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Newsletter Week 1
WELCOME BACK TO 2021
Welcome
As announced in newsletters last year, we have a number of new staff joining St Therese this year:
Mrs Kirra Calvert - Year 5 Gold teacher and Religious Education Co- ordinator
Miss Dominique Tobin - Year 1 Blue teacher
Miss Sheridan Keane - Job sharing with Mrs Rita Crofts on Year 1 Gold
Mrs Paula O’Hara - Diverse Learning Support for Stage 1
We also have a number of returning staff:
Mrs Adele Walsh - returning from Parental Leave teaching Kinder Gold
Mrs Sue McGoldrick - teaching Year 5 Blue while Mr Galvin is on leave
Mrs Holly Degotardi - Wednesdays and Fridays providing Planning Time for teachers
Mr Nik Sajdovski - teaching 5 Gold on Fridays (providing REC release)
Congratulations to Mr Terry Clout - Australia Day Public Service Medal
Terry is a long time parishioner who has extensive involvement within the parish. He has also been instrumental in the planning and ongoing consultation for the Primary building renovations and the new Parish Centre. This award is very deserved recognition for Terry’s drive and forward thinking to ensure our community is well resourced and fairer for all. Read the Illawarra Mercury article below:
Covid Restrictions
An update was sent to all parents last week however as we know, these change fairly regularly.
- At this stage, parents of students in Years 1 and 2 will be allowed to walk their children into school for the first week (till next Wednesday). Parents can remain on school grounds for 10mins only.
- Kindergarten parents will be allowed to walk their child to the kinder classrooms for their Best Start Assessment and then return an hour later to pick them up.
- Kinder parents will also be allowed to walk their child to the Kinder classroom for the first few days when they commence on Friday, 5 February.
Afternoon Dismissal
I remind parents to read through the letter sent home yesterday with the changes to the afternoon dismissal procedures. These changes will be new for everyone and may require some adjustments over the next week or so. Once again, I ask for parents/carers to be patient with the process and patient with each other as we all become familiar with the new routines. If grandparents / carers are picking children up, please discuss the procedures with them thoroughly so that they are aware of the changes.
School Swimming Carnival - Thursday, 4 February
This is a competitor’s only carnival which means only students who can swim 50m in any discipline will be attending. We don’t take students who will not be swimming. If your child can swim 50m (one lap of the pool), please encourage them to participate. Mr Bernardi distributed permission notes today. Please return tomorrow if possible but Monday at the latest.
OOSH
Nicole and Emily continue to coordinate the St Therese Before and After School Care program. This service is available to all St Therese students with operating hours of 6.30am to 6.30pm. Please contact CatholicCare if you would like further details.
P & F Meeting AGM
The next P & F Meeting will be on Tuesday, February 16 which will be the Annual General Meeting. At this meeting all executive positions will be declared vacant and nominations called. I ask that you please consider standing for any of the executive positions or even just becoming part of the meetings which keep you informed of what is happening at the school.
Building Update
Work on the Stage 1 verandah has seen an accessibility ramp constructed and tiered seating installed. The ramp handrail will be installed as soon as possible, completing this project which was funded jointly by the school and P & F.
Safety fencing was erected around the Primary building last Thursday. This commenced the long awaited renovations which will be completed by the end of the year. The entire construction zone is securely fenced ensuring the safety of students and staff. I’m sure there will be many curious and excited eyes watching the progress over the coming months.
Covid-19
For all information and updates from the diocese, please go to: www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19
Keep the date - Thursday 24 March 2021 - SUMMER UNIFORM
School Birthdays
28 January 2021 - 2 February 2021
Happy Birthday to:
Alexander Giacon, Levi Ebens-Pontone, Olivia Boland
St Therese School Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/westwollongong.sttherese
School Vision Statement
“St Therese Primary School – a dynamic, Catholic community
educating and empowering learners for life’s journey.”
PARISH
Registrations are ESSENTIAL for ALL Masses at both West Wollongong and Unanderra — ALL registrations must be via the Unanderra Parish Office: unanderra@dow.org.au or 4271 1068
Please include the name of all family members who will be attending Mass(es), contact phone number, email address and the day/time/church of your preferred Mass(es), both weekday
and weekend.
You will be ensured of a place at weekday Masses (including Saturday morning), however for the 4 weekend Masses at both churches, you will have to wait to receive a confirmation
email from Fr Duane before attending.
KEEPING THE LORD’S DAY HOLY
Join Fr Duane for Sunday Mass live streamed 5pm EVERY SUNDAY from St Therese Church at the St Therese Facebook page at:
Those without Facebook can still view it through this link which will take you to the stream
To view through YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG6HKCV4D_a1JMWx0gS7rTw
School Counsellor
My name is Simone Potter and I am the school counsellor at St Therese primary school. I am employed by CatholicCare's School Student and Family Program which aims to promote the wellbeing and development of Students. Whilst this is my 3rd year at this school, I have been a school counsellor for over 10 years and have worked in various primary and high schools within the diocese. I also have over 20 years of experience in the counselling field.
I can provide counselling support to students who are experiencing issues such as:
- Emotional regulation
- Mental health
- Family relationships including family changes
- Behaviour
- Cyber use and Technology
- Focus, concentration, motivation and learning
- Confidence
- Peer relationships
- Sleep and lifestyle
- Many other issues
If you are uncertain whether counselling could assist your child or family, please contact me at the school. I am always happy to consult with parents and either assist with counselling for your child or a referral to a more appropriate service such as other CatholicCare Services if school counselling is not the best option for your family.
Please note that I will be working at St Therese on Tuesdays this year and I look forward to assisting students and families in 2021.
Calendar Dates 2021
February 2021
1 - iPad Boot camp Year 5
4 - Best Start Assessments Conclude Kinder 2021
Swimming Selection Trials 2021
5 - Kinder 2021 commence
8 - Digital Citzenship Week - Students
9 - Safer Internet Day
13 - National Apology Day - Stolen Generations
16 - Caritas Launch 2021
7.00pm P & F AGM 2021
Shrove/Pamcake Tuesday
17 - Ash Wednesday
28 - Catholic Schools Week
March 2021
4 - Diocesan Education Mass
South Coast Diocesan Swimming Carnival 2021
18 - Cross Country
21 - Harmony Day
24 - School Photos 2021 - SUMMER UNIFORM
29 - Da Vinci Competition
April 2021
1 - Last Day of Term 1
2 - Good Friday
4 - Easter Saturday/ Daylight Savings Ends
5 - Easter Sunday
19 - Term 2 Commences
25 - Anzac Day - NO PUBLIC HOLIDAY
May 2021
11 - NAPLAN
26 - National Sorry Day
27 - Reconcilation Week
June 2021
3 - Mabo Day
14 - Queens Birthday/ Public Holiday
25 - Last Day of Term 2
July 2021
4 - NAIDOC Week
12 - Term 3 Commences
August 2021
5 - Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
6 - CENSUS day
15 - Feast of the Assumption
September 2021
7 - Catholic Mission Launch
10 - Christmas Art Entries Due
17 - Last Day Term 3
October 2021
5 - Term 4 Commences
World Teachers Day
December 2021
15 - Last Day Term 4 Students
17 - Last day Term 4 Teachers and Staff
Community Notice
From January onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring, as the physical card has reached its lifespan.
These are cards for students who will be in years 8 to 12 in 2021, and only those Opal cards which haven’t been replaced in the last five years.
Impacted students and/or their parent/guardian will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post. They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.
If contacted by Transport for NSW, details should be submitted online by December 1, 2020 at the latest. Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address we currently have on file.