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Newsletter Week 10
NAIDOC Week
3 - 10 July, 2022
This year’s theme is
‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’
Father our Creator You created all things, seen and unseen,
Listen to my silent prayer as I stand here before you.
As my weary eyes look back over distant horizons,
Back to those days where my people walked. The footprints of my grandfathers are imprinted on the earth and their images become real to me.
I see my Grandfathers standing tall and strong, warriors of long ago. I hear them singing, I see them dancing, and my spirit moves within me.
They told me of the emus fighting; picking the scent of our hunters.
The images fade away as I feel the hurt of my people.
I can hear the cries of my Grandmothers as they cry for their children.
Grandfather, You can see me as I stand here and feel this hurt.
Father Creator, is this the purpose of my being here? Or is it your plan to reshape my people to be once again the proud race it once was?
Let me walk with you and my Grandfathers towards the dawning of a proud and new nation.
I thank you for my Sacred Being. Amen
ATSI Sunday
This Sunday, 3 July, the Catholic Church across Australia acknowledges and celebrates the gifts of Australia’s First Peoples in the Catholic Church. Next week we will acknowledge that
God has been walking with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, making His Presence known through a continuous living culture over many thousands of years. For interesting information about First Nations people and the Catholic Church go to dow.sh/NATSICC
Thursday, 30 June - Industrial Action
As notified previously, members of the Independent Education Union have voted to participate in a full day stop work action for Thursday, 30 June. This will impact St Therese where there will be minimal supervision on the day.
End of Term Awards Assembly
This Friday at 11.30am. A light morning tea will be served for parents from 11am.
Staff Professional Development Day - Pupil Free Day
Date to remember: Monday, 18 July
Staff Spirituality Day - Pupil Free Day
Date to remember: Monday, 5 September
OOSH Morning Closure
This Friday will be the last morning session for OOSH. Afternoon sessions will continue as usual when we return in Term 3.
OOSH Staff Change
Yesterday we were advised that Nicole Graham will be leaving St Therese OOSH to join the team at St Francis, Edmondson Park. This will be effective from this Friday. As a community, this is devastating news as Nicole has done an excellent job over the past few years, building up the service and creating a very safe, happy environment for the children in her care. Nicole has often gone well beyond what she was required to do to ensure a good experience for the children. While we, as a school, and I’m sure parents as well, will be saddened as we know we are losing a very dedicated person however, the flip side is that Nicole will now be just 10 minutes from home and give her experience in a much bigger setting (along with enormous petrol cost savings!!).
Nicole will be replaced by Melissa Farrell who is an experienced OOSH co-ordinator. Melissa will join Emily from the beginning of next term. Handover arrangements are still being worked out but this is seen as critical to ensure a smooth change.
NAPLAN 2023 - Yrs 3 & 5
This may seem like an early call but it may impact planning for some families. As of next year, NAPLAN testing will move from Term 2 back to Term 1. This will become the normal practice for the years to come. Therefore, NAPLAN next year will fall between 15 - 27 March, 2023.
Congratulations Annabelle (2B)
Over the weekend Annabelle competed in the Dance and Dazzle competition in Bankstown with her dance studio, TJS Dance Academy. She competed in the 8 & under lyrical and jazz troupe sections. She had a great time performing on stage with her friends and they were fortunate to place first in both their sections
Congratulations Finn (6B) & Jonah (4B)
Both boys recently competed in the Wollongong Eisteddfod - String Section. They were both Highly Commended in their String Solos and then were awarded 2nd in their String Quartet. An awesome achievement!
Wishing all of our families a very safe and relaxing school holiday period.
Whether you are able to get away or not,
hopefully just a less structured couple of weeks will prove
to be both relaxing and energising.
RE NEWS
The Mini Vinnies Team will continue collecting donations for the Illawarra Vinnies Van.
Please help support this very worthwhile cause.
Items like Food, Warm Clothes and Blankets will be collected. Eg:
- 2 minute noodles, Cup of Soups, pasta, tinned soups, tuna.
