NEWSLETTERTerm 2 Issue 2 April 21st 2016

St. Monica’s Primary School 20 Robinson Street Moonee Ponds 3039 Phone (03) 9375 1132 www.stmonicasmp.catholic.edu.au

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Anthony Feeney Principal: Mr. Peter Moore Parish Office: Phone 9370 5035 Mass Times: Saturday 6:30pm (Vigil), Sunday 8:00am, 9:15am in Italian, 10:30am and 5:30pm OSHP Number 0412 616 491

Faith Hope Love

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Children,

This week you will notice that Fr. Tony is walking around with his arm in plaster. He has had surgery on his left arm/wrist and we wish him well toward a speedy recovery—hopefully with function to his fingers and hand restored. Please keep Fr. Tony in your prayers as he recovers from this operation.

I ask for your prayers, for the repose of the soul of Fr. Cyril Blake, my father-in-law’s brother. Fr. Cyril died unexpectedly on Saturday, from complications as the result of a fall at Hall’s Gap. He was an adored member of my family and we will miss him greatly. He married my wife and I here at St. Monica’s. Please pray for him.

It is important that you do not drop your child off to school before 8:30am. This is the time that a school staff member is on duty.

Please do not be confused by the presence of children in the yard. Prior to 8:30am, these children belong to the OSH Club and are being supervised. It is not fair to the OSH Club workers if unsupervised children are dropped off and are ‘mixed into’ this crowd. It makes their job very difficult.

If you are looking for excellent care for your child prior to 8:30am, please see the OSH Club for enrolment.

Well done to all students who participated in the Cross Country. Thank you to all the parents who assisted on the day. Our school could not run sports events without you. Thank you to Mr. McGuiness for another smoothly organised event.

Winter Uniform We are in the transition period as we change from ‘Summer Uniform’ to ‘Winter Uniform’. All of the children should be in the Winter Uniform, by the beginning of Week Four, starting Monday 2nd May. During the changeover weeks, please talk calmly and confidently with your child about the fact that they might look different to their best friend. One might be in Summer and one might be in Winter. There is no need to panic! [Please see the light blue section of the Official world-wide Scale of Catastrophes]. I do not want the children to think they have to race home and change if friends are not coordinated.

School Photos An early reminder that our School Photos are on Thursday 5th May. It’s time to get the haircuts booked and the shoes polished, uniform washed and hair products purchased. It’s always a big day on the calendar and someone always forgets!

Meeting Tonight There is a meeting in the Church tonight with Fr. Tony for parents of children in the Reconciliation and First Communion Sacramental Program. The meeting starts at 6:30pm and will be held in the church. The children are not required at this meeting. It is aimed solely at parents.

ANZAC Day

A reminder that Monday is a Public Holiday. There is no school for the children.

My best wishes and regards to you all,

Peter Moore

Principal

Teachers who love teaching ....teach students to love learning! Here are some examples of passionate 'teaching and learning' at St Monica's this week!

Welcome to a new addition to our school newsletter called, 'Caught in the Act'. As I wandered in and out of classrooms in my first two weeks, I was highly impressed with the quality of 'teaching and learning' that occurs at St Monica's. As a result, I wanted to capture these moments and share them with our wider school community. Thus, it is the intention of this article each week, to share some of the 'teaching and learning' that occurs on a daily basis, across a variety of curriculum areas and year levels. Thank you to the staff and students for making my transition to the school positive and rewarding. Olivia Hodgetts Leader of Teaching & Learning

All Mixed Up!!! The Year 1 students are completing a science based inquiry unit entitled, All Mixed Up! I wonder what was mixed together in this experiment? Can you make a guess? It was great to see the students working collaboratively as well as individually during their incursion this week.

Completing trials to collect some data is just part of a day's work in Year 6. The students used this information to create graphs in Mathematics. Have you ever tried to catch a ruler like these students?

Hot Cross Buns, Hot Cross Buns! The Middle School building was filled with the tuneful playing of Year 3 students, as they formed a class recorder ensemble. Can you identify the animal that is being held by these two students? It is a mealworm! They have a very interesting lifecycle! We look forward to seeing further updates in the newsletter ...do you know what they turn into?

Let Your Light Shine No-one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all

in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and

give glory to God in heaven. Mt. 5:15-16

On the weekend, Amelia Salvador 5G competed in a State Selection qualifying event in Acrobatic Gym-nastics. Her group qualified and will now compete at the Australian Gymnastics Championships as members of the Victorian State Team at Hisense Arena in early June.

