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Tuesday 9 February |
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Wednesday 10 February |
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Friday 12 February |
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Monday 15 February |
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Wednesday 17 February |
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Dear Parents, Students, Staff and all associated with St Catherine’s Community
Welcome to the new school year with all its hidden joys and challenges. 2021 has very quickly come upon us following what has hopefully been a restful and enjoyable summer break. As we set out once again on a new year of learning and discovery, I invite you to share in the challenge of all that lies ahead (minus the hurdles of 2020!).
We all know that children receive the best education when parents and staff work as a team. Parents’ enthusiasm, support and involvement are integral to the success of our school as are the skills, dedication and professionalism of teachers. Together, staff and parents can provide educational excellence for every student, so that they can achieve their personal best. Together, we can support one another to provide a friendly learning environment and celebrate our achievements.
I hope that throughout the year, our school will be a place where staff, students and families have opportunities to experience God’s presence in our lives. Although he lived about two and a half thousand years ago, the prophet, Jeremiah, has words that are still relevant for us at the beginning of this new school year: “The Lord says, I know the plans I have for you…… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
Within our school, we can all try to model God’s love for each one of us, by being a renewing community where all members are valued, affirmed and empowered; where our commitment to Gospel values is expressed in every facet of our school’s endeavours. For this sentiment to continue throughout the year, it will require our collective wisdom and generosity of spirit to be at the forefront of all our communications.
Education today is a complex engagement because of the intensity and variety of external influences particularly through various forms of media and electronic communications. Our school has a special role in assisting every parent with the education of their children, so that all children will develop a sense of personal responsibility and learn the correct use of freedom. Throughout the year, our school will also provide experiences of liturgy and prayer as invitations to know and experience the enormous love and special friendship of God.
May the school year ahead, see staff and parents in genuine partnership in our collective role of secular and faith education.
“Lord, as we come together to form our school community for this year, empower us to be generous, confirming and obliging. May the gifts of Your Spirit be alive and practised in every aspect of our school life, as we live it together. Amen.
Happenings Around the School…..
- Welcome to All New Members of our School Community - In a special way, I would like to welcome our 76 new families to St Catherine’s. My prayer and hope for you is that your association with the school will be long and lasting, and one filled with many memorable memories. May your settling in be a gentle one.
Along with new families, we also have a some new faces who have joined our staff for 2021:-
- Yu-Chun Wang (Prep)
- Dawn Heldt (Year 5)
- Daniel Bishop (Year 5)
- Rian Prestwich (Year 6)
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We are very much delighted to have these new members of staff as part of the community sharing in the ecclesial mission of bringing Catholic education to some of the many students of St Michael’s Parish.
We also welcome back Claire Culpitt, Rebecca Cox and Marie Takahashi who have been on maternity and parental leave over the past 12 months. It is certainly terrific to have them back on the teaching team here at St Catherine’s.
General Reminders
- Raising Queries or Concerns - With the size of our school, we have an established communication pathway particularly with respect to raising queries and concerns that arise from time to time. Consequently, we have organised our school into two distinct groups….. (1) Prep to Year 2, and (2) Years 3-6. Each group is overseen by one of our Deputy Principals.
As such, should you feel that you have a need to discuss issues or put forward suggestions related to your child’s education/school, please do not hesitate to make the first contact with your child’s class teacher and then, if necessary, with the respective contact person:
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- Ms Pauline Moran |
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- Ms Andrea Kershaw |
A conversation with the right person will hopefully result in the right solution in a timely manner.
Please refer to the attached document for a more detailed outline of lines of contact.
Who to see at St Catherine's
General Information
- School Fee Statements - School fee statements will be emailed on Monday, 15 February. If you do not receive your statement, please contact the Office as soon as possible.
Families who have not commenced a Direct Debit for 2021, need to submit a new form as soon as possible should they wish to do so. The Direct Debit form can be accessed via the website or SZapp (or the link below). Alternatively, a hard copy can be requested and sent home with your child. Once completed, email to accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
Payment can also be made by BPay, cash or cheque.
