* subject to government restrictions

Term 1

• Fri, 1 Apr - 4pm Last Day for Carnevale Lunch Orders (Wk 9) - *Reminder*
• Mon, 4 Apr - Harmony Day (Wk 10)
• Tues, 5 Apr - Carnevale Day (Wk 10)
• Fri, 8 Apr - Hot Cross Buns Orders for Recess (Wk 10)
• Fri, 8 Apr - Harmony Day - gold coin donation to wear orange/ purple or cultural traditional outfit (Wk 10)
• Sun, 10-16 Apr - Holy Week (Wk 11)
• Wed, 13 Apr - Ned Kelly Hot Cross Bun orders delivered (Wk 11)
• Wed, 13 Apr - Last Day of Term 1, student dismissal 3:05pm (Wk 11) - *UPDATED*
• Thurs, 14 Apr - Pupil Free Day (Staff Preparation Day) - *UPDATED*

Term 2

• Mon, 2 May - Pupil Free Day (Wk 1) Staff Preparation Day - *UPDATED*
• Tues, 3 May - First Day of Term 2 (Wk 1) - *UPDATED*
• Thurs, 5 May - Mother's Day Stall (Wk 1)
• Fri, 6 May - Mother's Day Breakfast (Wk 1)
• Mon, 9-13 May - Learning Conversations Yr 2-6 (Week 2)
• Thu, 26 May - Sports Day (Wk 4)
• Fri, 10 Jun - Pupil Free Day (Wk 6)
• Mon, 13 Jun - Queen's Birthday Public Holiday (Wk 7)
• Fri, 8 Jul - Last Day of Term 2 (Wk 10)

Term 3

• Tues, 26 Jul - First Day of Term 3 (Wk 1)
• Fri, 9 Sep - Pupil Free Day (Wk 7)
• Fri, 30 Sep - Last Day of Term 3 (Wk 10)

Term 4

• Mon, 17 Oct - First Day of Term 4 (Wk 1)
• Thurs, 15 Dec - Last Day of Term 4 (Wk 9)

As we move towards the last couple of weeks of this extraordinary term and an extraordinary stage in this pandemic, I would like to thank you for your support and high diligence you have shown throughout this term in communicating with us promptly, keeping your child home if they are symptomatic and adhering to SA Health guidelines with quarantining.

Last week, Peter Malinauskas announced a few changes which became effective from the 26th of March which includes 7 days away if you are either COVID-19 positive or a close contact.  He indicated that the use of masks will be reduced from Good Friday, 15 April which is the first day of the school holidays.  In the meantime, although there may be a reduction of mask use in outdoor environments, I ask all community members to continue wearing masks whilst on the school site unless you have a medical exemption.  Cases amongst students and staff have been high and we always need to be aware that there are many children not yet fully vaccinated.

Learning Conversations now postponed to Week 2 Term 2

Thankyou for your understanding in the recent postponement of the Reception and Year 1 classes to Term 2, Week 2.  Due to the high number of positive cases amongst families and staff, SA Health feels that we need to currently do what we can to minimise transmission.

We are hopeful that the situation will settle and these learning conversations with you, your child and class teacher/s will be face-to-face as they will be a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress.

In the meantime, if you feel you need to discuss any matters about your child’s learning prior to Term 2, Week 2, please email your child's teacher to organise to discuss by telephone.

In this week’s newsletter I wanted to highlight a few concerns that occur in school from time to time:

• Valuable items being brought to school: We continue to ask children to avoid bringing expensive and valuable items to school.  As you may be aware, there has been an increased interest and value in Pokemon Cards.  We recently had expensive Pokemon Cards in a blue folder stolen from a child and it has been difficult to ascertain who may have taken them.  Please speak to your children, to leave Pokemon Cards or other valuable items home.
• Messenger Kids: On 2 or 3 occasions in the last 6 months, the school staff have had to follow-up communication that children write to each other on Messenger Kids which leads to children being upset.  Parents by enlarge monitor the number of contacts each child has on Messenger Kids and I strongly encourage parents to closely monitor what children are writing and communicating.  Personally, I would discourage it all together or at least wait until children are of a certain level of maturity.
• Facebook and Instagram: Although we have had a reduction in issues surrounding social media platforms since Year 7 moved to secondary, I remind parents that children should not be on these platforms until the age of 13, therefore no one in primary school.  The law in Australia of not having these social media platforms before the age of 13 years old is due to the powerful nature of the algorithms and the negative effects it can have on the brain.  In addition, the level of maturity of the child and the potential increase in anxieties, harassment or bullying it may cause.
• Smartwatches: As smartwatches are becoming more accessible, we are noticing more children wearing them.  It is important to know that they are increasingly becoming a distraction and I encourage parents to avoid allowing children bringing them to school if possible.  I am currently seeking feedback from staff, parents and other schools in regard to our policy on smartwatches in our school.  As you know, a small number of older children have mobile phones, and they are required to leave them in the front office during the day.  As the smart watches’ technology increases, we will need to look at how we best support children’s learning attention at school.

