Welcome back to term 2. Staff have enjoyed a fantastic break and we are all ready to go for a great term of learning. Teachers will send home Curriculum Term Outlines, so as parents are aware of what will be covered in year levels this term. Please make a note of important dates for your child’s class.

This term we welcome Ella Paull, (Education Support Staff) replacing Catherine Dudley who will be on leave this term. Ella is currently a student, completing her teaching degree at Australian Catholic University. Ella is known to some of our students and staff as she has previously completed a professional practice experience at our school two years ago.

Easter Hat Parade

It was lovely to see so many families join us for our Easter Hat Parade on Holy Thursday last term.

Storytime Friday

Emma Longmuir, our Foundation teacher invites families with preschool children and babies to join her and the Foundation students for story-time on Friday in the Foundation classroom.  

Change of Dates- End of Year

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have given permission for schools to finish the school year on Friday 15 December. This is to allow the school to provide owed Time in Lieu, Professional Practice Days and School Closure Days to school staff.

THE LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS FOR TERM 4 WILL BE: FRIDAY 15 DECEMBER.

Year 6 Graduation will be on THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER, with Friday 15 December an optional day for attendance for year 6 students only.

Family Week- 15-19 May

This term, instead of our level assemblies, we invite families and friends to participate in a whole school event, on Monday 15 May at 2:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for families to engage in learning with their child and celebrate families.  We will begin with a short liturgy in our learning hub, followed by a family group activities in classrooms. More information will go out shortly on Operoo.

Ride to School Day

Once again thanks to our sponsors, Sam Hatrick from Hartrick Property and Terry Hammond from Terry Hammond Cycles in Cheltenham for donating the first prize of a bike. Joshua from year 3-4 is very happy with his bright green bike and he is encouraging students to keep healthy by riding or walking to school.

St John’s First Aid Incursion

Today all our classes participate in the St John’s First Aid Incursion.The program teaches primary school students the importance of First Aid and what to do in an event of an emergency. Focusing on the DRSABCD,  students learn, step by step, practical skills empowering them to act. The session was fun, interactive and hands-on.

Message for Dad’s

Our P&F, along with staff and students from OLSH will be running our annual Mother’s Day Stall on Thursday 11 May. Hard copy information will be sent home this week, letting you know what students can purchase and the price of items.  Please return the form, along with your money as soon as possible.

Our Patch- Before and After School Care Program

Please let family, neigbours and friends know that Our Patch is still looking for a program leader for our school. If interested please contact Our Patch. See details below.

Easter Alleluia Mass

Last Wednesday, the staff, students and parishioners celebrated an Easter Alleluia Mass. Thank you to Father John for saying mass and making the children feel special. He invited each class up to the altar during the sign of peace. The children all decorated an easter egg for the school Easter Tree which was on the altar during mass. The tree is displayed in the school foyer if you would like to have a look.

ANZAC Day 

Last Wednesday, 26th April, the students and staff reflected and pray together. At Parish Mass.  We acknowledged all the soldiers, doctors, nurses and support people that sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy peace. We also acknowledged and prayed for all the people in countries such as Ukraine that are currently living through and experiencing the atrocities of war. 

They shall not grow old, as we that are left to grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

TERM 2 Confirmation- 2023 Important Dates

Confirmation Presentation Mass- 30th April

The Confirmation candidates were presented to the Parish Community at the 10.30am Parish Mass.

The candidates, families and parishioners all promised to support the candidates as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on the 28th May. Please keep the children and their families in your prayers.

2023 Confirmation Candidates:

Ben, Paige, Sophie, Veronika, Rebecca, Cristina, Albie, Daania & Zachary

Confirmation Reflection Day- 1st May

Today all the Year students participated in a Confirmation Reflection Day in the Learning Hub. 

The students participated in:

• Holy Spirit Guided Meditation
• Learnt about Saints and modern day heroes & heroines]
• Learnt about the signs & symbols of Confirmation (linked these to the rituals during the Confirmation ceremony)
• Learnt about the Gifts & Fruits of the Holy Spirit and how these relate to their lives
• Decorated a terracotta pot and planted a seedling to represent their growing faith
• Began working on the Confirmation Stole and Church Banner

Confirmation Family Workshop- 6pm Wednesday 3rd May

Candidates and at least one parent are required to attend the workshop.

Where: St Catherine’s Learning Hub

 

Bishop visit- Friday 26th May

Bishop Tony to visit Confirmation Candidates at St Peter’s.

Please drop students at St Peter’s office at 9.30am and pick them up and return to St Catherine’s at 11.00am.

 

Confirmation- 3pm Sunday 28th May

Sunday 28th May- 3pm Mass- - St Peter’s Church - Bishop Tony Ireland

CARITAS Fundraising: A record $602.00  was raised

Congratulations to Ben, Rebecca and Cristina (Year 6 Faith & Learning Leaders) for their work in organising and running the Caritas fundraiser in the last day of Term 1. The students and families raised a record $602.00 which was deposited into the Caritas bank account. 

Congratulations to the following students who won a prize in the Caritas raffle draw.

Foundation: Paidi & Joanna

1/2TC: Jack & Georgia

1/2CG: Harvey & Mitchell

3/4MD: Vanessa & Seraphim

3/4JD: Eve & Alexis

5/6AT: Cameron & Xavier

Please contact me by phone or email if you have any questions or require clarification.

Carmel Donlon- Religious Education Leader

Email: carmel.donlon@scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au

In 3/4MD we have been preparing for Easter and walking the path of Jesus.  This journey has allowed us to reflect on the events of Holy Week in a way that we can understand as followers of Jesus.

The students used a range of materials to create scenes from Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday right through to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.  They were able to identify key points, events, individuals and locations within the scriptures presented from various gospels and other resources. 

