Science Week at St Catherine’s

Please join us on Thursday afternoon for an afternoon of science, fun and discovery.

A big thank you to all our families and friends that attended Grandparent's and Special Friend's Day. This is always a highlight of our school calendar. Visitors travel from far and wide and I’ve even heard that annual holidays are booked around this date. It was wonderful to welcome all our visitors to our classrooms, St Catherine's church and the Learning Hub for a delicious morning tea prepared and served by St Catherine’s staff. 

We gathered to give thanks for all the special people in our lives. They can bring much joy into the lives of their families and especially the lives of their grandchildren. Life experiences have taught grandparents many valuable lessons that they can share with the young. Grandparents can bring a real sense of history to a family as they share many family stories. They can give the rest of the family a sense of belonging. Our grandparents have a special place in our families, our society and our world.

 

On the 26 July, the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne. In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow His will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave Him to the world, to us. Congratulations to Joshua for winning a beautiful set of rosary beads from Father Martin during mass for answering the question,  ‘ Who were Jesus' grandparents?’

 

‘How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!’   

(Pope Francis, Angelus, July 26, 2013)

 

Thank you to Denise Dick (Zoe and Cooper’s Grandparent) for speaking at mass about what it means to be a grandparent.  She spoke passionately about the joys of being a grandparent. 

It’s time to get practising…

The St Catherine’s Got Talent Show is back!

Auditions - Weeks 7 & 8 (Monday afternoons 1st & 8th Sept)

Finals - Week 9  (Monday 15th September at 2:15pm)

This year the finals will be held during the school day in the hall. Parents & families are most welcome to attend. More information will be coming your way soon. In the meantime NOW is the right time to gather your music, instruments, costumes & props & get practising. Auditions will take place in weeks 7 & 8 during student break times. Students are welcome to perform as a solo artist or in a group with friends. The opportunities are endless. Please complete the attached entry form & return to your classroom teacher by week 6, 25th August 2025.

If you have any questions please email sam.hudson@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au

Student Reflection Day- Wednesday, 6th August (Learning Hub)

Last Wednesday all the Year 4 students gathered in the Learning Hub to continue preparing to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist on the 24th August. Please keep Isabella, Kimara, William, Sam, Millie and Alexander in your prayers. The rest of the Year 4 class also participated to support their classmates. The day started with prayer, followed by a revision of the seven Sacraments and the meaning of each. The students also learnt about the parts of the mass. The Mass, also known as the Eucharist or Holy Communion, is the central act of worship in the Catholic Church. It's structured around two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, framed by Introductory and Concluding Rites. These parts involve various prayers, readings, and rituals designed to connect the faithful with God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The students practiced the rituals of the Eucharist and learnt how to receive the host. The students finished the day by creating a lovely art piece related to the Sacrament of Eucharist.

Feast of the ASSUMPTION- Friday, 15th August

10:00am 15th August- Feast of the Assumption (Holy Day of Obligation)

Foundation to Year 4 will attend mass.

The Feast of the Assumption, celebrated annually on August 15th, commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary was taken body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This event is considered the most important Marian feast and is a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. Catholics are expected to attend mass on this feast day. The other Holy Day of Obligation is Christmas Day. The feast celebrates Mary's unique privilege due to her sinless nature and her role as the mother of Jesus.

South Eastern Zones Principal’s Conference: 16th-23rd August

I will be attending this conference with the principals from the South Eastern Zone. Megan Moore will be Acting Principal in my absence. She will be supported by Jenny Burnet and Jennifer Hawkins (MACS Senior Manager- Southern Zone). 

The South Eastern Zone Principals’ Network is committed to investigating current and emerging best practices in education with a view to implementation. To achieve this, our Network will participate in a range of professional learning experiences that draw on wisdom from within the network, external experts and innovators and examples of best practice from around the globe.

The professional learning focus of the South East Zone Principals Network for the next two years is to build the faith leadership capacity of principals, so they can confidently lead Catholic identity, culture and mission in their school communities.

In this first year of this professional learning, the Network will be attending a three day Immersion - Rainforest Retreat with the Sisters of Mercy (Cairns), where they will be immersing themselves in the ideals of Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si': on Care for our Common Home. 

The remaining three days will see the Network  engaging in the Australian Catholic Education Conference, with the theme ‘Hope, Anchored in Faith’, being the focus. 

The conference will focus on the strategic vision and mission of Catholic education across three key areas:

• Faith
• Excellence
• Access

The conference will present a broad range of speakers, presentations and workshops focused on Catholic identity, mission and formation; learning and teaching; leadership and governance; parent engagement; parish and community engagement; resourcing and infrastructure; advocacy and marketing.

MACSEYE- Onsite School Holiday Program  

Friday 29th August 

• HOLT Athletics (select students from Year 3-6)

Saturday 30th August 

• P&F School event @ 6:00-10:30 p.m.

WEEK 7

Monday 1st September

• Walking club @ 8:40 a.m.
• Choir @ 1:45 p.m.
• Indigenous Literacy Day 
• SAC @ 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Tuesday 2nd September

• Playgroup @ 9-11 a.m.
• Chess club @ 1:45 p.m.
• Chess Fanatics with Felix @3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Learning Hub

Thursday 4th September

• Running club @ 8:15 a.m.
• Playgroup @ 9-11 a.m.
• Father’s Day stall (time tbc)

WEEK 8

Monday 8th September

• Walking club @ 8:40 a.m.
• Choir @ 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday 9th September

• Playgroup @ 9-11 a.m.
• Chess club @ 1:45 p.m.
• Chess Fanatics with Felix @3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Learning Hub
• P&F meeting 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday 10th September

• Year 6/Foundation Parish Mass @ 10:00 a.m.

Thursday 11th September

• Running club @ 8:15 a.m.
• Playgroup @ 9-11 a.m.
• 1/2 Learning assembly

WEEK 9

Monday 15th September 

• Walking club @ 8:40 a.m.
• Choir @ 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday 16th September

• Playgroup @ 9-11 a.m.
• Chess club @ 1:45 p.m.

Thursday 18th September

End of term for all students (school closure day Friday 19th September)