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A New School Year Prayer
Father in Heaven,
We can’t believe a new school year is already here. Summer holidays went by so quickly! Thank you for the fun we had, for the time of rest and refreshment and the joy of being together as a family.
We praise you Lord as the giver of all good things. You know what this new school year holds for our children and you know just what we need to navigate it.
We bring before you all our worries and uncertainties for our children. We pray for their academic needs, that you would provide them what they need to learn and grow this year. We pray that you would help their teachers to quickly identify and intervene in any challenges they may face in their learning. Help them to make many friends and to be fair and respectful in their relationships.
We pray that our parents and staff support each other and work closely together in partnership for the benefit of all students.
Above all Father, we pray for the school as a whole, that it will continue to be a safe and enjoyable place for students to learn this year.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord,
AMEN.
WELCOME
I extend a warm welcome to all our existing and new families to the 2022 school year. Already the students have settled in extremely well to their new learning environments. Next Tuesday, we will welcome Kindergarten children to their first day at “Big School.” The gates will be opened at 8.45am for the parents to enter and leave their children with their class teachers: Kinder Blue- Mrs Shelton on the basketball court and Kinder Gold- Miss Agius on the top court next to the Church. It will be wonderful to see these young children grow, learn and develop as the year progresses.
I thank all our staff for their efforts in preparing for the new school year and we look forward to a rewarding, productive year. In particular, I welcome new staff Jack Richardson 2 Gold, Annalise Daphne 2 Blue Mondays and Tuesdays, Casey Richardson PE Teacher and Michelle Bowd SSO. We also welcome back Anna Clori K- 3Blue Music on Mondays and Elise Thompson Kinder Early Intervention Teacher.
We welcome the following new families to our special school/parish community:
Attenborough family, Badger family, Blay family, Crilly family, Dearie family, Dimitriev family, Garcia family, Garra family, Hillcoat family, Kearney family, Mace family, Mang family, Manzano family, McDonald family, Molo family, Sloan family, Tanevski family, Warren family, Adimisaris family, Atley family, Bricevski family, Caires family, Crittenden family, Glazier family, Herbert family, Hester family, McKenna family, Meester family, Merlino family, Miller family, Rich family, Roy family, Scheurer family, Smith family, Spencer family, Watson family, Wilton family, Langendam family, Coelho family, Manns family, Miller family and the Crosswell family
SPORTS UNIFORM DAYS
This year library and PE classes will once again be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This means that the following classes will be wearing sports uniform on these days:
WEDNESDAYS: Year 1 Blue, Year 1 Gold, Year 2 Blue, Year 3 Blue, Year 3 Gold, Year 5 Blue, Year 5 Gold.
THURSDAYS: Kindergarten Blue, Kindergarten Gold, Year 2 Gold, Year 4 Blue, Year 4 Gold, Year 6 Blue, Year 6 Gold.
Of course all students wear their sports uniforms every Friday for Class Sport. Students are reminded that joggers are to be predominantly white with white laces.
Music this year will be held on Mondays: K- 2 & 3 Blue with Mrs Clori and Thursdays: 3 Gold & Years 4-6 with Mrs Hogan.
PARENT INFORMATION EVENINGS
Parent Information sessions will be held in grades via Zoom in Week Four at the following times:
Monday 14 February- 6 pm: Kindergarten, Year 5; 7.15 pm: Year 1 & Year 2
Tuesday 15 February- 6 pm: Year 3 & Year 4: 7.15pm: Year 6.
Codes for these meetings will be sent out via Compass next week and families are asked to ensure that they are represented by at least one parent.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher and to find out what will be happening in the classrooms in 2022. Good communication between home and school is vital in creating and sustaining a climate that is conducive to productive learning.
BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL ARRANGEMENTS
At this stage we will be continuing our current before and after school arrangements. This includes the following:
MORNING DROP OFF
Where possible parents are asked to take their children to school via car, using the Wilson Street Drop Off area. In order to prevent everyone arriving and gathering at once, we request that parents try to keep to times as listed below:
8.10am: Families with surnames between A-G
8.10-8.20am: Families with surnames between H-N
8.20-8.30am: Families with surnames between O-Z.
When the children arrive they will be directed to put their bags on class lines and move to the following areas:
Top Court: Years 5 & 6
Middle Court:Years 3 & 4
Basketball Court: Years 1 & 2
COLA: Kindergarten.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
As per the morning arrangements, we are continuing staggered pick-up times using the three-gate system. Parents are asked to report to one of the gates at specific times, where school staff will assist in the collection of children, who will be waiting on the school courts. Parents are asked to bring their surname signs with them as this speeds up the process. Signs for all new families were sent home earlier this week.
