Wollongong CEO MARY IMMACULATE PARISH PRIMARY SCHOOL Emerald Drive Wednesday 18 February 2015 Eagle Vale NSW 2558 VOL 30. T1. W4 Phone: (02) 4626-7880 Fax: (02) 4625-6488 Email: info@mievdow.catholic.edu.au Website: www.mievdow.catholic.edu.au VISION STATEMENT: Mary Immaculate Parish Primary School, Eagle Vale, is a Catholic School, which provides quality education. We are guided by our school motto CHRIST OUR WAY AND LIFE Dear Parents of Mary Immaculate Today the School and Parish Community celebrate Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of the Holy Season of Lent. During Mass children, staff and parents received, on their foreheads, the sign of the cross with ashes. The cross was to remind us of our humanity and to encourage us to follow the message of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. In the Old Testament, ashes sprinkled on the head or over the whole body, were a sign of repentance. The Christian use of ashes is drawn from the Jewish tradition. Since the 11 th century, receiving ashes on the first day of Lent has been a universal Christian practice. By wearing a cross of ashes on one s forehead, a person publicly acknowledges their need for penance and the fact that they are mortal (dust to dust). It also expresses their solidarity with all members of the Church on earth as they enter together into the Lenten Season. Lent is the time of year when the entire Church throughout the world prepares for Easter. It is a time of renewal, when we all try to be more faithful to our baptismal promises. During Lent, we pray, we fast, and we give alms (money, food, or clothing) to our brothers and sisters in need. As the children, staff and parents received ashes today we were united as a Christian Community expressing our need for repentance and symbolically opening the door to this Season of Lent. Yesterday our School Leaders, Hannah, Marcus, Helaena and Emmanuel accompanied me to St Paul s Catholic Church Albion Park for the launch of Project Compassion in the Wollongong Diocese. Bishop Peter led the Liturgy. The theme for Project Compassion this year is Food for Life. I encourage all families to place the Project Compassion box you received in a prominent place in your home, and by adding a few coins here and there and donating to Caritas Australia, you can and will make life a whole lot better for someone experiencing poverty in our world. Last Friday our School Community celebrated the commencement of the school year with our Welcoming School Mass. The Mass was a beautiful celebration. The children are to be commended for their reverence and participation during the Liturgy. I thank Father Slawek for leading our Liturgy and Mrs McGinnity for preparing the celebration. Our Year 6 School Leaders for the 2015 School Year were also commissioned during the Mass. Mr Bryan Doyle, State Member for the seat of Campbelltown, assisted with the presentation of badges and I thank Mr Doyle for his support and attendance. Thank you to those parents, grandparents and friends who did have the opportunity to attend. Your support is much appreciated.
A big thank you to all those who assisted at last Thursday s Swimming Carnival. The Carnival ran very smoothly due to the excellent organisation and the fabulous support from staff, parents and children. Special thanks to Mrs New and Mrs Hatter for their organisation of the day. Thank you also to Mrs Vicario for organising the refreshments for staff and helpers. The refreshments were very much appreciated. Congratulations to Mitchell (Yellow House) on winning the Carnival. The Mary Immaculate Swim Team will now compete in the Wollongong Diocese Western Region Carnival on Tuesday 2 March. Have a great week and let Christ be our way and life. DON SPENCER PRINCIPAL SCHOOL NEWS ENROLMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN 2016: Application forms are now available for collection from the School Office. Enrolment forms can also be downloaded from our school website. You are invited! Dear Parents and Friends. On Friday 27 February 2015, after Morning Assembly, you are invited to go to the COLA to have a look at an Aboriginal Cultural Exhibit. The Exhibit will be available for the classes to view during the morning. There will be Coolamons, Boomerangs, Carvings, Paintings, Didgeridoo s, Clap Sticks, Bark Pictures and many other interesting pieces. Sharynne Freeman, the Diocesan Aboriginal Community Engagement Officer, will be there to explain
the pieces and their significance. If any parents would like to assist Sharynne on the morning of the 27th, as she would love some help, you are to call her on 0409 359 041 or email her on sharynne.freeman@dow.catholic.edu.au. We look forward to seeing you there on the day. Principal s Morning Tea: The following students will attend the Principal s Morning Tea: Louie G 5 Green, Mikaela M 5 Gold, Oliver S 2 Green, Olivia J 2 Gold, Hunter B K Green, Elye T K Green. Birthdays: The following students celebrate their birthday next week: Elye T, Leon V, Alicia A, Max W, Zane B, Jett C, Krystal G, Judah N, Charbel N, Akuei D. RE NEWS Mr Don Spencer, Principal Today marks the beginning of Lent - a time when we think about 3 things Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. This morning we celebrated Mass and received the ashes on our forehead to remind us of our need to be faithful to Jesus and the Gospels. Each family will receive a Project Compassion Box today. The theme for Project Compassion this year is Food For Life. By filling your Project Compassion Box you are fulfilling Almsgiving, ie, giving to those who do not have as much as we do. Your donations make a life-changing difference to marginalised communities around the world. The boxes need to be returned to Church at Easter time. 2015 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM REGISTRATION Parents of children in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 6 who will be receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation this year are asked to REGISTER their child for the reception of the Sacrament. Registration will take place this weekend, 21 / 22 February before and after all the Masses - 5.30pm Saturday, 8.30am, 10.00am, 5.30pm Sunday. Please fill in your child s details on the registration form (each Sacrament has a different coloured form) and place it in the box in the foyer of the Church. Please ensure you pick up the 2015 Sacramental Program Leaflet when you register your child s name (this leaflet has the dates you will need for each Sacrament). SACRAMENTAL DATES FOR 2015 Confirmation: Sunday 3 May at 10.00am and 2.00pm Reconciliation: Eucharist: Thursday 11 June at 7.00pm Friday 12 June at 7.00pm Saturday 12 September at 5.30pm Sunday 13 September at 10.00am Gospel Reflection: Your ways O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant. Teach us to follow your paths and to walk in your truth. Amen. Mrs Elizabeth McGinnity, Religious Education Coordinator
