6th December 2021

Principals News

Dear Parents and Carers, 

The holy season of Advent is in its second week.  For Christians, Advent is regarded as a joyful season of anticipation and a period of self-preparation for the coming of Christ. The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” We can also use this time to reflect and prepare for Jesus to come into our lives in the present moment. 

Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year. The season commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. At school we share practices with the students associated with Advent by lighting an Advent wreath, keeping an Advent calendar, and setting up a Christmas tree.

The Advent wreath is created with evergreens and candles added on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle has its own special meaning. The first candle symbolizes hope, the second love, the third, also known as Gaudete Sunday, signifies joy, and the fourth peace. The fifth candle, which is optional, represents light and purity and is called “Christ’s candle.” It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day.

We have had bushfires and drought followed by flooding rain and a La Nina event is here and all the while we have been navigating unknown paths through a global pandemic for 24 months...through it all we carry with us a never ending sense of Hope. This is what today's Advent is all about. We are people filled with Hope, our faith gives us the courage to continually fill our hearts and minds with hope and the Holy Spirit works through us to give that hope to others. 

We are people filled with joy and with peace, and love for one another.

May the peace and the joy and the hope of this Advent Season prepare your heart for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas.

Thank you for trusting us at Holy Spirit Infants with the care and education of your most precious children.  It is indeed a privilege to serve our school community and to lead us through the "storms" of our daily life. May each family know how important they are to us. 

 May all our families be blessed now and always,

Diane Murphy

Principal 

We are so excited to be able to offer this special event for all our new families coming to Holy Spirit and indeed for ALL Parents and Carers. We have the pleasure of sharing with you two Webinars. The first one is about ways to support your child's Speech and Language development in these early years. This is on Monday evening 6th December at 6.30pm. It is a free event paid for by the school as a service for our families. The Webinar link is on the flyer- just click on it and enter the password provided. Claudia will be present to answer any questions you may have following the presentation. See flyer above. 

The second event is on Wednesday evening 8th December at 6.30pm with a focus on Motor skills development in young children. There are so many ways that parents can foster key body strengths and movements which affect a child's development in such a positive way. Jen is an Occupational Therapist and will be available to answer any questions following the webinar. Again, the link in the flyer is active and use the password to join. 

We sincerely hope as many parents as possible can join us for this parent focussed information session. Please join us! 

There is no need to book - just join us online.  We truly hope this will be a benefit for many of our families and we extend our thanks to Early Links for partnering with us to help all our students at Holy Spirit Infants. 

Diane Murphy Principal  

Staffing Update

Our staffing this year has taken time and I am pleased to share with you the following: 

Kinder White: Mrs Meagan Edwards

Kinder Blue: Miss Jessica Laczkowski (Religious Education Coordinator) 

One White: Mrs Heather Porter-Kay

One Blue: Miss Helena Elias

Two White: Mrs Carlia Collingwood

Two Blue: Miss Sarah Lutze (Semester 2 Mrs Rebecca Kearns returns). 

Learning Support Teacher: Mrs Nicola Matheson

EALD Teacher: Ms Nicolette Fredsall

Executive Release Teacher: Mr Brodie Flynn

Teacher Librarian: Mrs Lyn Jones

There are other staffing considerations that are still ongoing at this stage. Once finalised I wil let our parents and carers know.  Diane Murphy 

Thank you to our Volunteers

In the first semester of 2021 we were thrilled to host our first ever cross country fun run and our atheltics Fun Day in our school grounds. You may recall we had so many parents and grandparents present, a coffee cart and even a marching pipe band for our march past! Both events were fabulous community days and at each event we were so well supported by volunteer helpers. Whilst it seems a while ago now, it evokes special memories for our students. Thank you to all who helped and attended the days to be cheering and encouraging all the children. 

Whilst it's not been a year where we've been able to have parents and grandparents on site sharing our daily school life with you in person, there are some parents and grandparents who have been a wonderful support behind the scenes. 

