Newsletter 3 July 2020

3 July 2020

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Dear Parents

Schools from around the Diocese participated today in a staff development day led by Bishop Anthony Randazzo and Mr Danny Casey, the Interim Director of Schools. The theme was “Inspiring Hearts and Minds” and was the launch of the new Towards 2025 strategic plan for Broken Bay schools. The live-streamed event allowed teachers to hear and discuss ways forward in achieving our vision for the next five years. The resounding mantra is that we want our students to be the very best they can be. I will share more of this with you in the coming months.

As of today, arrangements for Term 3 including drop off, pick up, and parents on the school premises will remain in place. To avoid confusion with pick up procedures, colour house arrangements will remain the same. My hope is during the holiday period some of these restrictions will be lifted, and if so, you will be informed before school recommences. Homework will recommence in Term 3.

I hope you managed to read the letter sent home with your child yesterday. I reiterate the sentiments expressed in the letter; we are a Catholic community that offers support to each other and that looks forward with hope to the time when we can reconnect with each other.

With fee statements due for distribution in the school holidays, I remind you of the relief package offered by the Catholic Schools Office. If you have been financially impacted by COVID-19, I encourage you to take up the offer by accessing the support forms via this link. If you have any concerns with your statement please email the office.

CatholicCare has sent a booking form recently to parents with children at OHSC, reminding you to complete the form for Term 3. With COVID-19 support from the government ceasing from 20 July, families will be required to pay fortnightly fees in advance. Please complete this form if you have not yet done so.

Once again, I hope you have time as a family to enjoy a couple of weeks rest and maybe even travel before returning to school on Monday 20 July.

God Bless
Michael Gallagher
Principal

2020 School Dates and Terms

July
Mon 20: Term 3 commences
September
Fri 25 End Term 3
October
Mon 12: Term 4 commences
December
Wed 16: Term 4 Ends for students

Please note that dates may be subject to change. Remember to check your Compass App for any updates.

THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week.

29 June: Olivia J
1 July: Zara B, Zoe A and Rosie H
2 July: Leon A
3 July Chelsea A and Jj P

And Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday over the holidays.
5 July: Sophia S, Ronan H
8 July: Gretel W
10 July: Madison B
11 July: Willow B
12 July: Andie B
15 July: Jacob T
16 July: Tom S
18 July: Joshua U

SCHOOL NEWS

Enrolments 2021

Enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2021 are currently taking place followed by letters of offer. If you have a sibling due to start school next year please ensure you have submitted their application to the office.

Regards
Julia Postle

Congratulations to the following students who received Merit awards this week:
KB: Florence C, Miles C and Emily X
1B: Emily L and Harry H
1W: Peter S and Kate L
2B: Billy B and Mateo B
2W: Charlie B and Leon A
3B: Dylan G and Olivia J
3W: Zac F and Chelsea A
4B: Eli W, Lachlan F, Sienna S and Edward W
4W: Matthew C and Oliver F
5B: Thomas K and Madhulika S
5/6: Nick W and Eve S
6B: Luke W and Amy S
PE: Olivia P and Douglas S

Before and After School Care

Please email all enquiries and requests for care to the service email and I will get back to you when I return to the office.

All family correspondence: oshc.manlyvale@catholiccaredbb.org.au
Centre phone number: 0481 602 078
Coordinator work phone number: 0481 602 047 Coordinator admin hours: 9am – 10:30am & 2pm – 2:30pm this is the time the Coordinator will respond to your emails.

Patricia Downey
Dual Coordinator St Kieran's OSHC and St Mary's Manly OSHC

Religious Education

Generosity
God has given us many good things and he asks us to share with others what we can afford.

Recently I spoke with some boys dropping off a package of nappies to the collection box. I thanked them and we started chatting about all the ways we can help each other. These two little boys had a great handle on the idea of sharing. Not just the sharing of goods but the sharing of friendship, time and love. Thank you to you, the parents of our children, who have modelled and taught our students what it means to be generous. Thank you to our wonderful teachers who have reinforced the spirit of generosity. Growing it by providing opportunities for the students to demonstrate generosity and expanding it with the Scriptures to understand why we act in this way. A true team approach.

‘Happy are those that give with a generous heart”
Vinnies food bank is grateful for the cans of food which Mrs Rose has been delivering on our behalf each Wednesday. Cans of food form the basis of emergency supplies that Vinnies provide to families and people that are struggling to put a meal on the table. Vinnies street van also provides snack packs of food for those sleeping rough. Thank you also for your support of the baby nappies and goodies. Sharing what we have with the poor is a foundational tenet of our Catholic Faith.

Mrs Kerrie Wetzlar and Mrs Rose

Fun with our Buddies

What a great way to celebrate the end of term.

Term 3 Activities

Great News! The following activities will resume in Term 3.

Drama Scene
Yoga
Robotics
Eye Heart Science
Speech Pathology
Band
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Musical Rehearsals
ICAS

Entertainment Memberships

With school holidays coming up and families looking for things to do, it is a perfect time to buy your Entertainment Membership. Purchase one before 13 July and receive an extra 2 months BONUS Membership (14 months total), plus 3 months to activate and a $10 or $20 WISH eGift Card!

Click here to support us now. Any questions please do not hesitate to contact Susan Nicols at slnicols@hotmail.com.

