Newsletter 19 - November 23
Principal's Page
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Basketball Champions Cup
Last Monday, 17 students representing St Lawrence's played in the state basketballs Champion Cup held at Bendat Basketball Centre in Perth. Thank you to Katie Hasleby and Stuart Gaby for coaching the teams. Their results and pics can be found further down.
Staffing News
Congratulations to Marissa Drummond who will be taking up a part time teaching position in 2024. Marissa has 3 children at St Lawrence's. James is in Year 6, Josie in Year 5 and Matthew in Year 2.
Kindy Parent Evening
On Tuesday evening we held our Parent Kindy Information Evening. It was wonderful to see so many new families join our school community. Thank you to the staff who prepared an informative evening. We look forward to having 90 kindy students in 2024.
Carols on the Green
We are all looking forward to next week's Carols on the Green. The P&F and their sub-committees have done an incredible job putting this altogether. Don’t forget to get your raffle tickets in with a huge range of prizes on offer. Dinner is covered for the evening by preordering a delicious grazing box or grabbing a sausage sizzle. EFTPOS facilities will be available this year. I have also heard rumours that a special guest may also be dropping in for a visit.
Transition
On Wednesday morning our 2024 Preprimary students spent time in the PP Centre meeting the teachers and education assistants and exploring their new play and learning spaces. They enjoyed experiencing all the new opportunities preprimary has to offer them.
Today our P-5 classes have worked in their possible 2024 classrooms, making sure they know where they are, where drink fountains and toilets are located and learning about what wonderful activities they can look forward to in the year ahead.
Thank you to Oakliegh and Logan for snapping these great photos.
2024 Class Splits
During this term teachers will be reviewing class splits for 2024 using their professional knowledge and expertise in meeting the educational needs for all students. Considerations are taken for the academic, social/emotional, behavioural and cultural needs of all students in a year level cohort with the intention of creating well– balanced, vibrant and positive learning environments. Whilst parental issues and concerns are valued, the best judgements of professionals will form the basis of classes for the next educational year.
Happy Days
David Tunchon
Principal
Religious Education
Fruit of the Spirit Focus: Goodness- showing to others the way to be filled with love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, trustfulness, self-control and gentleness.
Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
Lord Jesus Christ,
The holy land is once again struck by violence, hatred, and death. Lord, look with mercy upon the land that was your earthly home.
Recieve the deseased into your presence. Comfort those who mourn, are wounded, or forced to flee. Be close to all who are full of fear and despair.
You are our peace and light of the nations, put an end to the spiral of terror and suffering in the Holy Land and in the whole Middle East.
Let peace and justice flourish at the holy sites. You are our refuge. Let the people be safe in your Love.
Have Mercy on us and on our time.
Amen
Advent: First Week of Advent Sunday Dec 3rd
Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s new year and is a season of waiting and preparation for the coming of Christ. In fact, this season of Advent focuses on Christ’s threefold coming—past, present and future.
We await and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.
We hope and give thanks for Christ’s presence within us and in the world and sacraments.
We look to the future, waiting for Christ to come again.
The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’. Lighting the candles on the wreath symbolizes the coming of light (Jesus) into the world. Advent wreaths can be used in church, at school or at home.
The first candle (violet) represents hope, the second (violet) represents peace, the third candle (rose) represents joy, and the fourth (violet) represents love. The central white candle is lit on Christmas day and represents Christ (not shown).
This Advent, we invite our school community to learn, act and pray for a more just and fair world—a world full of hope, peace, joy and love.
Administration News
2024 School Advisory Council and P&F Nominations
St Lawrence's Annual Community Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 11th. We are seeking nominations for both the School Advisory Council and P&F Executive for 2024. If you are interested could you please complete the nominations form below.
2023 Student Reports
Student Reports for 2023 will be made available electronically through SEQTA, Week 9, Wednesday 6th December.
The reports this semester will look a little bit different. 'C' grade descriptors will be displayed under the learning areas of Religious Education, English and Mathematics instead of a comment. Only a General Comment at the end of the report will be attached.
A reminder that Semester 2 Reports are an End of Year Report. The Overall Grade is the student’s final grade after a full academic year, and the Components show the student’s Semester 2 result as per the example below:
Year 6 Student Reports
A reminder to parents of Year 6 students to please download copies of any reports you require from SEQTA Engage, as when the end of year student processes are completed you will no longer be able to gain access to their reports. We strongly encourage parents to access and download your child's report as soon as it is available.
Year 3 & 5 RLA Results
Results from the 2023 Religious Literacy Assessments for Years 3 & 5 will be made available electronically through SEQTA, Week 9, Wednesday 6th December.
2024 School Fees
The school fees will be remaining the same for 2024 in line with CEWA recommendations.
Please see Schedule of Fees below:
Basketball Champion Schools Cup Perth
As a result of winning the school slam series earlier in the year in Geraldton, both our senior boys and girls basketball teams competed in Perth in the Champion Schools cup. They were all extremely excited to test their skills against the best schools from Perth and around the state. The boys played games against Mt Hawthorn, Riverton, All Saints and Meadow Springs. Despite not winning any games the boys improved greatly as the tournament progressed and by the end were playing some entertaining team basketball.
Our girls team started with a forfeit against Mundaring and followed up with a close win against Georgiana Molloy Anglican School. They then lost to Bull Creek Primary School before playing in an unbelievably tight quarter final against Sorrento Primary School. Unfortunately, the girls lost by one point after the final buzzer, courtesy of two made free throws by Sorrento, who were also the eventual grand final winners. The girls also finished off with a three point win in their final classification game against Good Shepherd. The intensity and commitment shown by all the girls was simply outstanding throughout the whole day.
A special thanks must go to Katie Hasleby who did a great job of coaching the girls team. Also, thank you to the parents for getting their children to Perth and back and were all great support. Our St Lawrence’s students certainly represented our school well.
Parking on Railway Street
We had been advised by the City of Greater Geraldton Rangers that there have been complaints made about parent parking on Railway street. A reminder to please only park in designated bays and failure to comply may result in infringment notices being issued by the Rangers.
Enrichment News
P & F News
Community Notices
