2024 Term 3 Week 8

From the Principal - Lisa Cavanagh

Newsletter Report – Term 3 Week 8

Dear Holy Name Families,

The warmer weather has been a welcome change this week, especially the opportunity to open up and ‘air out’ the classrooms.  Fingers crossed we are through the worst of the illnesses that have worked their way through the school this term.  We have begun transitioning to our summer uniforms this week.  All students are to be in their summer uniforms by Week 1 of Term 4.

As you would be aware, Holy Name School has experienced a number of break-ins and vandalism this year.  We often discover that the premises have been entered (and rubbish left behind), particularly over weekends.  To assist us keep our school secure, this week we have had security cameras installed throughout the school.  These cameras will serve as a deterrent to those wising to engage in criminal activity in the grounds, as well as provide police with footage if we do experience any further incidents.  Security patrols have been increased overnight and on the weekends as an added security precaution. 

Holy Name Students in the Spotlight

We have had a number of our students representing our school with distinction in recent weeks.  Cc and Ruby represented the school at the Darling Downs Athletics Trials.  Both girls performed extremely well, doing their families and school proud – congratulations Cc and Ruby.

Congratulations to Violett, Sophie and Aliyah who recently received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion at Holy Name Parish.  The students participated in the preparation classes with other parish members, learning of this important Sacrament of Initiation.  Congratulations and God’s blessings as you continue your Sacramental journey in the Catholic Church.

Ella, Ava and Anet attended the Mission Australia Soctober Appeal Launch at Mary MacKillop Catholic College with Miss Marquart and Mr Maloney.  Our leaders participated in the prayer launch and engaged in some social justice activities with leaders from other Toowoomba Catholic Schools and Colleges.  The students will lead the Mission Australia Soctober activities here at Holy Name during Term 4.

The Holy Name Opti-Minds team of; Inara, Matilda, Chol, Naya, Samuel, Violett and Lettie; presented their long-term challenge on Sunday at The Regional competition.  Mrs Elmes prepared our students extremely well and they performed admirably on the day in both the long-term and spontaneous challenges.  Our team were awarded the Honours Award (Runners-up) in their division.  At our final assembly in Week 10, our Opti-Minds students will present their long-term challenge to the whole school community and be presented with their certificates.  Congratulations and well done to our students.

NAPLAN

We were very pleased to receive our whole school NAPLAN results recently.  The NAPLAN assessments provide us with some excellent data to see how our students are tracking in comparison to their peers across the state.  We have a number of students achieving well above the state average across the board.  Here are some highlights of the Holy Name data for 2024.

Year 3

The Holy Name School average is WELL ABOVE the state average in; Reading and Spelling, and ABOVE the state average in Writing, Grammar and Punctuation and Numeracy.  Well done to our Year 3 cohort.

Year 5

The Holy Name School average is ABOVE the state average in; Writing, Reading, Spelling, and Grammar and Punctuation.  Our Numeracy results are very close to the state average.  Congratulations to our Year 5 cohort.

Child Protection Week

Next week is Child Protection Week across Australia.  In the lead-up to this week, Mrs Manthey has been teaching elements of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum as part of the Health lessons.  Next week, teachers will be teaching the Relationships and Sexuality Education lessons in class.  These lessons are an essential part of the curriculum and are presented through a distinctly Catholic lens.  The innate dignity and worth of all people, as created in the Image and Likeness of God, are emphasised in the lessons in an age appropriate and sensitive way.  Letters have been sent home via Sentral so that parents are aware of the content taught in each year level.  Please take the opportunity to have conversations at home and ask the children to tell you what they heard in the lessons.

Parent Engagement Network (PEN)

Earlier this week, you will have received an email about an information session/forum about a Parent Engagement Network (PEN) for Holy Name School.  Tracey Jacklin from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office will be coming to present information about a PEN and it’s benefits over the current P&F/Board model. 

                When – Tuesday 3 September 2024

                Time – 5PM to 6:30PM

                Where – Holy Name School Library

Please RSVP to the Holy Name School Office for catering purposes (light supper provided) by this Friday.

Social Justice Sunday

This past Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrated Social Justice Sunday.  This year’s theme is – Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a violent world.  Each year, the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference writes a Social Justice Statement – a call to action – based on the theme.  In this year’s statement, the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference highlight Pope Francis’ call for everyone to be ‘Architects of Peace’.  The following section stood out to me:

“Instead of closing in on ourselves and clinging to our own positions and convictions, we choose instead to welcome opportunities to listen to others and understand what they think and why.  It involves the attempt to see the truth of the other, since we cannot make peace with someone we cannot see.”  (ACBC, 2024, p8)

At Holy Name, we aim to create an environment where all students feel valued, safe and know that they will be successful.  When we truly see each other and seek to understand the other’s point of view, we can be co-creators of peace in our world.

Best wishes for the remainder of the term.

