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.

GRADE 6 GRADUATION

Last night we had our Grade 6 Graduation, and it was a terrific evening enjoyed by all. I’d like to personally compliment our Grade 5-6 team on the outstanding way the Graduation was presented. It was a highly polished performance. You could really feel that time and effort that had been put into making the evening a success.

I made a point of reading each child’s poster last night, and it was really evident how much each student values and respects their teachers for the time and effort they put into providing them all with a safe and happy learning environment.

The parent feedback was also fantastic, many of them letting me know of their child’s fears of moving from the safety and security of St Ita’s into a secondary setting next year, but feeling really supported through the transition. My personal highlight of the night was seeing the children during the slide show, letting their hair down and being 12-year-old kids enjoying the event with their peers. Sometimes it’s not all about the dress, the threads, the hair and the bling. :-)

At St Ita’s we have a number of school wide expectations that are positively stated behaviours which form the agreed way students, teachers and parents operate and behave. School wide expectations are important for providing a common vision, language and experience for the entire school community.

Last night we presented five very special school wide expectation awards to students who consistently showed the qualities of either Inclusiveness, Teamwork, Respect, Compassion and Resilience.

Inclusiveness:

This Inclusiveness award recognises a student who is always looking to include others. This student possesses a calm and steady personality that makes those around them feel at ease and safe. This student endears themselves to others because of their easy-going nature, patience to assist anyone in need and a popular choice to have in any team or group work. The winner of the Inclusiveness award for this year was Isabella Robinson-Kaltoi.

Teamwork:

The Teamwork award recognises a student who not only works effectively with their peers but also displays good communication skills and is respectful of the opinions and ideas of others. This student also has the ability to work cooperatively with teachers and families in the school community. This student has led by example throughout the year being a strong school leader. The winner of the teamwork award this year was Cooper Clarke.

Respect:

This award goes to a student who has continually shown respect in all facets of their school life. This student is regularly seen cleaning up after other students, showing respect for the classroom or schoolyard. They have respectful conversations and treat people how they want to be treated. They lead by example always, trying their best in every situation. They have great pride in their learning and in the presentation of their work. It is with great pleasure we announce our whole school positive respect award was Ava Upston.

Compassion:

This award is presented to a student who demonstrates the quality of being compassionate every day at school. This student is friendly, reliable and will always offer to help their friends and other students. They will always be seen encouraging people in the yard, in the classroom and at sporting events throughout their St Ita’s journey. This person has a keen eye for helping students who may need it and is aware of the concerns of others. It is a privilege to announce the winner of the Compassion award was Dillon Jagoe.

Resilience:

The Resilience award recognises a student who has demonstrated a positive and growth mindset throughout their time at St Ita’s. This student is always willing to take on challenges and work through situations and setbacks in order to achieve their goal. Always a determined student with a positive approach towards learning. It is with great pleasure we announce this year's Resilience award winner was Isabella Vouden.

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

Final call to families wishing to support the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Gift Appeal, all donations must be delivered to the Admin Office at St Ita's by

Monday 12th December 2022

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” can purchase a gift from their chosen store for a child/children aged between 0 - 13 years.

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.

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 CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Students have been practising their Christmas songs in year level that will be presented after lunch on Thursday 8th December. Parent are invited to come in and enjoy the event with their children. Students can come dressed in their Christmas Carols attire this day. The event has been planned outside on the bottom basketball court with inside the school hall as a back up. The Foundation students will start, followed by the grade 1s, continuing until the grade 5/6s finish around 3pm.

LOST PROPERTY

We currently have a significant amount of lost jumpers, clothing, jackets, and drink bottles in our lost property cupboard. If you know your child has lost something and have been looking for it, please feel free to come in and take a look. There will be a table containing all items for inspection at the School Christmas Carols.

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;

8th December - Christmas Carols 2pm

9th December - School Disco

12th December - Grade 6 Big Day Out

13th December - Drouin SC Orientation & Whole School Orientation (excluding 2023 Foundation) (11.40 - 12.40pm)

14th December - Last day Term 4

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.

