Reflecting on the importance of Remembrance Day each year is very important to our school. Remembrance Day has been observed since the end of the First World War to remember armed forces members who died in the line of duty. We want to help students develop an understanding of the sacrifices our brave men and women made to ensure the freedom we all have each day. Additionally, our school values of Humility, Compassion, Service and Charity tie in with the sacrifices each soldier made and continues to make. Congratulations to Mr Lawson and our Year Five students for leading us in such a special and meaningful ceremony yesterday. Thank you to the parents and grandparents who also attended our Remembrance Day Service.

Next week we will celebrate St Elizabeth’s Feast Day on Thursday, November 16 with a whole school Mass. I would like to extend an invitation to our school community who would like to join for mass as this will also be our Thanksgiving Mass for 2023. This year we are introducing the inaugural ‘St Elizabeth’s Day’ Award which recognises a student from Pre-Primary to Year Six who lives their life like St Elizabeth’s and demonstrated all the values that we strongly believe. After mass, students will be provided with a small cake for morning tea, however, if your child has certain food allergies or dietary needs, please pack their normal recess. All students are to wear the correct school uniform on the day.

A timely reminder about the importance of ongoing vigilance towards Covid-19 as we see a number of positive cases creep back into our communities. If you child is unwell and experiencing any flu-like symptoms, please keep them at home until they are well enough to come to school.

As we start the countdown towards the final few weeks of school, I would like to inform the school community about our Staffing for 2024. Some staff will be leaving us and have taken up positions at other CEWA schools for 2024. Mrs Sara Wall will be taking on the role of Art Specialist Teacher at Maria Goretti’s Catholic Primary School, Redcliffe and Mr Kyle Lawson will be moving to Francis Jordan Catholic Primary School, Currambine as a Year Four teacher. Sadly, Mrs Chelsea Lawrence will not be returning in 2024 along with Mrs Simone Passera and Mrs Robyn Watson who have been appointed positions at their current schools. On behalf of everyone, I take this opportunity to thank them all for everything they have done for the school community over the past few years and wish them all the best. Staffing has been finalised and I would like to formally welcome Mrs Kathryn Preiato (Kindergarten), Mrs Tamara Bowman (Year Six), Mrs Debby Williams (Education Assistant) to our team for 2024. An outline of Staff for 2024 can be found below. Please note that staffing can be an ever-moving landscape and there may be changes before the start of 2024. If anything changes with staffing this will be communicated.

Finally, a reminder that the Community Christmas Concert will be held on Wednesday, November 29 starting at 5pm. Each year level will be involved in the concert, therefore all students need to be attending this event. More specific details to come soon!!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

God bless

Rebecca Clarke

Principal

The Annual School Community General Meeting will be held on Monday, November 20 at 6pm in the Library. This meeting is open to everyone in our School Community and I encourage you to come along and listen to both the P&F Executive and the School Advisory Council as they will present their annual reports for 2023. I will also be doing a presentation of our new School Improvement Plan that we have been working hard on throughout the year. The election of new members onto the School Advisory Council or P&F Executive will be held at this meeting.

The School Advisory Council is a sounding board to the Principal to help with the present and future operation of the school. Please note it is not involved in the day-to-day operations or school finances. There will be one position available on the School Advisory Council for 2023. People interested in being elected to the Council, the following selection criteria will need to be considered:

• A keenness to promote quality Catholic schooling
• Possession of special skills that will be an asset to the Council
• A deep interest in the welfare of all students and staff
• A desire to give service to the St Elizabeth’s Catholic School community
• An ability to work cooperatively and constructively with all other members of the Council

Due to CEWA becoming incorporated, both the School Advisory Council and the P&F operate under their own specific ‘Terms of Reference’.

For 2024 there will be one (1) position open for election for the School Advisory Council. If you would like to nominate for the position, please complete the nomination below. Along with this nomination, please provide a detailed outline of your reasons for your nomination.

