Aboriginal Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We commit ourselves to actively working alongside Aboriginal people for reconciliation and justice.

Dear Families, 

Welcome to our students and families for Term 2. I hope that everyone had a great holiday and found plenty of time to rest and relax after a challenging Term One. We had some very excited teachers and students on Monday as they moved back into some of our affected classrooms. Our Kindergarten students, some Year Two classes and Year 5 Blue returned to their classrooms. This enabled our Year Six, Year Five, Year Four and Year Three students to return to their regular rooms as well. The infants play areas were also restored and when it is dry enough we will again be able to use these.

We are hopeful that all students will be able to move back into their rooms by the middle of this term. Our bottom playground and ovals across the road are still too wet for us to use at the moment.

We are slowly returning back to normal and we look forward to a very busy and productive Term Two. 

ANZAC DAY

Thank you to the many students who participated in the Anzac Day March last Monday. This was a wonderful show of community spirit after the CBD was inundated in the floods. The number of students who participated was outstanding and the respectful manner in which they did so is to be commended. As a school, we believe it is very important to support the wider community on this day, to show our appreciation and give dignity to those who have worked so hard, some even losing their lives, to bring peace to our world. I thank our students for giving up their time to represent our school at such a significant event. Thank you also to our parents for making it possible for the children to be present on these occasions. We have received many compliments and all students were a credit to their families. Once again, thank you to all students, families and teachers who were able to support our participation in this very important community event.

  

Mother's Day
Next Sunday, we celebrate Mothers’ Day – a very special day when we say thank you to our mothers for everything which they have done for us. For some of us, it is a time to remember the past and for others, it is a time to celebrate the future. I am sure that each of us has a very special memory of our mum and on their special day we honour them. Mothers are the precious treasure troves which remain an important part of one's life. There are times when we just sit back and think about the times we learnt from our mother, or suddenly after tasting a dish you prepared, you think of how your mother used to prepare it. These are some precious moments that we are reminded of, even after many years. Such reflections never fail to bring
a smile to our face. Mothers are such that they become a part of your psyche, as cherished memories.

I wish all our mums a very happy Mothers’ Day for Sunday, 9th May.

Traditionally, May is the month when we remember, celebrate and thank Mary, the mother of God, in a special way. During his 26 year pontificate, John Paul II frequently reminded us that the month of May is, in a particular way, dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. In their reflection on the significance of Jesus’ passion, the Church fathers understood that when Jesus, dying in agony on the Cross, said to John, “This is your mother”, he was not merely entrusting Mary to John’s care, but also to making Mary the spiritual mother of all followers of Christ. In Mary’s life on earth we see a strong woman, the author of the Magnificat, who was willing to embrace motherhood as a vocation from God in all its joys and sorrows. Every mother will know exactly, the meaning of the prophet Simeon’s words to Mary, when Jesus was presented in the temple in Jerusalem: “A sword will pierce your own
heart”. She was with Jesus at every important moment of his life: from his conception, his birth in Bethlehem, during his public ministry, at his crucifixion, and with the disciples on Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit came down upon them.
In following the footsteps of Jesus, and in the richness of the Christian tradition, we find in Mary the perfect mediator between mankind and God, in who we can confide our most private thoughts and deepest fears, asking her intercession in the confident
knowledge that Jesus will hear her, as happened at the Feast at Cana. During this month of May, dedicated to Mary, we are encouraged to pray to her to intercede on our behalf.

Covid Updates

The NSW Government has announced close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case will not be required to isolate, provided they comply with NSW Health guidelines. This includes students. There are no changes for positive cases: the seven-day isolation requirement remains in place for anyone who has recorded a positive RAT or PCR result. They must follow NSW Health’s Testing positive to COVID-19 and managing COVID-19 safely at home guidelines.

Close Contacts Attending School

Students, staff and visitors who are close contacts and have no symptoms can continue to attend school if they follow the guidelines below:

● They must notify the school and their outside of school hours care (Active Kids) if they are intending to return under this provision.
● They should conduct a daily rapid antigen test (RAT) and return a negative result each morning before attending school for 5 school days.
● Primary school students are recommended to wear a mask indoors (except when eating or exercising).
● No student or staff member identified as a close contact will be permitted to participate in overnight excursions, including school camps.
● Any visitor to a school site who is a close contact is required to advise the school that they are a close contact before they come on site. These visitors should conduct a daily RAT and return a negative result before attending. They must also wear a mask indoors at all times. 

Testing
Staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19.
If symptoms occur at any time, students should not attend school and should undertake a rapid antigen test (RAT).

