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Welcome Back
It was lovely to see students and families begin the school year. Classrooms look fantastic and everyone was excited about their new classroom and connecting with friends. Our new staff members Jaimee Hall and Dylan Knoll have received a very warm welcome into our school community from students and families. As I have visited classrooms throughout the week, students are settled and focussed. Your child’s class teacher is your first point of contact, should you have any queries or questions regarding your child’s learning. All classroom teachers have made contact with you via email, so you will have their email address.
Thank you to a number of parents who attended our whole school mass last Wednesday. Father Jacob welcomed and awarded our new foundation students a welcome certificate. The year six buddies kindly supported and guided our new students. At one stage during the mass I looked over to see two year six students holding their foundation buddy’s hand and reassuring him that they would look after him. It was so lovely to see the students embracing the notion of building community.
Looking forward to seeing families at the parents and friends Welcome Picnic on Friday, 9th February from 5:30 - 7:30. See the flyer in the Parents and Friends section of the newsletter.
School Photos- Friday 9 February
On Friday 9 February for school photos, students are required to wear Summer Everyday uniform ( no sports uniform). If students have sports on this day they may bring their runners/sport shoes in their school bag to change into. Information will be sent out via Operoo this week.
https://eliteschoolphotography.com.au/
Walking Mondays
Every Monday ( weather permitting ) at 8:40-9:00am students will be encouraged to walk around the oval once they arrive at school. Students are asked to leave their school bag on their line on the asphalt and engage in walking. Families are most welcome to walk with us too. I will be out supervising from 8:40am and staff will also join me at 8:50am. At 9:00am students will line up on the asphalt and as a school we will sing the National Anthem.
Naplan 2024
Naplan assessments for years 3 and 5 will take place during March. Our school will Naplan assessment days will take place on:
Wednesday 13 March- Writing
Thursday 14 March- Reading
Friday 15 March- Language Conventions( spelling, grammar, punctuation)
Monday 18 March- Numeracy
We encourage families to prioritise student attendance on these days, as there are a limited number of catch up sessions the school can run if students are absent on these days. Thank you for your support.
Out Of School Hours Care
Families who need or think they may need to use the services of a before or after school care provider operating onsite are asked to please complete an expression of interest form for a company I am currently liaising with. They will use this information to determine if running a program for our school is viable.
Please click on the link below:
Curriculum Term 1 Outlines
Classroom teachers will send an outline next week of what your child will be learning this term, along with important dates for your child’ class.
Communication
Just a reminder to families, that important information and digital permission for your child to participate in school excursions or events will be sent out via Operoo.
The school newsletter, and reminders will be sent out from Schoolzine. Parents are encouraged to use the Schoolzine school app.
Road Safety around our school
This term we will begin to work with the City of Kingston on the Safe Routes to School program. We have been selected as one of only two schools to be involved in the program that helps to create a safer travel environment for students and families walking and riding to school.
We will work with Council on road safety education, increasing the number of students walking and cycling to school and identifying potential traffic infrastructure improvements.
Our school will be visited a number of times by Council and this is an opportunity for you to take part in helping our school to be a safer, healthier and pleasant environment for everyone.
- We will undertake a school travel survey for families
- Road Safety Education incursions.(First Incursion 5th February)
- Walk and Wheels Program.
We look forward to your input and participation in working together to create an active and safe school.
Have your say in safe travel to school – Travel Survey
As part of the program our school will be taking part in a school travel survey. Parents and families are invited to participate.
There are 5 questions and will take 3 minutes to complete. This is a great opportunity for parents to have input into road safety around our school.
Please click here for the survey: St Catherine’s Primary School
This travel survey is important to help us to better understand how we are currently travelling to and from school. We can then plan to improve options for student travel.
This survey will close on Friday 16 February 2024.