Due to the new CEWA P&F Terms of Reference, only the positions of Chair, Deputy Chair and Treasurer will be open for election. All members of our school community are welcome to join the P&F Committee as a General Member ... no nomination required … and I strongly encourage you to do so as it will only benefit our students.

If you wish to nominate for either the School Advisory Council or the P&F Executive positions all nominations need to be received by close of business on Wednesday, November 15.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

The sacrament commonly known as Reconciliation is referred to by various names, such as the Sacrament of Forgiveness or Confession. It signifies a profound symbol and a meaningful encounter with God's forgiveness. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of peace and healing because it restores us to our true selves and enables us to make peace with those who have been affected by our choices.

Our Year Three students celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation this week which, marks a pivotal moment in their ongoing faith journey Thank you to Mrs Golding and Mrs Kovacevich, Fr Peter, Fr Leonard and our families for your support and guidance, in preparation to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation in our Catholic Community .

May the grace and forgiveness experienced in this sacrament continue to illuminate the path for our students as they progress in their faith journey, bringing them closer to God and strengthening their bond of love and compassion.

In gratitude

Emma Fernandez

Assistant Principal

Polo Shirts, Shorts and Culottes $10.00

Tracksuit Pant and Tracksuit Tops $15.00

These may be ordered using the online order form ONLY please and will be sent home on the regular uniform shop day - Thursday. All other items remain at the same cost as listed.

No size 6 or 8 polo shirts unfortunately.

Our uniform next year updates and changes mean our existing uniform may be still worn for 2024 or may be worn on 'sports' days next year too for year 1-6.

More details on the new uniforms coming soon!

Tickets are $5 each, 3 for $10 or 7 for $20 and winners will be drawn at the Christmas Concert at school on Wed 29th Nov 2023 (last minute cash sales will be available on the night!). If a prize winner is not at the concert, a prize will be picked on their behalf by a P&F committee member.

Kirrily Macri from Harcourts Alliance has again generously donated 23 AMAZING prizes! Details of these prizes can be found by clicking on the ticket purchase link below.

You really will want to be in it to win it for this one!

Term 1 Start Date Wednesday 1 February

Term 1 End Date Thursday 6 April

Term 2 Start Date Wednesday 26 April
Term 2 End Date Friday 30 June

Term 3 Start Date Monday 17 July
Term 3 End Date Friday 22 September

Term 4 Start Date Tuesday 10 October

Term 4 End Date Friday 8 December

Friday 3 March

Monday 24 April
Friday 18 August
Monday 21 August

Monday, 9 October

Please note, these dates are subject to change. If these dates for Professional Learning do require amending, parents will be notified well in advance.

Confirmation

Candidate Commitment Mass

Saturday 25th March 6.00pm

Sunday 26th March 7.30am

Sunday 26th March 9.00am

Parent/Child Workshop

Tuesday 16th May 5.00pm

Candidate Retreat

Friday 19th May

Sacrament

Saturday 27th May 6.00pm

Sunday 28th May 11.00am

Saturday 10th June 6.00pm

Certificate Weekend

Sunday 11th June

First Holy Communion

Candidate Commitment Mass

Saturday 24th June 6.00pm

Sunday 25th June 7.30am

Sunday 25th June 9.00am

Sunday 25th June 6.00pm

Parent/Child Workshop

Tuesday 8th August 5.00pm

Candidate Retreat

Friday 11th August

Sacrament

Saturday 19th August 6.00pm

Sunday 20th August 9.00am

Sunday 20th August 6.00pm

Saturday 26th August 6.00pm

Sunday 27th August 9.00am

Sunday 27th August 6.00pm

Certificate Weekend

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September

Reconciliation

Commitment Mass

Saturday 16th September 6.00pm

Sunday 17th September 7.30am

Sunday 17th September 9.00am

Sunday 17th September 6.00pm

Parent Workshop

Wednesday 25th October 5.00pm

Candidate Retreat

Friday 3rd November

Sacrament

Tuesday 7th November 5.00pm

Wednesday 8th November 5.00pm

Thursday 9th November 5.00pm

Certificate Weekend

Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November