Masks
Masks are not mandatory for staff in primary schools and early childhood settings.
Staff and students will be supported to wear a mask if they choose to do so.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN tests will be completed during Week 3 (Tuesday 10th May - Thursday 13th May)  for Year 3 and Year 5 students. The catch up tests for those who are absent on the test days will occur on Friday 13th May and then Monday 16th to Friday 20th May 2022.

Just a reminder that all students sitting the NAPLAN assessments need to have a set of headphones at school to use during these assessments.

Below is the timetable for the NAPLAN assessments. If you could please ensure that your child/ren are at school on time on these days it would be greatly appreciated.

The below PDF provides parents and carers some information regarding NAPLAN.

NAPLAN Withdrawals

NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer if there are religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school. If you wish to withdraw your child/ren from NAPLAN testing please contact me and I will send home the form for you to complete and return to school. This needs to be done prior to the testing period.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)

Be Bus Aware

We encourage students to 'look with the eyes of Jesus' and ACT to make their world a better place...

Happy Mother’s Day!

This weekend we celebrate and give thanks for all the women who gave us life or who continue to nurture us in many different ways.

We thank God for the wonderful gift of mothers, mothers-to-be and grandmothers, as well as those who love and care for children like a mother. We praise and thank our God for the nurturing love that you bring to your families.

Month of May

This is also the month of May with a focus on our Heavenly Mother, Mary. The staff have prayed to Mary, asking that her intercession may bring peace to troubled areas, especially Ukraine.

Staff prayed two different prayers. The first from the 3rd Century when Prince Yaroslav the Wise consecrated Kyivan Rus (modern day Russia, Belarus and Ukraine) to the Virgin Mary in 1037. At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis encouraged the Church to pray this prayer to the Mother of God for healing.  

Pope Francis said, “Russian mystics and the great saints of all the traditions advised, in moments of spiritual turbulence, to shelter beneath the mantle of the Holy Mother of God and say the invocation ‘Sub Tuum Praesidium.'” As war continues in Ukraine, we commend the praying of this prayer to the Mother of God, asking for an end to conflict.

We fly to Your patronage, O Virgin Mother of God. Despise not our prayers in our needs, but deliver us from all dangers, since you alone are pure and blessed.

O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ our God, accept our prayers and present them to Your Son and our God, that for the sake of You, He enlighten and save our souls.

The second prayer Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has made available the following prayer for use at this time.

Prayer for Peace and Justice in Ukraine

God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart
and break the power of violence,
we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.

Protect them in this time of mortal peril;
let them know not death but life,
not slavery but freedom.

You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.

Give us the strength
to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Saturday 14th May is St Carthage’s Feast Day

St Carthage is known for his great reverence for God and was responsible for the building of several famous schools and monasteries. 

He was born in County Kerry in 564 and herded pigs as a young boy where he used to hear the Elder St Carthage and his monks chanting Psalms as they passed him. 

St Carthage was a person who loved learning and spent much of his life teaching. His learning was guided by the older Saint, Bishop of Castlemaine and was eventually ordained a Priest. 

Living in a Monastery, he showed us the importance of solitude, fasting, prayer and study. 

He established the Monastery of learning in Lismore, Ireland where he died on the 14 May, 637.

The students will learn about the story of St Carthage and the qualities he lived.

Stormbirds Program - Commencing this Term

The Stormbirds Program was developed following Black Saturday fires In Victoria and is based on the belief that change, loss and grief are a normal and natural part of life.

The program offers students an opportunity to:

1) Share their experiences of change and loss in safe ways

2) To understand and attend to their feelings

3) To learn skills for adapting and recovering

It is important to know that the program is not seen as therapy and students in the program is delivered to small groups of their peers over four sessions. The group is led by a 'Companion' who stays with the group for the four sessions. 

Our school action plan to provide this program for our families is:

1. Offer information sessions for families to learn about the program
2. Families decide if the program would benefit their child and, if so, nominate their child using the approved Nomination Form
3. Teachers may also suggest to families that a child in their class may benefit from the program.

Information about the initial Family Information Evening / Day session to hear about the program will be sent to families soon. 

Dates

• Thursday - 12 May – Incitare 
• Sunday - 15 May - St Carthage’s Feast Day
• Tuesday – 24 May - Our Lady Help of Christians Feast Day
• Sunday 29 May - Ascension of the Lord

REMINDER - Incitāre - We have a new date – next Thursday 12 May!!

Those students attending this Retreat have been very patient and we look forward to travelling to Tullera Hall for this wonderful opportunity. A reminder….

• Dress: School sports uniform, including hat/school bag.
• Cost: Nil. All transport and booking expenses met by the Catholic Schools Office.
• Transport: A bus will transport students (9:05am pick up from school/2:55 drop off back at school)
• Morning Tea and Lunch: Students bring their own. (including water bottle)

Finally...Remember...

Woodlawn Open Night