UNSW ICAS Competition 2020

This year we will be participating in the ICAS Competitions for Mathematics and English.
The English Competition will be held during the Week August 24^th- August 28^th. The Mathematics Competition will be held during the week August 31^st – September 4^th. As we’ve done in past years, it will be held before school, so it doesn’t impact on learning time. Details about the time and exact date we will hold it at our school will be provided closer to the day.
For parents of children in Years 3 to 6 you will be able nominate the competition you’d like your child to participate in and pay via the ICAS website following the instructions below.

Go to: https://shop.unswglobal.com.au/pages/pps
Login using the following details:

St Kieran's access code is: UXA057
Parent page link: https://shop.unswglobal.com.au/pages/pps
Select the appropriate competition paper/s and pay online.
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at school.
Online payment closes Monday, 17 July 2020.

School Readiness - Home based learning resources for Pre-schoolers

If your 4 or 5-year-old has been unable to attend preschool over the last couple of months, you may be concerned that they are missing out on developing some of the key skills needed to start school. Starting kindergarten is a new adventure for you and your child. It is important that they are excited and proud to walk through the classroom door, ready to take their place in the ‘big kids’ school.

The Catholic Schools Office of Broken Bay has developed a range of resources featuring some helpful tips to assist you in preparing your child at home for kindergarten. Our Getting Ready booklet outlines a range of learning tools, each supported by an educational video, that will assist in helping to develop the necessary skills in your child to ensure a successful start to their schooling. To see our school readiness video tools please click here.

To receive your FREE getting ready bag including booklet and other fun activities please contact our school office to arrange for collection.

Helpful tips for Pre-schoolers

Next Week's Volunteers

Thank you to all our helpers.

Wednesday 22 July: Steph La Greca and Rachelle Woodland
Thursday 23 July: Ally Browne and Kate Barbalace
Friday 24 July: Kirsty Conlon, Christina Cole and Alana Janik

Thanks

Hannah
Canteen Co-ordinator, 0438 433 231

PARISH NEWS

Masses

Parish Masses have recommenced with a limit of 50 people from 1 June. You can still view Masses online.
For all Parish Bulletins from the Catholic Community of North Harbour please click here.

Parish Masses Live Streaming Link or via YouTube.

Sacramental Program Update

Parents of Children in Year 3
Congratulations to all the children who received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in recent weeks.
An email was sent to all parents with an outline of dates for the preparation and celebration of First Communion which will commence Week 1 of Term 3.

Dates may be subject to change due to uncertainty at this time about numbers allowed in our Churches and social distancing protocols. Parts of the program format have also changed.

Key Dates:

Week 1 beginning 20 July - Parent information Meeting via YouTube/Zoom;
Weeks 5, 6 and 7 the celebration of First Communion. The number of children at each Mass making their First Communion will be confirmed closer to the proposed dates. We may need to allocate 9 or 12 First Communion Masses
9 Masses (would allow 20 families at each Mass) – 5.30pm Sat and 9.30am Sun SK and 9am Sun SC OR
12 Masses would allow (15 families at each Mass) – 5.30pm Sat, 9.30am Sun and 6pm Sun SK and Sun 9am SC
First Communion 22/23 August
First Communion 29/30 August
First Communion 5/6 September

Please note bookings for all Masses will be via TryBooking
Your group facilitators will be in contact to organize your child’s family preparation group meetings which will commence in Week 2.

Parents of Children in Year 2
There has been no update from the Bishop’s Office to indicate a date for the Sacrament of Confirmation. However as restrictions ease we may have more information in Term 3.

At this stage we hope to offer online enrolment for the 2020/2021 Children’s Sacramental Program in Term 3. We also hope to identify and offer training of group facilitators and co-facilitators for the Confirmation family preparation groups especially parents new to the program and process. Further information will be available in Term 3.

Please contact Janette on 0408 866 521 or at sacraments@northharbourcatholic.org.au if you have any questions on the above.

Regards
Janette Davidson, Family and Sacramental Minister
Catholic Community of North Harbour

WALKING THE WAY

Walking the Way

This is a school-based initiative in the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, designed to encourage parents in their sacred task of accompanying their children on their journey with God. There are four elements:

Book and Video
E-Bulletin
Parent Gatherings
Annual Retreat

To access their latest E-Bulletin please click here.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Eye Heart Science

There is one spot left for the July holiday camp. Click here to register registrations!

Fun fact: did you know that all the microorganisms residing in your body together weigh more than your brain….. The human body contains trillions of microorganisms — outnumbering human cells by 10 to 1

When: Tuesday 7th, Tuesday 14th July or Thursday 16th 2020
Time: 9:00am - 3:30pm
Where: 1/121 Old Pittwater Road Brookvale (we are two doors down from Warringah Mall)
What to bring: Please bring morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, a water bottle and wear closed toe shoes
Class size is ~ 20 children and bookings will be closed once the class is full. Bookings are open to school aged children in K-6.

These school holidays we have put together whole day Science camps that feature a number of different “Science Stations” giving our attendees the option to choose what Science activity they’d like to do!
Example Science Stations include:

Hexbug mazes and challenges
Marble run construction
Chromatography
Stomp rockets
Art creations using Science and more

The day will also include a lunch time bush walk to the Allenby Park waterfall!