RESURRECTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL 51 Gum Road, Kings Park 3021 Telephone: (03) 9366 7022 Fax: (03) 9366 6154 website: www.rskingspark.catholic.edu.au email: principal@rskingspark.catholic.edu.au UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER Thursday December 5th, 2013 December 6 th 8.30am Whole School mass led by Rooms 1, 5 & 6 Friday Rooms 11, 12 & 15 Excursion December 9 th Monday Casual clothes day-donation for Xmas hamper December 10 th Tuesday 9.00am Prep 2014 Orientation Day & 2013 Prep Year 5 Orientation December 11 th Wednesday 9.00am Christmas Hamper wrapping December 12 th Year 6 Tennis Centre Excursion Thursday Year 3/4 Excursion December 13 th 9.15 am End of year Mass and Morning Tea Friday Year 1 & 2 Excursion DEAR FAMILIES, ADVENT This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent. ADVENT REFLECTION The weeks leading up to Christmas are always full of things that need to be done before the year ends. We race through the day, often without reflecting on what Advent is really about. As busy as most of us are, it is important to stop for a little while, to reflect and live the Advent experience. Evergreen branches also symbolize Christ. As evergreens stand firm against the barren winter, Christ stands firm against the barrenness of sin and death, beckoning us to eternal life. The circular shape of the wreath reminds us that all is complete in Christ and that all is brought to perfect union in him. SACRAMENTAL DATES 2014 (UPDATED) SACRAMENTAL LAUNCH(ALL SACRAMENTAL FAMILIES): THURSDAY 13 TH FEBRUARY Year 3 (2014) First Reconciliation workshop June 5 th, 2014. Presentation Mass 14 th & 15 th June Year 4 (2014) First Communion workshop Thursday 27 th February. First Communion Masses will be held on the weekends of 15 th, 16 th & 22 nd, 23 rd March. Signups for First Communion Masses will be held at Mass before the end of the year. Year 6 (2014) Confirmation workshop Thursday 17 th July. Presentation Mass 21 st & 22 nd July. Confirmation Masses 22 nd & 29 th August.
MINI-WORKING BEE In the last weeks of school, we request that each class have their own MINI-WORKING BEE. Many jobs need to be completed in all classrooms to prepare them for 2014, eg. washing of chairs and tables, dusting, cleaning out cupboards, washing dirty walls, sorting games etc. If you are able to assist, please speak to your child s teacher to organise a convenient time. Teachers will really appreciate any help they receive. Thank you. WORKING BEE Thanks to all those who attended and contributed to the upkeep of our facilities! The photos show the efforts completed by a small group of families who attended. PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY Last night over 200 parishioners gathered to celebrate their year s work at our annual Christmas party. Everyone enjoyed the food and the company of those who gathered.
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS The choir is seeking a few parishioners who can sing Silent Night in Italian for the 8.30pm Christmas eve Mass. If you can assist please contact the parish office. 2014 ORIENTATION Over the past couple of weeks, the class teachers have been putting a great deal of time and effort into placing students for 2014. Parents are reminded that many factors are taken into account when classes (for the upcoming year) are formulated, as we are obviously striving to achieve a balance in areas such as gender, academic ability, co-curricular strengths, talents, class dynamics, etc. Please remember your child is placed in a grade where they will work to their best of their ability. Orientation will occur next Tuesday 10 th December. Mr. John Kremers, Principal & Resurrection School Staff invite All Families To join us in giving thanks for the 2013 School Year on Friday 13th December 2013 at 9.15am at Resurrection Church, followed by Morning Tea. HELPERS MORNING TEA INVITATION Throughout the year, the staff and I have been very appreciative of the support you, the parents/guardians of our students, have given us. A number of you have helped us during the year and, therefore, we are inviting you to join us in the Community Room for Morning Tea on Friday 13 th December commencing after 9.15am Thanksgiving Mass. If you have been involved in any way, e.g. with the Fund-raising, hearing children read, working in the classroom, covering books, helping in the Library, accompanying children on Excursions/Swimming, helping with Father s Day/Mother s Day Stalls, doing jobs around the school or helping in any way at all, please join us. Parent Helpers - Morning Tea Reply Slip I will be attending the Morning Tea on Friday 13 th December. Name: Child s Name: Year: Room:
CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE This year we are having a Christmas Hamper Raffle. We are asking each child to donate an item of food or something associated with Christmas, such as bonbons, decorations etc. which will be placed into a hamper, which will be raffled in December. Please send your item with your child on the casual dress day on Monday 9 th December. Christmas Hamper wrapping will be on Wednesday 11 th December at 9am. Raffle books were sent home today. Many hampers to be won. 50 cents per ticket or $5.00 per book which are due back Thursday 12 th December. Raffle will be drawn on Monday 16 th December (last year we had over 70 hampers). CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED THE HANDS OFF AWARD THIS WEEK. YEAR RM CHILDS NAME YEAR RM CHILDS NAME PREP 7 Abraham Ledy Dwayne Santiago Sebastian Puccio James Zahra PREP 8 Anita Jurjevic Elizabeth Mendoza PREP 9 Jackson Marshall Alicia Doganieri THREE/FOUR 12 Bagat Beyong THREE/FOUR 13 Biar Manyok Tyler Vo Doan Sebastian Clemente THREE/FOUR 14 Marcus Portelli Jacob Young-Abass Aiden Mendolicchio Andrei Palingayan THREE/FOUR 15 Airam Dimabuyu Ledy Ledy PREP 10 Ethan Anicete Vincenzo Dungo Wilson Dang Caleb Tapuala-Unasa Steven Timoteo ONE 3 John Mendoza THREE/FOUR 17 Tia McHenry Trish Le Matthew Alamo Athiang Anyang ONE 4 Jasmine Grech FIVE/SIX 18 Daniel Attard Jacob Korparic ONE 5 Celina Vo FIVE/SIX 19 Daniel DeDomenico Tochi Orji TWO 1 Lucas Penailillo-De-La- FIVE/SIX 20 Viviana Arop Fuente Marian Abrenica Bol Daw Martina Tran TWO 2 Walual Arob Kuol Deng TWO 6 Emily Gerber Jacob Gozon THREE/FOUR 11 Alyssa Payad Brett Peacock FIVE/SIX 21 Monica Awad Longar Jor FIVE/SIX 22 Marcus Gatt Atong Juach FIVE/SIX 23 Matthew Pavlic Marcus Jovica
2013 YEAR 6 GRADUATION AND FAREWELL CEREMONY On Monday 16 th December, all Year 6 families are encouraged to attend the Year 6 Graduation Ceremony starting at 7.00pm with Mass in the Church followed by a presentation ceremony. REPORTS Reports will be sent home on Friday 13 th December. PRAYER Lord, this Advent, give us your Spirit to change our lives and see the divine in unexpected places and people. In your name Amen Thought for the Week You cannot paint a masterpiece without the paint. Kay. Best Wishes John Kremers Principal STORY TIME MacKillop Room Fridays from 2.45pm 3.15pm Parents please come for story time with preschool children. Last session for 2013 Friday 6th December We will celebrate with a Christmas party PARENT HELPERS NEEDED We have come to that time of the year when we need to check our resources. On Tuesday 10th - Thursday 12th December, we need a few parents to help us sort through our take home readers. This job will involve fixing any broken books and checking to see that they are in the correct boxes and have the right stickers on them. Two of our Literacy Support Staff will be present to help. If you could spare some time on these days, between 9.00am and 11.00am, please meet in the junior shared area. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Helen Cozmescu Literacy Leader
Year 6 transition to secondary The challenges that are involved in school transitions shape students development in positive or negative ways. How can you support your student on this next important phase in their education? How can you ensure primary to secondary school transition is a positive experience for your child? A negative experience can lead to anxiety it can confuse and bewilder students, disrupt relationships, and halt learning and growth. These wellbeing issues are strongly linked to students learning and health (CEOM 2008). For more information parents are invited to an information session to support their child on their transition pathway. When: Monday 9 th December Where: Resurrection Primary school Magdalene Room Time: 2:30-3:15pm ST BERNADETTE S - CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT Saturday 14 th December 2013 7.00pm 10.30pm Cooke Avenue North Sunshine Gates open at 5.00pm Children/Youth Choir Guest Singers Food & Drinks Sausage Sizzle Father Christmas arriving by Fire Engine Kids Jumping Castle, Lollies, Face Painting Photos with Santa Raffles & Silent Auction Entrance by Donation All funds raised will be donated to Mercy Hospice Care
PARISH NEWS The Joy of the Gospel The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept this offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark on a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church s journey in years to come. (Evangelii Gaudium no.1) Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) On Tuesday 24 November Pope Francis issued his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. It is his vision for the church. Unlike many documents coming out of the Vatican Evangelii Gaudium is eminently readable and in parts even folksy! A few of examples: Christians should not be sourpusses, There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter, the smell of the sheep, No one is saved by himself or herself. This Exhortation is addressed to Bishops, Priests and the Lay faithful; in other words to every Catholic throughout the world. How might we access the document s richness? The first thing is to do is read it! The following are some suggestions as to how to obtain it: Go to our web site www.res-parish.org and click on Evangelii