Newsletter 19 - 11 November 2021
Principal's Page
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Swimming Lessons
Congratulations to our PP - Yr 4 classes who have completed their first week of swimming lessons down at the Aquarena. I have received many positive reports from both the teachers and swimming instructors. I am sure this will keep up as we move into the second week of lessons.
Arts on the Piazza
Last Friday evening there was some very impressive art work on display from the Catholic Schools around the Geraldton Diocese down at the Monsignor Hawes Centre and Piazza. Congratulations to those who were chosen to have their art work displayed from St Lawrence's. Congratulations to our St Lawrence's winner Odin B from 4A. Also, well done to those students in the PAXP who excited the crowds with a couple of numbers from their musical Mary Poppins. A huge thank you to our Art teachers who helped coordinate the evening.
New Staff Member
I would like to congratulate Issac Hood who was the successful applicant for the temporary class teaching position for 2022. Issac is a past student of St Lawrence's and has also completed some relief teaching with us recently. Welcome to the team, Issac.
School Opening and Blessing Stage 17
Tomorrow at 1.30pm, will be the School Opening and Blessing of Stage 17. This opening includes the two Year 5 classrooms, staffroom, workroom and carpark extension. Special guests will include Bishop Michael Morrisey and Director of Finance and Infrastructure CEWA - Dr Glenda Scully.
AFG State Final of the Interschool Numero Competition
We have our top two teams from the Geraldton heats at the state finals for Numero being held in Dianella, Perth today. There are 18 teams competing in todays final, with St Lawrence's being the only Catholic Primary School represented.
BREAKING NEWS: Congratulations to 'Noisy and Numerous' who finished 5th in the State Finals! Well done to all players, and a huge thank you to Mrs Blake for preparing the students.
School Advisory Council Nomination
We are looking for nominations for two parents to join the School Advisory Council in 2022. The council meet once a term, finishing off the year with an annual community meeting.
The applicant would need to (a) make a commitment and desire to promote Catholic education and give service to the Catholic School Community; (b) a commitment to the safety, wellbeing and pastoral care of all students and staff; (c) an ability to work cooperatively and constructively with the Principal, school leadership team and all other members of the Advisory Council; (d) the possession of skills, competencies and experience that are reflective of, relevant and beneficial to the Catholic School Community.
The Advisory Council carries out the follow functions:
(a) support planning for the present and future operation of the Catholic school;
(b) provide membership, at the principal’s request, on selection panels for the employment of staff to the Catholic school in accordance with the relevant CECWA Policies and Executive Directives;
(c) provide membership on the panel that recommends the appointment of a Principal in accordance with the relevant CECWA Policy and Executive Directives;
(d) in consultation with the Principal, communicate about the Catholic school and about Catholic education to persons and organisations in the School Community;
(e) endorse the Catholic school’s annual budget before submission to CECWA for approval; and
(f) advise the Principal on school financial matters such as performance against budget, sustainability, and capital and recurrent planning
If you are interested in the position please contact me at admin@stlps.wa.edu.au for more information.
Sad News
Please remember in your prayers the passing of Terry Maher this week. Terry and his family were a part of the St Lawrence's Community for many years. We pray for his wife and children Sass and Stella. May he rest in peace.
St Lawrence’s School Code of Conduct - Voice of the student
Fortnightly in our school newsletter, we will explore an aspect of the Code of Conduct, so we can all gain a better understanding and how it applies to the students of St Lawrence's. This week I have interviewed our student leaders - Aila and Ryan.
Code of Conduct - Statement 6
You treat personal information about members of the school community as private and confidential.
- As students at St Lawrence's if our friends tell us something confidential we should respect their privacy and not share it with others.
- Don’t share your personal information with people you don’t know including when you are online. That is why we don’t wear our full names on our leavers shirt and only use our first names in our newsletters.
- Ask for help from an adult if you are unsure about protecting personal information.
To see a full copy of St Lawrence’s School Code of Conduct go to:
Happy Days
David Tunchon
Principal
Religious Education
Fruit of the Spirit Focus
Self-Control:
How might I learn and understand the gift of self-control?
-By waiting my turn during a game, in line or in the classroom
-By Learning to line up without ‘pushing in’
-By waiting for my turn to speak or do something
Gentleness:
I wonder if we can name some really gentle people?
-Being gentle can mean to be good to other people
-Being gentle means, I can care about what other people think and say
Year One Family Mass
All welcome!!
Please join our year one classes as they celebrate their first Family Mass on Saturday November 13th, 6:00pm in the undercover area. Please sanitise your hands and scan the QR code as you enter the undercover area.
St Lawrence's Parish Christmas Masses
The parish requests any families that can help:
Set up chairs midday December 24th and pack them away again midday December 28th in the school undercover area.
All families of St Lawrence students are invited to welcome Jesus on this special Christmas season.
St Lawrence Parish Masses are -
Vigil Mass 6 pm Friday December 24th (School undercover area)
Night Mass 11.30 pm Friday December 24th (Singing of Christmas Carols ½ hour before)
Christmas Day Mass 9 am Saturday December 25th
Book Fair 2021
Administration News
Booklists for 2022
Booklists will be sent home today for all families with students entering Years 2-6 in 2022. Those in Kindergarten - Year 1 will not recieve a booklist as these grades have shared booklists that have already been organised for 2022. Although Ziggies has been procured by Campion Education Solutions, purchasing methods will remain the same as previous years. Please read the information carefully on the paperwork provided.
