Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last Friday, 15 November, the P & F hosted a very successful Colour Run event for our school community. It was a wonderful afternoon enjoyed by all students and staff. A big thank you to the P & F executive and the many parent helpers who contributed to the day’s success. I would like to extend a special thank you to Russell Mendue for organising the fire truck experience, which added a fun element to the event. I am pleased to share that the Colour Run raised over $3500 for our P & F, funds that will go directly toward purchasing new resources for our school. Congratulations to Austin (4A) and Maddison (6U) who were the lucky-door prize winners of the event.

On Friday night, I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Annual CDF Sports Awards presented by Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. The night acknowledged the exceptional sporting achievements of students from across the diocese. I would like to congratulate Morrison (6R), Jack (6R), Matt (6U) and Oliver (3H) who all received awards on the night. Morrison was also awarded the Most Outstanding Student Award (Primary). This is an outstanding achievement with only one other student from Nazareth ever receiving this prestigious award, Te Haumi Maxwell in 2006.  

On Monday 25 November, we will gather for a special liturgy to acknowledge and officially farewell Lisa Tyson following her appointment as Principal of St Pius X Unanderra. During this liturgy, we will also acknowledge Kristy South, who has accepted a permanent leadership position at St Therese West Wollongong after serving twelve months in an acting capacity at St Therese. The liturgy will commence at 9:30am in the school hall, and we warmly invite parents, carers and grandparents to attend as we celebrate the contributions of both Lisa and Kristy to our school community. In other staffing news, at the conclusion of the school year we will bid farewell to Miss Alana Vezinias and Mr Tim Messner, who have accepted teaching positions at other diocesan schools. We thank them for their dedication and wish them the best in their new roles. In the new year we will welcome Mrs Annalise Biddle (Stella Maris) and Miss Bella Fogarty (beginning teacher) to the Nazareth teaching staff, both will be great additions to our school community. Staffing for 2025 will be finalised once the Assistant Principal and Middle Leader positions are announced.

This coming Sunday, 24 November our Year 3 students will be making their First Holy Communion. The Eucharist is unique among the sacraments as it is at the heart of our faith. For Catholics, the Eucharist, or Mass, is the most powerful way we encounter the real presence of Jesus Christ. Sunday after Sunday (some, of course, gather everyday), Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist, the ritual in which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. We who celebrate are also transformed, becoming Christ’s presence to others, and recognising the presence of Christ in others. Please keep all these children in your prayers as they receive the Eucharist for the first time.

At this time of the year, children become increasingly excited about the approaching Christmas season. As a school, it is important that we keep firmly focused on learning and maintain our school routines throughout Term 4. It is for this reason Christmas cards are not to be brought to school until after Monday, 2 December, following the First Sunday of Advent. I also ask that candy canes not be brought to school. Thank you for your understanding and support.

As we approach the end of the school year, please make note of the following important Christmas celebration dates:

• Saturday 14 December – Combined Schools Parish Christmas Carols. This will commence at 5:00pm on the Nazareth grounds with an outdoor mass. Following mass children from Nazareth, Stella Maris and Corpus Christi will perform Christmas carols. 
• Tuesday 17 December – Nazareth Christmas Celebration. This will commence at 11:30am in the hall. Each grade will share a Christmas item. Parents, carers and grandparents are warmly invited to attend. 

Wishing all families a wonderful week ahead.

Kind regards, 

Mr Matt Downes 

(Principal)

First Holy Communion

This Sunday Year 3 students will celebrate their First Holy Communion at All Saints Church at 11am.  On Wednesday they celebrated the sacrament of Penance in preparation to receive the eucharist for the first time.  Teachers have been preparing the students for the past four weeks in workshops and all students are looking forward to this day. Just a reminder that all students are to WEAR WHITE.

Wednesday Mass and Faith & Learning visits

This week, Year 5 attended mass at 9am on Wednesday and it was fantastic to see so many parents back in the classroom after mass.  Next week, Year 4 will attend mass and we warmly invite families to come back to the classroom after mass to experience a snapshot of the students’  learning.  This will be the last of the Faith and Learning visits for 2024. We encourage all families to come to mass and then visit the classroom.

All mass times can be found in the All Saints Parish Bulletin and all other important information. A link can be found on the Parish Website:  https://www.dow.org.au/parish/all-saints-catholic-parish-shellharbour-city

6R has been focusing on Mary as our model of faithful discipleship. They have explored notable women throughout history who exemplify strong faith and courage, reflecting on how they lived their devotion to God.

Additionally, they have researched various Marian devotions, identifying key feast days and titles associated with Mary.

Finally, the class has deepened their understanding of key Church teachings and beliefs about Mary, exploring her significance in the Catholic faith.

