Drought Relief Fundraising

Barbreck students are all eagerly looking forward to our fundraising efforts to be held next Friday 9 November, to raise money towards the farmers who have been severely affected by drought conditions. The Year 6 students are certainly looking forward to raising as much money as possible to be sent to www.ruralaid.org.au.

The desperate need for rural property owners to buy food and water to keep stock alive and water for crops and land use has captured the hearts and minds of the girls. We ask all Barbreck families to assist us to support the worthy cause.

Reminder of the details:

Date: Friday 9 November
Dress: Farm style for the day
Lunch: Lunches must be pre-purchased using the order form
Outfit Parade: 8.45am-9.45am, Auditorium, parents welcome to attend
Donations: Year 6 will collect all donations brought to school on Friday 9 November

Important Information

Students who have not pre-ordered the lunch will need to bring a lunch to school from home on this day. No Flexi-schools orders will be available for Barbreck students on this day. Each student, dressed in farm style, is asked to bring a donation to be sent to Rural Aid on Friday 9 November. Year 6 will manage some ‘Guessing Competitions’ in the week leading up to the event. Each guess will cost $2.00. The money obtained through the competitions will then be added to the donation total.

Praise for Year 3 Sunnystones Campers

For reader interest, we include an excerpt in this edition of The Blue Ribbon, from Mr David Paterson, Camp Manager, at Sunnystones, Bacchus Marsh. The following excerpt is just a small part of a lengthy and extremely positive one regarding the ways in which the St Catherine’s girls manage themselves, use their manners and demonstrate respect for others when away at camp:

Thanks so much for your stay with us this week – it is always such a relaxed enjoyable time when St Catherine’s visit us at Sunnystones. After speaking with Louise and Sinead, they were super impressed with how the girls were always ready to listen, they worked together beautifully, consistently used their manners and were not afraid to have a go at everything. We have loads of school groups at Sunnystones, and we can see daily that student attitude is usually a direct reflection of the staff and school values – and everyone at St Catherine’s should be congratulated on how the School presents itself. – David Paterson, Camp Manager

Punctuality

In order to effect a prompt start to learning in Barbreck, we remind families that school commences at 8.30am. Students settle and are immersed in a focus based start from 8.30am (after arrival into classrooms commencing from 8.10am, when their personal belongings are organised and school work sorted in preparation for an effective day of learning). For those students who arrive between 8.30-8.40am (due to sibling drop off or a sibling in the ELC), they are instructed to enter classrooms very quietly and quickly and not interrupt others. Attendance rolls are marked promptly. Latecomers are asked to sign in at the front office in order to avoid being marked ‘absent’.

Punctuality is a required skill for life. Sound habits and expectations are best learnt very early. We thank parents for joining us in this pursuit.

Length of Summer Dresses

Parents are respectfully asked to closely check the length of current summer uniforms. The girls have certainly grown since last season but their uniforms have definitely not! Rule of thumb for length? A length suitable to accommodate comfort, activity, sitting and standing all with dignity.

Crossing at the School Crossing

Pedestrians are urged to use the school crossing when entry to and exit from St Catherine’s School is required before school and at dismissal time. We ask all adults to join us in reminding students of the essential need to only cross the road using the crossing.

Mrs Alana Moor, Head of ELC and Barbreck