Orders need to be completed by 28th November, there is a delivery service if this is preferred, or there will be two pick up dates at Allendale PS - Friday 14th Jan 4pm-6pm or Saturday 15th Jan 9:30am-2:30pm. If you are unsure of anything please contact Louise in the Office at STLPS or visit the Campion website at www.campion.com.au
Remembrance Day
This morning we gathered as a school community to pause, reflect and commemorate the service men and women who have died during war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. We thank Mrs Craig and the students of 5C for leading the school during our prayer service.
NAPLAN and BRLA
Today the electronic version of Year 5 and 3 student results for NAPLAN and BRLA Testing will be available via SEQTA Engage. If you have any issues accessing these results, please contact our friendly Office staff who will assist you.
STLPS Transition
Purpose: Transitions are organised and structured so that ALL students at St Lawrence’s become familiar with the learning environments they will be working in when they return to school after the Christmas break.
Transition Wednesday
For the next few weeks all classes will have a ‘Transition Wednesday’ lunch break. This will involve them eating their lunch and playing in their new year group area for 2021.
Transition Dates: K to PP—WED Nov 24, and P-5 Thurs Nov 25, teachers will make sure that their students have the opportunity to visit their next year level’s classrooms and areas as much as possible eg our Junior classes are buddying up for shared reading, taking messages to new parts of the school, touring where their new facilities are— toilet blocks/drink fountains etc.
Whole school Transition: Children complete an activity in each of their next year level classrooms with the teacher who is in that room this year.
2022 Kindergarten Enrolments
As we are now in the last term of 2021, please remember if you have a child born between 1st July 2017 and 30th June 2018, they will be eligible to start Kindergarten in 2022.
If you have not already enrolled them, please contact Louise at the office for an enrolment pack so we can ensure they are all ready for school in 2022!
Please note due to off-site school activities and class schedules, not all Merit Award
recipients were able to be included in this fortnight's photo.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following students who will be celebrating their BIRTHDAY soon:
Kole W, Lucas R, Olivia M, Amelie-Rose B, Alayna J, Kianah P, Kalani Mac, Hudson N, Sadie C, Myles P, Noah G, Gaia S, Ava O, Anabelle S, Erica F, Blake D, Edith T, Finton Mc and Lochie H.
Water Bottle Reminder
Please remind students to bring their water bottle to school with them every day. We do have cups available at the office if a student has forgotten their water bottle, however we are giving out approximately 20-30 cups per day, over 100 per week! As we always strive to minimise our school's environmental impact, we would love to be able to reduce this number.
P&F News
AGM 15th November
The P&F AGM is Monday 15th November at 4.30pm in the Staff Room. The Agenda has been published and all our members are welcome to attend. At this meeting all positions of the Office Bearers will be declared vacant with three current members renominating for their positions. The positions of Secretary and Vice President will be open to new nominations. If you would like to consider nominating for a position as an Office Bearer, please email the Secretary with your nomination. Any person wishing to nominate for a position must be present at the meeting.
Carols on the Green Raffles and Ticket Sales
The Carols on the Green is only a few weeks away and we hope you have saved the date. It will be an evening of entertainment and fun with appearances from Anne Williams, Tobi Williams, the City Band and St Lawrence’s music and singing students with Mrs Hart. Leigh Jones will be our MC for the evening and there is a special guest appearance from Father Christmas and his two special elves. Tea will be sorted with the Sausage Sizzle and Grazing Boxes (by order only) and fun to be had at the lolly and popcorn stall. This year you can indulge in a little Christmas shopping at the Christmas Craft Stall in between raffle draws and the entertainment acts.
Raffles will take on the same format as last year. This means that tickets will be sold prior to the evening with limited tickets available to purchase on the night. Raffles will be drawn at various points throughout the evening and winners will come up and choose their prize. More information about each of the raffle prizes will become available closer to the event.
In Week 7 on Wednesday 24th November one raffle book with a return envelope will be sent home with the youngest child in the family. Raffle books will hold ten tickets priced at $2 each or $20 to purchase a book. Book/Tickets with correct monies need to be returned in the envelope provided by Wednesday 1st December to the Front Office. Yes, the day before the Carols on the Green! If you are not wanting to purchase raffle tickets and do not want your book, please return it to the Front Office the next day. We can then offer the book to other families who want to purchase more tickets. It is really important that the books are not discarded or thrown out. We would like to give as many people as we can the opportunity to participate in the Raffles. There are some really exciting prizes this year including two prizes of $1000 towards school fees.
An Eventbrite link for the COG will be sent out soon. This is where you will confirm your attendance at this free family event as well as order your Grazing Box and Sausage Sizzle. This will assist us greatly for catering purposes. Keep an eye out on the Parent Information page on social media for updates on Carols on the Green. It is set to be a wonderful night again!
Garage Sale and Parish Morning Tea Fundraiser Sunday 28th November
This dual fundraiser will start at 9am on Sunday morning in the Undercover Area. The items that will be for sale were donated for the cancelled 2020 Fete and it is cash and carry. There is a huge array of items with some in excellent condition including toys, stuffed toys, games, household items, outdoors and gardening items and home decor. Morning tea prepared by the Parish Council members will be available after Mass from 10am. The school will be busy that day with the Children’s Mass commencing at 9am in the Church, the Book Fair in the Library and school tours conducted for those interested in enrolling at St Lawrence’s. Come and join us Sunday 28th November to see what bargains you can find.
Kind regards,
Julie O’Malley
President
Community Notices
