31st October 2024
Principals News
Thank you, God, for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Bless the memories of your saints, God. May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love. Amen
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am delighted to return to our school community this week after undertaking a pilgrimage to Ireland, "The way of Mercy", where thirty-two staff and parishioners from across the diocese explored the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey, a special journey within and without, a unique experience for each pilgrim. We were guided and moved by the Holy Spirit as we were inspired by learning more about Venerable Catherine McAuley, an Irish Catholic nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1831. The religious institute she founded was dedicated to serving those in need, particularly the poor, sick and uneducated. After being orphaned in childhood, she inherited a considerable fortune from a wealthy couple whom she cared for and she devoted herself to charitable work and the education of poor girls. We visited the place where she lived as a carer; the great home she built with her inheritance on Baggot St in Dublin and later we visited Ennis, the place where the sisters travelled from in Ireland to establish a convent at Singleton, here in the Hunter Valley. St Catherine's College in our diocese is now a large K-12 school. Under Catherine's leadership, the Sisters of Mercy grew rapidly, establishing schools, hospitals, orphanages and other charitable institutions throughout Ireland and beyond.
Catherine McAuley was known for her humility, kindness and dedication to the marginalised and vulnerable. She is significant in the Catholic Church as she is the founder of the Sisters of Mercy; she is an exemplar of mercy and compassion; she is a pioneer of Catholic education; a model of holiness and virtue and she is a great advocate for social justice. This pilgrimage was transformational for me and offered me the opportunity step away from my everyday life to focus on my spiritual needs and this was such a gift. It was a journey of renewal and an opportunity to draw closer to God. I am so very grateful for the opportunity given by our diocese and for the opportunity to walk in faith and love with fellow pilgrims who have also now become friends.
My thanks to Mrs. Kearns for stepping into the role of Acting Principal during my leave and to our staff team for ensuring our students settled into term 4. We warmly welcome two new students Ellouise KW and Ellie 2B and their families to our school community and hope you soon make new friends and settle into your new school.
All Saints Day 1st Nov and All Souls Day 2nd Nov
This week the church highlights two significant days - All Saints' Day which is celebrated on November 1st to remember all saints and martyrs during Christian history and All Souls' Day on November 2nd to commemorate those who have passed within the faith.
In Religious Education lessons our students learn about Saints such as Mary the mother of God; St Joseph; St Patrick; St Mary of the Cross Mackillop and hear the names of Jesus' disciples through scripture. The students learn about the lives of the saints, those who have lived a life of deep faith.
All Souls Day is when we pray for and remember all those who are no longer living. May they rest in peace.
Kinder 2025 Transition
We have now warmly welcomed our new kinder students for 2025 and their families having hosted two Kinder transition to date. Last week the children played outdoors and this week they had time playing in the classrooms and outside in the Kinder play area. They had crunch and sip and used the bathrooms at school. Next week the focus is on music and creative arts and we hope that they leave their new school once more with great big smiles! Our thanks to Bridie Stanger the Project Officer for Early Learning at the CSO who addressed parents of our kinder cohort for 2025 explaining Successful Foundations which is the Play based transition process from pre school to school. Bridie spoke about the importance of play in a child's development and she also gave an overview of a child's brain development including their emotional development. A reminder that these sesions are compulsory.
Year 2 transition to Year 3
Parents of Year 2 are now asked to please give permission via Compass for your child to attend the planned transition visits to Holy Spirit Kurri. Our staff will be in attendance on both visits so that our students are well supported. We know that our Year 2's will really enjoy these visits to the primary school. Parents who feel their child would benefit from additional visits after these two group visits, are welcome to contact your child's teacher as we are very happy to assist and arrange additional opportunities. As we know this can become an anxious time for some students, we do encourage parents to drive past the school to familiarise your child with the new site; start talking about the wonderful opportunities that happen in primary school especially sporting opportunities etc. We have also arranged for the Year 3 teachers to come to Abermain and spend time in our classrooms getting to know our beautiful Year 2 students. This connection is very important.
