“People came to him from every quarter.”

Mark 1: 45

(from the Gospel for the sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)

Dear parents and carers

SWIMMING CARNIVAL Friday 19 February

We are conducting our school swimming carnival on Friday 19 February at Moss Vale Aquatic Centre. Years 2 to 6 will be competing in the carnival. The children will walk to the pool departing school at around 9am. We expect the first events to commence at 9:30am with the carnival concluding by 2pm. We will not be dismissing children from the pool. All the children will walk back to school. They will be dismissed as per our regular daily procedures. We will distribute awards and announce age champions and the colour house results at assembly on Thursday 25 February.

Unfortunately, parents are not able to attend the carnival to spectate due to COVID-19 restrictions. You will be sorely missed.

Kindergarten and Year 1 will have water play activities at school. Details for the day will be sent home separately early next week.

PANCAKE DAY- Tuesday 16 February

Our Mini Vinnie’s group are conducting a pancake day next Tuesday. It is traditional to celebrate Shrove Tuesday on the day before Ash Wednesday. This mini feast(ing) day has its origins in the need to use up cooking ingredients such as sugar, flour or eggs before the commencement of fasting for the Lenten season.

Year 5 will cook the pancakes for the children. The cost for a pancake is $1. Please give your child a dollar coin. Teachers will help with managing the money and making sure no one misses out. 

The money we collect will be donated to the annual Caritas Project Compassion appeal. This year’s theme is “Be more” based on a quote from Saint Oscar Romeo, “Aspire not to have more, but be more”. Caritas and the annual Project Compassion appeal works towards ending poverty and injustice globally. You can read more about Project Compassion on the Caritas website.

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS - Wed 17 February

We will be celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass with Fr Richard next week. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season leading up to Holy Week culminating in Easter Sunday. The children will receive ashes at the Mass. Fr Richard will visit Kindergarten in their classroom where he will explain and distribute ashes to the children in a less formal setting.

Unfortunately, parents and community members are unable to join the children at this Mass due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Listening Interviews and Kinder/Year 1 class meetings- working together is the key!

It has been wonderful to be able to meet with parents and families over the past week. COVID-19 has meant that public gatherings have been impossible for nearly a year. We have certainly missed our regular contact with you. I know that many parents are feeling exactly the same about your presence in the school. Thankfully, the restrictions have been relaxed sufficiently that we are able to have some limited capacity to invite parents back into the school. We gathered the Kindergarten families for the first time on Tuesday evening along with our Year 1 parents. We talked about our school’s approach to reading. It was great to be together.

I am always happy to talk to you about our school. I love to hear your ideas for our school and how to make our beautiful little school even better. Whilst not all things are possible, it can be productive to think together about what we can do and what is possible to achieve. Please don’t be shy to say “hello”. I am always ready and willing to meet with you to discuss anything about your child’s learning or our school. Home and school are partners in the important job of educating your children. Our roles are different but complementary. Children need both in order to thrive. Open, honest and respectful communication is the key to all relationships. This is certainly the case with home and school relationship. Let’s make this an ongoing priority for our shared work together.

P&F Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

The Parents and Friends AGM was held on Tuesday evening. The annual election of office bearers for the P&F was held. I am delighted to announce the outcome of the election.

President- Amanda Eccleston

Vice President- Tim Eccleston

Treasurer- Natasha Hucker

Secretary- Meredith Cassar

I am grateful to our re-elected executive for their generosity of spirit in accepting these roles. The P&F’s work in fundraising directly benefits all the children in our school. The work of the P&F in both fundraising and fun-raising will be limited by COVID-19 restrictions throughout the year. As restrictions change we will of course adjust our planning accordingly.

WORKING BEE- Friday 5 March from 3:15pm till 5pm

Our first P&F activity for the year will be a working bee after school on the 5 March. COVID restrictions state,” After hours outdoor activities that involve parent/community gatherings, such as working bees can proceed, with up to 100 people outdoors for schools in other locations (Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven).” 

We have soft fall to spread on the Adventure and Infants playgrounds. We also have some pruning and weeding to be done in the gardens around the school. Children are welcome to attend and help out. Whatever time you are able to give will be both helpful and appreciated. Many hands make light work!

COVID-19 Advice

There have been no further adjustments to COVID-19 restrictions this week. Regrettably, the restrictions on parents and community members being on the school grounds or attending school events off site remain in place. This is inclusive of the upcoming swimming carnival. If these restrictions change we will certainly let you know. We would love to have our community with us at these important milestone events. Click here for the  current COVID- 19 guidelines for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong. 

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS - enrolments close on Friday 12 February at 1pm

The Sacramental letter detailing all of the information you will require can be found online at www.stpaulsmossvale.org.au  or can be picked up from the presbytery office. The school has previously shared a copy via COMPASS of this letter with Year 3 to Year 6 families on behalf of the parish. 

Please note that the enrolment for the Sacraments closes tomorrow Friday 12 February at 1pm, no exceptions. 

