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St Ita’s Catholic Primary School acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
COVID-19 UPDATE
Dear parents, guardians and carers
The Victorian Government has announced that additional COVIDSafe measures will be in place from 6.00 pm on Tuesday 25 May 2021, in metropolitan Melbourne.
Changes to the COVIDSafe settings include new limits to public and private gatherings and changes to face mask wearing in some settings.
As our school is located in regional Victoria:
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Individuals aged 12 years and over (inclusive of staff, students, and visitors) must always carry a face mask – unless a lawful exception applies.
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Face masks are mandatory for people aged 12 years and older on public transport and when in taxis or ride share vehicles or touring vehicles. This includes travelling to and from school on public transport.
School camps and excursions in both metropolitan and regional Victoria can continue if face mask requirements are followed.
Please reinforce the following with your children:
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Students should continue to be vigilant and remain home if unwell.
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Hand hygiene remains one of the critical measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Hands should be cleaned with an alcohol-based hand sanitiser or washed with soap and water for 20 seconds.
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Students should be encouraged to cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue.
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Physical distancing should be encouraged where possible and density limits implemented in office spaces and areas generally accessed by the public, such as reception
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Congestion within the school and at entry points should be avoided including the drop off and pick up processes for students.
Visitors and parents continue to be welcome at our school but must also observe face mask requirements.
These measures are aimed at giving health authorities the best opportunity to stop the spread of the virus in our community.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to implement COVIDSafe practices at our school.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK MASS AND DINNER
Last Friday Mr. Atwell and myself were invited to attended the 2021 launch of Catholic Education Week in Traralgon. Bishop, Greg Bennet conducted the Mass and with DOSCEL Director Mrs. Maria Kirkwood, they commissioned 6 new principals to the Sale Diocese. Several staff members from across our Diocese also received awards for service to Catholic Education. It was a good night and a great way to kick off Catholic Education Week 2021
On Monday we celebrated the start of Catholic Education Week with a Liturgy in our school Church. A big thank you to Mrs Lewry and the Grade 6 Liturgy Team who prepared the event.
This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week, Faith in the future - I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10 is a combination of a quote from John’s Gospel and the theme for the bicentennial celebrations of Catholic education in Australia. During Catholic Education Week, we are reminded that Jesus is the good shepherd who invites us to be the best people we can be.
In all we do in Catholic schools, we strive to help each person experience the love of God, thus enabling them to live life fully,” she said. “This year’s theme serves as an invitation to focus on the unconditional love of God and how this love is demonstrated throughout our lives, in our academic and spiritual pursuits.
We have been created to be fully human, fully alive and able to participate in the life and love of God.” The theme also reflects the core purpose of Catholic education, which is to provide an education that enables our students to make a meaningful contribution to the world, and enable them to enter into a life-giving relationship with God.
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“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” ~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta
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“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta
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May your actions speak your words.
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“Life is a one-time gift. Use it in the best possible manner. So love, laugh, live, be yourself, be happy and have trust in God.” ~ Anurag Prakash Ray
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“Think the best, hope the best, have faith in the future.” ~ Jeffrey R. Holland
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“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” ~ (anonymous, though attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi)
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“Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” ~ Saint Augustine
2022 SIBLING ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN
This is our final reminder to all our current parents that Foundation enrolments for the 2022 school year are now open and we are now taking bookings for enrolment interviews and school tours.
If you require an interview and school tour with your child, please contact our school admin on 5623 7222 as soon as possible to book a time.
All parents will be required to complete a student questionnaire prior to the commencement of your interview (this takes a couple of minutes and you will receive it on arrival). You will also receive an enrolment pack with an enrolment form enclosed.
All sibling enrolments are given first preference of a place in the 2022 school year and therefore we strongly advise you to book your interview and return your application form promptly to guarantee enrolment for next year.
PYJAMA DAY
Thanks to everyone in our school community who supported our Mini Vinnies Pyjama day. The kids and staff loved coming to school rugged up on our Pyjamas and more importantly we’ve helped re-stock the St Vincent De Paul food pantry as we head into the busy winter months. Thanks and God bless you all for your generous support of this wonderful group.
FRIDAY SAUSAGE SIZZLE
Thanks to all our foundation parents and carers who turned up on Friday to the foundation sausage sizzle. It was a glorious day and I was so impressed with the turn out. Our foundation kids were so proud to show off their school, their classrooms and their teachers and ESO’s. Our next Friday Sausage Sizzle will be Grade Ones on June 4th.
WHOLE SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
At our next whole school 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. Parents of these two awards will be notified prior to assembly. I will also be allowing parents whose children are presenting Assembly Prayer or Class News to attend our assembly. All Parents attending the assembly will be asked to sign in via a QR code before entry and observe correct social distancing rules outlined in our hall space.
PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Parent teacher interviews will be on-site in the hall on Monday 21st June 3:40-7:00 and Wednesday 23rd from 3:40 pm until 5:00 pm. The school reports will be sent out on-line Friday 18th June. Information for booking online will be sent next week. Jessica Carroll will run her Foundation Interviews next week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Please see her class dojo notice for booking instructions.
