Prayer Corner
Thank you to all of our families who supported the Family Mass on Sunday. Fr Paul Newton, our new Parish priest, ensured the children were able to fully participate. The children came to the front of the church for both the homily and the Eucharistic prayer. Fr Paul's message in the homily was for the children to do some acts of kindness for family members. You can learn more about Fr Paul further down in this week's Shamrock newsblog. We are looking forward to our staff commissioning mass and whole school mass this Friday at 9:10am.
We ask our heavenly father to bless Fr Paul and for the Holy Spirit to guide Fr Paul as he begins his new mission as Parish Priest at St Patrick's in Murrumbeena and St Kevin's in Ormond.
Fr Paul met the whole school during our assembly on Monday morning. The Year 6 leadership groups introduced themselves and shared a video about their leadership roles. Fr Paul presented the children with their badges.
POPE Parents as Open Partners in Education
Thanks to our Deputy Principal Liz Hills for chairing the last meeting in February while I attended another meeting. You can access the minutes of this meeting at this link. The next meeting will be held at 2:30pm on Thursday 16th March.
Thank you for your feedback
Last year the Parish Education Board conducted a survey around communication. They wish to thank everyone who completed the survey. As a result, we have made a few changes to the way we communicate with you. This online Shamrock Newsblog means that you can access present and past information more readily. Our online calendar with dates across the year is available via Tiq Biz, on the Shamrock, on the school website and on our new Community Learning Site. This means that any changes of dates can be noted more readily. The website has been updated with the latest information including our 2017 Information Book and other new links.
Office of the Children's e-Safety Commissioner have developed a new website for online safety education for children and young people as well as information for teachers and parents to manage e safety issues.
The iParent page helps build parent understanding about the digital environment. It provides updated information on children’s technology-use and guidance for using safety settings on web-connected devices, tips for choosing movies and games and strategies for keeping young people safe online.
SCHOOLHATS - Safety Precaution
You may have seen recently reports of injuries sustained by students due to cords on wide brimmed hats. We are currently in discussion with our uniform supplier PSW to change the design of our current hats. In the meantime we recommend cutting off the cord on both sides.Sports News - Michelle Barclay
Two weeks ago we conducted swimming trials for children in Years 4-6. Thank you to all the parents who attended on that morning at GESAC and offered to help. A small team has been selected to participate in the Dendy Swimming Carnival on Monday 27th February- we wish them luck!
In addition, last Friday, St. Patrick’s hosted the Dendy Tennis Day. It was a strong competition and our four competitors played some great matches. Congratulations to Molly H who came runner up in the girls’ tournament and who will go on to participate in the Beachside Division Tournament. Good luck Molly!
Curriculum News
HISTORY DETECTIVES!
This term each class has been investigating the Concept of “Identity and Diversity” through an
Inquiry Unit with a History Focus. We have been lucky enough to work with an Historian-in Residence,
Alicia Cerreto, who has helped us explore the notion of ‘history’ and the work of an
Historian.
Over the next couple of weeks we will print some short reflections from our children.
Grade One
We have learnt that Alicia is like a detective and she tries to find out things that were there in the olden
days.
Alicia tries to find out about people who lived in the olden days and the things that people did in the
olden days.
The Grade Ones looked around at the signs across at the shops and it told us what used to be around 80
years ago.
We looked at the houses in Beauville Ave and looked at what was old and what was new.
We looked at a man called Anthony and that he used to be in the air force and he worked at Coles.
We learnt that Anthony grew a giant banana and it was in the newspaper.
We discovered that there is a time capsule near the hall and it will be opened when we are in Grade
Three. It would have been in the wall about twenty years.
We discovered where the flag was put before the flag pole.
We also discovered the pine tree outside the church was from the war.
We have loved having Alicia teach us how to be Historians and we are looking forward to learning more
about Time Capsules next week!
The Grade 6s have
been working with an historian named Alicia Cerreto. We are being history
detectives by bringing in different objects from the past and studying them and
the history behind them.