Our sincere thanks to each of the parents and grandparents on our Canteen Roster for your time and generosity to come in and share with the children their joy at being able to buy something independently. Thank you also to Natalie Radford, Rebecca Balkema and Lorrilee Bliss for their tireless effort to keep the canteen open and functioning as often as we could.  You are a blessing to us! 

Our thanks to Maria Ackerman (Grandparent of James and Lewis Yr 1) for her tireless volunteering to support the children in Year 2 and Year 1 with the Covid Intensive Learning Program this year. Your dedication Maria has been so very much appreciated. Thank you. 

Mr Pat Sharkey is one of our very special volunteers to whom we owe our deepest gratitude! Mr Sharkey can build, repair, create so many things that we are just so appreciative of. He volunteers his time over most weekends to check our gardens and make them thrive with colour or to fix up a drain or mend a broken piece of furniture. Pat has made us a cross which sits on top of the hall and you may not be aware but Pat created the beautiful wood cross at the entrance to our school. Pat does all of this with a friendly smile and a generous heart. Holy Spirit would not be Holy Spirit if it wasn't for all that Pat does for our school. Thank you Pat most sincerely. 

Let us see what 2022 will bring and I pray that we will again be able to have parents volunteering on site to assist with reading groups and canteen and to be able to share special celebrations once more. 

Acting Assistant Principal News

Welcome to term 4 week 10!

PBL

This weeks PBL is ‘I use my ABC’ this strategy helps us to be a safe learner.

Using the ABC strategy helps children to avoid and manage conflict.

A- Avoid the situation

B- Be assertive

C- Call for Help

This week all children will have engaged in a lesson on how to use this strategy in the classroom and on the playground. Children who are seen using ABC to become a safe learner receive gotchas and may receive an award at assembly.

FAREWLL MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Not only is this the last newsletter I will write for the year but it also the last newsletter I will write for Holy Spirit Infants Abermain.

I have been very fortunate to be a member of the Holy Spirit community for 11 years. During this time, I have watched our school grow, buildings change, teachers come and go and most importantly so many wonderful children achieve remarkable things. Our school truly is such a special school and the students are what make it so special.

It is with mixed emotions that I embark on the next stage of my career at St Joseph’s Kilaben Bay as Assistant Principal. I would like to take the opportunity to say goodbye and thank you to all parents and students, the staff both current and past and our parish community.

In 11 years, I have needed each one of you to support me, encourage me and guide me as a leader to make an impact on the important role of education in our school and the Maitland Newcastle Diocese.

I am proud of what we have achieved together for our students in ensuring they have access to a Catholic education.

Holy Spirit Infants is an amazing school and will always have a special place as the first community I have led as a leader - your faith in me, gave me the courage to be creative, take risks, focus on what really mattered and build relationships with the students.

I LOVE being the Kindergarten teacher at our school. The children are so uniquely wonderful, and I am so honoured to have been their first teacher

Teaching to me is a privilege and a great responsibility - one I accepted very early in my life. In grade 3, thanks to my teacher Mr Moore, who used to read us stories with great energy and enthusiasm. I remember coming home from school one day and I said to my mum ‘I’m going to be a teacher’ and she said, ‘You will be great Courtney’. From that very day I knew I was going to be a proud Catholic school teacher.

Leaving the comfort of Abermain is going to be hard, but it is because of you all that I have the courage to aim high and move on. Mrs Seamer will breathe a sigh of relief when no more pens go missing, Ms Murphy will never look at a chicko lollie again, Mrs Edwards will not miss my spontaneous dance and Ms Focic and Ms Shakespeare will sleep easier at night knowing I won’t ask them to prepare a crazy art project in the morning. All my colleagues are so precious to me, like family, and your children are so lucky to have them in their lives.

Thank you for trusting me, respecting my opinions, and turning my dreams into a reality.

