“Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Spirit 

through the wilderness where he was tempted.”

Luke 4:1-13

From the Gospel of the First Sunday of LENT Year C

This coming Sunday’s Gospel is about the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Our lives are so busy and it can be tempting to not take the time to be mindful and let our faith guide us. Mary Mackillop said, “God loves courageous and generous souls”.  During this time of business and change allow yourself and your family time to stop and think about what is most important for you and be generous with your faith. We especially pray for all the people around the world who are displaced because of floods or war.

Changes to COVID Safe Measures

Recently the COVID safe measures were adjusted. Parents and carers may now come into school and we are able to mix cohorts. In the mornings parents/carers are welcome to walk their child into the school however we will continue to start our day by going straight into class at 8:50am. Staff and students have found this change to the morning routine beneficial and a calmer way to begin the day so we have opted to continue with this change permanently. We appreciate that parents /carers not being able to come into the school has allowed for a smoother transition for some families and we encourage you to maintain this routine if it works for you. From March 7 staff are no longer required to wear a mask indoors.  Parents and Carers can attend school based events such as Thursday afternoon assemblies. We are still encouraged to manage situations using a risk based approach. Thank you for supporting us as we have navigated our way through this pandemic.

School Photo shoot

On Monday 7 March we will be having photos taken to update our school website. Students are asked to be in full summer uniform or sports uniform. Only children with photo permission will be included in photos.

Congratulations to Eleanar Ragan on her selection in the NSW Mackillop Basketball team

Last Friday Emiko Curcuruto and Eleanar Ragan represented our school in the NSW diocesan Basketball trials. Emiko had a great day and enjoyed the opportunity and Eleanar was selected to go to the next level representing Catholic School’s NSW in Tamworth. This is an outstanding achievement for Eleanar and she is to be congratulated on her success.

Western Region Swimming Carnival

Has been cancelled. Back up date yet to be confirmed.

Soccer and Rugby League Trials

Has been cancelled. Back up date is now scheduled for Wednesday 9th March.

Drop off and pick up Road Safety concerns

Please note that the drop off zone in the mornings is a drop off zone only. Parents/carers are not able to leave the car if they are parked in this zone. The council ranger and police regularly patrol this area and will book drivers if they find that they have left the car or who turn around over double lines. If a parent/carer wants to walk their child into school then you must park outside of this area or across the road. The drop off zone is a 2 min zone that allows the driver to get out of the car and walk around to open the door for the children to get out on the footpath side. The driver must then return to the car and leave the area. Please be aware that the drop off zone is designed to allow for a safe flow of traffic. If traffic is backed up then buses have difficulty getting past. 

At pick up time parents and carers are encouraged to leave as soon as your child/ren are in your care. Concerns have been expressed regarding people staying and talking and allowing the children to run up and down the verge. This creates a dangerous situation and we have in the past seen near misses. Road safety is everyone’s priority and I urge parents and carers to please be vigilant around our roads at drop off and pick up time.

Listening Interviews

Next week we will be holding Listening interviews. Listening interviews are an opportunity for parents and carers to come and talk about your child with the classroom teacher. Please see the attached letter providing you with things to think about in preparation for the meeting. Bookings will open at 3pm today and bookings will close at 7pm Sunday evening 6 March.

On Thursday 10 March at 6pm we will be holding a parent information evening. We encourage parents and carers to attend as we will be explaining the new InitiaLit program that we are using and how this fits within the curriculum as well as what home reading will look like and other class procedures. We will meet in the Hall and then parents and carers will be able to go to the individual classrooms where each teacher will provide further information. Please wear a mask upon arrival indoors.

Swimming Carnival Assembly

On Thursday 10 March at 2:15pm we will hold the Swimming carnival assembly where we will present the ribbons and medals for age champions.

Parents and carers are welcome to attend. We ask that you sit at the back of the hall appropriately socially distant. A friendly reminder that children are not able to leave the assembly with parents and carers. If you wish to wait to collect your child they are to walk out with the walkers after the first round of buses have left. Parents and carers are encouraged to wait in the little weather shed and join the walker’s line as they come through after the bus lines. We will be teaching the children this process so they also know what the expectations are. This is to ensure everyone's safety at home time.

