I Remember

I remember that this country that we now call Australia, always was, and always will be, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land.

I remember that this country, home to many Indigenous nations since the beginning of time, was colonized in 1788 and I remember all those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who have lost their lives since.

I remember all those that have gone before, defending Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands, waterways and cultures.

I remember all those who were taken away from their families and from their ancestral home lands.

I remember with sorrow the lost languages, the lost tribal laws and the dishonoured sacred sites.

I reflect
How do I describe my identity and belonging in this land?
What are the ripples I create through my words, thoughts and actions?

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the first peoples of Australia.  Guide us all to be open to your spirit as we seek your peace and justice for all.

God of all people of the earth, your Son, Jesus cared for all.

May we always have the greatest respect 

for all people and be willing to care for our earth.

May we work to be reconciling people and to make 

our country a place where all are welcome and at home.

We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord.

Amen

" We are in this together when we can thank the Aboriginal people for this land that we live on. We thank them for letting us live with them." Juliette 1R

We are in this together when we listen to Indigenous peoples' stories about their Dreamtime." Hugo 1R

We are in this together when we say thank for you the land and the nature that the Ngunnawal people share." Roux 1R 

Dear Friends,

Our reflection above displays some of the prayers and activities we have shared together during Reconciliation Week. Each day has begun with the Aboriginal Our Father and prayers dedicated to themes generated from this important week, especially Sorry Day.  Thank you to Cushla Sheehan and Mel Punyer who have coordinated activities and resources for all children across ELC to Year 6.  On Thursday of Week 5 Larry Brandy visited the Rock Wallaby class, and ABC news took footage of Larry story-telling with the children. This has been aired on ABC 7pm News and Cushla was also interviewed on ABC Radio.  See the links below to hear these interviews: 

ABC TV News:

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-act/series/0/video/NU2004C129S00

 (The school featured from 25.30 - 27.50)

 ABC Radio:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/saturdaybreakfast/saturday-breakfast/12280472

 (The interview features from 2:07:15 to 2:23:10)

As we head to the later part of the term, we are preparing for Learning Conferences and Reports. All families should have received a message yesterday to book in for a Learning Conference (please refer to the article below.) I sincerley thank Brendon Pye and Katie Smith who have spent a great deal of time setting up these interviews for all families to occur during Week 8. School Reports for Semester 1 will be sent home at the end of Week 10. Due to the differing schooling environments and COVID-19 restrictions this Semester, the report will focus only on Religion, English, Maths and Engagement in Learning observations. There will be no comments on the written report, thus the Learning Conferences in Week 8 will be the more detailed communication about learning experiences and growth in Semester 1. The format will be explained in more detail with a letter accompanying each report. 

I would like to finish today with a reflection Fr John shared with us in the Parish Bulletin last weekend and thought you might enjoy: 

We heed the advice of:

                St John the Baptist - “Stay calm and don’t lose your head.” 

                St John the Evangelist - “This is not the Apocalypse.”

                Pontius Pilate - “Wash your hands often.”

                Judas - “Avoid greeting people with a hug and kiss”

                St Thomas the Apostle - “Don’t touch your ears, nose, mouth or                     any open wounds.”

I continue to keep your family and the wider community in my prayers and thank you once again for your support and care. 

Philippa

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

With the restrictions placed on large gatherings due to COVID-19, we were unable to join together to celebrate the First Reconciliation of the Candidates within our Parish.

We acknowledge the effort that families had put into preparing candidates to receive the Sacrament, and we want to ensure that students are given the opportunity to receive their First Reconciliation as soon as possible.

As such, Fr John will be inviting families to attend Holy Trinity Church, Curtin at an allotted time, and the children will receive the sacrament in smaller groups.

We have prepared a Google Doc, that will allow families to view the times available, and indicate the time they would like. Click here

We ask that no one alter or delete the time of another family, this is a shared document.

Reconciliation Retreat Day

Next Wednesday, 10th of June, all Year 3 students will participate in a mini retreat day at Holy Trinity. Students are welcome to wear free dress and are required to bring their own lunch. Due to current restrictions students will be unable to have a shared morning tea, as we would have previously done on the Retreat Day.

All enquiries in regards to the Sacrament can be directed to the Parish Office (6281 3999, wodennorth@cg.org.au).

Emily Capper

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear families,

A huge THANK YOU to Andrew Peereboom, Carlos Varela, Mike van de Meeberg, Nick and Tegan Ingold, Rob Munday, Mark Bullock, Pat McCann, Paul Cains, Keith Morel, Dale Lawrence and Simon Rugala who spent their ENTIRE Saturday building the ELC a cubby house. The cubby is a fantastic feature of the playground and is already in high demand. The construction of the cubby was not straight-forward and we are all so grateful for the skills, time and good humour these families offered.  Photos below show the building process.

