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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.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
As we come to the finish line of school year that’s been severely disrupted by Covid-19, the Summer holidays have finally arrived and we can all take a collective deep breath and have a communal sigh.
As the last day comes to an end for our students, the children are quick to move on and enjoy a well-earnt Summer break. For staff however, it is a different matter. Over the next 3 days we begin the task of preparing for another school year in 2022. (Hopefully free from the disruptions of Covid-19)
This “after the children have left work” is a very appropriate symbol of what we do in schools. We will look at the wear and tear of a school year, we will clean and repair it where we can and we will begin preparations for putting together the 2022 school year.
It is all about Reflection, Adjusting and Preparation. Life’s important big three.
As teachers we look at the past year’s teaching and learning, we reflect on it and adjust to make plans for improvement next year. Even our students will, perhaps informally, look at the past year, and decide where they need to improve and then mentally prepare goals for improving their learning next school.
Regardless of our role in education (teacher, student or parent) we need to actively engage in these three processes: reflection on the past, adjusting practices, and preparation for the future. It is important for every stakeholder to take the time to reflect on the past school year.
Educators, parents and students must take a long and honest look at the past year to celebrate the successes and to learn from the failures. Most school years are filled with both, and both success and failure are necessary to foster growth and development in human beings.
Each year educators, parents and students learn that success is never final and failure is not fatal. As teachers, we look at the past year and ask tough questions: Did I meet the needs of all my students? If I did not, what student needs weren’t met and what obstacles prevented me from meeting those needs? Did we make the most of every leaning opportunity? Was learning differentiated so that all children could experience success based on their academic, social and emotional needs.
Parents must also ask reflective questions: Did I stay engaged in my child’s education this year; what areas might my child require more support? How can I secure that support to ensure that my child reaches his/her full potential?
Students also need to reflect on their academic year by asking questions: What did I enjoy this year? What were my challenges and successes? Where do I need to improve to reach my goals? What are some things I can do differently next year that would lead to success?
In an age where the education of our children has become so important, we cannot afford to look only at the past. We need to carefully evaluate where we were successful and where we experienced problems and make adjustments. Adjustments that will allow us to capitalize on the things we do well and adjustments that allow us to successfully address areas that need improvement.
One behalf of the St Ita’s staff, I would like to thank everyone in the St Ita’s Learning community for your efforts and support this year. Covid has presented so many challenges and hurdles along the journey, but as a team we have worked together to beat everything that it has dished up. I wish all our families a holy, happy and safe Christmas and we look forward to all that the New Year brings. For now please make sure you Rest, Relax and Rejuvenate.
ACCESSING SCHOOL REPORTS via PAM
Reports have been released to families and these can be accessed via your Parent Access Module account. (PAM) This is accessible by going to https://pam.stidrouin.catholic.edu.au/
Use your primary email account as the username and the password you would have changed to in Semester 1. (Or reset password)
Go to Student Assessment – locate your student report for Semester 2
IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2022
School will return for all students on Tuesday 1st February in 2022.
All children will be required to book in for a 15 minute maths interview time on Monday 31st January. This is to complete the first half of their maths assessment. The second part will be in July. Please click the following link to access the booking site
https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/mxjct
Other important dates for the year are as follows:
28th – 2nd March – Grade 5/6 Camp
31st March – School Photos
10th June – School Closure Date (Religious Education Professional Learning for staff)
11th July – Maths Interview (2nd part) – Booking instructions will be released closer to the date.
28th July – School Concert
12th – 14th September – Grade 4 Camp
31st October – Assessment Data Analysis for Teacher (School Closure)
15th December – Last day for students
2021 ST ITA’S AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to all our 2021 Award Winners that we presented at yesterday’s end of year Google Assembly.
Grade 6 Citizenship Award Emmersyn Kneebone
Grade 6 Madeleine Brady Arts Award Christian Dorian
Grade 5 Citizenship Award Makaylah Monckton
Grade 5 Citizenship Award Dillion Jagoe
Grade 2 Citizenship Award Angus Brunt
ROSE McMAHON MEMORIAL AWARD
This year we have also introduced the Rose McMahon Memorial Award to a student who lives out the 5 pillars of our Whole School Approach to Positive Behavior (Compassion, Inclusiveness, Respect, Resilience and Team Work) in their day to day schooling.