Gaudium. It can be accessed by going to the Vatican site www.vatican.va clicking the English tab and click on to Evangelii Gaudium. Photocopies are obtainable from the Parish Office at $4 per copy. When the printed version is available it can be purchased from the Parish Office. A double sided A4 page will be included in our bulletin for the next 40 editions (the document is 80 pages). The news section of our bulletin will begin with a quote from the document. After parishioners have had a chance to read the Exhortation meetings will be held early in the New Year to reflect on the document and how it might be our compass to implement what Pope Francis is asking us to do. The Bulletin is Changing! Our parish bulletin has changed as from this week. Instead of the weekly bulletin coming in the A3 folded size it will be now be A4 stapled. This change is to accommodate an extra page which will carry Pope Francis exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. (See previous notice). Our monthly Big Bulletin will remain in the same format but will include two pages of The Joy of the Gospel Comfort Zone This weekend parishioners had the opportunity of committing to a Parish Ministry. The commitment is for 12 months. During November two parish bulletins contained a description Ministries. Descriptions of ministries have also been available at the Parish Office, Welcome Desk, the parish web site www.res-parish.org. There is no reason for not knowing what each Ministry entails. Pope Francis in his exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) states Each Christian and every community must discern the path that the Lord points out, but all of us are asked to obey his call to go forth from our own comfort zone (no.20). What is your response to this call? There is a sign-up sheet in this week s bulletin. After prayerfully considering where the Risen Jesus is calling you, commit to a Ministry and either post the form to the Parish Office or bring it with you to Mass next weekend.
The Lord s Mercy Advent is an opportunity to re-discover the Lord s mercy within the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pope Francis says God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of his mercy. Reconciliation is available Thursday nights during Advent at 6.30pm; also on Saturday mornings at 9.30am. Pope Francis also says that the confessional should never be a torture chamber. Christmas Crib Parishioners would have noticed last weekend that six hay bales and a stable were placed in the narthex. The Liturgy Group decided that this year our Christmas Crib will come together progressively. Each Sunday of Advent something will be added leading up to Christmas Eve with the arrival of the Christ child. This gives parents the opportunity of using this as a teaching moment for their children. Adoration During Advent there are opportunities for parishioners to spend some quiet time in Adoration of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Check This Week at Resurrection in this bulletin. Advent This weekend is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent has a twofold character as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ s first coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ s second coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation (General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the calendar). During Advent there are opportunities for parishioners step back from all the busyness that is so much part of life for many people. Perhaps come one night for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (dates in December calendar and repeated in weekly bulletins), additional opportunity on Thursday evenings (as well as Saturday mornings) to experience God s healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Perhaps you may resolve to take the time to read the Readings before coming to Mass. Or you might try to reconcile with someone; or simply get in touch with someone you have not heard from for a long time. What about coming to a least one Dawn Mass (5am) commencing 16 December, dates in calendar. Lectio Divina This year Lectio Divina for Advent Year A will not be available in printed booklet form however a downloadable PDF of the booklet is available on the Diocese of Broken Bay s Website www.dbb.org.au. You are able to choose to print either the booklet or the Reflections for each Sunday. Friday 13 th Change of Mass Time On Friday 13 th December there will not be our usual 8.30am Mass. Mass will be at 9.15pm with the whole school participating. It is the end of year school Mass. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to participate in this liturgy. Typhoon Haiyen Our parish contribution to the Filipino people devastated by Typhoon Haiyen is $7017. This is made up as follows: $4226 PARISH COLLECTION $1254 RYDERS youth group sausage sizzle $1537 Resurrection Primary School uniform free day. Caritas Australia has at this time committed $1,500,000 to the victims of this tragedy.