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Newsletter Week 3
St Therese Catholic School Core Values
Inclusion Excellence Respect
Collaboration Community
Welcome Kinders
Yesterday we welcomed our Kinder cohort for 2023. 52 bright and smiling faces (& just a couple of tears!) graced our school playground excited by the adventure that lay ahead. By 12.30pm when I was with them in the playground, there were quite a few who were tiring very quickly. The next few weeks in particular will be challenging with the heat and high humidity but we will take things slowly to help ensure their best start to the year. On Friday, parents will be notified of their child’s class (either Kinder Blue or Kinder Gold) which will then commence formally from next week.
NAPLAN - Years 3 & 5
Students in Years 3 & 5 will complete NAPLAN Assessments in the 4 domains of Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy during the testing window (15 - 27 March). An exact testing schedule will be sent to parents closer to this period.
Blessing of Backpacks - 10am Mass on Sunday, 19 February
Fr Duane commenced this practice as a way of wishing our children well for the year ahead and asking God’s blessing to keep them safe throughout 2023. Students are encouraged to bring along their backpack and place it on the altar at the front of the church. During the Mass, Fr Duane will acknowledge the students and do the blessing.
Student Council 2023
Adriana Coratella Genova D’Amico
Oscar Krauss Isadora Psarris
Layla Saunders Kosta Stratis
Alexandra Shields Madelina Belo
Sports Captains 2023
Lisieux
Hunter Cruickshank Elizabeth Elizabeth
Alara Hosgorur Abeba Bereket
Samaritan
Isla MacBain Harcharan Sidhu
Kiana Smith Justin Velosa
Keira
Pippa Kiley Lewis McLeod
Andraos Yousif Emmett Plunkett
Benedict
Amari Ferns Eve Jaure
Texas Pike Alexander Giacon
WONDER RECYCLING REWARDS
SAFER INTERNET DAY 2023
THANK YOU
Principal's Awards
NO AWARDS THIS WEEK
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”
SEL
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
SACRAMENTAL NEWS 2023
- Confirmation - Tuesday 7th March and 9th March at 7-8pm in the Parish Centre.
- Reconciliation and First Holy Communion - Tuesday 14th March and 16th March at 7- 8pm in the Parish Centre.
- Tuesday 6th June at 5pm and 7pm at St Therese Church West Wollongong
- Tuesday 22nd August - 5pm til 7:30pm at St Therese
- Thursday 24th August - 5pm til 7:30pm at St Therese
- Saturday 4th Nov - 11am and 2pm at St Therese
VISUAL ARTS
Year 5 had a great start in Visual Arts. Designs using numerous lines and coloured chalk proved a fun way to express their creativity and build some valuable skills in the process.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Kiss & Collect
As we begin the new year, I would like to start the afternoon dismissal on a positive note. In particular, support from parents / grandparents to adhere to the 2.50pm start time for Kiss & Collect. The gates to the presbytery will be opened at 2.45pm. Prior to this, drivers can be fined by police and/or council rangers for stopping the flow of traffic on a road. Some drivers are waiting for a considerable amount of time unnecessarily as the busy time for Kiss & Collect lasts 15-20mins.
Please ensure family names are clearly displayed and remain visible until children are in the car. Drivers are asked not to get out of the car as this slows the whole process. If children need help with seatbelts, please move up to near the presbytery to do this.
Phones / Smart Watches
Students who bring phones to school are required to hand them in at the office on arrival and can then pick them up at the end of the day. Smart Watches (or games watches) should not be brought to school as they become a distraction, are quite ‘chunky’ when students are running around and can be easily damaged. If necessary, these can also be handed in at the office for safe keeping.
Hair Cuts
As is often the case, some students have had the opportunity to have varying hairstyles during the holiday period. Now that we have commenced the new year, I remind parents of the school uniform policy and in particular, the expectation around hairstyles. This policy was agreed to upon signing the acceptance letter at enrolment. I understand the transition period as some styles grow out.
