*New Dates

TERM 2

• Sat 27th May - 28th  Pentecost Sunday 
  
• Mon 29th May - Community Prayer - Year 6 Unit
• Mon 5th Jun, Community Prayer - Year 1 Unit
• Tues 6th Jun 9.30am Whole School Mass
• Wed, 7th Jun - Year 3 Assembly 
• Fri, 9 Jun - Pupil Free Day
• Mon, 12 Jun - King's Birthday
• Mon 19th Jun, Community Prayer - Year 2 Unit
• Wed 21st  Jun, Year 5 Assembly 
• Mon 26th Jun, Community Prayer - Reception Unit
• Mon 3rd Jul, Community Prayer - Year 4 Unit
• Thurs, 6th Jul - School Concert
• Fri, 7 Jul - Pupil Free Day 

TERM 3

• Mon, 24 Jul - First Day of School
• Mon, 7th Aug 1.45pm-2.45pm Action Hour
• Thurs, 31st Aug 2.10pm Assembly - Approach to Learning Certificates
• Fri, 8 Sep - Pupil Free Day
• Fri, 29 Sep - Last Day of School 12:30pm dismissal

TERM 4

• Mon, 16 Oct - First Day of School
• Thurs, 14 Dec - Last Day of School 3:05pm dismissal

Dear Parents and Community Members

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Thank you to our Parents and Friends for coordinating a wonderful Mother’s Day Breakfast. This bonding  community event takes a lot of planning and under the leadership of our chairperson of Parents and Friends Lina Sotiropoulos, a number of other parents and Catia Frasca it was a very successful event. A special thank you to our Dads and Mums for their time volunteering.

Thankyou also to our wonderful canteen staff: Iris Mori, Sandra Cagliuso and Rita Fiorenza for supporting the Mother's Day breakfast.

Playgroup – Tuesdays and Thursdays

From the beginning of this term, Whitefriars Catholic School has commenced offering a second playgroup session. The two sessions are now:

9-10:30 Tuesdays                                        9-10:30 Thursdays

This has been well received by our school community and I would like to thank our Playgroup Coordinator Kerry Todd for her dedication and leadership of this program.  

Reconciliation Week 2023

Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The date remains the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

The theme for this year is ‘Be a Voice for Generations’. This theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives-where we live, work and socialise.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Concert

Thank you to all of our parents who have so far sponsored our School Concert.  We thank all of these sponsors below in our Community News section of the Newsletter.

Enrolments

I wanted to let you know that the 2025 Reception enrolment meetings for children born between 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020 have now been completed by Catia Frasca and I and we have offered 87 places.

I also wanted to let you know that the 2026 Reception enrolment meetings for children born between 1 May 2020 to 30 April 2021 will begin February next year. I encourage all our existing families to ensure that they complete an application for your child if you have not already done so as we begin offering place to siblings first.

Frank’s Renewal leave and Long Service Leave

On Friday 26th of May it will be my last day this term before my leave. I wish you all well over ethe coming 6 weeks and I will return at the beginning of Term 3.

Thank you Catia Frasca for taking up the Acting Principal position, Josh Page for taking up the Acting Deputy Principal position and Josie Minorchio the Acting Religious Education Coordinator Position.

See you all in Term 3.

Kind Regards

Frank Congedi

Catholic Education Week #LovemyCatholicSchool

Last week we acknowledged and celebrated Catholic Education Week – which continues to use the theme Raising Hearts and Minds, as well as the hashtag Love My Catholic School

Our school is a dynamic learning space, with a vibrant community, and we all work together in partnership to provide a caring, loving and nurturing environment with the aim for all students to flourish. I was fortunate to be able to work with most of the Semester 1 SRC representatives last week and asked them to let me know know what they love about Whitefriars School – what became apparent is that these young leaders where able to articulate different areas of our school that holds value to them. Please have a look at these photos in the newsletter.

Introducing Josie Minorchio – Acting Religious Education Coordinator – Weeks 5 to 10 Term 2

As you may be aware from communication sent out last week – whilst Mr Frank Congedi is away on Renewal Leave during the last six weeks of this term, starting from next week. I will be Acting Deputy Principal, and therefore we have been fortunate to be able appoint Ms Josie Minorchio as Acting Religious Education Coordinator. Josie is well known to the community having completed the same role in Terms 2 through 4 in 2021 whilst I was in a different leadership role at another school. She will be coordinating and leading Class masses and our Whole School Mass for the remainder of this term. Please take the time to say hello when you see her, and make her feel welcome.

St. Vinnies – Winter Appeal – donations of good quality clothing

The St. Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal is not far away, and we will once again be having big white wheelie bins placed around the school. These bins are for donations of clothing to support the St. Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. The items of clothing to be donated need to be of good quality and wearable (no rips/tears/stains/out of shape, etc). I invite you to take some time to go through your and your families cupboards and find those items of clothing that you have outgrown, fallen out of love with, or haven’t worn for a while, that could be donated to support the charitable work of St. Vincent de Paul. Any donations are greatly appreciated. I will send a message via Seesaw and Audiri when the bins have been dropped off, and they will be available until early in Term 3.

