Newsletter 29th October 2025

From the Principal

Last week, I had the wonderful privilege to accompany our Year 5 & 6 students on their Western Safari School Camp. This is the third year that we have run this camp, and I was impressed with the way that our students engaged with the program – as full on and jammed pack as it was.

The thing that stood out to me the most was the way in which our students actively displayed our school learning dispositions – confidence, organisation, resilience, persistence and an attitude of getting along. It was great to see the students getting in and helping each other out with setting up and packing the tents, helping a friend roll up that difficult sleeping bag and mattress and showing that extra bit of resilience and determination when faced with sleeping in an unfamiliar setting and dealing with the heat. The teachers and I were really moved by the number of positive and glowing comments from members of the public and the tour company around our students’ behaviour and attitude. A big thank you to our wonderful staff – Mrs Gillam, Mrs Malone, Mrs Roberts and Mrs McCollum – for giving of their time to help supervise and care for the students for the week.

New Blue Card rules for parent volunteers – an important update

From 20 September 2025, some parent volunteers will now need a Blue Card depending on the type of activity they’re helping with at school. In cases where a Blue Card is required, you will need to show your Blue Card to us prior to volunteering so that we can link it to the school.

When a Blue Card is NOT needed.

• If you're helping only in your own child’s classroom eg. reading groups, you don’t need a Blue Card.

When a Blue Card IS needed.

1.  Helping with children other than your own eg. assisting in the library or other classrooms.
2.  Attending overnight camps or excursions, even if your own child is going, you must have a Blue Card.
3.  Activities involving close personal contact with other children eg. helping with toileting, assisting young children to change clothing at swimming lessons, volunteering in the uniform shop where close contact may occur.
4.  If you are a restricted person. A restricted person is a person who either

•  has been issued a negative notice
•  has a suspended Blue Card
•  is a disqualified person
•  has been charged with a disqualifying offence that has not been finalised, or
•  is the subject of an adverse interstate Working with Children Check decision that is in effect.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Barrett or the School Office for further information.

From the APRE and ML

Crazy Sock Day

Today the students participated in Socktober, or Crazy Sock Day. This fundraiser supports the work of Mission Australia, who assist people from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds in a variety of countries. This year we raised $212.00 for a community in Zambia, helping the children in this town have access to food and education. Great work everyone.

Arts Night

A reminder that tomorrow night (Thurs Oct 30), 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 student made in term 3 and view performance by the choir, ukelele group and drum beat group. We hope to see many of you there. 

Day for Daniel

This Friday, October 31, 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 43 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. Students will also participate in Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson along with other schools right across Australia. For more information go to the Daniel Morcombe foundation Website – http://www.danielmorcombe.com.au

Family/Parish Mass

The final Family Mass of the year will be on this Saturday the 1^st of November at 6:00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our whole community to join in prayer and spend valuable time together. Directly after the Mass, all are invited to stay for a complimentary dinner of pizza, poppers and ice blocks and join in on some fun lawn games. Don’t forget to send in your RSVP. We hope to see many of you there. 

Melbourne Cup Hat Parade

Next Tuesday, the 4^th of November is the Melbourne Cup. Each class will participate in a Melbourne Cup sweep and are invited to participate in the annual ‘Fashions on the Field’ hat parade, held first thing in the morning, with prizes for the most creative hats. 

World Teachers Day

At St Monica’s we will be celebrating World Teachers Day on Friday, November 7, 2025. This year the theme is “Teaching is a collaborative profession”. This theme highlights the importance of collaboration among teachers, schools, and educational systems to improve outcomes for all students. It also aims to counteract the isolation that some teachers experience, and acknowledges that in these changing times, it takes a village to educate a child. World Teachers Day, gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation and gratitude to all the teachers who help young people learn, grow and thrive in body, mind and spirit in our community. Year 2 will lead a special presentation as part of assembly on this day.

Prep Transition Days

Our Prep transition days will be on Thursday the 13^th, 20^th and 27^th of November. Our 2026 Preppies will be joining the school from 9am to 10:30am in the Prep classroom. We very much look forward to welcoming them and their families into the St Monica’s School Community.

Semester Two Report Cards

Semester Two report cards will be available of the Sentral Parent Portal from 4pm on December 3. That is the Wednesday of the last week of school. As always, if for any reason you would like to discuss your child’s learning and development, you needn’t wait for a formal report or parent teacher interview. We encourage all parents to make an appointment to speak with your child’s classroom teacher if ever concerns arise. It is by working together, and strengthening home/school relationships that we can achieve the best results for the students.

Christmas Concert

A reminder that the 2025 Christmas concert, entiltled ‘Christmas Around the World’ will be on Thursday the 4^th of December, beginning at 6:00pm. Like last year, there will be the P&F BBQ beforehand, beginning at 4:30pm. Please fill in the survey on the Parent Portal if you can help serve, cook or clean up afterwards. Many hands make light work.