God bless and all the best for a bright and an amazing future!

Courtney Porter

Fun Day Meal Order

Just a reminder about our Fun Day Meal Deal on December 14th.  As part of this fun day, children can purchase a happy meal from McDonalds which will be delivered to the school.  They can choose from a cheeseburger happy meal, 3 nugget happy meal or a 6 nugget happy meal. These orders are to be purchased via QKR.  If you would like for your child to have this special treat, you need to submit your order by midnight Friday 10^th December. Unfortunately, no late orders will be accepted.

Acting REC News

Advent

This coming Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a kind of wakeup call for us to be ready to welcome the Lord in our midst. ‘Be awake’ is the motto and it is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered. Jesus comes when we are in trouble, when we rejoice, when we pray, when we celebrate and when we love one another in His name.

Last Monday 29th November Year 2 Blue led us in a very special Advent prayer. As we listened to the Gospel the first purple candle symbolising “hope” was lit.

As we begin to wrap gifts, write cards and prepare food let us, please also take the time to stop and to remember the reason for the season.

St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal

Thank you to our generous families who have donated non-perishable food items to the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. Some class baskets are getting very full and as donations come in our children gain a greater understanding about the gift of giving at Christmas time. Donations will be accepted until Wednesday 8^th December.

For those waiting for the most basic needs of life, the smallest gift can make all the difference.

KW- Tea & Coffee

KB- Bags of lollies/ chocolates

1W- Sweet biscuits

1B- Bags of chips

2W- Bon bons

2B- Soft drink

Parish Mass Times

Saturday 4th December FIRST SATURDAY

7.30am Reconciliation Kurri Kurri

8.25am Scripture Rosary Kurri Kurri

9.00am Mass Kurri Kurri

 10.00am Exposition Kurri Kurri

10.30am Marion Retreat Day 5

10pm Scripture Rosary Cessnock

6.00pm Mass Cessnock

Sunday 5th December SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

7.10am Scripture Rosary Cessnock

8.00am Mass Cessnock *Note time change

9.10am Scripture Rosary Kurri Kurri

10.00am Mass Kurri Kurri *Note time change

4.30pm Mass Abermain

St Nicholas OOSH Abermain

St Nicholas OOSH Abermain Christmas Vacation Care Program

We are excited to share with you our Christmas Vacation Care program. We have planned our vacation care program to offer children the time to relax and have fun with their friends, especially since they may have spent so much time separated from them.

If you wish to receive a booking form or ask any questions, please email Emily at abermain@stnicholasoosh.org.au or call 0409 390 627.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Dates for your Diary

Mon 6th December - Kinder 2022 Transition Day 1 Session 1: 9.30-10.30 and Session 2: 12-1pm New Kinders to attend wearing their Holy Spirit Coloured TShirt please. Parents Stay and Play! 

Second Week of Advent - Prayer at assembly. 

Mon 6th December 6.30pm - SPECIAL EVENT FOR PARENTS  - Speech Therapist Webinar presented by Early Links via Zoom Link for parents - Link will be shared and we hope all interested parents can join in.  

Tues 7th December - Christmas Craft - Out of uniform - Christmas Themed clothes (no singlet tops or thongs please and children may wear school hat). 

Wed 8th December - Kinder 2022 Transition Day 2 Session 1: 9.30-10.30 and Session 2: 12-1pm. Parents may stay for 15 mins until their child is settled - Play in the classroom. 

ALL DONATIONS FOR THE SVDP CHRISTMAS APPEAL -CLOSES TODAY. Our Thanks for helping our school to help others in need. 

Wed 8th December 6.30pm - SPECIAL EVENT FOR PARENTS  - Occupational Therapist Webinar presented by Early Links via Zoom Link for parents - Link will be shared and we hope all interested parents can join in.  

