St Ita's Primary School Drouin
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50 Victoria Street
Drouin VIC 3818
Subscribe: https://stitaspsdrouin.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 03 5623 7222

T2 W3 2021 Newsletter

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T2 W3 2021 Newsletter

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are situated and remind you that we are gathered on Aboriginal land.

We acknowledge the Elders of this land both past and present.

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WITNESSES TO THE WORLD

Sunday’s Gospel (John 17:11-19) speaks directly to the hearts of 21st century Australian Christians about inclusion and unity! Jesus knows exactly how we are fixed. We live, work and play in an environment often indifferent or opposed to the core Christian values which recognize God’s limitless love for us and in turn our desire to love God and our neighbours to the best of our abilities.

Much of the wider world is focussed on individualism over community, on hedonism over compassionate service, on wealth accumulation rather than equitable distribution and on furious, pro-active, denial of a divine creator (and denigration of those who disagree). Like Jesus, we do not identify with the worst of the world’s values and priorities. Also, like Jesus, we don’t ask to be removed from the world but rather protected from those evil influences. Our purpose of existence as baptised Christians in the world is to proclaim the Good News of God’s Kingdom wherever and whenever we go. We can only do this immersed in the world we are placed in. Like Jesus too, we have a great affection for the people we encounter and a desire to love them for themselves, to chat and mix with them, to heal them where we can, to immerse ourselves in the many earthy, harmless and enjoyable pursuits of the world and helpfully roll up our sleeves as needed. The best of third millennium Christians are to be found amidst all the other flavours of Australians, evangelising by their very lives, shared struggles and joys.

Adversity has brought Christians together as we haven’t been for many centuries. Together we deal with the hostility and indifference of the world. And together, immersed in the world, those we move among can witness our integrity, truth and sincerity such that many will also seek to be disciples of Jesus.

Deacon Mark Kelly                                     

BOOKINGS FOR MASSES

Weekend of May 8th:

Go to https://www.trybooking.com/BQZSP

This will bring up the list of Masses.

Click on book now button and follow the prompts

Click on the Mass you wish to attend (please only choose one Mass)

Then click on the number of tickets required.

 (Please note Children over 12 months need to have a ticket booked)

Then fill in your details.

Click on purchase ticket. TICKETS ARE FREE.

Make sure that you have completed the purchase of your ticket by checking your email confirmation. If you do not get an email confirming your ticket please contact the parish office.

(You don’t need to print or bring your ticket.)

You must book in to come to a Sunday Mass.

Warragul & Drouin Masses are strictly limited to 80 people. Neerim South 50 people.

If you have any issues please call Prue at the Parish office p: 5623 1642. 

 

           

ST VINNIES DROUIN - PANTRY ITEMS REQUIRED

Thank you for your generous support in the past. We need your help again with items for our pantry as stocks are depleted.

We would like donations of tea, coffee, long life milk, jam, vegemite and sweet or dry biscuits.

Your donations can be left in the St. Vincent De Paul box in St. Ita’s Church Foyer.

Your generosity is very much appreciated by our Members and those we help.
Sincere thanks,
Frances Godfrey
St Ita’s Conference 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION

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This Sunday, May 9th there will be a Commitment Mass at St Ita’s Church Drouin at 10.30am for our Grade 5 First Communion families still needing to make their commitment. We ask all families to please arrive 10 minutes before Mass to sign in. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Commitment Mass. Please keep these families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey. For more enquiries, please contact Thérèse on 0499 116 428.

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Check out our Catholic Parishes of Warragul & Drouin Facebook presence.

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    OPENING OUR SCHOOLS BACK UP TO OUR PARENT COMMUNITY

    One of the greatest challenges that schools have faced during Covid-19 has been the disconnect from parents, families and carers who have been unable to access the school site because of Covid-19 regulations and rules.

    Over the last few months the goal posts have moved almost daily and we have had to adapt to the many changes in the shadow of a Covid’s possible return. With that in mind and making sure we are putting all the required practices into place, we are looking at ways that we can support parents and carers to have access to our school site whilst maintaining Covid-19 expectations as outlined by the State Government and DOSCEL.

    As of our next assembly I will be inviting parents of the Student of the Week Award and our Sports Star Award to attend so they can share in their child's success. I will also be allowing parents whose students are presenting Assembly Prayer and Class News to attend our fortnightly Whole School assembly. All Parents attending the assembly will be asked to sign in via a QR code before entry.