Uniform Additional items
We have received a sample from Flannagan's of the proposed new shorts which will be an option for girls' summer uniform. I am waiting for the skye blue blouse sample which will be like the winter girls blouse.
Your response to these additional items is requested and we ask that you please complete the short survey below. If you have further comments/feedback we ask that you please email these through to our admin email. Your thoughts are important to us.
- Proposed skorts for sport uniform with embroidery 2025
- Proposed embroidered boys sport uniform shorts 2025
- Proposed Soft Shell jacket to replace current tracksuit jacket 2025
- Proposed shorts and blouse as additional items for girls 2025
Once again, parents are reminded that these items are proposed to be phased in over a two-year period and that there is no expectation for parents to replace a current uniform with new items. We want to offer the option of shorts for girls and the change of fabric/manufacturer of the existing skorts is in response to parent feedback regarding the issues with the waistband with the button. The soft-shell jacket is a "smarter" and warmer option than the current tracksuit jacket. We look forward to receiving your feedback via the microsoft form given the proposed PEG meeting time appeared to not suit most parents. I thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. See below.
Celebration! Choirs at the Civic
We are so incredibly proud of our school choir full of enthusiastic and wonderful singers led by Mrs Matthews and Mrs Barrass! We are so excited for our choir to perform on stage at the Civic Theatre next Tuesday evening. The children have been practising their chosen songs so diligently each Tuesday in readiness for this extra special performance. As the only Infants School in the diocese, we are certainly amazing!
On Tuesday 5th November the choir will travel by bus to and from Civic Theatre with Mrs Kearns, Mrs Matthews and Mrs Barrass to the rehearsals. They will also be able to listen and watch other school choirs which is exciting. This will be the first of many performances we have planned.
Students are to wear their winter uniform please, girls with stockings and all children with ties. The theatre is air conditioned. Please bring a change of clothes for your child to wear home in the car if you so wish.
Students are asked to meet Ms Murphy Mrs Matthews and Mrs Barrass at 4.45pm in Wheeler Place, close to the Kinsley Hotel area of Wheeler Place. There will be several school choirs gathering in this area, so please hold your child' hand. Staff will then walk our choir to the stage door at 5pm and it is important that everyone is on time.
Our choir will perform in Act 1 - which is great. At intermission, staff will walk our choir back out to Wheeler Place where parents can collect their child. We will meet in the same place. Should you wish to return for Act 2, you must take your child with you as they will be in your care.
We are looking forward to listening to our beautiful little choir! So proud of you already!
Thank you Mrs Matthews
This week we say thank you and farewell to Mrs Matthews our specialist music teacher as she takes maternity leave. Mrs Matthews joined our team in 2024 and has shared her love of music with all students. Mrs Matthews has also dedicated her time supporting our recent showcase "In the zone" with her expertise and her recent focus has been working with Mrs Barrass to start our school choir. Our staff farewelled Mrs Matthews this week and we wish her and her family all the very best. (Don't worry, she will still help us with the choir!)
Have a great week ahead everyone, Diane
Uniform Update
Dear parents and carers, please click on each link below and indicate your support for the proposed additional option for our girl's summer uniforms K-6 and proposed upgrades to girl's sport skorts, boys sport shorts and tracksuit jacket all K-6.
Your comments are important to us, and we welcome feedback via an email to admin@abermain.catholic.edu.au by the 11th of November 2024.
Thankyou.
Proposed School shorts for girls K-6
Proposed change to girls sports skorts K-6
Upgrade to soft shell jacket K-6 unisex
Embroidery of school name on boys sport shorts K-6
Assistant Principal News
Attendance
Everyday Counts in Your Child's Education
Parents play a crucial role in ensuring that students attend school consistently.
When a child misses school even a few minutes, they risk falling behind, which can have long-term effects on their learning. Absences mean missed activities, valuable time with friends, crucial lessons in subjects like math, and opportunities to join sports teams.