It has been a very busy term in the Learning Centre. 

In English, we have been learning about informative texts. We have focused on different animals and learnt different facts about them. Did you know that koalas are not actually bears. We enjoy learning by playing lots of different games. A few favourites is the fly swatting game and bingo. 

Our Year 5 students got to go to camp. They enjoyed the silent disco at night time. 

This Term in Music, Kindergarten has been listening to and exploring pitch and movement patterns. We love learning new songs with Mrs Corradini and we are very clever when it comes to identifying whether the pitch sounds high or low at different points in the music.

This week we had lots of fun using the xylophones to follow pitch patterns in the nursery rhyme ’Little Mousie Brown’ and we especially enjoyed performing as a team for our class. Look at us go!

Congratulations

On Friday November 15, Mr Downes & Mrs Mobberley attended the CDF Sports Awards to celebrate the extensive sporting achievements of a number of Nazareth students. A number of students were recognised for their skills and abilities across a range of sports.

Matt B received the Wollongong Diocese Sports Council Medallion, recognising his achievement of being selected in the Diocese of Wollongong team for Rugby League, Rugby Union and Touch Football. 

Jack K received the Wollongong Diocese Sports Council Red (Medal), recognising his achievement of being selected for the Diocese of Wollongong team for Rugby League, Rugby Union and Touch Football and also being selected in the MacKillop team for Rugby Union and Rugby League.

Oliver S received the Wollongong Diocese Sports Council Red (Medal), recognising his achievement of being selected for the Diocese of Wollongong team for Cross Country and Athletics and also being selected in the MacKillop team for Cross Country and Athletics.

Morrison C received the Wollongong Diocese Sports Council Red (Medal), recognising his achievement of being selected for the Diocese of Wollongong team for Swimming, Athletics, Rugby League and Rugby Union and also being selected in the MacKillop team for Rugby League and Rugby Union. Additionally to these selections, Morrison was also selected in the PSSA team for Rugby Union. Morrison received a second award at the CDF Sports Awards, the John Gamble Trophy which is awarded to the most outstanding primary male athlete. 

Congratulations to all of our Nazareth CDF Sports Award winners. 

2025 Sports Nominations

Please note that all nominations are now closed. When trial convenors communicate the lists of students who are invited to trial, Compass events will be created and sent out. Please continue to check Compass for the most up to date details. 

Congratulations to the following students who have already trialled for 2025 Representative teams and have been selected:

• Jack K- Cricket
• Raven N- Basketball
• Kayden M- Basketball

Upcoming Events

2025 Representative Tennis Trial RESCHEDULED- Tuesday 26 November. Please note that this is a new date after the initial trial needed to be postponed due to poor weather. If your child is now unable or able to attend, please update permissions on Compass. 

Uniform Returns

If your child has any Nazareth sport uniforms such as jerseys, singlets, shorts or socks can they please be returned as soon as possible. We have a large number of children attending and we would appreciate having all of the uniforms returned.

PRINCIPAL AWARDS

Aston Dukleski

Hudson Hart

Benicio Gaudio Da Silveira

Sophia Urquart-Duchesne

Lani Gibson

Abbie Stephenson

Airley Hatcliffe

NAZARETH AWARDS

Cadence Little

Eli Butler

Jacob Sekulovski

April Cassanego

MERIT AWARDS

Hendrix Pavlina, Gabriel Khoury, Chidubem Okoro, Mackenzie Murphy, Lylah-Rose Delfino, Max Grehan, Willow Ferguson, Milla Fullagar, Carter Onorato, Bexley Gilligan, Emmanuel Vu, Harrison Tanevski, Tomas Rivera Marin, Aria Gutierrez, Cadence Little.

This week’s focus for PB4L is ‘Caring for our school environment’. During Week 6, students have been engaged in lessons and discussions where they have been asked to pinpoint areas in which they can take action to keep our school clean and safe. This begins with placing all our rubbish in the correct bin provided after they eat their recess and lunch. 

EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your
request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to FortnightlyEXISTING FAMILIES IN

OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2025 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please
complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s
administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the
school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process
of invoicing 2025 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date
depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.

IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying
by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment
request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.

NAZARETH PROMOTIONAL FILM

The film captures a day in the life of a Nazareth student.
Click https://youtu.be/olug9FWvZQI to view the film

FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGE FOR NAZARETH

If you haven't already please follow our school pages to keep up to date with events at school and for photos and updates from across the school. 

Please click on the direct links to follow our pages:

www.facebook.com/nazareth.shellhabour

www.instagram.com/nazareth.shellharbour

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY 

Please click on the below link for a direct link to the social media policy.

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/policies/social-media-policy/