Newsletter 2 - 15 February

Principal's Page

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Let us pray
As we start the season of Lent this week let us take some time to reflect

New Students
We welcome Adithya R into 4T. We hope you and your family enjoy your new school here at St Lawrence's. 

Open Night
It was great to see so many families enjoying our Open Night last night. All classrooms were looking brilliant and I could see and feel a sense of pride as students showed their families around their learning spaces. A special shout out to Mr Gaby and Mr O'Malley who cooked 1000 sausages at our free sausage sizzle.

Ash Wednesday 
Due to the extreme heat we decided to have prayer services in our own classrooms rather than a whole school mass. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It marks the beginning of the 40-day period of fasting, repentance, and reflection leading up to Easter. On this day, ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross as a sign of mortality. 

Commissioning Mass 
On a very warm Saturday evening, St Lawrence's held its annual Commissioning Mass. The St Lawrence's School community were blessed by Father Gerard for the coming 2024 school year. It was great to see students, parents and staff gather together for the occasion. Special congratulations to our Head girl, Head boy and Semester 1 Ministry leaders who were presented with their badges by Father Gerard. 

Student Leadership
Congratulations to our new student leaders
2024 Head Girl - Inès W 
2024 Head Boy - Flynn G 

Also congratulations to our Semester One Ministry Leaders: 
Kelly - Tanzi T & Toby M 
Gummer - Asha H & Jesse M 
Thomas - Matilda W & Maverick C 
O'Collins - Aiden D & Gabriel S 

Don't Forget
Our fortnightly newsletter has very important information for our parents. Our school webpage is also regularly updated and has a wealth of information including important dates, school events and notes. Also, you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Ask to join the closed parent facebook page and second-hand uniform page to stay in touch.  

• School Webpage – www.stlps.wa.edu.au 
• School Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/stlawrenceprimary 
• Parent Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1674320395969638 
• Second-hand Uniform Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/groups/331820517339822 
• School Instagram Page - @stlawrencesprimaryschool 

Or download the Schoolzine App - SZAPP (Code 2733) which is your one stop shop for: 

• Newsletter 
• Absentee Form 
• Website 
• Seesaw 
• Facebook 
• School Calendar 
• QuickCliq Canteen Ordering 
• SEQTA 

Happy Days 

David Tunchon  
Principal 

Finance News

School Fees 
2024 School Fee Statements will be emailed out to all families today. Please take the time to read the accompanying email as it outlines important information you will need to know regarding payment options. Every family will need to complete and return the payment plan option form found on the last page on the statement by Friday 23rd February. 

Available payment options and payment methods are outlined below. 

If you have a valid concession card (health care card or pensioners card) and a discount is not showing on your 2024 statement, please email a copy of your concession card – back and front – along with a completed HCC Tuition Fee Discount Application form to us and it will be applied and a new statement issued. This form can be found on our website here. 

If you would like to make alternative arrangements, or have any queries once you have received your statement, please email Belinda at finance@stlps.wa.edu.au.  

Religious Education

Project Compassion
This year's Project Compassion focus is "For all Future Generations". Project Compassion boxes will be sent home next week. For more information please go to:  https://www.caritas.org.au/ 
Our term one Missions focus is to raise funds for Project Compassion. 

Fruit of the Spirit
When the fruit of peace is produced within us by the Holy Spirit, we can live life to the fullest in harmony and tranquility in spite of our circumstances. As we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit and understand that He will be with us in every situation, we will be more at rest and anxiety will be further away. 

Year Three Reconciliation Commitment Masses
Children in Year Three who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation must attend a weekend Parish Mass – 6:00pm Saturday Feb 17th or 9:00am Sunday Feb 18th at St Lawrence's Church. This is for those students who have been baptized in the catholic faith tradition. 

Each child must remember to bring their signed commitment card and copy of the commitment service (although this should also be in the church bulletins – which are the mass and parishes information sheets at the front of the church. These also have the readings and some prayers that will be said during mass in them for you to follow.) 

Mass Protocols
Please remember that we enter the church quietly, genuflecting as we enter a pew to sit or kneel in prayer, usually there will be people praying the rosary before mass begins.  The Mass is composed of readings, prayers and responses as well as times of respectful silence.  Please be respectful of the traditions and rituals within the service and refrain from holding conversations with those around you until mass is finished. When Mass ends with the final blessing, there will be a song during which the Priest will leave the altar – everyone attending Mass remains standing and joining in with the music until the Priest has walked out to greet everyone as they leave church, we do not leave before the priest. 

Reconciliation Parent Letter from Father Gerard

Kindy News

Administration News

Railway Street Pick and Drop Off
As a courtesy to all parents, please use the parking bays that are provided on Railway Street when picking and dropping off your child. The road has been significantly narrowed and there is just no room for double parking. When using the kiss and drop section, please stay in your car and wait for your child.  

Your help is appreciated on this matter. 

Swim Caps
Swim caps are available for purchase in the front office. They can be purchased by cash or card for $6.50 

SmartRider Cards
Should your child require a Smartrider card for the bus please use the following link to order: https://www.monitorwa.com.au/smartrider/

Swimming Carnival Program

• All students from Yr 4-6 are expected to attend the swimming carnival.
• Students will return to school by bus for the remainder of the day unless being signed out by a parent.
• If leaving the carnival grounds, please sign your children out with their Faction teacher.

Sustainability News

PAXP (Performing Arts Extension Program) News

Our PAXP (Performing Arts Extension Program) was established in 2018 and caters to creative and talented Year 4, 5 and 6 students. This program runs in addition to the weekly Dance, Drama and Music classes.

Over the past 6 years, we are proud to say that hundreds of students have benefited from the program and have had the chance to perform in one of our very successful school musicals.

Due to the increasing number of students who are growing in both confidence and talent, our PAXP criteria will be modified for 2024. Please see below the standards the children will be assessed against to be considered for this year’s program.

The eligible students will receive a letter with an invitation to audition for a PAXP position in Week 4. This audition will determine the successful applicants for the 2024 program.

Community Notices

Get behind Brigades Football Club as we launch the first Melanoma March in Geraldton to help fundraise and make a difference for the Melanoma Institute Australia.

The march is about taking steps together to honour those we've lost, support those impacted by melanoma, and raise awareness and funds so we are one step closer to reaching the goal of zero deaths from melanoma.

We have created this team to honour - Jason O'Brien, who lost his fight to Glioblastoma - Stage IV Brain Cancer in August 2021. The primary diagnoses of Jason's cancer was from a melanoma in which he had removed at the young age of 20, but 25 years later returned and had spread to the brain.

It is really important to us to raise awareness and prevent families and those impacted from suffering the effects of melanoma. Now we want to do our part in giving current and future patients a chance to have the best quality of life possible in helping raising funds for the Melanoma Institute Australia.

You can show your support by clicking the link below to 'Donate'
https://geraldton.melanomamarch.org.au/ or registering to join us in the march on Sunday 17th March 2024 - which you can do by clicking the link, scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking 'Join Team'. https://geraldton.melanomamarch.org.au/page/doingit4jase.