Term 2 Week 9

Since our last newsletter so much has been happening in our community. Our annual school disco for the children and the Pizza and Wine night for the parents was held on Friday 14 June. As always, the night was a great success thanks to the hard work of our amazing Parents and Friends committee. I would like to offer a special thank you to Chris and Nikki Eaton who have overseen the planning, decorating, set up and pack up of the disco for the last six years. Nikki is so creative and works with the theme chosen by the Student Voice and makes a space that is a masterpiece for the children to boogie the night away in. Thank you to you both from all the groovers and movers, including the teachers!

This year we had a new option of pizzas to accompany the wine for the parents’ enjoyment. The pizzas were beautifully cooked and served for us by Paulie’s Pizza and the wine was again from Vigara wines. Both companies supported our school by providing significant discounts for orders of pizzas and wine. Thank you to both businesses. St Monica’s is very grateful for your support.

Last week you would have received a letter from me informing the community of the need to increase our OSHC fees. After school care will now be $25, Vacation Care Days will be $60 for incursion days and $65 for excursions. This has been approved by the school board following a review of our costs for running care including food, resources, transport and staffing. If you have any questions or would like to have a conversation with me, please reach out.

Next Thursday 4 July, your child’s Semester 1 report will be released via SEQTA Engage. School reports are more than just pieces of paper (even electronic ones) that summarise a student’s academic progress; they represent the culmination of dedicated efforts by both students and teachers throughout the semesters. By recognising the importance of school reports, we acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of teachers in shaping the future of our students and the commitment and hard work of each and every student. Please take some time to ensure that your SEQTA Engage app is fully functional. It is also important that you download your child’s report and save it safely in either the cloud or a one drive. Please contact the front office if you need support in any way.

We have more stock of our school beanies available in the front office. They are great to wear in these cold months and only cost $25. Please see Annette or Louise if you would like to purchase one. As this beanie is a part of our school uniform, we ask that other beanies are not worn to or at school.

Thank you to the very generous donations that have already been made to our Vinnies Winter Appeal. We will all have a great time on the last day enjoying hot chocolate, yummy muffins and staying warm and dry in our PJs and beanies but there are so many in Adelaide for whom this isn’t their experience. The more items that you are donate will make the work of our local Vinnies so much easier. If you haven’t been able to get to the shops yet, hopefully this weekend will provide you a chance to go and purchase a sleeping bag or beanie or blanket or some long-life food. All donations can be dropped off at the tables in the library. Thank you again for your support of those most in need.

Go well and take care,

Emily Sayer

St John the Baptist

This week for prayer we have been focussing on St John the Baptist. Besides being the cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist was a prophet sent by God to prepare people for the coming of the Messiah. Despite living a very different life, he dedicated it to teaching those who followed him to turn to Christ. John led a humble life. We can also adopt this same humility in our own lives. When we do good works, we should do them out of love and in God’s name, not for our own personal benefit.

My Lord,

fill us with the joy of possessing graces

like those of St John the Baptist,

and direct the minds of all us

in the way of salvation and peace.

Amen

Sacramental Program

Overt the last few weeks, 11 of our students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. After a lot of preparation, the students were ready and eager for this night. Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Fr. David Thoroughgood and Deacon Andrew celebrated this Sacrament. It was wonderful to see these students continue their spiritual journey and receive the Holy Spirit. This Sunday, after Mass at St Martin’s Church, they will start to prepare for their First Eucharist.

Refugee Mass

Last Friday, 1/2J hosted the Refugee whole school Mass. The class had completed a lot of learning on refugees so that they truly understood who they were offering this mass for. It was a beautiful celebration, reminding us not only how challenging life can be for so many people, but also how grateful we should be for the life we have.

Vinnie’s Winter Appeal

We continue to collect donations for the Vinnie’s Winter Appeal. As the days and nights are getting colder and colder it is a reminder to us all of those less fortunate than ourselves. Through donations these people can access warmer clothes, blankets and food that will help them survive the winter season. A reminder that we will conclude the Winter Appeal by having a Hot Chocolate and Muffin Pyjama Day on last day of school, Friday, 5 June. To order please refer to the Qkr! App.

Upcoming Dates – St Monica’s Parish School

Sunday                     30 June         9:30am          St Martin’s Church – Children’s Liturgy

Sunday                     30 June         10:30am        St Martin’s Church - 1st Session – First Eucharist

Friday                        5 July             All Day          St Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal Fundraiser

We are living, learning and playing on Kaurna Land’ is the theme that underpinned this year’s Thriving People event.

It is a significant opportunity for Aboriginal students to build relationships, celebrate together and learn about their cultures and identities.

The event was held at Carclew house in North Adelaide. We wrote and recorded our own rap song about “Culture and Country” with Njirrah and the Gig Rig.

We learnt some hip hop moves and danced like and emus, kangaroo’s, snakes and whales.

We had some yummy lunch, a yarn and played with students from St Gabriel’s and St Augustine’s.

Another activity was carving. We learnt about carving, artifacts and how to sharpen knives and axes. We also decorated boomerangs and learnt about the Nukunu people.

Here are some photos to share

Isaac and Iliana

Mrs Pitt (Aboriginal /Focus teacher)

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

Congratulations to all the students who have already completed the 2024 PRC Challenge. Completed PRC Reading Records and Premier’s Be Active Challenge forms can be returned to the library at any time. Further information about the Be Active Challenge can be found at https://pbac.sa.edu.au and the  Reading Challenge at www.prc.sa.edu .    The holidays present an great opportunity to finish both challenges.                      

Overdue Library Books and Readers

Could you please check at home and in school bags and return any books found as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Book Club

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Book Club which helps provide additional resources for the students.

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.