Whitford Catholic Primary School
Newsletter 2 - 17 February 2021
LENT
Lent offers us a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we’ve done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.
We thank you God for your forgiving love and ask you to help us live and act for others. May we continue to be promise keepers, planting seeds of Unity and Reconciliation this Lenten season.
Amen
Message from the Principal
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet with our Year 6 students and discuss what their leadership of the student body might look like this year. We outlined and shared how the school values, our school charism and motto would guide them to be effective leaders. Students were asked who they represented and how their actions would reflect positively or negatively on the groups they identified including: themselves, their class groups, their year groups, their families and their school. Ultimately, our Year 6s were charged with leaving the school in a better position as a result of their association with the school.
This Friday, student leadership badges will be presented at the Senior Assembly from 2.15pm. Merit certificates will also be presented. Please note that in the current situation we can only enable one parent/carer of students receiving badges or merit certificates to attend. We thank you for your cooperation.
Thanks to community members who attended the Ash Wednesday mass this morning. Due to current restrictions, students were not able to attend mass and experienced a liturgy and distribution of ashes in their classrooms. Thank you to Mr De Maio for organising this for us. Ash Wednesday begins our forty-day season of Lent that leads to Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together like the people of the Old Testament to remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and need to ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, and to have a change of heart, so that we can live in right relationship with God and each other.
On Ash Wednesday, the priest or person giving out ashes usually rubs them on our forehead in the shape of a cross while saying:
“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”
This year, in line with directives from the Archdiocese of Perth, students had ashes sprinkled on their heads and recited:
“Ask forgiveness and always love others as Jesus did.”
For Catholics, Ash Wednesday is also a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Fasting reminds us that food alone cannot make us happy. We must also be fed with prayer, with God’s Word and by meeting Jesus in the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Eucharist. The small sacrifices we make during Lent make room in our hearts to welcome the risen Jesus at Easter. (Adapted from http://www.ourlanguageourstory.org)
Our School Board met on Tuesday evening. The School Board under CEWA Inc will become the School Advisory Council. These committed individuals give their time and effort to assist to improve our school and make a positive difference for our students, staff and community. I would like to thank them for their dedication to our school. This evening there will be a P&F Meeting in the staffroom. This will commence at 7.30pm. The P&F also demonstrate commitment to our school and assist in community building and fundraising for special projects and initiatives which particularly benefit our students. Congratulations to the P&F for winning grants for Science and Sustainability.
Schools were never designed for large scale drive through pick-ups and drop-offs but in current times schools are trying hard to accommodate this. The system only works if all adults exercise patience and good judgement. The first priority is the safety of our children. Please ensure you are not stopping and getting out in the lines and please also ensure that your child is using the safe door when entering or exiting your car. The safe door is the one closest to the footpath. This may require you to move car seats etc if you are picking up more than one child so that all children can enter from the safe side of the car.
Fr Cyprian is celebrating his 10th Anniversary of Priesthood on Sunday 7th March with an outdoor mass on the school oval at 11.00am followed by lunch and entertainment. Fr Cyprian does much for our school and community and it would be great to see members of our school community there to congratulate him. All are invited to attend.
Best wishes and God bless
Mark Marando
Principal
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Important Dates
Thursday 18 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
- Year 3 Badminton
Friday 19 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
- Assembly - Presentation of Ministry Badges/ Sports Captains
Monday 22 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
Tuesday 23 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
Wednesday 24 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
Thursday 25 February
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
- Year 3 Badminton
Friday 26 February
PUPIL FREE DAY - NO SCHOOL
Monday 1 March
PUBLIC HOLIDAY - LABOUR DAY
Tuesday 2 March
- Year 3 and 4 Swimming lessons
Assembly
This Friday's Senior Assembly at 2pm we will present the the Ministry and Sports Captain badges. Can we please only have two members from the families of the students who will be receiving their badge.