If you wish to email me your thoughts on smart watches please email me on fcongedi@whitefriars.catholic.edu.au

Community Prayer

This week’s Community Prayer is acknowledging that this week we are in the fourth week of Lent, and it was prepared by our Reception Unit:

• Sara Gipps (Rec G)
• Adriana Torquati (Rec T)
• Abbie Davison & Caarin Watts (Rec DW)
• Angela D'Amico (Rec D)

I invite you to click on the link below to use the PowerPoint presentation that has been shared for Community Prayer with classes this week.

Community Prayer - CLICK HERE

Sacramental Program

On Saturday, 26 March 18 of our students completed their first Reconciliation as part of the Sacramental Program.  This involved attending St. Margaret Mary’s Church where we had a short liturgy, which was then followed by the students having a short conversation with a Priest. During this conversation the students acknowledge their mistakes or poor judgements, said a prayer and then received forgiveness and a blessing from the Priest,

We look forward to the remaining 24 students in the program completing their first Reconciliation this coming Saturday the 2nd of April.

Holy Week

The most important week in the Catholic Liturgical Year is Holy Week which begins on Sunday the 10th of April (end of Week 10) with Palm Sunday. In Week 11 – we use this whole week to celebrate the last week of Jesus’ life - incorporating the cleansing of the temple, The Last Supper, Washing of the Feet, Praying in the Garden and then the events of the Stations of the Cross – before celebrating his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

As we are unable to gather together in large groups outside, or indoors within the hall we have decided each day of Week 11 – classes will participate in prayer services that will focus on a different event of this important week, in a similar way that Community Prayer has been shared this term. These prayers will be made available to the school community in the Week 11 newsletter.

The first Community Prayer of Term 2 will have an Easter focus – including acknowledging the Resurrection of Jesus.

Fourth Week of Lent

This week through Project Compassion we learnt about Rosalie, who lives with her husband and seven children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to join the army when she was just 15-years-old, Rosalie experienced significant trauma and hardship during her years in the military. After she was demobilised from the army, Rosalie, like other ex-combatants, was left to fend for herself in the community.

With your generous support and through Caritas Australia's partners, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Caritas Bukavu, Rosalie was able to connect with other members of her community and participate in business skills training to help her to reintegrate into society.

She joined a savings group which helped her with a loan to start her own small business selling second-hand shoes and natural remedies.

“I have learnt to work hand-in-hand with other members of the community. Really, there is more joy in sharing with others.” - Rosalie

“For All Future Generations.”

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Have a wonderful week,

Josh Page, APRIM

Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country — from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world. Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are. It makes Australia a great place to live.

An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.

Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. This year a Harmony Week committee have come together to help promote the messages of Harmony throughout our school community.  

Here are a list of some of the activities that children will be a part of:

Monday

Community Prayer (students only).  Classes to gather on the Courtyard (in assembly positions) to formally welcome Harmony Week.  Harmony Week Committee and 5/6 students will lead this Prayer.  (Copy of Prayer will be sent home in Week 10 Newsletter)

Whole school Harmonious Art Display: 

We will be creating a whole school art display in the breezeway between the Reception classroom building and the Year 1 classroom building. Each student will decorate a flower template and then these flowers will be displayed on the wall with the sign “Every Face Has a Place”

Tuesday

Celebrating Carnevale! 

Casual Day on Friday

Wear orange (Harmony colour)/ purple (Lent colour) or wear a cultural traditional outfit - for a gold coin donation. This gold coin donation will be the school contribution to support Fr. Charles (our Parish Priest) who is running a half marathon in May to support Caritas and their charitable projects in the Ukraine (more details in future newsletters).

Friday morning Harmony Day entertainment

As children arrive at school in the morning on Friday, some of our students who are learning an instrument will display their talents by playing some songs for us.

We hope everyone can enjoy a fun week celebrating Harmony Week.  Thank you.

In love and harmony....

