From the Principal
Dear Parents,
We had a wonderful celebration yesterday connecting our Parish and school with the welcoming of new families, Prep children and the commissioning of staff, School Education Board and Parents and Friends. We were fortunate to have Luci Quinn, the Principal of Clonard College, address us on the world day of Social Justice and the launching of Project Compassion. She reminded us that a little over 2000 years ago Jesus was the "God of Now". He showed God to others through his actions with poor, the sick , his enemies and the unloved. She went on to talk about Catherine McAuley, who 200 years ago was the "God of Now" for the poor, the hungry and the sick in Ireland. She finished by reminding us , that just like Jesus and Catherine, we are the "God of Now". It is through our actions now that we bring God to ourselves and others in the present. Social Justice is not only "for us" but "by us". Her message was clear. "We are the now" of keeping Jesus' Gospel alive in all we do with our heads, hearts and hands in reaching out to all people in need.
LENT: This week sees us enter the Lenten season with Shrove Tuesday today and Ash Wednesday tomorrow. Lent is the season in which we prepare for the mystery of Easter. It is a special time of forty days in which we joyfully embrace a conversion of heart. During this Lenten period, we are asked to take time to pray, to fast and to give and do for others. Lent is also an opportunity, in time, to develop our own character strengths and acknowledge our Catholic values. Firstly, we must identify our strengths, and secondly, we must be given an opportunity to develop other character strengths, or Catholic values, that may not necessarily be on top of our list. Throughout any given day, we can pray for others and give and do for others so everyone gets what they need, whether it be basic life needs like food and water or basic needs of love, acceptance, respect, honesty, forgiveness, love, tolerance or justice. If you are interested to further reflect on and consider what Lent means for Catholics, I recommend this link to you. LENT
Success of our Bushfire Action: Coming together in faith, hope and love was evident through our recent action with our bushfire appeal. Thank you for all your support with the wonderful and creative ideas the children were dressed as in people who help in the community. There were a variety of costumes. Thankyou also for your generous donations with $1680.70 raised. $500 will go to the wildlife in Mallacoota and the rest to St Brendan’s in Lakes Entrance to buy vouchers for the students to attend the local cinema and mini golf.
ECSI Survey: Our school is participating in the 2020 Enhancing Catholic School Identity Survey (ECSI) during the period 17 February- 27 March. Our school is expected to participate in this survey in the year before our school review process, being 2021. The data generated from the ECSI survey will assist us in better understanding how our Catholic Identity is expressed in work and practice here at Our Lady Star of the Sea school. The Catholic University in Leuven, was commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) to design a process and tools, based on sound research, to accomplish the goal of understanding our current Catholic identity and where the school community might like to see it in the future.
The online survey gathers responses from students in Years 5 and 6, all staff, and parents. You are asked to complete the survey online. It may take you up to an hour to do so. Some questions may seem challenging so please try not to get caught up in the wording, simply respond intuitively. The survey is only available through the project website. Keeping a record of your individual User Code and Password will allow you to complete the survey over two or more sessions.When you complete the survey you will receive a certificate of participation. Please send that certificate through and we will add your name to the raffle for a family movie voucher.
Your responses to this survey are anonymous. If you have any questions, please contact me through the school office. I thank you for your consideration of this request and for your anticipated participation.
Click here for the letter with details of how to complete. Click here for instructions for Survey Completion for Parents.
Working Bees
Many. many thanks to the following families who attended the Working Bee: Jarrod Knights, Zara Knights, Steve Walsh, Tenealle Walsh, Tyson Walsh, Beau Walsh,Carly Norquay, Luke Due, Sam Due, Lewis Due, Natalie Skahill, Rory Quinn, Dan Dickinson, Milly Dickinson, Freddy Dickinson, George Dickinson, Gerard Donovan, Isabella Donovan, Nate Donovan, Alannah Mills, Adele Mills, Brent Dean, Xavier Dean, Liam Dean, Archie Dean, Ricky Mullen, Oliver Mullen, Michael Dunn, Mitchell Dunn, Tammy Arandez, Mark Monahan, Xavier Monahan, Jenny Turner, Jasmine Turner, Lani Turner, India Turner, Sam Ellis, Olivia Ellis, Jackson Ellis, Alex Mifsud, David Mifsud, Ella Mifsud, Bethany Mifsud, Shane Madden, Flynn Madden, Connie Smith, Evie Smith, Farley Smith, James Dalton, Chantelle Dalton, Matilda Dalton, Elsie Dalton, Edward Dalton, Leah Cole, Isaac Gerrings, Jemma Geerings, Ashlee Giuffrida, Jordan Wiltshire, Erin Reid, Nigal Reid, Fletcher Reid, Nicole Wood, Matt Wood, Spencer Wood, August Wood, Harris Wood, Alison Van Uijtert, Jonah Van Uijtert , Willem Van Uijtert, Rachel Flanders, Andrew Flanders, Isabella Flanders, Sebastian Flanders, Rupert Flanders, Anthony Dowling, Letitia Dowling, Ella Dowling, April Dowling, Grant Burgoyne, Lauren Burgoyne, Braxton Burgoyne, Jamison Burgoyne, Mark McLean, Grace McLean, Ruby McLean, Mark Hardwick, Amy Hardwick, Arthur Hardwick, Polly Hardwick, Sylvie Hardwick, Paul Anderson, Michelle Richards, Claire Toomey, Kellie Struth, Charlie Prout, Tobie Prout, Ruby Prout, Chris Dickeson, Eli Dickeson, Eleanor Bishop, Louis Hambleton, Vincent Hambleton, Jo Mansell, Harvey Mansell, Jethro Mansell, Brooke Kerr, Isla Kerr, Carly O’Neill, Andrea Bernazzoli, Raimend Bernazzoli, Evelyn Bernazzoli, marnie Flynn, Dougie Flynn, Adrienne Currie, Jesse Currie, Allegra Currie, Kylie Morgan, Matilda Morgan, Xavier Cadorel, Fiona Cadorel, Ella Cadorel, Nina Cadorel, Melissa Kissane, Bailey Kissane, Briony Darcy, Leon Eyck, Natalia Eyck, Riley Eyck, Nicole Maier and Georgia Maier. We enjoyed a sausage and drink at the end and did some great preparation for when our sheds will be dismantled in the coming weeks.
An integral aspect of school life at Our Lady Star of the Sea is forging partnerships with parents. One aspect of this, which is critical to the care of the school grounds, is the commitment from parents to join in with the organised working bees and mowing roster. Thank you to the parents and teachers who made the effort to attend our beginning of the year working bee and our recent one on Sunday. We have found both to be well attended. The following dates (Sunday 24 May, Sunday 9 August and Sunday 25 October) are the proposed working bee dates for the remainder of this year and I strongly urge you to pencil into your calendar at least one of these dates if you haven’t attended already. It is a great oportunity with your children to model the importance of volunteering to support the community you belong to and also make more positive connections within the community. Mark Monahan, a school Board Member coordinates the working bees and with support from other parents the mowing roster . He appreciates all support given. If you are able to support in anyway and wish to contact Mark please do so through his email account: markmonahan1234@gmail.com
Earth Fest: A reminder earth Fest is coming up on Friday 20 March. Here is the link to the volunteer roster and please refer to the information in hub news.
Uniform Policy Parents are well supported with uniform supply through Bellarine Uniforms, the school recycling uniform shop and the Parent Facebook recycling uniform page. Thankyou for your support in ensuring all students are in their correct uniform. A gentle reminder all socks need to be plain with no labels.
Berry Street: