THEME FOR 2020

Welcome to  week two of the 2020 school year and our first newsletter. What a hot way to start the year. The children and staff have been amazing in adjusting to hot days inside with only one opportunity over the two days to spend time outside during one of the breaks. Thankfully all classrooms have cooling which made it bearable and did not stop our students getting straight into the routines of school life.

During Term Four 2019 our year five students were asked to come up with suggestions for the theme across the schools of our federation. Their suggestions were then shortlisted before being aligned with scripture and then voted on by the year fives. The outcome of this process is our theme for 2020.

The beauty of this theme is that applies to everyone within our community, students and adults. If we all live by these words of Jesus Christ then we can truly call ourselves his followers.  I look forward to a year where we all live by the message of our 2020 theme.

CHILD SAFETY

The care, safety and welfare of all our studnets is paramount to what we do. All Child Safety Policies and Procedures can be found on the Policies Page of the Parent Platform along with the Student WellBeing Policy. https://spbentleigheast.schoolzineplus.com/school-policies

HATS AND SUNGLASSES

With February and March traditionally being very hot months students without hats and sunglasses will be required to play in a shaded area when outside. Access to full PE lessons will also be restricted for students without hats and sunglasses. This is in line with our Sunsmart policy and our commitment to protecting students' skin and eyes from sun damage. School hats and sunglasses can be purchased through the school office. The sunglasses worn do not have to be purchased through the school.

CORONAVIRUS

I, along with the staff of St Peter’s, make the wellbeing of all students a major priority. I will continue to keep you updated with information provided to me by Catholic Education Melbourne regarding the Coronavirus. Children will reflect the mood of those important to them. If you are particularly anxious I suggest you read the document in this link. It is a US based article with US statistics but the advice applies effectively in Australia as well. Coronavirus: How to talk to your kids about the outbreak

CANTEEN

Our Canteen opens this Thursday under the administration of Fun Fresh Foods. The major change is that lunch orders must be made online. Orders are required to be placed before 8.30am, except for Sushi orders which need to be placed 10.00pm the day before you are ordering for ie; Thursday for Friday. Orders for recess can also be ordered online. If you have a Flexi Schools account you will be able to order via your account. If you don’t have an account then you will need to set up an account via the flexischools website https://www.flexischools.com.au/

Children can still purchase over the counter at recess and lunchtime. Home baked items including scones and pikelets will be limited to what is made on the day. To guarantee these items it is best to order them. We look forward to what our new providers bring to St Peter’s.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Beginning of the Year Mass

All families are invited to join us for our beginning of the year Mass at 10:00am on Friday, 7th February.

Meet the Teacher - Tuesday, 11th February

All classrooms will be open between 4:00pm and 6:00pm on this day to give our students a chance to introduce their parents to their teacher and for our teachers to meet our student’s parents. Students will be able to show their parents where they sit and if new to the school show their teachers where their specialist lessons take place as well as visit the library. It is not a parent teacher interview but a 'get to know you' opportunity. We look forward to seeing all our families visiting on this occasion.

Parents and Friends Family Fun Night - Friday, 21st February 5:30pm - 8:30pm (Add this date to your diary)

This is the first social event of the year for students and their families. Gates open at 5:30pm and families are invited to BYO a picnic / take away dinner. There will be games and activities for the children and it will be a great opportunity to catch up with or meet other St Peter’s families. Further details will be included in the next newsletter. 

HANDWRITING

During our final assembly last year the following students were announced as winners of the handwriting competition organised by Mrs Helen Groves. Congratulations to everyone who entered and to our winners.

 
Prep

1st William Shelton PMR

1st Mila Coan PNG

2nd Timothy Xenos  PSH

2nd Ellena Catania PHP

Year One

1st Isabelle Suttie 1BD

2nd  Ari Kalinowsk 1BD

Honorary Mention (HM) Jacob Hoang 1CO

Year Two

1st Sunday McCarthy 2MW

2nd Sienna Benvenuto 2MW

HM Tia Karras 2AC

HM Ella Kerger 2GC

Year Three

1st Aaron Perera 3KM

2nd Eric Huang 3KM

HM Isla Recupero 3WG

Year Four

1st Isabella Nasello 4SS

2nd Isla Van Hoos 4KD

HM Harlie Twitchett 4KD

Year Five

1st Tenaya McCarthy 5SH

2nd Angus Bloomfield 5GM

HM Max  Matthews 5GM

MEDICATION

Antiobiotics can only be administered by School Staff if instructions are in writing and are sent to the School Office and they have already been administered previously to ensure there will be no allergic reaction. Panadol can only be administered at the request of the parent with this request confirmed in writing and on the condition that panadol has been administered previously to ensure there will be no allergic reaction.

This is in line with the Department of Education Medication Policy.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

PARENT REPS & CLASS CONTACT LISTS

Thank you to the families who provided their contact details onto our class lists before the holidays. We hope you enjoyed the chance to catch up and meet new families before the commencement of the 2020 School year.

