“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come.”

Mark 13: 33

(from the Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent, Year B)

 Dear parents and carers

 Our year is quickly coming to a close. And what a year it has been! I think despite all our challenges that we have managed and come through this very tricky year well.

On Friday 11 December, you will receive your child’s Semester 2 Report. These reports are closer to our “normal” report. There are still some variations due to COVID- 19. Your child will be receiving an overall A to E grade only in Religious Education, English and Mathematics. The reports will be shared via COMPASS.

 In 2021, we are going to have some changes to staff grade allocations. We have begun to transition children to their new teachers with visits and lots of little jobs. The purpose of course is to get to know the teacher and become comfortable. We will have a grade promotion afternoon on Monday 7 December with children spending the afternoon with their new teacher.

I am proud to announce the grade allocations as follows:

Kindergarten - Mrs Tania Calla-Hunstone

Year 1 - Mrs Marg Burton (Mon- Thurs)/ Mrs Alyssa Williamson (Fri)

Year 2 - Ms Mari Sullivan/ Miss Jess Molloy

Year 3 - Mr Chris Boyd

Year 4 - Mrs Yvonne Kiah

Year 5 - Mrs Jo Smith

Year 6 - Mrs Catherine du Bois/ Miss Jess Molloy

Library/ PPT - Mrs Louise Cassidy

Diverse Learning Support - Mrs Mary Lou Claremont

Assistant Principal - Mrs Katie Browne

Our wonderful school support staff for 2021 are:

SSSO - Mrs Eileen Vaughn

Office SSO - Mrs Hayley Barton

EALD - Mrs Jodie Iliani

SSO - Mrs Michelle Gilespie, Mrs Raelene Rowland, Mrs Maria Cevernaro, Mrs Helen Gorton

WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS

Our school water safety programs have been a great success this year. Last week we took Kinder to Year 2 to Moss Vale pool for their program. Using a bus to transport the children is an innovation we will retain for 2021. Yesterday and today, our Year 3 to Year 6 children travelled to Sandon Point, Bulli for a surf awareness program. The children absolutely loved the practical, informative and fun activities at the beach. The beach visit follow up on the work the children did at school last week with the surf life savers.

Thank you to Mr Chris Boyd who coordinated both the programs on behalf of the school. Navigating the COVID-19 restrictions made this especially complex this year. We are delighted that we were able to offer these water safety programs as part of our school’s PDHPE curriculum.

Finally, I would like to commend the children for their excellent conduct and full hearted participation in these programs. They were a delight to work with and are a credit to our whole community. Well done kids!

KINDERGARTEN 2021  

Last Tuesday we were visited by the thirty one children enrolled in Kindergarten for 2021. The children came to school to meet their teacher and to meet each other. They were absolutely beautiful! It was great to reconnect with current families and especially welcome the new families to our community. Kindergarten will participate in BESTSTART in Week 1 of Term 1 ahead of starting school on Thursday 4 February.

1:1 iPAD PROGRAM 2021

This year, we introduced a school managed 1:1 iPad program that commences in Year 3. The iPad is a powerful learning tool. The school managed program we introduced this year means that the school supplies, populates the device with the required apps and manages the device as part of the school fees. The iPad is paid off over two (2) years. School management of the devices involves providing, updating and managing apps, limiting screen times outside school, restricting the child’s capacity to install additional apps and programs including social media as well as filtering content. We emphasise that the iPad is a learning tool and not an entertainment device.

The program has been a great success. The benefits of the program were clearly demonstrated during remote learning earlier in the year. Once the device has been paid off over two years, the child will continue to use it until the end of Year 6. Once all financial obligations to the school have been met at the end of Year 6, the device will be erased, given a factory reset and then given to you to keep.

