On Friday 11 November, our school will acknowledge, remember and give thanks to those who have served and sacrificed in all wars and conflicts. 

It was a Canadian doctor, Major John McCrae, who penned the poem first associated poppies with remembrance. Devastated by the death of a young soldier, Major McCrae wrote the poem during the second battle of Ypres in 1915, and it was eventually published in Punch.

His words are still read each year on Remembrance Day: 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 

To you from failing hands we throw 

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

We have a wide range of Rememberance Day items to purchase from the Highett RSL. Items are on display in the office and the year 6's will also be selling pens, pins, keyrings etc during school hours and prices range from $2 - $10. If you wish for your child to make a purchase, please remember to send them to school with some money.  

Staff 2023

At the end of this year we say farewell to Joyce Henderson. Joyce has been teaching Japanese at our school for the last four years. Joyce is reducing her work hours next year. I would like to acknowledge and give thanks for the contribution Joyce has made to our school. In particular she has engaged our students in cultural and language experiences that have greatly enriched their learning. We wish Joyce all the best for the future.

I am pleased to announce that Helene Lionakis will be our new Japanese teacher in 2023. Helen currently works at Our Lady of Assumption in Cheltenham and is looking forward to also working at St Catherine’s next year. Helene brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of teaching language and culture to students.

Grandparents Day

It was so lovely to see so many grandparents and special friends attend school and mass last week. Thank you to families for supporting this event. We were so pleased to welcome extended family and friends to our beautiful school and for them to participate in classroom activities.

Athletics Day- Friday 25 November

Our school athletics day is coming up and we invite family and friends along to the Athletics Track at Bricker Reserve on Friday 25 November from 9:00-11:00am. 

Thanks to our Parents and Friends (Angelina Piccolo) who have organised at BBQ lunch for students back at school on this day. Hard copy order forms will be sent home with each student tomorrow.

Swimming Program

Information regarding the  F-4  swimming program will be sent to parents via Operoo this week. A hard copy swimming self assessment form will be sent home with each student tomorrow. Parents are asked to complete this form as soon as possible and return to school, so that we can pass on this information to AQUAstar.

Australian Teachers Day

While the title of this event mentions teachers, last Friday we acknowledged all our staff who support student learning in our school. Thank you to our Parents and Friends (Natalie Taff) who delivered some yummy cookies for each staff member. Our staff were also treated to a fish and chip lunch, which was  very much appreciated  on a cold day. Our student voice group made cards for staff and put together a short video, thanking staff for the work they do.

Online Safety Basics

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/online-safety-basics

Kids 5-12 

As children start to navigate the online world and interact with others more independently, they are more likely to be exposed to risks of bullying or unwanted contact, accidentally coming across inappropriate content or racking up bills through in-app purchases.

Your guidance can help them be aware of the risks and understand what is expected of them. Let them know you are always there to support them. 

Advice for parents and carers 

• Keep the computer or device in an area of your home that can be supervised. And check in regularly with your child to see what they are viewing.
• Stay engaged with their online activity. If they agree, consider setting up your own accounts with the sites they use most so you can see how they work and understand the risks. 
• Explore the online world with them to help establish that this is not just a solitary activity. Play games with them. Do a creative project together.
• Think about social media readiness. Most social media sites require users to be at least 13 years of age before they can register, although some sites are created especially for children under 13. See are they old enough?
• Encourage respect and empathy. Teach them to avoid sharing or posting things that may upset others. See good habits start young.
• Start building resilience. Teach your child that there are ways they can deal with material that worries or frightens them. This includes immediately telling you or another trusted adult of any concerns or uncomfortable material. See good habits start young.
• Encourage them to learn about online safety by exploring the kids section of this site.

Review your rules as your child grows older

• Be clear about how much time they can spend online, the apps they can use, the websites they can visit and what they can share or post online. 
• Refer to our advice about screen time and online gaming if these are of concern.

Technology tips for parents of kids 5 to 12

• Ensure your own devices are protected by a password or pin, so your child cannot accidentally come across inappropriate content.
• If you are thinking about giving them their own tablet or smartphone, check out are they old enough?
• Use parental control tools appropriate for the age and experience of your child. Be upfront and get your child on board. Let them know that these can be reviewed and changed as they get older and they continue to demonstrate responsible behaviour. Consider installing a ‘child-friendly’ search engine that will allow them to explore a limited number of sites. See parental controls.
• Check out Raising Children Network's healthy screen time and quality media choices: 6-11 years.