St Ita's Primary School Drouin
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50 Victoria Street
Drouin VIC 3818
Subscribe: https://stidrouin.catholic.edu.au/subscribe

Email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 5623 7222

T4 W9 2023 Newsletter

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T4 W9 2023 Newsletter

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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. 

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    SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

    At this time of the year I get to proof read over student end of semester reports, and it’s a great way to cast an eye over student successes, achievements and challenges. One of the key indicators on our reports is the number of days each student is absent each semester of the school year.

    Current research shows that high absenteeism can have a severe negative impact on a child’s academic, social and emotional development. Therefore it is important for students to establish positive attendance patterns from the start of the school year.  Regular attendance is essential to support every child’s learning, wellbeing and safety.

    Daily school attendance is important for all children to succeed in education and to ensure they don't fall behind both socially and developmentally. The research shows that children and young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives. It is important that children develop habits of regular attendance at an early age.

    School participation is important as it maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values which set them up for further learning and positive participation in their communities.

    PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

    Parents are required to ensure their child attends school and to provide an explanation for their child's absence from school. The school must record in writing the reason for absence (if any) given by the parent. The principal must be able to determine from the records if the excuse given was reasonable in terms of the parent meeting their legal obligations.

    Parents should promptly inform the school of the reason for their child's absence so that the school can:

    • determine if the child's absence needs to be excused by the principal, in line with school policy and State government guidelines.
    • determine the appropriate follow up to ensure the child's education and wellbeing is supported.
    • record if the parent has a reasonable excuse for not meeting their obligation to ensure their child attends school each day.
    • Where possible, parents should inform the school in advance of upcoming absences.

     HOW TO REPORT A STUDENT ABSENCE

    Protecting the safety and well-being of children through the reporting and monitoring of school absenteeism is the responsibility of both parents/carers and schools.

    Communicating student absences is now a legal requirement by all schools Victoria wide. Please ensure you lodge your child’s absence as early as possible if your child is going to be away or late for school, so that your child’s absence can be recorded correctly at school. Absences can be logged using PAM (Parents Access Module) or alternativley by contacting the school office on 5623 7222 or email admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au. 

    To ensure a child's education and wellbeing are supported, parents are encouraged to communicate openly with the school where a child has a medical condition that may result in ongoing absences or medical appointments during school hours.

    It is also really important that parents inform us if their child will be taking holidays outside of the regular school holidays.

    For further information on the processes and procedures our school uses to record, monitor and follow-up student attendance and absence, please read our Attendance Policy which is located on our school website or give us a call on 5223 7222.

    NEW ST ITA’S STAFF FOR 2024

    We are pleased to announce that we have several new staff starting at St Ita’s in 2024.

    • Miss Kristy Boettcher will be returning to St Ita’s in a full-time role
    • Mr Liam Charles will be taking on a full-time class teaching role.
    • Mr Duncan Ireland will be joining us in a full-time teaching role.
    • Miss Lauren Misso will be joining us in a full-time teaching role.
    • Mrs. Jennifer Carpenter and Mrs. Jessica Woodhouse will be taking on a shared full-time teaching role.
    • Mr Jordan Wyatt will be joining us in a full-time teacher role.
    • We also have two full-time ESO staff Miss Hollie Smith and Miss Morgan Harris joining us in 2024. 

     We welcome all our new staff to the St Ita’s community in 2024.

    Andrew Osler

    St Ita's Principal

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    IMPORTANT DATES

    Sunday 3rd December – First Holy Communion (Drouin 10.30am)

    Tuesday 5th December – Grade 6 Graduation Mass & Dinner

    Wednesday 6th December – Board Meeting

    Thursday 7th December – Grade 6 Celebration Day - Gumbuya World

    Friday 8th December – Triathlon (Grade 3-6)

    Sunday 10th December – First Holy Communion (Drouin @ 10.30am)

    11th December – Kinect2Dance Concert

    12th December – Statewide Orientation Day

    15th December – Final Day of School Concludes 3.20pm (Assembly @ 2.30pm)

    ANDREW CHINN CONCERT

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    Thank you to all of our families who came and supported our students as they participated in the Andrew Chinn Concert.  A fantastic night was had by all, and the children all enjoyed the celebration.

