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Dear St Monica's families and friends,
The weeks are flying by and it is hard to believe that summer is nearly over! There is an essence of calm across the school, as the students have returned with enthusiasm, quickly embracing their routines and reconnecting with friends and teachers. I am very proud to walk around the classrooms at any time of the day and know the students are learning. Our Kindergarten students are settling in well, and the 'Wonder and Awe' of ‘BIG SCHOOL’ still emulates from them. It has been heartening to see the school community come together in such a positive and settled way.
Last week's Parent Information Evening was a fantastic opportunity to welcome both familiar faces and many new families. Attendance at Information Evening and the Meet & Greet sessions demonstrates the commitment of our parents and carers to their children's education, and we appreciate the support and engagement from all who joined us.
A special Liturgy took place last Friday with the commissioning of our Year 6 leaders. All students have embraced their leadership roles with pride and responsibility, setting a strong example for their peers and younger students. I am confident they will serve our school community with integrity and enthusiasm throughout the year.
Looking ahead to next Thursday we are excited for our annual Swimming Carnival. This event is always a highlight, bringing students, staff, and families together for a day of friendly competition and school spirit. If you are available to assist on the day and hold a valid WWVP card we would love your help. Please reach out to Sharon Friend sharon.friend@cg.catholic.edu.au or Alisha Barrett alisha.barrett@cg.catholic.edu.au to register your availability.
Council News: On Tuesday evening we had our first School Community Council meeting for the year. I am very grateful to all parents who have offered their service to our school and know that you will support them in their endeavours to make our school great. The council continues to have great aspirations for our school and to make these a reality we rely on the support of the wider community to assist the Working Group Leads. If you have capacity, expertise or skills, or a willingness to learn, the council is looking for help with fundraising initiatives, working bees, volunteers for our school canteen and the upcoming fete. The council has a new email address and should you wish to contact the council you can do so via email: stmonscc@gmail.com
I am pleased to announce our 2025 School Community Council members:
Council Chair – Jo Schultz
Deputy Chair – Bianca Partington
Secretary – Erin Gilligan
Treasurer – Kate Carey
Parent Representative – Ellie Little
Parent Representative – Natalie Elliot
Parent Representative – Jon Scholtes
Parent Representative – Damian Dwyer
Staff Representative – Maggie Lloyd
Staff Representative – Melinda Brown
Fete News – Keep an eye out for updates and news about our upcoming Autumn Fair (Fete) The committee is always looking for a helping hand and your offer of assistance no matter how big or small is warmly welcomed. You can contact the fete committee via email at: stmfete@gmail.com
Wishing you a wonderful weekend and week ahead,
Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating their birthday this week and next week
| Class | Student | Focus |
| K Maroon | Ethan C | Myself |
| K Maroon | Emily S | Myself |
| K White | Antonella F | Others |
| K White | John V | Others |
| 1 Maroon | Ariela A | Myself |
| 1 Maroon | Roya E | Myself |
| 1 White | Thomas B | Myself |
| 1 White | Niamh W | Myself |
| 2 Maroon | Matilda R | Myself |
| 2 Maroon | Harper E | Myself |
| 2 White | Taryn G | Myself |
| 2 White | Matilda T | Myself |
| 3 Blue | Toluwani A | Myself |
| 3 Blue | Ethan E | Myself |
| 3 Maroon | James P | Others |
| 3 Maroon | Bella O | Others |
| 3 White | Lincoln L | Myself |
| 3 White | Annabelle W | Myself |
| 4 Maroon | James B | Myself |
| 4 Maroon | Ella F | Myself |
| 4 White | Devansh P | Myself |
| 4 White | Sienna W-G | Myself |
| 5 Blue | Hanes H | Myself |
| 5 Blue | Shelzang P | Myself |
| 5 Maroon | Sonny Mc | Myself |
| 5 Maroon | Alexa I | Myself |
| 5 Purple | Blake R | Myself |
| 5 Purple | Charlotte G | Myself |
| 5 White | Selina L | Myself |
| 5 White | Xavier P | Myself |
| 6 Maroon | Lola B | Myself |
| 6 Maroon | Bailey D-C | Myself |
| 6 White | Max S | Myself |
| 6 White | Imogen S | Myself |
School Photo Day is Friday 14 March 2025. Children are to dress in their full school Summer Uniform.
MSP Photography will send out an alert via Compass to let families know when ordering of school photos is available.
Christian Meditation at St Monica’s
This week we were fortunate to have Helen Bramanathan from the Catholic Identity team lead our staff and students in the practice of Christian meditation. This form of meditation involves being silent, still, and simply being in God’s presence. To help quieten our minds we repeat the sacred word ‘ma-ra-na-tha,’ which means ‘Come Lord Jesus.’ After spending 2 days with our classes Helen commented on how engaged our students were during her visit.
At St Monica’s our staff are invited to participate in Christian meditation every Thursday morning at 8.30 am before the teaching day begins. Starting next week on Thursday mornings all classes will join in Christian meditation immediately after marking the roll. During this time we will actively minimise distractions and seek your support in ensuring that your child arrives at school on time.
Meditation is a universal spiritual practice found at the core of many religious traditions. In Christianity this contemplative dimension of faith and prayer is rooted in the Gospel teachings of Jesus and the Christian mystical tradition.
