Newsletter 15th October 2025
From the Principal
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.
Over the break, as part of my long service leave and sabbatical, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Italy as part of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Great Saints of Italy Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage was a great experience for me to further connect with my own Catholic faith journey and to build on my reflections from my last pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The main takeaway for me in visiting all the magnificent basilicas and churches of the many important Saints, was that the Saints – St Francis, St Anthony, St Benedict, St Catherine of Sienna to name a few - play that important role in our lives as they act as touchstones and connectors to how Jesus lived his life. The Saints were just everyday ordinary people, who through their words and actions came to be known by their respective communities as someone who lived their lives in service of others and lived by the example that Jesus left for us. In a wonderful connection to our school, I was able to visit the tombs of St Monica and St Benedict.
Another highlight was the Papal audience with Pope Leo. Our pilgrimage group attended this with at least 50,000 other people. It highlighted for me that we truly belong to a universal church and that everyone was united and connected to each other through their faith. The people in attendance were from numerous countries, too many to count. The audience was presented in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Latin. Such an amazing experience to be a part of.
I look forward to sharing more of this experience with you all over the term.
We are currently working through our staffing and classroom plans for 2026. At this stage, we are looking at having an enrolment profile around 195, which means we will be able to maintain a similar structure to this year. The final breakdown of class groupings will be made once all enrolments have been finalised. Very shortly we will be welcoming our 2026 Preps to school for their first transition day on Thursday 13th November.
From the APMI
2025 Maths Olympics
This Friday the 17th of October is the annual St Monica’s Maths Olympics 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 in each year level. We are all very excited for this event.
Loud Shirt Day
This Friday the 17th of October, 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 2025 will contribute vital funds to projects around the world. This year we are raising funds for communities in Zambia, to help ensure children have access to food and education, giving them the chance to build a brighter future. As a school we will be participating in ‘Socktober’ on Wednesday October 29. Students are invited to wear their craziest socks and to offer a gold coin donation which will be sent to Catholic Missions.
Term 4 Class Masses
Please note below the class Masses for Term 4. All are friends and family are welcome to attend.
· Prep – Year 2, Week 3 – Thursday, October 23 at 9am. Being Friends.
· Years 5-6, Week 5 – Thursday, November 6 at 9am. Jesus the teacher.
· Years 3-4 – Week 7 – Thursday, November 20 at 9am. Christ the King.
· Whole School – Week 10 – Wednesday, December 3 at 9am – Year 6 Graduation Mass.
Family/Parish Mass
This term Family/Parish Mass falls on Sat Nov 1, All Souls Day. It will take place at 6pm. It would be wonderful to see many of our families join our St Monica’s staff and parish community for prayer. Families are warmly invited to join us afterwards for pizza, poppers, ice-blocks and games. A note will go home next week requesting numbers for catering purposes. We hope to see many of you there.
Arts Night
On Thursday the 30th of October we will be holding our first Arts Night from 6pm to 7pm. This is an opportunity for parents to come and view the art works their students made in Term 3 and view performances by the choir, ukelele group and drum beat group. We hope to see many of you there.
Christmas Concert
A reminder that the 2025 Christmas concert, entiltled ‘Christmas Around the World’ will be on Thursday the 4th of December, beginning at 6:00pm. Like last year, there will be the P&F BBQ beforehand.
Week 2
- Friday, Oct 17, Maths Olympics after assembly in the hall.
- Friday, Oct 17, Loud Shirt Day for Hearing Impairment Awareness Day.
Week 3
- Year 5/6 Western Safari Camp.
Week 4
- Wednesday, Oct 29, Socktober – Crazy Sock Day to raise money for Mission Australia.
- Thursday, Oct 30, Beersheba Day.
- Thurs Oct 30, St Monica’s School Arts Night, 6:00pm – 7:00pm.
- Friday, Oct 31, Day for Daniel (Wear Red).
- Saturday, Nov 1, Parish/Family Mass – All Saints Day. 6:00pm.
Week 5
- Tuesday, Nov 4, Melbourne Cup Hat Parade.
- Friday, Nov 7, World Teachers Day celebration.
Week 6
- Monday, Nov 10, Swimming Lessons.
- Tuesday, Nov 11, Remembrance Day Liturgy 11:00am.
- Wednesday, Nov 12, Swimming Lessons.
- Thursday, Nov 13, Prep Transition Day 1.