Meet & Greet Sessions for Years 1 - 6
These will occur during Week 4 (starting 13 February). Information of how to book a 10min timeslot will be sent later this week. While 10mins may seem very short, it does equate to an additional 5 hours for a teacher in a class of 30 students. Parents of students who have a Personalised Plan or Medical Concerns will be offered a longer time during Week 6.
P & F AGM - Tuesday, 21 February @ 7pm
All parents are invited to attend the first P & F Meeting for the year. This is an opportunity to meet other parents, learn a bit more about what is happening at school and possibly support some of the P & F initiatives that occur throughout the year.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
Swimming Selection Trials 2023 - consent & payment to be made on COMPASS ONLY
- 9 February
11.30am Welcome to School Year & Commissioning of Leaders Mass
- 10 February
Meet & Greet Interviews Year 1-6
- Commence 13 February
Personalised Planning Meetings
- Commence 20 February
Pancake/Shrove Tuesday
1.30pm Burning of the Palms Prayer Service - Parents Welcome
- 21 February
11.30am Ash Wednesday Mass - Parents Welcome
- 22 February
Meet & Greet Interviews - Kinder
- Commence 27 February
2023 Confirmation - Parent Information and Registration Night
- 7pm 7 March
- 7pm 9 March
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays
8 February 2023 - 14 February 2023
Ben K - 5B, Layla S - 6G - Oscar B - 4B, Beau V E - Kinder, Ivy LP - 5B, Laija C - Kinder, Nathan B - 5G, Niara B - 5G, Mila G - 4G, Aurora D - 4B, Isabella B - 5G, Dario S - 5B, Lucky N - 2G, Joseph M - 1B.
PARISH INFORMATION
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
BAPTISMS
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
Calendar Dates 2023
2023
February 2023
9 - Swimming Selection Trials 2023
10 - Census Day
11.30am Welcome to School Year & Commissioning of Leaders Mass
13 - Meet & Greet Interviews Commence Year 1-6
National Apology Anniversary
16 - Wollongong Brass Band Visit
9.30am Holy Spirit Visit Year 5
17 - 9.30am Year 5 Mass attending Parish Mass
Meet & Greet Interviews conclude
20 - Personalised Planning Meetings commence
21 - Pancake/Shrove Tuesday
Cartitas Project Compassion Launch
1.30pm Burning of the Palms Prayer Service
22 - 11.30am Ash Wednesday Mass
24 - 9.30am Year 4 Mass attending Parish Mass
27 - Meet & Greet Interviews Commence - Kinder
March 2023
3 - 9.30am Year 3 Mass attending Parish Mass
7 - 7pm 2023 Confirmation - Parent Information and Registration Night
8 - International Women's Day
9 - 7pm 2023 Confirmation - Parent Information and Registration Night
Peace Run (Sri Chinmoy Oneness)
10 - 9.30am Year 2 Mass attending Parish Mass
12 - Opening & Blessing of the Parish Centre
14 - 7pm 2023 Reconciliation and First Holy Communion - Parent Information and registration night
15 - 27 - NAPLAN PERIOD
16 - 7pm 2023 Reconciliation and First Holy Communion - Parent Information and registration night
National close The Gap Day
17 - St Patrick's Day - Faith In Actiom - Green Mufti Day
19 - 10.00am Sunday Mass of Many Cultures
21 - Harmony Day
11.20am Year 1 Liturgy - St Joseph
23 - 2023 Cross Country Carnival - Kembla Grange
24 - 9.30am Parish Mass Year 6 attending
11.20am Prayer Annunciation of the Lord (Year 2)
April 2023
2 - 8 - Holy Week
2 - Palm Sunday
6 - 11.20am Holy Week Liturgy in the Church
Last Day of Term 1 2023
7 - Good Friday
8 - Easter Saturday
9 - Easter Sunday
10 - Easter Monday
24 - Term 2 Commences - Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
25 - ANZAC DAY - Public Holiday
26 - Students Return
27 - School Photos - SUMMER UNIFORM TO BE WORN
May 2023
3 - 5 - Year 6 Camp - Fitzroy Falls