PAT Testing

Last week the children from Year 2 - 6 undertook PAT testing. This is diocesian requirement that provides the school teachers with data about your child’s reading and mathematical skills. Teachers will review this data and make instructional decisions about how best to support your child's learning moving forward. PAT testing is just one example of a variety of assessments we use to support our preparation in teaching your children.

NAPLAN update

Towards the end of this term Year 3 and Year 5 will participate in the NAPLAN practice tests. These tests are designed to provide the children with the opportunity to practise using their iPad under test conditions and for the system to measure the bandwidths ensuring it can accommodate the extra load on the internet at this time. Attached to this newsletter is a parent and carer information flyer about NAPLAN and you can read further on the NAPLAN site. Year 3 and 5 grade teachers have begun preparing the children for NAPLAN. It is essential that the children are prepared for the test conditions and understand how to navigate the iPad for the test and it is necessary that they know how to respond to the variety of questions that can be asked. It is important that we do not put unnecessary pressure on the students prior to and on the days of the tests. These tests are a point in time test that provide the school and parents/carers with data about how each student is progressing with their learning in English and Mathematics. As a school we triangulate this data with other assessments to give us a well rounded picture of how a student is progressing. NAPLAN is just one data source. PAT tests are another and in class assessments completed by teachers are a third example. If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN please see the classroom teacher.

If you have a child who is ready for school in 2023 or you know someone who has, please encourage them to collect an enrolment form. We have had strong demand for places in recent years for the limited spaces we have available. Applications can be picked up from the school office or downloaded from the school website. The first round of interviews will be conducted during Term 2 and the first round offers of enrolment will be made at the end of Term 2.

We currently have vacancies in our current 2022 Kindergarten, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 classes. If you know someone who is looking to join our community please encourage them to come and collect an enrolment form.

God bless,

Katie Browne

Principal

PB4L Focus (Positive Behaviours for Learning)

This week our teachers are focusing on car lines with our students following on from last week's focus for the students who catch the bus. This is a great opportunity for us to look carefully at safety aspects of our dismissal process.

CAR LINES

Respect Myself: - Walk in an orderly manner with your teacher to the dismissal area. Stand in your colour house line, in 2 lines with your siblings. Walk to the car line area promptly. Tidy your school uniform and wear your hat. Kinder to stand at the front of the line.

Respect Others: - Listen to and follow the teacher’s directions. Car lines is a games free zone. Keep in your own personal space with one arm's length. Ask the carline duty teacher for permission to go to the toilet. Leave your bag and go quickly.

Respect Learning: - Know your colour house and know where to line up. Know how you are going home each day.

Respect the Environment: - Keep all your possessions in your zipped up school bag. Put your school bag on your back and leave it there until you get to the car.

Sacramental Programme

 Just a reminder that the Reconciliation enrolment forms must be handed in by this Sunday 4th March. Classes will then begin on Sunday 13th. Please meet in the school hall at approximately 8:45, ready for a 9:00 start. At least one parent is required to attend classes and Mass with their child.

 First Reconciliation (3 weeks): Friday 1st April.

Enrolments: 14th February - 4th March

Classes held on Sunday 13th, 20th & 27th March

 Ash Wednesday

A whole school Ash Wednesday liturgy was held on the 2^nd of March in the school hall, marking the beginning of Lent. We have now entered into a time of preparation, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Thank you to everyone who participated in this liturgy so reverently, and for the Year 6 students who helped to organise this event. 

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

ATTENDANCE

On a weekly basis you will receive an email regarding your child’s outstanding/unexplained absences. 

• You can go into compass to your child’s records and update the unexplained absence.
• You can print this and fill in the reason for the absence and return it to the office.
• You can ring the office and the office staff will enter the reason for the absence.

If you are recording your child's absence on compass, please put in the reason for the absence eg Illness due to cold, tummy upset etc.

PERMISSION NOTES

Thank you to those families that have returned the Consent for for use of student's image and/or work and the CEDoW Technology Agreement.  All students are required to complete these forms.  Hard copies are available via the office.

MEDICATION

Only medication that is prescribed by a doctor is permitted to be dispensed at School upon completion of a “Consent to Dispense Medication” form which is available from the office.  The form and the medication are to be given to the office staff in the original packaging with the student’s name and dosage.  We are not permitted to administer Panadol unless prescribed by a doctor and the necessary form completed.  Thank you for your cooperation with this.

