Principal message
Dear community of St Monica’s,
Today we celebrated the life of Analyn 'Logee' Osias at her thanksgiving service. We were supported by Marist who organised replacement teachers so that our classroom teachers could attend. We have received overwhelming support from the community who have helped us all to support Logee's family. Thank you to Marist for their support today.
This Wednesday the school will be part of a Catholic identity review. This review complements the earlier review of our school and focuses on our school's Catholic identity, religious education and faith formation. Thank you to families who have made the time to be part of this review on Wednesday.
Student leadership
Over the past few weeks the senior teachers have been working with year 5 students over two days preparing them for student leadership positions for 2024. In 2023, after many years, we re-introduced School captains and House captains. To develop student leadership further we are introducing Social justice captains and sustainability captains in 2024. On the leadership days the students helped write the role descriptions for these positions.
Between the two days year 5 students were given the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills by running lunchtime activities. They also prepared speeches to show their public speaking skills. Their audience was made up of students and teachers. Students from year 4 and 5 have voted for House Captains, Social justice captains and sustainability captains. Teachers will vote for School captains. It is pleasing to see so many students nominate for student leadership. Successful candidates will be announced at the end of year mass on the last day of school. On Thursday, students who have nominated for school captain positions will attend St Francis of the Fields, Strathfiedsaye, joining other year 5 students who will work with Caritas around social justice.
Staff update
As you know we have Learning Support Officers who make a valuable and much appreciated contribution to the running of our classroom programs.
I am pleased to confirm that in 2024 the following LSOs will be returning-
Julieanne Richardson, Ethan Roberts, Hayley McLeod, Will Graham , Di Allison, Melinda Christie, Marnie Pidoto, Gadis Ginting, Leah Hargreaves, Amy Ellis, Polly Hughes and Sherrallee Artis.
We farewell Amy Ashton who has completed her studies in Teaching and will be qualified to work as a teacher. We thank Amy for her work at St Monica’s and wish her all the very best for her future career in education.
Christmas carols
In two weeks on Thursday 7th December we will gather once more for our annual Christmas Carols and picnic which will begin at 6pm on the lower yard. Students can wear Christmas clothing, bring a picnic for your family and enjoy the singing of carols by our students. Thank you to the P&F for organising the raffle which will be drawn on the night.
Opening of the school oval project
I hope all who had the opportunity to see the new oval development have been able to thank Dave McWilliams for the project management of this project. In thanks for his amazing contribution we have named the mineshaft in the playground the McWilliams mine. Dave’s work was all voluntary and will be greatly appreciated by our students at playtime. Please see ‘what’s happening’ page for photos of students playing on the oval. Thank you to Bron and family for setting up, cooking sausages and packing up after the event.
Please check the ‘dates to remember’ page for the final dates for the year.
Tomorrow we welcome our prep students for 2024 at their first prep orientation.
Today we shared the following psalm at Logee’s prayer service
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