Wear Red for Pentecost this weekend – at Croydon Park Parish Masses

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost culminates our fifty-day Easter celebration of salvation. It is when God sent The Holy Spirit, to remain with us, to strengthen and guide us, and to continue the presence and the work of Jesus. On The Day of Pentecost the clergy wear Red vestments to signify the work of the Spirit. In some customs, the people in the congregation wear Red as well.

The Croydon Park Parish invites our parishioners to wear RED for Pentecost to remind us of the fire of the Holy Spirt. Please join in this Weekend (May 27th / 28th). It could be a top, or a scarf or tie… whatever you can manage

National Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day  – Week 5

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week

This Friday is National Sorry Day and all classes have been invited to participate in activities, and in prayer to commemorate and acknowledge the day to say Sorry to our Indigenous Australians. Next week is National Reconciliation Week, a continuation of National Sorry Day, and a week where we continue to acknowledge that we need to seek out ways to reconcile errors of the past, and to look for ways to walk together in solidarity with all people. Our Community Prayer on Monday will acknowledge this week, on Thursday all classes will view a performance from Dusty Feet Mob, and on Friday we will have a casual day, for a gold coin donation, with children being asked to wear yellow to raise money for the Children’s Ground Foundation charity.

God Bless,

Josh Page

APRIM

I am overjoyed and truly blessed!

Why?

For the next 6 weeks I get to work at one of my favourite schools, in one of my favourite roles.

You may have seen me recently during Holy Week at Community Prayer or relieving your child's class teacher. 

In 2021 I replaced Josh Page in his role as APRIM and once again I look forward to the many opportunities of supporting you, your children and the staff as we celebrate, learn and deepen our faith in God.

Our whole school Mass is on Tuesday, 6th June at 9.30am. Hope to see you there.

Pentecost

In Year 3B, we have been learning about Pentecost Sunday (May 28th). Pentecost is one of the very important events in the Liturgical Year. It is a celebration of the beginning of the church.

After Jesus had died and ascended to heaven, the disciples were gathered together. They all felt the Holy Spirit come to them and they had a feeling like a rush of wind and tongues of fire. They were all inspired to go forth and teach others about God’s love for us.

We read the gospel reading and learnt that the symbols of Pentecost include: the colour red, doves, tongues of fire, rushing wind. We included some of the symbols of Pentecost in our own visual representation of the story of Pentecost.

Special Space Day:

Last year, through the STEM MAD national competition, the school won a Space experience donated by the Andy Thomas Space Foundation. In week 2 the current Year 6 STEM MAD students were able to enjoy this experience.

On the day the students were able to attend the 15th Space Forum being held in Adelaide Convention Centre. This session provided the perfect opportunity for the students and teacher/parent to learn about current/future careers within the Space Economy and Industry and inspired the students to develop their skills and scientific knowledge.

At The Space Discovery Centre, at Lot 14, we were greeted with an informative talk about the centre and then had time to explore the exhibition.

The highlight of the day was the Space School at Hamilton Secondary College.  We joined a lunch time club in the planetarium to discuss constellations. Then the students became astronauts and experienced a simulated Martian crater and landscape with seven different geological zones or were Expert Scientists in the Mission Control Room leading their astronaut companions through the mission. It has been designed to provide an immersive, hands-on learning experience which was certainly just that! All students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I’m looking forward to seeing how this year’s STEM MAD projects develop and hopefully we can pay it forward with winning prizes again.

WORKING BEE

Thank you to the parents who have already stated their availability for our

CONCERT WORKING BEE.

We will be working this

Saturday 27th May from 9:30am – 12:30pm

We have many tasks, so please let me know if you can come along.

Please do not bring your children, as we would like to open this to those with or without clearance and volunteer status.

CALL OUT FOR MATERIALS

We are still looking for a few large cardboard boxes (e.g. fridge / tv) and large foam offcuts.

Also looking for someone handy to build (carpentry) one extra set piece, and do some repairs.

Melanie Harrald

Performing Arts Teacher

mharrald@whitefriars.catholic.edu.au

From the Sports Desk

SAPSASA AFL

Last week the SAPSASA State AFL Championships for boys and girls were held at West Beach. Jacob Cameron and Eliza Fletcher were selected to represent Western Districts zone and played 3 games each day for three days! Their teams were in the very competitive Division 2, with districts being promoted and relegated from 6 different divisions each year.

At the end of the gruelling week both boys and girls Western Districts teams won their divisions which has never happened previously. To be part of that piece of history is a great achievement.

Congratulations to Eliza and Jacob, what a fantastic achievement!!!

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 2, Week 5 & 6

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.