God Bless

Lisa Cavanagh

Prayer for Truth and Peace

Adapted from Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti

O God, Trinity of love,

from the profound communion of your divine life,

pour out upon us a torrent of sisterly and brotherly love.

Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,

in his family of Nazareth,

and in the early Christian community.

Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,

discovering Christ in each human being,

recognising him crucified

in the sufferings of the abandoned

and forgotten of our world,

and risen in each sister or brother

who makes a new start.

Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,

reflected in all the peoples of the earth,

so that we may discover anew

that all are important and all are necessary,

different faces of the one humanity

that God so loves.  AMEN.

APRE - Kerri-Ann Manthey

APRE News

Pietra Kids

This term, as part of Health Lessons, students in Years Three-Year Six have been participating in Pietra Kids Fitness classes with Mrs Fiona Webb. Pietra Kids is a Catholic fitness program that strives to help children build an unshakeable foundation through physical exercise paired with Catholic prayer and meditation created just for kids. We thank Mrs Webb for working with the students and look forward to welcoming her back to Holy Name on 11 September for Wellness Wednesday.

Child Protection Week

The theme for Child Protection Week this year is ‘Every Conversation Matters.’ As parents and carers, conversations between you and your children are vital – you are the most important people in your child’s life to advocate for them, listen to them, and share messages of safety and support. This year during Child Protection Week we encourage parents and carers to speak with their children about their understanding of safety and their support networks. The National Office of Child Safety launched their ‘One Talk at a Time’ campaign earlier in the year. Alongside this campaign they released a list of resources about how to have a conversation with your children and young people about safety. You can access these resources here: Having conversations with children and young people | National Office for Child Safety

During Child Protection Week our students will engage in a number of activities to reinforce safety messages. Should any student be concerned about how they are being treated by an adult, or another child or young person, they are encouraged to speak up to a trusted staff member or one of our School Student Protection Contacts (SSPCs). All students were reminded who our SSPCs are, and that they are depicted on the ‘Keeping Safe’ posters located around the school. Child Protection really is everyone’s business, and we are committed to making our school a safe, secure, and protected place of learning for every student.

Prayer

Lord,

We pray for Your emotional, physical, and spiritual protection over our children. Keep evil far from them, and help them to trust You as their refuge and strength. Lead them in Your wisdom and truth, and help them to seek Your guidance in all things. May they walk in Your ways and grow in understanding and in righteousness. Grant them the courage to follow the path You have laid out for them, trusting in Your love and provision. We ask You to protect their steps and keep them safe from harm.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mercy Day Prayer Celebration – Thursday 12 September 2024, 2.00pm

What is Mercy Day?

Mercy Day, September 24, is the anniversary of the opening of the first House of Mercy by Catherine McAuley and her two companions, Anna Maria Doyle and Catherine Byrn, in 1827 in Dublin, Ireland. Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, devoted her life to the poor, sick and uneducated, and today we continue her legacy of caring and compassion in the name of Mercy.

So, what do we highlight on this day?

We highlight Catherine McAuley and the charism that she received and handed down to us. Charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit, given to an individual for the good of others. Catherine McAuley was given the charism of Mercy. That gift, or charism, has been handed down generation after generation to those who embraced the spirit of Mercy; they in turn receive the same charism. The Mercy charism is alive in all of us, and we need to use it for the good of others. We need to be Mercy for others!

On Mercy Day, let us celebrate the beginning of our shared Mercy heritage and join together in bringing compassion, hospitality, justice, and excellence to everyone we meet. We look forward to celebrating on Thursday 12 September at 2.00pm with a prayer celebration led by Miss Canning and the Year Four/Five class.

Prayer

God of Compassion and Mercy, source of compassion and love;

Inspire us to live the Gospel call to care for those who are most vulnerable. Kindle in us a fire for justice poured out on our world. May we be like Catherine McAuley in our faith, our love and our hope.

Amen.

Blessings

Kerri-Ann Manthey

                                                                                                                                Catherine McAuley print by Jen Norton

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Celebrating Queensland's School Crossing Supervisors for 40 years of service

Celebrating Queensland's School Crossing Supervisors for 40 years of service

This year, Queensland’s School Crossing Supervisor Scheme celebrates 40 years of keeping kids safe as they travel to and from school.

We'd like to say a big thank you to our wonderful School Crossing Supervisor Marilyn for everything you do for our students and school community! You do a great job keeping our students and other pedestrians safe as they cross the road in peak drop-off and pick-up times.

Why not say a big thank you the next time you see them on duty! You can also show your appreciation for School Crossing Supervisors by slowing down, following directions and being courteous while travelling in our school zone.

Did you know?

• The School Crossing Supervisor Scheme is operated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
• There are more than 2000 school crossing supervisors who operate over 1300 crossings at more than 700 Queensland schools.
• There has not been a single fatality on a supervised crossing since the scheme started in 1984.

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