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Newsletter Week 5
Ash Wednesday
(commences the liturgical season of Lent)
When you give alms … When you pray … When you fast.
We are given three instruments to overcome sin and temptation during this season of Lent so that we might journey closer to God.
- The first of these is ALMSGIVING. By giving to others, we are imitating God. God is the greatest giver in that he gave his all. When we imitate God, we become more like God.
- The second is PRAYER. When two or more people spend time speaking and listening, they inevitably grow closer together. Likewise, when we take time from our busy schedules to listen and talk to God, we grow closer to God.
- The third is FASTING. This is connected to almsgiving in that what we save through fasting, we can give to the poor. Fasting also helps us overcome temptation. This is to imitate Jesus who fasted for 40 days in the wilderness - this was to prepare himself for far greater temptations that were to come.
St Therese Catholic School Core Values
Inclusion Excellence Respect
Collaboration Community
Parent-School Partnership
A few years ago, the Catholic Education Office consulted widely with parents and schools to produce a document titled the Parent - School Partnership Framework. This document has been distributed previously but is one that I feel we all need reminding of from time to time. Therefore, starting today and continuing over the next 4 weeks, I will outline the 5 Partnership Principles.
Authentic Catholicity
Parents and school commit to co-creating a Catholic community - We live this in our community by:
- Valuing and respecting
- The Catholic identity of the school as a community centred on Jesus Christ
- Its connection to the parish community and the wider community of the Diocese of Wollongong
- The expression of its tradition through prayer, liturgy and Catholic beliefs and teachings.
- Being welcoming, inclusive and compassionate.
- Respecting the dignity of all.
- Acknowledging that the wellbeing of the individual is balanced with the common good.
- Living the Catholic faith through the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
- Supporting social justice initiatives that give witness to the Catholic faith in action
NAPLAN - Yrs 3 & 5
NAPLAN this year is much earlier than previously held. Dates are as follows
- Writing - Wednesday, 15 March
- Reading - Thursday, 16 March
- Conventions of Language - Monday, 20 March
- Numeracy - Tuesday, 21 March
Year 3 will complete the assessments during the morning session (9 - 11am) while Year 5 will utilise the middle session (11.30am - 1pm). Please see attached flyer with more information.
Kiss & Collect
For the past two days, Louise has been going out to ask parents / grandparents / carers to move on and not park on Powell St blocking the road for local residents. By far, the response has been “Yes, I know” and then they drive off. Having Louise out the front is not sustainable and is technically not our role as a school. It is obvious that we can achieve our goal of keeping Powell St clear but we need everyone to be on board and for parents (who receive this message) to pass it on to other responsible adults who pick-up your children.
P & F Meeting
It was great to see 6 new faces at the P & F meeting last night. This was a great way to start the year and parents present were informed of any staffing changes as well as the school focus areas for 2023. As happens each year, the first P & F meeting constitutes the AGM and elections are held for the executive roles. On behalf of the school, I would like to congratulate the following:
President: Michelle Ristov
Vice President: Rachael Dimitrievski
Treasurer: Matt Kari
Secretary: Carly Leighton
FaceBook / Media: Anita Rowles
If there are any parents who would like to take on a role as an assistant treasurer, secretary or assist with FaceBook, please let Louise know in the office.
WONDER RECYCLING REWARDS
The Zones of Regulation
Principal's Awards
Silver Medallion
Koa P - 4G
Zara H - 5G
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
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will be on in Week 1, TERM 2, Thursday, 27 April 2023.
All children are to come to school in correct FULL SUMMER uniform. Hair decorations are not permitted and ribbons/scrunchies are to be in toning with the uniform i.e. browns and yellows.
‘The School Photographer’ will be the photographer again this year. This year, we have gone to a total DIGITAL ORDERING SYSTEM.
ALL photos will still be sent to the school as per previous years. This is replacing the envelope system.
All photo orders are to be paid and ordered via the attached QR code using CODE:
- clicking onto “I’m a Parent” “Order 2023 Photos”.
- You will then be directed to the secure online ordering portal entering the code noted above.
When you log onto the website using the QR code or address, it will advise how to order the Sibling photo as well and any other merchandise available if you choose.
If you have any questions please contact the School Office ASAP on 42291818.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Volunteers to clean the concrete at the back of the hall.
Extended Leave (10 days or more)
For extended leave for holidays, parents are asked to complete an ‘Application for Exemption from Attendance at School’ form. This is available from the office.
HOW TO LODGE AN ABSENCE USING THE COMPASS APP
WHO DO WE CONTACT?
To assist with the leading of initiatives and the general running of school activities each stage is allocated a leader. For 2023 the following staff have been allocated to the four stages:
Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Mrs Trish Staff
Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) Mrs Trish Staff
Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) Mrs Anne-Marie Gilmore
Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) Mrs Dimitra Vezinias
Should you have any questions or concerns, your first port of call should always be your child's teacher. Should you require further clarification you can make contact with the Stage Leader.
Free webinar: Navigating Online Friendships - Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT and eSafety Commissioner
In partnership with the eSafety Commissioner, the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT will run the free webinar for parents and carers of students in secondary school.
Date: Thursday, 23 February 2023 at 7:30 pm
The webinar will focus on:
- how to support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships
- what to do when something happens at school and ends up on social media or private messaging apps
- how to report to social media platforms and eSafety
Register at: https://attendee.
Please promote this webinar within your community. Files to assist with promoting the webinar are available here.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
Year 4 Mass attending Parish Mass
- 9.30am 24 February
Year 3 Mass attending Parish Mass
- 9.30am 3 March
2023 Confirmation - Parent Information and Registration Night in Parish Centre
- 7pm 7 March OR
- 7pm 9 March
Opening & Blessing of the Parish Centre
- 12 March
2023 Reconciliation and First Holy Communion - Parent Information and registration night
- 7pm 14 March OR
- 7pm 16 March
2023 NAPLAN
- 15 -27 March
St Patrick's Day - Faith In Action - Green Mufti Day
- 17 March
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays
22 February 2023 - 28 February 2023
Andre T -1B, Natalia C - 5B, Levi T - 2B, Texas P - 6G, Mikayla S - 6B, Lana K - 3B, Andraws Y - 6G, Yool-Hee K - 5B.
CANTEEN MENU 2023
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS ONLY
PARISH INFORMATION
LENT
Note also, "fasting" does not mean avoiding all food for the whole day. Rather, "in current Catholic practice, fasting means having only one full meal on a day. Smaller quantities of food may be eaten at two other meals but no food should be consumed at any other time during the day."
ASH WEDNESDAY MASS TIMES
7am Immaculate Conception Unanderra - Fr Jerzy
9:30am Immaculate Conception Unanderra (St Pius school focus) - Fr Duane
11:30am Immaculate Conception Unanderra - Polish Mass, Fr Jerzy
STATIONS OF THE CROSS TIMES
Fridays of Lent:
5pm West Wollongong
7pm Unanderra
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
24 - 9.30am Year 4 Mass attending Parish Mass
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 Action - 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