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PRINCIPAL NEWS
Dear Parents,
I hope that all families have enjoyed a safe and relaxing holiday and are looking forward to the term ahead. It is hard to believe that we are into the second half of the year already.
Confirmation
This is the first newsletter that we have had since the Year 6 children celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation at the end of last term. It was a wonderful occasion and we were very blessed to have Bishop Greg Bennet Confirm the children. On behalf of everyone I would like to thank Bishop Greg, Fr Jeff, Tara Bau and the Parish Sacramental Team, Nerida Byrden and our school staff for their organisation. I would like also to especially thank SFX for the use of their facilities and providing their wonderful choir.
Welcome Back Parents
As restrictions ease we are looking for opportunities to welcome parents back into the school after so long away due to COVID. Please keep the following dates free;
- Thursday 28th July – Open Tour for Parents between 8.25am – 8.50am. Please feel welcome to come and have a look through the learning spaces.
- Tuesday 2nd August – Family Prayer Afternoon 2.50pm – 3.10pm. All classes will be celebrating a prayer afternoon that we are inviting parents to attend.
Please note that we will require any parents that are wanting to come into the school to sign in at the Office. We will have extra sign in opportunities available to ensure that this does not take too long.
Portfolios
This term we will be introducing learning portfolios for families. Each child will have a portfolio collection of annotated work samples to demonstrate their learning. They will be sent home to families in Week 10 for review and then returned so we can add to them in Term 4. These portfolios will complement the report.
During 2022 we are commencing with a hard copy portfolio, however, next year it will move to a digital format. We are currently just investigating the most parent friendly platform.
Uniform Shop
After many years of service to St Catherine’s Jan Kennewell has announced her retirement from the Uniform Shop effective from early September. On behalf of everyone at St Catherine’s I thank Jan for her efforts over the years and wish her all the very best in retirement.
After stepping through a long process with the assistance of the Catholic Education Office we will be moving to Noone Beaconsfield. The accessibility of Noone will be handy for parents as they operate a shop on Old Princes Hwy Beaconsfield.
We will inform parents once the official handover has occurred, however, in the meantime please keep ordering through Jan here at school.
Swimming
Our swimming program commences for Prep and Year 2 on Monday the 8th of August. Information will be sent home to families over the next week.
Safety Around the School Grounds
The following rules are in place for the safety of all students in the school. We ask that parents please respect the following rules;
- Children should not be arriving at school before 8.25am as they are not supervised. The gates will be locked until 8.25am. Parents requiring supervision prior to this time need to contact after school care, - (3CKidz Care 8790 3921).
- All cars leaving the roadway must turn left into Ridgemont Drive.
- Students waiting for siblings from SFX must wait inside the school grounds near the entrance gate. They are not to wait out the front of SFX.
Football Posts
Over the holidays we had our football posts installed for the children to enjoy. Can you please talk to your children about the fact that whilst we want the students to enjoy the use of the posts we do not have full football matches at school. The children can enjoy games but there is no tackling.
Fence / Path Upgrades
Parents wold have noticed the improvements to the pedestrian gates and extra concreting completed over the holidays. This helps students and parents both entering and exiting the school.
Staffing Update
We welcome onto the staff Mrs Samitha Perera who will be taking over from Mr Jason Lester. Jason will be resigning effective as of Thursday the 21st of June. We thank Jason for his time at St Catherine’s and wish him all the best for his future endeavours. Samitha is very excited about joining St Catherine’s and I am sure that she will be made to feel welcome by all.
We also welcome Mr James Meagher who has been employed as out Tutor Teacher until the end of the year. James is looking forward to his new role.
FEES
Fee Statements will be emailed today. Please contact Margaret accounts@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au if you have any queries or concerns.
Family Learning Conversations - FLC’s
FLC’s (previously Parent / Teacher Interviews) will be held on the 19th and 20th of July (Week 2 Term 3). Invites have been sent out to parents via the Simon Everywhere App. To make your apppointment click on your App, click Home then you will see Parent Teacher Interviews, click there to enter your preferred time.
Signing Students in/out
If your child is arriving late to school due to an appointment etc. or being collected early, you will need to sign them in or out using the Ipads in the school office.
Working with children Checks
The Federal Government requires people who are working with children to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC).
All parents who do any type of voluntary work in the school must have a valid WWCC.
Our database shows alot of expired Working with children checks. If you have updated your card, could you please scan and email a copy to info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au
We are now taking new enrolments for 2023. We have already been experiencing a demand for spots. If you are an existing family and have not yet completed your 2023 enrolment form please do so asap in order to confirm a place. Enrolments are now open to all. If you know of anyone wanting to enrol at St Catherine’s please encourage them to contact the Office and book a tour.
Important 2023 Prep Enrolment Dates for Your Diary,
| Parent Information Evening |
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| 3 Prep Orientation Sessions |
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COVID Procedures
Listed below are the most recent procedures;
- Camps and Excursions - Camps and Excursions are proceeding. Information will be forwarded to parents as the dates become closer. Please note that it will be only school staff that attend the camps.
- Student Drop Off – Parents are welcome to walk their children into the school; however, we ask that you drop your child off at the door and please do not enter the buildings.
- Carline Pick-up – This remains the same as has been in place. Parents collecting children in cars need to enter the driveway and follow around through the basketball courts. The line will then split into an A-k line and an L-Z line that you enter according to your surname. The children will be waiting for you.
