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Dear Parents/Caregivers,
One of the great privileges of my life was the opportunity to spend several weeks in 2018 in the land of Israel, walking the paths, terraces and steps of the Holy Land, retracing some of the journeys of Jesus. This experience changed forever the way I am able to visualise the scripture stories. On one occasion, our group travelled to the top of Mt Tabor, a mountain rising from the plains of Galilee. Our pilgrimage group celebrated mass in the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration - the scene of last Sunday’s Gospel account. By tradition, it was to this mountaintop that Jesus, took three trusted disciples and was transformed into the vision described in the Gospel of Mark. This was the ultimate mountaintop experience. Peter, James, and John who were required to take what was experienced on the mountain and allow it to transform the way they lived their lives as believers amidst the ordinariness of their lives.
The placement of this Gospel story in the Lenten Season has significance for us all. This Season is one that calls for each of us to be transformed - to renew ourselves as we prepare for the great feast of the Resurrection at Easter.
During this Lenten Season, we are all called to transform aspects of our lives that hinder the fullness of relationship with our God and with each other.
May we all, through practices of prayer, almsgiving and penance, invigorate our Lenten Season and rejuvenate our relationships. May Christ continue to be our transformational guide just as he was for his disciples Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop of Mount Tabor.
Tina Murray
Principal
As we pause this week to reflect on the precious gift of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon. Since the very first Catholic school was established, countless children and young people have benefited from the dedication and commitment of parents and staff in our Catholic schools. Our school has been part of this network for the last 35 years. Please take the opportunity while waiting to pick up your child/ren to view photographic images of our school’s timeline on display opposite the canteen.
PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION - Congratulations to the parents who are now confirmed in the following leadership roles in this vital group within our School Community for 2021.
President – Lorraine Brown
Vice President – Heather Franshaw-Thomas
Treasurer – Chris Thomas
Hospitality and Fundraising Coordinator - Corinne Argent
Hospitality Committee Members: Christine Manestar, Maryanne Thompson
Fundraising Committee Members: Christine Manestar, Maryanne Thompson, Helena Lasan
We are seeking support from the wider parent community from anyone who may be interested in assuming the role of Secretary. Please call Mrs Murray to discuss.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE - Congratulations to the students who took the next step in their sacramental journey this week through the reception of the Sacrament of Penance. We congratulate the students and their parents for their patience during the extended preparation due to COVID. We are grateful for the dedication of the Parish Sacramental Team and our school staff who supported the candidates during their preparation and at the liturgies that took place this week. 
The school understands there are times when possession of a mobile phone/digital device can provide a sense of safety and security while travelling to and from school. Given this is a primary school setting we should consider the use of these devices within this context.
In general, students should not bring valuable items to school – as they can be easily lost or damaged, which is often distressful for a primary aged child.
If a mobile phone / SMART device is required for reasons of specific safety or urgency then the following procedures are in place to manage this and apply to all students.
The student will place the phone / SMART device (marked with name and class) into the device box located in the Office each morning for safekeeping. The mobile phone/ SMART device will need to be collected at the end of the day. The student will be responsible for collecting their own device each day.
- Students who bring mobile phones / SMART devices to school do so at their own risk.
- It has always been the school’s practice to pass on important messages to students throughout the day. Phone messages from parents e.g. change to home arrangements will be communicated to students via the Office and class teachers.
- Parents will be contacted if a student is found using a mobile phone / SMART device in an inappropriate manner (for photography, recording, bullying).
The device may be confiscated and returned to the parent.
The student would also be subject to the appropriate disciplinary consequence.
eSafety's parent guide to cyberbullying and online drama
This webinar will look at how parents and carers can support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships and what to do if things go wrong.
It will cover:
- starting conversations with your child about their online friendships and positive ways to deal with changing relationships
- understanding the rights, laws and community expectations that govern social media use
- where to seek help if your child is involved in a cyberbullying incident.
The webinar will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.
Session time: (AEDT)
Tuesday 16 March 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Wednesday 17 March 12.30 to 1.30 pm
Wednesday 17 March 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Thursday 18 March 3.30 to 4.30 pm
Monday 22 March 12.30 to 1.30 pm
ORAL LANGUAGE PROJECT
At the end of 2020 we were successful in gaining one of the 2021 CEDoW Lighting the Way Projects. Our school project is centered upon building teacher capacity to enhance oral language development of our Kinder / Year 1 students and assist students to transfer these skills to enhance their writing. Additionally, staff will be involved in building their skills to identify and provide intervention for speech and language disorders. We have been fortunate to have sourced the expertise of Nicole Couret (Speech Therapist) who will work with our teachers to support strategies to enhance classroom and the delivery of student intervention. Nicole will not be working directly with students but will lend her expertise through consultation.