GATE 1: WENTWORTH STREET: (A-G)
2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between A-C
2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between D-G.
GATE 2: CHURCH GATE: (H-N)
2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between H-L
2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between M-N.
GATE 3: BOTTOM WILSON STREET GATE: (O-Z)
2.30-2.40pm: Families with surnames between O-S
2.45- 2.55pm: Families with surnames between T-Z.
It would be extremely helpful if parents could support the school by following these arrangements as they will greatly assist in controlling numbers and help keep our students safe. I also ask parents to physically distance and to wear a mask whilst waiting at these gates.
UNIFORM/ HAIR
The students have returned to school looking smart in their summer uniform, complete with new, polished school shoes. Thank you to parents for assisting in maintaining the high standard of uniform that exists in the school. Just a reminder, that joggers should be predominantly white, with white laces and worn with white sport socks (not anklets). Long hair is to be tied back with green or gold hair ribbons/ elastics and alternate hairstyles such as mullets, mohawks or shaved symbols in hair are not acceptable. Bracelets/ bangles and nail polish are also not part of school policy. Where there are concerns and breaches of the school’s policy, I will make written contact with you. If a situation arises and the children are unable to be in correct uniform for a short period of time, could I please ask that a letter is sent into the class teacher.
CATHOLICCARE COUNSELOR
Once again this year we are fortunate to have Ms Bree Lord, our CatholicCare Counselor, at the school twice a week to offer support and guidance to students and their families. Bree will be at Stella every Wednesday and alternate Thursday/Fridays. If parents are considering counselling for their children, they are encouraged to discuss the situation with either myself or the class teacher and to complete a referral form.
PARENTS and FRIENDS’ AGM
The Annual General Meeting of our P & F Association is held each year in February. A letter will be sent out via Compass next week, advertising the date and time of the meeting and calling for nominations for executive positions including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Given the impact of the pandemic over the last two years, it would be wonderful to have renewed interest and involvement from as many parents as possible in order to restore the partnership between home and school.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Last year, the Wollongong Diocese’s Social Media Policy was implemented in every Catholic School. The policy outlines the expectation that schools use social media in valid educational contexts to support student learning and wellbeing. It also outlines expectations for all in the school community when using social media.
These include that individuals will:
- respect the dignity of self and others in the context of their role
- not promote perspectives contrary to the Catholic faith
- not bring the school into disrepute
- not publicly criticise CEDoW, schools, staff or students
- align with the parameters of the intended purpose of the social media presence.
Parents can access the full policy at www.dow.catholic.edu.au/socialmediapolicy.
It would be an appropriate time, at the start of the school year, for parents to re-visit appropriate use of technology with their students and ensure that boundaries and rules are in place at home, which encourage responsible behaviour on-line.
The CEDoW Responsible Use of Technology Agreements outlining the expectations around the responsible use of iPads in the classroom were sent home this week. It is important that you read through this agreement with your child. This agreement is due back to your child's teacher, signed by both you and your child, by Wednesday 9 February 2022. Until this note has been returned, students will be unable to use iPads in the classroom. If you have any questions regarding this agreement, please contact your child's teacher.
CatholicCare Early Learning Centre
The new CatholicCare Learning Centre is expected to open in late March. There are still vacancies and parents can learn more about this brand new facility at the Pop Up stall on Level 1, Stockland, next week.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
This Sunday’s Gospel
An abundance of fish are caught by Simon.
Mass times: All Saints Church
19 College Ave, Shellharbour City
Saturday 5.00pm Vigil
Sunday 9.00am
5.00pm
* Please note that there is a compulsory QR code check in, 2m2 rule and masks are compulsory.
Mass at Stella Maris
Unfortunately, due to restrictions we will not be celebrating class Masses with students this term.
The Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation)
The Sacrament of Penance is open to all current Year 3 students (or above). This weekend the 5th and 6th February, the assignment of families to workshops will be advised. Please allow 10 minutes after each Mass. Next weekend the 12th and 13th February, books for workshops will be distributed after Mass. Workshops will begin at Stella Maris on Monday 14th February at 3:30pm or 5pm or Thursday 17th at 3:30pm. These workshops will continue for 4 consecutive weeks. The celebration of Reconciliation will take place the week commencing the 14th March.
If there are any questions related to any of the Sacraments, please contact the parish office via email shellharbourcity@dow.org.au
Beginning of the Year & Leaders Induction Liturgy at School (Yrs1-6)
Unfortunately, due to current restrictions we will be unable to have families attend this year's opening liturgy on February 15 at 8:40am. We will however, have Zoom coverage. This link will be forwarded via COMPASS once it becomes available.
God Bless
Alicia Sanchez-Levine
Religious Education Coordinator