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Dear St Monica's families and friends,
We often hear the phrase we are the Lucky Country and indeed we have much to be thankful for. However, there are people across the Nation and in our world who need our prayers. So I ask, that you keep in your prayers…
The people of Queensland, as Cyclone Alfred draws closer to landfall.
The community of Brindabella Christian College, who are experiencing uncertainty.
The people of Ukraine.
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who is very unwell and undergoing treatment for double pneumonia.
Principal’s Retreat – I am currently at the annual Catholic Education Principal’s Retreat in Bowral. In her address to us yesterday Interim Executive Director Pam Betts reminded us of our mission and purpose as the Senior Leaders and Chief Evangelisers in our schools. Pam shared with us these key messages:
At the heart of Catholic Education is the belief that each child is a unique reflection of God’s love, created with a purpose and endowed with gifts meant to be nurtured. To educate is not simply to instruct; it is to inspire, to awaken curiosity, and to cultivate wisdom. When we touch hearts, we do more than impart knowledge. We foster compassion, resilience, and faith. When we grow minds we do more than teach facts. We guide young people to think critically, to discern truth, and to seek deeper understanding in all they encounter.
Journeying together in Hope is not always easy. Hope, as central as it is to our faith, is not the same as luck. We cannot be optimistically naïve, nor can we ignore the realities of suffering, tragedy, and hardship. True hope is rooted in faith and perseverance, in trusting that even in the darkest moments, God is present and working through us. Catholic Education equips students not just to recognise the world’s brokenness, but to be active participants in its healing, to be bearers of hope who respond with love and action rather than passive optimism.
For our students each day at school is a sacred gift, woven around the heart of wonder. It is in the joy of a student’s discovery, the quiet persistence when there is challenge, the shared laughter in the hallways, and the reverent silence of prayer that we see the beauty of God’s work.
I am proud of my mission, as your Principal, to play a key role in forming young hearts and minds in faith, wisdom, and love. I sincerely thank Maggie Lloyd, Melanie Stratford, Laura Frogley and Alissa Pearson for jumping into caretaker mode whilst I am away. I know the school is in very good hands.
Executive Director - I am excited to share with you, the announcement of the new Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn Executive Director, Dr David De Carvalho. David is a very experienced and well-regarded leader in the education sector, with a deep knowledge of, and commitment to, our Catholic faith. We wish him well as he takes up his new role in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
NAPLAN – Next week our Year 3 and Year 5 students will undertake the annual NAPLAN assessments for Literacy and Numeracy. We wish them well and have reassured that NAPLAN is part of their learning program and all we ask of them is to simply do their best.
Swimming Carnival - What a wonderful day we had at the St Monica’s Swimming Carnival. House chants cheered - loud and proud, fabulous St Francis Xavier College service students, magnificent volunteers, supportive parents, grandparents and families, amazing staff and of course our students who gave it their all in and out of the pool. We are so proud of everyone, thank you for such a great day!
Coughs and Colds – Cases of Influenza A, COVID and whooping cough remain high across the education sector. If your child is experiencing cold like symptoms, please keep them at home until they are well enough to return to school. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our community safe and well.
Baby News - Congratulations to the Quinton family on the arrival of Elliot, little brother for Claire in K White.
Enjoy the upcoming Canberra Day Long Weekend,
Religious Life of St Monica's
Ash Wednesday
Yesterday we gathered as a whole school for our Ash Wednesday mass led by Father Mick in St Monica’s church. Ash Wednesday is the beginning 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.
During Lent we give special attention to three parts of our lives:
- Prayer- with a focus on quality, not quantity;
- Fasting- give up something so that we give more attention to what is good; and
- Almsgiving- helping others.
Let us lengthen our prayers, our acts of kindness and give up the things that do not show others that we follow Jesus. Let us give up fighting and anything that brings unhappiness to others.
