Truth Through Learning

Term 2 Week 7

2017

St Nicholas of Myra School PO Box 265, Penrith 2751. Phone: (02) 4721 2623 Fax: (02) 4721 0141

Email: stnicholas@parra.catholic.edu.au Website: http://www.stnicholaspenrith.catholic.edu.au

Friday 9 June All orders and money

due for:

Macaroni Cheese and

Twista Bolognaise

Day and Year 6

Fundraiser Krispy

Kreme Doughnuts

12pm—Parish Mass

Stage 1

2:30pm—Assembly

coordinated by Early

Stage 1 (Kindy)

Saturday 10 &

Sunday 11 June

Holy Communion

St Nicholas of Myra

Church

Monday 12 June

Queen’s Birthday

Public Holiday

Tuesday 13 June

Staff Development

Day

Wednesday 14 June

Collection of St

Vincent de Paul

Winter Appeal all

this week

ICAS Spelling

Stage 3

Reconciliation

Friday 16 June

Pyjama Day—St

Vincent de Paul

Winter Appeal

Fun Food Day—

Macaroni Cheese &

Twista Bolognaise

Cadbury Chocolate

Money Due

Dear St Nicholas of Myra Families,

In his book, “Living Buddha, Living Christ”, the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, suggests that perhaps the Last Supper, our Eucharist, should be known instead as the “First Supper” because, following such a sacred meal, everything will be fresh and new. This seems to be a lovely way to express an old truth.

Perhaps the phrase, “receiving Communion,” could likewise do with a bit of a touch up, as it can suggest that we who “receive” are simply passive, that we’re not really doing anything and that Christ is the one who is doing; we are simply receiving. True, Christ is doing something but part of what He is doing is inviting us to respond in an active way.

The Eucharist is called Holy Communion because we unite ourselves to Christ who makes us sharers in His Body and Blood to form a single body. Just as a marriage takes an active participation and communication from each person to achieve the desired union, so too, the reception of the Eucharist; we cannot leave it all up to Christ or it will have little meaning or effect in us.

“Receiving Communion,” writes Pope Benedict XV1, “means entering into communion with Jesus Christ. What is given to us is not a piece of a body, not a thing, but Him, the Resurrected Christ who shares Himself with us in His love. In Communion I enter into the Lord, who is communicating Himself to me.” Christ’s plan in giving us the Eucharist is not merely to come and live in Him: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” John 6:56.

The Eucharist can be a difficult concept for adults to really understand and take part in fully. When speaking to our children about the Eucharist, we need to relate the Eucharist to their experiences. Having a meal together is a good way to enjoy and share food. “The Eucharist is a meal. On the table of the altar, Jesus feeds us His Body and Blood under the appearances of bread and wine. Just as food nourishes our body, the Eucharist is spiritual food that nourishes our soul. We all like to be around friends and our love for them grows when we’re with them. Jesus is our friend and in the Eucharist He makes it possible for us to be with Him. Jesus is really present in the Eucharist under the form of bread and wine. When we celebrate the Eucharist and spend time with Jesus, our love for Him grows.” Bert Ghezzi.

As Catholic adults, we need to take care that our weekly Eucharist does not become a ritual, something we go through on automatic pilot; our bodies move obediently at the right places, our mouths speak the right words, but our minds are somewhere else. We need to be involved not only in receiving, but in giving; not just celebrating the Last Supper but in actively living the “First Supper”.

“Come, Lord, in the fullness of Your risen presence, make Yourself known to Your people again through the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. Amen.” Lord Robert Runce.

The children who are receiving this holy Sacrament over the next two weeks were the inspiration for my message. Congratulations to the students who are receiving and giving in the Holy Eucharist!

Have a safe and happy extra day long weekend - see you all back on Wednesday 14 June!

Peace and Joy

Anita Knezevic

Principal

Tuesday 13 June

Staff Development Day

Truth Through Learning

Catholic Culture

Communication

Seesaw

Seesaw provides a wonderful window into the learning of the students throughout the school day, particularly for

our working parents and carers. The parental/carer ability to comment is mainly to provide encouragement or

positive comments about your child’s work. If you have questions about lost property, homework etc please write

a note to the teacher, email the school or make a phone call.

School Photos All of the students looked so beautiful and handsome in their full winter school uniforms for our school photos.

