Term 3 Week 1

Welcome back to school and the start of Term 3! It has been a mixed bag of weather this week, but the children returned with big smiles and excitement to see their friends. I hope that each family was able to find some time to do some fun holiday experiences together.

This term we have welcomed sixteen new students and one new staff member to St Monica’s. In our new Term 3 Reception class we welcomed: Miss Giselle DeKlerk, Orestis, Abigael, Antonio, Zachariah, Ayana, Milena, Havish, Eva, Gene, Marcel, Feliz, Zoe, Franco, Zanvi & Nico. We also welcomed Nyah who is now a member of Reception CB. We are blessed that you are a member of our community.

Last Sunday, I went with my family for a lovely (but cold) walk along Linear Park to see if I could spot any of the amazing nesting boxes painted by our students. We worked collaboratively with Walkerville Council on this project to help support native fauna that require safe nesting spaces along this beautiful pathway. I discovered 6 of the 10 boxes, so the hunt is on to find the remaining 4. Please let us know if you spot any more.

One of the biggest events in any school’s calendar each year is Book Week. This year our celebrations for Book Week will be held on Monday 19 August. We will start our day with the Book Week Parade on the basketball court (or hall if weather is inclement). Following this we will move to classes for some fun activities based on the Book Week theme, “Reading is Magic”. Parents are welcome to join us for the parade. After recess all the teachers will have the chance to share their favourite story book with different classes. The day will wrap up with a fun performance for all the students called “Maybe Magic”. I am exhausted just thinking about it. So, thinking caps on and start planning your costume for the parade. I think I might make a good Fairy Godmother who loves to read??

We will only have just recovered from all the Book Week excitement when we will welcome community members back into our school for our SALA exhibition. Our theme for this year’s display is “Head Heart Hands” and is inspired by the work of Mary MacKillop who used these important attributes in all that she did. The exhibition will be held on Wednesday 21 August, 3-5pm. Please join us for this wonderful celebration of children’s creativity and imagination. 

I hope that each family was able to access their child/ren’s report easily via the SEQTA app. If you have been unable to do this, please let the staff in the office know and we can check your account and resolve any issues. Families should be downloading their child/ren’s report on to the drive or your device. Once your child leaves us in Year 6 and is no longer enrolled with us, their reports are not held on our system. If you require any support in doing this, please let me know and we can offer help.

We do have a busy term ahead of us so please take note of the important dates that are included in this newsletter. I look forward to seeing many of you at these special events.

God’s blessings,

Emily Sayer

Principal

School fee invoices will soon be sent out to families. This money helps cover the costs of our learning programs at school and having them being paid regularly helps ensure the delivery of these programs. If at any time these payments become challenging or your circumstances change, please come and speak or connect with Louise Watkins or myself. We do not wish to add to any stress in people’s lives and would like to work with you in developing a plan to move forward that is workable for you.

Friendship

We have been focusing on friendship and the importance of friends in our lives to start our Term. Students have reflected on the word friendship and what this means to them. They have also watched a beautiful video of a boy and his pinata and the beautiful friendship they form. We have asked students to focus this term on the importance of having friends and what they can do to be a good friend.

Dear God,

We thank you for our friends and for the happy times we share with them.

Help us to be good friends to them.

Teach us how to play fairly and share.

Help us to recognise loneliness in others and show friendliness towards them.

We know that you are our friend and will be with us always.

Amen

Students have continued their journey and preparing themselves to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist. On Tuesday, all St Monica’s students enrolled in the Sacrament Program and a couple of children from the Parish came together as a group to continue to prepare themselves for their upcoming Sacrament. We started the session focusing on the Last Supper and the important moment this was in Jesus’ life. Students then explored the different parts of the Mass and the meaning of these. It was a very engaging session and was pleasing to see the knowledge students had on this topic and the importance they placed on the celebration of mass.

Vinnie’s Winter Appeal

I would like to say a huge thank you to all families for their donations towards the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. The number of blankets, sleeping bags and non-perishable food was overwhelming. I am sure that all the donations were received with much gratitude from the people at Vinnie’s and those who are require a bit of extra support in their lives.

