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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE - MR STEVE THORNE
Newsletter Week 8
The first candle on the Advent Wreath represents Hope - the first Sunday of Advent not only leads us to anticipate the birth of Christ but celebrate the beginning of a new liturgical season as well. It is purple, the primary colour of Advent and a colour symbolising royalty. Sometime called the “Prophecy Candle”, the first candle harkens us back to Isaiah’s foretelling of the birth of Christ and all of the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus.
God of hope,
we light this candle as we prepare for the coming of your Son.
Awaken our hearts to you this Advent season, so that when Christ arrives,
we are ready to receive him with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength.
Amen
Staffing
Over the course of the last week, there has been three updates regarding staff for 2024:
- Mrs Patricia Staff (Instructional Coach/ Acting Middle Leader) has accepted a Middle Leader position at St Paul’s, Albion Park for 12 months. At this stage, Patricia will return to St Therese in 2025.
- Mrs Kristy South, who had already accepted a 12 month transfer to St Therese for 2024 will now take up the position of Instructional Coach. Kristy has held this position at her current school of Nazareth, Shellharbour.
- Mrs Dominique Hogarth has announced the exciting news that she is expecting her first child in June next year. Therefore, so as not to disrupt the transition for Kinders, we have made the decision to replace Dom on Kinder with Mrs Stephanie Milner. A separate notification has been sent to all our Kinder parents notifying them of this change. Dom will take up a position on another grade for Term 1.
Christmas Spirit
As we draw closer to the end of the year, we can see and sense the excitement of Christmas building. Classrooms are being decorated and preparation is well underway for our Christmas celebration on Friday, 8 December at 11.30am. It is during this time that we also start to have children bring in Christmas cards, candy canes, reindeer headbands, etc. I ask that parents still respect our school uniform but having the additional headband, along with their school hat, is ok. I also ask that you talk to your children about the way to accept a Christmas card or candy cane. I have always encouraged children giving the cards to think more deeply that simply writing “To _______, from ______”. Children accepting the cards should then acknowledge the effort that has been made in the process. Too often, we find envelopes and/or cards left lying around which is disappointing.
Swimming Carnival - Monday, 19 February
Save the date! With Summer fast approaching, parents are reminded that our school swimming carnival will be on Monday, 19 February. The next three months will be an ideal time for children to practise their skills or assess their own ability to see whether they are eligible to attend the carnival. Only students who are capable of swimming a full lap of Unanderra Pool (50m) will be invited to attend. Further details and nominations will be sent out during Week 1 of 2024.
Student Survey
Thank you to all the students who participated in this survey last week. In total, 53 students from Years 3 - 6 were chosen at random, often with children themselves selecting the next participant after they completed the survey. Generally speaking, the data shows that children are happy at school. There will always be some exceptions which may be dependent on how a child is feeling at any particular moment.
The horizontal scale goes from:
1 = Strongly Disagree through to 5 = Strongly Agree
I really like school and it’s important to go so I can learn and understand more.
The school is a great place to learn and have fun.
The school has nice teachers.
Was shy to start with but now have good friends. Going to the church is really cool. We learn to treat others fairly and kindly.
I think this is a great school to go to.
I feel like there are quite a few people that I can trust with things.
Good facilities, good, encouraging teachers, good sports & friends. Good principal and assistant principal
It’s a great school.
St Therese is a great school and has great education.
It’s a good school.
There are lots of activities to do at recess and lunch.
The school is a place where I can be safe and loved by other people.
I like the school and it’s fun to come to school. The teachers don’t make it boring.
A very nice school.
St Therese is a really good school and everyone is treated equally. I feel safe and feel part of it
Over the past five years, Creative Wollongong has brought us together through a range of events, programs and initiatives, but now we need your input into the next one. Share your thoughts, dreams, and aspirations for our cultural life, and together, we'll create a strategy that will shape our City’s identity in the coming years. Your input will help us craft a new plan with your priorities and aspirations at the forefront.