LIBRARY NEWS Congratulations to all the classes who have earned Gold Stars already: Kinder Gold, Kinder Green, 3 Green, 3 Gold and 5 Gold. Well done, a great start to the year!! Again a reminder of Library days for each class: Monday Year 5, Year 6 Tuesday Year 3, Year 1 Wednesday Year 4, Kinder Thursday Year 2 Premier s Reading Challenge (PRC): Don t forget any students who would like to take part in the PRC for 2015 are encouraged to come in to the Library at Lunch 2 and put their names on the list - there is a clipboard in the Library for students in Years 3-6, and we ask parents of students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 to please notify us in writing if your children would like to take part. It is an easy challenge students in Years 3-6 only need to read 20 books from the PRC list, and students in K,1 and 2 are required to read 30. The booklists are found at https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html Login details will not be available until March. Parent Helpers: Thank you to the parents and grandparents who have volunteered their services either for scanning and shelving, or for covering. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Daily Reading: Remember to try to read with your children each day, and let them see you reading too they are good mimics! "Reading for pleasure is the most important way to advance literacy attainment in children. - National Literacy trust UK, 2006 Happy reading! Mrs Susan Bryant, Teacher/Librarian SPB4L: This year Mary Immaculate Primary School will be implementing Affirmation Cards as a Whole School Reward System. These will focus on the School Rules - Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible. Teachers will distribute these as they observe students displaying our School Rules during play times. The Affirmation Cards will replace Mary Immaculate Dollars. Affirmations will be recorded and then sent home for the students to keep. This will give you the opportunity to discuss and encourage your child s positive behaviour with them. SCHOOL BANKING Miss Tracey Tindall SCHOOL BANKING COMMENCES TOMORROW Bank books need to be given to your child s teacher each Thursday Morning. Thank you. Mrs Melissa Warner, School Banking Coordinator
CANTEEN NEWS CANTEEN WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE We are still in desperate need of volunteers for the Canteen. The Canteen can not open until we get your help. Thank you to all parents / grandparents who have currently offered to help. No previous experience necessary. Come and make some friends or bring your own. Only two people needed per shift however the more the merrier. Canteen can not open until at least forty people have offered to help, this will make shifts once a month. NEWS IN BRIEF Wednesday 18 February - Mount Carmel Catholic College Year 7 2016 Information Night Saturday 21 February & - Sacramental Registration at all Masses Sunday 22 February 5.30pm Saturday, 8.30am, 10.00am, 5.30pm Sunday Sunday 22 February - St Gregory s College Year 7 2016 Open Day 10.00am 1.00pm Wednesday 25 February - St Gregory s College Year 7 2016 Information Night - 7.30pm Saturday 28 February - St Patrick s College Year 7 2016 Open Day 10.00am 2.00pm COMMUNITY NEWS Mount Carmel Catholic College Year 7 2016 Information Night: Year 7 2016 Information Night will be held on Wednesday 18 February 2015 in the Champagnat Centre (located in the College grounds). The evening will commence at 7.00pm and the information session will provide details on the College and application processes. A tour of the college and enrolment packages will be available on the night. For further information please ring 9603 3000 or www.mcccdow.catholic.edu.au. Please Note: Orientation Day is Friday 13 November 2015 St Gregory s College - Year 7 2016 Open Day & Information Night: St Gregory s College Year 7 2016 Open Day will be held on Sunday 22 February between 10.00am and 1.00pm. Our Year 7 2016 Information Night will be held on Wednesday 25 February in the School Hall at 7.30pm. Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: Start the New Year off with a bang! Spend a weekend with your spouse at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The peaceful setting of this weekend enrichment is a great way to rekindle the romance in your marriage. Weekend date: 6-8 March at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW To apply contact Ardell & Bill Sharpe tel. 02 4283 3435 or wsharpe@bigpond.net.au www.wwme.org.au www.facebook.com/wwmeasternunit
SPORTS NEWS Swimming Carnival: Congratulations to all those students who attended the Swimming Carnival last Thursday. All students tried their very best and showed great sportsmanship in cheering on their House Colour. Congratulations to Mitchell House for winning the Carnival, and Farmer House for winning the Team Spirit Award. A special thanks to all of the parent helpers, the Carnival could not run so smoothly without your assistance. We wish all of those students attending the Western Region Carnival the very best of luck. We have had positive feedback from those who attended Eagle Vale Leisure Centre for the novelty events. We hope all students enjoyed these activities. Sport Lessons: Please ensure your child has their hat, water bottle and the correct shoes (predominantly white joggers with white laces) for each sport lesson. Thank you. Mrs Tracy New & Mrs Catherine Hatter