Newsletter 9 October 2024
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back for Term 4. I hope that you all had an enjoyable break. We have another great term ahead of us and I’m looking forward to finishing off what has been an excellent year at St Monica’s.
We are currently working through our staffing and classroom plans for 2025 and over the coming weeks, I’m aiming to have all classes and teachers assigned to their respective classes. At this stage, we are looking at having an enrolment profile around 201, which is up from our current enrolment of 191. This means we will be able to maintain a similar structure to this year. The final breakdown of class groupings will be made once all recruitment and enrolments have been finalised. I can announce though, that due to a high interest and enrolment number into Prep – 35 students at this stage – we will be running two Prep classes for 2025. This is very exciting for St Monica’s as we haven’t had two Prep classes for a few years. We look forward to seeing our 2025 Preps, at our first Transition Day on Thursday 14th November.
Over the past term, the P&F has been working towards developing a new mission and strategic plan for the next four years. The strategic plan has been developed off the school strategic plan and maps out key priorities for the P&F around three focus areas – School Community Engagement, Fundraising and Resourcing and School Promotion. The plan will help shape the short- and long-term direction for the P&F, as well as strengthen the group into the future. I thank the P&F for their time in putting this document together and I encourage all families to take a look and consider where they may be able to provide input and support to help continue the great work of our P&F.
St Monica's P&F Strategic Plan (schoolzineplus.com)
From the APRE
2025 Maths Olympics
Next week, St Monica’s will be holding its first Maths Olympics on Wednesday the 16th of October, at 9am in the Sports Hall. Students who received the top scores from class testing on problem solving and number facts recall, will battle it out to determine who is the top mathematician. We are all very excited for this event.
Loud Shirt Day
On Friday, October 18, students are encouraged to wear their loudest shirts to school to raise awareness for the thousands of children across Australia with hearing loss. The slogan is ‘Wear loud for kids with hearing loss’. To mark the day, Year 1 will be presenting a special assembly on how we can raise awareness and support for our family and friends with hearing loss. A reminder that students will still need to wear their sports uniform bottoms (skorts or shorts) and bring their school hat.
Socktober
October is World Mission month, a time to focus on the missionary work that supports people from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds by responding to needs in a variety of countries. Socktober 2024 will contribute vital funds to projects around the world, including Timor-Leste, where a medical clinic and a children's home are providing hope for generations of young people. As a school we will be participating in ‘Socktober’ on Children’s Mission Day, which is on Monday October 21. Students are invited to wear their craziest socks and to offer a gold coin donation which will be sent to Catholic Missions.
Day for Daniel
On Friday, October 25, all students will be participating in ‘Day for Daniel’. Held annually, this day honours the memory of Daniel Morcombe, and on this special day, all Australians are asked to Wear Red, Educate and Donate. On this day, Year 3 will be leading the school in a special assembly highlighting the importance of child safety and protection. This includes the 3 ‘Rs’ – React. Respond. Report! Children are invited to wear red clothes to school on this day and bring a gold coin donation which will go to the Daniel Morecombe Foundation. On the Monday of this week, student will also engage in the Day for Daniel Curriculum which links with the TCS Relationships and Sexuality Education Curriculum.
Term 4 Class Masses
Please note below the class Masses for Term 4. All are friends and family are welcome to attend.
- Prep – Year 3, Week 2 – Thursday, October 10 at 9am. Our Lady of the Rosary.
- Years 4-6, week 3 – Thursday, October 17 at 9am. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
- Whole School – Week 5 – Thursday, October 31 at 9am. All Souls and All Saints Day.
- Whole School – Week 10 – Wednesday, December 4 at 9am – Year 6 Graduation Mass.
Christmas Concert
A reminder that the 2024 Christmas concert, entitled ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ will be on Thursday the 5th of December, beginning at 6:00pm. Like last year, there will be the P&F BBQ beforehand.
From the Classrooms
Prep
Welcome back to your final term in Prep! The saying is certainly true that time flies when your having fun. On the topic of fun, I decided to include all of the important dates that have been provided to you on the term 4 overview. This will ensure we are all up to date with what’s occurring in Term 4. A reminder that the Prep’s preform the Nativity on the final day of school. Keep an eye out for speaking parts to practice at home the coming weeks.
