*New Dates

TERM 2

• 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- OHSC is available
• 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 - OHSC is available 
• 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

Frank’s Renewal Leave and Long Service Leave has commenced, and I have the privilege to step in as Acting Principal. It is with the support of the Holy Spirit that I feel confident to lead such an amazing community.

"Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart." ~ Mary MacKillop

Lost Property

With so many things happening, it's not uncommon for personal belongings to be misplaced or accidentally left behind. We understand that losing items can be distressing, and we want to ensure that we do everything possible to help reunite students with their belongings.

Our dedicated Admin staff have diligently sorted at the end of each week the overflowing lost property box and attempted to identify their owners whenever possible. However, this is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain weekly.

The scale of lost property has been significant, and it's important for us to highlight this to raise awareness among students, parents, and staff.

Cultivating a habit of mindfulness may significantly reduce the incidence of lost property. If we all work together by reminding children to regularly check for their belongings and ensure they have everything they brought to school before leaving each day. If your child does misplace something, please encourage them to promptly report it to their teacher. The sooner we are made aware of lost items, the higher the likelihood of recovering them.

I encourage parents and students to search for any lost items that have accumulated throughout the term. Any unclaimed property at the end of the term will be donated to a local charity after a reasonable period.

Early Pick Ups

It is important to notify the class teacher of early pickups as this helps us maintain an accurate record of your child's attendance and whereabouts throughout the school day, ensuring their safety and well-being.

Additionally, I would like to draw your attention to specific play times during the day when it would be ideal to avoid. These times are from 11:00 to 11:30 recess play and 1:00 to 1:30 for lunch play. It is difficult for office staff to locate your child during these times. Children value their play times as they provide valuable opportunities for them to socialize with their peers and recharge their energy for the remainder of the day's learning activities. By avoiding these specific time slots, your child will be able to fully participate in and benefit from the playtime experience.

Access to the school in the afternoon pickups:

Community support plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of our children and children safety is our utmost priority. We greatly value your cooperation in helping to create a secure environment on our school grounds.

The school gates around all areas of the school are opened by gate monitors at 2.50pm.

Due to the safety of all children no parents/visitors are to be on grounds before this time

If you require to collect a child before this, please report to the front office for assistance.

Please advise grandparents, carers and others who usually pick up.

Thanks for your understanding and support with this to ensure all our children are kept safe.

Kind Regards

Catia Frasca

My first two weeks as Acting REC in your community has been filled with so many sacramental moments. (Noticing the divine in others and the world).

There’s a strong sense that families, staff and children have a natural disposition of service to others.

This spirituality of generosity shows the greatest commandment lived out “Love God and love your neighbour too.” For example, I saw this lived out last week when the Year 6 students from St Margaret Mary’s School joined our Year 6 students for the Social Justice Leadership Day ‘Journey to Emmaus’.

The groups came together to discuss, plan and action outreach initiatives to support the local communities in need. There were plans for soup drives, sharing musical gifts to fundraise and more.

The term is buzzing with so many practices for Masses, concerts, assemblies and this calls for patience, flexibility and understanding. The kindness and genuine gestures of support to ensure successful outcomes are seen and felt across the school from you to the office staff, groundsman, canteen staff, ESOs and teaching staff.

My hope for you is that you continue to notice the fruits of the Holy Spirit (goodness, gentleness, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, joy, self-control and love) in all situations of our life; not matter the circumstances.

Long Weekend

A big thank you to families who have supported the Winter Appeal so far by donating items of clothing in the white/blue wheelie bins around the school. With a long weekend approaching it may be a great opportunity to go through cupboards and drawers.

As you go through the process of sorting a bag of clothes notice any positive changes in you that come from knowing your action will support those in need. Some helpful questions to ask yourself are:

1. Why am I saving this?

2. How will I feel when I release it?

3. Does this item have the potential of bringing joy to someone?

This may be a reminder that as we clean our physical house, we also put our mind and heart in order. It’s a win - win for all!

Community Prayer

Community Prayer is a time the whole community has an opportunity to come together to give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings in our lives. During our last gathering the Year 1 students led us in a beautiful prayer on the theme, ‘Creation’.

Unfortunately, the loud noise from the builders, the muffled microphone sound from the wind and chatter from some students the message from the prayer was a little lost. To improve this, Community Prayer in weeks 8, 9 and 10 will be in the Mary MacKillop Hall. We will also practice sitting in class rows similar to after recess and lunch line ups. This will help late comers to find their class and hopefully minimise social chats amongst friends.

Thank you to families who have been joining us. To the families who are unable to be present at Community Prayer please trust that you are in our prayers.

‘For where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there among them’ (Matthew 18:20)

This term in Religion, Reception Gillard have been exploring and learning about Prayer. We learnt that there are so many different places that you can pray and it can be anywhere and anytime. During our learning we made and collected different things to represent and symbolise prayer.

· A cross to remind us to think about Jesus

· A candle to symbolise the light of Christ

· Prayer beads

· A shell from nature

· A crystal for meditation

Today our Indigenous students attended the Thriving Peoples Event at Carclew House.

We had the opportunity to participate in multiple workshops ranging from GigRig music creating, visual art, dance, bag decorating and Peramangk culture. 

We had a fantastic day exploring the culture and engaging in a wide range of fun workshops.

The Mayoral Make-A-Book Literacy Challenge is an extremely popular book making community program for budding young authors and illustrators.  The City of Charles Sturt Council has been running this competition since 1979!  The Challenge's purpose is to give kids a taste of what it is like to create their own book. 

This year the Year 5 and 6 students were invited to join a lunch time club called ‘The Picture Book Club’.  These students came together at Picture Book Club and shared ideas, inspired each other, and learnt about the fundamentals of how to write and illustrate a picture book. 

Congratulations to the following students, who dedicated many lunch times putting their picture book together and submitting it to the Mayoral Make-A-Book Literacy Challenge.  Good Luck to all students involved in the challenge!

Stella and Kim in Yr 5AB:  ‘The Candy Monster’

Nhi and Ivana in Yr 5RB:  ‘Cheeky Cats’

Celisse, Jacqueline & Mila in 5M:  ‘Candyland’

Nimrat & Elmira in 5RB:  ‘Julianna with the Singing Talent’

Ella & Elena in 5M: ‘The Selfish Horse’

Elliot (5RB) & Matilda (5M):  ‘A Pirate’s Best Friend’

Jaida in 5M:  ‘Hellos and Goodbyes’

Eliza (6C) & Edel (6LP):  ‘George the Giraffe’

Jack in 6C: ‘ The Crazy Troll’

Daniel in 6LP:  ‘Lunch Box Tragedy’

Ava & Valentina in 6C: ‘The Netball Game’

Ivory in 6C:  ‘The Love Tree’

Olivia in 6C:  ‘Best Bear’

Callum P in 6C: ‘Samuel’

Eva (6LP) & Fluer (6C): ‘ Flamingo Love’ 

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 6, 7 & 8.

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.