Term 4 Week 2

We were absolutely blessed with the weather for our 2023 St Monica’s Sports Day. Everyone came to the day with lots of enthusiasm, loud voices, high energy levels and ready for a lot of fun. Well done to Joseph House who were the overall winners on the day and to MacKillop House who were the winners of the Team Spirit Cup. I would like to congratulate all students on their positive behaviour, team spirit and encouragement of others on the day. They were just sensational. The final points were:

Joseph       678

Tenison     649

Augustine 646

MacKillop 612

I would also like to say thank you to several people who helped make the day run so successfully.

Jim Mihelios for his work in the lead up to the event and then all the hard work on the big day itself.
Rocco Carpentari who helped Jim in the preparation work during the week and then on the day itself with the set up and packing up.
All staff for their time, patience and enthusiasm. Sports Days are long days, but each staff member was there early to assist with the set up and stayed to help pack up.
P and F for the special treat of the cookie and key ring to recognise and say thank you to the staff on World Teachers’ Day. A wonderful and special gift.
Ingle Farm Little Athletics, and especially Katie, who accommodated our school at short notice and helped with the setting up of the equipment. We are truly thankful for your generosity.
To all the families who were able to be present on the day. Community events are so important and provide a chance for families and friends to connect and catch up. We hope that you enjoyed yourselves.
To the parent volunteers who assisted with roles with judging, measuring or setting or packing up. Many hands did truly make light work of the tasks at hand.

If you have any feedback or have any suggestions for improvements, please connect with me in person or via a phone call or email.

On Thursday 26 October, all Year 3 and 4 students attended the Catholic Schools Tennis Carnival at Henley Beach Tennis Courts. Again, the students who represented St Monica’s were a credit to our school with the way they participated, their great sportsmanship and their encouragement of each other.

The Pathways team of Flynn, Matthew S, Naksh, Mahlie, Elsie, Navya, Hitansh and Shivansh were successful and will now move forward to the next stage of the competition and play in the 2023 Metro Hot Shots State Finals at Memorial Drive.

In the next week, a letter will be going home for families to provide me with confidential information about their child’s class placement next year. There may some information that you would like me to know about your child’s development and placement both academically and socially. This is NOT an opportunity to request certain teachers but focuses on your child’s placement. There will be a date that this is required by and I ask families to be mindful of that date.

I particularly would like to draw your attention to two very important dates coming up:

Students’ last day for 2023 will be Wednesday 13 December. Teachers will be spending Thursday and Friday moving some classrooms and also sharing transition information with each other for classes in 2024. OSHC will be available on both days if required but bookings are essential.
On Thursday 25 January, OSHC will be closed due to all staff (school and OSHC) undertaking professional development that is based on Student Wellbeing and Restorative Practices. Please make alternative arrangements for the care of your child on this date.

Thank you and have a gentle week ahead,

Emily Sayer

Principal

Scholastic Book Club

Book Club orders close this Wednesday, 1st November.  This is the last issue for the year and an opportunity to purchase Christmas presents which will be kept separate from the student orders and you will be notified when they arrive. This can be done by selecting and ticking the ‘gift’ option when ordering.  Thank you for your support of the Book Club this year which has enabled the purchase of many resources for the classrooms and Library. 

“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them.” – Neil Gaiman

Overdue Library Books and Readers– a friendly reminder

Please check at home for any overdue library books and readers and return them as soon as possible. Thank you.

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.