Term 2, Week 2 Bulletin
Dear Families,
After some reflection, there will be some changes to our newsletter bulletin. I will admit there are some weeks I find it challenging to think of something relevant or pertinent to bring to your attention, and I am concerned that this might be leading to parents and guardians not reading the newsletter and therefore missing out on the important information that is included in our bulletins.
On reflection, though, just because I might not be able to think of something to write does not mean that there aren’t great things happening in our school. With this in mind, I have asked each of our Learning Community Teams and our Senior Leaders to work on a roster to write something for the newsletter so that these become more reflective of what is happening in the classroom. I will still include items I feel are important and need to be brought to the attention of the community, but I hope this will make our newsletters more engaging and that these are being read by parents or guardians. As always, any feedback will be gratefully received.
MOTHERS DAY
Just a reminder that next week, we will celebrate one of our important school events – Mother’s Day. It is always great to see so many mums and special friends come and spend time in the morning with us. This will start at 8.30 am. More information will be sent out soon when we clarify all the details.
STAFFING UPDATE
This week, we welcome a new teacher to our community. Miss Millie Hua joins our Discovery Grade Two Learning Community team and will be replacing Lauren Chamberlain, who left last term. This will be a short-term replacement until our new teacher, Jessica Romano, who is coming from the UK, can successfully complete her visa application process and make the move to Australia.
This week, we farewell Karina Romania, who has been teaching Curiosity Two (Grade Three) during Term One with Nicky Gauci. Karina starts her period of maternity leave this week, and we wish her all the best as she prepares for the arrival of her new baby. Curiosity Two is now being taught by Jamien Russell, who has returned to a full-time classroom role after stepping down as our Religious Education Leader. Nicky Gauci will begin her maternity leave at the end of Week Four (May 16).
AUSLAN DAY
What an AMAZING day we had celebrating Auslan Day! Thank you to ALL of the teachers for participating in the Basketball Challenge as the students had an absolute blast! The learning throughout the day was priceless! Please take a look at some of the photos we managed to take capturing the celebration!
ANZAC DAY
Last week, we observed the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing – ANZAC Day.
On Thursday 24th April, our students reflected on the meaning of ANZAC Day, through liturgy. Along with listening to the Word of God and sharing in the Gospel, students heard the Last Post, observed one minute’s silence and the Reveille (Rouse).
The opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of our armed service members, while praying for peace, were highlights of our ANZAC Day observance.
On Friday 25th April, our School Captains and Vice Captains represented the school at the Melton RSL’s Dawn Service.
Our student leaders shared their reflections on our ANZAC Day liturgy and the Dawn Service and you will find their thoughts below.
There was soft music playing, the room was dark and everyone was silent. The liturgy had begun. At one stage someone brought up a beautiful, colourful, vibrant wreath. Then we had a moment of silence. There was not even one slight peep. This liturgy was observing the landing at Gallipoli. ANZAC is an acronym for Australian, New Zealand, Army, Corps.
In 1916, the 25th April was officially named ANZAC Day. In 1915, the ANZAC’s landed at Gallipoli. These people were known as the ANZAC’s, and to this day we still take great pride in that name.
Sofia – Challenge 3
When we exited out of the classroom, it was incredibly silent. Just the soft music playing as everyone started to sit down. Then, as everyone sat, the liturgy began.
It started with Advance Australia Fair. After this, the Gospel was announced. Then after the Gospel, the Intercession prayers were said by some students. After the prayers, some students (including me) read to the students about ANZAC Day. (ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.) The Last Post and the Rouse were played. At the end, the wreath was laid. Anzac Day is very special because on 25th April 1915, the Australian soldiers landed in Gallipoli which is why the 25th of April is called ANZAC Day.
Tnbite – Challenge 3
As I woke up to the sound of my alarm, I got up and put on the cleanest set of clothes. I was ready for the big day ahead of me. As my Mum and I drove to the destination, there were a lot of people which made me a tiny bit nervous.
