Dear St Monica’s families and friends,

We have just entered the season of Lent, a season of grace, in which our hearts can be softened. It is a time for us to turn radically back to God and to experience true conversion and repentance. Most of ‘give something up’ or fast. However, this only one of three things we can focus on throughout Lent. The other two, prayer and almsgiving, are very much about ‘taking something up’.

Yesterday we came together as a Parish & School Community for Ash Wednesday Mass. Special thanks to Fr Mick, Fr Kose and Mrs Stratford for their preparation of Mass. It was very special to sit amongst OLPH parishioners and participate in a most reverent and respectful way to begin our Lenten journey.

Parent opportunity to Meet your child’s Teacher

Next week, is an opportunity for all parents to meet their child’s teacher. I am confident that every staff member at St Monica’s has the capacity to meet your child’s needs. When parents and teachers work well together, everyone benefits.

Parents and teachers can provide each other with unique insight and different perspectives about the same child, culminating in a more complete understanding
of that child, their abilities, strengths, and challenges. The teacher will know much more about the curriculum and the school culture, while you know more about your child's personality, tendencies, and family life. A successful parent-teacher partnership also shows a child that an entire team of adults is on their side.

For parents and teachers alike, the goal is to play active roles in your child's life and to work towards forming a real bond. The child's best interest is always served when they have lots of people supporting them and all the pieces of their life fit together. A
strong home-school connection will set the stage for a child who will grow up with a love for learning

Your child’s classroom teacher is the first point of contact for all learning, social, emotional and well-being needs. You are always welcome to contact them, via email or phone call to the school, and we look forward to working in partnership with you, to grow your children. Bookings are open on COMPASS and will close tomorrow Friday 16 February.

School 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, they continue to need the support of the wider community. Expression of interest & Nominations for 5 new sitting members is now open. We know that a number of parents are keen to support the school but struggle making it to meetings or think they shouldn’t be on the Council because ‘that’s for other people in the school’.  Please consider nominating and fill in the form which can be found in the Council Clippings section of this week’s newsletter.

Dates for your diaries:

• Monday 19 February: School Swimming Carnival Stromlo Leisure Centre
• Monday 19 – Wednesday 21February: Get to Know you Meetings                                                     
• Tuesday 19 March: School Photo Day
• Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April: Easter Long Weekend
• Saturday 6April:  St Monica’s School Fete
• Wednesday 10 April: School Athletics Carnival

Peace and blessings to all families,

Community Council Clippings

The St Monica’s Community Council met for their first meeting of 2024 on Tuesday evening. It was wonderful to see everyone back and refreshed after the Christmas break.

Some of the highlights from our meeting were:

• Lisa presented her Principal’s Report and was pleased to express a calm return to the school year for both teachers and students. This is partially attributable to the school’s behavioural curriculum which aims to teach students about routine and predictability and to set clear expectations. The students have been responding well and it’s been a lovely way to start the year.
• Our Treasurer, Kate Carey tabled her report and we were pleased to approve funding for a new oven for the canteen.
• We welcomed the 2024 Fete Co-ordinator, Laura Davern to present an update on all things fete coming up on 6 April. Preparation is well under way. The fete team is looking for a few more stall co-ordinators and sponsorship. If you can help with either, please reach out to the fete team either by email: stmfete@gmail.com or through the St Monica’s Fete Facebook page.
• The Council was able to approve funding for the purchase of a popcorn and fairy floss machine which will be an asset for the school, not just for the fete, but also for special days, for example Grandparent’s day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, school concerts, year 6 Graduation, the end of year carols and other special occasions. This will also save on future hiring costs!
• The Community Council is currently transitioning to a new School Community Council Charter and is developing Terms of Reference for our fundraising and other working groups within the school. We are aiming to transition to the new Charter by the end of March.
• We are thrilled to be progressing with the development of the Outdoor Classroom and Council will keep the school community apprised of the exciting developments in this space. This will be funded in part by the funds raised by the fete (both our pre-covid fete in 2019 and the 2023 fete) as well as future fundraising efforts by the fete and other initiatives. Parents will shortly be invited to attend a meeting with Paul Barnett who has been engaged to design and build the outdoor area to find out more and provide feedback.