We had 11 nominations from across our school and this year we are pleased to announce that we have dual winners.
Congratulations to Sophia Robinson-Kaltoi and Lola Proctor from Grade 2 SB on winning the inaugural 2021 Rose McMahon Memorial Award.
DOSCEL CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGN WINNER
Congratulations to Emily Teychenne from Grade 2 Treller who was voted the best entry for Drouin St Ita’s in the annual DOSCEL Christmas card completion.
OUR FINAL CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES ARE CONFIRMED
Last Sunday the final group of St Ita’s students made their Confirmation at St Joseph’s Warragul. The children did an excellent job in their preparation and were excited about getting to the big day. We congratulate all our students who made their Confirmation in 2021. Yes we had to work around Covid-19 but the children, parents, teachers and the Parish Sacramental team did a great job working around the challenges.
COVID-19 FINANCIAL SUPPORT - SCHOOL FEE CONCESSIONS
SCHOOL FEES & CONCESSIONS
School Fees for 2021 are now due and payable. All school fees must be paid in full by the end of December.
Please contact the school office this week should you need to discuss finalising your 2021 school fee payment.
If any families would like to set up a weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit schedule for next year, please complete the Direct Debit Form below and return to the school office prior to 17th December 2021 for payments commencing in January, or by Monday 31st January 2022 for payments commencing February 2022. For any assistance regarding calculations of payments, 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, 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.
If your current Health Care card is due to expire this year and your card is re-issued, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied for next year's fees, if not already done so.
CHRISTMAS JOY CONCERT RECORDINGS
We have placed all our recordings on our classes who recorded their Christmas song on Google Drive.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EywjHDwAv-SClkzr75p7O9C9lPgFsRM8?usp=sharing
HAIL MARY
Mary is very much a human, but she is an extraordinary human in so many ways. Obviously in the awesome nature of her virgin conception but, importantly, her freely given ‘yes’ to God’s plan sets her apart as the exemplary model of faithful humanity. We might question what might have happened if Mary had said, “No”, which she might have done. God knew Mary, so there wasn’t a “Plan B’ required. We celebrate too her spontaneous trip to assist her pregnant cousin, Elizabeth, modelling that generous, compassionate instinct which is to be at the heart of her son’s teaching.
Elizabeth’s joyful exclamation sums it all up, Mary is indeed the most blessed of all women, and we should all join in that joy because the fulfilment of the promise made by the Lord involves us all.
Sometimes our Catholic devotion to Mary is questioned. Never have we “adored” Mary, who is not God but flesh and blood like us, nevertheless scripture disposes us to hail Mary as the angel does because she is full of grace and the Lord is with her (Lk 1:28), and to acclaim her as Elizabeth does in this passage from this Sunday’s gospel, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”(Lk 1:42). And we, in awe of her extraordinary motherhood, her special status with the Creator of all and her motherhood of us, are confident to ask for her quiet intervention.
Why would we not salute her blessedness and, since her son gives her to us as our mother too, why would we not ask for her help to lead the lives her son calls us to? Only God can answer our prayers, but scripture spurs us to ask for her support (Jn 2:5). That’s what the “Hail Mary” is about. Have a Happy and Holy Christmas!
Deacon Mark Kelly
CATHOLIC PARISHES OF WARRAGUL AND DROUIN
CHRISTMAS MASSES 2021
CHRISTMAS EVE 24TH DECEMBER
7.00pm Marist Sion Hall
(Full vaccination required)
8.00pm outside at St. Ita’s Drouin
(No vaccination record)
CHRISTMAS DAY 25TH DECEMBER
9.00am St. Joseph’s Church Warragul
(Full vaccination required)
9.30am St. Ignatius Church Neerim South
(Full vaccination required)
10.30am St. Ita’s Church Drouin
(Full vaccination required)
RECONCILIATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS
As well as regular times there is to be a communal service for Reconciliation at St. Ita’s Church:
Tuesday 21st December at 7.30pm
Email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au
For further inquiries please contact Thérèse on M: 0499 116 428
PUBLIC NOTICES
KRISTY TELFORD AUTHOR OF ANNABEL'S MUM
Books are available at $20 each. To purchase the book please email Kristy at cancers.grace@gmail.com