Kingston Council Road Safety Incursion-Monday 5th February
Today Tara from Kingston Council ran an Incursion about Road Safety. This is part of the “Road Safety Around the School' Program’ Funded by Kingston Council. In the coming weeks families will be surveyed and then the Kingston team will return to work with a Student Focus Group (Year 6 students). Please assist to make this project successful by completing the family survey by Friday, 16th February.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Dear Parents,
Welcome to 2024. This year I will be the Religious Education Leader at St Catherine’s.
My role will involve:
- Supporting staff to plan and teach the Religious Education Curriculum
- Plan and lead Prayer Services throughout the year
- Liaise with the Parish Staff to organise school masses
- Liaise with Parish Staff to deliver the Sacramental Program (Reconciliation- Eucharist- Confirmation)
2024 Sacramental Program
Please note relevant dates in your calendars.
More detailed information will be sent to relevant families for relevant Sacraments
Term 1 RECONCILIATION- Year 3 students
Term 2 CONFIRMATION- Year 6 students
Term 3 EUCHARIST- Year 4 students
TERM 1 Reconciliation- 2024 Important Dates
Year 3 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2024
Tuesday 20th February - 6.00pm Reconciliation Family Workshop- St Catherine’s Learning Hub (Families)
Sunday 25th February - 10.30am Parish Mass- Presentation of Candidates at St Catherine’s Mass (Families)
Wednesday 6th March - Reconciliation Reflection Day for students at school (All Year 3 students)
Saturday 23rd March - 10.30am Year 3 Group Celebrating Reconciliation- St Catherine’s Church (Families)
*An Operoo will be sent to families of eligible Reconciliation candidates this week. A hard copy note and enrolment form will also be sent home. Please return this to school by Friday, 16th February
TERM 2 Confirmation- 2024 Important Dates
Year 6 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2024
Wednesday 17th April - 6.00pm Confirmation Family Workshop- St Catherine’s Learning Hub (Families)
Sunday 5th May - 10.30am Parish Mass- Presentation of Candidates at St Catherine’s Mass (Families)
Wednesday 15th May - Confirmation Reflection Day for students at school (All Year 6 students)
Friday 24th May - Bishop Tony to visit Confirmation Candidates (St Peter’s- Time TBA)
Sunday 26th May - 3pm Mass- Celebration of Confirmation- St Peter’s Church - Bishop Tony Ireland (Families)
TERM 3 Eucharist- 2024 Important Dates
Year 4 students will be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist in 2024
Tuesday 16th July - 6.00pm Eucharist Family Workshop- St Catherine’s Learning Hub (Families)
Sunday 4th August - 10.30am Parish Mass-Presentation of Candidates at St Catherine’s Mass (Families)
Wednesday 7th August - Eucharist Reflection Day for students at school (All Year 4 students)
Sunday 18th August - 10.30am Parish Mass- Year 4 Group 1 Celebrating Eucharist- St Catherine’s Church
Sunday 25th August - 10.30am Parish Mass- Year 4 Group 2 Celebrating Eucharist- St Catherine’s Church
Term 1 2024 Parish Mass Attendance
Parents are welcome to attend Parish Mass (Whole School & Parish)
- 10.00am Wednesday 14th February - Years 1-6- Ash Wednesday Mass
- 10.00am Wednesday 28th February - Year 1/2AT & 5JH
- 10.00am Wednesday 6th March - Year 3/4JB & 3/4DK
- 10.00am Wednesday 13th March - Year 6MR & Foundation
Class Prayer Cloths will be blessed during class masses this term. Classes have worked together to design these beautiful prayer cloths. These will be used in class each morning as a focus during Christian Meditation at the start of each day. Photos of each prayer cloth will be in the Week 4 newsletter.
Please contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or require clarification.
Carmel Donlon- Religious Education Leader
Email: carmel.donlon@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au
Pancake Tuesday- Tuesday 13th February
Why do we celebrate Shrove Tuesday? The name Shrove comes from 'shrive', meaning absolution for sins by doing penance. The day gets its name from the tradition of Christians trying to be 'shriven' before Lent. ... Pancake Day itself came much later as a way of using up rich foods, like eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days of fasting - Lent.
The staff will cook pancakes for students on Tuesday, 13th February.