- Gloves, beanies, scarves, jumpers, coats and jackets (can be secondhand but need to be clean)
- Blankets, quilts and sleeping bags (can be secondhand but need to be clean)
Students please leave your donations in your class prayer space and the Mini Vinnies team will collect them next Friday (Week 9 and Week 10). These will be presented to the St Therese Vinnies Chapter at our End of Term Assembly
Any and all donations are welcome. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Our Knitting team has been hard at work. Firstly, learning to knit and secondly, knitting furiously with gusto.
Thank you to our able and willing staff, helping these students so far on their journey - Mrs McGoldrick, Ms Pellizzari and Mrs McRae. Your time and effort
Bear Raffle
We will be holding a raffle of this Beautiful Bear (kindly knitted and donated by Justine Thompson) to raise money for Mini Vinnies and the Winter Appeal.
The Mini Vinnies Team will be selling tickets in the raffle over the next week and a half during recess and lunch times (near the hall).
It will be drawn at our End of Term Assembly on Friday 1/7/22.
Tickets will be $1 each.
WONDER RECYCLING REWARDS
Once again this year we will be participating in the Wonder Recycling Rewards for Schools initiative.
The Wonder Recycling Rewards programme is a fun and easy program created to collect and recycle soft plastics and bread tags that might otherwise go to landfill, and earn rewards points to redeem on new sports equipment for our school.
Once collected they can be placed in the special collection box in the Library (Year 3 classrooms)
The campaign closes 9 September.
Thanking you in advance
Ms Elizabeth Pellizzari
School Birthdays
29 June 2022 - 19 July 2022
Happy Birthday
Finn Kelly, Daniel Tuang, Phoebe Arthur, Edoardo Insalata, Olivia Gacesa, Liana Voidanoski, Jacinta Shields, Zane Slattery, Albury Johnson, Aya Al Hasan, Krstian Jameel, Harriet Johnson, Gabriella Ezeanowai, Polly Brown, Isla MacBain, Hunter Cruickshank, Sidra Al Nuaimi, Jacob Testa, Yostin Haddad, Alice Thornberry, Leo Tupanceski, Nia Joseph.
Happy Birthday
Principal's Awards
Eva Krkovski - 3B
Tatiana Moreton - 3G
Jasper Leighton-Powderly - 6B
Silver Medallion
Kaleigh-Ann Rostirolla - 5G
Gold Medallion
Isadora Psarris - 5B
St Therese School Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/westwollongong.sttherese
School Vision Statement
“Immersed in faith, pursuing excellence in learning
and positive wellbeing of all”
TEENAGE YOUTH GROUP, 13 – 17 YEARS
LIVE LOCAL Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong (CYMW) has arrived in the Illawarra! LIVE Local is a Regional Youth Group run by the CYMW and NET Team, who are excellent at engaging with youth at whatever stage of faith. Come along for snacks, games, formation, prayer and music. Every Friday night in the school term from 7 - 9pm, at St Therese West Wollongong school hall. For more information, please contact our Deanery Youth Group
Coordinator, Luke Vail at luke.vail@dow.org.au
RECONCILIATION
Normal times for Reconciliation to resume from 5pm Saturday 23rd October, please refer to the weekly bulletin this Friday for the details. In addition, Fr Jerzy will be offering Reconciliation from Monday 25th October until Saturday 30th October after Mass as needed.
BAPTISMS
We are in the process of rescheduling baptisms that were postponed during lockdown. For any new requests please contact Kathy at the Parish Office (email: westwollongong@dow.org.au any time or call 4229 1074 on Tuesdays 9am-3pm).
God bless you all,
Fr Duane
Before and after school care voucher | Service NSW
For all enquires - contact Nicole on 0447 610 017.
Calendar Dates 2022
June 2022
30 - Teacher Strike Action Day
July 2022
1 - Last Day of Term 2
11.00am Parent Morning Tea - Hall
11.30am Awards Assembly
18 - Term 3 Commences - Staff return - PUPIL FREE DAY - STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY
19- Students return
22 - Year 4 Excursion to the Ports
28 - Year 6 Activate - School Hall
August 2022
4 - Year 4 Excursion to The Rocks, Sydney
5 - CENSUS Day
CANTEEN MENU 2022