- Thursday, Nov 13, Legends of League workshop.
- Friday, Nov 14, Spelling Bee after assembly.
Week 7
- Monday, Nov 17, Swimming lessons
- Wednesday, Nov 19, Swimming lessons
- Thursday, Nov 20, Prep Transition Day 2
- Friday, Nov 21, Swimming Carnival.
Week 8
- Tuesday, 25 Nov, Ball Games Carnival.
- Thursday, 27 Nov, Prep Transition Day 3, Step Up Day and School Locker Uniform Pop-Up Shop.
Week 9
- Monday, Dec 1, Year 6 End of Year Retreat
- Wednesday, Dec 3, Graduation Mass at 9:00am followed by Graduation Morning Tea for Yr 6 families.
- Thursday, Dec 4, Christmas Concert at 6:00pm. P&F BBQ begins at 4:30pm.
- Friday, Dec 5, 11:00am, Final Liturgy: Prep Nativity and End of Year Awards Ceremony.
- Classes finish at approx. 12noon.
From the Classrooms
Prep
We would like to welcome you all to Term 4. What better way to start than a trip to the Zoo. The students and teachers had a wonderful time at Darling Downs Zoo, we learnt lots of information about the animals and can't wait to discuss it in our upcoming science lessons. Please note readings for our upcoming assembly have been sent home with each child. The children will need to practice these at home.
Year 1
Welcome to Term 4! We're thrilled to have everyone back and have certainly hit the ground running in our Year One classroom. The students are eagerly preparing for our assembly this Friday, and they can't wait to share this special event with you. There's been a lot of excitement around our new classroom setup. The students are now sitting in groups, which is helping them develop their collaborative skills and working together more effectively. In Maths, we kicked off last week with some consolidation work on numbers. Now, we're diving into creating and continuing number patterns, which the students are finding both challenging and fun. In English, the children shared their beloved pets with the class by drawing labelled pictures and writing sentences about them. It was a wonderful way for them to express their creativity and practice their writing skills. We look forward to an exciting term ahead!
Year 2
Year Two
Welcome to the fast and eventful Term Four. After a busy Term Three, we are excited to get started with our final term of Year Two.
The students have settled back into their familiar daily routines and following the expectations that support them to be ‘ready to learn’.
This week in Math, we have investigated the concept of giving and following directions and explored key vocabulary such as, direction, position, left, right, up and down. To deepen their understanding, the students participated in a grid game where they had to create a secrete path with a set of directions for their partner to arrive at a precise position.
In Religion, we explored ‘Qualities of Friendship. To spark this learning we viewed the text, ‘A Little Book About Friendship’. This created a platform for discussion about what we already know about ‘what makes a good friend’ and further investigation to strengthen our understanding of the deeper qualities of friendship. The students are proud to share their Friendship poster and Flowers.
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 3 for Day for Daniel, Maths Olympics, dance lessons, swimming lessons, Spelling Bee and many more exciting learning opportunities. This term students will develop their understanding of rhythm and rhyme which are used to create different effects in texts as we explore poetry. Mathematics will see students revisiting concepts and enhancing their speed and accuracy when working with numbers particularly with multiplication. In Science, students are learning about melting and freezing with the unit ‘Melting Moments’. During Religion lessons students will explore who Jesus is in the lead up to Christmas. We look forward to a fantastic term ahead!
Year 4
Welcome back for Term Four! This term we have started to explore the local government and what they do for the local community, in HaSS. We will continue to investigate the structure of the local council and look at the election process. This is leading up to them creating their own local government in an Australian community. 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. Homework folders need to come to school every day to ensure all notes make it home. Sports uniform is to be worn on Tuesday and Friday, formal uniform is to be worn the other days. This Friday, 17/10/25 the Math Olympics will be held in the hall. The Year 4 contestants are Toby, Lacey and Ashara. They will compete at 11:10am. We wish them the best of luck. All parents are welcome to attend. Have a great week. God Bless.
Year 5M
This term has started on a positive and energetic note, with students diving enthusiastically into their learning. Last week, our class proudly presented at assembly on Mary, Queen of the Rosary, and they did a fantastic job sharing their knowledge with confidence and reverence. In English, we’ve been working on persuasive writing, crafting letters to Members of Parliament about whether social media should be banned for children under 16—a topic that’s sparked thoughtful debate. In Maths, we’ve been exploring mapping and coordinates, which ties in perfectly with our HASS unit on Europe and North America. In Science, students have been conducting hands-on experiments to discover what light is and how it works. Don’t forget, this Friday is the Mathletics competition, and next week our Year 5 and 6 students will be heading off to camp—please make sure they’re packed, prepared, and excited for the adventure ahead!