For example, some
people have brought in gemstones, a watch that is over 80 years old, photos and
even some old war medals.
All of the Year
6s have really enjoyed working with Alicia and we can’t wait to find out more
about the history of our relatives and the objects that we brought in!
Georgia B & Charli D 6L
An Historian came to our school and taught us how
to be a history detective. I learned that one person has a lot of stuff. This
means if you are studying him then it’s like you’re them.
We went on different websites and we found out that
he was a cook for the air force, and survived. He got married, but died from a
heart attack and his wife is still alive to this very day. We found out he
belonged to a footy club. We also learnt that his sister’s name was the same as
his girlfriend!
It was fun learning about how to be an Historian.
Patrick G 4P
An Historian came to teach us about History. An Historian’s
job is to research objects or events in history. We learnt to be ‘History
Detectives’ by looking at some photos of a man called Anthony Joseph Avitable.
We got clues from the pictures. For example, I’ll tell you 2 facts I found out
about him. He was born on 4th March 1925 and died 28th
September 1989.
It was interesting to learn about history this way.
Emmanuel G 4P
For our inquiry unit Grade 4V are
learning about timelines. Do you know what they are? Alicia Cerreto asked us to
bring in an object from the past and we all shared the history behind the
object. Next we ordered the objects on a class spiral timeline. Our timeline
began with a replica of Captain Cook’s ship, the Endeavour (1764) and ended
with an electronic photo book from 2009. Our timeline included things like
photos, a boxed camera, toys, books, photo
books, tins, war record, war medals, cigarette case, crocheted doily,
jewellery, keys and recipes.
Boooooooosh! The
sound of the bomb was deafening! How do we know that? Because we are
historians. Artefacts, letters and photos are some of the many clues that help
us to solve mysteries. Historian Alicia Cerreto has had two sessions with the
Grade 5's and we have learnt about primary and secondary sources which are
tools we use to help us find out about the past. We are enjoying learning about
the past because it is very interesting to see how people lived and what life
was like back then.
Alicia got us to
bring in objects that are special in our family history and we got to share
them with our peers. Some of the objects were war medals, photos, paintings and
objects that had been passed down.
We are looking
forward to creating iMovies about our chosen object and finding out more!!
By Ted F and
Angus S 5M
Parish News - Fr Paul Newton
Particular highlights for me during my first week were joining the school assemblies at St Patrick’s and St Kevin’s schools. Understandably it made me think of when I was that age and went to those schools. So much has changed yet so many things remain the same. The Reconciliation workshop with parents and children at St Kevin’s was much fun and a great chance to connect with some families. I must say though, the Grade 1s and 2s at St Patrick’s gave me a run for my money on the basketball court.
Having served at several different parishes throughout Melbourne one thing for me has become increasingly clear – too many of us are isolated and dis-connected. This is not just confined to our parish communities but to society in general. With this comes greater, sadness, suffering and stress. This is not God's plan.
The holy season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on 1st of March and I would like you to consider very openly something different for these coming weeks. Every Thursday from 5pm-7pm at Rovira House (5 Dalny Rd, Murrumbeena) everyone in our local community, no matter what their circumstances in life, is very warmly welcome to join in an evening of fun, food, music and friendship at St Pat’s Café. We will begin with much anticipation on Thursday, 2nd March. Please bring a plate of food to share – especially food that represents the various wonderful cultures in our midst. But more importantly bring someone that you know who would really appreciate such a wonderful night at no cost. If you or anyone you know needs transport (especially anyone in the Ormond area) please contact the Parish Office and we’ll do our best to assist you.
I would especially like to encourage our school families at St Kevin’s and St Patrick’s to come with their children - even if you can only stay for a brief moment - and witness something marvellous as strangers become friends in the safe and enjoyable environment. Let the kids know that there will be some games and prizes.