Prep Nativity Play and End of Year Awards Ceremony

On the Last Day of school each year we hold our annual Prep Nativity Play at 11:00am, followed by our End of Year Awards Ceremony, where we hand out academic achievement and improvement awards in Maths and English for each year level, the Term 4 Good Samaritan Awards and Special Year 6 awards. We also acknowledge Year 6 students who have received high school scholarships. This ceremony finishes with the Year 6 cohort leading everyone in the school song for the last time. All parents and families are warmly invited to attend. A reminder that all classes finish at 12noon on this, the last day of school. Parents need to sign their students out with the classroom teachers at the hall, or at the front office.

Week 4

• 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

Students in prep have had a very busy time working on their skills of literacy and numeracy as they prepare for the big step into Year 1 next year. We are eagerly awaiting the hatching of our chicks as part of our science unit this term. Some of our tadpoles have legs beginning to form. We are fortunate to have the opportunity of being able to observe the changes each day. Please don’t forget to bring in a picture of your pet for their oral presentation this term. If they do not have a pet, they can bring in an image of an animal they would like as a pet.  Congratulations to our Maths Olympics finalists Reagan, Emily, Dean, Wesley and Hunter. You have all made us very proud. We love Crazy Socks Day!

Year 1

Exciting Discoveries in Year One Science! This week, we embarked on an exciting journey into the world of Science with our very first investigation for the term. As a class, we explored the fascinating role of our five senses in understanding the world around us. Through engaging activities, we observed and discussed various objects and scenarios, deepening our appreciation for how sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell help us gather vital information. The highlight of the week was a hands-on investigation comparing unpopped and popped popcorn. The students enthusiastically used their senses to observe, record, and communicate their findings. It was a delightful experience that not only sparked curiosity but also fostered a deeper understanding of sensory exploration. Our budding scientists are eager to continue their discoveries and share their newfound knowledge with everyone!

Year 2

What an incredible fortnight we have had in Year Two!

In English, we have started our awesome unit studying the book “Maudie and Bear”. What a fabulous story it is with so many messages!

In Maths, we have been learning about multiplication and capacity. We had so much fun going outside with Miss Ally and learning about capacity (see pictures).

In HaSS, we have been learning all about the continents of the world. We have also started looking at the different landmarks in each continent.

The Year 2’s have been working so hard on all their assessment that we have done so far and are continuing to show so much improvement and growth each day!

Year 3 

Over the coming weeks, Year 3 students will be involved in class and whole school testing. If you know your child is going to be absent, please let me know in advance so that I can plan for this. Within Mathematics students have been practicing speed and accuracy with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Continued practice of this at home would be beneficial to help reinforce these skills. On Friday the Year 3 students will be leading assembly to help bring awareness for Day for Daniel. A reminder that all students are to wear red clothing for this important day. We hope to see you there!

Year 4

In English this term, we are investigating the narrative structure of graphic novels and comics. The students are working towards writing their own comic, using the novel ‘Captain Underpants’ as inspiration. We have been investigating the language features of graphic novels, in particular the use of alliteration e.g. Bruce Banner, Peter Parker. We have been having fun with tongue twisters, which use a lot of alliteration. They are going to make a comic of their own superhero based on one of the teachers at the school.

We are heading into the busy time of term where we are completing assessment tasks associated with our learning. I would appreciate it if you could notify the office or myself, in advance, if you need to collect your child early. This ensures I do not begin a task with your child that they will not be able to complete and reduces their stress about finishing a task they are halfway through.  Thank you to the parents who already do this.

Year 4 are presenting on assembly this Friday. All parents are welcome to attend. It would be great to see the Year 4 students at Family Mass on Saturday the 1st of November at 6pm. Notes have been sent home to all families.

Year 5M

Last week, our Year 5 and 6 students embarked on an unforgettable school camp, heading west to explore the wonders of Quilpie, Eromanga, Charleville, and Roma. It was a week packed with adventure, learning, and laughter!

Stargazing at the Cosmos Centre                                                                                                                                                              One of the highlights was stargazing at the Cosmos Centre in Charleville. Through powerful telescopes, we explored planets, constellations, nebulas, and distant stars—an awe-inspiring experience that sparked curiosity and wonder.

 Connecting with New Friends
We had the chance to meet and play with students from other schools across the region. It was heartwarming to build new friendships and share stories around the campfire.

Bilby Conservation Education
In Charleville, we learned about the endangered bilby and the incredible conservation efforts being made to protect this unique Australian marsupial. The students were captivated by the stories and inspired by the work being done.

Camping Under the Stars
Camping in the outback was a true adventure—setting up tents, cooking together, and enjoying the serenity of nature far from the city lights.

