Filter Content
Dear Families,
Next week, Catholic Education is recognised and celebrated across the Diocese of Sale. All schools in our diocesan ‘family’ (from Cranbourne in the west, to Orbost in the east) will be celebrating differently but we all will gather around the theme of Faith in the Future – “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”.
This quote is taken from John’s Gospel (10:10), where Jesus is telling his audience, why He was born, to live on earth, and die for us. He died so that we may have ‘life to the full’ –including an eternal life with Him. No better package deal really.
At school, we intend to explore this theme of ‘living life to the full’ using a song. Music has the ability to speak to children in a special way. And isn’t this what we all want when we communicate with each other? To speak each other’s language is not just about speaking the same cultural language. It can mean that we need to speak an age appropriate language or body language or just plain making sure we understood each other. Hint: Love is a language that everyone understands!
Andrew McDermott
Religious Education Leader
We are people of Thanksgiving; celebrating those elements that make our community rich and diverse. We appreciate the special gifts that each person brings that enriches the life of the whole community. We thank God for the blessings we are given in the form of those living life to the full around us.
Kate
Pentecost (Sunday 23rd May)
What is Pentecost?
‘Pentecost’ is the special occasion when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday, 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth"). Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Church, and the start of the Church's mission to the world.
Pentecost Symbols
Pentecost is a joyful event. Priests wear red as a symbol of the flames in which the Holy Spirit came to earth. Our teachers place red cloths in their prayer spaces. The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove.
Funny but inspiring recent event here at school: some of our younger students saw a flock of white cockatoos descending on the oval during a PE lesson and announced that the Holy Spirit was coming to our school - a beautiful tribute to the teaching of RE here at St Thomas the Apostle!
The First Pentecost
Pentecost comes from a Jewish harvest festival called Shavuot. The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them. It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire. The apostles then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost and Confirmation
It is a great time of the year to be preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation. Students who are celebrating Confirmation will be recommitting to their Baptismal promises, being older and mature enough to understand what they are committing to. It’s a wonderful step toward adulthood. They are learning about the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit that they will receive through the ceremony of Confirmation. Gifts and Fruits that will put them in good stead for the rest of their lives. Please keep these children in your prayers this term.
Confirmation Workshop Dates
As part of our Confirmation program, all candidates (and one parent) must attend one of the two dates that are offered.
Tuesday 8th June 7pm-8pm
Thursday 10th June 7pm-8pm
Parents should notify the school of any absence by 9.00am. This can be done via PAM or alternatively by contacting the school by phone.
CAMP - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Holidays
If families are wanting to take a holiday during term time a holiday request form must be completed and emailed to principal@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au. Forms are available online via PAM or on request can be emailed .
Uniform Reminders
Winter Uniform will be required to be worn from Term 2. Uniforms can be purchased from PSW located in Hampton Park.
NB: We have a number of unnamed items in lost property. Please clearly label your child's items of clothing so they can be returned to your child if handed to lost property.
Fees
Dear Families
A reminder that Term 2 fees and any outstanding levies are due Friday 28th May. This is for families who do not have a regular payment plan in place either by BPAY or Direct Debit.
Please note that for families who have students attending camp this term and are not on a payment plan, Camp Levies are to be paid for this term also.
Should you have difficulty meeting this deadline, please contact Nicola Saunders at the office.
Thank you
ILLNESS
Dear Parents
If your child is unwell, has a fever or has been vomiting or have had gastroenteritis , they must stay at home until they are symptom free for 24 hours.
Last week was Catholic Care Victoria Week. Catholic Care Victoria is the social service agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Catholic dioceses of Sale, Sandhurst and Ballarat.
Their mission is to support families and communities to create a stronger, more resilient and inclusive society for all. They support people at every stage of life, to build strong, positive relationships and reach their full potential. From mental illness to marriage breakdown, financial stress to family violence, drug abuse to disputes over custody arrangements – they can support you to get your life back on track.
You don’t need to be Catholic to access their service. Catholic Care Victoria work with people from all walks of life and from diverse cultural backgrounds. Whatever your background, they will listen to you and work with you to achieve your goals.
Catholic Care Victoria offer services for:
- Families
- Couples
- Refugees and Asylum Seekers
- Individuals
- Children and Youth
- Professionals
One service Catholic Care Victoria provide is counselling. Talking to a counsellor can help you make sense of an issue or event, enable you to change negative or unwanted behaviours, and find solutions to problems – big or small.
Their qualified counsellors and can work with children, teenagers, adults, families and couples.
They also have counsellors of different cultural backgrounds, genders and religions, so that you can find the right support for you. Please click on the link below for more information.
