Filter Content
Newsletter Week 10
Dear God,
Thank you for our wonderful school community. We pray that it remains a safe place for learning, fun and friendship. Please watch over all our staff, students and families during the coming holiday break. Help us to learn new things, to explore the wonderful things our world has to offer and to be happy. Help us to have love for each other, to have forgiveness in our heart and to build kindness into every day. Amen
Dimitra Vezinias
Acting Principal
St Therese School Prayer
School Prayer: God, Our Father, you decided your Kingdom was for those who were humble. Help us to imitate the ways of St Therese and remember that ‘Love can do all things’. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen
Morning Offering: O God, my Father in Heaven. I offer you myself and all I do this day. Mary, my Mother, help me to love God and look after myself, and those around me, today. Amen.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
At St Therese we aspire to create a learning community which builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with parents and the broader community which enhance student learning and well being outcomes. I would like to thank parents and carers for participating in the various initiatives we have implemented this term which provided opportunities to share information between school and home to complement learning across both settings.
At St Therese we certainly value the relationship and partnership we have with our parents and carers. In this partnership, the responsibility for student’s learning, well being and faith development is shared between parents and carers as the first and primary educator of their child, and the school community. Thank you to our parents and carers for this wonderful partnership.
On behalf of the whole school, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to all the St Therese staff, for the way in which they have supported our students in their academic, faith and well-being growth this term. It has been a very busy term, and the generosity of spirit is quite remarkable. I am very proud of the work of my colleagues and most grateful to them for all that we do in partnering with parents and carers to support and care for our students.
I would like to thank the students for their hard work and commitment to their learning this term. It has been a very busy term and our students certainly deserve a holiday. I would like to thank all parents and carers for your ongoing partnership as together we create a vibrant Catholic school community. I wish you all a very relaxing pupil vacation period and hope you have an opportunity to spend time with your family and friends and look forward to seeing you all in Term 3.
Staffing Changes
Next term we welcome Mr Thorne back after a relaxing and exciting holiday!!
I wish to inform you of a staffing change that will commence from Term 3 2024.
In Semester 2, Mrs Megan Johansson will be working at St Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary School in Kiama on Mondays assisting new arrival students and training staff. I know St Peter & Paul are looking forward to having such an amazing EAL/D Specialist teacher.
Mrs Carol Hiscox will be taking Long Service Leave during Term 3.
Mrs Jenna Hogan will be taking Long Service Leave from Week 10 this term until the end of Week 3 Term 3.
I would like to inform you that Mrs Kirra Calvert has decided to take some personal leave for Term 3 and 4. Thank you to Kirra for all her hard work and dedication this year with 4 Blue.
Also Mr Mark Bunder will be taking personal leave from teaching 6 Blue during Terms 3 and 4. This was a very difficult decision for Mark. I thank Mark for his hard work and dedication.
The recruitment process has begun and temporary teaching positions have been advertised for Semester 2 2024. I will ensure to communicate promptly with the announcement of teacher positions.
CatholicCare at St Therese
Melissa Farrell (Coordinator) has resigned from her position at CatholicCare and will be finishing up next Friday, 5th July 2024. The educator, Swavi will also be leaving. CatholicCare will be recruiting in the following weeks.
We will be thanking Melissa at the Awards assembly.
HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY - SCHOOL RETURNS MONDAY 22 JULY
Staff Professional Development Day - Monday, July 29
As stated earlier in the year, Catholic Schools in the Wollongong Diocese have been granted 8 Staff Development Days each year. So far we have accessed 3 of these days with the fourth being scheduled for Monday, 29 July (Term 3, Week 2). This is a Pupil Free Day. The focus will be on the Environment and, in particular, Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’.
The other planned Professional Development Day are:
- Friday, 27 September - ‘The Berry Street Education Model’ (Day 2)
- Monday, 14 October - ‘Vision for Learning’
- Thursday, 19 December - ‘Educating with a Mission Lens’
- Friday, 20 December - ‘First Aid’ training
Class Assemblies
Class assemblies are an opportunity for students to showcase some of the great things that are happening in their classroom for their parents and the other classes across the school. Some grades have opted to work together and will therefore present 2 assemblies over the course of the year. In other cases, classes will present alone which will be one assembly each. Assemblies will be in the hall commencing at 2.10pm. Parents are welcome to attend any of these assemblies.
