Dear Parents, at St Angela’s engaging and hearing the voice and ideas of our parents is important to us. An effective and professional way of doing this is through a School Advisory Committee who meet regularly to discuss the happenings of our school. To form a committee, we need at least four parents willing to offer their time and expertise to attend monthly meetings and represent the broader parent population.

The purpose and responsibilities of committee members is outlined below. If you or someone you know is interested in joining this committee please nominate below using the 'School Advisory Commitee' link below by Tuesday 2^nd March. In the result that we have more than four nominations a parent vote will decide the makeup of the committee.

School Advisory Committee Purposes

The purposes of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• act as an advisory body to the principal on matters concerning education in the school
• act as a forum for discussion on matters concerning education in the school
• provide a link between the parish priest, principal, teachers and parishioners in relation to the provision of Catholic education in the parish community
• promote community development by fostering a strong inter-relationship between the parish, the primary school and Catholic secondary colleges.

School Advisory Committee Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• promote the Catholic ethos of the school
• provide feedback on and review of school policies
• plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
• provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
• provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
• promote child safety in the school

Feast Day

St Angela of the Cross-Feast Day is next Tuesday March 2^nd. Please see timetable below outlining activities for the day. As we are attending Mass offsite please ensure you have given permission for you child to attend Via PAM.

Just a reminder to all families that school finishes at 3:20pm. We understand that occasionally things happen and you may be late from picking up your children, please call ahead to the office to advise.

Mark’s gospel gives the game away from the start – this is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But what does that mean?

Jesus’ A Team: Peter, James and John, have been privileged witnesses to much of Jesus’ ministry to this point, but still it is not clear. Their leader, not only a powerful preacher, healer and prophet is something more: “Beloved Son” of the Creator. Wow!

Even after this Transfiguration experience (Mark 9:2-10) they don’t fully understand God or God’s beloved Son or the Good News message that is the Son’s mission. Transfiguration gives a tantalising glimpse of the Creator’s loving relationship with the Son, whose example and Good News in turn is about a close, all loving, Father.

God is unimaginable for us. Anything we say about God is simply an attempt to encapsulate that which is way beyond our understanding. How preposterous for us or anyone claiming to absolutely know or to understand the mind of God!

We have outgrown childish images of God as a long-bearded old man floating on white clouds with harp playing angels. Outgrown too the notion of a distant, vengeful God hurling lightning bolts at human transgressors.

Pope Francis challenges us to expand our thinking by allowing a new wisdom to shape the understanding of our faith, our world and our images of God.

“At the end” Pope Francis teaches us, “we will find ourselves face to face with the infinite beauty of God (1 Cor 13:12) and be able to read with admiration and happiness the mystery of the universe, which with us will share in unending plenitude.” “Eternal life will be a shared experience of awe, in which each creature, resplendently transfigured, will take its rightful place”. (Laudate Si #243)

Deacon Mark Kelly         

If your family has not already made their Commitment, you are invited to come along to one of the following Weekend Masses below. Please note this will be the last opportunity for families to make their Commitment during Mass.

Please book online to attend one of these Masses, you will find the link in our February 21^st Weekend ‘Parish Bulletin’ sent out through your school. Or you may go to ‘TryBooking: Sell Tickets Online’ then type the word  Ita in the Search Events box. This will take you to this weekend’s Masses.

For the families that are not able to attend one of these Masses you will be able to make your Commitment at one of our Reconciliation Workshops.

WEEKEND MASSES

Saturday

St Ignatius Church. Main Neerim Sth Rd, Neerim South - Saturday: Vigil 5.30pm

St Joseph’s Church.  Witton Street, Warragul - Saturday Vigil: 7.00pm

Sunday

St Joseph’s Church. Witton Street, Warragul - Sunday: 9.00am

St Ita’s Church. Victoria Street, Drouin - Sunday: 10.30am

WORKSHOP REMINDER:

Our next Reconciliation meeting will be our first Parent/Child Workshop on Wednesday 3rd March at 7pm at St Ita's School Hall or on Thursday 4th March at 4pm or 7pm at St Joseph's Church Warragul. 

Also our second Parent/Child Workshop on Wednesday 10th March at 7pm at St Ita's School Hall or on Thursday 11th March at 4pm or 7pm at St Joseph's Church Warragul. 

IMPORTANT: Please arrive 15 minutes before your chosen workshop, as we will be starting each workshop promptly at the designated time so we can finish on time.

We are really looking forward to seeing your family at one of these workshops.

For any enquiries please contact Thérèse on 0499 116 428

The recent snap lockdown may have brought up thoughts and worries about COVID 19 for your children again. Dealing with Coronavirus can be tough for everyone – kids, young people and adults – from all walks of life.  For children with “big feelings” and challenging life events, it can be even harder.

Here are some ideas from Calm Kid Central about how to answer children or young people’s questions or respond to their worries.  

For more information about the resources Calm Kid Central offers Gippsland families, please visit  the below link or come and talk to Holly Peterson. 

We have a library full of books that need some contact covering.

If you would like to help the school with this task, please see the office staff for a take home bundle.

Any help big or small will be appreciated.

Each week students in Homegroup 1 participate in ‘Finger Gym’.  Finger Gym encourages students to rotate through fun and motivating fine motor-based activities, which help develop strong, flexible fingers, hands and arms. These stations also promote hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills and foster language and conversational skills. Who knew learning could be so much fun! Take a look at some of the fun we have been having whilst participating in our Finger Gym sessions. Great work Homegroup 1!

We have been focusing on positive learning behaviours such as trying new things, listening, using mistakes as changes to learn and teamwork in Homegroup 2. Students have been working in teams to create marble runs, paper planes and straw bridges. Learning how to compromise and negotiate, listening to others and taking on board feedback from their peers has been the focus of these tasks. This has been a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and see the many ways in which we can learn at school. Although winning was not the main outcome of the paper plane challenge, congratulations to Flynn, Blake and Edward who were able to fly their plane the furthest. 

Last week at home we explored the concept ‘art is all around us’ by creating pictures using items we found in our backyards or local neighbourhoods. The students did an amazing job – thanks to everyone who sent a photo through! Here are just a few of the amazing artworks that were created at home.

During lockdown students were asked to create a scene using toys as characters and props from home. Here are some photos of the fabulous scenes some of our students created!

During the first four lessons of Physical Education in Term 1, students have been involved in a variety of individual and team minor games. These games are all very inclusive and aim to maximise participation and physical activity throughout the lesson. Lessons encourage sportsmanship, teamwork and cooperation and have required a variety of Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS).

Homegroup 1 are developing their understanding of the importance of rules and safety in Physical Education. They understand the importance of the whistle and when they hear this sound, they must ‘stop, look and listen’. Whilst during the first couple of lessons minimal equipment was used, we have now introduced some balls and other items such as a parachute into games, highlighting the progress these students have made in the early weeks of their school life.     

This week, both Homegroup 1 and Homegroup 2 will be starting an Athletics Unit. These lessons will focus on particular skills such as running, leaping, throwing and jumping. The unit will also focus on ensuring the students are prepared for the inaugural St Angela of the Cross House Athletics Carnival. This event will be held on the school oval on Monday 29^th March. More details will be provided to parents closer to the event.   

The culvert under Copelands Road in Warragul located immediately north of Bella Vista Drive is due for upgrading. The works are anticipated to take up to 3 weeks to complete (subject to weather) and are expect to commence on Monday 8th February and be completed by Friday 26th February 2021. Detours will be in place for the duration of these works. Local residents are advised to use Mills Road, Stoddards Road and Normanby Street.