Dear Parents and Guardians

We have finalised our staffing requirements for the 2022 school year. I would like to warmly welcome Miss Meg Lambell, Miss Claire Henry and Mrs Suzanne Zammit as new staff members commencing in the new year. Grade structures and teacher placements for 2022 have been confirmed as below. 

Principal: Mr Justin Greenwood
Deputy Principal/Religious Education Leader: Mrs Rachael Williams
Learning Adjustment Leader: Mrs Holly Petersons
Administration Officers: Mrs Chelsea Van Der Linden and Ms Lauren Soumilas

Classroom Teachers:
Foundation (Homegroup M) Ms Leah Missen
Foundation (Homegroup H) Miss Claire Henry
Grade 1 (Homegroup B) Ms Rachel Braun
Grade 2/3 (Homegroup WP) Mrs Rachael Williams (3 days), Mrs Holly Peterson (2 days)
Grade 4/5/6 (Homegroup L) Miss Meg Lambell

Physical Education: Mr Paul Carroll
Japanese: Mrs Susan Taylor
Visual Arts: Mrs Kasey Burrell
Performing Arts: Mrs Kasey Burrell and Mrs Holly Hatch

Learning Support Staff:
Mrs Connie Mckinley
Mrs Suzanne Zammit (2 days)

Financial Support:

Many in our school community continue to face financial impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting families experiencing financial challenges through our

School Fee Concession programs, and encourage any parent/carer/guardian experiencing difficulties to contact us regarding fee assistance.

Please contact Lauren Soumilas on 5622 9800 or email lsoumilas@stangelawarragul.catholic.edu.au to explore confidential financial support arrangements or to obtain further information.

On Tuesday 16^th November our school will hold its official Blessing and Opening Ceremony. The following special guests will be present on the day;

       Most Reverend Gregory Bennet, Catholic Bishop of Sale.
       Very Reverend Peter Slater, Parish Priest.
       Ms Maria Kirkwood, Director of Catholic Education and Chief Executive Officer of                                         Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited.
       The Honourable Russell Broadbent MP, Member for Monash.

Due to current COVID restrictions our numbers will unfortunately be limited. We are hopeful that our staff and students will be able to attend this special event.  Our parent community will be represented by two of our school advisory board members, Kristy Telford and Kelly Bonnaci.

A reminder that school photo day will be held on Monday 8th November.

Photo forms can be returned to the office prior to photo day.

A reminder that Chocolate money is now overdue.

We would like to thank everyone for your amazing efforts with this fundraiser.

Thank you to the Parents and Friends Committee for organising this fantastic fundraiser for our school.

At St Angela of the Cross Primary School we implement the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support (WSAPBS) approach in order to create an environment that is predictable, known and safe for our students. Positive Behaviour approaches focus on the development of expectations, values, relationships and skills.

The first part of implementing our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support was the development of our School Wide Expectations. These were developed in conjunction with staff, students and parents. Our School Wide Expectations are:

• Safe
• Respectful
• Inclusive, and
• Persistent

As a school we will work together to unpack what these expectations look like and are asking us to do. This term, staff will work with the students to unpack the first two expectations - Safety and Respect.

For the past few weeks the students have been focusing on understanding what ‘safe’ looks like, feels like and sounds like in the various learning spaces of our school. They are learning how to recognise, react and respond appropriately to unsafe behaviours and how to encourage safe behaviours at school. We will continue to unpack this expectation over the next few weeks. You might like to discuss how your child displays safe behaviours at school with them at home. 

Swallowing Widow’s Property

Wealthy beyond the imagination of people in Jesus’ time, ordinary Australians squirm a little when we hear today’s gospel (Mark 12:38-44). Jesus always has a special place for “the poor”; indeed they are central to his Good News. He has a very good sense of who holds overwhelming power in his society and forever he is reminding the haves of their obligation to the have nots.

Jesus’ illustration upholds the nobility and dignity of the have nots. This particular have not, this desperately poor widow, has a closer relationship with her creator than do the haves, the crooks and cons who actually swindle her out of what little she has. Wallowing in the wealth that most Australians enjoy, relative to the rest of humanity over time and place, of course we squirm! “Are we not entitled to earth’s fruits which have fallen to us either by good luck or good management?”
That’s a qualified “yes”. As soon as we start to defensively protest, “I earned this with the sweat of my brow, or I inherited this, no-one takes what is mine etc.”, we begin to resemble those long-robed scribes in the seats of honour. Uh Oh! Creations abundance is for all humanity. Our task is to ensure the distribution is loving and equitable. So what is the answer? Well, firstly we need to review whether we are swallowing the property of widows? Are we penny-pinching landlords, overcharging business operators or ungenerous workers, cheaters of taxation or voters against the poor? No! Good! Earth has furnished us with abundance and we are entitled to our share, so how do we play our part making distribution equitable? One response, as Christmas approaches, is to seek out the poor in Australia and around the world and find ways to generously give until it hurts. Then we might know a little of the widow’s generosity and her closeness to God. (hint: Plan International/ Caritas/Care Australia/Catholic Mission/ Vinnies).

Deacon Mark Kelly

Last Friday our school supported Day for Daniel which is Australia’s largest child safety and awareness day. The students were encouraged to wear Red and took part in activities designed to help them recognise, react and respond to unsafe situations. This also aligns with our Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support - School Wide Expectation: Safety. 

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation website has some fantastic resources for parents and carers wanting to know more about child safety and how to speak to their children about safety. 

https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/parents_carers/. 

There are also some conversation starter cards linked below that help parents and carers to start the conversation about child safety with their children.

Conversation Cards

Conversation Cards 3.11 MB

This term in Religious Education, the students at St Angela of the Cross are learning about Social Justice. Students will develop the knowledge, skills and understandings to enable them to learn about their needs and the needs of others. Throughout the term, the Social Justice Leaders will assist in prayer services and fundraising initiatives to support the purchase of educational resources and materials for vulnerable children across the world. Please see below for our Social Justice fundraising initiatives for the month of November.

‘Funky Sock Friday’- Friday 5th November

Students are encouraged to come to school wearing their, funkiest, craziest and creative socks!
Please bring a gold coin donation.

‘Icy Pole Day’- every Wednesday in November

(3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th)

The Social Justice Leaders will be selling icy poles at lunchtime every Wednesday in November for $1.

For more information about Catholic Mission please visit: https://www.catholicmission.org.au/

Students recently participated in a Zoom call with Father Peter. Students hosted  a prayer service and also had some questions for Father Peter to answer about Creation. He was able to share his insights with the students which was a great experience. We also showed off our wonderful singing and actions to some of our favourite songs. Some of the wonderful questions from across Homegroup 1, 2  and 3: 

 How did God make the elements on earth? 

How is God so powerful to make all this? 

How did the earth freeze a few years after creation? 

How did God make the whole earth? 

How was God created? 

How long was God alive for? 

How did God make all different languages? 

What was God’s meaning for creating earth? 

We have received more books and need some help with contacting. 

If you are able to lend a hand please speak to the ladies in the office.