- School Office – The Office is open, however, if it is not essential to come onsite then please email info@stcberwick.catholic.edu.au or phone 9702-1466. All adults coming indoors must wear a mask.
- Walking Pick-up – Parents walking to pick up their children are asked to remain at the rebound wall area and the students will come up to you for the safety of all. I remind parents to cross the road and collect your child, please do not call them across from the other side.
- Meetings with Teachers – Remain by appointment only and parents will need to sign in at the Office.
School Closure Dates
Listed below are the 2022 School Closure Dates for your diary;
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Monday 3 October |
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Monday 31 October |
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Monday 19 December |
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Tuesday 20 December |
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Kind Regards,
Simon
Hello Everyone
Welcome back to what will be another very busy term.
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our St. Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal. This is explicitly linked to our Catholic Social Teaching Principals of Human Dignity, Common Good, Solidarity, Subsidiarity, Participation and Preferential Option for the Poor. The donations that you gave will help so many people in our community.
Just a reminder that this week is the final opportunity for parents of our Year 4 students who wish to enroll in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. Enrolments will close this Friday 15th July. If you want your child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion could you please contact Tara Bau our Sacramental Coordinator on 97071355 or visit the parish office which is located at 121-123 High Street Berwick during office hours. Office hours are Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9.00am-4.30pm, Tuesday 1.00pm-4.30pm and Thursday 9.00am-12.00pm.
Last term at our Religious Education School Closure Day, we listened to Dominic Ryan who is the manager of Catholic Identity and Religious Education from the Diocese of Sale who presented ‘DOSCEL Expectations about what good RE looks like, Dialogue and Recontextualisation.’ It was an opportunity to engage in dialogue with each other, to ask questions and to reflect on our own practice. Teachers were able to plan deeply and have time to explore the Religious Education Curriculum website to enhance their professional learning.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported our Year 6 Confirmation candidates as it is a very special time in their lives where they have received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Yours in Faith
Nerida Byrden
Catholic Identity and Religious Education Leader
SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of indigenous communities.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.
NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.
This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report https://stcberwick.catholic.
JESSICA ORNSBY
Learning Adjustment Leader & Student Support
CBCA BOOK WEEK
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.
CBCA BOOK WEEK 2022
Theme: Dreaming with eyes open...
Dates: August 20-26
Artwork: Jasmine Seymour
#CBCA2022
#dreamingwitheyesopen
Southern Metropolitan Cross Country Carnival
On Wednesday 15th June, 6 St Catherine’s students from years 4-6 participated in the Southern Metropolitan Regional Cross Country Carnival at Hastings. The students ran fantastically well despite wintery conditions with a large number of the best runners in the region to compete against. We should all be proud of all the St Catherine’s students for their amazing efforts!
The best placed students on the day were:
| 9/10 year old girls race | Porta Miller 34th |
| 11 year old girls race | Annabelle Furness 29th |
| 12/13 year old boys race | Matteo Indovino 36th |
Mr Kenez
Week 1 Newsletter
Hello students and parents, welcome to term 3, already half of the year has gone!
The grade 6 students will have inter-school sports for the next few weeks. If your child is in either prep, grade 1 or grade 2, they can come to PAL on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtimes!
Don’t forget that parent teacher interviews are coming up, make sure to book in if you haven’t already!
Thanks from the School and Vice Captains: Alicia, Aidan, Sienna, Luke, Mia, and Oscar
LUNCH TIME CLUBS
LUNCH TIME CLUBS
Lunch time clubs are being offered to students to cater for a range of interests while also supporting students to make new friendships, work in teams and build connections with their peers.
PAL (Peer Activity Leader) is offered to our Prep, Year 1 and 2 students twice a week and will be run by some of our Year 6 students, with teacher support. There will be a different activity run each session, and our Year 6 students will visit classrooms to advertise and help students sign up.
Senior clubs require students to sign up in advance, teachers will also support students with this.
I have attached a copy of the timetable for your reference.
We hope our students are enjoying and participating in the clubs!
Jess Ornsby
Learning Adjustment Leader & Students Support
| Emerson O | Ryan T | Marcel M |
| Angelin J | Julian N | Sienna P |
| Isabelle B | Isla D | Nathaniel O |
| Molly R | Chinnu S | Sofia V |
| Oscar E | Valentina G | Stefan E |
| Marshall B | Emma B | Mia C |
| Jea Min K | Juan R | Nishaun F |
| Leo R | Olivia S | Archie B |
| Seyara D | Vincent T | Chanel M |
| Wednesday 27th July | 7.00pm |
| Wednesday 24th August | 9.30am |
| Wednesday 5th October | 7.00pm |
| Wednesday 2nd November | 7.00pm |
| Wednesday 7th December | 9.30am |
MEAL BANK
Looking for volunteers
REMINDER
Our school Canteen operates Thursday's ONLY.
- 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 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.
Uniform shop open hours
| Monday | 8.30am to 9.30am |
| Tuesday | 8.30am to 9.00am |
| Wednesday | 8.30am to 9.00am |
| Thursday | 8.30am to 9.00am |
| Friday | 8.30am to 9.30am |
There is new and second hand uniform available.
Ordering can also be done anytime online using QKR.
Qkr orders are delivered directly to the students classroom. Stock allowing, delivery is usually within 24 hours from order.
Phone enquiries on 0448 060 100, however please note I am unable to take a call whilst serving. Phone enquiries welcome school weekdays up to 4pm.
Email Jan-k@bigpond.com