Scientific research shows that practising meditation offers many potential benefits to children. These include improvements in mental and physical health, as well as enhanced emotional and behavioural regulation, stress management, and concentration. Additionally, research suggests that practising Christian meditation at school creates a safe, respectful space for nurturing children’s spiritual growth. The stillness and silence help create an environment where children are open to the presence of God. This:
- strengthens children’s relationship with God, and
- offers a sense of personal agency in spirituality, which can renew faith.
Furthermore, research indicates that Christian meditation helps children become more aware and accepting of themselves and others by:
- supporting identity formation and self-acceptance;
- increasing kindness towards others; and
- fostering a sense of community.
If you would like to learn more, please get in touch with me.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday this year is on 5 March. Ash Wednesday is a Holy Day of Obligation which means that as Catholics it is a day we attend mass. On Wednesday 5 March at 9.30am Father Mick will lead mass in St Monica’s church. You are invited to join us.
Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a time of preparation for the great feast of Easter. The word ‘Lent’ is short for ‘lengthening of days’ where in the Northern Hemisphere the days are getting longer and warmer. Here in the Southern Hemisphere our days are getting shorter and cooler as we prepare for Autumn and Winter. Lent is a joyful season where we prepare for the resurrection of the Lord.
Opening Our Hearts to the Holy Spirit
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Term 1 Liturgical Life of St Monica’s Primary School |
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Whole School Prayer |
Grade Masses |
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Week 4 |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Respect Self led by 5 White Friday 9.10am |
Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 5
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Week 5 |
Whole School Mass Focus: Ash Wednesday Mass 9.30am Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Respect Others led by 3 White Friday 9.10am |
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Week 6 |
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Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 4 |
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Week 7 |
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Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 3
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Week 8 |
Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Respect God led by 4 Maroon Friday 9.10am |
Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 2
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Week 9 |
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Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 1 |
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Week 10 |
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Grade Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Kindergarten |
2025 Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and will be in Years 4-6 in 2025.
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in Term 1, 2025. Information Evening was held on 13 February 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 20 March 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 25, 26 and 27 March 2025.
Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated in Term 2, 2025. Information Evening will be held on 1 May 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 12 June 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 22 June 2025 (Corpus Christi).
Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in Term 3, 2025. Information Evening will be held on 31 July 2025. Retreat Day and Parent Prayer Night will be held on 4 September 2025. Sacrament will be celebrated on 10 and 11 September 2025.
For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth
My name is Ryoko Koyasu. I have been part of the Marymead CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn Student and Family Counselling team since 2020. I have worked in some of our regional schools as a student and family counsellor. I have also worked in youth mental health, family relationship and EAP counselling. I am a mother of two.
As the school counsellor please feel free to touch base with any questions relating to the counselling service at your school. I am at St Monica’s on Monday and Tuesday.
With the return to a new school year schedules are starting to get very busy again and it is a lot on us as parents, and it is even more on our kids. Monitor how your kids are going and if you are observing post-school melt downs happening more than just occasionally it is time to respond by simplifying the after-school routine.
Here are some tips to help make late afternoons more peaceful when your child is adjusting to the new school year:
Expect kids to fall apart – Your child might hold it all together and be on their best behaviour at school and then the minute they get home they go off the rails. This is NORMAL behaviour. At school your child works so hard to follow all the rules and have so many social interactions it is tiring and they need to let it out at some point.
Plan for downtime – School days are draining and your child needs to balance the demands of a new school year with some relaxation and rest. When you notice a pattern of after-school meltdowns, clear their afternoon/evening schedule for the week where possible. Postpone the playdates, skip the supermarket visit after school, and go straight home and let your child unwind.
Have a healthy snack ready – Your child might not eat enough at school. Drinking and eating are social in nature, and children just tend to snack until they are comfortable. Be prepared for their end of school day HANGRY side to come out and be ready with a nutrient dense snack.
Don’t take it personally – You are probably so excited to see your child/ren at the end of the day to give them a hug and find all about what they got up to at school. Then you pick them up and they are tired and limited in what they want to share, making you feel disappointed or rejected. It is not about you, give them space, time, rest and food.
Sensory play – Draw a bath with lots of bubbles and their favourite bath toys. Or put on some calm music and let them relax with a puzzle, play dough or kinetic sand play. They will love it and it will help them unwind.
A popular book for those in junior primary school at the moment is by Author Jane Godwin and illustrator Anna Walker. They have created a delightful picture book all about families’ busy lives. It’s called ‘Today We Have No Plans’ – ‘a busy week, a slower day brings time to dream and time to play’. Also available for loan at Libraries ACT.
Ongoing concerns about back to school anxiety:
If your child is showing signs of difficulties with adjustment beyond the first few weeks of school term, such as:
– physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches or nausea
– trouble sleeping
– changes in appetite
– changes in behaviour
-expressing not wanting to go to school
they may be experiencing anxiety.
If you have concerns about your child experiencing back to school anxiety-
Make some quiet time together and ask open-ended questions – for example, ‘How are you feeling about starting/going/being back to school?’ This gives your child a chance to share their thoughts, feelings and anything that is worrying them.
Listen closely and acknowledge your child’s feelings without trying to solve problems for them.
Remember, school is a major part of your child’s life, so try to see things from their point of view and don’t dismiss their worries, even if they seem small or silly to you. You don’t need to have all the answers or be able to fix things. Instead, the most important thing is that your child believes they can overcome their feelings of anxiety and know that you are there to help them through it.
For more information on how to support your child through back to school anxiety and where to go for professional support talk to your child’s class teacher as the first point of contact or see the following article on the Emerging Minds website