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Principal's MessageDear Parents and Carers
I hope you have all survived the first three days of Remote Learning with your children. Of course, there have been teething problems, but I believe that all our families seem to be managing this brave new world.
Can I take moment to thank the dedicated staff of SJV who have worked tirelessly before and during the holidays to make sure that the student's experience would be engaging and worthwhile. We know that a flat screen does not, and will not replace the teacher working side by side by your child, but the teachers have tried their hardest to make this experience a positive one.
Below I have shared a quote with you that I think is really worth thinking about. It was stated in the context of 'Social Distancing' and the implications that this term raises. Whilst it is vital that we do observe 'distancing’, this quote gives us something extra to think about.
'We actually need to be thinking in the exact opposite way. Every hand that we don't shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise. It is obvious that "distancing", if misplaced or misunderstood, will take its toll not only upon our community's strength and resiliency, but upon the very integrity and meaning of our spiritual commitment. …
Let's stay safe. And let's draw one another closer in a way that we've never done before.' (Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky)
School Website - Remote Learning
The school, with a huge amount of help from one of our parents, has established a Remote Learning page on our website. I have placed the link here.
https://sjvpswaramanga.schoolzineplus.com/remote-learning
This page has links to all class communication platforms, as well as links to websites and apps that offer supplemental learning to some of the schools main programs.
The best thing about this page is that all the links are in one spot. You will not have to troll through hundreds of emails to find the one school email that has the vital information that is eluding you.
It is my recommendation that you bookmark the school webpage and use it frequently, as this might make things a lot easier for your Remote Learning experience.
Remote Learning Survey
As was mentioned in my Tuesday email, I will send you a survey to complete tomorrow afternoon. It is vital that you respond to this survey, as we would like to see if the school has the correct balance of remote work that is being planned for your children.
Newsletter Change
Next week we will be starting a new section in our newsletter that will give some snippets of information about the experiences of the teachers and children in regards to our Remote Learning Program. There will be a sentence from every class, highlighting something that has been a success.
School Counsellor
Mercedes our counsellor is still holding appointments with students either over the phone or through a chat function approved by Catholic Care. If you need to access the services of our school counsellor, please contact me directly so I can begin the process for your child to be seen.
ANZAC Day Competitions
Well done to Sky, Lucia and Chloe who all wrote essays for this years Anzac Essay Competition. The children placed 3rd, 4th and 7th out of around 15+ schools, a fabulous effort.
The essay was based on a particuarly hard topic - How soldiers pay respect by reversing their rifle.
Well done girls, you have indeed represented our school proudly.
Reach Out
If you need help for anything, please reach out to the school or someone in our community. At this time of need know that there is always someone there who can listen to you and try and help your situation to improve.
God bless everyone and stay safe
Peter Rodda
Principal
with Nina De Rosa
Mrs D’s ‘Thought of the Week….’
“Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." - Cherokee Proverb
With Sharee Thomas
Fourth Sunday of Easter, John 10:1-10
This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is often described as Good Shepherd Sunday. The Gospel on this Sunday comes from John, chapter 10 – Jesus speaking on the image of himself as the Good Shepherd. This year the reading is the beginning of the chapter, verses 1-10.
For a reader to understand this story, they must be familiar with the context of the time. Shepherds would often put their lives in danger to tend to their flocks. Of a night time, several flocks of sheep would stay in a communal sheepfold, usually made of stone walls. There was only one entrance to the sheepfold and one of the shepherds would sleep across the entrance way, effectively becoming the gate for the sheepfold. This would allow the shepherd to keep the sheep in the sheepfold, but also to guard against thieves. Thieves could climb over the wall into the sheepfold but the sheep were trained to respond to their shepherd’s voice alone so thieves could only steal what sheep they could carry off. When Jesus described himself as the gate of the sheepfold, his audience would have immediately understood what He was saying. We must remember to listen for the voice of Jesus in our lives; that is the voice of the one who lay down His life for us. Our Good Shepherd.
Even though we have less experience with sheep and shepherds today in our society, we can still identify strongly with the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and as the gate for the sheep. Psalm 23 remains a popular and favourite psalm for prayer. In the image of the Good Shepherd, we know ourselves to be protected and cared for by a loving God.
This week as a family talk about the fact that shepherds and sheep have a close relationship. Sheep will only follow their own shepherd; they recognise his voice and will not follow a stranger. The shepherd’s job is to protect his sheep. In some ways, the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep is like that of a parent and child. In this weird time of staying isolated and away from each other and potentially our family, parents are just protecting your child, like a shepherd protects their flock.
Parish Contacts – email addresses for Weekly Bulletin
Fr Michael would like to encourage any parents in the community to reach out to his office via email (included below) if they would like to be included in the list of parishioners that receive an email of the Sunday bulletin every week. This is a great way to stay in touch with the parish community, especially in a time of disconnection. westoncreek@cg.org.au
If you know of anyone who has no internet and would benefit from a hard copy, Fr Michael is placing limited numbers outside the doors of both Churches each weekend; or for those unable to venture out at all, arrangements can be made to have it delivered if they can contact the office.