Year 5R
Term 4 has had a fantastic start, with our Year 5 students diving into an exciting STEM challenge that sparked curiosity and strengthened their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills. We’re now gearing up for camp — have you started packing yet?
Year 6
Hello from Week 2! Students have been exploring the fascinating world of electricity! We've been learning how circuits work and will be experimenting with batteries, wires, and bulbs, and discovering how energy flows to power devices. In English, students are learning how to write engaging and informative news reports. They’ve been practicing using the 5Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) and crafting catchy headlines. We’re seeing some budding journalists in the making!
Excitement is building for camp! We will have another reminder session on Friday and school about what to bring and information will be sent home this Friday, so please keep an eye out for this email. Get ready for some friendly competition! Our Maths Olympics will be held in the hall this Friday. We wish the students from Year 6 all the best in the Olympics. Families are welcome to come and cheer them on! Have a fantastic week!
From the P&F
Save the Date!
The St Monica’s Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, 4th December! Come and celebrate a wonderful year at St Monica’s with food and drinks being served from 4:30pm and the main event starting at 6pm. Keep an eye out for an RSVP form so that we are able to cater appropriately for the event. We are also looking for volunteers to help out with various roles and make the night run smoothly. If you can help, please give your name to the school office or fill out the volunteer survey attached below.
Next Meeting Date
Our next P & F meeting will be held on Tuesday, 18th November and we extend a warm welcome to both old and new parents and friends. We would love to welcome as many as possible to share in the successes of the P & F over the past year and to discuss goals for 2026.
Tuckshop
Thank you to our many volunteers who have helped fill the term 4 roster for tuckshop. We are still looking for a few volunteers on some dates to help fill the shorter hours' time slot. If you can help out on any Friday this term, please let Lyndell know at the school office.
From Music and L.O.T.E
Thursday 30th October is our inaugural Arts show starting at 6pm. There will be performances from our school Choir, Ukulele Club, Bucket Drumming group and also from our talent show winner! An evening not to be missed!
A reminder when these groups rehearse each week:
- Tuesday lunchtimes: bucket drummers
- Wednesday lunchtimes: ukulele club
- Thursday lunchtimes: Choir
Wellbeing
Be Well @ St Monica’s
What’s for lunch?
A healthy diet is not only important for growing bodies but can also impact your child’s learning and academic achievement. As we commence Term 4, it is timely to discuss the importance of nutritious school lunches. Some students can have difficulty staying focused in class and following directions, and this has a negative impact on their learning. Research indicates this could be the result of a poor diet. Nutrition has also been associated with a number of issues including chronic health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, tooth decay, obesity, poor sleep, lack of concentration, low energy levels and poor academic performance.
Most pre-packaged and processed foods have very limited nutrients. Whilst we appreciate these can be an easy option to include, with no preparation required, we are concerned with the number of these items in some students’ lunch boxes. Most pre-packaged and processed foods are high in sugar – and it all adds up. There are more than six teaspoons of sugar in a single serve of some products such as apricot bars, cakes and sports drinks, and some products marketed as being healthy – such as muesli bars and on-the-go breakfast products – are surprisingly high in sugar. This can significantly impact our students’ ability to concentrate, engage in learning activities and achieve success.
Tips and inspiration for busy parents
- Include something from each of the 5 food groups: fruit, vegetables/legumes/beans, dairy, grain (cereal) foods, and lean meats/poultry/fish/eggs etc
- Limit snacks that are high in sugar and/or saturated fats e.g. cakes, chocolate, donuts, biscuits
- Consider snacks like chips as a ‘sometimes’ food for after school, not a regular lunchbox item
- Look for grain-based snacks with whole grains and high fibre
- Pick whole fruit over fruit juice – the vitamins, minerals and fibre make it more filling and nutritious
- Pack water as a drink
For healthy lunchbox ideas and recipes visit the following sites:
https://www.healthyliving.nsw.gov.au/im-helping-my-kids-and-family
Uniforms
School uniforms are now available at School Locker online theschoollocker.com.au
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, Wednesday & 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 - Tuesday 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, Wednesday & 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 - Tuesday & 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.
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