The dates for the Sacramental program for 2021 are as follows: 

First reconciliation (online format): 6 March 

First Holy Communion (online format plus face to face): End of April

Confirmation (face to face format weekly between 3 and 17 May): 25 May

Responsible User Agreement

All children at St Paul’s are required to sign a “Responsible User Agreement”. This is a diocesan expectation for all CEDoW schools. Tomorrow, the Year 3 to Year 6 classes will bring home a copy of the Responsible User Agreement. Please read through and discuss the Responsible User Agreement with your child. We ask that you then sign and return the agreement. This forms the basis of our shared understanding and commitment to how technology is used and managed at our school.

All classes in the school will undertake a digital citizenship program during Term 1 at an age and stage appropriate level. We want all our children to be skilled, critical and safe users of technology.

CODE 5 update

Our school’s Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) team and the school staff have reviewed our school’s Code 5 system. Accordingly, we have adjusted the language to be more embracing of the concept of respect. Code 5 remains at the heart of our school’s affirmation and correction sequence. We have printed signs and banners with the updated Code 5. They are placed in every classroom and around the school. The teachers will continue to teach and explain Code 5 with the children throughout the year.

The new Code 5 language is

• Respect myself
• Respect others
• Respect learning
• Respect the environment
• Be a Mission Star

Gym on Fridays for all classes 

We have engaged a specialist sports company, Gymnastrix, to conduct gymnastics lessons with all classes on Fridays. The company provides qualified teachers, who deliver the program and assess the children against NESA syllabus outcomes. They also provide all the necessary gym equipment for the program. The cost of this program is included as part of your school fees. All children will need to wear their sport uniform on Fridays for Term 1.

All students will wear their sports uniform tomorrow. 

Sport Uniforms

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

Kindergarten – Wednesday & Friday

Year 1 – Friday

Year 2 - Friday

Year 3 – Wednesday & Friday

Year 4 – Wednesday & Friday

Year 5 – Wednesday & Friday

Year 6 – Wednesday & Friday

Photograph Permission

You have received the photo permission form for your children. We are required to seek this permission from you annually. The consent form allows for your child’s image to be used in the school newsletter, our school facebook page or by the diocese in their publications (print and digital). If you do not give consent for your child’s image to be used or do not return the permission form, we will not be able to use your child’s image. Your child therefore, will not appear in any of our school publications (print and digital inclusive). We love to celebrate all children’s achievements and participation in school events. Publishing pictures is a good way to do this. We ask that you return the consent forms at your earliest convenience.

School Terms for 2021

Sacramental Program

Just a reminder that parents of students who wish to complete any of the sacraments this year (Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation) must contact the parish immediately in order to receive the enrolment details (see email address below).

Traditionally, students in Year 3 will make their First Reconciliation and then their First Holy Communion shortly after. However, we understand that some students may have missed this opportunity, so these sacraments are open to older students as well.

• Reconciliation (Year 3 and above) – these students must be baptised Catholics.
• First Holy Communion (Year 3 and above) – these students must be baptised Catholics and have made their First Reconciliation.
• Confirmation (Year 6 and above) – These students must have completed their Reconciliation and First Communion.

Enrolments are due by Friday 12th of February at 1pm

Parish email address:

sacramentsmossvale@gmail.com

Ash Wednesday

There will be a Whole School Ash Wednesday Mass on the 17^th of February for students and teachers only. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a time of preparation for Easter. Kindergarten will hold a separate ceremony in their classroom to learn about Ash Wednesday.

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

Tuesday 9 February 2021 marked Safer Internet Day. This global campaign is one of the most important online safety awareness events of the year. The theme for 2021 is "Start the Chat" and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner has developed several engaging activities for students and their parents/carers in support of this important celebration.

Resources include:

• Parents: Parents and carers free webinar on Cyberbullying & Online Drama. Register to attend here.
• The earlier we “Start the Chat” with our children about internet safety the better informed they will be in making safe positive choices when using technology.
• You can access the eSafety Commissioner website on the parent portal - wellbeing page.

Back to school Anxiety

Is your child experiencing back to school anxiety? There can be many anxiety causing triggers for students at this time of year.

To help parents and carers support their child (and themselves) CatholicCare and CEDoW have put together some strategies which may help. Find information here to support self-care and student wellbeing as the new school year begins (insert link to flyer).

If you require further support you can contact the school or CatholicCare has a range of group programs that might be helpful. Find out more at www.catholiccare.dow.org.au/index.php/family-support-program-fsp

Back to School Anxiety

Back to School Anxiety 563.97 KB

Parent Portal

The St Paul’s Parent Portal is a one stop shop for families. It has links to the class overviews, information about school procedures and links to a variety of online sites that provide a wealth of information for families. Take some time to have a look and feel free to provide some feedback via the feedback form. You can access the portal via this link. Please bookmark it and check in as the class pages will be added to during the year.

https://sites.google.com/a/dow.catholic.edu.au/st-paul-s-moss-vale-home-page/home

We have a tub of unnamed lost property.  If your child is missing an item, please come to the office and have a look through.  At the end of next week any unclaimed items will be donated to Vinnies.

The Parish Mass on Ash Wednesday (February 17th) will be held at 8am, 12pm and 6pm.

It is still a requirement to register for these Masses in the usual ways.  You will find all Masses on the website or you can phone/email the office during office hours.