Newsletter 27th November 2024 - Term 4 Week 7

Principal's Message

Dear Parent/Carer,
It seems as if the weeks are zooming by to the end of the year, the next 3.5 weeks are full of excitement and events.  Please check the Newsletter and Compass pushes for dates and details.  This Sunday starts Advent, a time of hope, joy and peace, as we prepare for the birth of Jesus.  Over the four Sundays of Advent, there are different themes in the Church readings:

• First Sunday – we look forward to the second coming of Jesus
• Second Sunday – we recall the teachings of John the Baptist to “prepare the way of the Lord”
• Third Sunday – we focus on the joy associated with the coming of Jesus
• Fourth Sunday – events of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus

As I listened to “Hands” by Jewell today, the words of the song reflected the theme of Advent “In the end, only kindness matters”.

Christmas Carols
Last Friday’s Christmas Carols evening was a huge success.  Thank you to Mrs Brymora for preparing our students for their performance pieces, the children sang beautifully.  Thank you to all the staff that were present on the evening, including teachers and learning support assistant, as well as the clerical staff for all your “behind the scenes” organisation.  It takes a team to make these evenings a success, and we’ve had an amazing team of staff planning for the Christmas Carols evening.  Thank you also to all the parents/carers that were there on Friday, your enthusiasm and sense of fun, helped to make the night so wonderful.

Band Performance
Please join us on Monday 2 December from 10:30am, for the performance of the amazing School Band.  Mr Ward has promised the band are playing some new songs, favourites and there might be Christmas Carol or two.  The band will also be performing at Vivace at Newcastle Town Hall on the 2 December, from 6:00pm.  Tickets are available through the Civic.

Poetry Performance
This Sunday 1 December and Monday 2 December, the Poetry Club will be performing at the Newcastle Comedy Club.  Thank you to Mrs McNeil for organising such an amazing opportunity for our St Therese’s poets.

Reports
Reports will be released to parents, via Compass, on Friday 13 December.  Year 6 students, or any other student transferring to another Diocesan primary or secondary school, will continue to have access to Compass.  If your child is moving to another school system at the end of the year, you will need to download your child’s reports before the end of the year.

Working Bee
A reminder we have a working bee this Friday 29 December from 2:30pm.  Bring along your gardening gloves, gardening tools, and watering cans.  Bunnings will be here to assist also.  The weather for Friday does not look too promising, so any changes will be sent out through Compass on Friday.

Imaginative Play Space
Some equipment in the imaginative play space has been installed.  The remainder will be completed on Monday next week.

Kaylene Maretich
Acting Principal

Assistant Principal's Message

Feedback on Homework at St Therese’s
Thank you to the parents that commented on the current homework practices at St Therese’s. We received many responses from the community which gives us a good overall understanding of what the community thinks about our homework procedures.
The executive team will now discuss the responses and take them into account when updating the Homework Policy and Procedure. When the updated policy and procedure is completed, it will be uploaded to our school portal.

Mark Konik
Acting Assistant Principal

Catholic Identity & Curriculum

Catholic Culture News
Francis' Focus – Who better to help guide us in the true depth and meaning of our Catholic faith than the charismatic and authentic leader of our Church, Pope Francis. Below, Pope Francis reflects upon Sunday’s Gospel and the true meaning of being followers of Christ The King:
History teaches us,’ Pope Francis reflects, ‘that kingdoms founded on the force of arms and on the abuse of power are fragile and sooner or later collapse.’
Jesus makes clear that his kingdom is not the usual worldly one with which Pilate was familiar. Rather, as the Pope puts it, Jesus ‘did not come to dominate but to serve. He did not come amid signs of power, but with the power of signs.’
In our celebration of Christ the King, therefore, we should focus on aligning ourselves and the Church with the values of Jesus’ kingdom.
As the Pope suggests, one characteristic of this kingdom is that it is ‘liberating, there is nothing oppressive about it.’ Jesus, he adds pointedly, ‘treats every disciple as a friend, not as a subject.’ The Church, therefore, should be a place of welcome.
The Church should also be a place of transparency and truthfulness. As the Pope says, ‘when Jesus reigns in the heart, he frees it from hypocrisy, he frees it from subterfuge, from duplicity.’ If we really ‘live under the lordship of Jesus,’ the Pope points out, then we cannot ‘live double lives.’ Telling Pilate that he bears witness to ‘the truth,’ Jesus invites us to do likewise.

Religious Education
Year 4 Teachers will attend a professional development day next week in preparation for the continued rollout of the new RE Curriculum - The Pedagogy of Encounter, into Yr 4 classrooms in 2025.

Prayer, Celebration & Mission

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal – This festive season we remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves and so ask all families throughout the school to bring in the following items based upon student's grade. These items will be packed into hampers by members of our local St Vincent de Paul chapter and delivered to those in need this Christmas.
Kinder – sweet biscuits, fruit cakes
Year 1 – lollies, cordial
Year 2 – breakfast cereals, long life milk
Year 3 – chips, nibbles
Year 4 – tinned fruit & vegetables
Year 5 – cake mixes, spreads
Year 6 – savoury biscuits, spreads

Catholic Community Week – Thank you to all those who were able to attend our prayer liturgy and open classrooms on Monday, reminding us all just what a wonderful and united community we belong to!

Advent – Advent begins this coming Sunday, 1st December.

