APRE NEWS
Dear Parents and Carers,
By the time you are reading this newsletter, there will only be two weeks left of school, which of course means that "end of year" things are being sorted so as to get ready for a smooth start to 2020. One of these things is 2020 Booklists and another is the 2020 Sacramental Program letter and Enrolment Form.
BOOKLISTS:
The Booklists have been sent home and the Preps for next year already have theirs too. We wanted to let parents know that the teachers have made a concerted effort to look at costs and reduce these as much as possible. There are almost no textbooks at all and we have streamlined/ made more consistent, the use of online subscriptions (Literacy Planet, English Stars and iMaths) across the school. With these subscriptions teachers have the flexibility to adjust curriculum content to suit the needs/ abilities of students.
2020 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM:
Parents of Years 3 (and older), who wish their child to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation, please be aware that information regarding this parish/ family based program was sent home last week. For your child to continue their faith journey they need to be baptised and a copy of the Baptism Certificate sent in with the completed Enrolment Form. If you have any questions regarding this, do not hesitate to contact me via the school office. The program gets underway early in Term One next year, and requires an adult to participate with their child in weekly sessions (45mins) either Thursdays (3:30-4:15pm) OR Sundays (10:15 -11am). There is flexibility to move between Thursdays and Sundays as the sessions are repeated.
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END of YEAR DISCO and fundraising for the Drought Appeal.
Our Year 6s have been very busy getting organised for Thursday night's Disco. All funds raised will be used to assist drough affected communities, particularly those south of Toowoomba, towards the border. Photos and further information will be communicated next week.
End of Year Mass: Our final whole school Mass for 2019 will be held next Wednesday, in the Cathedral Centre (Bingo Hall), commencing at 9am.
This Mass will be quite a celebration as we not only give thanks for the the past year but we will be:
- Presenting all current Year 5 students with their 2020 Leader Badge and announcing the elected positions (Captains/ Vice- captains, House Captains & Councillors)and presenting those badges as well
Saying farewell to staff who are leaving ( see Madonna's comments earlier), plus those students who are leaving us as well, though the Year 6s get a special Graduation Ceremony on the last day of school.
REMEMBRANCE DAY ASSEMBLY:
Last Monday, at 11am (on the 11th day of the 11th month), Prep to Year 6 students and staff stopped for one minutes reflection before they went off to play.
In the afternoon, 5JL led us in a lovely, thoughtful and prayerful Remembrance Day Assembly. A sincere thank you to teachers, Mrs Lesley Jarret and Mr Brendan Luck for their time and efforts to get the students so well prepared. It was memorable and moving for all of us there. Lest we forget!
On 24th December, there will be the traditional Christmas Eve Children's Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. Interested singers from Year 2 upwards are very welcome to attend and form a small choir. There will be one practice on Wednesday 4th December at 7.45am (the usual time for choir). On Christmas Eve, choir members meet Miss Cosgrove at the keyboard at 5.15pm as we sing Christmas Carols before the Vigil Mass.
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES:
Both Year 5 classes have continued with their regular visits to SALEM Aged Care with both students and residents gaining much joy from the interactions.
Today the Year 4s joined with the parishioners at the annual Anointing Mass, held in the Cathedral Centre. The school has been helping to lead the singing at this end of year mass for many years and again, the benefits are felt by the students and staff as much as the elderly and infirm who attend the Mass and Christmas lunch. Students presented the "oldies" with a handmade card of blessing. Thanks to the Year 4 teachers for coordinating this service activity. And thanks to Fr Michael for organising the iceblock treats for the students!
The rest of the school will be undertaking service activities in the final weeks of school and we will share those with you in the coming weeks.
Enjoy the rest of your week,
Judy
YEAR 4s at the Parish ANOINTING MASS