Prep Mass – Thursday 10th October (Our Lady of the Rosary)
Loud shirt day – Friday 18th October
Socktober – Monday 21st October
Day for Daniel – Friday 25th October
Family Mass - Saturday 2nd November
Week 7 & 8 Swimming lessons
- Wednesday 13th November
- Friday 15th November
- Monday 18th November
Friday the 24th November – Swimming Carnival
Tuesday 3rd December – Ball Games Carnival
Thursday 5th December 6:00pm – Christmas Concert
Friday 11:00am - Prep Nativity, and Final Awards Assembly
Year 1
Welcome back to term 4, the fastest one of them all ! Trust everyone enjoyed a well-earned rest and some time spent with family and friends. We had a very productive week to begin the last term for our year one students, beginning our units of work and catching up on holiday stories. Homework was sent home last week and due back on Thursday and we encourage anyone struggling to get it completed to avail themselves of homework club before school on Thursday mornings in Mrs Malone’s room. Have a great week.
Jenny and Kate
Year 2
Welcome to term 4!
What a great first week back we have had. The Year 2’s have already jumped straight into their learning head first with such a positive attitude.
In English, we read the book ‘Maudie and Bear’ and worked on our retelling skills.
In Maths, we have been reviewing 3-digit numbers. We had lots of fun making pictures with MAB blocks and finding out their value.
Last week in Health we learnt all about mindfulness and how it helps us to be resilient. We learnt different mindfulness techniques that we can do if we feel overwhelmed. This was so much fun!
If anyone is having trouble completing their homework each week, Mrs Malone runs a homework club in 4M on a Thursday morning from 8-8:30am. Everyone is welcome!
Year 3
Welcome back! I hope everyone had a relaxing, safe and happy break. What a busy term we have coming up with many activities including our assembly in Week 4, dance lessons, swimming lessons, Maths Olympics and Day for Daniel. This term students will develop their understanding of rhythm and rhyme that are used to create different effects in text as we explore poetry. Mathematics will see students revisiting concepts and enhancing their speed and accuracy when working with numbers. We are learning about melting and freezing with our science unit ‘Melting Moments’. During Religion lessons students will explore who Jesus is in the lead up to Christmas.
Year 4A
Welcome back for Term Four! This term we have started to explore blockers to our success, such as procrastination, being worries, feeling down, being angry and not paying attention. We will look at how to overcome these things to be more successful.
Just a few reminders, Library books are to be returned EVERY THURSDAY. There are a few students who have books that are well overdue and need to be returned. Sports uniform is to be worn on a Monday and Friday, formal uniform is to be worn the other days.
Next week, Wednesday 16/10, we will have our first Math Olympics in the hall at 9am. All parents are welcome to attend.
Have a great week.
Year 4M
Welcome to Week 2.
We are excited to present our assembly item this Friday. Our theme is World Food Day, and this has given us some time to think about the food that we eat and how many people around the world still do not have enough to eat to meet daily requirements. We are busy looking at Graphic Novels in English and I have been very impressed with the creativity and ideas the students have been demonstrating in their writing so far this term. In maths, we have been reviewing concepts taught throughout the year, and our reading assessments will also begin shortly. Next week, we will have the first Maths Olympics on Wednesday morning. 3 students from each class will battle it out to be the winner. We also have Loud Shirt Day next Friday to raise money for children with hearing loss. More information will be sent home shortly.
Have a great week!
Year 5B
Welcome to Term 4! It is sure to be a very exciting and action-packed term. Last Friday, the Year 5 students participated in their year-level retreat on the Benedictine value, Community, and we were so impressed with their engagement in all of the activities. The day culminated with a visit to the residents at CWA House, McLean Care. We received wonderful feedback about our visit and the positive impact this had on the residents. It's not long until the Year 5/6 Camp to Burleigh Heads - everyone is getting very excited. Please take the time to check the packing list to ensure you have all of the necessities.
Have a great week!
Year 5R
5R Ramp Up for Science, exploring Forces.
Year 6
Welcome back to Term 4!
On Monday, a note was sent home with important information regarding the term including important dates for the end of year events. More information regarding these dates will be sent home closer to the date.
It’s not long now until we head off on our Year 5/6 camp. Please ensure you read through and return the Camp Rules note that was sent home on Monday. This note outlines expectations about behaviours whilst on camp.
A final note will also be sent home in the next week outlining any final information you may require in preparation for the camp.
From the Library
From Music & LOTE
It has been wonderful to see some new members at Ukulele Club this term. Feel free to bring your own ukulele if you have one, otherwise borrow one of our school ukuleles. Ukulele Club is held every Tuesday lunchtime.
Choir & Ukulele Club have been booked for a few events this term. It would be lovely to have as many of our members as possible attend the following events:
- Parish Mass on Saturday 2nd November (Choir leads the singing)
- Oakey Historical Museum Christmas Carols on Sunday 1st December - time TBA (Choir AND Ukulele Club)
- Christmas carols at Mclean care during school time (permission note will be sent home soon)
Mini Monnie's Playgroup
Be Well at St Monica's
Camp is where memories are made!
