Dear Parents and Carers

Please find some important information in this weeks newsletter

School Fees

Attached to this newsletter is a detailed breakdown of the 2022 School Fees.  This information will help you budget for next year moving forward.  It is important for you to complete the Sibling Fee Discount sheet as this is needed to apply any discounts that are applicable to your family. 

Compass

The school is intending to roll out more functionality to the Compass Portal.  This portal is intended to be a 'one-stop-shop' for parents in regards to communication.  Currently parents can access their child's report on this platform.  More information will follow next week about the increased access to the platforms full functionality.   

Ill Students 

An email was sent out yesterday concerning students who are ill.  If you have not read this, could you please do so at your earliest convenience.

Kindergarten 2022 Orientation

Our Kinder Orientation is scheduled for next week.  Communication has gone out to parents today informing them of our Covid Safe event.  Unfortunately this means it will not follow our usual process, but I am sure the children who can attend will still have a very enjoyable experience.  

SJV Religious Coordinator 2022

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that Mrs Laura Matchett will be our REC from 2022 onward.    

God bless everyone and stay safe.

Peter Rodda

Principal

Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the resolution (end) of the First World War (the Armistice) on 11 November, 1918.

The Armistice

In 1918, after suffering a number of defeats and heavy losses, the German forces agreed to an armistice (a truce) with the Allied troops and this signalled the end of WWI. The treaty was signed at 5am on 11 November 1918, but did not officially come into effect until six hours later at 11am. The armistice was met by celebration around the world; people yelled, cheered and danced in the streets.

For this reason, Remembrance Day was originally called Armistice Day. In Australia, it was renamed in 1997. The name change broadened the meaning of the day, widening the focus from World War I, to a day which commemorates those who served in any war or conflict.

Remembrance Day traditions

A minute of silence

Every year, nations around the globe fall silent for one minute at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who have served their country during war.

This practice stems from King George V’s declaration on 6 November 1919 that people throughout the Commonwealth should suspend their normal activities so that in “perfect stillness the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the Glorious Dead”.

Today at 11.00am we held one minutes silence, followed by some special prayer for all those who served their country.

A red poppy

The Flanders poppy was one of the first plants to grow on the blood-soaked battlefields of France and Belgium. In nineteenth century, English poetry, poppies often symbolised sleep or oblivion. After WWI, silk poppies were sold on Armistice Day with proceeds going to a charity for French children and to the Returned Soldiers League (RSL).

A sprig of rosemary

Many people wear a sprig of rosemary on Remembrance Day and on ANZAC Day. Since ancient times this aromatic herb has been recognised as a sign of remembrance and loyalty. For Australians, rosemary is even more significant as this plant grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula, serving as another reminder of the ANZAC troops who lost their lives there.

In 2015, I was fortunate to be at Turkey's Gallipoli Peninsula and be a part of the Dawn Service. It was an amazing experience as I travelled with a number Army Veterans and Secondary Students. We then hiked up to Lone Pine for the next service. What struck me the strong smell of the rosemary that was truly everywhere.

A flag at half-mast

On Remembrance Day, flags are flown at half-mast from 10.30am to 11.03am as a sign of mourning and respect. It is said that this tradition stems from sailing ships that lowered their sails at sea to honour an important person or mark a death.

There are a number of rules associated with flying the Australian flag at half-mast. The flag can never be flown at half-mast at night. If in a group of flags, all flags should be lowered to half-mast, however, Australia’s should be lowered last and raised first.

The Unknown Soldier

The Unknown Soldier is intended to represent all people killed during war, especially those with no known resting place. The original Unknown Soldier was entombed at Westminster Abbey in London on Remembrance Day 1920. On the same day, France entombed an Unknown Soldier below the Arc de Triomphe.

It was not until Remembrance Day 1993 that Australia laid to rest an Unknown Soldier in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. At his side was a bayonet and a golden sprig of wattle. The soldier was buried in a coffin made from Tasmanian Blackwood which was scattered with soil from the French battlefield, Pozières.

Remembrance Day fast facts

• The word ‘armistice’ means a truce or peace arrangement. It comes from the Latin word ‘arma’, meaning arms and ‘stitium’, meaning ‘a stopping’, giving us the meaning: to put down your arms (weapons).
• The famous poem In Flanders Fields that made the red poppy such an iconic symbol, was written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McRae. It is said that it only took him 20 minutes to write and that afterwards he threw it in the trash (from which it was thankfully saved by a fellow soldier).
• It was not just men who went to war. In World War I, many Australian women volunteered as cooks, drivers, interpreters and other skilled positions. Female nurses served in countries such as Egypt, France and Greece, often in dangerous conditions, close to the frontline where they were exposed to shelling.
• World War I was the first armed conflict where aircraft were used. There were around 3000 Australian airmen who served with the Australian Flying Corps.
• The conditions in WWI trenches were so horrifying that they gave their name to numerous ailments that occurred there. These include: ‘Trench Foot’ (a fungal foot infection), ‘Trench Nephritis’ (an inflammation of the kidneys)and ‘Trench Fever’ (a painful infection caused by lice).
• It is estimated that the WWI trench system on the Western Front measured approximately 475 miles (764km) in length.
• Rosemary is often worn on Remembrance Day. An old tale describes the Virgin Mary spreading her blue cloak over a flowering rosemary bush. The story says that the white flowers turned blue and from that day on the bush was called the ‘Rose of Mary’.
• Many countries (such as Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Poland) also observe Remembrance Day