Thurs 9th December - End of Year Liturgy under Cola. Children will be seated in class groups. We have had to make the difficult decision to not invite all parents. This is to mittigate risk - no one wants to be in isolation over Christmas.  Only one parent of the 2022 school leaders will be invited to attend. The parent must be double vaccinated; wear a mask and QR in. Thank you for your understanding. Photos will be shared via a special edition of the newsletter. 

Fri 10th December - Awards Presentations in Grade Groups under Cola. We have had to make the difficult decision to now not invite parents. This is to mittigate risk - no one wants to be in isolation over Christmas. Thank you for your understanding. Photos will be shared via a special edition of the newsletter. 

10th December - Semester 2 modified reports (due to lockdown) sent home via Compass.

Mon 13th December - Kinder 2022 Transition Day 3   Session 1: 9.30-10.30 and Session 2: 12-1pm. 

Third Week of Advent - Prayer at assembly. 

Parents may make an appointment for a phone interview about the Semester 2 report. 

Mon Night 13th December : STUDENT DISCO - CIRCUS THEME - 5.30-6.30pm Year 1;

6.30-7.30pm Kinder and Year 2. We must keep the children in their separate year groupings and have planned this given siblings are across K & 2.

Staff will be supervising and parents will drop off at the single front gate and collect children from double gate at the front of the school.  Its one entry and one exit please. Parents need to stay 1.5m away from one another. Thank you. 

Tues 14th December - Fun Day Surprise - Out of Uniform Day and Maccas lunch meal deal. Children will have their shoes and socks off for a period of time today and will be outside at that time. We pray for a sunny day!!! 

A very special visitor from the North Pole may call in to school today. : ) 

Wed 15th December - Last Day for Students and year 2 games day and 2.30pm Clap Out for Year 2. Parents must wear a mask/wait near double gates outside. Again, its not ideal but it is our way of trying to keep everyone safe and healthy for the holidays! 

Other students will be dismissed at normal time to avoid parking issues. Thankyou. 

Thurs/Fri - 16th/17th December - Pupil Free Day

School Holidays 

2022: 

Staff Return  - Pupil Free Days Friday 28th and Monday 30th January. 

First Day school Year 1 and 2 - Tuesday 1st February 8.55-2.55pm

First Days of school Kindergarten  - Thursday 3rd February 9.30-1.30pm; Friday 4th February 9.30-1.30pm; Mon 7th Feb- Wed 9th Feb 9.30- 2pm; Thurs 10th Feb -Fri 11th Feb  8.55am to 2pm; 

From Monday 14th Feb - Full Days 8.55-2.55pm. 

At our school opening mass in February, leader badges for the 2022 School Leadership Team will be blessed and presented. 

Finance News

All fees for 2021 should now have been paid in full.  If you still have payments owing please pay as soon as possible.  Payments can be made via BPay, direct debit or credit card.   Departing students will need a fee clearance before leaving our school.

The collection of all school fees is to ensure the best possible learning environment for your child. It is important that parents honour their agreement to pay school fees which is signed at the time of enrolment. It is the responsibility of each family to contribute fees in order for the school to maintain a workable cash flow. As Principal it is my responsibility to ensure school fees are collected, but I also have the authority to negotiate a mutally acceptable fee agreement for those who experience genuine hardship. 

When matters related to school fees cannot be resolved, I have no option but to refer the debt on to the CSO for engagement of a debt collection service. 

2022 School Fee Information Form

This form needs to be completed for ALL your children enrolled in the Maitland Newcastle Diocese, for each school they attend. The information is used to raise the annual billing and apply the correct discounts and concessions. Parents/Carers are asked to complete this form and return to admin@abermain.catholic.edu.au before the close of the school year in 2021.

This form is required even if you only have one child in the Diocese.

Direct Debits 2022

Families wishing to pay their fees via Direct Debit through the Catholic Development Fund will need to complete a new application in 2022.   Mrs Seamer can assist you to calculate your payment amounts in the new year.

Awards - Congratulations to: