Dear Parents and Community Members, 

Welcome to Week 6!

There is a wonderful buzz of excitement among the children as we look forward to our much-anticipated Carols on the Green, Friday the 29th of November. This special event promises to be a joyful celebration, bringing our community together in the spirit of the season.

Class Placements

The process of class placements is a thoughtful and detailed one, designed to support the learning and wellbeing of all students. From as early as Week 2 of Term 4, our teachers have been carefully engaging in discussions, considering a range of factors such as individual learning needs, behaviours, gender balance, and friendships to create balanced and supportive class groups.

We deeply value the feedback we receive from parents and students and consider it carefully during this process. While it is not possible to accommodate every request or all friend preferences, we do ensure that each child is placed with at least one of their chosen friends. Please trust that our dedicated teachers always strive to make decisions that are in the best interests of your child’s education and wellbeing.

Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we finalise these important decisions.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Update

I would like to extend my thanks to all parents for your patience and understanding during after-school pick-up at the side gate in the church carpark. I have been supervising this area and have greatly appreciated your cooperation, especially in respecting the no-parking zones.

I’m pleased to share that the feedback from parents has been very positive—the wait times are minimal, and the line is moving efficiently. This has helped create a safe and smooth process for everyone involved.

A big thank you to everyone for your efforts in making this system work so well for our school community!

Yours faithfully

Catia Frasca

Throughout this term all students have been preparing for ‘Carols on the Green’. I have seen music and movement work like healing mood medicine amongst the children.  The smiles, joy and connectedness that comes with uplifting music is contagious. Eight more sleeps until you too will be able to celebrate music with us.

Can you remember a time when you were filled with excitement and broke into song? Or a time you chose not to take life so seriously and connected the lyrics of a song to a situation to lift your spirits and bring about laughter. If you have experienced these moments, I’m guessing the importance of music in your life is high and valued. Historically and universally, Christians are known to be musically minded and celebrate their faith with songs and music. The Catholic community embraces the practise of singing and recognises that Scripture itself names music as God’s gift to us. Also, the participation of it in community is encouraged for many reasons such as:

1.    To help us praise – praise God to God or God to others

2.    To help us pray – it is a form of prayer and prayers can be sung as in the Psalms

3.    To help us proclaim – the life-giving word of God is ministered

Singing and music is part of spiritual life and when we celebrate Mass we are drawn into the lyrics at the beginning, in the middle and end of the service. We have our favourite ones that stick in our minds long after leaving Mass.  I have found myself in humbling moments when students in the schoolyard during playtimes break out in a song from Mass.  This makes me think of a statement from Bishop J C Ryle’s (1816 – 1900),

“There is an elevating, stirring, soothing, spiritualizing, effect about a thoroughly good hymn, which nothing else can produce. It sticks in men’s memories when texts are forgotten. It trains men for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations. Preaching and praying shall one day cease forever; but praise shall never die. The makers of good ballads are said to sway national opinion. The writers of good hymns, in like manner, are those who leave the deepest marks on the face of the church.”

I hope you can join us next Monday, 25th November at Community Prayer (8.45am) to praise, pray and proclaim with music at the Blessing of the Cribs Liturgy, marking the beginning of Advent. 

The St Vincent de Paul gift giving donations are still being collected in classrooms by our SRC Reps. Thank you for supporting those less fortunate than us.  Besides the gift collection, at the Carols on the Green we will have a Giving Tree set up for the collection of non-perishable Christmas meal/snack items.  Please refer to the Carols on the Green letter, sent earlier this term, for more information.

 “God loves generous souls. Let us try to be the generous ones.” St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

On Tuesday 19th November, Catholic Education Brisbane hosted the STEM MAD Nationals for 2024.  Our Year 6 team, Eithen, Lewis and Tisshya presented their project, The Heat Monitor 1040 in the Primary category.

We watched the keynote speaker from Orange Sky present how their idea to bring washing machines to homeless people was created.  He spoke about their difficulties perfecting their working vans and how they also added showers and connected with people in the community to make a difference.