The Creative Wollongong 2019-2024 Snapshot document highlights some of the achievements of our current cultural plan. The FAQ has more information about what a cultural plan is and why we need one. To make a submission:
- Take part in our online activities at wollongong.nsw.gov.au/creative-wollongong:
- Complete the online survey
- Contribute to the Show and Tell Gallery - show us a place or activity that represents the unique creativity and culture of your community. You can upload a photo or drawing of this place, or share links to a song, piece of music, website, or video.
- Fill out a paper survey at your local library or Wollongong Art Gallery. There are reply-paid envelopes available with the surveys.
- Send an email to engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
- Write to us at Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong DC NSW 2500
- Call us on 4227 7111 to have a survey posted to your address
St Therese Catholic School Core Values
Collaboration - Community - Excellence - Inclusion - RespectThe Zones Of Regulation
SEL
We are discussing how we make positive choices in our lives and strategies to best make those decisions
Principal's Awards
Levi I - 1B
Aiden J - 1B
Freddie K - 1B
Jordan McL - 1B
Matilda P - 2B
William S - 1B
Dario S - 2B
St Therese School Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/westwollongong.sttherese
School Vision Statement
“Immersed in faith, pursuing excellence in learning
and the positive wellbeing of all”
Christmas Liturgy 2023
Save the Date: Friday - 8th December
Time: 11:30am
Where: Back Playground
The following is a list of costumes the students need to be dressed in for the concert:
Kinder - Christmas Top and antlers
Year 1B - White t-shirt and tinsel (in hair or around waist and wrists - Angels)
Year 1G - Christmas t-shirt and tinsel (Green, red, white or christmas t-shirt)
Year 2 - Boys dress as Shepherds and girls dress as Angels
Year 3 - Shepherds
Year 4 - Christmas Clothes (Green, red, white or christmas t-shirt)
Year 5 - Christmas Clothes (Green, red, white or christmas t-shirt)
Year 6 - Christmas Clothes (Green, red, white or christmas t-shirt)
WEN
GARDENING CLUB
Gardening Club is run every Thursday at lunchtine with Mrs McGoldrick - all are welcome - PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN GLOVES.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS/CARERS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
END OF SCHOOL YEAR
The Office will be closed from Tuesday 19 December 2023.
All 2023 School Fees need to be finalised by 19 December 2023. B Pay and Compass facilities will remain enabled over the holiday period.
Although there is an expectation that all 2023 School Fees are finalised by 19 December 2023, please contact the school if you need to discuss your school fees and/or payment options. We may be in contact over the next couple of weeks to discuss these options.
KEEP THE DATE
PLease keep the date St Therese Primary School invites you all to attend the Christmas Liturgy on 8th December at 11.30am.
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.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS
December 2023
1 - 9.30am Parish Mass Year 6 and Kinder - Buddy Mass
8 - 11.30am Christmas Liturgy in Back Playground
13 - Year 6 Big Day Out
14 - 6pm Year 6 Graduation in Church and Hall
15 - Students Last Day of School 2023
10.50am Mornining Tea
11.30am End of Year Assembly
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays
29 November 2023 - 5 December 2023
Rein M - 3B, Benjamin K 1G, Kiana S - 6B.
PARISH INFORMATION
BAPTISMS
For any new requests please contact Kathy at the Parish Office (email: westwollongong@dow.org.au any time or call 4243 9610 on Tuesdays 9am-3pm).
God bless you all,
Fr Duane
Calendar Dates 2023
2023
December 2023
1 - 9.30am Parish Mass Year 6 and Kinder - Buddy Mass
8 - 11.30am Christmas Liturgy in Back Playground
13 - Year 6 Big Day Out
14 - 6pm Year 6 Graduation in Church and Hall
15 - Students Last Day of School 2023
10.50am Mornining Tea
11.30am End of Year Assembly
18 - Staff Development day
19 - Staff Development day
End of Term 4 2023
2024
January 2024
30 - Term 1 2024 Commemces
Staff Return - Staff Development Day
31 - Staff Development Day
Kinder Best Start Assessments Commence
February 2024
1 - Students Return - Year 1 to 6
5 - Year 5 & Year 6 St Mary's Visit
6 - Kinder Best Start Assessments Concludes
7 - First Day Of School Kindergarten 2024
19 - 8.50am Swimming Selection Trials Unanderra Pools