We had many family photos as well which was terrific! Thank you to all of the parents/carers for working with

school to ensure our uniform is being adhered to each day not just for our school photos!

Fun Food Days: Spring Rolls and Fried Rice

Thank you to Emma Williams and Lauren Baker for organising this yummy healthy fun food day option for our

students. We raised $114.30 for our school community.

Year 6 Graduation Fundraiser Thank you for supporting the Year 6 Graduation Fundraiser where we were able to raised $132.65 eating delicious

yummy Donut King Donuts!

General News

NEED SOME HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION?? Who Do I Contact?

For general information the ladies in the office can usually help. If they can’t the

will direct you to the most appropriate staff member. For classroom-based matters relating to your child’s well-being and learning

please contact your child’s teacher by contacting the school office to make an

appointment or sending a note. They are in the best position to help you and

your child. The next point of contact is Ms Teulan. After having explored these avenues, if you still require further assistance an

appointment can be made with Ms Knezevic.

How can I make an appointment ? By writing a note to your child’s teacher or the relevant staff member or by contacting the ladies in the office

who can pass on a message to the relevant staff member for you. Please do not approach a teacher on the run or

whilst they are on duty.

LOST PROPERTY

Please label all jumpers, jackets, lunch boxes, drink bottles etc. If you do happen to end up

with another student’s belonging simply ask your child to return it the next day.

We need your help to ensure that the students develop their own respect for their

belongings.

Truth Through Learning

Expression of Interest for P . A . K . Z!

Parents/Parishioners And Kids Zone!

Dear Parents and Carers and Parishioners,

We are eager to gain regular community involvement with our students. Community engagement not only benefits students, but enriches and contributes to the wellbeing of the school community through positive interaction and support.

The role of P.A.K.Z is to provide:

support, in various forms, for the school, its students and community

students with fun activities which are not academic in nature however encourage social and other life skills

We will be offering P.A.K.Z to any family members i.e. parents/carers/ grandparents as well as people from the parish. A requirement will be that all volunteers have completed their working with children check. This can be completed here: https://goo.gl/forms/eAzB7UVs8tLPRWTJ2

How, where, what and when will be determined by the preferences that we receive and activities you would like to organise. Therefore you may like to team up with another parent or family member. Once Expressions of Interest are collected we will work with you to facilitate when these sessions will commence.

As we would like to commence this in Term 3, depending on the activity you’ve chosen, we will require a commitment from yourself to ensure that the sessions nominated take place. For example, if you chose knitting this may require more sessions than playing cards or a board game which is completed on the day.

We would like to offer this for K - 6 however we realise that the activity you suggest may be relevant to a certain age.

Thanking you

Anita Knezevic, Rebecca Teulan, Kristen Inskip, Daniella Biasi, Nicole Smith and Ros Cole

Quality Catholic Schools Team (QCS)

Wet and Sweat Weather

When it is wet (raining) or sweat (super hot) weather we keep the children inside to keep them safe and as comfortable as possible. As we have entered a chilly winter time, please be aware that if there is an electrical storm when it is Kiss and Drive time in the afternoon, the teachers on duty may determine the need to wait inside until it is safe for all.

School dismissal time is 3:10pm. We need to ask once again not to start queuing in your car before that time. Police and

Rangers have been very tolerant and not issuing fines. Cars are queuing up back around into Evan Street and double

parking for too long in Higgins Street. If there is a reason you need to be wanting to wait at school before 3:10pm we

advise you to park and walk to the school and collect your children.

Please DO NOT block or park across resident’s driveways.

Essentially, the ‘Kiss and Drive’ zone allows for only a two minute period where a vehicle can be stationary and children

may be dropped off or picked up.

The driver must remain in or within 3 metres of the vehicle

Children must get in and out of the vehicle on the kerb side

The back seat is the safest place for your child to travel in

Children should travel with school bags in the car (NOT the boot)

Truth Through Learning Page 2

Religious Education News

Truth Through Learning

Truth Through Learning

Truth Through Learning

Kindergarten

Year 3

Year 1

Year 4

Year 2

Year 5

Year 6

Learning News Staff Learning

Student Led Conferences Online Booking and Reports

A note will be coming home soon to book your Student Led Conferences online. Reports will be sent home addressed to parents on Thursday 22 June 2017.