Children entering Year 3 will be supplied with an iPad 8 32GB as well as a protective cover. This year we are able to offer Apple care for the device if families would like to take up this option for an additional fee. AppleCare+ covers two (2) breakages per year for two (2) years. It costs an additional $80 which will be added to your resource fee. Year 3 families who would like to take up the offer of AppleCare+ please indicate your interest at the following link by Monday 30 November.

https://forms.gle/B83epugQsDqYhciQ8 

It is our very strong preference that all families of Year 3 children participate in this program. Whilst existing iPad can be subscribed to our school system for some elements of the program, it is not ideal. I have written to Year 2 families (Year 3 2021) about the program.

For families who have children in Year 5 and Year 6 in 2021, I am offering the opportunity to participate in the school managed program. Children in these classes did not have the benefit of the school managed 1:1 iPad program when they were in Year 3. If your family would like to take up this option, please complete and submit the Google form below by Monday 30 November. We will be placing orders for the devices next week.

https://forms.gle/xcxwuNXK5xrmtAyj7                                       

YEAR 5 LEADERSHIP CAMP at TALLONG Thursday 3 December and Friday 4 December

Next week, Year 5 will participate in a leadership camp at Tallong. This is the first time we have had an overnight camp for Year 5. The camp is all about understanding leadership, collaboration and teamwork. It will be a lot of fun as well as a lot of thinking and reflecting. Year 5 camp is ahead of the student elections which will be held on Monday 7 December.

END OF YEAR ASSEMBLY AND MASS Tuesday 8 December

We will be conducting a COVID safe, modified end of year assembly and Mass on Tuesday 8 December. We are still unable to have parents and community members at these events. We will video the assembly which will of course include the announcement of student leaders for 2021. Kindergarten will offer their thanks and farewell gift to their Year 6 big buddies. Whilst these arrangements are not what we would ideally like to do, the fact we can be together as a school group and celebrate with our parish priest is something. 

YEAR 6 FAREWELL Monday 14 December at 6pm

We will celebrate Mass in our school hall with Year 6 on the evening of 14 December at 6pm. Unfortunately, we will need to restrict visitor numbers to just two guest per Year 6 child. The guests are the families choice e.g. mum and dad; mum and sibling; dad and sibling etc. Again, this is not what we would ideally like to offer. It is all we can do at this time.

CHECK THE CEDoW COVID-19 WEBSITE FOR UPDATES

Stay up to date with the latest information regarding COVID-19 and its implications for our school by visiting Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) COVID-19 Information centre available here. This site has been created and regularly updated with COVID-19 specific advice for all our school diocesan communities. 

Thank you everyone for your ongoing understanding, patience and support as we move through time this together. As difficult and often inconvenient as it is, this is how we do our bit in keeping everyone safe and continuing to manage the pandemic. 

DAYS AND DATES FOR TERM 4

Given recent changes to COVID 19 restrictions, we are now in the position to plan events. The dates for these events are listed below. I would particularly draw your attention to the Week 10 arrangements with Tuesday 15 December being the last day of the year for the children. Staff will continue to work on site until Thursday 17 December.

Sacramental Program

Many of our students have been preparing for receiving their sacraments, including First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The ceremonies for these sacraments are due to take place in Week 8. Please continue to pray for these students and their families.

Advent

This coming Sunday the 29th November is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to Christmas Day!). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

As the end of the year is approaching at a rapid rate, it is normal to be feeling tired and overwhelmed by all the events happening and expectations that are building up for Christmas. And all this on top of what has been a very unusual year. 

It is important that we recognise when we are feeling this way and find ways to have down time in order to re-energise ourselves so we can be our best selves. The same is necessary for your children too. The capacity to relax and refocus is a skill to be learned. 

Please take some time to look through the wellbeing page of the parent portal. There are links to a range of resources and websites that can support you with parenting ideas, teaching your child about the importance of wellbeing, and tips for navigating the busy time that is upon us all.

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/st-pauls-moss-vale/wellbeing

Just a quick reminder that the last day for Book Club orders is Friday 27th November (tomorrow).