Dear Parents,
Welcome to Week 3!
Year 5/6 Camp
The Year 5/6 Camp at Woodhouse in the Adelaide Hills saw the children fully immersed in fun learning and adventure, experiencing the physical and mental obstacles of Challenge Hill, hiking, Zip Lining, Laser Skirmish and more. All were having a fantastic time and the students were exemplary in their behaviour and conduct.
Once again this year the cook and activity leaders, who see children from lots of school, praised our students for their politeness, respect and cooperation, a great example of the strong values we instil together with our families at IHM. If you haven’t already seen photos, check them out on our Facebook page.
World Teachers Day
This Friday 29th October, we celebrate World Teachers Day and it is a day for us all to be proud of the amazing teachers in our school. This year, despite challenges that arose, our teachers have made sure education continues. It has reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.
On behalf of our school community, Annette and I would like to thank every teacher for their hard work and dedication. Our teachers come to school every day and commitment to uphold the dignity of each and every child coupled with an enthusiasm and dedication to help students learn, grow and flourish - supporting them to be striving leaders in our world.
In our school community we are blessed with such a brilliant group of teachers who absolutely love what they do. Our teachers will continue to open up new avenues, encourage your children to explore different things in life and to achieve their full potential. Thank you to all our teachers who have and continue to educate and shape our future. Please take the time to thank your child’s teacher if you get the chance, I know they’d appreciate it greatly!
Parents and Friends Committee
At the last Parents and Friends meeting it was great to see that they are organising a few events this term. Please see the notification from Nadia and Kate further in this newsletter for more information about these.
The Parents and Friends are a great group of people who I love working with, as their hearts are in building community and providing the best for every child. These past two years have limited their activities somewhat; however I still wish to thank them for their support and efforts.
End of Year Concert and COVID Restrictions
In the spirit of sharing some much needed joy to the community, we have decided to go ahead with a live concert this year, but in keeping with managing COVID restrictions, it will be in a different way to our usual event. Of course, this will all be dependent on the COVID situation at the time and things may change rapidly, but in the mean time we plan for it to go ahead as outlined here:
- We will have two concerts on Friday 26th November - one for R-2 and one for 3-6 students and parents, both on the same evening but at different times at 5.15 pm (R-2) and 6.45 pm (3-6) respectively. This format is in order to manage the numbers, space and time spent on the premises.
- Each class will perform a dance and a song/music item.
- Those parents who have children in both groups are welcome to stay until the next performance.
- We will have to limit the numbers to two adults per family and only those who have RSVP’d will be permitted to enter.
- More details about times and bookings will be sent through to you in Week 5.
We have considered this deeply and feel it’s the best way for children to have the experience of being in a live performance and for parents to see them perform.
Building Update
Unfortunately more delays are expected as some latent conditions (including a main gas pipe needing to be replaced by APA) have pushed out the schedule of works. The Administration area is now due for completion mid-November and the whole project by Mid-December.
On the upside, the children in Years 3-6 are absolutely loving their new learning areas.
The parking and traffic situation has improved this term and I thank you for your cooperation and diligence in ensuring the safety of our children and community.
Wishing you all a lovely two weeks.
Warmest wishes,
Pauline Kinsman
PRINCIPAL
Recent News
Halloween and All Saints Day Part 2
Last fortnight in our newsletter I shared about Halloween or All Hallows Eve. This newsletter I will continue the discussion with more information about Halloween and All Saints Day which falls on 1st November.
All Saints Day has been set aside by the Church to honour those Saints in Heaven who do not yet have a special feast day on the Church calendar. It is also intended to provide additional honour and regard for those Saints that have a feast day on the calendar but were not honoured sufficiently on their day. So when we are honouring all of the Saints that are in Heaven, we are indeed honouring all of the “hallowed” people in Heaven. Suddenly it is no longer a mystery why the day previous is called “All Hallows Eve”.
But why did people commemorate the day before? Eves, as these “days before” are called, were actually a very important part of the upcoming feast. Eves were special preparation days before great feast days. Therefore All Saints’ Day is a fairly important feast day in the Church.
But how did All Hallows’ Eve, a feast day of the Church, become Halloween, a secular holiday that basically commemorates all that is frightening, and in a sense all that is supernatural yet unheavenly?
Over time our society has moved away from the traditional Catholic traditions that many of us might have grown up with or had around us from our schooling or families. However with the changes in Catholic traditions people have still enjoyed observing these festive or special days.
Feasts like Christmas, Easter, St. Valentine’s Day, and All Hallows’ Eve are celebrated the world over yes, but all in a very secular way. Christmas has become the day when people get presents from Santa Claus, Easter’s the day when the “Easter Bunny” gives us chocolates. Saint is omitted from the title of “St. Valentine’s Day” as it becomes a day to give those you love a card and something sweet. All Hallows’ Eve, the day before we remember all of the Saints in Heaven, has become the secular holiday of Halloween, a day to go around dressed up as everything but a Catholic Saint while we collect sweets to the offer of “Trick or Treat”!
Each of these special days have a great element of fun with family or friends but it is important to remember that each of them hold a special place in the Catholic tradition even if they have evolved over time.
Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Christmas can be a very difficult time for families, particularly those who are experiencing poverty and disadvantage. The support from our IHM families helps assist St Vincent De Paul to support the people who turn to them for help over the festive season. Together as a community we can make a real difference to their lives.
IHM will support the Vinnies Christmas Appeal in 2021 and ask families to help by sending donations to contribute to your child’s class Christmas hamper.
R/1’s – Toys
Puzzles, games, dolls, blocks, science kits, action figures, baby toys, toys for the beach.
Year 2’s - Christmas Theme
Decorations, puddings, cakes, Christmas bon bons, tinned ham
Year 3’s - Food
Pre-packed foods e.g. pasta, rice, noodles, tinned vegies, soups, baked beans
Years 4/5 and 5/6 – Food
Baby food, formula, tea, coffee, milo, jam, juices, honey, long life milk.
A member of the St Vincent De Paul Society will collect donations during the final week of school. You can also make your own online $ donation:
https://donate.vinnies.org.au/christmas-appeal
Our SRC Reps and House Leaders will oversee the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
Have a happy and safe fortnight.
Annette Diassinas
APRIM
Sausage Sizzle - Tuesday 9th November
The P & F are excited to be running a sausage Sizzle for lunch on Tuesday 9th November. Order forms will be distributed to students tomorrow - please return the order form by Thursday 4th November. We look forward to serving those smiling faces again.
Save the Date:
As restrictions have eased we thought it would be lovely to have a Family Picnic Day on Sunday 21st November from 11am-3pm. MJ McInerney Reserve, Sackville Street, West Croydon. There will be more details to come in the following Newsletter and via School Stream.
You are invited to our Scholastic Book Fair which commences next week.
When: Monday 1st – Friday 5th November
Times: Before school 8:30 – 9:00am
After school 3:00 – 3:30pm
Where: School Library
Students will receive a Book Fair brochure tomorrow.
There is always lots of interesting books to choose from and don’t forget that Christmas is just around the corner. Books always make great presents! See you all there.
All purchases will benefit the school as we will be able to buy more books for our library.
Carmel Johnston
LIBRARY CO-ORDINATOR
In 2H we have been focusing on measurement this term. We have been investigating the length, weight and capacity of a variety of shapes and objects. We have focused on building our estimating skills by using comparison. Our estimating skills have improved and our mathematical guesses are becoming more accurate. The children have had fun exploring with non-uniform units, balancing scales, electronic scales and sand. Here are some photos of our learning…
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