Over the past few weeks, we thank you for taking the time to get to know your child’s teacher and developing relationships with them. Gains in learning are most prominent when parents and school staff work together to facilitate a supportive learning environment at both home and school. Effective partnerships are based on openness, trust, mutual respect and in the interests of all students. We recognise that parents, carers and families are integral members of our school community and partners in student learning. We look forward to continuing to create a safe and positive climate for all members of the community where healthy relationships can be nurtured and sustained.

Thank you to the parents who attended our Information sessions for Years 1-6. It was wonderful to see so many parents taking the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher. This is an important first step in forming the integral partnership between parents and teachers to support student learning. We also thank the teachers for their preparation and delivery of these sessions.

 “In everything we do we strive to follow the way of St. Francis of Assisi.
Each day we rise and remember our calling to praise God for his presence
among us, in all of creation.”

“We must take note of the changes that have affected both the family and the school, and renew the commitment to constructive collaboration – for the benefit of children and young people” — Pope Francis  

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) strives to create vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and believes this is best achieved when there is a genuine partnership between home and school.

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework has been developed to support the creation and maintenance of this partnership. It outlines for parents* and school the principles and expectations of the parent-school partnership so that together we can create:

• identifiably Catholic communities, inspired by the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, where all strive to act with hope, integrity, justice, and compassion; and
• effective schools that enhance student learning and wellbeing.

*CEDoW uses the term parent inclusive of all adults who have the responsibility for the care and wellbeing of a child or young person. We recognise that the role of parent is fulfilled by a range of individuals within the variety of family structures that exist. 

VIEW THE 'LIGHTING THE WAY TOGETHER: PARENT-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK' DOCUMENT

STUDENT LEADERS
Congratulations to our Student Leaders who continue to work on their new roles within the school. They have been busy supporting the staff and students within the school.

UNSW / ICAS ASSESSMENTS
Each year we provide the opportunity for students in Years 3-6 to participate in the University of New South Wales Competitions. This is an independent assessment program for Australian schools, which has been conducted for over 35 years. They are not compulsory. These online competitions are for students who wish to experience extension and further challenge. The cost is $15.95 for each competition and is open to all students in Years 3-6. This year parents will need to order and pay for the assessments online. When we have received the details they will be forwarded to parents. The assessments will be held:

Science and Writing - Week of August 17th            

Digital Technologies and English - Week of August 24th

Mathematics and Spelling - Week of August 31st

What is The Big Vegie Crunch?

Did you know that only around 6% of Australian children eat enough vegetables? To help our community do better, our school will be taking part in The Big Vegie Crunch (part of Vegetable Week) at 10 am on Thursday 5 March.

Primary schools across NSW will be joining together to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables:

• 50 260 students crunching simultaneously (2018 record)
• 14 991 students crunching at other times over Vegetable Week (2019 record)

What can you do to help?

• Pack a container of vegetables (not fruit this time) for your child to eat on Thursday 5March
• Remember to keep serving up the vegetables at home and in your children’s lunchboxes!

PRAYER
This year we are having a renewed focus on prayer in our school. As part of our Religious Education lessons, we will focus on a different prayer each week and explain the meaning of the words and the overall meaning of the prayer. This prayer will be the one used each day during our morning gathering enabling all students to understand and say the prayer focus. It is really important that all students have their school prayer book in their bag and take it out and follow the words while praying. We encourage all students to locate their prayer book or purchase one from the school office. The beginning of our school prayer focus will be our 'School prayer'. All students will be given a copy of this as a bookmark. One side of the bookmark will be the School Prayer and on the other side will be the Acknowledgement of Country.

COMMISSIONING MASS FOR PARISH MINISTRIES
This Sunday at 10 am Fr Martin will bless and commission all those who work for the parish in ministries for 2020. This will include all staff, all parishioners are invited to attend.

SHOVE TUESDAY
Our Mini Vinnies team will be selling pancakes on Tuesday at Recess. See further details next week.