Luke Smith
RE Coordinator

Christmas Mass Times – Please see the times below for Christmas Masses across the 3 parish centres:

School Community News

School Badges
School badges are available for sale at the office for $5. Limited stock.

Poetry Performance Nights
We are so excited about the Poetry Performance Nights coming up! If you haven't completed the RSVP, please click on the following link:
https://forms.office.com/r/gtWvdUYdMy

Families are asked to provide a gold coin donation on arrival. The student's work has been published as a book for sale on the night for $5(cash only).
We thank the Newcastle Comedy Club for donating this fantastic venue to use and a huge thank you to our parent volunteer Susan Sheridan and Mrs McNeil who have supported the students in the Poetry Club.

Picture Book 2025
Congratulations to the talented Year 5 Writers and selected artists across the school who created the Picture Book- 'Grateful For This Day.' Our 2025 Kindergarten families will enjoy reading this special book to prepare them for the simple joys of school life. Please find a PDF version attached to the Newsletter.

Virtual Academy Showcase

A huge congratulations to Harry N who will be presenting his research at the University Campus in the city this Thursday 28^th November as part of his work on Adaptations in the Virtual Academy Program. Harry has done an online presentation and his own creative model based on the need to create more sporting fields in Newcastle that are sustainable to cope with weather conditions. Harry feels passionately that sport participation and morale would improve if fields were upgraded and designed to withstand all weather conditions.

Patricia McNeil

Busking 4 Vinnies
This term in week 9, Wednesday 11th December, our school community will be holding a social justice fundraiser called 'Busking 4 Vinnies' during the lunchtime and recess breaks. All money raised will go to the St Vincent De Paul Society Christmas Appeal. All of our students (and staff) are invited to get involved. To sign up please see Miss Soo or Mr Smith to register your interest. Acts could include, but are not limited to, singing, dancing, magic tricks, card tricks, miming, and comedy acts. Just to name a few! 
So, get creative, let's come together and use our unique talents to help those who are struggling in our community! 

Johanna Soo 
School Youth Minister

Volunteering
Throughout the year, we welcome all parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction. This process can take up to 6 weeks, so you are encouraged to complete this early.

School Fees
Fees should be finalised by the end of November, unless a payment plan has been negotiated with the school. Thank you to all those families who have already paid. If you require assistance or more information, please contact the office on 4957 4922 or admin@newlambton.catholic.edu.au

Wellbeing

Research and our own data tells us that when wellbeing is embedded as part of our school culture, there are incredible long term results. The Resilience Project continually see the biggest positive impact with our program when it becomes embedded. By this, they mean schools which cultivate a GEM culture beyond the lessons and embed it throughout the whole school community. 
Parents/carers play a crucial role in this for several reasons. Embedding TRP with you helps:
Improve family wellbeing: When families practice GEM and see its positive impact on their own lives, it enhances their buy-in and commitment to the program. 
Create consistent language: Hearing the same messages and language at home and at school helps students better understand and apply the information.
Foster positive school-home relationships: It reinforces the idea that we are working together as a team.
This fortnight at home, why not try some GEM Chats? Here are some for you to try!

Melissa Pyers
Primary Coordinator

Sport

Swimming Carnival
All students who turn 8 years or older in 2025 and are able to swim 50 metres, are invited to participate in the swimming carnival at The Forum which will be held on Monday 9th December. An event has been set up in Compass for you to mark if your child is attending and to nominate events they would like to compete in. Please note: Year 6 students do not attend the Swimming Carnival.
Children are to wear sport uniform and may wear a shirt to match their colour house. Children are to wear their swimmers and bring a swimming cap and goggles. Girls are to wear a one-piece swimming costume.
Transport to and from The Forum, is by bus. Parents CANNOT drop their children directly to the carnival. Parents MAY take their child home at the end of the carnival. Any student leaving the carnival with their parent must be signed out by their teacher before they leave. If your child will be transported home at the conclusion of the carnival, by another parent, a written note must be forwarded to your child's teacher prior to the carnival.
Parents/Carers are welcome at the swimming carnival. All spectators are asked to sit in the spectator section at the back of the grandstand. Unfortunately, parents/carers cannot sit with their children.
Children not attending the swimming carnival will come to school as normal.

Term 4 Sport Days

• KN - Wednesday
• KW - Thursday
• KL - Tuesday
• Year 1 - Tuesday
• Year 2 - Wednesday
• Year 3 - Thursday Weeks 1-6 then Tuesday Weeks 7-10
• Year 4 -  Tuesday Weeks 1-6 then Thursday Weeks 7-10
• Year 5 - Wednesday Weeks 1-6 then Thursday Weeks 7-10
• Year 6 - Thursday Weeks 1-6 then Wednesday Weeks 7-10

Canteen

Important Dates

01Dec - Poetry Performance Night 6:30pm
02Dec - Band Performance 10:30am
           - Poetry Performance Night 6:30pm
           - Vivace Band Performance
06Dec - Christmas Craft
            - Yr 6 Graduation Dinner 5:30pm - 8:30pm
09Dec - Swim Carnival
11Dec - Yr 6 Graduation Liturgy & Awards
            - Busking 4 Vinnies
12Dec - Yr 6 Motiv8 Sports Day
16Dec - Infants Speers Point Park Excursion
18Dec - Final Assembly 9:30am
            - Last Day School for Students