    LOST & FOUND UNIFORM

    On Monday 4th December we will be placing a table outside the Admin Building for one week with all lost and found items that have been handed in over the year.  If your child has lost any uniform, or personal items throughout the year, we ask that you please take some time to check the table and collect any items which may be yours.

    ALL ITEMS LEFT UNCOLLECTED BY THE END OF THE WEEK WILL BE WASHED AND PLACED IN OUR SECONDHAND UNIFORM CUPBOARD.

    CANTEEN/LUNCH ORDERS

    A reminder to all families that the canteen will be providing lunch orders up to and including our last day on Friday 15th December 2023.
    Lunch orders will recommence in 2024 on Monday 5th February 2024.

    REMEMBRANCE DAY

    A huge thankyou to the St Ita's School community for your generous support of Remembrance Day. Through the selling of poppies, $606 was raised. 

    This money will be used to support veterans and their families.

    Thankyou,

    Mandy Buttner (on behalf of Warragul RSL)

    IMPORTANT DATES 2024 FOUNDATION ENROLMENTS

    TRANSITION/ORIENTATION SESSIONS

    Friday, 1st December 2023 - 9 30am – 10.45am

    Thursday, 7th December 2023 - 9 30am – 10.45am

    Tuesday 12th December 2023 - 9.30am – 12.15pm

    No booking is required to attend the Transition/Orientation Day and although the first two sessions are optional, the third session on Tuesday 12th December 2023 is the statewide transition day and we would love for all students to attend this session.

    What to wear: Children are welcome to wear their new school uniform if they already have it, or something comfortable for the day. Children will also need to bring a hat for outdoor play.

    What to bring: Foundation students will need a water bottle, and a snack or small lunch.

    ST VINCENT DE PAUL / ST ITA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS GIFT APPEAL 2023

    Christmas is quickly approaching with just seven 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 the appeal 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, 6th 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.

    ANGLICARE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE ONSITE ON THURSDAY

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    Every family needs a little help from time to time. Are finances stressing you out?  Is parenting feeling a little too hard some days? Your children’s emotions difficult to manage? Is their behaviour disrupting the whole household and impacting their time at school? Anglicare Victoria Family Services are now located on site every Thursday to provide support in these areas, or even if you just need to have a chat.

    Completely confidential, non judgemental, we are here to support you and your family.  Contact Heath on 0499 007 031 or ask for Heath at the office any time on Thursday.

    SIMON EVERYWHERE

    STUDENT ABSENCES

    PARENTS WORKING ONSITE AT ST ITA'S

    A reminder to all parents who are entering the school as classroom helpers or parent support during speech and or OT sessions;

    • You must enter via the Admin Office and sign in via the iPad, where you will be required to enter your Working with Children WWCC) details.
    • Please ensure you have your WWCC card with you at all times as it is a requirement of DOSCEL that you carry this card with you whilst you are onsite. 

    SCHOOL FEE STATEMENTS 

    School Fee statements have been forwarded to all families via Email. If you have not received your statement, please make contact with us so that we can check your details and ensure we have your correct Email details. 

    All fees are due and payable now, please ensure your account is finalised as soon as possible.

    Direct Debit and Credit Card payments can be set up at any time, please contact School Admin to assist with putting these options in place. 

    Contact: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au or (03) 5623 7222

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    ST ITA’S MEDALLION

    The winner of this weeks St Ita’s medallion is Rio Puncher from Grade 3/4O.

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    ST ITA’S STUDENT AWARDS

    Week 7 & 8 - Awards for Compassion

    Foundation F Jake Schembri Skylah Bolderston
    Foundation F William Howie Archer Beswick
    Foundation L Zara Kannemeyer Fern Godwin
    Foundation M Eli Youngman Zaiden Hodgson
    Grade 1G Alaska Unwin  
    Grade 2M Abbey Maling Miles Robinson
    Grade 2ST Jack Perry Grace Ferris
    Grade 3/4D Jackson Dore Emily Teychenne
    Grade 3/4K Amalia Masterson Mason Lee
    Grade 3/4M Chase Stammers Chloe Jehnsen
    Grade 3/4NH Lola Proctor Amelia McGill
    Grade 3/4O Luca Durand Evie Smythe
    Grade 5/6A Elizabeth Buckley Grace Rushbury
    Grade 5/6C Pippa Jarred  
    Grade 5/6MW Mischa Crimmins Hayley Slaughter

    DOSCEL CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION

    Congratulations to Mahli Robley in Foundation M who received a Top Ten Award in the DOSCEL Christmas Card Competition this year.  Well done Mahli!

