St Ita’s Catholic Primary School acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

STAFFING CHANGES FOR 2023

As the 2022 school year draws to a close, I would like to highlight some staffing changes for the 2023 school year at St Ita’s.

Mrs. Mandy Butner will be retiring after 30 years’ service at St Ita’s. She’s planning to enjoy her retirement with some travel, and the opportunity to enjoy spoiling her new grandson. Mandy is still keen to do some casual relief teaching at St Ita’s when the opportunity arises, so we will look forward to her checking in from time to time.

Mrs. Linda Hookey is also retiring, after starting with St Ita's in 2000. Linda took on a role in our literacy intervention program, supporting students to improve their reading. We wish Linda all the very best in her life after teaching and hope she savours all retirement has to offer.

Rosie Van den Broek has been with us at St Ita’s for 11 years, and has now decided to take on the position of Deputy Principal at St Vincent’s Primary School Morwell. Rosie has decided to explore the path of leadership with St Vincent's and I’m sure she’ll be a great addition to their team.

Miss Kristy Boettcher is taking leave for the 2023 school year, and is heading overseas and see the world. We wish her all the very best and look forward to seeing her back with us in 2024.

Mrs. Crystal Fowler has decided to make the move to a warmer climate relocating to the Sunshine Coast. Crystal has done an outstanding job filling the shoes of Mr. Cory Monkton, who took on the role of Deputy Principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Newborough.

Miss Gabby Hopgood has accepted a teaching role at Beaconsfield Upper and will depart St Ita's after being a tutor, an art teacher and a foundation teacher. We thank Gabby for all that she has contributed to St Ita's in the last 2 years and wish her well moving closer to home and avoiding the 50 minute drive to work each day.

On behalf of everyone in the school community, I would like to thank all the above staff for their generous contributions and support that they have provided to our learning community. We wish them well on their journey in 2023.

IRISH BLESSING

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

SCHOOL SUMMER UNIFORM

A reminder to all parents that children should now be wearing full summer uniform and the expectation is that students have all black shoes, not runners with white or coloured logos. If your child has grown out of their school shoes could you please send a note to your child’s class teacher and please replace them within a couple of days.

HEAD LICE AT SCHOOL

As we have come into the warmer months we have had some cases of headlice within different levels at our school.

To stop a severe outbreak could all student with shoulder length or longer hair please use a hair tie as outlined in our summer uniform policy, and could we ask all students to refrain from sharing hats.

WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AWARD

Commencing from our next assembly, we will be replacing the Student of the Week Award with the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours (WSAPB) Award. Children who consistently display Teamwork, Resilience, Respect, Inclusiveness and Compassion in their daily schooling will be nominated by the teachers and peers and the School Executive will select 1-2 students each assembly to be the recipient.

CONGRATULATIONS

We extend a big congratulations to two of our staff members this week - Hayley Roberts our Sports Co-Ordinator recently announced her engagement to Henry, and Meg Osler will be marrying her long time love Alex this weekend.

SCHOOL DISCO

On Friday 9^th December we will be holding a school disco for all our students in the multi- purpose hall. Resident DJ Snoop Dog CB (Cooper Bills) will be on hand to dish out the tunes for a session with Foundation -2, and then 3-6 session. On this day kids can wear their funkiest, loudest disco get up.

LAST DAY TERM 4

A reminder to all families that the last day of Term 4 will be, Wednesday 14th December 2022, school will conclude at 3.20pm to coincide with the local bus services.

CALENDAR DATES

We encourage all families to keep checking our school calendar at the bottom of our newsletter for updates. Term 4 will be a busy time for all of our students, especially our Grade 6 students. A few important dates parents should be aware of are;

29th November - Marist Orientation Day

5th December - Triathlon

6th December - Grade 6 Graduation Mass and Supper @ Drouin Golf Course

12th December - Grade 6 Big Day Out

13th December - Drouin SC Orientation

14th December - Last day Term 4

ST VINCENT DE PAUL/ST ITA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS GIFT APPEAL 2022

Christmas is quickly approaching with just five weeks left of our school year. In past years, the families of St. Ita’s have helped bring joy and hope with donations of gifts to children in less fortunate situations within the wider community, at Christmas time. This charitable act invites you, as a family, to be involved in a simple, hands-on project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift.

Last year we were able to support well over 200 children that are under the care of St. Vincent de Paul within our Parish and local areas, and we have been asked if we are able to help a similar number again this year.

This year, families who wish to support our “Christmas Gift Appeal” will have the options of either purchasing their own gift in their chosen store for a child/children aged between 0 - 13 years, or by visiting the Warragul Toyworld to purchase a gift and leave them there to be collected. Alternately, families can donate an amount of money to an account held at Toyworld and a St. Vinnies’ member will select toys to the value of any financial donations.

Please do not wrap your gifts as they will need to be sorted and labelled for the appropriate aged child. Our school Mini Vinnies Team will be assisting the St Vincent de Paul team with this, this year. Simply pop your gift into a gift box or a Christmas gift bag and drop it into the school to be placed under the Christmas tree in the foyer.

It is preferred where possible for you and your children to select gifts, to give children the important life lesson of the joy of giving to others.

We will require all gifts to be dropped in to the school by Wednesday, 7^th December at the latest, for collection by the St Vincent de Paul team.