All school-age children in Australia are legally required to attend school every day.
How You Can Help
You can encourage good attendance by:
- Teaching your child the value of punctuality and establishing a routine.
- Ensuring your child arrives on time and is ready to engage from the start of the school day.
- Avoiding early departures and late arrivals whenever possible, as they disrupt learning. Our school day begins at 8:55 and finishes at 2:55.
- Minimising disruptions by scheduling appointments outside of school hours.
- Planning any holidays or medical visits to occur outside school hours.
- Collaborating with the school to promote and support regular attendance.
Arriving Late to School
As a parent, have you thought about how allowing your child to connect with friends before the 8:55 bell could significantly reduce their reluctance to come to school? Consistently, building those social connections in the morning can create a more positive start to their day and make school feel more welcoming.
Consistently playing at school with friends before the bell or catching the bus together can make the school experience much more enjoyable for your child. These social interactions help foster a sense of belonging and can make attending school feel more rewarding.
Leaving School Early
Leaving school early, even a little early on a Friday afternoon, can impact your child’s learning and social experience. It may lead to missed lessons, important class discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers. Regularly leaving early can disrupt your child's routine and make it harder for them to feel fully engaged in their education.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
During the next two weeks of this term our PB4L focus is from the domain, I am Respectful.
“I wait my turn!”
Waiting their turn is important for a child for several reasons:
- Social Skills: It helps them learn patience and respect for others, fostering positive interactions with peers.
- Conflict Resolution: Waiting their turn teaches children how to manage frustration and navigate sharing and turn-taking, reducing potential conflicts.
- Self-Regulation: This practice builds self-control and helps children understand that not everything happens immediately, which is essential for personal development.
- Listening Skills: Waiting allows them to listen to others, enhancing their communication skills and understanding of different perspectives.
- Empathy: It encourages empathy by helping them appreciate the importance of everyone having a chance to participate.
Overall, waiting their turn is a vital part of developing important life skills.
PB4L Tokens
After attending recent professional development, we have reviewed our PB4L procedures and how we respond to minor and major behaviours.
Minor behaviors, while seemingly small, can disrupt the learning environment and take valuable time away from teachers and students alike. When we allow these behaviours to persist, they can hinder our collective ability to learn and grow.
On the other hand, major behaviours pose a serious risk to the safety and well-being of ourselves and others. These actions can lead to significant injuries, require medical treatment, or even necessitate emergency responses. In some cases, they may even be illegal.
To encourage positive behaviour and foster a supportive community, we have introduced a token system this term. Students who consistently follow our PB4L (Positive Behavior for Learning) values will earn tokens, and we are excited to reward the class that collects the most tokens with a special surprise!
Thank you for your ongoing support in promoting a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
Rebecca Kearns, Assistant Principal
Sharing our Faith
A Prayer for All Saints Day
Thank you, God, for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Bless the memories of your saints, God. May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love.
Amen
Socktober- Mission month
Last Thursday students had a great day celebrating Socktober. We enjoyed wearing crazy socks and participating in soccer activities. A crazy sock art competition was held and a winner from each class will be announced at Friday's assembly. As a school we raised over $200. Thank you for your generous contributions towards Catholic Missions.
October the Month of the Rosary
Year 2 White and Year 2 Blue enjoyed making rosary beads last week to celebrate October being the month of the Rosary. Students carefully followed the steps, threading different beads and a cross onto string. As a whole class we then prayed a decade of the rosary which included one Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's and one Glory Be.
Highlights in Year 1 White
This term in Religion Year 1 are learning about the Holy Family. The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph.
Through personal choice making Year 1 asked to create their own representation of the Holy Family, they could choose to create an artwork / image or use loose parts.
When they were finished the class went on a ‘gallery walk’ where they were provided time to wander and look closely at each other’s work.
Term 4 Family Mass
Our Term 4 Family Mass will be on Sunday 24th November at 4:30pm, The Feast of Christ the King. Students are invited to come dressed in royal colours for this mass in gold, red or purple.