Merit Award Winners
The following students will be presented with Merit Awards at this weeks assembly. Only two people per family may attend.
3B
Thomas White
Ana Sofia McAlpine
3G
Noah Mooney
Natalia Vellutini
3W
Massimo Bartolomei
Rhea Bulsara
Eddie Holtham
4B
Nikolas Csejtei
Julian Keswell
Grace Alexander
4G
due to swimming lessons these awards will be presented at the next senior assembly
Ryder von Bergheim
Lucy McConnon
Natalie Zoltowska
4W
due to swimming lessons these awards will be presented at the next senior assembly
Dante Keswell
Abbey Itzstein
Hannah Nettleton
5B
Jarrod Alport
Alfie Falconer
5G
Peter Crock
Will Phillips
Summer Claxton
5W
Stefan Bujaroski
Eden Gee
6B
Anna Wintle
Lekshman Aloysious
Grace Shier
6G
Cian Briscoe
Will Simmons
Siofra Cashman
6W
Cara Stritch
Tadgh Scanlon
Anthony Mikhail
Book Club
PE News
We have several events taking place for students this term and we can't wait to get back into it! Firstly, well done to the students in years 3 and 4 for your fantastic start to your swimming lessons at State Swim. Also, to the students in years 3-6 who have attended before school swim training, well done on your efforts and commitment so far. Sessions are taking place on Monday, Tuesday & Friday mornings between 7:15am - 8:00am. Please see the school stream previously sent out for further information.
We have had a fantastic turn out with over 50 students at both sessions! Thank you to the amazing teachers Miss Golisano, Mrs Hunt, Mrs Hopkins and Mrs Godrich for your assistance and to Mr Joel Patterson (parent) for leading the training.
YR 3-6 SWIMMING CARNIVAL - WEDNESDAY 10TH MARCH (HBF ARENA JOONDALUP)
A reminder that the Yr 3-6 Swimming Carnival is taking place on Wednesday 10th March at HBF Arena Joondalup. Information regarding the event will be sent out this week on School Stream. Please keep an eye out and fill in the information at your earliest convenience.
RUNNING CLUB
Running Club will commence later this term on our school oval on Wednesday mornings between 8:00am - 8:30am. Running Club is open for students in Years 1-6. Pre-Primary students are welcome to attend with parents/guardians asked to remain at the session. More information to follow soon.
YEAR 3 BADMINTON (PHYSICAL RECREATION)
The Year 3 students have been fortunate enough to partake in Badminton lessons in the school gym. The students have enjoyed their first session learning new skills with lots of fun challenges!
YEAR 6 SURFING LESSONS (PHYSICAL RECREATION)
The Year 6 students will partake in Surfing lessons at Trigg Beach commencing on Thursday 4th March. More information will be sent on school stream later this week.
Mr Adriano D’Adamo
Physical Education Specialist/Sport Co-ordinator
Dance and Drama
Christian Dance 2021 Auditions
Students in Year 4, 5 or 6 are welcome to audition for the Christian Dance Group for 2021. The requirement is that students need to be currently attending dance (ballet or contemporary is preferred) classes outside of school. The piece is a smaller group, of at the most 20 dancers, which will be performed for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival in the style of ballet/lyrical which is a bit more technical than the Specialist Dance in Year 5 and 6. Please note that this is an audition so not all students will be successful. If they miss out, that is completely fine as when they are in year 5 and 6 they are able to join Specialist Dance without any experience or audition needed. The audition will be held Thursday 25th of Feb (Week 4) at lunch. I will sign up students closer to the day.
Boys Dance and Specialist Dance Sign Up
With some very eager students ready to get back into Boys Dance and Specialist Dance we will sign up students in Week 9, ready to start at the beginning of Term 2! It will only run during Term 2 and Term 3 with performances at the Catholic Performing Arts festival and Telethon. Stay tuned for more details closer to the sign up day!
Candice D'Adamo
Dance and Drama Specialist
P and F Committee
There is a P&F meeting tonight in the staff room at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Hope to see lots of new faces there. We will be discussing our plans for the year and would love your input.
Kids of Mercy
This is the eleventh year Whitford Catholic Primary School has been engaged in our community outreach through the Kids of Mercy.
Normally, students in Years 1 - 6 may enrol to attend Mercyville Aged Care on a Friday at lunchtime. However, Covid 19 changed that for all of us last year and sadly our outreach for 2021 will have to be once again through the medium of cards and letters.
For many students, last year, this was a difficult method of outreach and because “forgetting on the day” could not be rectified there were often times when the ladies received no correspondence from some children.
This year we have to assume that we will not be allowed to physically visit the ladies and therefore, if your child would like to participate in the program, they will need to commit to writing, drawing, sharing art work of a paper based nature each time they are rostered on. They should expect to be rostered on at least once per term. Participant numbers are capped at 150.
Reminders are sent out each week through Schoolstream (tick the Kids of Mercy box) and the child receives a paper slip/note through the note box. They are not called over the PA. Their correspondence is to be placed in the Kids of Mercy box at the office.
Please only use the form accessed through the link below (or in School Stream) for all siblings in the same family attending. Siblings are rostered on together.
All participants from last year, wishing to continue, need to re-enrol. We don’t carry over from 2020.
Please do not enrol your child without first discussing with them what is involved in this year-long commitment.
Click Here for Kids of Mercy 2021 Enrolment Form
Annette Lynch
Kids of Mercy Coordinator
Canteen
Sushi will be available on Tuesday 2nd March. Vegetarian, Chicken or Tuna - Please order online, no cash orders and orders will CLOSE at noon Thursday 25 February
Gluten Free Mac & Cheese is now available for $5.
A reminder online orders only are available, please make sure you check your child's class details, and go to https://www.quickcliq.com.au/ to place your order.
Daniela De Lima and Kerry Craker
Canteen Managers
Congratulations Miss Golisano
Congratulations Miss Golisano on being named as the Captain for Subiaco in the WAFLW. The 2021 season will kick off this weekend. Good luck for the upcoming season Miss Golisano.
Environment and Sustainability Committee
The next Environment and Sustainability Committee Meeting will be at 8am Monday 22 February in Mrs Hopkins class room. The Committee are planning to work on lots of great projects through the year and anyone who is interested is welcome to attend. If people would like more information they can email me at: katrina.james@amnet.net.au.
People will need to sign in, sanitise hands and maintain social distance for the meeting.
Chess Club
Senior Art Club 2021
After school soccer
OLM Parish News
To view the current parish newsletter please click here
OUR SPONSORS
Keyed Up Music
Keyed Up Music will be teaching guitar and keyboard group lessons this term after school. Lessons start from $18.65 for a group of 4 lessons. If you are interested in your son/daughter learning an instrument, ring Savanna on 1300 366 243 or enrol at https://www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolment-form
Community News
Mercedes College
Mercedes College is currently interviewing Year 4 students who are due to start Year 7 in 2024. If you are considering enrolling your daughter at Mercedes, please visit the Mercedes College website at www.mercedes.wa.edu.au to request a prospectus or to enrol online. Applications for Year 7, 2022 and 2023 are also welcomed. Please contact Mrs Julie Lamb on 9323 1340 if you require further information.
Open Morning
Tuesday 16 March
Located in the heart of Perth’s beautiful heritage precinct, Mercedes College are proud to be celebrating 175 years of Mercy education, which makes the 2021 Open Day special! The Tour provides an opportunity for parents to hear from the Senior Leadership Team and enjoy a tour of College facilities led by some of our Student Representative Leaders.
There are two sessions: 8:30am or 11am. The 8:30am session offers families a morning tea, where you will have the opportunity to speak with some of our Teachers. Please register via the College website; www.mercedes.wa.edu.au/open-morning/