TERM 3 

• Thurs, 28th Sept Choir Performance - Adelaide Festival Theatre
• Fri, 29 Sep - Last Day of School 12:30pm dismissal

TERM 4

• Mon, 16 Oct - First Day of School
• Wed, 25th Oct - STEM Showcase
• Wed, 25th Oct - P & F Meeting
• Fri, 27th Oct - Year 1 Excursion
• Wed, 1st Nov- School Board Meeting
• Wed 1st Nov - All Saint's Day
• Thurs 2nd Nov - All Soul's Day
• Fri 3rd Nov - Year 6 Parish Mass
• Wed, 8th Nov - Instrumental Concert
• Fri, 10th Nov -Year 4 Parish Mass
• Mon, 13th Nov 5.15pm Children's University Graduation
• Fri, 17th Nov - Year 3 Parish Mass
• Wed, 29th Nov - P & F Meeting 
• Wed, 29th Nov - School Board Meeting
• Fri, 1st Dec, Year 2 Parish Mass
• Fri, 8th Dec Year 2 End of Year Excursion
• Fri, 8th Dec, Year 1 Parish Mass
• Tues, 12th Dec -Thanksgiving Mass
• Tues, 12th Dec - Year 6 Graduation
• Thurs, 14th Dec - Last Day of School 3:05pm dismissal
• Thurs, 14th Dec- Leadership Assembly
• Thurs, 14th Dec- Year 6 Graduation Party
• Fri, 15th Dec - Pupil Free Day

Dear Parents and Community Members,

Soccer Presentations

Last week we held our annual Soccer Presentation evening where 99 children received their medals together with their coaches and team managers. I take this opportunity to thank our coaches and team managers who have enabled this volume of children to play soccer for the school and thank you to Aidan Bridgen who coordinates a large after school sports program.

Congratulations to the Year 5 Team who won the Western District Under 11 final.

The team comprised of Anthony T (Captain), Abhijit D, Dion D, Jake W, Kingsley N, Oliver V, Oliver C, Rajpaul S, Ronald V, Tyson C, Sarvesh B, Vittal B.

Thank you to our coach Tim Vukaj and our team manager Kylie Crispin. One of the greatest success and joy was the fact that as a school we won for the first time the North West Junior Soccer Association - Ron Baker Fair Play Award.

This award is the most prestigious award the NWJSA bestows and is presented to the school which has shown the best Fair Play throughout the season.

Each and every game during the season is given points by the game leader and referees based on respect shown towards match officials and the opposition.

At the end of the season all points are added up and divided by the number of teams each school has and a winner is declared. The match officials can add points for outstanding displays of respect or deduct points for disrespectful behaviour from players, spectators and team coaches. It is wonderful that as a school with the emblem of “In All Things Kindness” that our children, parents and family members strive to role model this to others in our local community. Winning the Ron Baker Fair Play Award is one of greatest achievements we have won as a school and one that we can all be proud of a school community.

At the end of  of another seemingly speedy term, we have much to celebrate, our NAPLAN results this year are above National Average and State Average in each of the 5 areas, we continue to be close to capacity, we are developing our school facilities and expanding our spaces for the children. As well we are holding and celebrating many events such as the Action Hour, School Disco, Year 3 sleepover, Confirmation, First Communion, Book Week, Learning Conversations, Year 2 Pizza Night, Choir just to name the main ones.

I thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding through this stage of the building process always knowing that we are continuing to build a school with improved facilities for all our children and future generations to enjoy and flourish. There is lots of work planned for the term break and at our last building meeting, they said that there is a chance that they may be able to deliver the new refurbished library, new toilets, new canteen and new Performing Arts area early Term 4, enabling time to begin transitioning into these areas. The staffroom, staff toilets and new office areas are still due middle of November whilst the 3 transportables will be taken away Monday 18th of December.

I continue to cherish being at Whitefriars Catholic School. I feel very fortunate to be at this Catholic School and to have so many members of our school community supporting each other.

Mary MacKillop would be pleased!

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and spending time with your children without the pressure of the daily routine.

Please remember that in Term 4 we switch to the summer school uniform and children will need their hats during playtimes and PE lessons.

Kind Regards

Frank Congedi

Sacramental Program

We have concluded the Sacramental Program for 2023, with 28 of our students from Year 3 up participating in Reconciliation, and receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

Enrolments for the 2024 program will open in early Term 4, and will be open for children who are 8 years old (or will turn 8 in 2024), and are in Year 3 or higher. Further details will be shared via the Newsletter and Audiri/Seesaw in Term 4.

Community Prayer in Term 4

Community Prayer in Term 4 will continue to be held in the Mary Mackillop Hall with students sitting in classes. Prayer will begin from Week 2 onwards, with each class unit leading a prayer during Term 4.

Week 2 – 23rd October – led by Year 3 Unit

Week 3 – 30th October – led by Year 4 Unit

Week 4 – 6th November – led by Year 6 Unit

Week 5 – 13th November – led by Reception Unit

Week 6 – 20th November – led by Year 2 Unit

Week 7 – 27th November – led by Leadership

Week 8 – 4th December – led by Year 1 Unit

Week 9 – 11th December – led by Year 5 Unit

All parents and caregivers are invited to join and be present for Community Prayer

Class Masses in Term 4

Parish Masses at Mater Dei will continue at 9:15am on Friday mornings – and we invite all parents and caregivers to join us, especially if your child’s class is in attendance. You are invited to come and sit with your child with their class, or your child is welcome to come and sit with you to participate in the Mass.