IMPORTANT TERM DATES
Wednesday, May 26 | Community Mass (Galilee) - 9:15 am |
Wednesday, June 2 | Community Mass (Ephesus) - 9:15am |
Tuesday, June 8 |
Confirmation Workshop 1 (7:00pm – 8:00pm)
|
Thursday, June 10 | Confirmation Workshop 2 (7:00pm – 8:00pm) |
Monday, June 14 | Queens Birthday - Public Holiday |
Tuesday, June 15 | Learning Expo - Damascus Community |
Wednesday, June 16 |
Community Mass (Jericho) - 9:15am Reconciliation (10:00am -11:00am) Learning Expo - Jerusalem Community |
Thursday, June 17 |
Learning Expo - Galilee Community |
Friday, June 18 |
Learning Expo - Foundation Learning Expo - Bethany Community |
Monday, June 21 | Senior Camp |
Tuesday, June 22 | Senior Camp |
Wednesday, June 23 | Senior Camp |
Thursday, June 24 | Last day of school |
Friday, June 25 |
School Closure Day School Term 2 Ends Confirmation Mass 1 - 7:30 pm |
Saturday, June 26 |
Confirmation Mass 2 - 11:00am Confirmation Mass 3 - 2:00 pm |
Monday, July 12 | Term 3 Begins |
The following timetable outlines events planned throughout the year. Further information about these will be sent home via PAM and parent emails throughout the year. Please note that some events may be cancelled or moved (with notice given to parents where possible) and all events will be dependent on covid restrictions.
Event |
Date |
Year Level & Community |
Parent Helpers in Foundation to Year 2. Parent helpers are widely appreciated working with the classroom teacher to support students as they work in small groups or individually within the classroom. To begin this venture, we will have two parent information sessions. Attendance at one of these sessions is compulsory for those wishing to volunteer their time in the classroom. A letter explaining the process for signing up to volunteer will be sent home later today via the PAM platform and through parent emails from Mrs Sarah Chappell (Foundation Learning and Teaching Leader) and Rebecca Jeffery (Junior Learning and Teaching Leader). |
Ongoing - look out for the note sent home today. |
Foundation to Year 2. (Bethlehem, Damascus, Galilee & Jerusalem). |
Parent Helpers for other School Events During the school year, we have interschool sports, excursions and other activities planned. Parents should keep an eye out for information in the coming months should they wish to apply to volunteer their time for one of these. |
To be published on a needs basis |
|
Community Masses Sign in using the google links sent to parents via PAM. On Wednesday mornings at 9:15am, communities will be celebrating Mass with Father Denis and Sister Julie. Parents of children in these communities are welcome to join us. |
19/05/2021 26/05/2021 02/06/2021 16/06/2021 |
Jerusalem Galilee Ephesus Jericho |
100 Days of Prep Celebration Parents will be invited at specific time blocks throughout the school day to spend time in their child’s classroom. |
28/07/2021 |
Foundation - Bethlehem |
Learning Expos Students will share some of their learning with parents. This will be a chance for parents to come in before school and in the first block of the school day to walk through the community. |
15/06/2021 16/06/2021 17/06/2021 18/06/2021 18/06/2021 08/09/2021 09/09/2021 10/09/2021 |
Damascus Jerusalem Galilee Foundation Bethany Bethany Jericho Ephesus |
Book Week Some of our school staff will share their favourite picture book reading through a google meet link. Any families wishing to can connect to the links, in the evenings throughout this week. Whole School Dress Up Day This is a themed dress up day matching the Book Week theme across the country. Parents will be invited to attend the Friday afternoon dress up parade. |
21-27 August, 2021 27/08/2021 |
All families across the school - online events All students foundation to year six |
Fathers / Special Persons Day Fathers and Mothers Days will now be celebrated bi-annually. This is the year for Fathers Day. Fathers will be invited to come into the school for breakfast and spend some time outside playing with their child/ren. |
03/09/2021 |
Fathers/Special Person Breakfast and Sports Play |
Footy Sports Team Day Students will dress in their favourite sports team colours or team guernsey, hat and or scarf. The students will engage in sporting activities during the day and parents will be invited to the parade at the start of the school day. |
16/09/2021 |
All students foundation to year six. |
Family Week 4th - 8th October Families will be invited to a sausage sizzle and family craft activity in classrooms during the hours of 4-6pm. Families will be split over two nights signing up via google link. |
05/10/2021 Or 06/10/2021 |
Families attend one of the two nights offered. |
Grandparents Day Grandparents come to the classroom and spend time with their grandchild along with mass. |
21/10/2021 |
All students foundation to year six |
Family Carols Night Families are invited to bring a picnic and join in with some carol singing. |
09/12/2021 |
All families |
End of Year Mass with Parent Morning Tea Parents will be invited to celebrate the end of year mass. This will be followed by a parent morning tea. |
08/12/2021 (please note that this date may need to change) |
All students foundation to year six with parents invited. |