Newsletter 10th November 2021

Principal News

God with us
and God within us:
just because
we’re all going through it
doesn’t mean this is normal.
Every body’s a little stressed out,
‘out of our comfort zone.’
So we need to find a reserve of patience with ourselves and everyone else.
We all could use a bit more compassion, and the time to take a deep breath.
Help us draw out our more tolerant selves, the ones who can cope with this mess. Give us the space to centre ourselves and find you. At peace. In our midst. 
Amen.

~ The Corrymeela Community

A very appropriate prayer for us all as we begin week 6 of Term 4 in 2021. It feels like it is going to get busy from here on as we try to accommodate a number of events that we have not been able to have up to date. Please go gently and calmly and when needed ‘take a deep breath’ and be kind to yourselves and others as we forge through to the end of the year.

Over the past week, we have had our Annual General Meeting at both schools. It was a wonderful feeling to welcome parents back on site and meet face to face again. We had tears and laughter as we reflected on the year that has been. Although it is easy to focus on all of the things we did not do or could not do, a number of positives were highlighted, such as using technology in new ways and the ability to adapt to changing situations as best as we could. I thank the SAC and P and F for their support of myself and our schools. Zoom meetings proved challenging at times, but we managed.  Each school continued their fundraising efforts despite the many hurdles, presented the schools with a cheque that meet their targets. The money raised will go towards the continual improvement of our grounds.

We can now look forward with excitement towards such things as the school concert, graduation, excursions, orientation days and Going Up days. All dates are now public in the school calendar which can be found on the new website. The concerts this year will be a modified version of  our usual format, simply because of the interruptions, the time we have had to prepare and the need to keep our usual learning and teaching routine as consistent as possible. The concert will also have a real community feel as we gather together to have some dinner, be entertained and socialise. Please remember, that only double vaxxed people over 16 can attend any school functions.  Your vaccination status will be checked upon entry. We are following the health guidelines. If your child is not going to be at the concert for whatever reason, please let their teacher know as soon as possible so that the necessary adjustments can be made for the performance to go ahead.

Thank you to the parents that gave feedback about the website and new app. It feels like we are on the right track. If you haven’t downloaded the SZapp yet, please do so this week as the admin staff will start putting out notifications through this platform next week. Contact the school if you need any assistance with this.

A reminder that our school photos are booked in for Wednesday the 17^th of November. Please ensure that all children are in their full summer uniforms for the day. No sports uniforms for this day!

Next Monday, the 15^th of November, the staff will be updating their First Aid certificates. This is done every 2 years for the majority of the staff as it mandated that we have trained First Aid staff on site at all times. This will be a school closure day.

This Thursday, the children making the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation, will spend the day with Sue and Fr. Sajan at the Bungaree Parish Centre preparing for their ceremony which will be at 5.30 at Bungaree. Please keep Maeve, Sullivan, Patrick, Tara, Oscar, Ahlia and Lucy in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.

Just a reminder to the families attending that all adults over 16 need to scan in and show proof of their vaccination.

We have waited long enough! Let’s start to get a bit excited about the rest of the year and all that it will bring.

Stay safe and take care everyone.

Inez

Upcoming Dates

11th November Thursday

Sacramental Retreat and Sacraments @ Bungaree Parish Centre

Retreat day for children making their Eucharist and Confirmation. The ceremony will take place at 5.30 pm at Bungaree Church

15th November Monday

School Closure Day

Staff First Aid Training

17th November Thursday

School Photos

25th November Wednesday

Stayback for Juniors and Year 2 Sleepover

8th December Wednesday

Year 6 Graduation and End of Year Thanksgiving Mass 6.30pm

10th December  Friday 

End of year excursion

14th December Tuesday

Last day of school for children

15th December Wednesday

Assessment day for children

16th December Thursday 

PD day for staff

17th December Friday

Last day for staff

31st January 2022 Monday

Children return to school

Happy Birthday

Oscar will be 10 on the 15th November 

Melbourne Cup Sweep

Congratulations to the winners of our Melbourne Cup Sweep.

