2023 SCHOOL THEME - “Aspire not to have more but to be more” Oscar Romero

Thank you to the staff and students who contributed to the process we used for determining our theme for 2023. Once the original suggestions were reduced to five choices staff and Year 5 and Year 6 students were asked to vote.

The end result was interesting in that the student’s first choice was the teacher’s fourth choice and the staff’s first choice was the student’s fourth choice. Both staff and students had the same fifth choice.

The students and staff had the same second choice. Without revealing the choices I asked a class of Year six students what I should do. I also asked a number of staff what they thought I should do in these circumstances. The view was almost unanimous (3 students wanted their choice) that we use the second choice.

Therefore our theme for 2023 will be “Aspire not to have more but to be more” this quote was made by Oscar Romero. St. Oscar Romero (1917-1980) was a Salvadoran Roman Catholic Archbishop who was a vocal critic of the violent activities of government armed forces, right-wing groups, and leftist guerrillas involved in El Salvador’s civil conflict. As a voice of the voiceless, he was an outspoken champion of the poor who were the ones most affected by the civil unrest and violence. His advocacy provoked several attempts on his life and on March 24, 1980, St. Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass.

More information on how our theme will shape our 2023 school year will be included in future newsletters.

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS

Our Year Three to Year Six students will be attending Mass this Wednesday for Ash Wednesday. Mass will begin at 10:00am and families are invited to join us. Students in Foundation to Year 2 will be receiving the ashes during an age appropriate prayerful liturgy at different times during the day depending on specialist lessons.

BEGINNING OF LENT - Project Compassion Caritas

This week, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal.

The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good we do today extends to impact the lives of generations to come.

By donating to Project Compassion, Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, can work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for donations. If children or adults choose to give up something for lent the Project compassion box provides families with the opportunity to place the money they would have spent on that item in the project compassion box. Alternatively you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

The project compassion boxes should be returned to school during the last week of this term.

ST PETER'S WEBPAGE RELAUNCH

During 2022 our Community Leader, Monica Bramich, worked very hard to update our school website to provide a bright and appealing website for visitors to the site and our current families looking to find information. I am very grateful for all Monica’s work throughout 2022 resulting in a website we can all be very proud of.

https://www.spbentleigheast.catholic.edu.au/

PRIVILEGE OF PRINCIPALSHIP

Star of the Sea Music Festival

On Wednesday I had the privilege of attending the Star of the Sea music festival. It was a celebration of song, dance, music and creativity led by the girls within their house system. The students were amazing and the leadership of the senior students is a credit to them, their families and their school. It was an entertaining and  joyful experience for everyone present.

St Bede's Family Mass

On Thursday evening I attended the St Bede's College family Mass. During this Mass the 2023 Student leaders were commissioned and blessed by Bishop Tony Ireland. It was a celebration of what is planned for 2023 including their upcoming Mission Action Day where money will be raised to support a number of Lasallian schools overseas.

THANKYOU

I am very grateful to the parents and guardians who are raising well mannered, courteous and considerate children. I love it when students respond to a greeting they receive from an adult or instigate a greeting when they are arriving or leaving school. What is even more impressive are the students who when asked by an adult how they are, include in their response a query as to how the adult is.

PLAYING ON PLAYGROUNDS AFTER SCHOOL

If children are playing on any playgrounds after school they must be supervised by their parents or carers. Some children have been playing while their parents/carers are waiting in their cars. This cannot happen. A further reminder that gates start closing at 3:30pm and will be closed by 3:35pm each day to enable staff to attend meetings after school that now required to start at 3:30pm.

LONG SERVICE LEAVE

I will be on Long Service Leave from Wednesday, 22nd February to Tuesday, 28th February inclusive to attend a family celebration. Chris Joplin will be acting Principal in my absence.

ALTAR SERVERS MINISTRY

St Peter’s Parish are now recruiting Altar Servers. Any parish youth who have received their First Holy Communion and who are interested in serving at the altar during parish & school Masses, are invited to sign up. Training is required. An information session for parents and youth will be held at the St Peter’s McKenna Centre on Monday, February 27th from 4pm. RSVP February 20th. For further information contact Donrita via email PacHolyTrinityParish@cam.org.au 

CHANGE OF DATE FOR PARENTS AND FRIENDS FAMILY FUN NIGHT

The Family Fun Night will not be held this Friday, 24th February and will now be held on Friday, 17th March.