LENTEN PENANCE OBSERVATIONS FOR CATHOLICS
During Lent and on the Fridays of the year, we do penance, not only on our own account, but also in the name of the Church and of the world. We must take seriously our penitential obligations and be sure to carry them out. The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has not restricted our penance to fast and abstinence in all cases, it has left room for our own responsible choices. We should carefully select the form of penance that we consider most appropriate for our own circumstances and growth in Christian life.

DAYS OF PENANCE

1. Abstinence from meat, and fasting, are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All who have completed their 18th year and have not yet begun their 60th year are bound to fast. All who have completed their 14th year are bound to abstain.
2. On all other Fridays of the year, including the Fridays of Lent, the law of the common practice of penance is fulfilled by performing any one of the following:

(a) prayer – for example, Mass attendance; family prayer; a visit to a church or chapel; reading the Bible; making the Stations of the Cross; praying the Rosary.

(b) self-denial – for example, not eating meat; not eating sweets or dessert; giving up entertainment to spend time with the family; limiting food and drink so as to give to the poor of one’s own country.

(c) helping others – for example, special attention to someone who is poor, sick, elderly, lonely or overburdened.

Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Thursday) exclusive. On Good Friday and, if possible, also on Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil, the Easter fast is observed.

PASCHAL PRECEPT
Each of the faithful is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year. This is to be done between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday unless for a good reason it is done at another time during the year. All the faithful are obliged to confess their grave sins at least once a year.

IMPORTANT - ANDREW CHINN
On Sunday 8 March Andrew Chinn, a well-known local hymn composer and singer, will play at the 10 am Parish Mass. Andrew will visit the school on Thursday, 5 March to prepare the students. We are very lucky to have this opportunity and encourage as many people as possible to attend this 10 am Mass. We sing many of Andrew’s songs during our school celebrations. Andrew performed at our Easter celebration last year.

SOUTH COAST SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Congratulations to the following students who will represent our school at the South Coast Swimming Carnival. The event will be held at Corrimal Pool on Thursday 5 March:

Thomas W, Samuel A, Ben A, Olivia A, Kitarni A, Makkede A, Eva G, Emma S, James H,
Maysa H, Youssef A, Felicia O, Emilia P, Dylan R, Noah L.

Entry fee for the event will need to be paid through Compass.

AFL – PAUL KELLY CUP
The Paul Kelly Cup is a fun event where students compete against other schools, learning the skills involved with AFL. A team of boys and a team of girls have been chosen to represent our school on Tuesday 10 March at Thomas Dalton Park.

Action! Mystery! Dialogue! What a sizzling way to write an engaging starter for a narrative. Year 5 have been exploring how to hook the reader in immediately in their writing.

Here are some examples of our sizzling starts:

CLASS LIBRARY DAYS
Please find below the days the students are required to bring their library bags to school for borrowing. The class teacher will take the students to the library on these days. All students are encouraged to borrow a book/s from the library. Students will be reminded to bring their bag and return books each week. A longer book may be reborrowed if your child is still reading it. 

The library will also be opened at lunchtime on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

IT Tips for Parents

Tips to monitor your child/ren's media exposure

During the holidays, many children may have been exposed to concerning content on news and social media, such as the recent bushfire coverage. Useful tips include:

• Calmly ask children what they’ve heard about recent news events and find out the extent of their exposure.
• Keep in mind children may have seen content which was outdated, repetitious or untrue.
• Confirm with children what really happened, keeping your language simple, honest and age-appropriate.
• Ask children how the media content makes them feel, and talk to them about what fun or soothing activities you can all do to feel better.
• Set reasonable, age-appropriate limits on media exposure.
• Help children identify news sources which are accurate and respectful.
• If children are concerned about the news, draw their attention to stories of strong, resilient communities and people doing good things to help make the situation better. Talk with children about what steps you can all take to help, such as raising money, volunteering and writing ‘thank you’ messages to the fire-fighters.
  
  For helpful tips about setting family rules for tech use see Dolly’s Dream Parent Hub. This site is also useful in supporting children to show respect and kindness online and how to ask for help if something goes wrong. 

The "Keep our children safe" school zone safety flyer was developed to remind parents/drivers of the road rules within school zones. The flyer attached features important road safety information which informs parents about traffic rules and parking restrictions in place to improve everyone's safety.