In this period of 'free' childcare' I would also like to acknowledge and thank families who have donated time, resources (including accessories for the cubby) and consumables such as boxes of tissues in lieu of school fees. We are thankful for your generosity.

As part of our reporting process we will be holding Learning Conferences for our ELC preschool learners from Monday 15th June - Friday 19th June 2020. 

We have had an exciting week celebrating Reconciliation Week in the preschool. ABC News came to film Aboriginal Storyteller, Larry Brandy as part of their coverage. That story can be seen here (from 25.30 - 27.50):

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/abc-news-act/series/0/video/NU2004C129S00

I was also interviewed on ABC radio on Holy Trinity's Reconciliation Action Plan. That can be listened to here:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/saturdaybreakfast/saturday-breakfast/12280472

If your family circumstances have changed please remember to update at www.mygov.au this will ensure a seamless transition back to the CCS when it is reintroduced.

On Tuesday 2^nd June, the Year Six Sustainability Leadership group went to various grades around the school. We talked to the students about sustainability and why it matters. We asked them questions about what they know, why they do it, and why it is important.

Izzy, Charlise, and Maddie went to Year 2 and were very surprised at how much the Year 2 students knew about sustainability. One of the students was very informative, and shared many details about how her family participates in sustainability practices. Lots of students had veggie patches and compost bins in their homes. They knew how to put rubbish in the correct bins.

The Year 3/4 classes enjoyed the art and thought it was calming and engaging.

Overall, the Year Six Sustainability Leadership group is incredibly impressed by all of the information shared by each grade and we as a leadership group learnt a lot from all the students.

As part of our reporting process we will be holding Learning Conferences (K-2 Parent Teacher Interviews and 3-6 Three Way Conferences) during Week 8. Due to Covid these conferences will take place using video call via Microsoft Teams. While this is new to all of us, we are excited to be utilsing the technology Catholic Education has invested in our school.

Please click here to make a booking. 

It has been so wonderful to have our senses tantilised by the re-opening of our  canteen. 

If you haven't checked out the delicious treats available, please go to QKR!

Thanks to everyone who has signed up to help in the tuck shop so far. We still have spaces available so if you are able to assist please click this link.

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A45ADAC2EA3FE3-tuck

In an effort to cut down on the waste the tuck shop produces, we are continuing with the use of metal cutlery and will have a return tray set up for kids to return their items after lunch. Most food will come in paper bags and any meals will be packaged in compostable biocane products with a recyclable lid. These too can now be returned to the tuckshop. 

Please remember orders need to be in by 830am and for the remainder of Term 2, there won't be any opening time at lunch for the kids to purchase directly from the tuck shop. We hope to bring this back in Term 3. 

 
National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) 2020 –

Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas 

"Whitney and Britney are two gorgeous chooks who live alongside Dora von Dooze. But Dora is perplexed - why do her dear chickens seem to sleep all day long? Dora decides to snoop. She follows the chooks out at night to the local jazz club where she discovers, to her amazement, that they are Whitney and Britney: Chicken Divas!"
Written and Illustrated By: Lucinda Gifford
Published By: Scholastic Australia

On Wednesday 27^th May, Holy Trinity joined over 1 million students and staff from across Australia and New Zealand to participate in the annual NSS. Due to the social distancing guidelines we participated in this event in our own classrooms. Many of the children (and even a few staff) dressed up, listened eagerly, laughed a lot and danced their way through the reading of this hysterical book.

Below are a few photos from the day…

Chief Ministers Reading Challenge 2020 –

Congratulations to the following children who have already completed the challenge

Alyssa P x 3 challenges completed (Kinder)

Alexis W x 2 challenges completed (Kinder)

Angel A (Year 1)

Henry B (Year 1)

Pia L (Year 2

Clara S (Year 2)

Orlando P x 4 challenges completed (Year 3/4)

Students who wish to participate in the CMRC for 2020 have until July 31^st to complete the challenge. Each child has to read 30 age appropriate books and then drop their completed form off to the library. A sticker is then placed on the student’s name - on the display outside Kinder. Children then receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Redgum Book Club voucher.

There are spare CMRC forms in the basket at the entrance to the library. Please also remember that children can read a book, do a quick reflection, activity or art work reflecting the book and this counts as another book.

Happy Days,

‘Hats Off’ Period – 1 June until 31 July