For the online showcase primary schools were placed into groups and presented to each other. We viewed videos from students living in WA, NSW and Victoria. Students asked each other questions about the ideas presented. When all teams had presented, we voted for the People’s Choice Award, our favorite project was based on the quality of their presentation and the most useful idea.

While the judges decided on the winners the students participated in mini STEM challenges. They built a structure from cups and pop sticks, constructed paper planes, made a package to protect an egg when dropped, made a paper chain and built a bridge.

I would like to congratulate the students on their efforts on completing the STEM MAD challenge and making it into the National showcase.  There were many great ideas presented from across Australia and the students should be proud of being able to present their high-quality work at a national level.

Within the chaos of trying to finish assessments, juggling extracurricular assessments and the many events Whitefriars Catholic School community offers…..sometimes you need something to recharge your batteries and make you feel alive!

Welcome to the world of affirmation books! An affirmation is about receiving positive feedback, compliment, or comment from someone else in the classroom. The impact of receiving one has the power to completely change your mindset in such a positive way.

Since the midway point of term 4, 6C have been writing in each other’s affirmation books. Our goal before the end of the term is to write in everyone’s book! Affirmation books will be a gift for students at the end of the year. Unlike chocolate or lollies, an affirmation book can be used an unlimited amount. For example, whenever they are feeling down or in need of some important childhood nostalgic moments.

Soft Eyes

"Soft eyes" is not a term you'll find in traditional parenting literature, but it has deep psychological and neurological roots. It serves as a powerful tool for emotional regulation—not just for you but also for your child.

When your child is stressed or anxious, seeing your soft eyes can send a reassuring message. Their brain's mirror neurons pick up on your calm demeanour, signalling that the environment is safe. Your gentle gaze can help them feel loved and understood, even amidst their worries.

In this week’s Insights article, ‘Soft Eyes’,   Justin shares researched-based evidence based on using soft eyes to help manage own emotional responses. In high-stress situations, it can be easy to react with anger or frustration. However, adopting soft eyes allows you to engage in two important emotional regulation strategies: emotional suppression and reappraisal.

For more parenting information, visit the Happy Families website: https://happyfamilies.com.au./

Thank you.

Grace Loizos

Wellbeing Leader

gloizos@whitefriars.catholic.edu.au

• Week 7 - TERM 4
• Monday - 25th November - Help Needed
• Tuesday - 26th November - Anne Vu
• Wednesday - 27th November - No Help Needed
• Thursday - 28th November - Tina Bodjo/Helen Burns-Clarke
• Friday - 29th November - Help Needed

• Week 8 - TERM 4
• Monday - 2nd December -Help Needed
• Tuesday - 3rd December -Anne Vu
• Wednesday - 4th December - No Help Needed
• Thursday - 5th December - Tina Bodjo
• Friday - 6th  December - Help Needed

We have over 280 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.

Dear Families,

We are currently conducting Term 3, 2026 student enrolment interviews.

Term 1, 2027 interviews will be scheduled in Term 1, 2025.

All interviews are usually scheduled 2 years before commencement date.

PLEASE ENSURE ALL SIBLINGS ARE ENROLLED FOR ALL FUTURE YEARS.

Thank you 

RCIA Introduction Meeting 

WHEN: Tuesday 3 December 7pm in the Parish Office

Invitation for those interested in becoming Catholic. 

Weekly meetings on Tuesdays at 7pm from January to March.

 Sacraments will be received during the Easter Vigil April 19th 2025.

Enrolments open for the 2025 Sacramental Programme

Children need to be Baptised, and in Year 3 or above in 2025.

Enrolment forms available through the School or Parish.

For more information, please contact the Parish Office on 8346 0944 or hello@croydonparkparish.com.au

Advent Retreat

“Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room”

WHEN: Saturday 30th November

TIME: 9:15am - 4pm

WHERE: At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church 420 Seaview Road Henley Beach.

The day will include Talks given by Fr Manu Kumbidiyamackal MSFS

Mass

Reflection

Reconciliation

Benediction

Please bring your own lunch tea/coffee provided.

Enquiries and bookings phone Pauline 0403002240 by 27th November.

Cost by cash donation. All Welcome

Thank you, God bless

Pauline Cotton 

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.