Newsletter 11 - July 20
Principal's Page
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to Term 3
I hope you all had a relaxing holiday with family and friends and managed to stay warm during these cooler months. Term 3 is renowned for being the busiest term of the year and of course with the amount of extra events happening, there is no exception this year. Please keep the school calendar close by so you don't miss a thing. Here are just a few things to look forward to:
- Year 6 Camp
- Ride to school breakfast
- Grandparents Day Prayer Service
- Cross Country Carnivals
- Sacrament of Confirmation
- Eagles Cup
- St Lawrence's Feast Day
- Open Night
- STEM Showcase
- Athletics Carnivals
- The Lion King Jr Production
- Chapman Valley Show
- Father's Day Prayer Service
- Numero Competition
- Year 3 Family Mass
Staffing News
I would like to welcome back Mrs Amy Gillett to St Lawrence's. For the remainder of the year, Amy will be teaching PPT just on a Friday. We thank her for her commitment to St Lawrence's.
You may have seen during the holiday break that we have started advertising for teaching positions in 2024. If you know of any dedicated teachers who would be a great asset to St Lawrence's, can I encourage you to have them apply. All details are on our webpage.
Congratulations Father Gerard and Heidi Teakle
3 Year Old Kindy - Naming Competition
Tomorrow we will be starting our fourth group of 3 Year Old Kindy with 17 children participating in the program on a Friday in Fitzgerald Hall with Mrs Amber Gratte as the teacher and Mrs Georgia Johnson as the EA. We are now looking for 4 cute names for these Kindy groups. If you have any suggestions please email them through to admin@stlps.wa.edu.au
Year 6 Camp
As you are reading this week's newsletter, I will be spending the final night of the Year 6 camp at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp. The 80 students have had an incredible week. Their behaviour has been exceptional and each of them are a real credit to each of their parents. They will be travelling back to Geraldton tomorrow sharing stories about their fabulous adventures, new friendships and the many challenges faced.
The camp could not be possible if was not for the dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly over the past 5 days ensuring that your children had the best possible time. I'm feeling exhausted so I am sure they are too. A huge thank you to Vanessa Knowles, Sue Schneider, Helen Bonnell, Natasha Zasun, Dayne Cox, Cassie Johnson, Stuart Gaby and Damien O'Malley for giving up your time, being away from your families to look after the 80 students.
Semester 2 Ministry Leaders
Congratulations to our new Ministry Leaders for Semester 2:
Gummer - Charlie J, Amelia H
O'Collins - Archie C, Stella C
Kelly - Mostyn W, Olivia G
Thomas - Paul M, Billie L
Happy Days
David Tunchon
Principal
Religious Education
Fruit of the Spirit Focus
Love: The fruit of Love allows us to care for others and not expect anything in return.
We can show love by doing selfless acts for other people.
Grandparent's Day
Year 6 Confirmation
This term the Year Six students prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is the last of the Sacraments that are referred to as Sacraments of Initiation. Confirmation is when followers of Jesus are bestowed with the seal of the Holy Spirit by being anointed on their forehead with a cross of oil. The chrism oil is blessed at a special mass called the Mass of Oils and is held during Lent, before Easter. This Sacrament is presided over by a Bishop – in our diocese Bishop Michael Morrissey. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the seven gifts the Disciples of Jesus received at Pentecost and encourages us as active Catholics to draw upon these gifts in our daily lives: Knowledge, Piety (Reverence), Understanding, Fortitude (Courage), Wisdom, Counsel (Right Judgement), Fear of the Lord (Wonder and Awe in God's Presence). These gifts of the Spirit help us to live as Jesus taught.
Important Dates:
Confirmation Commitment Masses: Week Two: Saturday 29th July 6:00pm or Sunday 30th July 9:00am – St Lawrence's Church
Confirmation Retreat Day: Week Three: Thursday August 3rd
Bishop Michael Confirmation Visit to Year 6 Wednesday Sept 6 9:30am
Sacrament of Confirmation: Term Three, Week Eight: Thursday September 7th, 6:00pm
St Lawrence's Feast Day
The Feast Day for St Lawrence - the Patron Saint of our School and Parish is August the 10th. St Lawrence is a martyr which means that he died because of his faith and commitment to God. He is famous for selling many possessions of the church in Rome and giving the money to help the poor. We will celebrate our Feast day with a whole school Mass in the undercover area at 9:30am on Thursday, August 10th. Later that day we invite our school families in for an open night to view their children's classrooms.
Administration News
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)
Every year at this time, all schools participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability. For more information on this collection please refer to the link below:
Happy Birthday to the following students who have an upcoming birthday!
Jamie W, Ella W, McKenzie G, Aria B, Shakim D, Hudson R, Zane C, Lylah K, Thomas S, Chase O, Bailey S, Indi O, Emilie S, Noah W, Annabelle W, Imogen S, Macee V, Xavier P, Wesley O, Adelle P, Ruby B, Savhana H, Evie M, Leslie D, Reece P, Denver F, Jasmine D, Poppy M, Austin H, Aston H, Balla-Ann E, Noah F, Gabriel M, Prince D, Shelby D, Kaliyah H, Xavier S, Bodhi H, Lachie O, Mayli G, Skye S, Odin M, Stella G and Ashtyn P!