    Whilst there is no Mother's Day stall this year as our P&F has been dormant due to Covid-19, I've taken the liberty to do something special for all our mums. On Friday we will have a whole school ZOOM meeting at 3.00pm and we will be having a special raffle draw for our beautiful mums to help them celebrate their special day and say thanks for everything they do for us.

    The prizes on offer will be;

    • A night for Two at the Mercure Hotel Warragul
    • $200 Hamper SGO Candles & Co
    • $100 Coles Myer Card
    • $60 Willow Branch Voucher
    • $50 Club Hotel Meal Vouchers
    • A Mystery Money Tree

    Mr Pitt has organised to put all our students into the draw via their school student number into a random generator. 

    Some lucky winner will have a very special treat for their mums on Sunday.




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    PARENTING IS OFTEN A MINEFIELD OF 'SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I?'

    Should I breastfeed or bottle-feed? Should I co-sleep or let them cry it out? Should I use a dummy or not? Should I go back to work or stay at home a bit longer? These are tough questions and there are no easy answers. But without question, one of the biggest issues parents face is what age to send their kids to school.

    A new study shows that children who are held back and start school later are at a huge advantage - one that follows them throughout their lives. The study, looking at 1007 adults between the ages of 24 and 60, found that those who had started later were more resilient, competitive and trusting and far more self-confident than those who had started earlier.

    "Our findings indicate that school entry rules influence the formation of behavioural traits, creating long-lasting disparities between individuals born on different sides of the cut-off date," said lead author Lionel Page from the University of Technology, Sydney, speaking to The Herald Sun.

    Dr Page believed that those children who were sent early rather than late felt the full "potential adverse effect" of school entry rules.

    NO UNIFORMITY

    Looking across the states, there is a huge variation in when parents are allowed to send their kids to school. 

    In Tasmania, all children must be five by January 1 of the year they start school, while in Victoria and the ACT, they must turn 5 by the 30th April. In South Australia, the date is May 1, while in Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, the date extends to June 30. New South Wales has the latest cut-off of all, with children given until July 31st to turn five, in the year they start school. 

    As a result- especially in NSW- there can sometimes be up to 18 months difference in the age of children starting kindergarten. This is not just tricky for the kids to manage, it's really hard for teachers, who have to deal with a huge range of developmental abilities in the one classroom.  

    And what the study suggests is that the effects aren't just felt while children are in school. "We find that participants who were relatively old in school exhibit higher self-confidence about their performance at an effort task compared to those who were relatively young," Dr Page said. "Moreover, they declare being more tolerant to risk in a range of real-life situations and trusting of other people in social interactions. Taken together, this set of results offers important insights on the long-term effects of relative age at school on behavioral traits."

    A WIDE-RANGING STUDY

    The study was a joint research project between the federal government and various universities, including the University of Queensland, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne and the University of Western Australia. 

    Recently, a study of parents conducted by the University of NSW found that a quarter of them are holding their children back, letting them start school as they turn six, not five. 

    And as the mother of a boy born at the end of June, I can say unreservedly that both these studies reflect everything I already thought: my little boy will be waiting until he is five-and-a-half before he starts school. Yes, sure, it'll mean an extra year of day care fees and an extra year of juggling work and childcare, but for me, it's a no brainer. Childhood is short enough, and if these studies are to be believed, children are happier, healthier and more successful both early on and later in life, if they're not pushed into school before they're ready.




    INSIGHT SRC PARENT SURVEYS

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    Thanks to all our parents who completed an Insight SRC survey for our school.

    These surveys are designed to obtain feedback about our school in relation to the things we do well and things we can do better.

    Although we strongly encourage you to do the surveys, your participation is voluntary. It is important to remember, however, that the success of this project is dependent on St Ita’s parents’ involvement in giving us important information via the surveys.

    The survey takes approx. 20 minutes to work through and once completed the surveys can be sent to Insight SRC online or returned to school in the confidential envelope provided via St Ita’s admin, where they will be returned to Insight SRC for analysis. The results of the survey are usually delivered to schools within 8-10 weeks.

    We thank you for your ongoing support of our teaching and learning community.



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    RIDING BIKES AND SCOOTERS TO SCHOOL

    If your child is riding their bike or scooter to school they are required by law to wear a helmet. We have several children arriving at school without them. In the interest of child safety please ensure your child has a helmet on when they leave for school and arrive home from school.