Saturday                   6 July                         6:00pm          St Monica’s Church – Family Mass

Sunday                     7 July                         9:30am          St Martin’s Church – Family Mass

Saturday                   3 August                   6:00pm          St Monica’s Church – Family Mass

Sunday                     4 August                   9:30am          St Martin’s Church – Family Mass

Tuesday                    6 August                   6:00pm          St Martin’s Church – First Eucharist                                                                                                        Rehearsal

Thursday                   8 August                   9:00am          Mary MacKillop Mass – 5/6SJ

Saturday                   10 August                 6:00pm          First Eucharist Celebration

Sunday                      11 August                 9:30am          First Eucharist Celebration

Thursday                   15 August                 2.00pm          Assumption of Mary Liturgy – 1/2BG

Saturday                   17 August                 6:00pm          First Eucharist Celebration

Sunday                      18 August                 9:30am          First Eucharist Celebration

Saturday                   24 August                 6:00pm          First Eucharist Celebration

Tuesday                    27 August                 2.00pm          Feast of St Monica – Liturgy Leaders

Friday                        30 August                 9.00am          Father’s Day Liturgy – 5/6 students

Saturday                   31 August                 6:00pm          St Monica’s Church – Sacrament                                                                                                         Celebration Mass & Family Mass

Sunday                     1 September            9:30am          St Martin’s Church – Sacrament                                                                                                           Celebration Mass & Family Mass

Thank you from the Greenacres Walkerville St Vincent de Paul Conference

The St Vincent de Paul Society’s mission is to live the Gospel message, serving Christ by helping those in need showing love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society. The Society offers ‘a hand up’ to people in need, by respecting their dignity, sharing hope, and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny. The generous and ongoing support we receive from St Monica’s Parish School enables those in our community who are experiencing hard times, to receive a ‘hand up.’

Thank you to all the Students, Parents and Staff of St Monica’s Parish School for their generous donations to the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Our food cupboards are well stocked and some of the warm clothing and blanket donations have already given out to the Companions we have visited over the last 4 weeks. Thank you also for the funds raised at the Pyjama, hot chocolate, and muffin day. Your donations will make a difference to our Companion’s lives, thank you on their behalf.

 Only 5 days to go!

A reminder next Wednesday, 31 July is our School Photo Day.
All students need to be in correct WINTER uniform.
Year 6 students may wear the Year 6 jumper.
Please remember to bring students photo envelope on this day.

REC D families please refer to Annette’s previous Direct Message

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2024 / Premier’s Be Active Challenge 2024

Congratulations to all the students who have already completed the 2024 PRC and PbaC Challenges. Completed PRC Reading Records and Premier’s Be Active Challenge forms can be returned to the library at any time and blank record forms are available from the library. The PRC ends in 41 days (6th September) and the PbaC in 63 days (27 September).

Further information about the Be Active Challenge can be found at https://pbac.sa.edu.au and the  Reading Challenge at www.prc.sa.edu                           

Overdue Library Books and Readers.

Over the holidays a stocktake of the readers was done and many are still out and overdue, there are also many library books which need to be returned.  Could you please check at home and in school bags and return any books found as soon as possible.  Overdue notices will be sent home next week. Thank you.

2024 Book Week – 19th-23rd August

Only 4 weeks to Book Week This year’s theme Reading is Magic celebrates reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds, encouraging children to be curious about the wonders in our world.

Scholastic Book Club Order No. 5

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Book Club which provides additional resources for the school. Book Club No. 5 order forms will be sent home next week.

Pat Patience

To improve the safety around local schools, Council’s Community Safety Officers will be undertaking additional patrols of the area.

Council has recently received feedback from the community around the safety of children at school pick-up and drop-off times, particularly in relation to parking movements.

Council’s Community Safety Officers have been providing warnings to motorists in an effort to educate the community over the past few months.

To address the concerns about student safety and ensure all community members are commuting safely around school areas, Council Officers will be increasing their patrols over the coming weeks.

We encourage the community to ensure they are adhering to the parking restrictions around local school areas and being vigilant around children crossing the road.

Regards,​​​​

Sarah Spencer

Group Manager Public Relations

Town of Walkerville

The parent community has established a private group on Facebook that facilitates the trading of second-hand uniform items.

Please visit www.facebook.com/groups/stmonicasbuyswapsell and request to join the group if you are interested.

The page is ideal for selling items in good condition that your child has outgrown, or to sell items if your child is moving on. Simply post images and your contact details. Alternatively, you can join the group to take advantage of the pre-loved items that become available.

For those of you who are not on Facebook, please contact the P&F pandf.stmonicas@gmail.com and they will assist you with the sale of items.

Please note the sale of old-style uniform items is not allowed. St Monica's Parish School does not manage this page and takes no responsibility for any private sales.

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the land upon which St Monica’s learn, work and play.

May we walk gently on this land acknowledging the Kaurna people's deep spiritual connection with their country.

We pay our respects to Kaurna elders past and present and commit to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.