Book Club
As per our sustainability goals, our book club has moved online for parents and students, we have a limited number of paper copies that will be held in the libary.
To look inside Issue 5, go to Scholastic.com.au.
Exciting news - Our tickets for St Lawrence's production of The Lion King JR are available from Monday at 9am! Tickets can be bought through: https://au.patronbase.com/_QPTheatre/Productions/23LI/Performances?prod_id=23LI&cache=&_operator_refresh=true&prod_id=23LI&cache=&_operator_refresh=true
Adults : $25
Under 18 and consession : $15
Childrens Book Week 2023
Dear Families,
Just a reminder that our book parade this year is on Thursday 24 August, which is in week six of this term. Time to get all your wonderful and creative ideas started. Parents are welcome to attend the parade. Another reminder will be sent closer to the date. Have fun!
Year 1 News
Community Notices
P & F News
P&F News
Meetings during Term 3
This term there will not be the two meetings as previously scheduled on the school calendar. The meeting scheduled for Week 2 Monday 24th July has been cancelled. The only meeting will be in Week 9 Monday 11th September. The agenda for this meeting will be driven by preparations for our last P&F fundraiser, the Carols on the Green as well as updates on expenditures for the approved budget set down in Term 1. Minutes from our last meeting can be made available if anyone is interested but be mindful that they still need to be passed at the meeting on September 11th. A reminder that all are welcome to our meetings.
Carols on the Green – Save the date
The last fundraising event for the P&F this year is the annual Carols on the Green. Scheduled for Thursday 30th November in Week 8 Term 4, it will run from 5pm – 7pm. What can you expect this year? You will see again the trailer stage with the large marquee surrounds, better sound, the Raffles, Let’s Get Grazey van supplying the grazing boxes, coffee, tea and Christmas treat plates, the Sausage Sizzle, Lolly and Fresh Popcorn Stall, Lucky Dips, the Choc Luck Stall and the popular Basketball Hoops Arcade game. Mrs Hart and the School Choir will entertain us again with some surprise guest appearances set to delight the crowds.
More information will be communicated as we get closer to this event with details and timelines for purchasing of raffle tickets and grazing boxes and donations from the school community to support the various aspects of the event.
The profit from the Carols on the Green has been considered in our 2023 Budget and all the money raised for this event will be set aside for the construction of shade next to the basketball courts on the side oval. We are hoping to use a local business for the construction once all CEWA approvals have been sought.
Volunteers to join us
We need some more volunteers to join the Carols on the Green team! Thankyou to those people who have already come forward and contacted me last term.
Amy Campbell will coordinate the Raffles this year. If you are keen to donate items for a raffle or to help in anyway, she is the contact person. The raffles take all term to prepare, with the organisation of raffle tickets as well as sourcing donations and raffle prizes, then collating and wrapping of prizes. It is the major ‘money maker’ of the evening, so a very important stall.
Sam Heirich and Claire Bickers will coordinate the Lolly and Popcorn Stall, if you are keen to donate to this stall or help on the night, please contact them. Traditionally the Lolly Stall has made a full profit due to very generous donations from some of our families who are local business owners and operators.
The Lucky Dip stall will need a coordinator to manage sales on the night, this stall was a sellout very quickly last year. If you are interested, please get in touch with Julie O’Malley.
The returned Choc Luck Stall was very popular last year and will need a coordinator. Amy Campbell ran this stall last year and she has lots of tips and tricks to pass on. This stall was lots of fun and ran for the entire evening. An easy one to set up and run.
Ashe Murdock will coordinate the Sausage Sizzle if you are keen to give an hour to this stall to serve or assist with cooking on the night or make donations, then please get in touch with Ashe.
The Drinks Stall will need a coordinator. This stall is set up next to the Sausage Sizzle. This would require the coordinator to put the call out for drink donations to specified year groups, source ice, set up the stall and sell over the course of the evening. If you would like to coordinate this stall, please get in touch with me.
Nagle Student Volunteers and Christian Service-Learning hours|
The Carols on the Green also presents an opportunity for Nagle students (Year 7&8) to donate their time and ‘give back’ to their Primary School to gain hours that contribute to their Christian Service-Learning Program. If you have a son or daughter who would be keen to assist at one of the stalls on the night, please get in touch with me. Their help has been integral to the Carols on the Green over the last few years.
Subcommittee Meeting – Carols on the Green
The first meeting for this sub committee will be on the same night of the P&F Meeting – Monday 11th September. This will be an important meeting for everyone to attend to confirm stall coordinators, answer questions and establish protocols, with minutes taken. The rest of the agenda will take place after this meeting.
Stay tuned for more information about our last event of the year and if you have been thinking about getting involved with the P&F now is your opportunity. It is a great way to get to know others from our school community and contribute to making St Lawrence’s a wonderful place for our children and their teachers.
All the best for Term 3.
Kind regards,
Julie O’Malley
P&F Chairperson