These will be available in the courtyard as students arrive at school from 8.40am.
Ash Wednesday- 14th February
Lent begins with the marking of ashes, a sign to remind us to live the way Jesus wants. It is the beginning of our preparation for Easter when Jesus rises from the dead. Lent is a special time when we stop and think about how we can play our part in God’s hope for a world that is fair, just and peaceful. We think about our relationship with God, and how through serving others we can grow closer to him. We also think about the changes we can make in our lives, to be God’s love and mercy in our world, ensuring all people have a just future.
Lenten Prayer
God of Justice,
We come to you today as members of one family.
Teach us how to be your loving presence to others.
Help us understand the challenges others face.
Be with us as we try to change, to be people who take action for others.
Help us seek a world where everyone has a just future.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
Foundation
A warm welcome to our new Foundation students this year. They have already achieved so much in the first 4 days of school. This week they have attended all 4 specialist lessons and have attended their first school Mass. They have met their year 6 buddies who were very supportive in assisting them at Mass.
Some of the highlights have been making their calming bottles and meeting their little classroom furry friends (Beanie Boo) and playing on the playground. Each morning the students have had an opportunity to chat with each other and learn more about their classmates during developmental play sessions. They have made an all about me banner to share with each other about their family and the things they like.
We look forward to watching them develop new friendships, set goals in their learning and feeling the sense of belonging in our school community.
This Tuesday 6th February is Safer Internet Day around the world. All classes will be doing an activity to begin their cyber safety learning for the year. The theme for this year is “Connect, reflect, protect.” This Tuesday all students will bring home a copy of their level's Internet agreement. We would like you to read this agreement with your child/ children and discuss the importance of staying safe online. Please sign the document and return it to their classroom teachers.
I would highly recommend visiting the eSafety commission website https://www.esafety.gov.au
and enrol in some of their free parent webinars. Below are the topics for term 1, for more information about dates head to www.eSafety.gov.au/parent/webinars
The following statistics from a number of data sources on the eSafety commission website highlight the need for all of us to ensure our children know how to be safe online and that they know what to do when working online on any platform if they are feeling unsafe.
The eSafety Commissioner leads the initiative in Australia. We educate people about online safety risks, like online abuse, how to be safe online and where to go for help.
This Safer Internet Day we're encouraging you to take three simple actions when approaching online safety: Connect. Reflect. Protect.
Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly.
Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety.
Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse.
By doing these things and sharing the Connect. Reflect. Protect message, we can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.
Excerpt from https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/whats-on/safer-internet-day
This year we are very excited to be partnering with The Resilience Project as our main Wellbeing program. The Resilience Project (TRP) is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity.
Staff have completed professional learning modules about the program on our first day back at school. The teachers and students will engage in weekly lessons and activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM), and Emotional Literacy to build resilience. This week classes will begin the first of four introductory lessons. Throughout the year you will receive a few take it home activities related to particular lessons.
Please read the supporting letter from The Resilience Project with information about the program. I encourage you to scan the code on the page to gain access to the TRP@HOME page. They have some wonderful podcasts and practical tips. In Term 2 we will be exploring the program further with our parent community. We look forward to working in partnership with you all to build and strengthen the resilience and wellbeing of our school community.
NAB AFL Auskick is coming to St Catherine’s Primary School!
AFL Victoria will be running a 5-week after school Auskick program at St Cath’s!
Auskick (Ages 4-12) is an introductory program to Australian Football and invaluable life skills. With game-based activities kids love and learning is disguised as playing, you don’t need Aussie Rules experience — children can start Auskick in the calendar year they turn 5!
The total price for this program is $50. You will receive your very own size 1 football and pump to keep as part of your Auskick registration.
REGISTER HERE - or scan QR Code in the flyer!
St Catherine’s Primary School Auskick Centre will run from Wednesday 21st of February from 3:30pm – 4:30pm on the school oval to Wednesday 20th March.
For more information, please contact Aslyn at aslyn.witney@afl.com.au or Sam sam.howell@afl.com.au
