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Thursday 18 February |
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Friday 19 February |
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Thursday 25 February |
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Friday 26 February |
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Dear Parents, Students, Staff and all associated with St Catherine's Community
We are at last in the final day of our three-day lockdown for schools. We have been planning for a number of scenarios, but we, and no doubt our families, are thankful that the lockdown will be lifted at midnight tonight, and we can all return to school on Thursday!
Please be reassured that families and students will once again be supported during any disruptions to learning. Staff understand the pressures that are placed on families during lockdown periods. Staff are also very tuned into how to best support students transitioning back to onsite learning. All staff prioritise students’ needs whether it be wellbeing or learning and we will continue to support continuity of learning for all students.
We also appreciate that having a lockdown so soon after the start of the school year can be disruptive to establishing routines, and may cause some anxiety for our students. The following may offer support to our families in the early days of the school year and some ‘resilience’ advice for those unexpected moments (like lockdown):
Learning to cope with manageable threats is critical for the development of resilience. Not all stress is harmful. There are numerous opportunities in every child’s life to experience manageable stress—and with the help of supportive adults, this “positive stress” can be growth-promoting. Over time, we become better able to cope with life’s obstacles and hardships, both physically and mentally.
The capabilities that underlie resilience can be strengthened at any age. The brain and other biological systems are most adaptable early in life. Yet while their development lays the foundation for a wide range of resilient behaviours, it is never too late to build resilience. Age-appropriate, health-promoting activities can significantly improve the odds that an individual will recover from stress-inducing experiences. For example, regular physical exercise, stress-reduction practices, and programs that actively build executive function and self-regulation skills can improve the abilities of children and adults to cope with, adapt to, and even prevent adversity in their lives. Adults who strengthen these skills in themselves can better model healthy behaviours for their children, thereby improving the resilience of our students.
It is perfectly normal for students (especially those in the junior years) to struggle with the reality of 'being back' in the first few weeks of term. Some advice that may help:
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- Get back into the school-day routine – waking up, eating and going to bed at regular times.
- Get your child involved in planning out their lunches and snacks.
- For anxious kids, plenty of detail can be calming. Talk through the steps of getting to their classroom: "And then we hang up our bag on our hook; we say hi to our friends; we find our seat...etc"
- Stick to familiar routines as much as possible. Try to have a calm evening and allow more time to settle before bedtime if your child is feeling excited or nervous about school.
- Help your child pack their bag the night before. A visual checklist can help them remember what they need to take. Layout clothes so everything’s ready for the morning.
- Allow some extra time to get ready, so you’re not rushing.
- Model positive attitudes
One of the most powerful ways we can modify children’s behaviour is by demonstrating to them how to act. They are novice behavers; many of them benefit from explicit, guided instruction about interacting with civility, kindness, cooperation. That’s why high-status role models matter- yes, that's parents and teachers!
- School Fee Statements - School fee statements were emailed on Monday, 15 February. If you did 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.
- Prep Enrolments 2022 - Applications for Prep for 2022 for EXISTING FAMILIES are now open. 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
Principal
Whole School Approach to
Positive Behaviour Support
Welcome to the new school year! It has been a joyful and calm beginning for students, as they engage in their learning, get to know one another and their teachers and learn how they can SHINE at school.
St Catherine’s has a whole school approach to building positive relationships and we teach and celebrate our five school-wide expectations. These are positively stated and visible throughout the school. At the commencement of each year, students and teachers unpack each expectation and explore what it looks like, feels like and sounds like at school; in the classroom, at play and during transition and movement times.
Teachers present Shine Awards to individual students in their class regularly throughout the term. Your child may receive a Shine Award for demonstrating one of the five expectations. Awards are presented during year level assemblies and students receive a coloured wristband to wear / collect. The award is posted to your child’s SeeSaw journal &/or emailed to you, should you wish to store digitally or print out yourself.
Our SHINE leaders create and share the whole school SHINE focus for each week via video or slideshow. Teachers look to ‘catch students’ demonstrating the SHINE focus and give out raffle tickets to acknowledge positive behaviour. A junior and senior student is drawn from the raffle on Friday afternoons. These two students are recognised as a St Catherine’s ‘Shining Star of the Week’ and may visit the Office to receive a canteen voucher.