Our Council is currently calling for nominations. We have five positions available, including four parent representative positions and the position of Secretary is also available.  Nominations open this Friday 16 February and will close at the end of week 5. Nominees are invited to attend our meeting on 26 March where we will elect new Council members. Please fill in the School Community Council Nomination Form or you can contact Lisa or check in at the front office if you would like to nominate. You can also email Chair, Alicia Prest at Alicia.Prest@gmail.com.

We extended our sincere thanks to outgoing Council members Madeline Taylor (Secretary), Katherine O’Sullivan (Parent Representative) and Cecelia Willis (Parent Representative) for their dedication to our Council during their various terms.

Our next meeting is on 26 March, at this meeting we will be setting the date for our next Open Council meeting where all parents / grandparents and friends of the school community are welcome to join us to find out more about the work Council is doing and offer any feedback.

Alicia Prest,

Community Council Chair

Update from the Fete Committee – seeking stall sponsors

Keep an eye out for the fete information letter. This will go home to families in the coming days. This letter provides information on how families can assist us in preparing for the school’s biggest fundraiser.

It was great to see so many parents at our volunteer information session on Tuesday. Weren’t able to make it? No worries – check our volunteer sign up. There are a range of roles available to suit your availability – from fete set up through to helping out at a stall for an hour or so. Click the link here to sign up or get in touch with the fete team if you have any questions.

Stall sponsorship - Know a local business? We are seeking sponsorship for our fete stalls. Sponsoring a stall not only covers operating costs, ensuring a seamless event, but it also directs the money raised directly back to the school. It’s a mutually beneficial opportunity for businesses to contribute to community while gaining exposure through our advertising on social media and on the day itself.

We are seeking sponsors for the following stalls:

• BBQ - $1200-$1500
• Fairy floss - $500-$750
• Ice-cream - $750
• Popcorn - $750
• Plush Play - $150
• Hair braiding - $350
• Face painting (two stalls) - $500

White elephant - Volunteer opportunities for "White Elephant drop off days" are now open. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet: volunteersignup.org/4J3Y3

To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do. Thank you for volunteering!

Please get in touch – we’d love to hear your ideas and happy to answer any questions. You can reach us via stmfete@gmail.com

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and the newsletter for regular Fete Committee updates.

Parish Sacramental Program 2024

2024 Parish Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and in years 4-6 in 2024.

Sacraments to be celebrated in 2024

Sacrament of Reconciliation – will be celebrated during term 1 on:

• Tuesday 2 April in St Michael’s Church, Kaleen;
• Wednesday 3 April in St Monica’s Church, Evatt; and
• Thursday 4 April in St Monica’s Church, Evatt.

Registrations open this coming Monday, 19 February via the parish Qkr! app.

Registration for the Sacrament must be made via the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Qkr! App (NOT the school app) If you are registering more than 1 child you will need to fully complete and pay for each separate registration.

No late registrations will be accepted after the closing date.

Sacrament of First Communion - will be celebrated across the four Sunday Parish Masses on the weekend of 15 and 16 June.

Sacrament of Confirmation – will be celebrated on 17, 18, and 19 September.

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

Bookings close tomorrow - Friday 16 February. The instructions for how to book are below. If you are experiencing difficulty booking a session for you child/ren please contact the Front Office and we can book an appointment for you.

The best gift any parent can give a child is the love of books and the joy and benefits of independent reading for fun. Children who read at home, or are read to, have a head start on reading success in school. 

Book Club orders close on Monday 19 February at 9am.  Orders must be placed using the LOOP. 

Thank you, all families who have supported the library, through your purchases. We will be able to buy around $100 worth of books for the library. 

Sharing the Love 

We had so much fun sharing the love for others in Playgroup this week. We made heart collages and made glittery clay hearts to give to those we share love with in our families. Next week we are exploring water play and it will be bubbly fun!

Students with a known medical condition are required to complete an Individual Medical Response Plan. Students who suffer from seasonal or sport induced asthma will also need to complete a plan. The school will attach photos of the students to these plans.

A Medication Authorisation Form needs to be completed for any student requiring medication to be administered throughout the school day. The school will attach photos of the students to these plans.

Attached are both forms. The forms can be printed, filled in by hand and returned to the Front Office or completed electronically and returned via email to office.stmonicas@cg.catholic.edu.au. Please complete and return to school by Friday 23 February 2024.