Direct_Debit_Form_2023.pdf

Direct_Debit_Form_2023 _pdf 157.59 KB

HEALTHY HAROLD LIFE EDUCATION

Sadly, Harold was cancelled for half of the classes due to an unforseen staffing shortage by Life Education. Due to short time frame classes were unable to be rescheduled this year.

SPORTS NEWS

Sports Teacher/Co-Ordinator: Hayley Roberts

Email: hroberts@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

REMINDERS

Thank you to all of the students who have participated in running club this year, our last running club will be next Wednesday 8.30-8.50am last day of school.

There will also be a staff v students netball match on the last day of school at lunchtime where the Grade 6 students will take on the teachers.

TRIATHLON

Individual 3/4 boys

1^st – Eli Spargo

2^nd – Harley Bordonaro

3^rd – Chase Stammers

Individual 3/4 girls

1^st – Isabelle Lee

2^nd – Myenna Masterson

3^rd – Summer Veale

Team 3/4 boys

1^st – Mitch Vouden, Riley Harmes,

Caiden Perera

Team 3/4 girls

1^st – Heidi Welch, Bella Senini,

Charlotte Bills

Team 3/4 mixed

1^st – Pippa Biorci, Ned Orton,

Noah Hatswell

Individual 5/6 boys

1^st – Riley Davidson

2^nd – Jack Carbonneau

3^rd – Cooper Bills

Individual 5/6 girls

1^st – Indi Joiner

2^nd – Keelie Carbonneau

3^rd – Tilly Kensley

Team 5/6 boys

1^st – Zephyr Ledger, Noah Fielden,

Harry Sheehan

Team 5/6 girls

1^st - Amber Hammond, Larissa Brown,

Mikaylah Monkton

Team 5/6 mixed

1^st – Evie Wright, Will Stammers,

Josh Brighton

RUNNING CLUB

LIBRARY NEWS

Teacher: Mrs Catherine McKenna

Email: cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

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.

CAMP AUSTRALIA

PARISH NEWS

Christmas Good News!

Australian Christmas is unique. Instead of snow we have sunshine; instead of sleighs and snowballs our Christmas season is more likely to involve surfboards or cricket. Shopping malls and TV ads inundate us with reindeer and Santas and tinsel, inviting us in to spend big on their products and services. It is certainly good news for the retail industry but what about for all of us?

Christians too are part of Aussie culture. We engage in commercial Christmas and anticipate the great family events that happen too. But we also have Advent season which takes us on an eager, reflective journey towards commemoration of the first Christmas so long ago and far away. In the gospel for this the third Sunday of Advent (Mt 11:2-11), Jesus highlights the reason for the season – the Good News (which is himself) for the poor, sight for the blind, hearing for the deaf, cure of the lame and lepers and raising of the dead.

He is Good News for us too and Jesus’ challenges us to bring Good News to others through our generosity, openness and preparedness to reach out of our comfort zone. How will our Christian Christmas differ from the secular one? How will our light shine beyond our church congregations to the wider world who haven’t really heard the Good News? Can we do more for those in our towns, our nation and beyond, those without family, those who are dispossessed or dislocated, the poor, the grieving, and the discouraged for whom this will not be a happy time of celebration?

As we eagerly anticipate his coming, we should look, not only beyond the tinsel and sleigh bells, but also beyond the wondrous Bethlehem story itself to the core of the Good News Jesus brings and how we are to shout the Good News to the world.

Deacon Mark Kelly

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all of the students who recieved First Communion at St Ita's Drouin on the weekend.

2023 SACRAMENT DATES - RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation
Combined Parent Information Meeting:
Drouin: Wednesday 8th February
Warragul: Thursday 9th February 7pM

Parent/Child Workshop 1: Drouin: Wednesday 1st March 7pm Warragul: Thursday 2nd March 4pm & 7pm	Parent/Child Workshop 2: Drouin: Wednesday 15th March 7pm Warragul: Thursday 16th March 4pm & 7pm
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Drouin: Wednesday 29th March, 7pm Warragul: Thursday 30th March, 7pm	Commitment Masses: Drouin: 19th & 26th February 10.30am Warragul:18th & 19th February 7pm & 9am