At the Dawn Service, many people shared stories about Anzac Day. There were a lot of people so I had to work my way to the front to find Shannon, my teacher. Firstly, we sang the Australian National Anthem, alongside with the New Zealand National Anthem. We also sang the song “I am Australian”. Afterwards, The Last Post was played and we were silent for one minute. After the Last Post, it was time to lay the wreath and luckily, I found Shannon. Before the other Captains came, I had already laid the wreath. I was really pleased to be at this service.
Melodie – Challenge 3
I woke up early – the time read 5:14am, and I guessed the night outside was pitch-black. After getting a snack, some juice, and an egg and cheese sandwich from the kindest mum you could ever have, we drove to the address on the email sent to my mum from the school. But the address led us to Hannah Watts Park. Looking around, the only people we found were some people that were emptying some bins using a garbage truck. But after we rechecked the email, we went to the nearby crowd, and found the ANZAC Service. We parked and found the area where the veterans were and as we were trying to find Shannon, our teacher. Coincidentally, we found the second School Captain, Hargun! After that, we found Brody, a student in Grade Five, along with Jay. Then, an older person, which I think was also a veteran, started calling out schools, and when our school was called out, we found Shannon and Melodie, the Vice Captain. After the service, Shannon explained that she forgot her phone so Hargun’s dad took a photo of us in front of the memorial tower with the names of the lives lost during the war and posted it on Seesaw. At last, we got to go home and go back to sleep.
Kite – Challenge 3
As I woke up at 4:45 in the morning and changed into my cleanest clothes, my dad and I drove to a random parking lot, a few minutes away from the memorial. The reason we had parked so far was because 238 High St (the address of the Anzac Dawn Service) had been closed up. After the quick walk, I had saw the most crowded area ever. Hundreds of people standing or sitting down as the veterans and current Army soldiers walked past with the shiniest medals ever created. Time went by, and I had seen nobody familiar until my dad saw someone wearing our school uniform. It was a Grade 5 by the name of Brody and I said hello. Afterwards, we saw a teacher from our school and stood next to him. Suddenly, as I walked back to the cenotaph, another familiar face walked up to me. It was Kite, another School Captain. The Dawn Service then started. Stories of soldiers from the youngest and the bravest came out from the speakers and were told by random children. After millions and millions of stories, the sun levitated into the sky and light shone gracefully upon us. All of us went towards the other local schools, looking for our teacher. Then our school’s name was called by Cr Ramsey, a councillor of a ward nearby. Once we went closer, we unfortunately we had missed our cue to put our wreath (which we had come for) at the cenotaph. Our teacher along a School Vice-Captain, Melodie, laid the wreath. Shannon, our teacher, asked for my dad to take a photo as she had left her phone at her house.
Hargun – Challenge 3
UPCOMING DATES
TERM TWO
May
01/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Five
08/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Six
09/05: Mother’s Day Prayer & Activity Tea: 8.30 – 9.30am
Curiosity Grade Four Excursion to Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
14/05: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade One / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
15/05: Junior School Assembly: Grade Two
21/05: Prayer Service: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
22/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Four
27/05: Student-Free Day
28/05: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade 1 / Grade 4 – 6 @ 2.40pm
29/05: Junior School Assembly: Grade One
June
04/06: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
06/06: Student Free Day
09/06: Public Holiday
12/06: Senior School Assembly: Grade Three
13/06: St Anthony’s Feast Day Prayer Service: Snr School @ 9.15am/Jnr School @ 11.30am
18/06: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade One/ Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
Eucharist Sacramental Retreat (Grade Three students)
19/06: Junior School Assembly: Exploration
21/06: Eucharist Masses @ St Anthony’s @ 5.30pm
23/06: Semester One Reports to Go Home
25/06: Three-Way Learning Conversations: 12.30 – 6.00pm
26/06: Three-Way Learning Conversations: 12.30 – 6.00pm
July
30/06 – 04/07: NAIDOC Week Celebrations
02/07: Prayer Service: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
04/07: End of Term Two: Early Close @ 1.30pm
God bless,
Bill Hill
PRINCIPAL