School Newsletter - Issue 17 - Thursday, 2nd November 2023

Principal's News

Dear Parents and Carers, 

We are fast approaching the middle of our final term for the year, can you believe that? There are a lot of events planned over the next few weeks, please remember to keep an eye on the Compass calendar as well as the weekly updates sent out. 

Staff Spirituality Day 

Tomorrow the staff will be participating in our Spirituality Day. The day will focus on different forms of prayer and how these can be incorporated into our daily lives and the lives of our classrooms. We are very much looking forward to this opportunity. 

Kindy Orientation Sessions 

This is always an exciting time for both our new and existing families but more importantly, our new Kindy’s for 2024. Next Tuesday will be our fourth and final session. Over the course of the month, the children have had the opportunity to engage in ‘Big School’ activities, the parents have had time to meet each other and hear about school routines as well as school readiness and the staff have had the opportunity to get to know our new students. This is the beginning of a very important partnership and the next chapter in the lives of all involved. 

This is always a very busy time in the life of a school community. Our staff are busy working on writing student reports as well as looking at classes for 2024. Thank you to those parents who have emailed their preferences, as stated, these will be looked at and carefully considered as decisions are made.  

Kind regards

Marcel Arendse
Principal

Growing in Faith and Knowledge Awards

Religious Education Co-ordinator News

This week we give thanks to the beautiful Kindergarten students who led us in prayer to celebrate All Saints Day on Wednesday. 
They all did a beautiful job, and it was a great reminder that future
saints walk among us. 

All Saints Day

During the year the Church celebrates one by one the feasts of the saints. On All Saints Day, we celebrate them all in one festival.  

The feast of All Saints should inspire us with tremendous hope. Among the saints in heaven are some whom we have known. All lived on earth lives like our own. They were baptized, marked with the sign of faith, they were faithful to Christ's teaching and they have gone before us to the heavenly home when they call on us to follow them. The Gospel of the Beatitudes, while it shows their happiness, shows, too, the road that they followed; there is no other that will lead us where they have gone. 

(Solemnity of All Saints - November 01, 2023 - Liturgical Calendar | Catholic Culture) 

Grandparent’s Day 

I would like to give thanks to the amazing parents who worked behind the scenes to ensure that the Grandparent’s Day morning tea was delivered without a hitch. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful parents who support every event under the caring gentle guidance of our wonderful PEC Kate Benton. The beautiful Donna Montebello led that charge and all grandparents were very grateful.   In fact, the open classrooms, liturgy, and morning tea had the highest attendance and it was so lovely seeing so many families walking around the school. 

Crazy Sock Day: Catholic Mission 

It was fabulous to see so many amazing homemade socks for Crazy Sock Day this year. People were very creative and there were feathers, glitters, pompoms, and streamers everywhere.  All money raised is going to support Catholic Mission which helps families in Timor-Leste face health and wellness challenges. The projects on the ground help sustain and enrich the lives of vulnerable children by providing vital medicines and health support. 

 Click here to find out more about the work of Catholic Mission 

Luisa Lawicki
Religious Education Co-ordinator

Library News

Parent Engagement Co-ordinator (PEC)

The Week of Morning Teas

Huge thank you to the amazing group of helpers who were my right-hand people this week. Our current kindy mum helpers were fantastic at our kindy 2024 orientation morning tea, not only serving treats but also welcoming new families into our community and answering questions. 

Then to the bakers, makers, and buyers who contributed to our “World Teachers Day” morning tea, what an amazing spread we were able to provide. The teachers were so grateful and I hope that our gesture showed them how much we appreciate them. 

Finally, we outdid ourselves on Friday for Grandparents Day! After the beautiful liturgy, we put on a wonderful morning tea led by our fantastic parent team leader Donna Montebello, who we cannot thank enough for her hard work and stunning decorations. The event was only such a success because of the hard work of all of our parent helpers. 

SJF Advisory Meeting

On Tuesday evening last week, the SJF advisory met for our term 4 meeting. The minutes will be available on the school website shortly. 

Turtle Dreaming Project

This Saturday 4th November one of our parents Kylie Cook is taking part in a beautiful community event at The Lakes Festival. Our students have been helping collect recycled and natural materials to be used in a turtle sculpture. If you’d like to check it out please see the flyer below for all of the details.

Gingerbread House-Making Kits

This Thursday 9th November is the final day to get your gingerbread orders in.

Please follow the link below to purchase. 

CompassTix

Parish High Tea

Next Friday Morning, 10th November we are welcoming our beautiful Wyong Parish parishioners for high tea. We have some of our parents providing treats and some of our students will join us to serve. If you are available and would like to help please let me know at kate.benton@dbb.catholic.edu.au

Teacher of the Week

This week, I’d like to introduce the wonderful Mrs Monique Powell.

Kate Benton
Parent Engagement Co-ordinator (PEC)

Meet The Teacher

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