
Our grand parents annual morning is coming up on Friday 8 November and is dedicated to Grandparents and special others who play a similar role to our students.
Unfortunately, we will have to restrict this morning to 2 grandparents or special people per family for this year due to our limited spaces.
We will start the morning with classroom prayer, followed by activities that the students can do with their grandparents or special people. The morning will finish up with coffee and cake for our visitors.
There will also be student work on display for our visitors to look at.
A survey in Simon was set up for you to reply for catering purposes, if you missed the survey and wish to attend please email info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
SCHOOL FEES 2024
The final school fee statements for 2024 were emailed to families on Friday 10 October 2024.
Please check your emails and contact the office as soon as possible if you have not received your copy.
Annual accounts should be settled prior to Friday 29 November 2024, unless a payment plan is in place.
If you wish to commence a direct debit, implement a plan and/or wish to have a confidential discussion regarding your account please contact Margaret Lonergan via email: accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au or phone 9702 1466
SCHOOL FEES 2025
Information regarding fees for 2025 was sent to parents via SIMON on Friday 10 October 2024. Please check your emails and contact the office as soon as possible if you have not received your copy.
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS?
Please advise the school office if you have changed your address as soon as possible. We have had quite a few letters returning to us as it was not the right address. You can send an email to info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au or alternatively call 9702 1466.
OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE PROGRAM
Contact Camp Australia if you’re interested in your child participating Out of Hours School care or in the Holiday program offered.
PREP ORIENTATION SESSIONS
| 3 Prep Orientation Sessions |
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PLEASE REFER TO YOUR SIMON CALENDAR FOR UPCOMING DATES FOR THIS TERM!
Hello everyone
Welcome back to Term 4. We are very excited to see you all and hear the laughter of students on the yard.
Learning Spotlight
The mission of Catholic schools is centred around the integration of faith, learning, life and culture. This does not just happen in the classroom, but through the witness offered by teaching and non-teaching staff, and through the experience of the student being part of a community which models this integration in a life-giving way. It’s a pleasure of mine jumping into planners of teachers, and walking past lessons where possible, to see the great work that our teachers are doing in Religion. But it’s also a pleasure seeing how all of our staff, from administration to educational support officers, interact with students and give a lived example of the Gospel.
Something different I thought I’d add into this newsletter is a summary of what a few levels are doing in Religion at the moment.
Prep: A large part of the Life and Mission of Jesus curriculum for Preps is learning about families and the family and life of Jesus. The Prep team do a fantastic job relating to the students’ varied families and connecting it to the Catholic understanding of Jesus’ family. They have explored love, which is an integral part of family, and how they can show it to others. They have looked at the individual story that each student brings, especially related to family, and that Jesus loves each of us and our unique stories. They looked at Matthew 13:45-56 and explored, through Godly Play, Jesus and his family. This week, they have been connecting Jesus’ family with their own and comparing the two. This helps students recontextualise the stories in scripture to their modern world.
Year 1: Year 1 begin looking at important liturgical seasons and celebrations in the modern Church. They also learn about ways people celebrate these traditions. As St Catherine’s is so multicultural, it enriches the discussions as students can share how their faith celebrates and allows for a meaningful dialogue and education. The teachers have been linking notable dates in the Gregorian calendar with scripture in the bible. A rich example of this was the start of Mission Month and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Students have been learning about the importance of working alongside others and how this is taught in the bible. They looked at Luke 17:11-19 where Jesus helps ten lepers and connected it with how students can show compassion towards others. This week they are looking at God’s plan for all people to live in a loving relationship with others and how they can enact this in the school.
Celebrating the Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Congratulations to all of our Year 4 and Year 5 students who celebrated their First Holy Communion over the past month. Thank you especially to the families who have supported students in making this sacrament with fidelity. It’s easy to partake in a sacrament for the sake of it, rather than having a meaningful and personal reason. We hope to see you participating in parish masses in the future and celebrating the body of Christ.
Families of students completing their sacrament are encouraged to email a photo to me if you’d like it featured in our newsletter. You can reach me at rian.prestwich@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
Sunday Scripture Spotlight
This Sunday’s scripture is from Matthew 5:1-12. Below is the translation from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, as found on Bible Gateway.
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount that we can read about in the book of Matthew chapter 5. These are essentially short, but powerful descriptions of what it looks like to live life God's way. At first glance, especially for kids, the Beatitudes can seem confusing. They are also quite contrary to the messages we hear from the world around us.
It is important to start by acknowledging what Jesus meant when he used the word “blessed” throughout this teaching. The original Greek word used for “blessed” was makarios. This word can also mean happy, joyful, or blissful. An easy way to explain what Jesus was trying to say to a child could be to point out the difference between being happy and being joyful. Being happy is like eating a piece of candy. It's wonderful while the candy is in our mouth, but once the sweet flavour is gone that's it. Being joyful is like being full after eating your favourite meal. Not only did you enjoy eating the food, but now you feel full and satisfied. When Jesus uses the word "blessed" He's talking about being full and satisfied with the contentment that comes from knowing God.
Southern Metro Athletics
On Monday 21 October, 5 year 5 and 6 students competed in the Southern Metro athletics carnival at Casey Fields athletics track. The competitors were presented with perfect conditions with a large crowd in attendance. Our students competed brilliantly against a very high standard of competition and should be proud of themselves. Well done to you all on your fantastic achievements!! They should look back fondly on the day.Thank you to all the parents who came along to support their students.
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1500m 11 Girls |
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Emilia J 8th |
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200m 11 Boys |
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Jacob O 3rd |
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100m 11 Boys |
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Jacob O 3rd |
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Triple jump 12/13 Boys |
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Hudson B 4th PB |
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Relay 12/13 Boys 2nd in their heat but did not progress to the final |
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Tyler K |
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Hudson B |
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Jacob O |
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Rocky G |
Our Canteen runs from Wednesday - Friday. To register please follow the following link Quickcliq registration, then once registered you can login to Quickcliq. When registering if your child is in Prep you will need to click foundation. Your UID (student ID) number can be found on the home page of your Simon App. For further information please see the attached flyer. Ordering cut off times will be the day before at 8pm, to receive your child's order the very Our next day, any orders placed after 8pm will automatically be placed with orders placed the following day, this allows for time to purchase any extra items needed on the day. Please email amandamich@live.com if you need to cancel orders and this must be done before 9am on the day of your order. For those children with dietary requirements there will be a folder placed in the school office outlining ingredients of certain items. Please see the attached Menu, which will also be available when ordering through Quickcliq.