Term3, class assemblies will be:
- Week 2 (Friday, 2 August) - Year 2 Blue
- Week 3 (Friday, 9 August) - Year 5 Blue
- Week 4 (Friday, 16 August) - Year 6 Blue
- Week 6 (Friday, 30 August) - Year 3 Blue
- Week 7 (Friday, 6 September) - Year 2 Gold
- Week 8 (Friday, 13 September) - Kindergarten
NCCD
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on Students with Disability (NCCD). Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to provide de-identified information, already available in the school, about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines.
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 2024 the following staff have been allocated to the four stages:
Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Mrs Kristy South & Mrs Vezinias
Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) Mrs Kristy South & Mrs Vezinias
Stage 2 (Year 3 and Year 4) Mrs Amy Runko
Stage 3 (Year 5 and Year 6) Ms Bethany Tirchett
SPORT- Miss Jazmin Tikkeros
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.
OUR SPORT HOUSES
Lisieux - This is the birthplace of our patron saint, St Therese
Benedict - This honours St Benedict from whom part of our charism comes
Samaritan - This honours our founding order of nuns - the Good Samaritans
Keira - This reflects where our school is nestled - in the foothills of Mt Keira (Geera) - and honours the Indigenous of our area.
OUR PATRON SAINT
St Therese of Lisieux is our patron saint. She was born Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin on January 2, 1873 and died from tuberculosis at the age of 24 on September 30, 1897. Her Feast Day is October 1. She was canonised in 1925. Therese joined the cloistered nuns of the Discalced Carmelite order in 1888 at the age of 15. The Carmelites promoted the brown scapular as a devotion to our Lady of Mt Carmel. Therese is known as St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Infant, and Little Flower of Jesus or the Little Flower. She wrote her spiritual memoir, the ‘Story of a Soul’ at the urging of two of her prioresses because of the many miracles worked at her intercession. It was published after her death at the age of 24 and her spiritual influence quickly spread. St Therese is one of only four female Doctors of the Church. Her parents, Louis and Zelie were canonised in 2015.
OUR MOTTO
Our school motto, ‘Love Can Do All Things’ comes from a quote in a letter by Therese after entering the Carmelite convent at the age of 15 in 1888. The letter was to her sister, Celine. “Love can do all things, and the most difficult things don’t appear difficult to it. Jesus does not look so much at the grandeur of actions or even their difficulty as at the love which goes to make up these actions…”
OUR CHARISM
Welcome & hospitality, joy & kindness reflect the spirit of our patron saint ~ St Therese, our founders ~ the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict and the
Upcoming Teacher Professional Learning Development
Throughout the year teachers have access to a variety of quality professional development opportunities. Casual teachers are employed to cover classes with the teacher ensuring the teaching program and routines are followed.
Week |
Date |
Staff Member/s |
Purpose |
|
10 |
2/7/24 |
Ms Tirchett, Mrs Merrett |
PB4L Planning Day |
|
10 |
2/7/24 |
Mrs Milner & Miss Shalala, Miss Turvey & Mrs Robilliard |
CLIL |
|
10 |
3/7/24 |
Mrs Thomas & teachers |
English and Maths Curriculum Programs |
Zones of Regulation
This year students have been learning how to identify and name their emotions. Students have been working toward the following success criteria each day:
- I can identify what emotion I am feeling
- I can identify if my body and mind are ready to learn and can follow the school rules
- I can show my teacher that I am ready to learn because I am following the school rules.
How parents can continue this learning at home:
- Throughout the day, prompt your child to check in with their body and name the emotion they are feeling. Speak with your child about what that emotion feels like in their bodies.
- When watching TV, speak about what emotion you think the characters are feeling and list reasons why. For example, I can see that Bluey is feeling sad because her shoulders are slumped and she is trying not to look Bingo in the eye.
- Discuss what feeling ‘good’ (children may refer to this as being in the Green Zone) looks like, feels like and sounds like. Throughout the day, notice when they are in the Green Zone and bring this to your child’s attention. For example, I can tell you are in the Green Zone after you play soccer because you are smiling and your body is relaxed.
