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.

PRINCIPAL MESSAGE

A HEART FELT THANKS TO ALL IN OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY

Well, here we are at the end of term 3 and what an unconventional journey it has been. We have been thrust into the challenges of COVID-19 again this term and the goal posts seem to move on a daily basis, however I am extremely grateful to our school community for how we have stood up and faced everything that has been delivered to us this term.

As stated last week, our kids have shown real stamina and resilience with their remote learning this term. They have been extremely focused during Class Google Meetings and according to teacher’s the children have produced work of a high standard.

I have to acknowledge the role that you, the parents have played in supporting your child/ren during Remote Learning. I know it has been a tough, long arduous haul and I have had a lot of communication with parents this term who have been struggling to make it work. It has to be said you have worked your way through the tough times and delivered in spades. You are to be commended on your amazing and creative efforts that you have produced to support each individual child’s learning.

It has also been great to hear from families who are really promoting plenty of time for their children to be active outdoors whilst in Remote Offsite Learning. The well-being and healthy mind space of all our children and parents is a key component to Remote Learning.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff of St Ita’s who have gone over and above to make the well-being of students and their learning central to everything they do. Their planning and team work around student learning has been outstanding. Thanks for your collective efforts.

It is time to now enjoy a well-earned Term 3 break. Stay well, stay safe and make sure you get to enjoy some quality family time.

FOOTY DRESS UP DAY

To help celebrate the AFL Grand Final students who are onsite can wear their favourite Sports team colours this Friday at no cost. There will also be a special lunch order available through Flexi Schools on dress up day. A Pie and drink for $5.00 or a Hotdog and drink for $5.00. (Please swipe right on the flexischool menu to see the special menu for this day)

PRIMARY SCHOOL NURSING PROGRAM

All students in Foundation will have brought home a Primary School Health Assessment Questionnaire.

The information in this questionnaire is confidential and helps the Primary School Nurse understand any concerns you may have about your child's health and development and the impact this may have on their learning. This information is important in providing support for you and your child.

STUDENTS ATTENDING ONSITE REMOTE LEARNING WITH COLD OR FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS

If your child is displaying cold or flu like symptoms, please do not send them to Onsite Remote Learning. In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, if your child has cold or flu symptoms please keep them at home until their symptoms have cleared.

I have instructed all staff managing onsite remote learning to contact parents if their children have cold or flu like symptoms and they will need to be collected from school.

ST ITA’S FAMILY RAFFLE

To help you find a positive during Covid Lockdown, the lovely staff at SGO Candles & Co. are giving all families the opportunity to win one of three beautiful 220-gram scented candles.

This month’s candle flavour is "Fruit Loops" it smells amazing, almost edible.

The weekly raffle is to say thank you to all our families for their great work during remote learning. All our family names will be put into Mr. Pitt’s random spinning wheel and each week in the lead up to the term break two lucky families will win an SGO Candle or a box of Cadbury Favourites. We will keep you posted of our winning families via our weekly newsletter.

WEEK 9 FAMILY RAFFLE WINNERS

Congratulations to the McGill family who were the week 9 winners of the SGO Candles & Co “Fruit Loop” Candle and the box of Cadbury Favourites went to the Hick family. We look forward to seeing who will be our week 10 winners.

WEEK 10 RANDOM SPINNING WHEEL

Congratulations to the Joiner family who were the week 10 winners of the SGO Candles & Co “Fruit Loop” Candle and the box of Cadbury Favourites went to the Robinson-Kaltoi family.

Click the links below to see our prize winners

CLICK HERE - Prize Winners (Video)

Winners can collect their prizes at Admin from Thursday morning

PARENT ACCESS MODULE (PAM)

Thank you to all our families who have signed in and verified their children/s information. This will improve our communications moving forward including seeking permission for excursions, trips to the sick bay (which can be communicated to parents via email notifications in real time), and monitoring any students with medical conditions.

We continue to encourage any parents who are yet to access the portal to do so via the link below and ensure all students details, including medical details are up to date. Please contact the school if you still have not been able to do this or please follow the instructions on the school website.