1st - Jai

2nd - Sophie

3rd - Frankie

Last - Jack

Thanks to Tierney and Sienna for organising the sweep.

Remembrance Day Poppies

This week the juniors have been learning about Remembrance Day.  We read a story together, we answered some questions and we made origami poppies.  The origami was very challenging for us.

Senior and Junior News by Sienna and Lucy

Seniors 

This week we did cooking. In cooking we had a choice of making rhubarb crumble or rhubarb tarts. Oscar, Ahlia ,Casey Kade and Lucy made the crumble, they all said it was delicious but extremely sweet. Emma, Bonnie,Tierney, Sienna and Frankie made the tarts.

In maths we have been using the website Essential Assessment which is meant to improve and help with the parts of learning you need to improve on. Tuesday we invited Anita to come over and talk to us about how her childhood was, having her family being very catholic. Also our play practice is on Tuesdays and Thursdays and to be honest, you will love it. With Mr.Stevens on Thursdays and Friyays as he likes to call it, we have been playing a game called dice footy. It's a game where you have two dice and you verse teams and  if you win then you move up the ladder. It's a maths game for times tables, we all really love it. It also makes you better at your times tables     

Also the seniors have been busy making poems, the type of poems we have been writing are free verse, acrostic, haiku and also limericks. 

Juniors 

In the junior room they have been writing narratives about treasure maps. 

They have been busy making chocolate cupcakes, they tasted so good!! They also had fun playing dodgeball in P.E . The Juniors have a  website on the computer called Essential Assessment, they are all pretty good at their maths. They have started writing letters to people in the school like Clare and Inez and also Mrs Mullany who was the old junior room teacher last year, and also to their buddies in the senior room. The year two’s are really happy about learning to count by 3 and 5’s. The year 1’s are getting better at counting by 2’s. 

In religion they have been thinking about the symbols of the church. The juniors have also been getting smarter by using the app, Phonics Hero. Outside for lunchtime the juniors have enjoyed playing in the sandpit making walls and digging holes. Juniors must be pretty good at drawing by now because they have been drawing pictures from books and making them look like really good artists. Arrays have been pretty popular in the junior room this week, by the way, they might be better than you! 

Installing Schoolzine App

Our new Website is now up and running.  To access the newsletter through your phone please download the Schoolzine App.  If you have any problems please contact Anita and she will be happy to help.

Please follow the instructions in the below guide. 

To download the Schoolzine App you will need the passcode which is 3986

AGM Wednesday 3rd November

At the Annual General Meeting, Laiken and Jordan were voted in as members of the School Advisory Council Meeting as Kerri and Kylie’s have completed their terms. I thank them both for their commitment, time, support and huge efforts during their time as part of the SAC.

Tiffany was voted in as Secretary of the P and F. Andrea will remain on as Chairperson and Nic will continue on as Treasurer. The efforts from all parents is much appreciated as so many do ta number of different things throughout the year.

School Photos Wednesday 17th November

School Photos will take place Wednesday 17th November. 

Each student is to bring their individual envelope on this day to school.  We are still holding the envelopes at the school for families who have dropped theirs into admin. 

Students are to wear full summer uniform.  Navy socks, clean black school shoes and navy hair ribbons for the girls.

Please contact Anita if you are unable to locate your photo envelope or have any further queries

School Uniform Update

Last week we had Daniella from Beleza bring samples of clothing and accessories to compliment our current uniform.  After discussion with the children, staff and children the decisions made were unanimous. It was decided that we will have a new sport winter top, a beanie, a vest, a school jumper that is the same but made of a different material and a school bag - all with the school logo on. Daniella will let me know when they will be available. There will be no obligation these and children can continue to wear the current uniform.

Gardening and Tidying Roster 2021/2022

Our roster is fortnightly and will keep rotating.  Please try to weed/tidy the garden at least once in your allocated fortnight.  Things to do - sweep the deck, dust/brush the cob webs from the buildings, bang mats, sweep the entrance to the school, weed the garden beds at the front of the school and the sensory garden.

Thanks for your help in keeping the school tidy.