If any families did not get the opportunity to add their information onto the class lists before the end of 2019, please contact your child's classroom representative with your information if you wish to do so. Each classroom representative's information is provided below. Please note both parents can add their contact details if they wish to. 

Prep Classes:

PMR: Corrie Camfield corriecamfield@gmail.com & 

Lili Munfao lili.munafo1@gmail.com

PDG: Sonia Bonnici sonia.bonnici@affix.com.au &

Joanna Lee  jgalarowicz@hotmail.com

PSH: Angie Leontaritis angieleon.tn@gmail.com

PHP: Dim Budic budic.dimitra.d@edumail.vic.gov.au

Year One:

1BR: Anna Bottomley anna@bottomleyfs.com.au

1CO: Gaby Agrimi gaby@arkinteriors.com

1GC: Colleen Dowling colleendowling@hotmail.com

Year Two:

2IK: Shanell Wood-Bradley shanell1979@hotmail.com &

Georgina Neeson georginaneeson@gmail.com

2AC: Johnny Camfield jscamfield@live.co.uk &

Adam McDowall adammcdowall@yahoo.com.au

Year Three:

3MR: Anna Bottomley anna@bottomleyfs.com.au

3GM: Claire McDowall clairemcdowall8@gmail.com &

Sonya Galitos sonya-77@live.com

Year Four:

4JK: Kristina Thompson kt2831@gmail.com

4KS: Alex Batzaxis kt2831@gmail.com

Year Five:

5FJ: Angela Robinson angie.f.robinson@gmail.com

5RD: Katrina Chapman chappys@netspace.net.au

5PH: Maree Deeth chappys@netspace.net.au

Year Six:

6SH: Sharon Terkelsen sharon_terkelsen@hotmail.com

6VCT: Sandra Djukic sunny161@hotmail.com &

Ana Vranesic anavranesic@yahoo.com.au

6KM: Clare Virgona chappys@netspace.net.au &

Virginie Cotte virgeaub@hotmail.com 

Another big THANK YOU to all our parents who have taken up the opportunity to be a Classroom Representative for their child’s class this year, we have had great success in organising reps. However, we are still looking for volunteers from the following classes:

2GP, 2GS, 3LK, 4SS, 5GM

If this is something you feel you may be interested in, please email Monica Ryan (mryan@spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au). Remember, you don’t have to do it by yourself! Many classes have two reps which share the role and responsibilities. 

Monica Ryan

Prep Teacher

Community Sphere Team Leader and Co-Ordinator

SCHOLASTIC BOOKCLUB 

The Scholastic Bookclub Brochures have been sent home today. Please note that  orders are due back no later than Thursday, 13th February. Payment can be made by cash (Please enclose correct money), by Credit Card online or by checque made out to Scholastic Australia.

St Catherine’s in Moorabbin is one of 4 schools in Victoria that offers the Arrowsmith Program. We are now in our sixth year of offering the Program and it has changed the lives of many of our children who have learning difficulties. One of our students who recently completed her program wrote:

‘Arrowsmith is amazing and it has changed my life. I have been telling people how good it is and that it is worth doing and they have taken my advice and looked into it. Arrowsmith is a miracle and I don’t know what I’d do without it.’

One Parent wrote:

‘For some years I thought my son’s future was narrow. It's difficult to look at your child and think about constructed a lifelong environment for them that is protected, thinking they will always need to be protected and they will only ever be able to manage a limited world. Now I think he has every possibility back in his own hands, the way it should be for any child. I believe Arrowsmith has given him the tools he needs to tackle his future. What a gift!’

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young is the founder of the Arrowsmith Program, an assessment process and a suite of cognitive exercises designed to stimulate and strengthen weak areas of cognitive functioning that underlie a range of learning difficulties, which has been delivered for 40+ years throughout the world. The Arrowsmith Program is offered in educational organizations in 10 countries. Ongoing research with neuroscientists, neuropsychologists and psychologists is demonstrating that the program not only changes the brain, cognitive functioning, and academic achievement but also leads to social-emotional well-being.

For more information about this amazing program that supports children with learning difficulties then go to the website: https://www.scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au/about-us

Holy Trinity Parish - St. Catherine's Primary School hosts a presentation by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young: Changing Brains, Exploring a New Reality – Neuroplasticity and Learning

Venue: Holy Trinity Parish - St Catherine's Primary School
14 - 28 Fletcher Street, Moorabbin

Date: Monday 17th February 2020

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm followed by book signing

In this presentation Barbara Arrowsmith Young will talk about how harnessing the principles of neuroplasticity leads to changes in the brain and how each individual can create a new reality for their future. She will discuss the latest research on the Arrowsmith Program which shows changes in the brain as well as academic, emotional, social and cognitive changes.

She will describe how a learning difficulty impacts the learner in school as well as in life and that the research shows that this reality is not lifelong and can be changed. The audience will gain insight into and begin to look at behaviour through a cognitive lens. They will build an understanding that through harnessing the principles of neuroplasticity we can change the brain and overcome learning challenges.