All classes from Year 1 to 6 will attend Mass in Term 4 – and our Reception Unit will participate in an Advent Liturgy.

Week 2 – Friday 27th October – Year 5 Unit

Week 3 – Friday 3rd November – Year 6 Unit

Week 4 – Friday 10th November – Year 4 Unit

Week 5 – Friday 17th November – Year 3 Unit

Week 6 – Friday 24th November – Year 2 Unit

Week 7 – Friday 1st December – Year 1 Unit

Week 8 – Thursday 7th December – Reception Unit Advent Liturgy– time and venue TBC

Whole School Mass

Our only whole School Mass in Term 4 will be our Thanksgiving / End of Year Mass during Week 9 – the time and date is likely to be Tuesday the 12th of December at 9:15am – this will be confirmed in early Term 4.

As we have almost reached the end of Term 3 – I hope that you all have a chance to have a break from the school routine, enjoy the spring weather, spend some quality time together as a family and recharge your batteries ready for a busy Term 4. 

May you have a safe holiday break, and I look forward to seeing you all next term to continue to support your child to flourish in all that they wish to achieve.

Josh Page

APRIM

2A-STEM IN ACTION

The students have been pouring their hearts and minds into their STEM projects, tirelessly designing and constructing Chinese musical instruments.

Throughout this journey, they have eagerly embraced every step of the STEM engineering process from brainstorming to creating and refining. Their dedication and enthusiasm have been truly inspiring.

Now, as they approach the culmination of their hard work, they can hardly contain their excitement. These budding engineers and musicians are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to display their final products, not only as a testament to their creative talents but also as a celebration of their collaborative and innovative spirit.

Last Friday, the Year 2 classes were fortunate enough to have a Pizza Night.

In Italian lessons, the students have been reading a procedure text on how to make a pizza, and as part of their learning and seeing what they had learnt in action, the students watched Angelo from Pizzalino make traditional Italian pizzas with a wood oven.

The pizzas were delicious, and the experience was amazing. The Year 2 classrooms were transformed into an Italian restaurant with tables and music and as well as the pizza, students had Italian gelati from Gelista.

Thank you to the teachers in the year 2 team, and all the ESO's who supported with the planning of this event. 

Signora Radetti

Congratulation to the Whitefriars Chess Team who came 3rd in the recent Chess Tournament.

They have been invited to the State Championships which are on Monday Week 3, Term 4.

What a great turn out of parents at last night’s Carly Ryan Presentation about Cyber Safety. Each time I attend these talks I learn something new. Below is a quote that stood out for me.

"Just as we require a driver's license to drive a car and we must follow the rules of the road, our children need to follow guidelines when given access to the borderless world of the internet.You are paying for the device and access to the internet, these guidelines should be the basic safety requirements expected of your child given the global rise of online child exploitation. This contract should be implemented until your child is financially independent and able to support their own internet service"

To those parents who attended if you could complete the parent survey for the organisation relating to their presentation that would be great. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aUbVw5JevOdvdaLscT5k1XZZn8eViQh_vDugLpx2w2g/viewform?edit_requested=true

If you missed this valuable presentation you can visit their website to access their information on various apps explored by children and their information on protecting children’s digital identity through managing the settings of various apps on their devices.

To Report Inappropriate online contact: Australian Centre to Countre Child Exploitation:  ACCCE.gov.auTo Report image based abuse or harmful/ bullying content: eSafety Commissioner For Downloadable Resources and further Support:  The Carly Ryan Foundation  For Legal advice or support for anyone under 25 years:  Youth Law Australia 

For Free Counselling services:  eSafety

Each year we have over 100 registered volunteers who help our school in so many different ways, contributing to our school and supporting children and staff.  Registered volunteers contribute to the school community in just some of the following ways:

• School Board 
• Parents & Friends events
• After School Sports (Coaches and Team Managers)
• Canteen
• Learning Assistance Program (LAP)
• Reading with children
• Assisting at excursions

All volunteers are required to obtain appropriate clearances, including a Department of Human Services (DHS) Clearance and Catholic Clearance.

Once submitted, clearances may take up to 6 weeks to process.

When you receive your clearance or card please bring this into the office for us to update to the Volunteer Register.

If you would like to volunteer, please see staff in the front office for a Volunteer Information Pack and support in registering as a volunteer.

Please see below for current volunteers wanted in our school.

Thankyou to the following volunteers assisting in Term 4, Week 1 & 2.

If you would like to contribute to this wonderful school community and spend some of your day making delicious food, chatting and laughing in good company, having fun and of course drinking coffee, whether you are able to assist for both recess and lunch, or just an hour, it makes a huge difference and we would love to have you join us.

• Monday - Friday
• Times: all day (9-1:30pm), recess (10:50-11:30am), lunch (12:50-1:30pm) or just an hour wherever you can!
• Tasks include: Making popcorns, jellies, sandwiches, assembling burgers, serving at the counter, packing lunches and stacking the chip rack.

Tasks are given in very easy, manageable steps so everyone can comfortably learn as you go.  No experience necessary!

If you would like to volunteer some time in the Canteen or would like to ask questions about what is involved, please contact Iris at the Canteen before school.

Iris Mori

Canteen Manager

We acknowledge and pay our respect to the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of the land of Mikawomma on which Whitefriars Catholic School is located.  We come with open hearts and minds to listen and learn from Elders - past, present and emerging.