Many thanks to our families for the gracious way in which the congregation respected the sacredness of our church space on Tuesday night. Overwhelmingly, we have received positive feedback about this event as it really was a meaningful and prayerful experience. The students were like angels and rose to the occasion in an inspiring way. In schools, at this time of year, staff put in a lot of work to ensure these events come together in the best possible way so it has been lovely to receive these emails and face-to-face votes of gratitude.

Christmas can be celebrated in so many different ways. Some families love to do the Christmas ham or turkey in a big way. Some folks love to do Kris Kringle gift giving. Some like to try and preserve the northern hemisphere experience with sleigh and snow decorations. Some like to contextualise the Christmas dinner for the Aussie summer by doing the seafood thing. When you go to shopping centres you are inundated with the commercial Christmas experience from as early as October! We, as a Catholic primary school, have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the ‘God is with us’ gift – that is the nucleus and true meaning of how Christmas celebrations have developed over the last two thousand years.

This is why our beautiful Carols Night was true to the ‘birth of Jesus’ message. This is why the students wore Christmas colours, angel wings and crowns and stood respectfully in front of the altar space of the church. There are plenty of opportunities for families to celebrate Christmas in all its myriad of ways during this season. This was our chance to celebrate with the Christian Tradition. Put together, all of these celebrations make a very meaningful and fun time of year.

December

Monday 11th December - Grade 5 Group 1 (Bethany) Camp Overnight

Tuesday 12th December - Grade 5 Group 2 (Bethany) Camp Overnight

Tuesday 12th December - Grade 2 (Ephesus) Incursion Hands On Science A&B

Wednesday 13th December - Grade 2 (Ephesus) Incursion Hands On Science C&D

Thursday 14th December - Last day of formal classes Foundation-Grade 6 - Students are invited to wear Christmas Colours to school.

Thursday 14th December - Grade 6 (Damascus) Students Last Day and Graduation - Geode Centre 6:00pm

Friday 15th December - Foundation-Grade 5 Students Last Day - Clean Up Day (no formal classes)

Please note: For any Pupil Free or School Closure Day - OSHC is available, please make a booking directly with Village OSHC.

Students are invited to dress in Christmas themed clothing next Thursday, 14th December to share Christmas joy. We look forward to seeing lots of colour and excitment. This is the final day of the year for formal classes.

Please note: If students do not wish wear Christmas clothes they are to wear their school uniform.

End of Year Mass

The Foundation to Year 4 End of Year Mass was celebrated on Wednesday. Thanks again to all the parents that attended this last Mass for the year. The theme of the Mass was the first week of Advent as well as being a thanksgiving Mass for the year of learning.

Father Denis made a very good point in the homily. When Catholics pray during Advent and reflect on Christmas, it isn’t just about remembering that Jesus was born two thousand years ago. The focus should be on the loving gift of Jesus, that he is with us now. Jesus is with us now, in the Mass. He is with us now when we hear his words in scripture. He is with us now when we see His face in someone in need.

To Dear Students and Families,

As our Japanese lessons at school draw to an end, we wish to acknowledge and respect all the time and effort you have spent in learning about the language and the Japanese culture.

We feel sad that we are not continuing our language learning together, however everything has a positive side. One positive side is that when we, as teachers, first went to Japan and lived there, not so many Australians visited there or knew much about Japan. Recently, we hear of friends or families who are taking trips there and really enjoying their stay. Over the years, so many have learned Japanese at schools, visited the country, had homestays and made Japanese friends.

 

This accumulative knowledge has added up to building a stronger and more trusting international relationship with one of our Asian neighbours. We must view this as us actively building peaceful relationships – something which is so important in the world today, especially when we speak different languages. 

Both Barry sensei and Booth sensei wish you all a healthy and happy life and much success in your study of languages in the future.

The Bethlehem Community has been creating traditional Christmas ornaments. The students planned their ornament based on their learning throughout the year about Catholic Identity symbols, that is what they are and what they represent. For example, the dove represents peace and the Holy Spirit. The students created their ornaments from wood, creating a design and then developing their artwork from materials such as felt, tissue paper, coloured paper, straw, buttons, and sequins.

Here is a Pic Collage of our Google meet with JPP Mulan Indigenous Catholic community in WA. Ephesus Community collected gold coins to purchase Christmas gifts for this school community where Miss Campoverday works. Today we had the opportunity to meet our friends virtually as a part of our Religion Inquiry!

King Swim's 'Fast Track' is a 4 day holiday program, this intensive swimming program is a great refresh for children at all levels plus we are offering it at a heavily discounted price to ensure it is accessible to all families.