There will be opportunities for students to participate in the mass through music, readings or offertory.
Please RSVP to the office and inform us your child would like to do a special job.
All are welcome!
St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal
Christmas is a time for hope and joy. During Term 4 our focus will be to support St Vincent De Paul and their Christmas Appeal. Over the term we will be collecting non-perishable food items that can be donated to families who are struggling in our local area.
Please see a list below of items each grade is collecting. We thank you in advance for your support.
Vineyards Parish Mass Times
Pastoral Care Connect
Week 3 let’s go…….
I hope that you all enjoyed the holidays, I must say that I missed your beautiful children.
Friendships:
Following on from last term our Friendship circle picnic is going strong each Monday at lunchtime. Rather than focusing on a year or class this term I’m focusing on those that want to join the circle and need it or just fancy sitting with Mrs Barrass chatting about the morning and reading a book.
We have been focusing on a few beautiful books with great discussions. The books and discussions are focused on friendships, self-confidence & being kind.
Our favourite books this term are:
How to be a friend
When a friend needs a friend
Maiseys big book of kindness
How full is your Bucket
The circle really creates a peaceful space where the children can open up about friendships, how they feel about the playground and classroom confidence.
Recess time on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have been spending one on one time with students to build confidence in group friendships along with having the confidence to make new friendships. We have been focusing on taming the butterflies and using your softness as your strength.
School Choir:
Our beautiful choir is sounding amazing thanks to Mrs Mathews. We are extremely excited for our performance at the Civic Theatre on Tuesday 5th November. If anyone is available our students would love to see some familiar faces and the support from our school community at the performance. I’m so proud of the choir and the confidence to perform. We are the ONLY infants school performing which is amazing and we are oozing with the cute factor.
Thank you to Mrs Shakespeare for making special bows for the girl’s hair for our performance.
Mini Vinnies:
Our garden is growing well with some amazing herbs nearly ready for harvest. Our spinach is looking exceptionally lovely with the children in the coming weeks learning about garden to place with a little cooking class of Spinach & feta pinwheels.
Our next project being our very own worm garden. The children are enjoying the process of the garden, and it’s created a joyful space for the mini vinnies to meet each week. Mrs Edwards and I are really enjoying fostering a love of the environment within our little Mini Vinnies Team!
Take care families and again if there is anything I can ever assist with please done hesitate to contact the school or via email
amanda.barrass@mn.catholic.edu.au
Mrs. Barrass Pastoral Care Worker
Student Travel 2025
School Travel Passes
Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification for their school travel entitlement need to renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, so their travel entitlement can remain valid for the start of the 2025 school year.
Terms of Use
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.
This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.
All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
Volunteering at Holy Spirit Infants
Have you considered volunteering at our school, please click on the link below.
NRL League Tag Year 2
We are delighted to announce that a group of our Year 2 students have been chosen to represent our school at the upcoming League Tag event in Greta! Taking place on Tuesday the 12th of November, this exciting day will see our students compete with other schools, showing off their impressive teamwork, agility, and determination.
Our students have dedicated themselves to preparing for this event, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and commitment. Congratulations to all those participating—we know you’ll do us proud! Best of luck to our teams as they head to Greta for what promises to be a fun and rewarding experience. Go Holy Spirit!
Mr Flynn, Mrs Shakespeare and Mr Fogarty
Awards
Congratulations to all of the award winners across this fortnight! Your efforts to bring Joy to others or to follow our PB4L or for shining in the classroom is really terrific! Great Job! Ms Murphy
Dates for your Diary
Community News
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Parents and carers webinar ‘eSafety 101’
Date: Thursday 24 October and Wednesday 4 December Time: 12.30pm-1.00pm Presented by: eSafety Commissioner Cost: Free Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/4429149931214716000
This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in primary and secondary school.
The webinar will cover:
- the role and nature of the office of the eSafety Commissioner
- what you can report to eSafety
- helpful advice and resources for parents and carers to keep their families safe, online.