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Monday 19 - Friday 30 July |
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Monday 26 July |
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Friday 30 July |
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Saturday 31 July |
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Dear Parents, Students, Staff and all associated with St Catherine's Community
Welcome back all parents, carers, and students to the start of Term 3. What began as an extremely positive start to the term has become another step into remote and flexible learning and teaching for us all. We would like to thank all parents, carers and community members that have been incredibly supportive of our school as we navigate this next phase. The home environment plays a very important role in student learning, no more so than during remote learning, and we look forward to working with you to support your child/ren during this time.
Over the past week, students have enthusiastically engaged in remote learning. Teachers have begun each day connecting with their classes through video messages and on Google Meets before setting students up with their learning. For our Preps-Year 4s, the main platform for learning is SeeSaw and for our Year 5s and 6s it is Google Classroom. If there are concerns about the learning or students are struggling with the workload, parents are encouraged to speak to the class teacher.
To support your child, it is suggested parents also engage in a regular check ins throughout the day, asking questions about the day’s lessons, for example;
- What task do you have first / next?
- Have you got what you need?
- Do you need any help with the work?
At the end of the day, an afternoon check in could include:
- What did you learn today?
- What was challenging? You could come up with a way to deal with the same problem if it comes up again.
- Consider three things that went well today. Why were they good?
- Are you ok? Do you need to ask your teacher for something? Do you need help with something to make tomorrow more successful?
Working together to support our students is the best way to ensure they maintain learning confidence and feel success during this challenging time.
Maintaining positive health during lockdown periods is incredibly important. I encourage everyone to exercise where possible, get plenty of fresh air and sunshine and stay connected with others. At this time, it is important to think of those who are isolated or living alone and to reach out to them. A simple phone call or message can make a big difference.
Take care everyone and I hope to see all our students back on site very soon.
On a personal note.....
Last week, families received notification of my resignation from St Catherine's effective as of Friday, 27 August 2021. The decision to move onto something new and different is never easy particularly when you work in a space that, whilst incredibly busy, brings significant rewards when you are continually focussed on improving what it is we do for our students.
In finishing up at St Catherine's in a few weeks time, I move onto a new position as Head of School of Cheshire School, which is part of bestchance organisation. Cheshire is a specialist primary school for children with significant social, emotional and behavioural challenges - a space which has a deep connect for me both personally and professionally. By providing specific focus on the development of self-esteem, resilience and coping strategies, as well as facilitating a change in behaviour, the intent is aimed at successfully re-integrating students into mainstream school equipped with those strategies to thrive as young people and successful learners. For me, it is this notion of enabling ALL children to grow and be successful that is the powerful motivator and one that continually inspires me to also grow and stretch.
It is certainly hard to believe that I will have spent just shy of 6 years at St Catherine's. Indeed, it has been a period of tremendous growth and great reward. As always, my greatest delight has been the opportunity to get to know the children and their families and to be a support in ensuring priority has remained that of student wellbeing and learning success within the context of our Catholic identity. I will very much enjoy these closing weeks.
School Closure Day
Just a reminder to all families that next Monday, 26 July, is a School Closure Day. Whilst staff will continue to work remotely, the school will be closed.
The school closure day has been scheduled to enable ongoing professional learning of all staff. The day's focus is around Catholic identity the teaching of Scripture.
Blessing of New Buildings
New buildings achieved as part of various capital projects over recent years will be officially blessed and opened by the Most Reverend Greg Bennett, Bishop of Sale on Thursday, 26 August at 1pm. The occasion affords an opportunity for the school to celebrate its new and contemporary facilities and to formally recognise the
Whilst plans are well under way, the occasion is anticipated to be significantly smaller than we would like given that COVID restrictions and compliance with required density limits will be necessary.
Staff News
With the start of the new term, we welcome back staff who have been on various periods of extended leave including:
- Daina Balnionis
- Kirsten Cox
- Gabrielle Mifsud
We also welcome three new Education Support Officers, who will join the staff here at St Catherine's at various points over the coming 2-3 weeks:
- Caroline Pequeno
- Michelle Ewan
- Nilushi Kalaurachchi
School Fees
School fees for Term 3 will be issued to each family by this Friday. Fees for the term are required to be settled by Friday, 13 August, unless alternative arrangements have been discussed.
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. Submission of CSEF applications has also been extended until Friday, 13 August. For more information, please do not hesitate to speak with Margaret Lonergan.
The cash flow of the school’s budget is directly determined by payment of all fees within the set time frame. However, where there are genuine cases of hardship in meeting payment of fees, I invite you to discuss fee remissions with me. I am very much aware that these are difficult times. Please be assured that such arrangements are made in total confidence. It does, however, enable us to maintain a more accurate perspective of the school’s financial position in our efforts to deliver a quality Catholic Education.
Yours in Catholic Education
Kevin Browning
Principal
Parent Fortnightly Overviews
Specialist Term Overviews
Welcome back to Term 3. This term we will be celebrating Book Week. At St
Catherine’s students will be engaged in a range of activities to celebrate this important event.
Each year since 1945 the CBCA has brought children and books together across Australia through CBCA Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators.
Theme: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
Dates: Term 3 August 21-27
Artwork: Shaun Tan
As part of the celebrations this term we will be having two author visits.
George Ivanoff 3rd September - Years 3-6
George Ivanoff is an author. He lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia.
He has written over 100 books for children and teenagers, including fiction and non-fiction. He has written school readers, library reference books, chapter books, novelettes, novels and even a short story collection.
With his latest series of books, George has entered the world of commercial non-fiction for children. The Survival Guide take a humorous and creative approach to presenting factual information.
George’s most recent fictional series is OTHER WORLDS. With this series of four books George has ventured into the realms of science fiction and fantasy, two of his favourite genres, in order to tell stories about ordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances.
George’s has written 13 books in his interactive You Choose series. You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove won the 2015 YABBA in the “Fiction for Younger Readers” category; and You Choose: Alien Invasion From Beyond the Stars got an Honour Award in the KOALAs in 2016 and 2017.
His teen science fiction novel, Gamers’ Quest (2009), won a Chronos Award for speculative fiction. The sequel, Gamers’ Challenge (2011), was shortlisted for the same award. And the final book in the Gamers trilogy, Gamers’ Rebellion (2013), also won a Chronos Award. This trilogy has now been re-branded and re-released as Game On! Level Up! and Game Over!
George has also written a series of realistic adventure books for kids — RFDS Adventures. The four books in this series were published in 2016.
George also writes short stories and articles for adults as well as kids. Of all these, he is most proud to have had the opportunity to write a Doctor Who story for the Short Trips: Defining Patterns anthology (Big Finish, UK, 2008).
Occasionally, George has been known to moonlight as an actor. He has had small roles in numerous productions including the television series Neighbours and the feature films Frozen Butterflies and William Kelly's War. He recently guest starred in an episode of the audio series Night Terrace.
George eats too much chocolate, drinks too much coffee and watches too much Doctor Who.
He has one wife, two children, two cats and several chickens. And he is very content!
Valanga Khoza 10th September - Years Prep - 2
Valanga Khoza was born in South Africa and spent his youth in Alexandra, a black township in Johannesburg, and in rural Transvaal. Growing up in a community where many could neither read nor write, music and dance and storytelling were an integral part of the culture of his people. Since moving to Australia in 1976, Valanga has been telling stories and singing about his homeland, South Africa. Sharing stories from his homeland through performance and song keep his culture alive. His solo performance Out Of Africa has toured schools throughout Australia to the enthusiastic acclaim of students and teachers in primary and secondary schools.
Student Congratulations
Hello Everyone
As I write this, I am at home and it is looking pretty bleak outside. Lockdowns are never easy but they do give us a chance to reset and prioritise what is important to us. Below is an extract from Bishop Greg’s Pentecost letter Setting Forth which urges us forward, to search for fresh ways to re-engage with our faith communities and to be present in the lives of our people. In this time of pandemic, when all our certainties are being seriously challenged, we’re encouraged to think in new ways, fruitfully and creatively, to work at re-establishing those connections that bring life to our faith communities.
We cannot go back to the way we were….. with all that has happened in our world and to us personally, how might we use this time of the church to deepen our faith, strengthen our communities, reach out to others and draw them into God’s life-giving love and mercy?
What did we learn about our parish community because of Covid-19?
What pastoral initiatives emerged at our parish which should not be lost?
What could we have done differently and how might we move forward?
We could ask these questions about our school community and see what responses we receive.
Mark’s Gospel reading last Sunday began with ‘He took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.’ If we look at what Jesus feels and what he does. We are told, ‘He had compassion for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. We may feel a bit ‘lost’ at the moment but remember that Jesus is always with us.
Bookings for the next round of First Holy Communion ceremonies have already begun, if you require more information please contact St. Michael’s Parish Centre. Bookings for the Sacrament of Confirmation have also started which can be accessed via the following link:https://www.trybooking.com/BSNPA
The dates for the Sacrament of Confirmation are as follows:
- Thursday 26th August at 7:30pm
- Friday 27th August at 7:30pm
- Saturday 28th August at 12:00pm
- Saturday 28th August at 3:00pm
Please keep our Communion and Confirmation candidates in your prayers as they prepare for these sacraments.