Please remember to look after each other and stay safe. If you need ANY support in any way, shape or form, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact us here at school.
Have a great week!
Calling all remote learners.
Welcome to our first newsletter article from Our Remote Learning Headquaters. In the following weeks you find some of the great work our students have done in their remote learning displayed here. Stay tuned for some great items next week.
Congratulations to Xavier B and his family on the birth of baby sister Harper and to Zara C and her family on the arrival of baby sister Olivia.
Welcome to Term Two! I hope you were all able to enjoy your ‘home Easter’. Those children who have resumed preschool this week have enjoyed catching up with their preschool friends and educators. Library and music will go ahead as usual for the term so do not forgot your library bag each Wednesday. For those of you who are at home, thank you for the photos, pictures, videos and mail you have sent. Keep an eye on your mailbox over the next week. The photos included are some of the activities children have engaged in at the ELC and during the holidays which could be implemented at home. We would LOVE for you to record yourself, a family member or a friend reading a story for us to share with the children. Alternatively why not send us a video of a puppet show, a dance, cooking, a science experiment, introducing your pet, playing an instrument or your child saying a hello? Photos and posted items are also welcome.
Covid-19 adjustments
St Jude’s ELC will remain open unless advised otherwise by the health authorities. I will email you if the centre is advised to close. The same hygiene measures and adjustments that were implemented last term will remain in place:
-Birthday and other celebrations - if you are sending food in for the class to help celebrate an occasion, it needs to be pre-packaged and have ingredients listed (still in packaging)
-No fruit shop
-Pick up from 2:50-3pm from Preschool Program. Your child and a staff member will meet you at the back gate. Please ensure you are social distancing whilst waiting for your child.
-Children and staff to wash hands with soap on arrival
-Keep children at home when they are unwell
Further to this:
<-Dress ups and cushions have been removed from classrooms
<!-All of our educators have completed the Department of Health’s Covid-19 training
<!-No food will be provided during After School Care
<!-Staff will sign your child in and out on the IPad
<!-Children will spend as much time outside as possible. Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.
<-Cooking will not be included in any programs
Families who are unsure about sending their children to the ELC are encouraged to contact the 24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line 1800020080. Catholic Education have information for families on the Catholic Education website: COVID-19 information and resources page.
Drop off and pickup - Due to social distancing and to minimise the spread of germs, we have adjusted our pick up and drop off routines. Families and carers are required to wait at the preschool gate until 9am when a staff member will welcome your child in. Families and carers will need to say goodbye at the gate. From 2:50 each afternoon a staff member will be at the gate to dismiss your child to you when you arrive. When weather permits, note pockets will be hung on the preschool fence next to the gate. For children attending Seahorse programs (before and after school care) a staff member will greet you at the sunroom door. Thank you all for your understanding.
Gabrielle Adams - st judes elc
Phone: 62875520
Email: elc.stjudes@cg.catholic.edu.au
Each week we will be interviewing one of our fabulous teachers so you can get to know a bit more about them.
This Week is Mr Young 1B
What is your favourite sport/sports team?
Football First: Liverpool FC and then NRL: Cronulla Sharks
What is your favourite Music/Band?
Midnight Oil / RAMONES
What are some of your hobbies?
Playing board and miniature games/ Playing Guitar/ Playing Retro Arcade Games
Do you have any pets?
We have three dogs, a Cavalier Spaniel (Chewbacca/Chewy), a Cav/Maltese Cross (Percy) and a Papillion (Prissi)
What is your favourite food?
Chicken Schnitzel and Chips
Where did you go to Primary School and what subject did you enjoy the most?
I went to school at Hillsborough Primary School, Lake Macquarie in NSW (near Newcastle) my favourite subjects were Maths and Art
Why did you become a teacher?
In Year One I came home and told my Mum I wanted to be an Infants teacher. (I don’t know if that was because my Year One teacher was good or I thought I could do better)
What inspires you and why?
I’m inspired by children who improve over the course of the year. Nothing makes coming back the next year easier than seeing children from previous class’ academic growth.
Mothers Day is a little more than a week away and so how about you encourage your children to make or bake something for their mum. Then on Mother's Day mum can sit down have a cup of coffee or tea and taste a sweet treat or admire the handmade creation.
See below for a couple of suggestions.
Caramello Chocolate Slice
Ingredients
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250 g Caramello chocolate
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250 g Granita biscuits crushed
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200 g condensed milk
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125 g butter
Method
2. Break chocolate into pieces, add to butter mixture and stir until chocolate has melted.
3. Add to crushed biscuits and mix well.
EQUIPMENT
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1 20cm x 30cm slice pan