Please support the St Vincent de Paul team to continue their work in our Community, the need this year is greater than ever.

Thank you all for your continued support, and a happy and blessed Christmas to all.

SCHOOL FEES & CONCESSIONS

A reminder to all families that all outstanding fees must be finalised by the end of Term 4. All school fees should be finalised in the year they are billed, if you are experiencing difficulty, or feel you will not be able to finalising payment please make contact with Beck at the Admin Office as soon as possible either by phone (03) 5623 7222 or via email admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit schedules for school fees, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return to the school office.

2022_Direct_debit_and_credit_card_payment_form.pdf

2022_Direct_debit_and_credit_card_payment_form _pdf 671.20 KB

DOSCEL CHRISTMAS CARD WINNER

LIBRARY NEWS

Teacher: Mrs Catherine McKenna

Email: cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

BORROWING BOOKS

This week will be the last week the students can borrow during their library classes. The students were highly disappointed when I told them the news, however I reassured them that in the meantime there are many great places they can still read books! Please see below details for Drouin Library, Story Box Library login information and audio books suggestions.

All Library books are due back by next Wednesday the 30^th November. Thank you for your support!

LIBRARY BAGS

If your child has lost their library bag or they just require a new, clean one, they are available at Beleza Uniform Shop in Warragul. Any Library bag is suitable but the school ones are terrific because they are heavy duty. Library bags from Beleza cost $14.

STORY BOX LIBRARY

Just a reminder to parents and new families at our school that we have a subscription to Story Box library. There is a link to the website below or you can download the app. The students absolutely love it so definitely check it out.

LOCAL LIBRARY

Here is the link to the Drouin Library. Coming closer to holiday time check out their holiday programs for kids. Often free activities too. Joining the library is free and they have many online subscriptions too.

Drouin Library Homepage

AUDIOBOOKS

If your child isn’t into reading or if they haven’t found the genre that they love yet, get them listening to audiobooks. Also known as ear- reading, it’s a great way for our children to explore and develop a love of story. I use the app BorrowBox which is free through the local library.

BOOK CLUB

Thanks to everyone who has supported Book Club this year. Scholastic have had so many great books available to buy and the commission earnt has gone towards purchasing new books for our library.

Book Club Issue 8 - CLICK HERE

Orders close Monday 28^th November for free delivery back to school.

You also have the home delivery option with an addition fee of $7.50

Art Teacher: Robyn Leary

Email: rleary@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

ART ROOM NEWS

Look at our clay creations.

Students are very happy and excited about completing their clay birds.

Grade twos worked on birds to learn the process of clay. Scoring, slipping, sticking and smoothing.

Mrs Leary

Japanese Teacher: Nicholas Gregory

Email: ngregory@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

JAPANESE ROOM NEWS

Japanese Lunch for Grade 6 Students

On Friday 1st December, the Grade 6 students enjoyed a Japanese lunch to celebrate their graduation.

Students had a chance to try green tea and eat a sushi bento with chopsticks. They had four different options, but the “Chicken Combo” was by far the most popular choice!

Students were encouraged to use Japanese to ask for the food and drinks and also give thanks before and after the meal. They also played a range of games including “Sushi Bingo”, the “Ninja Competition” and the “Sushi Limbo” and had a chance to win some great prizes from Japan!

Although the majority of students will continue learning Japanese at local secondary schools, we hope they will have the opportunity to learn about other languages and cultures from around the world in the future too.

SPORTS NEWS

Sports Teacher/Co-Ordinator: Hayley Roberts

Email: hroberts@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

JUNIOR ATHLETICS

Age champions:

Foundation boys - Zander Earls

Foundation girls - Annabeth Harris

Grade 1 girls - Daniella Netto

Grade 1 boys - Tom McMahon

Grade 2 girls - Ivy Chugg

Grade 2 boys - Dustin Bills

Overall house points:

4th - Blue 789

3rd - Gold 923

2nd - Red 957

1st - Green 986

CAMP AUSTRALIA

PARISH NEWS

SEVENTY THE NEW SIXTY?

The first person to live to 150 years of age has probably already been born! Truly amazing! Dramatically fewer people die young and it is a shock to all of us when they do. Seventy is the new sixty and so it goes.

One effect is a breath-taking bravado that we can worry about our Creator God later on, as death approaches. Instead we are urged to "get on with life" to shop 'til we drop, to party as if there are no consequences, to choose basketball practice over church going, to choose new goodies over helping those in need etc. - planning that there will be time to get our spiritual house in order at some later date. What an amazing gamble to take with our eternal souls!

But of course we can't be sure of that. As we start a new church year today, Jesus warns us to, "stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming." (Mt 24:42) We do need to "get on with life!" Life is a God-given gift which is meant to be savoured and enjoyed to the full but for that we need God in our lives each and every moment.

How full our lives are of all these other things which, like our bodies, have fleeting use by dates! God is the constant for us and we need to spend time getting in tune with her. Advent is the Church's call for us to unclutter our lives, eagerly anticipating the coming of Christ into the world and to our lives. Amid all the furore of commercial Christmas, let us prepare by touching base with our Creator - particularly if we haven't done so for a while. Spend a few moments in prayer; get along to Mass; do something generous for those in need - really live life to the full.

Deacon Mark Kelly