This portal is accessible via https://pam.stidrouin.catholic.edu.au/

2022 ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN

Enrolments are now open and we are now taking bookings for enrolment interviews and school tours. (COVID-19 Dependent).

If you require an interview and school tour with your child, please contact our school Admin on 5623 7222 as soon as possible to book a time.

All parents will be required to complete a student questionnaire prior to the commencement of your interview (this takes a couple of minutes and you will receive it on arrival). You will also receive an enrolment pack with an enrolment form enclosed.

We strongly advise you to book your interview and return your application form promptly to guarantee enrolment for next year.

SCHOOL FEES & FEE CONCESSION

Term 1, 2 & 3 School Fees are now overdue. BPay details are available on your school fee statement. School fees are due by the 4th week of each term and must be paid in full by the end of the school year they are due, December 2021.

If any families would like to pay off their fees either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, please set up a direct debit schedule by completing a Direct Debit Form and returning to the school office at your earliest convenience. Please calculate the total fees payable by the number of weeks/payments required for your fees to be paid by December 2021. For any assistance please contact the school Admin office via email on: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested Health Care Concession Card and have not already advised the school office, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply with the student details listed on the card. A CSEF (Camp, Sport & Excursion Fund) form must also be completed. Application forms must be completed each year.

If your current Health Care Concession Card has expired, or is due to expire and your card is re-issued or any details have changed, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied to your fees.

Direct debit form

Direct debit form 188.64 KB

2021_CSEF_application_form.pdf

2021_CSEF_application_form _pdf 214.27 KB

LIBRARY NEWS

by Mrs Catherine McKenna, Library Teacher

Email: cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

Thanks to all the students in F-4 who have entered the Book Poster Competition. (This was part of their remote learning lessons.) I loved seeing all the emails last week of your designs. Please bring them into school by Friday Week 1 of Term 4. The posters will go on display and prizes for effort and creativity will be awarded in Week 2.

We hope your students enjoyed their dress-up for Book Week on Monday and the show Bigger, Better, Brighter.

ONLINE PARENT COURSE – NO SCAREDY CATS™

Anxiety in children is at an all-time high.

Parentshop® has developed No Scaredy Cats™, a parent-led program to give parents the tools to help their anxious children to become more resilient.

At this time, when it is difficult to get support, Parentshop® are delivering an online parent version of No Scaredy Cats™, presented by the course author, Michael Hawton MAPS.

CLICK HERE for dates and to sign up for the webinar

Scaredy_Cats_Webinar_for_Parents.pdf

PARISH NEWS

COMING LAST

Recently I’ve appreciated a young father, absolutely tired out with a full and trying day of work, hardly sleeping overnight as he and his wife patiently and lovingly stay awake with a baby who will not sleep. Richard Rohr highlights the positive focus and purpose of “the hardworking happiness of young mothers and fathers. Their young child, their one North Star, and they know very clearly why they are waking up each morning.” (Rohr, R. The Universal Christ p74). Parents know about dying to self; about putting oneself last.

Our gospel this week suggests that this space of servant parenthood is the very place where God is to be found. We find that Jesus visualises himself and “the one who sent him” (Mark 9:30-37) akin to a powerless, vulnerable child rather than the towering influential figures imagined by his followers. Digging down, we discover that God does not want to be served by us; but to serve us. God does not want to be given the highest possible rank and status in our society but to take the lowest place and to be without rank and status. God does not want to be feared and obeyed but to be recognised in the sufferings of the poor and the weak. (Nolan, A. Jesus Before Christianity, p138).

It seems rather that self-effacement, putting oneself last, humility, patience, child-like trust, prioritising others, prioritising the good of the community – this is where we find God. Michael Bowden, great Richmond footballer and later legendary authority in Aboriginal Catholic spirituality and culture, tells us that “God” is found in the way Mystery interacts with material reality, in the care, compassion, patience and self-sacrifice of people who are motivated by Mystery to act with altruism and love.” (Bowden, M. Unbreakable Rock p208).

Deacon Mark Kelly