April 2016 Thursday 21st Reconciliation and Communion Information Evening 6.30pm Friday 22nd Year 6 Interschool Sports Years 3 - 6 Assembly - hosts 3B Monday 25th ANZAC Day Public Holiday Thursday 28th Class Mass 6B Confirmation Reflection Day Friday 29th Year 6 Interschool sports Whole School Awards Assembly Saturday 30th Reconciliation Enrolment forms due at Mass

May 2016 Sunday 1st Reconciliation Enrolment forms due at Mass Tuesday 3rd Parents’ Association Meeting 7.30pm Wednesday 4th Parish Bereavement Mass Thursday 5th School Photo Day Friday 6th Mothers’ Day Breakfast Symons Centre Year 6 Interschool sports Foundation - Year 2 Assembly - hosts 1S Tuesday 10th Naplan Testing - Years 3 and 5 Wednesday 11th Naplan Testing - Years 3 and 5 Parish Education Board Meeting at 7.00pm Thursday 12th Class Mass 2T Naplan Testing - Years 3 and 5

Tuckshop

Reminder - all lunches need to be ordered via QkR. Week Beginning 18th April Friday 22nd Maria Pricone, Skye Page, Serena Smith, Terri Ryan Week Beginning 25th April Tuesday 26th Gianna Willoughby, Gianna Ripa, Tania Lewis, Eva/John Karagiannis Wednesday 27th Kellie Jeffery, Ann Stevens, Lisa Miller, Penny Seuren Thursday 28th Kate Farmelo, Sharron Paravizzini, Darija Grgic Friday 29th Julie Bibby, Di Abdo - if anyone can assist on this day please contact the office. Week Beginning 2nd May Monday 2nd Barbara Potocki, Rocchina Conidi, Alison Dye Tuesday 3rd Melissa Humann, Elisa Scoglio, Julia Rudolph Wednesday 4th Kate Lloyd-Regis, Julie Farrugia, Linda Mantello Thursday 5th Michelle Wing, Trish Baxter, Kylie Stevens Friday 6th Sandra Gaunt, Julie Wibrow, Kim Murphy If you are unable to work on your rostered day would you please arrange a swap. Alternatively please contact the office.

ICAS Competitions - Close tomorrow Please note that entries for all ICAS competitions close tomorrow, Friday April 22nd, at the close of the school day – no entries will be accepted after this time. These have been advertised in the school newslet-ter since Mid March. Thank you, Janet Dobson

House Cross Country 2016 On Thursday 14th April our students from Year 4-6 competed in the House Cross Country Event for 2016. Congratulations to all runners on a fantastic effort, and well done to RED House for being the overall winners on the day. Final point scores and placegetters were as follows: 1st RED 152 pts 2nd GOLD 135 pts 3rd BLUE 125 pts 4th GREEN 122 pts 1st 2nd 3rd 9/10 GIRLS Meg Lucas Zoe MacLaren Shauna McElligott 9/10 BOYS Hugh Allison Nicholas Hulls Miles Quick 11 GIRLS Amy Gaylor Grace McCleave Sophie Di Nuzzo 11 BOYS Max Caputo Max Krysinski Hugh Garvey 12/13 GIRLS Eleanor Ragg Morgan Kukuljan Hannah Lucas 12/13 BOYS Luke Mathews Jack Mantello James Thomason A huge thank you once again to SONYA COLEMAN and JACINTA DENNERT who helped transport, set up and pack up the marquees. A big thank you also to all those parents who assisted with the organisation of equipment both before and after the event, along with those who volunteered for various jobs throughout the afternoon. It would not be possible to run the event without the valuable assistance of parent volunteers and hardworking staff members, your support is greatly appreciated. Cross Country Carnival Bibs After a long afternoon at the track the House bibs can get a little bit dirty. If anyone is able to offer their kindness and assistance by washing a small number of bibs from each container it would be greatly appreciated. Can you please let the office staff know if you are able to help out. Thanks again for your cooperation. Mr. McGuinness.

Term 2 Event Year 6 Parent/Carer Drinks Thursday 28th April from 7pm 'Ginger Annie' Bar & Restaurant 914 Mt Alexander Rd, Essendon. For a show of numbers, kindly RSVP: by 24th April to your room reps or text Emma (Alice Hanger 6C) 0418133243

OSHClub News Before School / After School Care Program

Next Week’s Activities…

Program Update Dear parents and families, This week coming up at OSHClub we’re going to be diving down into the ocean for some fun ‘Under the Sea’ themed craft and activities. Join us as we make Crab Headbands, Fishbowls from paper plates and decorate some yummy fishy cookies. -Jyoti ***Important Reminder***: Please remember to book in for Before and/or After School Care if you know in advance. It helps us to ensure we have enough staff rostered on, and also for catering purposes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

YOU CAN GET YOUR KIDS TENNIS LESSONS DONE WHILST THEY ARE AT AFTER-CARE!

