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If we say that we do not have any sin, we are deceiving ourselves and we’re not being truthful to ourselves.
John 1:8
Dear Families, Caregivers and Students,
As the weather is starting to warm up, the end of term 3 is slowly coming into view. There are one and a half weeks to go. Please be reminded that the last two days of term, Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of September are student free days. The last day of term for our students will be on Wednesday 23rd of September. Staff will use these days for professional learning in assessment and a staff retreat. A retreat will help staff connect on a deeper level to what they are called to do.
Last week you received a letter with regards to school fees. The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools has announced that it will make Catholic Education more affordable by lowering the school fees of every Catholic diocesan primary school in 2021 under its Making Catholic Education More Affordable initiative. This is fantastic news for families.
The exact level of fee reduction in each diocesan primary school will vary from school to school and takes into account the circumstances and needs of families.
Our school is working with Catholic Education South Australia to finalise our fees for 2021 and these will be released in the coming weeks. There is more information about the initiative on the Catholic Education South Australia website at cesa.catholic.edu.au/fee-reductions.
Earlier this week I made you aware of distressing content circulating social media platforms. ESafety, an agency that supports online safety and security has contacted social media companies about the reports and will continue working with them to monitor the situation. If you encounter the content you are encouraged to report it to the social media platform it has been seen on, or to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au/report/illegal-harmful-content.
As a school we have strong policies around what children can and cannot access online while they are at school. CESA has firewalls in place that restrict inappropriate content on the school’s server. I ask you continue to be vigilant about what your children access online at home.
Sometimes things that are posted out of school hours on social media by children can deeply impact student relationships within the school. The key is to stay involved in your child’s online activities in a way that makes your children understand that you respect their privacy but that you also want to make sure they're safe. As a school we cannot control how students use the internet at home. If your child is affected at school by home internet usage, please feel free to report the matter to me.
Last email I wrote about the importance of child safety on Verran Terrace during pick up. I asked everyone using this car park at the end of the school day to walk onto school grounds to collect their children; this avoids children walking unsupervised between moving cars. I do think safety in this part of the school has improved since and I thank everyone for your immediate cooperation. I was alerted to similar unsafe situations during pick up from the church car park. The same rule applies in the church car park as on Verran Terrace; you will need to come onto school grounds to collect your children and walk them back to the car yourself. The kiss and drop is available if you are unable to leave your car during pick up. Child safety is everyone’s business and I am grateful for your cooperation in this matter.
Today the school participated in the National Walk Safely to School Day. This nationally recognised initiative encourages parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children to reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour and to promote the health benefits of walking. Today 81 OLOR students walked together with staff, parents and carers form the Berri Plaza to school. Student behaviour and safe road use was excellent. Scudda and Maddie from the 5RM Breakfast Show joined us on our walk and we joined them live on air.
Although it is only the end of term 3, preparations for next year have begun. I will share staffing and class structures for 2021 with you as soon as they are confirmed.
As parents it is normal to worry about our children failing. However, failing can be productive for children. “He who never made mistakes never made anything” is an often expressed proverb. Clearly making mistakes is part of the learning and the growth process. The value of failing is priceless. Yet, we feel so useless and scared to make a mistake. Shouldn’t it be a nice thing that, as humans, we get to fail a lot? Failing teaches us respect for others and for ourselves.
Never be afraid to admit that you “don’t know” or “can’t find” or “couldn’t do” something.
Imperfections are the gifts from God that connect us directly to other people. The gift of knowing what we lack in our own abilities is the gift we have to give to the abilities of others.
Have a great weekend.
Nanda de Winter
Pope Francis’s intention prayer for September
Season of Creation – Jubilee for the Earth
Pope Francis has established September 1st as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home. We are reminded that "every person living on this planet" is called to care for our shared Earth. September 1 begins a month long reflection and dedication to our Earth and God's Creation, which has now been named the ‘Season of Creation.’
The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. We are called to come together to care for our common home.