In a couple of weeks, the Year 5 and 6 students are lucky enough to be heading off to beautiful Burleigh Heads for school camp and at the end of last term, the Year 4 sleepover took place. School camps are not just lots of fun, but they can have lifelong benefits. Experiences such as these assist children by:
- Building social skills and teamwork
- Developing independence and confidence
- Building lasting relationships with other students
- Teaching new skills
- Providing opportunities to try new activities
- Enabling them to disconnect from technology and reconnect with self and others
- Developing problem solving and decision-making skills
- Building stronger staff/student connections
- Expanding experiences in nature
- Developing organisational skills
You Can Do It!
Throughout the year, all students have learnt about the 5 keys to happiness and success in the You Can Do It! program - resilience, persistence, organisation, confidence and getting along. School camp is a perfect place to put these skills into action and develop them even further.
Helping students (and parents) cope with separation anxiety
It is not unusual for children (and parents) facing new experiences, and perhaps the first time being away from family, to experience some concerns or anxiety, but there are many ways you can help.
- It is important for parents to manage their own feelings of anxiety as this can have a negative impact on children and heighten their child’s level of anxiety.
- It is important to focus on the positives and consider everything that will be gained from all the wonderful experiences they will be exposed to.
- Pack together and make it fun.
- Talk about what to expect and the some of the exciting camp activities.
- Help them to understand that some level of anxiety is okay and the importance of identifying this by thinking, “I’m a bit nervous about camp but I know I will have a fun time with my friends.”
In challenging times, help is just a phone call away! Who can you call 24/7?
Lifeline 131114, Kids Help Line 1800 551800, Beyond Blue 1300 224636
Uniforms
School uniforms are now available at School Locker online theschoollocker.com.au or Intersport in Ruthven St Toowoomba.
Research has shown that one of the real advantages of an education at a Catholic School is that a special and unique pride is developed. One significant way to foster such pride is the enforcement of strict uniform guidelines. All children are expected to wear the school uniform as listed below:
School Uniform - Years 1 to 6
Girls – Formal - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
- St Monica’s School Dress Uniform
- Dress: Pattern, Sutton no 346(B)
- Dress: Fabric, Check 8021
- Collar: Cesarella 1301, Zip: Birch 265 Bottle Green
- St Monica’s School green school bucket hat
- Short white socks – (no ankle socks)
- All black shoes – may be leather or jogger.
Girls – Sports - Wednesday and Friday
- St Monica’s School Sports Shirt Yr.1 to Yr.5
- St Monica’s School Leader Shirt Year 6
- St Monica’s School Navy Blue Skort
- St Monica’s School green school bucket hat
- Short white socks
- White sandshoes/joggers
Winter Variation
- As Above
- St Monica’s School Bottle Green Fleecy Pullover with embroidered crest
- Green fleecy track pants with sports uniform only.
- Navy Blue Tights (optional)
Boys – Formal - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
- St Monica’s School Dress Shirt with tartan collar
- Shirt: Pattern, Simplicity 5581
- Fabric: Bottle Green Poplin 8021
- Shorts: Navy Blue Long Shorts (Ruggers)
- St Monica’s School green school bucket hat
- Short navy-blue socks – (no ankle socks)
- All black shoes – May be leather or jogger.
Boys – Sports - Wednesday & Friday
- St Monica’s School Sports Shirt Yr. 1 to Yr. 5
- St Monica’s School Leader Shirt Year 6
- St Monica’s School Navy Blue Shorts (Stubbies)
- St Monica’s School green school bucket hat
- Short white socks
- White sandshoes/joggers
Winter Variation
As Above
- St Monica’s school Bottle Green Fleecy pullover with embroidered crest
- Green fleecy track pants with sports uniform only.
- Long navy-blue pants - Ruggers – Formal uniform (optional)
It is expected that the correct and clean school uniform will be worn at all times. A school uniform can help instil in the students a sense of pride and identity. It also signifies unity and equality.
Prep students wear the sports uniform 5 days per week – Monday to Friday
All Students
Hair:
Collar length hair or longer must be tied back with a green band or green ribbon. Natural hair colour is expected. Rat’s tails and tracks are not permitted.
Earrings:
Girls: Sleepers and plain studs are the only acceptable earrings.
Boys: No earrings.
Other:
Clearly mark all clothing with your child’s name.
From the P&F
Clothing Pool
The clothing pool is currently located in the OSHC, if you require anything please contact the school office or see Lauren in OSHC room near the Prep Classroom.
St Monica's P&F Assoc would like to thank the following sponsors of our Trivia Night.
Please support these local businesses.
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