RE & Wellbeing News

Dear Father Joseph,

As you embark on a new chapter in Bairnsdale, the St. Agatha's School community wants to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your dedicated service as our parish priest over the past decade. Your unwavering commitment, compassion, and spiritual guidance have left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.

We will miss your inspiring sermons, your warm presence at community events, and the sense of unity you've fostered within our parish. Your ten years of service have enriched our lives, and we are profoundly grateful for the spiritual leadership you've provided.

Though we are sad to see you go, we understand the calling that takes you to Bairnsdale, and we wish you nothing but success, fulfillment, and joy in your new role. May your journey ahead be as rewarding and transformative as the impact you've had on our community.

Father Joseph, you will be dearly missed, and your legacy will endure within the St. Agatha's School community. May your path be blessed with grace, and may you find the same warmth and love in Bairnsdale that you've shared with us.

With heartfelt appreciation and warm wishes,

The St. Agatha's School Community

__________________________________________________

MINI VINNIES SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE  

The Mini Vinnies Team have given each class a basket to collect Christmas Hamper items for St Vincent de Paul.

During this time of Advent, the school and Year 6 Mini Vinnies Team will be supporting St Vincent de Paul with Christmas hampers. Students are encouraged to bring specific items in the list below.(any of the items from any class are greatly appreciated) This social justice initiative really helps the students to understand care and compassion towards others in our community and to look beyond ourselves. Please see a list of preferred items below. The donations can be bought to school by students, and placed in class baskets until Friday, 15th December. 

We will use one basket as a symbol of giving at our whole school end of year mass. 

I asked St Vincent de Paul what they need for hampers and their list included:

Canned foods

Flour

Pasta

Sugar 

Biscuits

Potato chips

Popcorn packets

Rice

Soap

Toothbrushes

Shampoo

Baby wipes

Deodorant

reusable water bottle

Toys (unwrapped please)

Please DON’T include:

Medications

Foods with a short expiry date

Fruit and vegetables 

Meat

Bread

Dairy products

Perishable items 

Nuts

________________________________________________________________________________

STUDENT WELLBEING

In this edition of SchoolTV - SCHOOL TRANSITIONS

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents can learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTVhttps://stacbourne.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

________________________________________________________________________________

2024 Sacrament Timetable Now Available

________________________________________________________________________________

CHOIR NEWS

On Wednesday this week, our biggest choir yet, spread some cheer to residents at HomestyleLangford Grange Aged Care, and later to the members of the Cranbourne VIEW Club in BotanicGardens. The 42 students sang beautifully, including some solo parts and harmonies. 

This year, wehappened to have extra song books, so one of our Learning Support Officers suggested we handthem out to the residents, and invite them to sing with us. This turned out to be a wonderful idea asthe elderly residents and our students joined together in singing the traditional Christmas carols. Itwas an especially emotional time for some.

Afterwards, the students spent a few minutes interactingwith the residents and gave them each a bookmark that had been carefully coloured by students inyounger year levels.From here, we travelled to Botanic Gardens, in Cranbourne, where we ate our morning tea and thendid it all again for the members of the Cranbourne VIEW Club.

Christmas is a time for giving – and it was wonderful to see our students give so much of their timeand talents to some more senior members of our local community.