RAISING KIDS WORKSHOP

Raising Kids in a Digital World - Workshop at school for interested families on  Thursday, 23rd February has been postponed.

STAYING SAFE FROM MOSQUITOES

I recently received information from MACS that I have been asked to share with the school community. It is more relevant for areas in the Northern part of the state or for areas with recent flooding events.

Recent wet and warm weather has increased mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes can carry diseases that may be passed on to people through mosquito bites. A range of mosquito-borne diseases have recently been detected in mosquitoes in northern Victoria.  Mosquito-borne diseases can cause serious illness, including infections of the brain, with children particularly at risk.

The best way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is to avoid mosquito bites.

In line with community health advice , families can protect against mosquito bites by:

• using insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on all exposed skin if outdoors when mosquitoes are observed, from October to March
• wearing long, loose-fitting clothing outdoors if possible if mosquitoes are around and covering exposed skin as much as possible. Summer school uniforms, including polos and shorts, can continue to be worn, but students should use insect repellent on exposed skin if mosquitoes are active
• limiting outdoor activity when mosquitoes are active.

Further information

• A handy guide to help protect you and your family from mosquito-borne disease
• Better Health Channel information about preventing mosquito-borne diseases.

SCHOOL PHOTOS & SIBLING PHOTOS

Friday, 24th February - Walk/Ride to School Day 

WEEK 5

Thursday, 2nd March - FEDPAS - 4.00pm - 6.00pm / Year 3 Reconciliation Family Workshop - 6.30pm - 7.30pm / St. Peter's Dad's Night @ Coatesville Bowls Club - 7.00pm - 10.00pm

Friday, 3rd March - Student Sibling Photos

Saturday, 4th March - Year 3 Reconciliation Candidates -  Presentation Mass - 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Sunday, 5th March - Year 3 Reconciliation Candidates -  Presentation Mass - 10.30am - 11.30am

WEEK 6

Monday, 6th March -  NEWSLETTER 

Prior to Covid, St Peter's senior students were involved  in a pilot wellbeing program called Readiness. Since then the program has been further developed and St Peter's students are now very fortunate to be one of the first schools to be part of the completed program.

● Resilience

● Anxiety

● Mindfulness

● Nutrition

● Sleep

BUCKET FILLERS - TERM 1 WEEK 2

STAR AWARDS - TERM 1 WEEK 2 - NEW SCHOOL YEAR

JUNIOR SCHOOL - For Starting the School Year With a Big Smile On Their Face!!

Max Tang, Caitriona Bloomfield - FHK / Addy Meara, Arianna McGaw - FMR / Harrison Vu, Lilly Trojak - FSS / Harry Siegert, William Meinhardt - FMS

Emilia Knight, Luka Sarkis - 1BR / Caydence Francis, Layla Joseph - 1SH / Samson Bui, Melina Weerakoon - 1MH / Alexander Terry, Charlie England - 1BE

Brooklyn Samuel, Romie Clarke - 2GP / Imogen McGivney, Axel Lidstrom - 2OP /Oliver Mercuri, Ruby Singh - 2MK / George Skaliotis, Valentina Iacono - 2RN

MIDDLE SCHOOL - For Embracing the Opportunity to Make New Friends In Their Class!!

Nellie Dillon, Lachlan Kham - 3EM / Sian Yazbeck, Lewis Wicks - 3IK / Meagan Wan, Billy Kavaliotis - 3AM / Cooper Senecal, Cian McGivney - 3GG

Emily Smith - 4KG / Marcel Michaels, Toby Cripps - 4MM / Marc Boug, Hudson Oates - 4GS / Bastien Mayol, Piper Smither - 4MH

SENIOR SCHOOL - For Starting the Year Off In A Positive Manner!!

Tommy Reilly, Sophia Pinto - 5HU / Tomás Lizana Medel - 5HG / Zander Engelbrecht, Charlotte Bate - 5AC / Isabelle Suttie, Charlie Recupero - 5PC 

Aidan Hodges, Max Mather - 6SH / Marco Caminiti, Noah Spano - 6KM / Alex Elford, Sophie Lentine - 6LM

Our first Walk/Ride2School Day for the year will be on Friday, 24th February.

In the meantime keep Active by Walking, Riding or Scootering to school whenever you can!!

Don't forget to have your cards clipped whenever you walk, ride or scooter to school and return your completed cards to the office to receive a new one.

Brighton North Rotary Recycle Regatta