ST. Monica’s Tennis Club Contact – Steve Riley – Club Professional 0403 433 750 or steve@rileytennis.com.au

BOOK IN FOR A FREE HOTSHOTS TENNIS LESSON Just inform your OSHClub Co-ordinator about your tennis lesson (day & time) OSHCLUB DROPS OFF AND PICKS UP KIDS FOR THEIR TENNIS LESSONS!!!

(Children must be booked into After Care session to be dropped off and picked up.)

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday  

Before Care Activities

ANZAC Day Public Holiday

- Under the Sea Masks - Silent Ball

- Jellyfish Craft - Octopus

- Crab Head-bands - 4 Corners

- Handprint Fish Puppets - Giants Treasure

 After Care Activities

ANZAC Day Public Holiday

- Craft Roll Fish - DIY Obstacle Course

- Cooking – Fishy Cookies - Soccer

- Fishbowl Craft - Netball

- Shaving Cream Seahorses - Footy

Parent Information

OSHC program phone: 0412 616 491 Coordinator: Jyoti Assistants: Abdi, Leonie, Jarrah, Maranda OSHClub Head Office: 03 85649000 All families must be enrolled to attend the program, remember this is Free!! Please create an account online at www.oshclub.com.au all bookings and cancella-tions can also be managed via your online account. For on the day bookings please contact the Coordinator direct at the program.

Thursday, 10th March, 2016

Dear Parents of Year 2-6 students,

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) is an independent, quality skills-based as-sessment program which rewards and recognises achievement. ICAS gives you broad insights into your child’s performance across English, Mathematics, Science and Spelling. ICAS (sometimes referred to as the UNSW as-sessments) has been developed by Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) since 1981.

Each student receives:

an engaging and challenging full-colour test booklet

an individual diagnostic report highlighting strengths and weaknesses and year to year progression

login details to access their online results which can be analysed and downloaded

a High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Merit or Participation Certificate acknowledging their level of achieve-ment

the chance to receive an individually-engraved UNSW medal for the highest scoring student in each year level for each subject.

Help your young ‘spelling bee’ succeed

The early years set the stage for lifelong learning. From 2016, Year 2 students will be able to sit an ICAS Introduc-tory Spelling paper. This paper will help your little ‘spelling bee’ succeed by measuring their spelling ability and, importantly, identifying very early in their schooling where your child may need some extra help. This paper is the only Spelling paper available in advance of Year 3 NAPLAN testing.

The decision to introduce a Year 2 Spelling paper is based on 30 years’ experience in school assessments, which have allowed EAA to identify some common difficulties that children face in Year 3. This paper will help every child get the best start.

You can learn more about common spelling problems faced by Year 3 students and the new ICAS Year 2 Spelling Paper at: www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/spelling-introductory-paper

To learn more about ICAS go to www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/about Remember, EAA has some very helpful tools to help your child prepare. You can access practice assessments at www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/preparation

To enrol your child in ICAS, please complete the registration form below and return it, with your entry fees, to the school no later than Friday, 22nd April, 2016. This is six weeks away from today.

PLEASE NOTE - NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Kind regards,

Janet Dobson

(ICAS Co-Ordinator)

PERMISSION FORM

2016 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)

Permission Form

Please return this form to school in a clearly labelled envelope via your child’s tote box.

Please complete an entry for each of your eligible children.

I give permission for my child, ______________________________ of _______________________ [Child’s name] [class] to participate in the following 2016 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).

Please select the subjects you would like your child to enter by highlighting or circling:

Students must sit on the official sitting date for each subject to be eligible for UNSW medals. However, your school may choose to sit at another time to fit in with other school activities and routines.

Please find enclosed total entry fee paid by cash, cheque or credit card.

Cheques to be made payable to ‘St Monica’s Primary School’.

Entries Close Friday 22nd April at the close of the school day.

Name of Parent/Guardian Date

__________________________________________________ _______________________

Signature of Parent/ Guardian

Subject/Paper Official Sitting Date Entry Fee, incl. GST Fee 

Enclosed Science 31 May 2016 $8.80

Spelling 15 June 2016 $12.10

English 2 August 2016 $8.80

Mathematics 16 August 2016 $8.80

TOTAL