PUPPETEERS/SCHOOL CONCERT
In preparation for the concert we have puppeteers coming to school beginning Tuesday 22nd until Friday 25th and Wednesday 12th July they be making the props for the concert. Jenny Adrichem will be coordinating the School Concert for her last time this year. Auditions for main cast for Grade 6 students will begin over the next few weeks.
SPEED LIMITS IN OUR SCHOOL
I have had a number of parents contact me, concerned about car speeds at drop off and pick up time. In the interest of child safety, could I please ask all parents using drop off and pick up to adhere to the 10km speed limit. In line with our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviours, we ask all parents and carers to exercise patience and respect during drop off and pick up within our school community.
LIBRARY NEWS
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 3 - Monday 16th August 2021.
SCHOOL CLOSURE - 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.
PJ’s FOR ST VINNIES FOOD DRIVE
Thanks to everyone in our school community who supported our Mini Vinnies Pyjama day. The kids and staff loved coming to school rugged up on our Pyjamas and more importantly we’ve helped re-stock the St Vincent De Paul food pantry as we head into the busy winter months. Thanks and God bless you all for your generous support of this wonderful group.
ST ITAS LEGO MASTERS
The Creator made me - one of seven billion on this one planet, among six billion planet- bearing stars, in one galaxy among six hundred billion galaxies! Claiming to understand the nature of God is nonsensical, but our connectedness to the Creator and creation raises in us a yearning to try. Our understanding of the Holy Trinity, though not expressly noted in scripture, is the result of Christian striving thus far. Matthew’s gospel (Mt 28:16-20) instructs us to baptise “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..,” St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas and theologians before and since continue to explore the nature and relationship of the three persons in one. The fourth century Nicene Creed secured the Trinity, God existing as three persons with a single divine nature, as the core statement of Christian belief.
“No matter how deeply we believe God is involved in our religion, its tenets are expressed in human words by human teachers and fall on our own undeniably human ears. Our understanding of God is always incomplete: even Saint Paul insisted he saw only “through a glass, darkly.” Indeed Catholic theology carefully notes that all doctrine, no matter how authoritative, embodying divine truth, still requires interpretation because our understanding of that truth is expressed in a given time and in a historically conditioned language and culture.” (Consolmagno, G. God’s Mechanics p72-73)
But still, what does it all mean for us? Well, one consistent attribute of the Holy Trinity is: “If the Trinity is about anything, it is about love, beauty and new life. We may not be able to explain this but we know when we experience it. The how of it all may be beyond our understanding but that does not stop us from seeking it”. (Marsh, M. Interrupting the Silence, 12/06/2017).
Deacon Mark Kelly
PARISH NEWS
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION REMINDER
Our second workshop will be held tonight, Wednesday, 25th May, at St Ita’s school hall, Drouin at 7pm and on Thursday, 26th May at St Joseph’s Church, Warragul at 4pm & 7pm. We ask families to please sign in 10 minutes before the starting time to ensure we finish on time. Please bring along any outstanding forms or Baptism certificates (where applicable).
OUR TEACHING MASS WILL BE HELD ON:
Teaching Mass 1: Saturday 29th May, 7pm St Joseph’s Church, Warragul
(Liturgy of the Word)
Sunday 30th May, 9am St Joseph’s Church, Warragul
Sunday 30th May, 10:30am St Ita’s Church, Drouin
Teaching Mass 2: Saturday 5th June, 7pm St Joseph’s Church, Warragul
(Liturgy of the Eucharist)
Sunday 6th June, 9am St Joseph’s Church, Warragul
Sunday 6th June 10:30am St Ita’s Church, Drouin
Combined - 2nd Rite Reconciliation:
St Ita’s Church, Drouin: Wednesday 9th June, 7pm
St Joseph’s Warragul: Thursday 10th June 7pm
We are looking forward to seeing you all at our 2nd Workshop.
We ask all our school families to please keep our First Communion Candidates and their families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.
For any enquiries please contact Thérèse on Mobile: 0499 116 428 or by email at Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au
AN INITIATION OF ADULTSAn Information evening will be held on Wednesday 28th July 7.30pm Marian Room (attached to St. Joseph’s Church Warragul; enter car park from Bowen Street) for those:
- Who want to find out more about the Catholic faith
- What Catholics believe and why
- Considering possibly becoming a Catholic
- An Adult Catholic who has not received First Communion or Confirmation.
If you know of someone that may be interested please bring them along to this session.
For more information you can contact:
Fr. Peter Slater: 56231642
Joan Robertson at St. Joseph’s Parish Office, Warragul: 56231642
Deacon Mark Kelly at Marist Sion College: 56235944 or 0427748646.
If anyone is interested in coming along and finding out more you are invited to a Meet and Greet session on Thursday 17th June 10.30 am Marian Room at St. Joseph’s Church Warragul. In a supportive and encouraging setting we pray and reflect on the Sunday Gospel and listen to each other’s unique encounters with Christ. Mums are welcome to bring their children.
Contact: Joan Robertson at the Parish Office: 56231642 or
Michelle Blackwood: 0427 290 683 for more information or just come along.
MASS BOOKINGS
Weekend Masses can be attended without pre-booking your time. Please ensure you QR code sign in on arrival and maintain social distancing protocols.
If you have any issues please call Prue at the Parish office p: 5623 1642.