Each year during Lent Catholic Schools across Australia raise money for Project Compassion. Yesterday, the eldest child in your family will have been given a donation box for Project Compassion. As a Catholic school, Project Compassion is one of our major charity drives. Your generous support this Lenten season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need. Please collect donations over the next six weeks of Lent. Donation boxes can be sent in each Friday, with final donations collected in Week 10. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
To support our focus on almsgiving, fasting, and prayer your child will have received a 40 acts wall chart. The theme for 40 acts 2025 is: Do Lent generously. The idea behind 40 acts, is to complete one act a day as we journey through the 40 days of Lent.
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 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 |
This year 6 Retreat Day was a really fun learning experience. There was a bag full of things that you might need on a trip and a lot of things you could have brought but we focussed on three things - a torch, a drink bottle and a first aid kit. The drink bottle represents God’s love and how you have two choices on what to do with his love. You can hog it and keep it for yourself or you can share it with others who might need it. We also did a balloon game where there was two teams lined up and one person from each team was blindfolded and their teammates had to tell them where to go so they could pop the balloon before the other team could get it. Then we talked about how the game was like life. We also had to try and handshake with eyes shut to show how important each part of the Body of Christ is just as important as the other. - Scarlett Year 6 student
On Friday in Week 3 the year 6 students attended a Journey with Jesus retreat in the hall and church. It started in the hall after recess where we played games and learnt about our relationship with Jesus and God. We arrived and played icebreakers and got to know the youth ministers, then learnt about God’s backpack. We watched a short drama about God’s love before playing a game about people’s influence on us. We then broke into small groups and spoke about that relationship with God before playing some more icebreakers and then heading to the church for a chance to reflect on the day and our journey heading forward. - Saskia Year 6 student
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
Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating their birthday this week and next week
| Class | Student | Focus |
| K Maroon | Eliza F | Myself |
| K Maroon | Cole W | Myself |
| K White | Sophie D | Myself |
| K White | Leo P | Myself |
| 1 Maroon | Samuel Mc | Myself |
| 1 Maroon | Eden S | Myself |
| 1 White | Harry C | Myself |
| 1 White | Ella G | Others |
| 2 Maroon | James D | Others |
| 2 Maroon | Grace Mc-C | Myself |
| 2 White | Benji A | Myself |
| 2 White | Sophia A | Others |
| 3 Blue | Mia S | Myself |
| 3 Blue | Lyndon H | Others |
| 3 Maroon | Khloe H | Others |
| 3 Maroon | Archer P | Others |
| 3 White | Ben R | Others |
| 3 White | Azalea S | Myself |
| 4 Maroon | Ethan C | Myself |
| 4 Maroon | Jade A-C | Myself |
| 4 White | Faustina A | Others |
| 4 White | Alison C | Others |
| 5 Blue | Henry D | Myself |
| 5 Blue | Ivy P | Others |
| 5 Maroon | Abigail O-F | Myself |
| 5 Maroon | Fraser T | Myself |
| 5 Purple | Isabella A | Others |
| 5 Purple | Max G | Myself |
| 5 White | Sebastian B | Myself |
| 5 White | Brooke D | Myself |
| 6 Maroon | Hannah A | Myself |
| 6 Maroon | Saskia H | Myself |
| 6 White | Luci G | Myself |
| 6 White | Mitchell C | Myself |
School Photo Day is Friday 14 March 2025. Children are to dress in their full school Summer Uniform.
MSP Photography have sent out an alert via Compass to families with information on how to place orders for school photos.
50th Reunion - Class of 1975
A reunion will be held on the weekend of 18 October 2025 for students from Catholic Girls High School Braddon and Daramalan College who finished Year 12 in 1975 (including those from that group who finished before Year 12).
Several activities are planned over the weekend with the main event on Saturday 18 October in the evening. To RSVP please use one of the event channels:
Email: CGHS.Dara1975@gmail.com or
Facebook: Daramalan College Alumni group; Merici College Alumni group; or Dara - Braddon 1975 group
Spread the word to your classmates!