Dinosaur Discoveries in Eromanga
A major highlight was visiting the Eromanga Natural History Museum and research lab. We saw real dinosaur bones and learned all about Cooper the Titanosaur—the largest dinosaur ever discovered in Australia! Students even got hands-on, using tools to help extract fossils from rock, just like real paleontologists. This camp was more than just a trip—it was a journey of discovery, connection, and unforgettable memories. 

Year 5R

Year 5 students have been working collaboratively to solve challenging mathematics problems, sharing strategies and learning from one another. Their teamwork and persistence have led to some impressive problem-solving breakthroughs!

Year 6

What a week it’s been for our amazing Year 6 students!

Last week’s Western Safari Camp was an unforgettable adventure! From exploring new places and putting up and pulling down tents, our students showed resilience, teamwork, and a great sense of fun. I am sure the students will remember it for years to come.

This week is packed with exciting events: Arts Night – Thursday Evening from 6pm - 7pm. Come and celebrate the creativity of our students at Arts Night! Year 6 has been working hard on some incredible pieces, and the choir and drum club will be performing. We’d love to see families there to support and enjoy the evening.

Day for Daniel – Friday
Students are encouraged to wear red to raise awareness for child safety. It’s a meaningful day and a great opportunity to have important conversations.

Family Mass – Saturday Night Year 6 leaders are expected to attend our Family Mass this Saturday evening. It will be followed by pizza and lawn games.

Melbourne Cup Hat Parade – next Tuesday Get your creative juices flowing for our annual Hat Parade! Whether it’s feathers, glitter, or racing stripes, we can’t wait to see your fabulous designs.

End-of-Year Assessments As we begin our final assessments, it’s more important than ever that students are getting plenty of sleep and nutritious meals. A well-rested brain is a ready brain!

Let’s finish the term strong, Year 6!

From the P&F

From Music and L.O.T.E

Thursday 30th October is our inaugural Arts show starting at 6pm in the hall. 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
  

 All students who are PERFORMING at Thursday night’s Art show have been asked to wear their FORMAL SCHOOL UNIFORM.

SPORTS NEWS

Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons will be held at the Oakey Aquatic Centre on Monday 10 November, Wednesday 12 November, Monday 17 November and Wednesday 19 November. 

 The following is the lesson timetable: 

Students require the following: Bathing cap, goggles (if possible), swimming togs (girls in one-piece suits), sun-safe swim shirt, thongs or slip on shoes and towel.  

Swimming Carnival

The St Monica’s Swimming Carnival will take place at the Oakey pool on Friday 21 November. All students from Prep – Year 6 will be participating with the younger students returning to school at the conclusion of the Junior Carnival. More information will be provided in due course.

Ballgames Carnival

All students from Prep-Year 6 are learning Ballgames in PE in preparation for the Ballgames Carnival which will be held on 25 November 2025. Spectators are very welcome to attend.

Wellbeing

Be Well @ St Monica’s

☀️ Helping Your Child Stay Safe in the Summer Heat

It may only be Spring but recent temperatures are sure making it feel like summer. As temperatures rise, it’s important for families to work together to keep children cool, hydrated, and protected from the sun—especially during outdoor school activities like carnivals, sports days, and lunch breaks. Here are some practical ways you can support your child during the warmer months:

🧢 Sun Safety Starts at Home

• Pack the Essentials
  Ensure your child leaves home with their hat.
• Apply Sunscreen Before School
  Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen at least 20 minutes before leaving home. Teachers will encourage reapplication during the day, but starting early makes a big difference.
• Teach the SunSmart Routine
  Reinforce the five S’s at home: Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade, and Slide on sunglasses.

💧 Hydration Habits

• Send a Full Water Bottle
  A chilled, reusable water bottle encourages regular sipping. Consider freezing it overnight so it stays cool longer. Forget juice, water is the best drink in hot weather for hydration!
• Include Hydrating Snacks
  Pack fruits like watermelon, oranges, and grapes in lunchboxes—they’re refreshing and full of water.

🌳 Encourage Smart Outdoor Play

• Talk About Shade Breaks
  Remind your child to take breaks in shaded areas and listen to their body if they feel tired or overheated.
• Know the Warning Signs
  Teach your child to speak up if they feel dizzy, nauseous, or have a headache—these could be signs of heat stress.

🏫 Partnering with the School

• Hats are required for outdoor play—please check your child’s is clearly labelled and in good condition.
• Sunscreen is available at school, but it is great to apply some before leaving home.
• Teachers will encourage hydration throughout the day, but a reminder from home helps reinforce the habit.

Together, we can make sure every child enjoys the sunshine safely and comfortably. Thank you for helping us keep our students sun smart and hydrated!

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.

Enrol Now for 2026 and 2027

Mini Monnie's Playgroup

Local author Karyn Miller will be our special guest at Mini Monnie's on WEDNESDAY 5th November 2025

Outside School Hours Care