- Point out and celebrate your child’s strengths
Parent-School Partnership Framework
“We must take note of the changes that have affected both the family and the school, and renew the commitment to constructive collaboration – for the benefit of children and young people” — Pope Francis
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) strives to create vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and believes this is best achieved when there is a genuine partnership between home and school.
The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework has been developed to support the creation and maintenance of this partnership. It outlines for parents* and school the principles and expectations of the parent-school partnership so that together we can create:
- identifiably Catholic communities, inspired by the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, where all strive to act with hope, integrity, justice and compassion; and
- effective schools which enhance student learning and wellbeing.
The Parent-School Partnership Framework is available in six additional languages to help support you and your family.
The Framework is available in Vietnamese, Hindi, Nepali, Malayalam, Tagalog and Arabic. They are all available for download from the below link:
www.dow.catholic.edu.au/partnershipframework
TO VIEW OUR PARENT PARTNERSHIP PRINCIPLES ONLY, CLICK HERE
SEL
St Therese Catholic School Core Values
Collaboration - Community - Excellence - Inclusion - Respect
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 the positive wellbeing of all”
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Important Dates:
- Friday, 5th July- Gratitude Liturgy/ Morning Tea/End of Term Assembly
- 7th-14th July- NAIDOC Week
- Monday 5th August- Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA) Year 4
Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal- Scarf and Beanie Day
Thank you to our Mini Vinnies team for organising the Scarf and Beanie Day fundraiser for the Vinnies Winter Appeal. It was a wonderful demonstration of compassion to improve the lives of those who need our support. Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful school community, we raised slightly over $410.00—what an amazing achievement.
NAIDOC Week 7th-14th July- Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud
This year's theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges faced. It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we honour this flame, we kindle the sparks of pride and unity, igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation.
Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.
St Vincent De Paul- Winter Appeal-Term 3
Vinnies NSW supports thousands of individuals and families experiencing financial and housing insecurity each year. This year, we are focusing on the issue of the working homeless.
We invite our school community to join us in participating in the 2024 Vinnies Winter Appeal during Term 3.
All items are greatly appreciated. Items will be collected from each classroom by the Mini Vinnies team for distribution.
**To uphold the dignity of those receiving goods, please ensure that all food items are not due to expire for at least the next 6 months.
**All items must be non-perishable and undamaged. Similarly, please ensure socks are new and clean.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY 2024
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
July 2024
5 - Year 1 Gold Liturgy 10.30am in the Church
11.30am End of Term 2 Assembly
Last Day of Term 2
22 - Term 3 Commences - Students Return
29 - Environmental Staff Development Day
31 - Maths Olympiad & Explorer Competition
STUDENT BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays
3 July 2024 - 23 July 2024
Eden K 1G, Luca t - KG, FinnM - 1G, Olivia G - 5B, Zane S 2G, Jacinta S - 3B, Aya A 3G, Roman D 1B, Enzo H - 6G, HarrieT J - 5B, Alice H - KB, Ilariya B - KG, Azaria L - 2B, Polly B - 4B, Jacon T - 6B, Charlize H - 5B, Lucy R - KG, Leo t - 4B, Alice T - 5B, Jayden I - 2G, Ellie S - 5G, Zane B - 4B.
PARISH INFORMATION
BAPTISMS
For any new requests please contact 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 2024
2024
July 2024
3 to 10 - NAIDOC Week
5 - Year 1 Gold Liturgy 10.30am in the Church
11.30am End of Term 2 Assembly
Last Day of Term 2
22 - Term 3 Commences - Students Return
29 - Environmental Staff Development Day
31 - Maths Olympiad & Explorer Competition
August 2024
2 - 2.10pm 2 Blue Assembly in the Hall
5 - Religious Literacy Assessment - Year 4
ICAS Digital Technologies
6 - 10.30am Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
ICAS Writing
8 - 11.15am Liturgy of the Feast of Mary of the Cross MacKillop Year 3 Gold
9 - 2.10pm Year 5 Blue Assembly - Hall
TBC P & F Disco
12 - ICAS English
15 - 11.15am Feast of the Assumption of Mary Year 2 Blue in the Church
16 - 2.10pm 6 Blue assesmbly in the Hall
21 - Book Week Parade
23 - Soccer Gala Day - Woonona & Unanderra
CANTEEN MENU 2024
ST THERESE CANTEEN
WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS ONLY
