“The kingdom of God has come near to you.”

Luke 10: 9

(from the Gospel for the fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C)

Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term 2 and the first half of the year draws to a close, it is fitting that we celebrate the many blessings we have in our school and community. It has been wonderful this week to sit with families and discuss the progress and development of your children. It is in partnership between school and home that the best possible outcomes are achieved for the children. It is critical to the home school relationship that the assumption of good will and mutual respect from all parties is the starting point of this relationship. We not only achieve positive learning outcomes with the children, we simultaneously model and demonstrate to the children how a community works for the common good and how adults behave respectfully towards each other. This is perhaps our greatest gift to our children and the future.

We thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the school and our shared mission of faith and learning. I hope that during this school vacation period that you will have some time with your children, family and loved ones to re-connect, re-energise and relax! We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday 22 July.

St Peter and St Paul Feast Day celebrations with Parish Mass, Dinner and Whole School Mass

Last week we celebrated our patronal feast day with Masses and a parish gathering. There were two hundred guests at Mass and dinner on Saturday evening. It was lovely to see people of all ages and backgrounds from across our parish celebrating together. It truly was a little glimpse of the Kingdom of God. Building that Kingdom is, in the words of Thomas Merton, “after all the work of all Christians”. It was a fitting celebration of our community and St Paul.

Semester 1 reports 

Last week we shared the Semester 1 reports with Year 1 to Year 6 families via the COMPASS app. There were some slow download issues experienced by some on Friday evening. COMPASS technicians tell us that this issue had to do with bandwidth and traffic demands being placed on the app from not just our school and diocese, but from Wagga diocesan schools and Victorian diocesan schools. They have committed to rectify the issue on behalf of all the diocesan users in readiness for Semester 2 reports. 

COMPASS implementation- next step

The next step in our COMPASS roll out will be to begin using COMPASS as our push notification platform commencing in Term 3. We will continue to simultaneously send SkoolBag notifications to ensure that the COMPASS messages are being received and are accessible to all. Once we have established that fact, we will decommission SkoolBag. We will advise you of this change well in advance.

Wakakirri performance- Friday Week 3

Our school has opted to participate in Wakakirri, a primary school performance experience staged at WIN stadium on Friday 9 August. The children will perform an original piece on the stadium stage. They have been rehearsing, creating costumes and sets in readiness for the performance. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

We have had over one hundred families purchase tickets through the school for the performance. We will be seated together. If you missed buying tickets through the school, tickets are available through Ticketmaster from Friday. You can use this link https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/wakakirri-win-entertainment-centre-wollongong-tickets/venueartist/157282/1064737 .

Tomorrow (Friday 5 July) there will be an extended rehearsal at school. After the holidays there will be further practices. These practices will be held in the school hall. The times and dates are as follows:

Friday 2nd August - 2pm to 4pm (full dress rehearsal]

Sunday 4th August - 11am to 1pm

Wednesday 7th August - 12 noon to 3pm.

Performance day: Friday 9th August - children bussed to Wollongong for rehearsal; dinner at McDonalds; performance at 7pm 

The Wakakirri performance will be held at WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong. There is a rehearsal on the WIN stadium stage on the same day. We will bus children to the venue to facilitate this rehearsal. We will leave at 12 noon. The children will not have to return to Moss Vale until after the evening performance. The school staff will accompany the children to McDonald’s for dinner. The performance is at 7pm. Families will meet the children in Wollongong that evening. Wakakirri have carefully planned and organised pick up arrangements for all schools and participants in recognition of the fact they are working with primary age children. We will provide more details about these arrangements after the holidays.

Sports News- Athletics Carnival wrap up

The results from our recent Athletics Carnival are as follows:

Winning House - Red

Second - Gold

Third - Blue

Marching - Blue

War Cries - Red

Age Champions

Junior Boys - Anthony Pizzata

Junior Girls - Emiko Curcuruto

11 Yr. Boys - Jack Dowler

11 Yr. Girls - Lillian Ragan

Senior Boys - Beau Grenfell

Senior Girls - Jessica Wray

Congratulations to all our winners

Please note the following dates:

Western Region Diocesan Athletics - Friday 9th August

SHIPS Athletics - Friday 16th August

Rugby League Gala Day

Today  (Thursday 4th July), a small group of Year 3 and 4 students (accompanied by Mr. Boyd) travelled to Camden to compete in a Rugby League Gala Day. Students are to be congratulated for the terrific way they participated on the day and for their excellent behaviour.

A big thank you to Mr. Esquilant for coaching the team and to Mr. Hurber for driving the bus.

Chris Boyd

(Sports Coordinator)

Date claimers for Term 2 and Term 3:

Don O’Brien – Principal

Confirmation Program

Students who wish to participate in the Confirmation Program are now able to pick up enrolment forms from the parish office. These are available for the following dates:

29/30 June

6/7 July

13/14 July

20/21 July

27/28 July

Return deadline is Monday July 29 1pm.  No Exceptions.

Parents can collect and return from any of these weekends.

Altar Serving

In Term 3, we are looking at arranging training for primary students (Year 3 and up) who are interested in becoming altar servers for school masses. Once the training has been completed, these students would have the option of serving at weekend parish masses as well if they wish. Early next term, Miss du Bois will collect names of those who are interested. 

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

Just a reminder the canteen is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  This will continue in Term 3 and Term 4.

Order via the Flexi Schools Website.  You will also find the menu on this website too.

Alternatively you can order by writing on a brown paper bag and placing the money in there too.

We have had some residents of Innes Road complaining about cars parking across their driveway during school pick up time.

Please be mindful of this when picking up your child as residents are unable to get out of their driveways.

The last day of Term 2 is Friday 5th July. 

Term 3 will commence on Monday 22nd July.

Have a safe and happy holiday period.