MASS TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR

Today the school community joined together to celebrate the beginning of the 2020 school year. Student Representative Council members from each grade, received their badges. Congratulations to these students.

ASH WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday 26^th February, students from Years Three to Six will be attending Mass in the All Saints Church at 9:30am to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Students from Kindergarten to Year Two will receive ashes during a class prayer celebration. On Ash Wednesday, a cross will be placed on our foreheads as a reminder that we follow Christ. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Church season of Lent. With the help of Jesus, we try during Lent to become better. Parents are invited to attend Mass with the students.

HELPING CHILDREN UNDERSTAND LENT

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent and our preparation for Easter. As parents of young children know, Lent can seem so “heavy” in comparison to the excitement of preparing for Christmas. What can this season mean for little children?

For many of us growing up, Lent meant “giving up lollies”. That wasn’t a bad way to introduce us to the notion of self-discipline, but simply giving up something for Lent, without a whole spirituality that children can enter into, can leave kids dreading Lent more than looking forward to it.

The most important part of Lent can be how children are helped to make this a time to practice being more loving. In this spirit, every family can do something to make Lent special for children. The key features of Lent are:

• prayer
• almsgiving
• fasting

While children are too young to fast they are able to pray and offer help to others. One perfect way to offer almsgiving is to collect money for Project Compassion.

PROJECT COMPASSION

At this time of year, we show our love through our support of Project Compassion. Project Compassion boxes will be sent home with families next week. Could you please give generously to this appeal? Your donations will allow Caritas Australia to reduce poverty and hunger in more than 35 countries around the world.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

In Week 6, we celebrate Catholic School’s Week from 1^st to 7^th March. The school has a number of events to celebrate this week.

On Monday 2^nd March, the school will join together at 1:50pm in the school hall, in a prayer celebration to signify the beginning of Catholic Schools Week.

On Thursday 5^th March, staff will attend the Diocesan Education Mass in the evening.

On Friday 6^th March, there will be the opportunity for parents to visit the classrooms at 1:50pm in order to view students work.

School tours will operate during the week to showcase our school to new families.

Beginning the first weekend of Lent, there will be a change in Parish Mass times. From Saturday 29^th February the Saturday Vigil Mass will start at 5:00pm. From Sunday 1^st March, the evening Mass will start at 5:00pm.

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE 2020

Preparation for the Sacrament of Penance continues for students in Year Three. Please be reminded that an expectation is that children and parents attend Mass each weekend.

On the weekend of 22^nd/23^rd February, families will be advised of the workshops times that they will attend. Allow 10 minutes after Mass.

On the weekend of 29^th Feb/1^st March, books for the workshops will be distributed. Allow 15 minutes after Mass.

Monday 2^nd March to Friday 6^th March will be the first week of workshops.

On the weekend of 7^th/8^th March, Holy Cards with the Act of Contrition will be distributed.

Monday 9^th March to Friday 13^th March will be the second week of workshops.

On the weekend of 14^th/15^th March, examination of the children’s ability to recite the Act of Contrition. Parents must be available to recite the Act of Contrition. Please allow 10 minutes after Mass.

We have been talking about a special story from the Bible called ‘Jesus and the Children’. In this story Jesus is talking with his disciples when some parents and children come to meet him. Jesus’ disciples tell the children to go away because Jesus is very busy. Jesus tells the disciples to let the children come to Him. Then Jesus welcomes the children and blesses them.

The children in 1S imagined that they were going to meet Jesus like the children in the story.

What would you say to Jesus if you could meet him in person?

The lovely 4A have had a fantastic start to the school year! Together as a whole class we have enjoyed getting to know one another and have been enjoying each other’s company. We have been taking part in many learning tasks that involve group work and teamwork skills. 4A have particularly enjoyed visiting the library on a Monday, borrowing books to read at home and during silent reading time. Mrs Troughton welcomes us into the library, ensuring all the fantastic books are neatly stocked in the shelves. Thanks Mrs Troughton for making our library time a breeze!

SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2020

The school’s annual swimming carnival was held last Friday. A huge thank you is extended to staff and the parents that assisted with the morning. In particular the school wishes to sincerely thank Mr Archie Walker for his involvement as carnival referee. Mr Walker is very experienced and is highly regarded throughout the Illawarra in relation to swimming training and swimming carnivals. Also, as previously stated an apology for any inconvenience created because of weather related changes.

The children who competed at the carnival were excellent and all should be very pleased with their efforts. The sporting house results were:                     

Stella S, Aiden M, Olivia W, Cohen G-V, Addison P, Sonny C, Sebastian M, Jackson C, London O'R, Starr C, Chloe B, Cruz K

P & F MEETING

A reminder to all families that the P&F AGM will be held tonight commencing at 7:00pm in the school Library. All are welcome.

Parents and Friends Associations are formed in all Catholic Schools. The P&F exist to:

• Formally recognise the role that parents / carers play in the education of their children
• Provide a collaborative, accessible forum for parents to meet formally and regularly with school staff to discuss matters pertaining to the education of students
• Provide a parental perspective to assist the Principal in general decision making
• Allow parents to be informed and educated about the faith-life and educational goals of the school
• Promote appropriate social contact among parents and friends
• Foster effective partnerships between parents, students, staff, Parish and the Diocese
• To raise funds to provide resources to enrich the learning environment of the school.

At tonight’s AGM, executive positions will be declared vacant and a new executive will be appointed.

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/