We are all invited to spend time daily in prayer to reflect on the small changes we can each make that collectively will impact greatly on the health of our precious Earth. Below is a “Season of Creation Pill”, for Friday 10th September. It is one of the daily reflection videos that we will be publishing every day, from September 1st to October 4th. Just like a pill offers a cure when we are unwell, theses short video messages challenge us to think deeply about the role we play in the care of our common home and offers small changes we can make to help cure our Earth.
If you would like to continue these daily reflections, you can find them on the Global Climate Movement Youtube Channel @
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdu7tsNYIRxk6mep8_J1THqTFce4JfQWl
A Prayer for Our Earth – Pope Francis
All powerful God,
you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace,
that we may live as brothers and sisters,
harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Amen
This Sunday’s Gospel Message for Families
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 6th September 2020
"If your brother or sister listens to you, you will have won that person back.”
Something to Think About
Today's gospel reading is about community. What does the word 'community' mean to you?
Can you name some different communities that you belong to?
The Story
In the gospel story today, Jesus teaches his followers about how they should live in community with one another. Jesus gives his disciples some advice about what to do when members of the community make a complaint or refuse to listen. It is important for people to belong to a community. Belonging makes us feel secure and loved. Jesus wants us to live together as one happy family.
CONFIRMATION
Bishop O’Kelly will administer the
Sacrament in Renmark September 19th at a midday Mass
and Sunday 20th at St. Thomas More Church Waikerie at
3:00pm Mass.
First Reconciliation - Monday the 14th of September at 5:30pm
Witness
The Witness is a bi-monthly publication released every February, April, June, August, October and December, please click the following link to view.
Co-editors; Jennifer Wainwright and Michael Preece.
The Southern Cross
Please click on the following link for the latest issue of The Southern Cross.
Yr 3 Monarto Zoo Camp
The Year 3 class had an absolutely amazing Time at Indaba Campsite located at Monarto Safari Park. Indaba is Swahili for meeting place. Through many fun and engaging activities the Year 3 Brainy Bunch developed their independence and social skills. We had an awesome time learning about conservation and how we can all play a part in helping the animals at Monarto survive in the wild.
In week six, on Thursday the 27th of August, our class went to Monarto Zoo to explore the animals. We got to see giraffes, lions, zebras, cheetahs, Africa painted dogs and hyenas, sadly, and we did not hear them laugh. Most of the animals where sitting in their open range areas. We stayed up at night, went on a night adventure walk and roasted marshmallows on the campfire. It was so fun. The boys must have been really excited because they woke up super early and ended up waking us girls up because they were stomping like mad elephants in their room. My best part was hmm let me think of my favourite one…. Maybe, I can tell you all of them. My first one was roasting marshmallows, second sitting near the camp fire , third going on the night walk, fourth sleeping in the cabins, and fifth, eating ice-cream for desert. Yummy!
By Ishmeet Kaur Mavi
SAPSASA Hockey & Soccer
SAPSASA Netball & Football
Hot Food Price List
Chicken and corn Pie - $4.50
School Pie (Large) - $3.50
School Pie (Small) - $2.50
School Pasty (Large) - $3.50
School Pasty (Small) - $2.50
Sausage Roll - $3.00
Mini Sausage Roll - $1.50
Hot Dog - $3.00
Hot Dog with Cheese - $3.50
Tomato / BBQ Sauce - Free
Ham & Pineapple or Pepperoni or Vegetarian Pizza - $4.50
Half Ham & Pineapple / Pepperoni Pizza - $2.50
New to the menu
Spaghetti bolognese - $4.50
BARMERA LITTLE ATHLETICS 2020/2021
Our season starts with ‘Come n Try’ sessions
Monday 12th & 19th October 5.30pm @ Glossop High School – Middle Campus
Children aged 3 – 17 welcome
No prior experience necessary just a willingness to have fun, running, jumping and throwing!
Enquires to Cilla 0418 824264 or find us on Facebook
COVID safe rules will be in play.