Term 2 and Welcome Back!

Staff and I are delighted to welcome the Barbreck students back to Term 2, 2017 and to observe their enthusiasm to make a prompt and positive start with school tasks and activities. Also, to see their renewed energy and enthusiasm after a break from routines and the necessary school expectations.

We warmly welcome new students in Year 2 and Year 4 this Term and look forward to doing the same in Term 3 when we will assist a number of new students across various year levels to join the St Catherine’s School community.

Year 6 Good Friday Appeal

On the final day of Term 1, Year 6 students managed the preparation, organisation and execution of a highly enjoyable and successful Barbreck Good Friday Appeal fundraising event, and Teddy Bear Parade.

The girls achieved an outstanding result, raising a total of $944.15, which has been sent to the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal on behalf of all Barbreck students. This stellar effort by the girls would not have been possible without the generosity of all the Year 6 families who donated the treats for the morning tea bags. With no stone left unturned, the morning tea bags highlighted the girls’ attention to detail, with each beautifully and individually decorated by our Year 6 students.

Festivities continued with the ‘Teddy Bear Parade’. The Teddy Bear Parade was a fun-filled, colourful event which saw both children and adults alike enjoying creative ‘Holiday Bear’ outfits. The event was a great success with laughter, fun and music enjoyed by all.

In the days before the event and the day itself, the Year 6 girls were tremendously helpful, responsible and generous with their efforts and time. Staff observed a number of Year 6 students who demonstrated quite advanced maturity, initiative and creative problem solving.

We have learnt that for the Year 6 of 2017, that if you give them an event, it will be big, successful and beautifully executed! Well done girls.

Buddy Easter Activity

On Tuesday 28 March, the Barbreck Hall was buzzing with excitement, as the Preps and Year 1 students spent a morning with their Year 6 buddies.

In preparation for Easter, the Year 6 students thought it would be quite fitting to assist their little buddies with an Easter activity. The girls in Year 6 had already prepared an origami box, which would form the base for an Easter basket. Together, they coloured in some Easter pictures, cut them out and glued them along the edge of the basket. A handle was added and the basket was complete.

With plenty of smiles and conversations in the room, the activity was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. They connected with their Buddies and once the activity was over, it was very difficult to separate the Prep and Year 1 students from their friendly and respectful Year 6 Buddies.

Mrs Lola Ballis, Year 1B Teacher

2017  Four Leaf Clover Program

It was one of those magic moments of working with children when the Year Four students met up with the Four year old ELC children to launch the 2017 Four Leaf Clover program. To see the joy on the faces of the 4 year old children of the Wattle and Banksia rooms, looking up in awe to their new friends from Year Four. The big girls just as excited and ready to take on the role of leaders, mentors, big sisters and friends. The students spent time exploring every inch of the new playground. Some playing hide and seek, others in the sandpit creating a cake. It was a time to get to know each other and plant the seed of friendship. When it was time to go there were sighs and questions as to why we could not stay all day. We look forward to a fabulous year working together with the staff and children in the ELC and watching the Clover friendships grow.

Ms Georgina Stride,Year 4 Teacher

Winter Uniform Term 2

As Term 2 commences in mid-April this year, the weather is likely to still be fine and warm on various days.

Parents are advised that choices between summer and winter uniform can be made (according to the weather) for the first three weeks of Term 2.  The official day for the wearing of winter uniform is Monday 8 May.  This date will be reviewed and adjusted if the weather still remains warm.

Late Pick up and After School arrangements from Term 2

Parents are advised that students who are still waiting to be picked up by parents after dismissal at 3.30pm, will be placed in the Out of School Hours (OSHC) program at 3.50pm by the teacher at close of duty. Parents will be advised.

Students still waiting to be collected after co-curricular activities, (for more than 10 minutes) will be placed in the OSHC Program after the session finishing time (please see below):

Sessions finish:

Out of School Hours (OSHC)

All families are encouraged to register with Camp Australia (our OSHC Provider) by telephoning the Camp Australia Head office 88551 4100 or 885 14160 for details.

Note: Camp Australia offer a reduced fee for such circumstances.

If you need to contact Before and Afterschool Care please note the parent contact number is 0412 510875 or 9828 3904.

Nut Awareness

St Catherine’s School is a Nut Aware School and, as such, we ask that students do not bring nuts/nut products (eg peanut butter and Nutella) to School. We have a number of students who are anaphylactic to nuts (of all varieties) within the School and we request all families observe the School Policy with regard to this matter.

Easter Service

Thank you to all parents who attended the Easter Service at the end of Term 1.

The total raised in the collection ($626.40) will go towards the purchase of water filters for remote villages in Fiji, where they do not have access to clean drinking water. More specifically, we will be continuing our partnership with three villages in the Nausori Highlands where all of Year 9s will be travelling as part of the Heyington to Highlands program in July