The students were confident in sharing their scenes and retelling the stories to other members of the 3/4 level. 

On the last day of term they were invited to sit at The Last Supper as a class and share in the experience as a disciple and follower of Jesus.  They reflected in reverence through this event and were able to think about what the disciples and Jesus would have been thinking, feeling and saying to each other.  We then discussed ways we can take on the responsibilities of followers of Jesus in our own lives and continue to move in our own journeys towards Jesus. 

Japanese

Prep:

This term the Preps will be learning some of the  Japanese Hiragana script. They will be learning how to remember the letters. They will be tracing the letters on the Hiragana app on the iPads and they will be reading lots of words in Japanese. They will also revise various words such as parts of the body, colours and animals. They will also learn how to say the names of shapes and various adjectives such as ‘big’, ‘small’, ‘hot’, ‘cold’, etc. 

1/2:

This term, Grade 1-2 will be learning some of the letters that make up the basic Hiragana alphabet. They will also revise various words such as parts of the body, colours and animals. They will also learn how to say the names of shapes and various adjectives such as ‘big’, ‘small’, ‘hot’, ‘cold’, etc. They will also learn to count up to twenty using the appropriate Japanese counting gestures.

3/4:

This term, students will be learning how to talk about sports, colours, and  animals. They will be asking each other what sports they like and don’t like and what their favourite and least favourite sports are. They will talk about what sports they play and don’t play. They will read about traditional Japanese sports. They will talk about colours and sing a song about colours. They will learn about what sounds Japanese animals make! They will use the Japanese keyboard on their Chromebooks  to write sports, colours  and animal words.. Finally, they will revise the basic Japanese Hiragana alphabet.

5/6:

This term, students will continue their ‘jikoshoukai’ which is a speech Japanese people say when introducing themselves in front of a large crowd. Students will learn how to say their name, age, where they live and talk about their likes and dislikes in Japanese. They will revise the basic Hiragana alphabet and then have a go typing sentences in Japanese.

--

Helene Lionakis

Japanese Teacher

St Catherine's Primary School Moorabbin

Family Week 15th to 19th May

This year, as part of National Families Week celebration (and in lieu of year level Learning Assemblies), we will be hosting a ‘family art activity’ afternoon on Monday 15th May, from 2:30-3:30. Families will gather in the Learning Hub at 2:30 for instructions and then move to classrooms to design and complete a family portrait with their child/children. 

Please note that if you cannot make it, another family member/friend can attend. Your child will still be accommodated should no-one be able to come. An Operoo will be sent this week requesting numbers of adults attending so that we can organise family’s and resources. We would appreciate your prompt response. 

Scholastic Book Club Issue 3

The next P&F meeting is being held this Tuesday, May 2 at 7.30pm on-site in the P&F room at school. If you would like to volunteer your time please feel free to come along, new faces are always welcome! If you cannot make it in person and would like to log ini via Zoom instead please contact Julia Runci on 0433 582 521 for the Zoom link.

Thank you to Angelina and Carlo Piccolo for organising and running the end of Term Sausage Sizzle! It was a fantastic way to end a wonderful term after the excitement of the Easter Hat Parade and the Easter Raffle that morning.

The P&F would like to thank the school community and Woolworth's Highett for donating so many incredible prizes to the Easter Raffle! With your help we were able to raise $1,375 for the school which is a fantastic effort.

Congratulations to all the Easter Raffle winners:

1st Prize: D. Dick

2nd Prize: Dylan (5/6)

3rd Prize: Aidan (3/4)

4th Prize: Gus and Sam 

5th Prize: Rionel and Joanna

6th Prize: Jane & Drake (Foundation)

7th Prize: Greskie Family

8th Prize: Miss Burnett

9th Prize: Christina (5/6)

10th Prize: Eve (3/4)

11th Prize: Cohen 

12th Prize: Leo (Foundation)

13th Prize: Kirsty Abrams (Playgroup)

14th Prize: Leona (3/4)

15th Prize:Serephin (3/4)

16th Prize: Marra De Leon (Kylie - grade 4)

17th Prize: George and June 

18th Prize: Mitchell (1/2)

19th Prize:Maggie (3/4)

School Disco

The school disco is back, so kids get your dancing shoes on and save the date for Friday, May 19 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm in the school hall. Disco ticket forms will go home with kids this week with more information. The P&F Committee will need volunteers to assist on the night and an Operoo will be sent out with further details in the coming weeks. Please note if you wish to volunteer at the event or you would like to stay to support your child you will need a current Working With Children's Check that will need to be provided to the school ahead of time. The disco is always a highlight for the kids and we can't wait to see them boogie the night away with their friends!

A Working With Children's Check can be obtained at the below link:

https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Mother's Day Stall

The Mother's Day Stall will be held on Friday, May 11 in the school hall. Children will receive forms this week to pre-pay for a gift they can select on the day. Please contact the school office if your child doesn't receive a form.

Mum's Night Out - Mother's Day Dinner

Save the date for Saturday, May 20 in the evening for a fabulous Mum's Night Out for Mother's Day! We're finalising a venue and will have a date and time in the coming week. Bookings will be essential so keep an eye out for more info to come!

Bunnings Barbecue

We have been offered a Bunnings Barbecue spot on Sunday, June 11 (Queen's Birthday Weekend). Although this is the long weekend, the Bunnings Barbecue is a fantastic opportunity to fundraise for the school! The P&F Committee will require volunteers throughout the day in two hour shifts cooking sausages, taking orders, and giving out orders. It's always a busy day but lots of fun and a great opportunity to meet other school families! An Operoo will be sent out in the coming weeks with volunteer time slots and more detailed instructions. Thank you in advance for assisting this wonderful fundraising opportunity!

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