Parent Partnerships

Student Led Conferences, Grade Scales and Reporting

Thank you to all of the Parents/Carers who participated in one of our two information sessions. We had many insightful questions and thoughts around this new process. We are eagerly anticipating this week to celebrate the students learning!

Attendance

We are 8.5 percent off the 90% target for Term 2!

Congratulations to the Year 6 students and your parents for being above the 90% attendance target level. Maybe it is all of the vegetables and fruit keeping you all healthy or many years of building your immunity! No matter why - Congratulations as we know every day! every learner!

Tuesday 13 June

Staff Development Day

Truth Through Learning

Extra-Curricula

Stage 3 Soccer Gala Day

On Thursday 25th May under blue skies, 14 Stage 3 girls competed in the soccer gala day at Jamison Park. It was a fabulous day and the girls tried their very best. 51 teams competed on the day and out of their pool, consisting of 8 teams, St Nicholas of Myra had 3 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss- an outstanding effort! The girls should be very proud of themselves! A big thank you to Mr Haladus for coaching the team on the day…..Congratulations to the following girls- Breanna Haladus, Elle Moore, Darcy Brown, Lilly Vlores, Zena Madrajat, Grace Nenadic, Natalija Jurenec, Stacie Becroft, Ella Becroft, Raphaila Idris, Alex Stevens, Georgia Finianos, Emily Keane and Lucy Keane.

ICAS Digital Technology and Science

Congratulations to the following students for their active learning by participating in the ICAS Digital Technology and Science Competitions.

Digital Technology Science

Christopher Nicholopoulos Christopher Nicholopoulos

Brendenn Powell Brendenn Powell Nithika Pidikiti Nicholas Steed

Talya Arokianathan Nithika Pidikiti Maddison Reynolds Talya Arokianathan

Richard Reales Maddison Reynolds

Richard Reales

Ethan Joines

Lara White

Raina Kim

Recently the school was visited by Life

Education Van. Each Stage had the

wonderful opportunity to visit the

Healthy Harold Van. Age appropriate

lessons around food and nutrition,

personal safety, physical activity, cyber-

safety, tobacco and alcohol were

conducted by specially trained

educators. This is driven by the popular

Life Education mascot Harold the giraffe.

Macaroni Cheese & Twista Bolognaise

Fun Food Day

Pyjama Day—St Vincent de Paul Winter

Appeal

Captivate Choir Rehearsal and Dinner Order—

students participating only

Krispy Kreme - Year 6 Fundraiser

Donut Day - Year 6 Fundraiser

COSHC Vacation Care and Staff Development

Day Care

Father’s Day Mufti—Football Jersey Day

Correspondence which has

been sent home in the past fortnight or with

this newsletter includes: St Nicholas of Myra Parish

326 High St Penrith

4721 2509

Mass Times

Saturday Vigil 6:00pm

Sunday 7:00am, 8:30am, 10:00am &

6:00pm

Weekday Masses:

Monday 9.30am

Tuesday 6:45am, 9.30am

Wednesday 6:45am, 9:30am

Thursday 9:30am

Friday 6:45am, 12:10pm

Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest

JULY HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS 10 – 14 July 2017

5 – 17 years

Bookings Essential: call 4735 1100

Calling all mini architects, designers, inventors and drawers. Come along to the gallery workshop program and create giant

drawings, cardboard assemblages that play with perspective, hybrid machines inspired by insects and cardboard gliders.

Aeronautical Mobile Workshop Lauren

Monday 10 July

10am - 12noon

5 – 8 years

$30

Create a series of small scale paper planes in colourful papers and hang them together under the ‘mothership’ to make a colourful

mobile. Then explore different aeroplane designs to see which one will fly the furthest.

Shadow Puppet Animation Workshop Naomi O

Monday 10 July

10am – 12 noon

8 – 12 years

$30

Create a movable shadow puppet and then develop a short shadow puppet animation. Have fun creating your character inventing

your story and learning about animation.

Blast off - Puppet Theatre Construction Christine

Tuesday 11 July

10am – 12 noon

5 - 8 years

$30

Create and decorate a movable shadow puppet theatre inspired by space travel. Then develop the story board for a short shadow

puppet play and perform it for your friends.

Exoskeleton Sculpture Workshop Lauren

Tuesday 11 July

10am – 12 noon

9 – 12 years

$30