Term 4 Week 4

What a wonderful success our Sports Day was. We could not have had more perfect weather for this important event in our school community and was so impressed by the number of families who were able to join us and connect with each other.

My thanks and congratulations are extended to Jim Mihelios for co-ordinating the day. It is one of the most enjoyable and well-run sports days that I have experienced in my time in working in schools and this only happens if there is someone who oversees the smooth running of the event.

My next thanks is to the families who assisted on the day from setting up and packing away the shade areas for the children to those who helped with the marshalling duties, handing out ribbons or taking food around for the teachers to enjoy. To all those cheering from the sidelines of the events, thank you for your constant encouragement of all the students. It was most appreciated.

A very special thank you to our amazing Parents and Friends group who prepared the watermelons for the children to enjoy on the day. A special thank you to Chiera & Sons (Luppino Family) who kindly donated the watermelons to us.

We were also very generously supported by several local companies with prizes for our raffle. If you get the chance, please support any of the following companies:

Slape & Sons

Yolk Café

Woolworths Walkerville

A huge thank you to the teachers who have spent the last few weeks preparing the students for the day and then the effortless running of each activity. It is a long day but our staff always put the children’s enjoyment first as they love seeing them having fun and being successful.

My final thanks must go to the students of St Monica’s. The house leaders who marched their team onto the field with pride and enthusiasm were inspiring for their team. Each student strived to do their best. It is hard not winning but it is how you handle the disappointment that is one of life’s great lessons. This year we introduced the Team Cup to acknowledge the example of leadership, co-operation and being a good sport and it was won by MacKillop. The overall results from the day are as follows. Congratulations to Augustine who were the overall winners.

Augustine – 510

MacKillop – 499

Tenison Woods – 386

Joseph – 371

Remembrance Day Observances - “Lest we forget”

As a community we gathered in prayer in St Monica’s Church to remember all those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of peace in countries around the world. Year 4PE led us in a very respectful and deeply meaningful liturgy and again our students entered this sacred time with respectful prayerfulness. We pray for the safety of those who are on active service, and we remember those who have not returned to their families as they strived to create change and bring peace to the world.

Members of the senior leadership group went with Mrs Ridley to the Walkerville RSL Remembrance Day service to represent our whole community and lay a wreath on our behalf. Thank you to these students for their responsible and respectful representation.

Planning for 2023

Next week we will send home information about classes for 2023 and also a form that families are asked to fill in if they would like to share information about their child’s placement. This is not about choice of a teacher but rather if you would like us to know any further information that will assist in the decision-making process of placement.

Emily Sayer

Principal

This week, twenty-three of our students graduated from Children's University in the prestigious Bonython Hall, at Adelaide University. This graduation was a recognition for all their hard work and dedication to learning outside of school this year. Well done to all the graduates!

Student Voice presents: What can robots and computers see?

Next week our second Little Light Bulbs Breaks will be held here at school. Our special guest will be Dr Mark McDonnell - scientist, engineer and inventor, in the area of AI technology. All students wishing to attend the breakfast need to RSVP by Monday. Please find attached consent and order form.

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Year 4 V and 4PE visit to Parliament House

Tour hosted by Lucy Hood MP member for Adelaide

“Parliament House is a very interesting Place for people to go and visit. I enjoyed the history and loved seeing the Red Room and the Green Room. There were lots of seats in there!”

Norin

FUN FACT: Did you know that when the Queen opened parliament in the 50’s they served her “Mock Turtle Soup” for lunch!

At St Monica’s we currently have a Speech Pathologist who works with students privately, 1 day a week.  We are investigating the possibility of a psychologist working on-site once a week too.  To make this viable, we would need 3-6 students who would see the psychologist either weekly or fortnightly.  If you are interested in exploring this further and receiving correspondence about fees (either privately funded or NDIS) and times,  please send an email to: 

smorris@stmonica.catholic.edu.au 

Sarah Morris 

Leader of Learning (Wellbeing and Inclusion) 

St Monica's Parish School invites all dads/grandfathers/special blokes to a fun night at Walkerville Bowling Club on Friday 2 December 2022 from 6.00pm to 11.00pm. Cost for the night is $15.00 which includes lawn bowls and pizza. 

2022 Premier’s Reading Challenge

Congratulations to our students who completed this year’s Challenge. The Certificates and Medals will be distributed at the end of November.

Overdue notices were sent home this week, please return those found as soon as possible. If you cannot locate the books, could you please let the Library Staff know as we are in the process of implementing Accessit, a new school library management system and will be stocktaking the Library’s resources to enable our cataloguing records are as accurate as possible.

Book Club

Issue 7 was the final Book Club for the year. The Book Club benefits the Library with 20% of each purchase available to provide additional resources. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Pat Patience

On Friday's at Recess in the hall we gave Pokémon. You can bring your Pokémon cards from home if you have them, and you can battle, but no switching cards (trading). We like it because you can relax inside, show off your cards, and battle your friends. Watch out for the Year 2's because we rock at it! 

Alessio and Matilda (Year 2 BG) 

St Monica’s acknowledge the Kaurna People as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We acknowledge the continued deep spiritual connection and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to this country and commit to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.