Places are filling fast so if you are interested in hearing Barbara speak and finding out more about or Program please follow the link and book a space – there is no cost.

Click here to find out more information and register for the night.

Treat others as You would Want them to Treat You (Luke 6:31)

Just above the town of Capernaum, the birth place of St Peter, is a beautiful hill where Jesus stood delivering his Sermon on the Mount.  This beautiful area overlooks the Sea of Galilee.  The Sea of Galilee borders Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

It is upon this amazing view Jesus, in what is recorded in both Matthew chapter 5 and Luke chapter 6 suggests various attitudes which help to achieve the ultimate gift of Love.

Treat others as you would have them treat you.  Our 2020 Federated theme from Luke 6:31 is one of these Beatitudes.

I now enter my fourth year of a four year contract as Mission and Faith Leader.  I can without any doubt say that our Catholic Identity has many positive aspects within the community but like all things it is always a work in progress.

This is not to despair but more to acknowledge and accept the reality we find ourselves in.

This is one reason we do not apologise as a Federated that we want to be more articulate with our Catholicity.

So what does that mean for us as members in a Catholic School?

One thing it means is that we can no longer presume that having the word Saint in front of our Schools name is enough for our community to know directly that we are Catholic and more importantly Gospel centred.

Walking into a fully working classroom and seeing the Crucifix in centre place acknowledges our faith.  Seeing our prayer table in central place, uncluttered with no school work on them to hide the bible is another positive sign.  But if we think this is enough is no longer helpful in saying to those we serve that we are people who take the Gospel seriously.

School Staff are in the trenches of Catholic Education.  This is no longer easy.  Perhaps it was never easy.  Being in the trenches means hard work which often is not recognised by those above.

During the despair of the bushfires our true identity of people of love and generosity rose to the fore.  Treat others as you would have them Treat you showed above the pain of destruction.  Every Australian, all people of different faiths and culture showed what is in their heart, but for us as Catholics and Christians we show this more than ever because Jesus expects us to go that extra mile.  It is part of our Baptisimal vows and why at Confirmation we again said Yes.

At the same time of the fires in Australia there were other fires blazing uncontrollably in other parts of the world.   Our 2020 banner shows the world inside our hands which are in the shape of a heart. We need to also be aware of what is happening outside our comfort zone as well as in the comforts of own classroom or other working space.

Catholic Identity and Catholic Education must be more than data.  Data give us insight but to focus totally on the results is very shallow.  In Catholic Schools our Students must be more than data. We must continue to display an environment where we show on our sleeves that everyone, the Staff, Students and families in our Schools are all equal in the eyes of God.  For this to work we must be united as a community and work together when the going gets tough.  And one thing is certain the going does and will get tough.

In his book, When All is Said and Done (Which by the way is a title of an ABBA song), Neale Daniher says on page 242, “Individuals become teams through disciplined and spirited action.  The discipline is enacted when individuals commit to shaping a common purpose, agree on performance goals, define and buy into a game plan, develop complementary skills and hold themselves mutually accountable for delivering results.  Spirit emerges through time spent together, which allows all team members to build a high level of trust and respect.  It happens when each member is there for the right purpose: the agreed team purpose.  This level of trust allows members to manage conflict and resolve issues that emerge in all teams, because there is genuine commitment to find the right answers and make team-first decisions.

Our agreed team purpose, our game plan must always be Gospel centred.  It cannot be anything else if we wish to call ourselves a Catholic School.  If it is something else we must close our doors because we are living and displaying a false paradigm.

In the final year of our Federated pilot where our future as a Federation is undecided, as your Mission and Faith leader where my future is unknown, one thing is certain, just as others in Catholic Education like you and I have worked tirelessly before us to show that living the Gospel message of Love is a true and wonderful way to live life, so too will come people after us.  But until the future is upon us we must live the present and strive toTreat others as we would like them to Treat us.

Sacramental Program 2020

Dear Parents,

Preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation is celebrated within a partnership of the Family, Parish & School. At Holy Trinity Parish, sacraments are Parent Initiated, School Supported and Parish Based.

The Federated Schools (St Catherine’s St Paul’s & St Peter’s,) of Holy Trinity Parish are very conscious of their responsibility to support parents in all areas of faith development, with a special program being taught during sacramental preparation time. The three schools will be working together in partnership and sharing the responsibility of the Sacramental Program along with Holy Trinity Parish. Therefore each school will take turns in hosting Workshops and Reflection Days for the Sacramental Program in 2020. Families are asked to attend the Family Workshops for each of the Sacraments offered.  Please see dates and venues below.

Dear St Peter’s Families and Community,

The staff of St Peter's would like to thank-you for all the book orders that we receive through the Scholastic Book Club

For every order through Scholastic our school receives reward points.

From last year's orders we were able to order brand new literacy resources to compliment the teaching of English across our school.

Our rewards enabled us to purchase, short readers, new class readers, a class set of dictionaries, big books and a trait crate.

Thankyou for your continued support in purchasing through our book club and thank-you especially to our parent co-ordinator, Julia Eyles.