If your child currently attends an external speech therapy or any other support service we encourage parents to provide us with a report from the consulting therapist. The recommendations contained in these reports provide valuable information that can be used to support classroom interventions and the development of Personalised Plans.
Tina Murray
Principal
INFANTS ASSEMBLY – WEEK 5
Last Friday Kindergarten joined the other Infant classes at their first school assembly. They were very excited and enjoyed listening to the Year 6 School Leaders explain their roles within the school.
INFANTS VALUES AWARDS – WEEK 5
K BLUE
Aidan J – Faith – For showing respect and reverence during class prayer
Pyper A – Compassion – For offering to help other people when they are in need
K GOLD
Luca P – Faith – For your reverence when participating in class prayer
Riley J – Faith - For your reverence when participating in meditation
K GREEN
Mila R - Celebration – For always encouraging and motivating classmates with her kind words
Noah M - Doing Your Best – For always being ready to learn and doing his best
1 BLUE
Heath H – Faith – For displaying reverence and faith during daily meditation
Jessica M – Leadership – For continually trying to assist others and for being helpful without being asked
1 GOLD
Aiden L – Faith – For praying reverently during class prayer
Harper E – Doing Your Best – For doing your best when working independently
1 GREEN
Lauren F – Compassion – For the care and concern you display with your peers
Achai D – Leadership – For being an active helping hand in Year 1 Green
2 BLUE
Antonia F – Doing your Best – An excellent effort in completing all homework tasks
Ashton C – Leadership – For reverently leading the class through meditation each day
2 GOLD
Havana V – Leadership – For consistently displaying initiative when taking on responsibilities in the classroom
Nikola H – Faith – For leading the class reverently during Christian meditation
2 GREEN
Aisha C – Stewardship – Being responsible for maintaining classroom resources
Kiara R – Doing Your Best
Mrs Lillian Del Giudice
Assistant Principal
Happy Birthday to the following children who will be celebrating their birthday this week:In Pope Francis’ Lenten message he stated that "Lent is a time for believing, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing him to 'make his dwelling' among us…"
Over the last couple of weeks, our children have become increasingly committed to becoming closer to God during Lent. It is a joy to see them deep in prayer during Christian Meditation; the extra kindness shown to a peer and or the simple act of almsgiving loose change in the Project Compassion box. They really are trying hard to ‘Be More’.
Catholic Schools WeekPlease remember to view the special clips created by each class for Catholic Schools Week. These will be available on our Facebook Site and Compass. A link will be sent via Compass to view the clips.
Mrs Kirsty Simpson
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
Congratulations again to Kinder Gold, still the only class to have earned a Gold Star, well done!! Quite a few other classes have come close, with only two or three students forgetting. Remember our Library days:
This Thursday – Year 1
Next week:
Tuesday – Year 3
Wednesday – Year 5
Thursday – Year 2
Friday – Year 4
Because each class only borrows fortnightly, any student who finishes their books and would like to borrow in between lessons is welcome to bring their Library bag and come to the Library at Lunch 2 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. They can return the books they have finished and choose some new ones!
Premiers' Reading Challenge - Unfortunately we cannot login to the PRC website at the moment to register our new students because they have issues with their site. All students from Years 2 - 6 will be automatically registered. Any student who remembers their login from last year can login and begin to register your books, your logins should not have changed. Year 2 is participating as a grade, the teachers will ensure they read the required books to the students, and all books will be registered at school. Any student from K - 1 who is to take part, I just need a letter from parents please. You can begin to read your books, and keep a list either at home or at school. Logins for new students will be sent home as soon as we are able to access the site to register all new students. The booklists are found at https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html
You can search our Library catalogue to see all the available books on the list – go to oliver.dow.catholic.edu.au/miev, and type ‘premier’ in the search box. You can then select the required level, either K - 2, 3 - 4, or 5 - 6.
Daily Reading: Please remember how important it is to make time to read with your children for at least ten minutes a day.
"To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend. To read it for a second time is to meet an old one."
Chinese saying
Happy reading!
Mrs Susan Bryant - Teacher Librarian