Term 1 fees (or if paying annually) are due for settlement by Friday, 12 March 2021 or unless alternative payment arrangements have been made.
For any queries, either ring Margaret Lonergan on 9702 1466 or email accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au.
Families who hold an eligible Health Care Concession Card, may be eligible for CSEF (Camp, Sports and Excursion Funding). If eligible, this would also entitle families to make an application for a fee remission, which effectively would see a significant reduction of fees to be paid for the year. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Margaret Lonergan in the Office.
- New Building
- Students soon to move in - Our Year 5 and 6 students will be moving into the new classrooms in the new front building over the next week or so. New furniture scheduled for arrival this Friday has met with a delay of around three days. Our students will continue to use the portables until then.
- Naming of the new building - Thank you to students, families and staff who put forward suggestions for the naming of our new front building. It is obvious that considerable thought has been given to a wide range of possibilities!
- Parent Meet and Greet - Yesterday, parents should have received information via Operoo for our “Parents Meet and Greet” scheduled for Tuesday, 9 February and Thursday, 18 February 2021. The online booking will remain open until midnight on Monday, 8 February. The default position for schools in the Diocese of Sale is that such events remain virtual via Google Meet.
The “Meet and Greet” is simply an opportunity for parents to meet their child/ren’s teacher(s). It is a time to share helpful insights and information. It is not a time to ask about student academic results given the early stage of the year. Such opportunities can be afforded at other times informally or at mid-year learning conversations.
"Meet and Greet" conversations are only 10 minutes. If you find that you require more time with a particular teacher or would like to discuss issues at greater length, it is encouraged that an additional time be organised with the teacher for a later date. - Prep Enrolments 2022 - Applications for Prep for 2022 for EXISTING FAMILIES will open on Monday, 8 February. The enrolment form can be downloaded via the school website or the link below. An indication of numbers is important in order to adequately plan for the coming school year. Prep enrolments for existing families close Friday, 5 March 2021. Applications received after that date cannot be guaranteed a placement.
Completed applications must incluude copies of:- Birth certificate
- Baptism certificate
- Immunisation statement
- Drivers licences for both parents/guardians
Completed enrolment forms are to be emailed to enrolment@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au. Any queries, please contact Margaret Lonergan on 9702 1466.
Yours in Catholic Education
Kevin Browning
Welcome back everyone to what promises to be a very productive year of learning. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we don’t experience the interruptions of last year!
Even though we have only just returned to school, the start of the year is proving to be very busy as teachers spend time getting to know each individual student in their class. It is also wonderful to witness the buzz of excitement as students familiarise themselves with their new teachers, classmates and learning spaces.
Collecting assessment evidence and partnering with parents are some of the ways in which the teachers at St Catherine’s gain a better understanding of their students and their learning needs.
Therefore, in the coming weeks we are providing the following opportunities for teachers and families to gather and share information:
- Prep Assessments
- MAI Testing
- Parent Meet & Greet
Prep Assessments
Over the next three Wednesdays (3, 10, 17 February), Prep parents bring their children to school for a 30 minute individual meeting with their teacher.
These days provide the Prep teachers with the opportunity to get to know the students without the distraction of the classroom, as well as collect important information about their literacy skills.
As you can imagine, our Prep students commence school at very different starting points in their learning journey. Some Preps can already read and write, whilst some are only just learning the alphabet and others still are just learning to speak English.
The Prep assessments provide teachers with information about each students’ ability in the following areas:
- Oral language
- Phonological awareness
- Letter/sound knowledge
- Reading/reading behaviours
There is no expectation that the Prep children have already mastered what the teachers are assessing, it is simply an opportunity for the teachers to find out what each student needs to learn next, so that they can effectively target the learning at each student’s point of need.
MAI Testing
The Maths Assessment Interview is administered by all class teachers at the beginning of each school year. During this assessment, students sit 1:1 with the teacher while the teacher assesses their numeracy skills in the area of Number and Algebra.
This assessment provides teachers with valuable information about what the students’ behaviours are when it comes to operating mathematically.
Whilst online and paper-based assessments provide teachers with one form of information, the MAI provides teachers with the opportunity to see what a student is thinking, saying and doing while they problem-solve.
