Dear Parents/Carers,

Grant us the courage to hope, hope for Your presence, hope for Your peace, hope for Your promise.

Another week has flown by and we are now in December. As we enter into this time of year, I would ask that you keep those in need in your prayers. We have families in our school community who are doing it tough at the moment, for many different reasons, so the power of collective prayer to help them and support them, can make all the difference. 

THANK YOU to everyone for your donations last Friday on our Uniform Free Day. We have some fantastic donations which will create some amazing silent auction hampers for our Autumn Fete next year. 

Today, Year 3/4 students and their teachers enjoyed a day at Questacon learning all things STEM. It is such an engaging space and I am sure we will hear all the great things that they learnt, explored and discovered. 

Tomorrow we will be having our End of Semester Arts Showcase Assembly at 2pm. I am always so inspired listening to our students play their musical instruments and showcasing their dance and movement skills. The hard work, passion and dedication that goes into the Creative and Performing Arts by these students is fantastic.  

You will see our Giving Tree is up in the Front Office foyer. Please give generously at this time of year. If we could have these gifts by Tuesday 11 December as St Vincent de Paul will be here to collect these items. 

End of Year Happenings

As we draw to the end of the year (final fortnight), a few things to flag with you all. 

1. Semester 2 reports will go home on Monday next week. Remember, it is important to not just focus on the grade your child received. It is about the progress your child has made over the course of the second semester (and the year). It is important to focus on the positive aspects of your child's report. Talk to them about what it says, praise and affirm the effort they have put in and the learning that has occurred. Of course, everyone (including ourselves) can improve in various areas. Discuss these areas constructively with your child at their level. The way parents react to a child's report can have a lasting impact on them. Should you wish to discuss your child's report and the progress your child has made, you may contact class teachers via email or calling the Front Office and leaving a message. Week 10 would be the appropriate time to sit down with your child's class teacher.

2. Tuesday 11 December we will hold our Giving Mass at 9.30am. All most welcome.

3. Our Christmas Carol Spectacular Night is on Tuesday 11 December at 6pm. Hope to see you there. All students will perform two items with their class. Please pray for good weather!

4. Friday 14 December we will hold our final assembly of the year, starting at 2pm. This year we are introducing three Year 6 awards. These are Community Service Award, Academic Excellence Award and the Pastoral Care & Christian Values Award. The students who receive these awards have been nominated by staff across the school. The awards will be presented by special guests. Year 6 will present their final item of primary school. We will also farewell staff who are leaving. 

5. Monday 17 December - White Band Celebration (Movie and Snacks)

6 Tuesday 18 December at 5.30pm - Year 6 Graduation Mass and Celebration Dinner

7. Wednesday 19 December - Our traditional Year 6 student and staff breakfast (8am) followed by Year 6 Big Day Out at Big Splash

8. Friday 21 December - Step Up will occur. This is when students will find out their new class and have an opportunity to spend some time together with their new peers and new teacher. 

9. Friday 21 December at 2.15pm - Light Ceremony where we farewell our Year 6 students and welcome our new student leaders for 2019. 

10. Friday 21 December - Last day of 2018. School returns on Monday 4 February.

Staffing 2019 

I am please to announce staffing for 2019: