Term 4 Week 1

Welcome to Term 4!

It’s hard to believe we are already at this time in the year. This also marks halfway through my tenure as Acting Principal at St. Monica’s and only two or so weeks until Emily returns.

I am grateful for your welcome and your child’s interest in me and the work I am here to do. At the risk of repeating myself to those of you who were at Sports Day, it has been ten years since my youngest child was a student at St. Monica’s and eighteen years since I worked here. The community has continued to live the Josephite Charism of in all things love and remains a welcoming and caring community. Thank you for playing a part in this story.

It was an absolute pleasure to spend the last day of Term 3 with you at our School Sports Day. The community spirit and enthusiasm of the students were evident all day. I believe that this is the first time we have held our Sports Day on the last day of Term 3. I would be interested in hearing your feedback on this. If you would like to offer feedback on this arrangement, please email me at sharding@stmonica.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday, October 30.

Team Cup Winners - Tenison Woods

Shield Winners - Joseph

We are pleased to inform our school families that there will not be an increase in school fees for the 2025 school year.

Unfortunately, some costs are beyond our control and are billed separately to recover service costs. Camp fees, excursions and incursions all fall into this category. The costs associated with these will be published in our next newsletter after being approved by our Finance Committee and School Board. The 2025 Term 3 Reception intake will continue to be offered to all families free of charge. It is at the heart of Catholic education that our schools are affordable and accessible to all. If any family has financial concerns, we ask them to contact Louise Watkins or Emily Sayer to confidentially discuss additional support through fee remissions.

We are banding together to support the students who will represent St. Monica’s in the Tournament of Minds National Competition, through fundraising. This week and next week, we have Zooper Doopers for sale at lunchtimes for $1 each and there will be a plant sale on Friday afternoon on the courts. Maybe come a bit earlier to pick your child up and grab a bargain! There will also be a Mochi stall next Wednesday.

I have had the pleasure of doing duty on Brunswick Street a few mornings, welcoming families to school and supporting our crossing monitors to keep everyone safe on the Emu Crossing (school crossing). Please remember a speed limit of 25 km/h applies to drivers when children are present. Drivers must stop for pedestrians using or about to use the crossing.

Your child’s safety is VERY important to us. Please remember to keep your speed to 25km/hr on Brunswick St so that ALL our students are safe.

Make sure you say ‘Hi’ if you see me around. I love being back in this community!

In all things … love,

Susanne Harding

Acting Principal

Prayer - Poverty

In the current climate living in ‘poverty’ is becoming more and more prevalent, not just overseas, or in third world countries, but right here in our own country. Being aware of this and understanding what some people are going through is important to grow awareness amongst our students and help them to think of ways that they can help those in need. One thing we promote at St Monica’s is the power of prayer. This week’s prayer theme looks at ‘Poverty’ and what we can do to help those in need.

Loving God,

We gather today to reflect on the theme of poverty.

Open our hearts to those in need and guide us to show compassion and love in all that we do.

Amen

Children’s University Graduation

Children’s University has finished for this year! Well done to all our students who successfully completed the necessary number of hours needed. You can continue to earn hours, these will contribute to next year’s Children’s University if you decide to participate again. The Graduation is being held on Monday, 18 November, 9:45am at Bonython Hall, University of Adelaide. All students who are graduating have received an invitation and letter with further details about the Graduation. It will be a great morning celebrating these students’ hard work over the year!

Sacrament Program 2024/2025

This weekend (Saturday, 19 October 6pm – St Monica’s/Sunday 20 October 9:30am – St Martin’s) are the Enrolment Masses for the Sacrament Program for 2024/2025. If you are interested in your child(ren) participating in the program you will need to come along to one of these Masses so you can enrol them after the Mass. Catholic students in Year 3 upwards are encouraged to join and take the next step in their spiritual journey.

The Sacrament of Reconcilitaion will be celebrated later this term. The Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist will be celebrated throughout 2025. To commit to this preparation program you need to ensure you are able to commit to all sessions throughout the year as it is important the students attend the information sessions so they can learn, grow and understand the Sacraments that they are celebrating. See below for all the dates.

Upcoming Dates – St Monica’s Parish School

Book Club – Issue 5 – LOOP order close Monday 28th October

Book Club order forms have been sent out today. Please note this is the last Book Club for the year and a wonderful opportunity to order books as Christmas presents through the Gift Function.  The Gift Function enables you to tag Book Club orders on LOOP that are intended as a surprise gift. LOOP orders tagged as a gift will be delivered to school and marked accordingly, for the Book Club Organiser to set aside at the school office for you to collect.

How to use the Gift Function on Book Club LOOP scholastic.com.au/LOOP

Follow these easy steps!

1  LOG-IN

2  Select the ORDER tab

3  Select your ISSUE

4  Check the box GIFT ORDER

NOTE: ALL ITEMS ON THIS ORDER WILL BE MARKED AS A GIFT.

5  Enter the book number shown on the Catalogue

6  Select NEXT to finalise your order

PLEASE NOTE, THE ITEMS DO NOT COME GIFT WRAPPED.

For books that can be delivered directly to your child, please submit a separate order.

Thank you for supporting the Book Club this year. This has enabled many new resources to be purchased for the Classrooms and Library.

Overdue Library Books

Thank you for the many overdue Library Books that have been returned.

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.