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    CONGRATULATIONS ZEPHYR

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    SPORTS NEWS

    Sports Teacher/Co-Ordinator: Hayley Roberts     

    Email:  hroberts@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au 

    JUNIOR ATHLETICS

    AGE CHAMPIONS

    Foundation Boys - Hunter Barley

    Foundation Girls - Isabelle Cook and Sophie Maher

    Grade 1 Boys - Jax Marshall

    Grade 1 Girls  - Charlotte Hartcher and Sophie Harmes

    Grade 2 Boys - Austin Ferris and Quinn Visser 

    Grade 2 Girls - Anabelle Taylor 

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    COLOUR RUN - RAINBOWS FOR ROSE DAY

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    Teacher: Mrs Catherine McKenna

    Email: cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

    BORROWING

    Borrowing has finished for this year.

    Please return all library books as soon as possible. Overdue notices will be sent out later in the week.

    I will keep the library bags in the library ready for 2024.

    All students require a library bag at St Ita’s to borrow books. Please ensure your child has one to participate in the library program next year. Beleza School Uniforms sell school library bags for $14.

    THANK YOU

    Thank you to our parent helpers this year; Cathy Pederson, Rachael-Lee Seabrook and Cristina Brown. Their help has been invaluable, and we are forever grateful to them for covering most of the new books that come into our library.

     

    KEEP READING!

    The local library is a brilliant resource.

    STORY BOX LIBRARY

    Just a reminder to parents and new families that we have a subscription to Story Box Library. There is a link to the website below, or you can download the app. I encourage you to try it out.

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    AUDIO BOOKS

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

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    CAMP AUSTRALIA

    Camp Australia Co-Ordinator: Carmelina De Cesari

    Contact Number: 1300 105 343

    Website: www.campaustralia.com.au

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    PARISH NEWS

    Alert Against Sin

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    Right at the beginning of the Bible we are told that every human is an image of God, a sacred being who represents the Creator and is worthy of respect. So, sin is a failure to love our Creator and humanity and all creation as directed.

    Many of us hear today’s gospel (Mk 13:33-37) and we think, too right! It is warning those (other) sinners, not to defy God, not to misbehave. Hazardously though, we might just relax in the comforting thought that we aren’t like that. We’re unlike those murderers, thieves, adulterers and blasphemers we see on the News and in popular media. We are above all that. We are alert and awake, we won’t make those mistakes! Hmmm!

    Hopefully that is so, but sadly we then admit we might commit some minor sins, just “little white lies”, or cheating the tax man. “Just the things that everyone else is doing ….. so they must be ok. But those “small” sins are the ones that get past when our attention is distracted. When we are busy playing cool; being caught up in “what’s happening now?”, keeping up with the Joneses, avoiding ridicule rather than standing up to poor behaviour, going along with inappropriate banter, allowing injustice to prevail without trying to prevent it. The more we tolerate and justify our own “small” sins, the closer we are to “big” sins.

    Advent is about preparation for Christ’s coming, about late spring-cleaning of our spiritual houses. Under the guidance of Mark’s gospel, Advent is an opportunity to reflect on our inner lives, to look beyond the commercial rubbish that threatens to overtake Christmas and to re-commit ourselves to faithfully and watchfully waiting for Jesus coming. Advent is a chance to get our lives back on track, to refocus on allowing Jesus into our hearts, to make us the people He calls us to be.

    Deacon Mark Kelly

    SACRAMENT OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

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    Please pray for the following First Communion candidates as they continue their faith journey.

    Elysian Admiraal, Tahlia Atkins, Connor Gregory, Natalie Hateley, Eleanor Noonan, Patrick Reidy, Eli Rushbury, Claire Upston, Georgia Wassenberg and Theia Wells.

    PARISH SACRAMENT ENQUIRIES

    Phone: (03) 5623 1642 Email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au

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    Check out our Catholic Parishes of Warragul & Drouin Facebook presence.

    PUBLIC NOTICES

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