This invaluable information helps teachers to better understand what mathematical strategies students are using, as well as diagnose and address any misunderstandings.
Parent Meet and Greets
Provide an opportunity for families to get to know their child’s teacher and for teachers to gather information about each child, so that they can best support them whilst at school.
Although not ideal, these meetings will be taking place via Google Meet, this year.
The Parent Meet and Greet conversation will be based on the following questions:
- What are your child's strengths?
- Where would you like to see your child develop further this year?
- What are your child's interests?
- Is there anything in your child's life outside school that could be impacting on their educational development?
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Hello Everyone
Welcome back to yet another very busy term and I suspect a year of joyous celebrations, hopefully without too many challenges.
Pope Francis has called for a ‘Culture of Care’ in 2021 as his World Peace Day message. This is very fitting considering what we endured last year; we need to care for others and ourselves by showing compassion, empathy and kindness.
We can begin to do this, as we enter the season of Lent which begins on Wednesday 17th February on Ash Wednesday.
In some ways, Lent is the most famous of all the church’s seasons. People seem to know the most about Lent. It lasts for forty days, counting from the First Sunday of Lent through to Holy Thursday. The four days from Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday of Lent are a kind of “invitation” to keep the season.
Lent is a serious time when the Church prepares for the celebration of the great Easter mystery. It is not just a time for doing special things and saying special prayers for the sake of doing them. If our Lenten practices do not help us to understand God’s word more clearly and to live according to that word more generously, then they are not useful.
And so, with our families, we take this time to think about how much the Gospel means to us and how well we are living up to God’s law of love and to the promises of our baptism.
So this Lenten season, let us ‘Step out of our Comfort Zone’ and show our love, care and compassion to others.
Yours in Faith
Nerida Byrden
Leader of Catholic Identity & Religious Education
Thank you to all the parents who have supported the school around the arrival and departure of students
- using the the Rebound Wall as their drop off and pick up point
- using the Kiss and Go Zone
- promoting independence by allowing children to walk to school from parked cars in neighbouring streets
We are proud of our students who
- independently walk, ride and scoot to and from school
- follow directions and meet their 'special' adult person at the Rebound Wall
- listen to and follow directions for the Kiss and Go Zone
- All children MUST wear their school hat when outside
- If a hat is lost and can't be found, please arrange for the purchase of another
- We have a 'No Hat No Play' policy.
Grievances or Concerns
If you have an issue or concern about your child's behaviour or their learning, the first point of contact is with your child's classroom teacher.
Teachers are happy to speak with you but can only do so outside of class time.
Please email the teacher and they will arrange a time to speak with you or reply to your email.
Please be aware that a teacher's priority and focus during the day is learning and teaching children. Teachers will respond to emails as soon as they can and within 36 hours.
If your situation is of an urgent nature, please contact the School Office and our Administration Officers will ensure that the teacher receives your message.
Weather Conditons
If weather conditions are extreme or exceptional, children remain inside for recess and or lunch.
Exceptional or extreme weather
- Persistent rain
- Temperatures 34oC or more
- High pollen counts
- Asthma storms
- High / Strong winds
The school previously referenced the Bureau of Meterology for most of the above but will now use the SunSmart Widget and Weatherzone to inform decsions.
Medications
The school's First Aid Officers can administer antihistamine and other medications as required with parent permission and signed consent.
Medications MUST be signed into the School Office by an adult along with details of dosage. All medications MUST be in the orginal packaging.
Unwell students
Students who are unwell must not attend school. Students who have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, are encouraged to seek medical advice and get tested.
The symptoms to watch out for are:
- fever
- chills or sweats
- cough
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- runny nose
- loss of sense of smell
In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered.
Isolation Requirements
If you or your child is awaiting test results for COVID-19 and you have other children, attending a school managed and operated by Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL), including St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, ALL these children should remain away from school until a negative test result is available.
If students are unwell for an extended period, they will be supported in their learning with absence work by the school.
Where a student is unwell and absent from school, parents, guardians and carers will not need to provide a medical certificate for their child to return to school.
