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A message from the Principal
First Week of Lent
God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.
Condolences to Ms Pellizzari
It’s with much sadness that I inform our school community of the passing of Pietro Pellizzari (Liz’s father). Please join us in keeping all of Liz’s family in our prayers as they go through this very difficult time. His funeral will be on Friday.
Catholic Schools’ Week – CHANGED PLANS
This is a time to celebrate the great things happening in Catholic Schools right around Australia. We have much to be proud of here at St Therese with great kids, great families and a very committed staff. Due to the funeral of Ms Pellizzari’s father, at which Fr Duane is celebrating, we have had to make some changes to our original plan as a number of staff will, understandably, be attending the funeral.
The Mass on Friday will now be a liturgy still commencing at 9.30am in the church. There will NOT be open classrooms after the liturgy however parents are invited to drop in during the afternoon session after lunch.
Open Day – Kindergarten 2021
Friday, 6 March
(2 – 5pm)
Also as part of Catholic Schools’ Week, we are inviting families of children starting school in 2021 to have a walk around, chat to some of the staff and get to know a little about us.
Family Mass
Thank you to the many, many families who attended the family Mass last Sunday. Both myself and Fr Duane were blown away by the response, especially having so many children come up the front of the church for the homily. It really reminded me of my own childhood where you would go to Mass to see all your friends on a Sunday! There were also quite a lot who took up the option to have a picnic and some fun on the Big Bank (and to witness Fr Duane’s soccer skills!).
P & F Executive
At the P & F AGM, only the position of Treasurer was filled (thanks Matt). Since that meeting there has been some interest in the roles of President and Vice President. These positions will again be thrown open at the next meeting on March 17 and if necessary a secret ballot will be held. Voting can only be accepted from those who attend the meeting.
Car Park / Kiss & Drop
Cyber Safety
Mobile Phones / SmartWatches
Parents and students are reminded that students are NOT to have these devices at school. If there is a good reason that you feel you child needs such a device, please contact me so that you request can be recorded. In these circumstances, the device is to be handed in at the office on arrival at school and then collected again at 3pm. SmartWatches include any watch with games and capable of taking photos or videos.
Tik Tok
This App has once again come to my attention, particularly among Year 5 students but not limited to them. Tik Tok recommends an age group of 13+. The website of the eSafety Commissioner is a good source of information regarding this App as well as many others. https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide/tiktok
PARISH
St Therese, West Wollongong
Weekend Mass Times:
Saturday 9am
Sunday 10am
5pm
Community Notice
Moonlight Movies: The Lego Movie – Saturday, 14 March
Come and enjoy our free screening of The Lego Movie at Roy Johannson Park!
Children can
- meet Paint The Gong REaD's mascot, Bright Spark
- play with Lego and Duplo thanks to Wollongong City Libraries
- play Jenga, Connect 4 and ball games to keep you entertained (provided by i98fm
We'll also have inflatable mushrooms with tea party activities.
There'll be a BBQ, Gelatissimo and coffee vans, plus fresh popcorn available.
The movie will screen from 7.30pm.
School Vision Statement
“St Therese Primary School – a dynamic, Catholic community
educating and empowering learners for life’s journey.”
Birthday Corner 2020
4 March to 10 March
Happy Birthday
Jude Kiley, Charlee Blacklock, Max Blacklock, Harrison Dias, Flint Kim
Dear students, families and school communities,
Thank you for your school's participation in Catholic Schools Week from 1-7 March. It's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase many of the fantastic things happening in your school every day, and in all our Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong.
We thank you for working together in partnership with us to help make your school community such a vibrant, nurturing place of learning, faith, belonging and hope.
If you or a family member or friend would like to enrol your child in one of our schools, please download an enrolment package here.
Have a look at our Catholic Schools Week video below, celebrating what our students across the diocese love about their Catholic school. Can you spot the students from your school?
Missions
Week 4 Mission collection: Congratulations to 2 G for raising $13.20
In Week 5 we began raising money for project compassion. Congratulations to 4G who raised $11.55 and to 6G for raising $11.10 in week 5 the school has raised a total of $46 for Project Compassion. Let’s Go Further Together! In class students have already begun talking about project compassion and ways they can raise money for project compassion, some of their ideas are: do some jobs around the house and ask for money to donate to project compassion, share some of their weekly pocket money, put the change from their tuckshop money in the project compassion boxes. We would encourage families to become involved and discuss ways they can all contribute to project compassion this year, remember every little bit helps!
Family Mass
WOW!!! A huge thank you to everyone who came, read, sung played and participated in our Parish Family Mass on Sunday. It was such an uplifting and wonderful celebration of our school and Parish and the connection we have. I was truly blown away to see so many of our students and families at Mass. A special thank you to Mrs Jenna Hogan for her generosity of time, she prepared the band and choir so beautifully and her music made the event very special. It was a great feeling to celebrate Mass with a packed Church and as was mentioned to hear and see so many children, who are the future of our world! Also a very special thank you to Fr Duane, who had this brilliant idea and organised many aspects of the Mass. There were also a team from the Parish involved particularly Bec and Lauren Hall, who added so many lovely touches to the Mass. We look forward to future family Masses together!
Upcoming dates:
Friday 6th March - 9.30am Catholic Schools Week Liturgy led by 4 Gold.
Saturday 21st March - The relics of Saint Therese arrive at our Parish
Sunday 22nd March - Mass with the Bishop and the relics of St Therese, special involvement of St Therese children, more details to come!
Extension for Vacation Care Interest
Hello to all the St Therese West Wollongong family and community,
As you may know CatholicCare would like to consider operating a CatholicCare vacation care OOSH program within the Illawarra (possible at one or two sites in the April holidays) as we have had a number of families express interest in accessing a CatholicCare vacation care program in the Illawarra.
We have extended the closing date on the interest survey to support families who may not have had a chance to fill it out yet, the survey will close on Sunday. For any families who feel they may be interested in vacation care we encourage you to complete the survey. Please find attached the CatholicCare vacation care survey link here
If you have any questions, please drop in our Coordinator Nicole is here till 9:30am and from 2:30pm to answer any questions.
And don't forget, if you see any of our team around give us a wave and come say hello.
Thank you from all of us at St Therese OOSH.
Calendar Dates 2020
March 2020
5 - Coastal Swimming Carnival
6 - 9.30am Catholic Schools Week Liturgy
2.00pm - 3.00pm Open Classrooms
2.00pm—5.00pm Kinder 2021 Open Day
12 - 2pm - 3pm ‘Read with Me’ Parent Seminar (location TBA)
2.30pm 6 Blue Assembly in the Hall
13 - Life Education Week begins
16 - 9.00am Life Education Parent session
17 - Paul Kelly Cup
St Patrick’s Day - Green Mufti Day
7.00pm P & F Meeting in the Library
20 - 9.30am Mass 3 Gold attending
Year 6 E-Safety webinar
21 - Harmony Day
St Therese Relics in Church
23 - 9.00am Prayer for Harmony Day
26 - Cross Country Carnival - Kembla Grange
April 2020
2 - Responsible Pet Education Program K - 2
5 - Day light Savings Ends
8 - 9.30am Holy Week Liturgy
9 - 11.30am End of Term 1 Assembly
End of Term 1
Holy Thursday
10 - Good Friday
11 - Easter Saturday
12 - Easter Sunday
13 - Easter Monday
25 - ANZAC Day
27 - Term 2 Commences
Students return
Anzac Day Prayer
May 2020
2 - Bunnings BBQ