Be sure to read our fortnightly newsletters, to explore our SHINE expectations and how you can support your child at home in building positive relationships, resilience and confidence.
This year we are proud to introduce our 2021 SHINE Student Leaders, Oli and Brenlie. We have every confidence they will be wonderful ambassadors for SHINE at St Catherine’s!
Our SHINE focus for Weeks 4 and 5 are described below for your reference and conversation starters. You can see that our school-wide expectations encompass all aspects of school-life for students; during play, learning and transition and movement times.
Over the weekend, our Shine Leaders, Brenlie and Oli put together the following digital poster to highlight the student focus for this week:
‘Be who God meant for you to be, and you will set the world on fire.’ ~ St Catherine of Siena
Warm regards
Yveie Tonks
Leader for Positive Behaviour Support Implementation
Specialist Term Overviews
Hello Everyone
Who would have thought that we would be in another lockdown!
The positive side of this ‘reset’ makes us stop and reflect for a moment on the busyness of our work and home life. It is an opportunity to gather our thoughts and prioritise what is important to us.
Today is Ash Wednesday and even though we had great plans for this special celebration, we can still reflect on the importance of this day; we can focus on the three elements of Lent and really action these in our lives.
We can Pray More by just finding time to be still by praying for others and yourselves or by reflecting on Scripture, finding a word or phrase that speaks to you.
Fasting: Rather than thinking about ‘giving up’ something, you could focus on ‘doing’ acts of kindness for others. This could be phoning a friend or relative that you haven’t spoken to for a while. Taking time to connect with others at work, home or in the community is a way of bringing joy to people throughout this Lenten Season.
Almsgiving: You can do this through Caritas’ Project Compassion, which allows the opportunity to help people around the world to help themselves, their families and their communities. The theme for Project Compassion is the famous quote from Saint Oscar Romero “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”
If you would like to read more about the wonderful work that Caritas is involved in, you can access the Caritas website by following this link:
Attached is a letter about Lent from Bishop Greg. He gives a different perspective about how we can involve ourselves during this Season. It is very inspiring and helps to put everything that is happening in our world at the moment into perspective.
May this Lenten Season bring hope, kindness and love to all that we meet in our daily lives.
Yours in Faith
Nerida Byrden
Catholic Identity Religious Education Leader
Traffic Matters
How to enter the school grounds?
No Right Turn into school grounds after 8:00am or 2:30pm On the spot fines apply!
Use the roundabout near the reserve to return and enter the school gates with a left hand turn. |
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No Right Turn out of school grounds before 9:30am and 4:00pm On the spot fines apply! Turn left instead and use the roundabout |
Provides a huge range of resources for:
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- Parents
- Children
- Teens
- Teachers
- Young Children
- Seniors
- Diverse Groups
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Cybersafety begins at early childood. The story below whilst entertaining and engaging has an important message for children and support their safe use of technology. |
Select the image below to listen to the story.
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.
Tia C | Aidan F | Prithvii S |
Lilyana M | Charlie Ellis | Kyson F |
Xavier O | Sarah C | Ethan C |
Steve M | Chloe L | Henry V |
Remy S | Jake B | Harry W |
Jesse W | Jayden D | Hannah M |
Arshiya A | Emilia Jo | Jensen M |
Damien J | Kenslie O | Campbell W |
Marco T | Chelsy X | Jonathan G |
Aimee J | Jaime O | Felix J |
Chasmin K | Natania T | Jake G |
Julian H | Ethan P | Sethmi F |
Ava P | Angelina J | Valentina M |
Ashwin S | Chiara S | Matteo C |
Nathaniel M | Gabriel R | Aarav M |
Levon R |
...
The Uniform Shop is Open
Location: 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.
Families are reminded that Book Club Issue 1 closes tomorrow, Thursday 18 February 2021.
Please do not forget to place your order!
Our Shade Sails are Up!
Once again, a huge THANK YOU to our P&F and the support of families to various fundraisers over recent years. A wonderful achievement!
2021 DATES |
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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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Monday 26 July |
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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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