Our school Canteen operates on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Orders are online only.
- Orders are via CDFPay.
- Orders must be complete by 8:45am on the day.
- Orders can be placed in advance.
- Please ALWAYS check the date BEFORE you continue with your order to ensure that the date is correct, so that your child gets the order on the correct day!
Please see the link below. Create a CDFPay account and then simply place your order.
Cancelling Orders
If your child is sick or will not be attending school and you have placed your order you need to:
- Contact the School Office to advise that you wish to cancel the order.
- Your CDFPay account will be credited.
- No refunds are possible.
Cooper Boulton | Sena Park | Nathan Crasto |
George McCauley | Tristan Peiris | Zoe Alveyn |
Isabella Batterie | Ann Mary Jacob | Andrea Flores |
Olivia Mase | Elisha Fernando | Magnolia De Guzman |
Jack Griscti | Elizabeth James | Tyler Sheahan |
Archie Carter | Bethel Olanrewaju | Keith Velarde |
Raquel Wickremasinghe | Isabelle Wilson | Lhouis Santos |
Adriel Rodriguez | Molly Dinon | Isabel McCarthy |
Harishaan Sutharshan | Emily Buttigieg | Farid Gergis |
Leighton Mifsud | Krishnu Murali | Archer Palleschi |
George Prince | Roy Ryan | Briella Cumlat |
Domenik Philipp | Sienna Williams | Adam Askaros |
Daniel Joshy | Shivraj Dhillon | Megan Rato |
Antonio Indovino | Cristiano Indovino | Isabel Jibin |
Nicholas Milekovic-Rochecouste | Veronika Skinner | Chloe Davis |
Destiny Windsor | Avyaan Bomma | Thomas Johnstone |
Michaela Morris | William Krupko | Mutsa Mandizvidza |
Shamiso Mandizvidza | Ariana Smith | Jack Bridgman |
Rachel Lee | Aleida Civic | Aiden Begic |
Georgia Franzo | Noah Kang | Emmanuel Jo |
Lucas Matarozzo |
The Uniform Shop is Open
Location of Uniform Shop: Multi-Purpose Room
Times of Operation:
Monday 8:30 – 10:45am
Tuesday 8:30 – 9:00am
Wednesday 8:30 – 9:00am
Thursday 8:30 – 9:00am
Friday 8:30 – 10:45am
Access
- Enter the school grounds via the gate near the School Office, opposite the Chapel
- Sign in at the School Office
- Go to the Multi-Purpose Room.
- Purchase and pay. Note: Payment is by credit card only. NO CASH.
- Sign out at the School Office
- Exit via the same gate
ONLINE Ordering
Order online using QKR!
- Download the app
- Create a login
- Locate St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School
- Add a profile
- Order
Orders will be sent home via your child
Additional Opening Times
Open Tuesday and Friday afternoon from 2:30 – 3:30pm in the FIRST two weeks of every term and the LAST two weeks of every term.
Bookclub Issue 1 is now open for orders.
Assembling our New Shade Sails
P&F General Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, 10 February 2021 via Google Meet
TIME: 9:30am
WHERE: Google Meet via link below
2021 DATES |
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Thursday 18 February
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Thursday 25 February
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Monday 8 March
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Wednesday 10 March
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Thursday 11 March
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Monday 29 March
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Wednesday 31 March – Thursday 1 April
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Thursday 1 April
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Monday 19 April
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Wednesday 28 April – Friday 30 April
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Thursday 13 May
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Friday 28 May
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Monday 14 June
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Wednesday 16 June
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Friday 25 June
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Monday 12 July
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Friday 23 July
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School Closure |
Friday 30 July
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Friday 6 August
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Monday 9 August
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Thursday 12 August
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Friday 13 August
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Friday 20 August
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Friday 27 August
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Tuesday 31 August
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Thursday 9 September
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Friday 10 September
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Wednesday 15 September
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Friday 17 September
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Monday 4 October
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Thursday 14 October
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Wednesday 27 October
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Monday 1 November
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Tuesday 2 November
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Thursday 11 November
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Wednesday 15 December
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Thursday 16 December
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Friday 17 December
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