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Newsletter Week 7
Pope Francis, in his papal letter named Laudato Si’ or “Praise Be to You” (2015), he calls for action to curb climate change, which he states is caused by human activities. The following prayer accompanied this letter:
A prayer for our earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
Kinder 2022 Playgroup Sessions
With changes to Covid restrictions, we will now be able to have the new Kinders come in for a short visit next week. This is exciting news which we will be sending details to all Kinder 2022 families shortly.
Year 6 Graduation
This is still in the planning stage with a number of options depending on Covid restrictions. The date for this is Thursday, 9 December. Graduation will involve a Mass followed by supper and activity in the hall. Details about who can attend are still being worked through. More details will go out to Year 6 families in the next week or two.
Student Council 2022
The process for selecting the 8 members of the Student Council for 2022 will commence next week. Year 5 parents will received details of the process when I talk to the Year 5 students.
Information and resources: Webinar for parents and carers eSafety parent guide to digital technologies and mental health
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT invites you to a free one-hour webinar designed for parents and carers of young people aged 10–18.
Details:
Date: Monday 22 November 2021
Time: 7.30 pm – 8.30 pm
It will cover:
- What do to about accidental exposure to content about suicide, self-harm or eating disorders
- Using games, apps and social media to support mental wellbeing
- The pros and cons of digital mental health platforms
- Strategies for young people to support friends online.
Wollongong City Council FOGO Competition
Open to all ages asking for a short video promoting the use of the FOGO bins. This could be a fun activity for the creative minded students with the possibility of winning
Religious Education
Socktober - Catholic Missions.
Woo Hoo St Therese Community!!! We raised $410 dollars for the children in Thailand.
Thank you for participating in wearing your crazy socks for this great cause.
St Vincent DePaul Christmas Hampers
St Vincent DePaul Chapter President for St Therese West Wollongong Louise Pilson, has passed on the committee’s huge “Thanks” for our wonderful response to our Winter Appeal (back in Term 2) as she was unable to officially come to the assembly at the end of Term 2. The food was gratefully accepted by the team.
This year we will be collecting items for Christmas Hampers to be donated to the St Vincent DePaul Society to give to the less fortunate in our community during this special holiday season.
Please see below some ideas for donations. Thank you for any and all donations that you make to our appeal especially during these difficult and uncertain times.
In gratitude,
Mrs Calvert
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KB & KG |
Tinned ham, breakfast cereals, dried pasta/rice & sauce jars |
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6G & 6B |
Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, long life custard |
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5B & 1B |
Pretzels, mixed nuts, chips and lollies |
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5G & 1G |
Biscuits (sweet/savoury), canned fruit, pancake shake |
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4B & 2B |
Tinned tuna, dried fruit, spreads – nutella, honey, jam etc. |
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4G & 2G |
Tinned salmon, long life juice/cordial |
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3B & 3G |
Tea, coffee, milo, sugar, bonbons etc, long life milk |
Learning Labs
The University of Wollongong invites 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): 10th – 12th January 2022
Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 17th – 21st January 2022
Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong campus only)
Applications close: Wednesday, 17th November 2021
School Birthdays
17 November 2021 - 23 November 2021
Happy Birthday:
Spencer Dimitrievski, Summer Habte Ali, Harper Smith, Luka Tzolakidis, Connie Wardle, Jax Costello, Grace O'Brien, Amey Sanjeev.
Happy Birthday
Principal's Awards
Izzy Bellomo - 3B
Natalia Carvana - 3G
Saxon Di Leo - 3G
Sasa Karabeleski - 3B
Jagg Spain - 4B
Silver Medallion
Christian Walton - 3B
Abrielle Cardamone - 6G
Bowen Saunders - 6B
Dimitri Stratis - 6G
Gold Medallion
Sophia Lee - 4B
Joan Lee - 6G
Izzy Bellomo - 3B
Natalia Carvana - 3G
Saxon Di Leo - 3G
Sasa Karabeleski - 3B
Jagg Spain - 4B
Silver Medallion
Christian Walton - 3B
Abrielle Cardamone - 6G
Bowen Saunders - 6B
Dimitri Stratis - 6G
Gold Medallion
Sophia Lee - 4B
Joan Lee - 6G
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
Dear Parishioners,
As mentioned in my communication on Sunday, we begin public Masses this weekend, 23-24 October, with 6pm Saturday Vigil and 8am Sunday Mass at Unanderra, and 10am and 5pm Sunday Masses at West Wollongong, followed by usual weekday and weekend Mass timetable.
