NEWSLETTER No.38 20th December 2011

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1 St. Agnes Catholic Primary School Highett Peterson St. Highett, Victoria 3190 Phone: Fax: Website: NEWSLETTER No.38 20th December 2011 Please note December Events: Tuesday 20th 6.30pm Mass of Thanksgiving Wednesday 21st 2.00pm Farewell Grade 6 Assembly 2.30 pm END OF TERM Please note dates for 2012: Wednesday 1st Feb 9.30am-1.00pm Uniform shop open Thursday 2nd Feb THE START OF TERM 1-for all students Sunday 12th Feb 10.00am-Opening School Year Mass MERRY CHRISTMAS We wish all members of the St Agnes community every blessing for Christmas and the New Year Please see below Mass times for the Holidays RECONCILIATION Community Celebration (Individual Reconciliation following this) Wednesday 21 December 7pm CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES Family Mass: 6pm-Saturday24th Dec. beginning with carols pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass Christmas Day 10am Mass (no 8am Mass) NEW YEAR MASS TIMES Sat 31 December 5-6pmHoly Hour, Sat 31 December 6pm Vigil Mass Sunday 1 January 10am(no 8am Mass}

2 News from the Principal Dear Families, The season of Advent is one of anticipation and hope, not only of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem so many centuries ago but of Jesus living amongst us in our world. Thank you to all families and staff who contributed to the St Vincent De Paul Giving Tree over the last weeks. St Vincent De Paul have collected the gifts and will distribute them to those in need. It has been a wonderful and very busy year and I hope that you enjoy your holiday break. I wish all members of the St Agnes community every blessing for Christmas and the New Year. Please note the Christmas mass times in the school newsletter. We will see all the students back at school on Thursday 2 nd February Goodbye Assembly 2:00pm on Wednesday There will be a special assembly on our last day Wednesday 21 st December at 2:00pm when we say goodbye to those leaving the St Agnes community in 2011, especially our current Grade 6 students. Our New Website is Live! I am proud to announce that our new website has gone live and can be found at the previous website address, The school has been working most of this year to enhance and update our website with a totally new format and we have achieved our goal of going live in The website will be a great source of information including the Parent Handbook, School Calendar, policies, the newsletter and much more. We look forward to building on it in the future. P&F Chocolate Drive - A Real Success Thank you to all families for your support of the P&F Chocolate Drive this year. A final figure of $ profit was made which is an amazing effort. The P&F also appreciated many extra kind donations from families which contributed to this amount. As stated earlier this year all money raised goes directly into supporting the education of the students. The money raised has been allocated towards a major upgrade of computers for every classroom in the school. These computers will be installed over the holidays for our students to use from the first day back in 2012.

3 News from the Principal Cont.. Goodbye to some Staff at St Agnes Mrs Midgley will be leaving St Agnes at the end of this school year. We thank Mrs Midgely for teaching 3\4B and for the great support she has shown her students since beginning in Term 2. I know many students will miss her! Signora Kiehn, our Italian teacher is also leaving St Agnes as Mrs Gugliucciello is returning after maternity leave. Signora Kiehn has inspired many students with her engaging Italian lessons and active Italian Day earlier this year. Also, as I stated in a previous newsletter, Mrs Kelly is leaving after five years as Literacy Co-ordinator at our school. She will be greatly missed, especially by those students she has tutored and assisted in addition to the active Gardening Club who have appreciated all her hard efforts. Many people in our community have expressed thanks to these wonderful teachers and we wish them the very best in their new beginnings in Transition for 2012 All the children (Grades 1-6) met their new teachers (except for Mrs Stiglich who is currently at another school) and completed some activities together. It was a very positive experience for the students. Parent 2012 Calendar The Parent Calendar 2012 has been distributed to all families. Copies are also available from the office upon request. Mass of Thanksgiving 20 th December Tonight (Tuesday) at 6:30pm all families are invited to our school Mass of Thanksgiving. This is an opportunity to thank students, parents, staff and the Parish for our 2011 school year. It is also an opportunity for us to celebrate the Grade 6 Graduation, the Preps to farewell and acknowledge their grade 6 buddies and to pass the mantle of school Leadership to our current Grade 5 students. We look forward to seeing you tonight. Uniform Shop Advanced Notice for 2012 The Uniform Shop will be open on Wednesday 1 st February 2012 (the day before the first day of school) from 9:30am- 1:00pm. Best wishes for a happy Christmas and a safe New Year! Andrew Butler Principal

4 Term 4,Week Religious News Susan Lema Religious Education Coordinator End of Year Thanksgiving Mass Tonight 6.30pm All families are requested to attend the End of Year Thanksgiving Mass. It is a wonderful time to gather as a school community to give thanks for our wonderful year, to celebrate the season of Christmas and to farewell the students, families and staff that are saying farewell. Looking forward to seeing you there!!! Dear Families, This evening s mass will be my last event as the Religious Education Coordinator at St Agnes. I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you for all your support and kind words over the past 2 years. It has been a pleasure and honour to have been a part of your child s faith and sacramental development. I have learnt so much and have gained many happy memories that I shall treasure always. Yours In Faith, Sue Lema

5 Sunday s Gospel Jn 1: The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory. In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us. And we saw his glory,

