Dear Parents and Caregivers
Over the past two years, we have managed to run our wonderful P&F on a skeleton staff of just a Treasurer and a Secretary. We still don’t have a Chair or a Vice Chair. I am extremely grateful to our amazing super granny Allison Fox, who has stepped into the void as our Treasurer. Allison, along with Sam Somers (Secretary) have led our small but effective committee throughout this time. Sam has unfortunately stepped down from the role, and luckily, Kylie Whitehead has agreed to take over as our Secretary. We are not alone and many other schools are experiencing the same issues as most parents are busy working to pay the bills in these challenging economic times. However, the current model is unsustainable and at our last meeting we have come up with a new concept. From next year, we will be allocating year groups with certain roles. For example, every year, our Year 6 parents come together and organise the Graduation dinner which is always a wonderful event. Therefore, a note will be coming out soon with allocations for the main P&F events for each class. These events include the start of the year welcome, Easter raffle, Mother’s Day stall, Father’s Day stall and the disco. If nobody from the allocated year group steps up to organise the event, then we simply won’t be holding that event. We believe that this model will be more equitable than the current model where so few do so much work. Keep your eyes out for the flyer and please do your bit for our students, remembering the two main functions of the P&F are community building and a little bit of fundraising.
Empathy Reflection Choose compassion over judgement and humility over pride.
Long Service Leave I will be taking the last four weeks of this term off as Long Service leave. CEWA has appointed Mrs Lisa Liebregts as the Short Term Principal in my absence. I know that Lisa will do a great job and with the support of Mr Tim Maxwell, the school will be in good hands. I will be back at school for the start of next term.
Assumption Mass Every year on 15 August, we remember Mary who was assumed body and spirit into Heaven when she died. This is still a holy day of obligation in the Church. Therefore, we will be celebrating a whole school Mass on Thursday 15 August from 8.45am in our Church. All parents and grandparents are most welcome to join us.
Book Week Parade This joyous occasion will be held in our hall on Friday 16 August from 8.45am. Every year, we ask parents not to spend any money hiring costumes. Rather, please spend some time with your children creating their own costumes based on the characters from their favourite books.
Performing Arts Festival This year, our choir will be performing at the Vasto Club in Balcatta on Friday 23 August from 9.30am – 10.45am. I take this opportunity to thank Mr Tim Maxwell and Mrs Talicia Fazio for preparing the choir so well. I’m sure they will do their very best and represent our school with great pride. A note will be sent home to choir members with all the details.
Confirmation Please keep our Year 6 students in your prayers as they receive the final sacrament of initiation on the weekend of 17 and 18 August. This is a very special time in their lives as they will now be seen as adults in the Church. As babies, their parents made the choice to get them baptised. However, this time it is their own choice to be Confirmed. I would like to say a big thank you to Mrs Sara Blair and Mrs Tash Strecker and all other staff members who have assisted in preparing them so well. I’m sure it will be a wonderful occasion.
Father’s Day Stalls As mentioned earlier in this newsletter, the P&F will be running the Father’s Day stalls for the last time before it is handed over to a year group. The stalls will be held in the classrooms on Wednesday 28 August to Friday 30 August. I take this opportunity in advance to wish all of our fathers and grandfathers a wonderful Father’s Day. I hope your children do the right thing and spoil you!
Faction Carnival This year, we are going to trial holding the carnival in Term 4 instead of Term 3 as the weather hopefully will be better. Therefore, please note Friday 11 October in your diaries, which is the first week back next term. The netball club will be providing the sausage sizzle as usual. Please note that the P&F will no longer be doing the coloured hair fundraiser. If your child would like to have coloured hair on the day, please do it at home on the morning of the carnival.
Fr John’s 50th Anniversary Celebration A special Mass and dinner will be held in our Church on Saturday 31 August from 6.00pm. If you would like to attend the dinner, please contact the parish soon as tickets are selling quickly. If you can’t make it to the Saturday night Mass or dinner, morning tea will be provided the next day after the 9.30am Mass.
Yours sincerely
Laurie Bechelli