Having met with Immaculate Conception and St Therese (ICAST) PPCs last night, we have decided upon the following:
PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
As per the Diocesan Directives (attached):
- Vaccination is encouraged but not mandatory
- Masks must be worn inside the church
- 4 square metre rule applies at this time
- No congregational singing at this time
- Strong hygiene practices will be maintained
- QR Registration
REGISTRATION PROCESS
There will be no pre-registration for Masses. That process was demanding in terms of admin hours, and we will need to ensure ready availability of digitized records at short notice to the government in case of a Covid case. All attending Mass will be asked to use the Service NSW QR Code at first, and if unable to do so, the monitors will sign you in using a parish QR code.
4 SQUARE METRE CAPACITY LIMIT
Given that there will be no pre-registration, and the 4 square metre capacity, there is a chance that we will reach capacity at Sunday Masses. Based on average Mass counts this will be most likely at the Sunday Morning Masses. We ask your understanding if this occurs as monitors are legally bound to maintain 4 square metre rule (86 at WW, 96 at Unanderra)
7PM SUNDAY MASS DURING OCTOBER-NOVEMBER (STAGE 2)
During stage 2 only, starting this weekend, I will celebrate an additional 7pm Mass at St Therese on Sundays. Many are unable to attend such a late Sunday Mass. If you yourself are able to attend, please consider doing so to free up spaces at the 4 standard Sunday Masses. Only if attending this Mass please email Melissa at unanderra@dow.org.au
IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT TO ATTEND PUBLIC MASSES AT THIS TIME
We understand that some are concerned about attending public Mass during stage 2 as churches are among the only venues allowing "mixing" of vaccinated and unvaccinated. If you are concerned for this reason, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our best to organize Communion to be brought to you at home. (All ministers attending your home will be double vaccinated.)
RECONCILIATION
Normal times for Reconciliation to resume from 5pm Saturday 23rd October, please refer to the weekly bulletin this Friday for the details. In addition, Fr Jerzy will be offering Reconciliation from Monday 25th October until Saturday 30th October after Mass as needed.
BAPTISMS
We are in the process of rescheduling baptisms that were postponed during lockdown. For any new requests please contact Kathy at the Parish Office (email: westwollongong@dow.org.au any time or call 4229 1074 on Tuesdays 9am-3pm).
God bless you all,
Fr Duane
Coming back to school after remote learning, has been exciting and a welcome relief. However, there have been some challenges for the school in making sure that your children’s wellbeing and safety is most important, along with
re-establishing our learning environment. Eating and play times have needed to be staggered, with Kinder, Years 1, 2 and 3 having different sessions to Years 4, 5 and 6. Having to keep cohorts separate as much as possible, each cohort has been scheduled to eat and play in a different area, which is rotated each day. Parents and carers should be very proud on how their children have settled back in, particularly with the changes they have had to get used to!
We are looking forward to when we can assemble and mix together again, just like before Covid restrictions.
Each week, there is a PB4L focus at St Therese School, to help us work together to be Respectful, Responsible and Safe. This week’s focus is on “Little Bank’.
Ms Panozzo and the PB4L team
Calendar Dates 2021
December 2021
3 - Whole School Mass - End of Year - TBC
8 - Reports released to Parents
9 - Year 6 Graduation TBC
13 - 7pm Confirmation Ceremony - Immaculate Conception, Unanderra
14 - 7pm Confirmation Ceremony - St Therese, West Wollongong
15 - Last Day Term 4 Students
17 - Last day Term 4 Teachers and Staff
January 2022
26 - Australia Day
27 - Student Vacation (Pupil Free Day)
28 - Term 1 Begins - Student Vacation (Pupil Free Day) - Staff Return
31 - Student Vacation (Pupil Free Day)
February 2022
1 - Students Return
Best Start Assessments commence
7 - Best Start Asessments conclude
8 - Kindergarten 2022 commences