Please pray with me for God’s blessing on this outreach of mercy as we seek to put what we believe in action and build up a vibrant and engaging faith community. May it be a tremendous blessing for our Parishes and the wider community. It is so clear to me that God wants to do beautiful things here. So see you at St Pat’s Café from 5pm on Thursday, 2nd March.
Dear friends, how wonderfully familiar yet surprising it is for me to return to the place where I grew up? I was shocked but thrilled when I got the phone call and the news that I was being sent to Ormond and Murrumbeena. Only God would truly know what that would meant for me. The reason is…I used to live at Bethell St, Ormond, in the mid 70s when I began my schooling at St Kevin’s. Mum worked at the local florist shop on North Road near the Station. Then it was off to St Patrick’s, Murrumbeena in 1977 in Grade 2 to complete my primary schooling. We lived at Poath Rd, Hughesdale at the time. I remember my teachers very well and the principal a bit too well :-)So, yes, I joined in the Little Athletics at Duncan Mackinnon, played footy for Murrumbeena, did the local paper round on my bike and was a member of the St Patrick’s Tennis Club. Wasn’t every local boy?Then it was off to St James College, East Bentleigh, for my challenging but exciting secondary school years. At this stage basketball was my life. This was followed by Year 11 at St Bede’s and then VCE at De La Salle, East Malvern. Who would have thought!While working part-time at “Chaddy” I was a very enthusiastic member of the Murrumbeena Antioch group under the inspirational leadership of Fr Max Grabau from 1986-90. We had amazing youth Masses, wonderful fetes, and fun Parish Picnics. Those were unforgettable days!I have often thought back to those days and have so many memories as I drive the streets or ride them on my bike. It was during those days that the seeds of faith were planted in me. I had no idea what an amazing personal and spiritual path was awaiting me.I have now had the privilege of serving in various parishes – North, South East and West, and I’ve had a variety of mission experiences interstate and overseas. These are difficult but truly amazing days to be living in the heart of God’s family – the Church. Our human needs are no less and God’s mercies continue to be free flowing.As I return to these faith communities my first and primary desire is to really get to know each of you and to listen to the desires of your hearts. I very much look forward to visiting your homes and hearing about what the Holy Spirit is stirring in you. What can you see? Where do you believe God is calling us? What does He desire for His people?Please be assured of my daily heartfelt prayers, through the sweet intercession of Mother Mary, and, following the humble example of our dear Pope Francis, I ask you to kindly pray for me. God bless. Fr Paul…………………………………………….God bless. Fr. Paul.
Upcoming Dates
Dates for the year can be accessed via our school calendar. This is available directly on the TiqBiz app, at the bottom of the page on this newsblog, on our school website or on our Learning Community Site in the communication section. To make it easier for you, we will also keep dates for the term updated each week here.Here are some Term 1 dates to be aware of:
Fri 24th Feb Commissioning Mass and Beginning of the year Mass with Fr Paul
Year 1 Pizza Night
Mon 27th Feb Dendy District Swimming
Tue 28th Feb Shrove Tuesday
Wed 1st Mar Ash Wednesday
Mon 6th Mar 4P Assembly
Thurs 9th Mar School Closure Day
Fri 10th Mar School Closure Day
Fri 17th Mar St Patrick's Day
Mon 20th Mar Year 6 camp
Mon 27th Mar 3L Assembly
Wed 29th Mar Parent Teacher Meetings
Thur 30th Mar Year 5/6 Soccer Lightning Premiership
Fri 31st Mar End of term 1.
Lost
Grace Pak Poy in 4V has lost her sun hat (slouch) size medium with "Grace P" written in black marker inside. Last seen on photo day. If found please contact Lydia 0414568520 or return to 4V. Thank you.
Community News
Fr Paul had a wonderful afternoon meeting St Pat's children and parents at the Murrumbeena Junior Football Club Day on the weekend. The majority of the boys play for Murrumbeena and one of our school parents - Paul Tripodis coaches the Under 11's. Thanks to Vanessa for supplying the photo.
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