Term 3 Week 7

I think we might take some time to catch our breath after the last two very busy weeks! Whilst it was go go go, it was a wonderful time of community connection and welcoming so many to our beautiful community.

We celebrated the feast day of St Monica with a beautiful liturgy which was led by our Liturgy leaders and Deacon Andrew. The example we can take from the life of St Monica is her deep faith and her belief that her prayers to God would be answered. She was a woman of hope and perseverance. A great role model for our own lives I am sure you would agree.

The annual St Monica’s student led fair was another great success. Our Year 6s use this event as one of their learning tasks in Enterprise Education. They had to plan, budget and market their unique stall for the fair. At the end of the fair, they had to calculate the profit made and deliver their findings to their teacher for assessment. This is a great example of the importance of real-world relevance in our learning. It helps develop critical and problem-solving skills along with the interpersonal skills of negotiation and collaboration. Any profits made, and the money collected from the other stalls run by the younger students, will be going to support the work of Catholic Charities.

Father’s Day is always a special occasion where we welcome and spoil the special men in the lives of our students. The staff arrive early to cook and serve our special guests. It is a simple act of gratitude that we offer to all our Dads, Grandfathers and special blokes for the love and support that they give to their children. I hope that each of our special guests enjoyed their morning with us and that their Father’s Day was a day of rest and relaxation.

A reminder to all families that OSHC won’t be available on Friday 27 September which is sports day as we have limited staff available for care on this day. I hope with all the early notice provided, that families can organise alternative arrangements. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

We are blessed to have so many parents, grandparents and friends who volunteer to help our students with their learning experiences at St Monica’s. All volunteers and staff who work in educational contexts must update their Responding to Risk Harm and Neglect Education and Care training. This training must be completed by the end of the year to be able to continue to be a volunteer with us. I have included the link for you to undertake this training and you only need to complete the fundamental course to meet child safety requirements. RRHAN EC Training update Once you have completed your training please send your certificate to Annette Reynolds.

As the warmer weather is returning, it is time again for students and staff to wear their school hats for play times and sports lessons. Teacher will be reminding the children in their class weekly newsletters and classrooms. The other part of our uniform policy that comes into action is the ability to wear the summer uniform during Term 3. During the last two weeks of Term 3, students are permitted to wear their summer uniform if it is a warm day. This is a choice for families to make with their children. In the last newsletter, I shared with the community the new uniform item of skorts for the girls. These are available from Vinnies on the Parade for purchase.

God’s blessings,

Emily Sayer

Season of Creation

The Season of Creation 2024 is an ecumenical Christian celebration that runs from September 1st, the Feast of Creation, to October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This period is dedicated to deepening the relationship with God as Creator and with all of Creation. The theme for 2024 is “To hope and act with Creation," inspired by Romans 8:19-25, which reflects the grumbling of Creation as it awaits renewal and transformation.

This year's symbol is “The first fruits of hope," which emphasises that hope is not passive but active. It calls upon Christians worldwide to engage in hopeful and transformative actions that respond to the environmental crises we face, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The celebration encourages communities to worship, pray, and act together to promote ecological justice and sustainability.

As a school we have focussed on Season of Creation this week and looked at various parts of the environment, such as, “The gift of water,” “The air we breathe,” “The beauty of the land,” “The wonder of animals.” Students have also focussed on themselves as stewards of this earth and what this role involves.

Season of Creation Prayer 2024

Triune God, Creator of all,

We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the diversity that you have created, making us a cosmic family and living in a common home. Through the earth you created, we experience love and nourishment, home and protection.

We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a Mothering gift from you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and abuse have caused the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering as well as the suffering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have failed to listen to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures, and the groans of the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us.

May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we may know the redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May the groans of the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you faithfully, so that we may hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her, so that the firstfruits of hope may blossom.

Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us sensitive to these groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of Jesus, the redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship with earth, and with one another, as creatures that are made in your image.

In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news to all Creation, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Sacramental Program

Over the last few weeks, some of our students have joyfully completed their Sacrament of Initiation, marking a pivotal moment in their spiritual lives. The Sacrament of Initiation, comprising Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion, signifies their full entry into the Catholic Church. These sacraments represent the foundation of a lifelong relationship with God, empowering the children with the Holy Spirit and welcoming them fully into the faith community.

Throughout the year, these students engaged in deep reflection, prayer, and preparation. They participated in catechism classes, where they learned about the teachings of Jesus, the importance of the sacraments, and the responsibilities of being a member of the Church. Their journey was enriched by retreats, workshops, and special Masses, which helped them connect with their faith on a deeper level.

The Baptism, which for many took place when they were infants, was the first step in their faith journey, washing away original sin and marking them as children of God. This was followed by their Confirmation, where they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, strengthening them to live as disciples of Christ. Finally, they partook in their First Holy Communion, receiving the Eucharist for the first time, and joining the community in the most sacred act of worship.

The entire parish community came together to celebrate this special occasion. Families, friends, and teachers witnessed the students' commitment to their faith, offering prayers and support. The ceremonies were filled with joy, reverence, and a profound sense of belonging, as each child took these sacred steps towards spiritual maturity.

We are incredibly proud of these students for their dedication, and we thank their families, and the parish community for guiding them on this journey. May the grace they have received continue to nourish their faith and inspire them to live out the teachings of Christ in their daily lives.

Below is information regarding the 2024/2025 Sacrament Program. Students in Year 3 (2024) and up can participate in the program with Reconciliation being celebrated in Term 4 and Confirmation and First Eucharist being celebrated over the year in 2025. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this. An important note is that all sessions are compulsory and cannot be missed. Please ensure you can commit to the entire program.

Upcoming Dates – St Monica’s Parish School

Sunday                      22 September         9:30am          St Martin’s Church –

                                                                                        Mass followed by Sacramental Program

                                                                                        2024/2025 Information Session

Touch footy 2024

On Tuesday 3 September, St Monica’s went to the Catholic Schools Touch Footy Carnival. We had 11 teams who attended. There were 6 players playing at a time and on average there were about 8 players in each team. The referees were high school children who were still learning the rules of the game but they tried hard. Everyone had a great time, we learnt lots of skills and progressed well and improved after each game. We all learnt so much about touch and we all tried hard. We all had some wins and played well as a team. Thank you to all the parents and volunteers that helped out with coaching on the day.

By Artin & Angus (Year 6)

Book Week 2025

‘Book an Adventure’ has been announced as the theme for Book Week 2025.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2024 / Premier’s Be Active Challenge 2024

Please note the Premier’s Reading Challenge ends this Friday 6th September and the Premier’s Be Active Challenge on the 27th September. Please return completed the forms to the Library.  

Scholastic Book Club Order No. 6

LOOP orders close this Monday 9th September. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Book Club.

The parent community has established a private group on Facebook that facilitates the trading of second-hand uniform items.

Please visit www.facebook.com/groups/stmonicasbuyswapsell and request to join the group if you are interested.

The page is ideal for selling items in good condition that your child has outgrown, or to sell items if your child is moving on. Simply post images and your contact details. Alternatively, you can join the group to take advantage of the pre-loved items that become available.

For those of you who are not on Facebook, please contact the P&F pandf.stmonicas@gmail.com and they will assist you with the sale of items.

Please note the sale of old-style uniform items is not allowed. St Monica's Parish School does not manage this page and takes no responsibility for any private sales.

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the land upon which St Monica’s learn, work and play.

May we walk gently on this land acknowledging the Kaurna people's deep spiritual connection with their country.

We pay our respects to Kaurna elders past and present and commit to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.