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Newsletter Week 3
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Thursday, 11 February
Swimming Carnival
Thank you to Mr Bernardi for a very well organised and run swimming carnival last week. It was great to see that we had an increase in competitors this year with 93 students entered (this has been around 80 for quite a few years). Thank you also to the parents who made themselves available to help with the smooth running on the day - very much appreciated! A squad has now been chosen to represent St Therese at the Regional Swimming Carnival on March 2.
Stage 1 Verandah
Work has almost finished on the Stage 1 verandah. The final non-slip coating on the verandah itself was completed last weekend. Finishing touches to the timber seating will hopefully be completed this weekend while the railing for the new accessibility ramp is currently being manufactured and will be installed as soon as possible.
Personalised Planning Meetings
Personalised Planning Meetings are being scheduled for Term 1 to discuss your child’s individual learning plan. This plan is aimed at supporting your child’s specific needs whether they be medical, emotional, social or learning support. Meetings are scheduled for 30 minutes. If your child requires a Personalised Plan, an invitation was sent home with your child on Monday and bookings are open to book your interview time. Bookings will close on Thursday 11 February at 9.00am.You DO NOT need to book a MEET & GREET meeting that is scheduled in Week 3.
Dimitra Vezinias
The NCCD is an annual data collection that requires information on the extent of adjustments made for students with disability. The data collection supports a broader model of engagement and support for these students that draws on teachers' professional judgement and practices throughout the year to support students with disability to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students.
Please find below important information about the 2021 Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). All schools are required to complete this process annually to assist governments in planning for the needs of students with disability.
Safer Internet Week:
This week the students will focus on safe online behaviours with a variety of activities across the week. Tuesday 9 February was Safer Internet Day across Australia. The eSafety Commissioner has invited parents to join one of their webinars at no cost. Click here to join a webinar.
Did you know? Only 46% of Australian parents feel confident about dealing with the online risks their children face and 95% want more information about online safety. (Source: eSafety Commissioner)
There is an enormous range of resources available for parents on the eSafety Commissioner website. Take some time to browse the site. Even if your child doesn’t spend much time on devices it is important for us all to be able to ‘Start the Chat’ with our children.
Dimitra Vezinias
April Learning Labs program
The University of Wollongong is inviting our students to LITTLE and EARLY LEARNING LABS, an academic and creative arts enrichment holiday program. We are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners.
Dates: Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 17th-18th April 2021
Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 10th-11th April 2021
Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong campus only)
Applications close: Wednesday 3rd March 2021
For further information about workshops and the application process please visit our website, or contact the Learning Labs team via email at learning-labs@uow.edu.au or phone on (02) 4221 5557.
Covid-19
For all information and updates from the diocese, please go to: www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19
Keep the date - Wednesday 24 March 2021 - SUMMER UNIFORM
School Birthdays
10 February 2021 - 16 February 2021
Happy Birthday to:
Olivia Gordon, Joan Lee, Flynn Sheahan, Georgia Weeks, Nathan Bird, Niara Bird, Mila Greenhalgh, Aurora Docherty, Isabella Bellomo, Dario Spralja, Ariana Cowie.
Principal’s Awards
Harrison Bettiol - 2B
Summer Collis - 2B
Samuel Gorgievski - 2G
Jaxon Talevski - 2B
Zach Iskra - 4B
Jack Thompson - 5G
Madeleine Towers - 5G
Silver Medallion
Asher Flynn - 4G
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
Year of St Joseph - February Reflection
To mark the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis has proclaimed a “Year of St Joseph”, running from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.
Joseph is a wonderful model for Christians as we live in the world. The Word of God spoken in the Scriptures guides us, but many times we have to apply that Word in everyday situations where we must see the reality around us, decide what God desires us to do and then act courageously, justly and with compassion. Joseph shows us how to be persons of the Word of God, whether it is written in books or in the face of God’s creation, unfolding in history.
(Gateway News, Wollongong Catholic Education Office)
Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday) is a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. This moveable festival is determined by Easter. The expression Shrove Tuesday comes from the word shrive, meaning absolve. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans and Roman Catholics, who make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God’s help in dealing with.
Burning of the Palms to make the Ashes
On Shrove Tuesday we burn the palm leaves that were blessed the previous year on Palm Sunday. We will use these ashes in tomorrow’s Ash Wednesday Liturgy and they will be blessed by Fr Duane..
Please return any Palm leaves that you have at home from last year’s Palm Sunday Celebration before Tuesday 16th February.
Ash Wednesday (Liturgies in Class groups)
The season of Lent begins with the ancient practice of marking the baptized with ashes as a public and communal sign of penance. The blessing and distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday normally takes place during the celebration of Mass or during a celebration of the word of God (Liturgy). In the course of today’s Liturgy, ashes (that were made yesterday) are blessed by Fr Duane and distributed. This year due to COVID the priest or minister will distribute the ashes by sprinkling on each person's head.
Sacramental Information Night
A parent information night will be held for students in wanting to make their Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession), Holy Communion and Confirmation. An information letter and Registration form is being sent home this week. Please book a seat at the information night using the try booking link on the sheet. Students may send back registration forms to the school office at any stage with a copy of their baptisimal certificate and the $10 fee.
Mrs Kirralee Calvert
Religious Education Coordinator
Calendar Dates 2021
12 - Year 6 Welcome and Leadership Liturgy 2021
13 - National Apology Day - Stolen Generations
15 - Meet and Greet meetings commence for Year 1
16 - Caritas Launch 2021
7.00pm P & F AGM 2021
Shrove/Pancake Tuesday
17 - Ash Wednesday
24 - 9.00am Brass Band Visit
28 - Catholic Schools Week commences
March 2021
1 - Meet and Greet meetings for Kinder commence
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
Holy Week commences
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
The Holy Spirit College Open Day and Evening will take place on Thursday February 25 2021. There are two sessions scheduled for the day.
The morning session begins with an information session in the Casey Ryder Centre at 8.45am - 9.45am followed by a tour of the College from 9.45am - 11am.
The evening session will begin with a tour of the College from 5.30pm - 6.45pm followed by the information session in the Casey Ryder Center at 7pm.
Applications opened for Year 7 2023 on February 1 2021, and will close on Thursday April 1 2021. Please contact the College for an enrolment package.
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.