    CROSS COUNTRY - MONDAY 10th MAY

    This Monday 10th May - Children from Froundation to grade 6 will compete in the school cross country. This is an onsite carnival and permission has been sent out via Operoo to allow the route for the Grade 3 - 6 children to run through Civic Park and around the Drouin Rec Reserve. Children can wear their house colours on the day. Recess will be at 10.30 Monday with the carnival to start at 11am. Parents are invited to attend this event, but will be expected to stay on the bottom oval where social distancing expectations can be put in place. Any parent entering the school site will be required to sign in via the QR code located on gate entries. 

    If you are avaiable to help with supervision and have a current Working with Chidlren Check can you please contact Joe Black on jblack@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au or by calling School Admin by phoning 56237222.



    NAPLAN - Grade 3 & 5 - Tuesday 11th May




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    READ MORE IN MAY CHALLENGE

    You would have received an email and Dojo message about the READ MORE IN MAY CHALLENGE on Monday. Thank you for encouraging and supporting your students to complete this challenge.

    Mrs McKenna talked to all the students this week in their library class and everyone has a reading log if they wanted to take part. If they don’t have one, they can make their own reading log. Just tick off 10 minutes of family reading every day.

    Many students have also committed to the challenge by writing their name and adding it to our display.

    Tips to help you with this challenge…

    • Take a book everywhere with you
    • Set aside time for daily reading
    • Read aloud with your children
    • Provide a wide variety of reading material
    • Limit screen time

    Please send photos through of your family reading time to share with us in the library to cmckenna@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au



    CARDBOARD SUPPLIES REQUIRED FOR ART ROOM

    The art room requires some empty & clean cardboard boxes & similar cardboard supplies for projects this term. If you have any at home that are not required, please ask your children to bring to the art room each morning. 

    • cardboard & cardboard boxes - any size & shape
    • egg cartons
    • cardboard cylinders - from paper towel, postage, cling wrap etc (Due to hygiene reasons - please do not bring toilet roll inserts or tissue boxes)



    BUS FREE DAYS

    School buses will not be operating in the Drouin network on the following days in Term 2 & Term 3. All bus travellers will need to make alternative arrangements to/from school on these days.

    Term 2 - Monday 10th May 2021

    Term 3 - Monday 16th August 2021.

     

    SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - 11th JUNE

    Early notice - We have a Religious Education whole school closure day on Friday 11th June (this is the Friday of the Queens birthday Long weekend). The school is closed for all students and students will not be at school on this day.

    Monday 14th June is the Queens Birthday public holiday and the school is also closed on this day.

    Students will finish school at the normal time of 3.20pm on Thursday 10th June and return to school on Tuesday 15th June.



    SCHOOL FEES & FEE CONCESSION

    Term 1 school fees are now overdue & Term 2 school fees are due by Friday 14th May . BPAY details are available on your school fee statement. School fees are due by the 4th week of each term and must be paid in full by the end of the school year they are due, December 2021.

    If any families would like to pay off their fees either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, please set up a direct debit schedule by completing a Direct Debit Form and returning to the school office at your earliest convenience.  Please calculate the total fees payable by the number of weeks/payments required for your fees to be paid by December 2021. For any assistance please contact the school Admin office via email on: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au

    For any families that have recently received a Government means-tested health care concession card & have not already advised the school office, please forward a copy of your card to the office to check your eligibility, as a fee concession may apply. The card must be in the name of the parent/fee payer for a fee concession to apply with the student details listed on the card.  A CSEF (Camp, Sport & Excursion Fund) form must also be completed. Application forms must be completed each year.

    If your current Health Care concession card has expired, or is due to expire and your card is re-issued or any details have changed, please send a copy of your new card details to the office as soon as possible for the concession to be checked and applied to your fees. 

    BOOK CLUB ISSUE 3 - orders due on-line by 10th May

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    STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

    Congratulations to our Student of the Week award winners Jarvis Wolfenden and Abbey Maling.

    SPORT AWARD

    Congratulations to Jaylah Hepner who was our "Sports Star of the Week".

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    RISING STARS IN POLOCROSSE

    What a fantastic achievement by Jake and Scarlett Jolly. They both participated in the Polocrosse State Championships at Elmore on the weekend and won their junior final playing for Trafalgar. As an added bonus, Jake was selected in the Victorian junior team for the Australian Nationals to be held at Ballarat in March 2022.

    Jake was also presented with the “Lisa” memorial trophy for overall best horse of the State Championships. This is an amazing achievement as the award is usually presented to an A grade horse and never before to a junior player.

    An outstanding effort by Jake and Scarlett, the St Ita's community is very proud of you both.