If your child is Asthmatic or Anaphylactic please ensure the necessary plan has been forwarded to the office along with any medication so that it can be processed.  We also need a "Consent to Dispense Medication" form to be completed.

MORNING SUPERVISION

Staff supervision of students begins at 8:20am. No student should be arriving at school before this time without prior approval from the principal.

AFTERNOON PROCEDURES

If there is a change to afternoon arrangements, please notify the office by 2:30pm. It is very difficult for messages to be delivered after this time and can result in confusion. Children are not to go home with another family unless the school has been notified of the change. Please contact the school if there is a change to your child’s pick up arrangements. For younger children it can be helpful for parents to make a small card the same size as a bus pass that says what the arrangements are each day if they are not the same everyday.

We appreciate and thank you for your support with these arrangements as it ensures everyone is safe when going home.

SPORT  

Sport uniforms are to be worn on the following days for each class:

Kindergarten - Wednesday & Friday

Year 1 - Thursday & Friday

Year 2 - Tuesday & Friday

Year 3 - Wednesday & Friday

Year 4 - Monday & Friday

Year 5 - Tuesday & Friday

Year 6 - Wednesday & Friday

All children will need to wear their sport uniform on Fridays for Term 1 as they will be taking part in the gymnastics program.

SCHOOL PHOTOS - 22nd MARCH

School photos will take place on 22nd March.  Full School Summer Uniform is to be worn on this day.  Photo envelopes were sent home with the students.  If you would like to order photos, please complete and return the envelop via your child to send to the School Office.

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the Principal's Award in Week 4

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Merit Award in Week 4

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Mission Star Award in Week 4

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded the Principal's Award in Week 5

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Merit Award in Week 5

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded a Mission Star Award in Week 5

Yesterday's gloomy weather was made brighter by celebrating Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day!). Year 5 and Mrs Smith did a wonderful job coordinating and setting up the day. Thank you also to family volunteers - Christine McDade and Mel Reynolds. Mrs Smith would like to congratulate Year 5 who ran the day so wonderfully. They got 300 pancakes cooked and plated in just over an hour! Well done Year 5!

Last week, Year 5 loved their latest science lesson where they were testing the viscosity of household items.

Please see below the calendar overview for Term 1 2022:

AFL

AFL COME & TRY 

BOY’S & GIRL’S  – 5 to 11 YEARS - Skills, drills & a modified game.

MONDAY 7^TH MARCH

4.30 – 5.30PM

BOWRAL

Call Pete  for more info 0487 890 360

BOWRAL CREEK TO PEAK

The Bowral Creek to Peak is just over 2 weeks away!!

It would be great to have as many students and parents possible involved in this inaugural community event.

The Bowral Creek to Peak is a community fundraising event that aims to raise awareness and funding for selected local charities:

• Can Assist Southern Highlands
• Pop In
• Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney

The Bowral Creek to Peak provides the opportunity for all participants to either run or walk an iconic 5km course.

This event is for everyone and some schools are using the Creek to Peak as a platform to promote healthy lifestyles, bring their community together and is also an opportunity for cross country training!

Registrations are open via the website below:

https://www.bowralcreektopeak.com.au

COMMUNITY PLANTING DAY

Wingecarribee  would like to invite you to the Community Planting Day at Guula Ngurra National Park on 19 March 2022 at 9am

Come and join Gundungurra Traditional Owners, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Wingecarribee Shire Council and the Southern Highlands Koala Conservation Project team in stage 3 of planting over 2,000 koala feed trees in our new National Park!

Guula Ngurra is located 25km northwest of Bowral in the Southern Highlands, this park was created as part of the NSW Koala Strategy and protects important koala habitat. The Park is also home to 21 threatened species and rare vegetation and an important habitat corridor for the endangered glossy-black cockatoo.

RSVP by 14 March for catering purposes:

melissa.wiya@wsc.nsw.gov

Ph: 0447 384 277

or

Veronica.QuintanillaBerjon@environment.nsw.gov.au

Vaccination policy: All NPWS volunteers are required to be fully vaccinated or hold a medical contraindication exemption certificate.