6 St.Agnes Parish Newsletter Parish Team Weekday Masses Fr. Vincent John CMI (P.P.) Monday: 9am Communion Service Andrew Butler (Principal) Tues - Sat: 9am Mass Office: Rosary: Before Mass each weekday Kate Meiklejohn (Parish) Maria Brennan (School) Reconciliation: Saturday 9.30am-10.30am or by appointment with the Phone: Parish Priest Parish: School: Special Devotions: Every Friday after Mass Mass Times: Weekend Exposition of the Blessed Saturday Vigil 6pm Sacrament, Novena, Sunday 8am &10am Benediction ROSTERS: 17/18TH DECEMBER 2011 READERS: Sat 6pm As Rostered Sun 8am No Mass Sun10am As Rostered SPECIAL MINISTERS Sat 6pm: (A) A s R o s t e r ed Sun 8am As Rostered Sun 10am (A) As Rostered (C) (A) Ciborium (C) To the sick Cleaning Roster: Group 4: V Misso, M.Moran, K.Rodway Collections: Thanksgiving: $ 1015 In 2001, the Commonwealth and Victorian Goverments introduced legislation that deals with the manner in which public and private sector organisations may record, use, store and disclose information, including health information, collected from the individuals. The Parish of St. Agnes is committed to upholding and implementing the Privacy Principles set out in the legislation.. Died Recently: Anniversaries:Mary Kennedy, Jack Fox, Mary Kelly, Jose Fernandes, Fred Burgess, Norman Hanks, Leila Jenkins, Eddie Cogan READERS/MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST We urgently need Readers/Special Ministers for all Masses. If you are available, please see Kate or Father after Mass today or add your name to the roster sheet in the foyer. FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES: If you have any red or white flowers or green foliage suitable for flower arrangements, please drop in at the Church on Thursday or Friday morning Cash donations towards the cost of flowers would be greatly appreciated.

7 Readings for 24/25December CHRISTMAS DAY 1st. Reading: Isa 52: nd. Reading: Heb 1: 1-6 Gospel: Jn 1: 1-18 Respons. Psalm: Ps 97: 1-6 Response: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. RECONCILIATION Community Celebration (Individual Reconciliation following this) Wednesday 21 December 7pm CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES Family Mass:6pm-Saturday24th Dec. beginning with carols pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass Christmas Day 10am Mass (no 8am Mass) (If anyone would like to participate in the Carols by playing a musical instrument, please see Alice.) NEW YEAR MASS TIMES Sat 31 December 5-6pmHoly Hour, Sat 31 December 6pm Vigil Mass Sunday 1 January 1 0 a m ( n o 8 a m Mass ODE TO SONG: A CHRIST- MAS RECITAL: Kate Amos (our Cantor) and pianist Leslie Desjardins will perform a classical recital of well-loved Christmas carols as well as famous and delightful melodies such as O Holy Night, Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, Edelweiss, at St. Agnes on Friday 23rd December at 7:30pm. A warm welcome for all parishioners to attend. Entrance Fee: donation MEBOURNE OVERSEAS MISSION APPEAL: Thank you for your support of the Appeal. We have sent $695 to MOM. MEMBER & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER: St. Vincent de Paul Society Victoria is seeking someone to support our members and volunteers in their work assisting those in need in the East Melbourne suburbs. For full details go to Ad & Position d e s c r i p t i o n or telephone Patricia McCourt Applications close 13/1/2012

8 Parents and Friends Weekly Update 20th December 2011 A final word from your outgoing Presidents. Thank you to everybody who supported us this year has been a very successful year for us both from a fundraising and community perspective. We ve had terrific volunteers this year, particularly with our dedicated committee which has allowed us to raise funds to equip our library with books and furniture. We are now able to hand over and welcome our new president for next year. Vicki has Max in 1/2C next year so please introduce yourself if you don t already know her. Of course, Tiff and I will continue to support Vicki, who will no doubt put the same vigour and enthusiasm into the role that we have this year. You and your committee have our full support. To our families and friends, a very happy and safe Christmas and wishing you all the best for Tiffany Griffin and Jen Horvath Co Presidents of Parents and Friends

9 LITERACY TIP Dear families, I would like to include in my final LITERACY TIP some quotes to remind ourselves that literacy learning is the most crucial skill of all for the future of our children The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Dr Seuss I Can Read With My Eyes Shut The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read. Mark Twain Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Richard Steele A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success. Anonymous A man is known by the books he reads. Ralph Waldo Emerson Thank you very much to the wonderful parent community for your support over the past 5 years. Thank you for your kind thoughts and gifts that I received yesterday. I certainly will miss you all! All the best and God Bless! Christine Kelly

10 LUNCH ORDER THANK YOU Thank You I would like to Thank all the Lunch Order Helpers for your wonderful effect this year and look forward to doing a new roster in 2012 Merry Christmas and Thank you Helen Reece Lunch Orders BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Have a wonderful Birthday! December: 20th Luke P in 1/2G 25th Lucinda S in 1/2G 27th Alexandra C in 1/2G 31st Sean J in 3/4L Ashleigh S in 1/2K

11 Dear Parents, I would like to thank you all for the very remarkable year we have had in the St. Agnes library. The activities and events throughout the year help to make the library a vibrant part of the school and this year we have achieved a great deal. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who helped set up the new library, the book fair, the pre-school story time or did book covering. I would also like to thank the Principal and staff for all their help and encouragement too. I wish you all a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Regards Julie Gonzales-Library Technician Well done to our wonderful choir on their fantastic performance at Bayside Carols last Tuesday. We are so proud of you all. Thank you for all your hard work and efforts in the choir this year See you next year Mrs Baker

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