The Fox

By Dimitri and Jasmine

Quick and stealthy

Stalking through the misty woods

Elegantly searching for prey

Digging underground to make a burrow

Sly and sneaky at the dusk of night

The Fox

By Sabina, Armahli  and Grace

Ears like blades, listening for danger

Eyes piercing through the darkness, 

Watching, waiting

Three, two, one, it sprints quickly through the night

In a flap of feathers,

It’s caught it’s prey

Dawn has risen

The Fox

By Mason, Charlie and Lochie

Fast and stealthy

Always ready to pounce

Focus with a piercing gaze

Ears listening sharply

The Fox

By Hayden and Janae

Orange fur, soft like wool

Desperate and hungry to eat its prey

Claws sharp as knives

Waiting to strike

The Fox

By Marley

Tail like a feather

Moving silently through the night. 

Mouth watering, watching rabbits hop around, 

Unknowing 

That one of them will die tonight.

Fur bristling with excitement, 

The fox leaps 

Rabbits scatter

The chase of life begins.

 Sheer hunger drives the fox on.

Hazzah! Dinner! 

The fox trotts happily through the night, 

Head held high, 

Looking towards the bright moon 

Lighting up the evening sky

As the Fox reaches its den,

Cubs leap around excitedly.

Teeth sink into the juicy rabbit, 

They welcome sleep.

You can run, but you can’t hide.

Youth Ministry Update

Sunday Resource

For this week’s Sunday resource, please access this our parish bulletin available at our link under the children’s section - Praying With Children: https://stjjvwestoncreek.blogspot.com/p/bulletins.html This worksheet reflects upon this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Mark 13: 24-32) where we hear about Jesus’ return to Earth. We are encouraged to reflect upon the nature of our lives here on Earth and how prevalent the occurrence of change is. We can take courage in the way that Christ’s words ‘will not pass away’, but rather, remain steadfast for the rest of time itself.

Parish News

With further easing of restrictions, our churches are available to accommodate a higher number of parishioners! Please feel encouraged in returning to the mass in person with your families. The parish will also be continuing to stream Sunday morning masses on YouTube at 9am as per usual. To access the mass for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary time (Year B) online, please access this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/stjjv .

The parish Christmas party is being held this year at st John Vianney's on the 3^rd of December! Please keep an eye out on this week’s parish bulletin for registration and further details of how the afternoon will run. We hope to see you there!

Yours in Christ,

Elena Catanzariti ( elena.catanzariti@cg.org.au )

St John Vianney's Youth Minister

St John Vianney's Youth Minister

Term 2 Week 4 Notes

No notes sent home this week. 

Term 2 Week 5 Notes

Term 2 Week 7 Notes

Term 2 Week 8 Notes

SJV Year Five Girls Group 2021

Term 2 Week 10 Notes

Parent Privacy Notice

Uniform Free Day

Term 3 Week 1 Notes

2021 Rescheduled Athletics Carnival Information

Term 3 Week 2 Notes

No Notes sent home this week

Term 3 Week 3 Notes

Year 6 Graduation Dinner Committee Letter

50th Anniversary Ball

Term 3 Week 4 Notes

No notes went home this week

Term 3 Week 5 Notes

South Weston Athletics Permission Slip 2021

Term 3 Week 6 Notes

Remote Learning Explanation

Microsoft Teams Handout for Families Chrome Browser

Microsoft Teams Handout for Families iPad

Microsoft Teams Handout for Families Web Browser

Daily Check In Rules Etiquette Please print out this daily check list and have it by your child's work station. 

Term 3 Week 7 Notes

21447 CEO Learning from Home Info Sheet V3

CEO Learning from Home Wellness Resource

Term 3 Week 8 Notes

No Notes sent home this week

Term 3 Week 9 Notes

No Notes sent home this week

Term 3 Week 10

No Notes sent home this week

Term 4 Week 1

Email sent out to Whole School Community 5 October 2021

Term 4 Week 2

No notes sent home this week

Term 4 Week 3

2022 School Travel

Term 4 Week 4

School Photo envelopes sent home with children. Yr 3, Yr 4 and Yr 5 will receive their school photo envelope when they return to school next Monday.

Term 4 Week 5 

No Notes sent home this week

Term 4 Week 6

No notes sent home this week