Yours in Faith
Nerida Byrden - REL
Earlier this year Catholic School Parents Victoria conducted research of parents to understand areas of concern for them when it comes to their children's learning. One of the areas of concern was online safety. The eSafety Commissioner provides opportunities for parents to be more engaged in their children's safety online through a series of webinars on specific topics that are challenging for parents to monitor and manage.
eSafety’s parent guide to popular apps
Free webinar for parents and carers of Primary and Secondary school students
Understand the risks when using apps like Tik Tok, Snap Chat, YouTube and Instagram. This webinar also covers strategies for staying safer on social media and how to report if something goes wrong.
Our actions as drivers & parents is one of the most important ways for children to be safe around our school.
We can all work together to:
- Follow the signs
- Keep the pick-up zones moving
- Be courteous and aware
- Use school crossings
- Reduce car trips
Drivers are responsible for understanding parking restrictions in our school zone and to ensure they obey the parking rules to keep our school children, pedestrians and other road users safe. Parking Compliance Officers from the City of Casey patrol schools during the morning and afternoon. A fine will be issued for any breaches of the Road Safety Road Rules.
- Follow signs, road rules and parking signs:
- Signs are there to keep our children safe.
- Please see the map for parking restrictions around our school.
- No stopping signs mean “Do not stop your vehicle for any reason”.
- No Stopping zones are there because it is dangerous for a car to stop there for any amount of time.
- No stopping signs are often in areas where there are blind corners, narrow streets, crossings or intersections.
- Dropping off a child in a No Stopping zone is illegal and dangerous.
- The 5-minute parking zones operate from 8:00am – 9:30am and 2:30pm – 4:00pm on school days.
- These zones are there for quick parking while picking up or dropping off your child.
- Don’t arrive early and park in these spots – remember, you can only stop here for 5 minutes.
- Do not park on nature strips or in front of people’s driveways.
- It is illegal and is very unsafe for children and other road users.
- It blocks the road and children can’t see any approaching dangers.
- Be patient.
- If you choose to drive to school, remember many other parents are doing the same thing.
- Be extra careful and patient.
- Slow down and be alert!
- Children can be unpredictable and there are LOTS of children around schools, especially at drop off and pick up times.
Getting children to school safely is everyone’s job.
Think before you park
Think as you drive
Think before you drop off and pick up!
All children deserve to get to school safely.
For more information on safe parking around schools, see this video from City of Casey https://youtu.be/g2FkyhZbKQI
The City of Casey has kindly provided a Parking Restrictions map as below.
BOOKCLUB Issue 5
Closing date is
Monday 2 August at 12 midday
Our canteen is not open for business given the current lock down.
Our school Canteen usually 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. Credits must be used by the end of this school year.
- No refunds are possible.
Oscar E | Stefan E | Marshall B |
Emma B | Hayden C | Mia C |
Juan R | Leo R | Olivia S |
Archie B | Christopher D | Seyara D |
Vincent T | Chanel M | Jacob W |
Payton D | Liam M | Jean-Francois M |
Georgia R | Violet D | Annabelle F |
Olivia C | Aaliyah V |
Uniform
The Uniform Shop
Owned and operated by Jan Kennewell
Location: Multi-Purpose Room
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 |
The uniform shop will no longer be open in the afternoons in the first two and last two weeks of term.
Access
- Enter the school grounds via the gate near the School Office , opposite The Chapel or along side the school oval.
- Sign in VIA the QR code at the MPR or in the uniform shop
- Purchase and pay. Note: Payment is by credit card only. NO CASH.
- 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
Uniform Requirements:
Students are required to wear their full winter uniform four days of the week and their sports uniform on their sports lesson day.
Girls Formal Winter Uniform
Option 1 | Lemon blouse, tunic, grey tights or socks, maroon jumper, black shoes, maroon hair ribbon/s or scrunchie |
Option 2 | Lemon blouse, grey trousers, grey socks, maroon jumper, black shoes, maroon hair ribbon/s or scrunchie |
Boys Formal Winter Uniform
Option 1 | Lemon shirt, grey trousers, grey socks, maroon jumper, black shoes |
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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Monday 23 August
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Thursday 26 August |
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Thursday 26 August
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Friday 27 August
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Friday 27 August
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Friday 27 August
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Saturday 28 August
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Tuesday 31 August
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Friday 3 September
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Saturday 4 September
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Tuesday 7 September
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Thursday 9 September
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Friday 10 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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Wednesday 15 December
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Thursday 16 December
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Friday 17 December
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