2022 Harmony Week Committee 🧡

At Whitefriars Catholic School we believe that students have a voice and are able to make a valuable contribution to our school. It is important that students be given the opportunity to express their views on issues of concern to them in the school. It is equally important that they are listened to and encouraged to take an active part in promoting the aims and objectives of the school.

A Student Representative Council (SRC) is a group of students elected by their peers or their class teacher to represent all students within the school. SRC's work democratically to represent the student body in school decision-making and organise ways for students to participate in and enjoy school life.

Student voice plays an important part in the day-to-day proceedings of Whitefriars Catholic School. The SRC aims to increase student involvement and participation and support students working through democratic processes to bring about change and deal with issues which they deem as important for their school and wider community.

All SRC class representatives are supported and encouraged by their classroom teachers to run regular class meetings where the sharing of ideas and information occurs.  These meetings are opportunities for students to discuss issues or ideas in reference to their community, school or class.

I am very excited to officially announce our Student Representative Council for Semester 1 2022:

• REC T – Parishitha & Alfred
• REC G – Alexia & Lenny
• REC D – Grace & Lorenzo
• REC DW – Ava & Harry
• 1GR – Ethan & Quinn
• 1KR  - Inka & Zane
• 1M – Anthony & Sydney
• 1E - Oliver & MacKenzie
• 2A - Sadie & Ryder
• 2C – Ethan & Dana
• 2ST - Kara & Oliver
• 3B – Zara & Tom
• 3C – Stella,  Alexander & Joey
• 3F – Lynh & Dylan
• 4G - Vittal & Stella
• 4K – Paige & Joe
• 4L – Jessie & Sarvesh
• 5/6LF – Yolanda & Bailey
• 5/6RP – Jeremy & David
• 5/6H – Misha & Scarlett
• 5/6A – Daniela & Parin

Congratulations Student Representative Council.  I look forward to seeing you all grow in confidence and leadership.

Grace Loizos, SRC Leader

Our school concert video is ready for sharing! If you missed one half of our show at last year’s concert, or would like to see your child’s item again on screen, you are now able to view and download the school concert by following a link provided to you on the SKOOLBAG app.

Interest in our Instrumental Music Program for 2022 has been very strong as usual.  While some instruments are close to full and others have a waiting list, it is still worth putting an application form in if you are interested, particularly for guitar and flute.  You can pick up an application form from the front office, email Mrs Harrald or follow the link below.

On Wednesday 23rd March the mighty Whitefriars Swimming team attended the annual Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival at the illustrious SA Aquatic Centre, Oaklands Park. Selection for this event occurred at our usual swimming trials where we had over 40 students doing their best to be selected to represent our school against other Catholic Schools in Adelaide. Currently Whitefriars are the very tough division 3, coming up against schools that run swimming lessons and swim squads.  

For the carnival we had 17 dedicated and talented swimmers competing across the range of events: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and relays. These students were swimming against the best swimmers in 6 other schools. The entire carnival was filled with schools supporting and encouraging their swimmers, but none as loudly as Whitefriars. We had some great individual results with some finishing in the top 3 in their event, but the most pleasing aspect of the carnival was the fact all swimmers tried their best and enjoyed themselves.

Congratulations to all our swimmers for representing our school in such a wonderful manner. A massive thanks to Janine Meyer and Tanya Pisani for volunteering their time and efforts on the day. 

Carnevale Car

In preparation for Carnevale in Week 10, the 5/6 unit have the responsibility of designing and creating Italian cars to race on this day.  5/6A have been assigned the Tenison (red) car and have been replicating a Ferrari, named after Enzo Ferrari.  We have been split into groups, with each group being assigned a different part of the car.  We look forward to racing the cars for Carnevale!

James Rizzi Portraits

In art this term, 5/6A have been creating self portraits based on famous artist James Rizzi.  James Rizzi is known for his colourful, creative artwork. In his artwork, all of the facial features are enlarged.

We started by sketching with lead pencil, but then traced and coloured in with either oil pastels or water colour paint.  Each artwork is traced in black, to make the features stand out.  We were also allowed to change some of our features, such as our hair colour and eye colour.  We had lots of fun doing this task! Below are some of our self portraits.

Religion

In Religion, 5/6A have been learning about the life of St Joseph.  Joseph was a carpenter who lived around 2000 years ago.  He was the father of Jesus and the husband of Mary.  We were given an assignment to write a biography about St Joseph.  We had to include basic information and display how Joseph demonstrated key characteristics in his everyday life.

Carnevale Day Lunch Orders

Please note the cut off for pasta orders is strictly 4pm, Friday 1 April.  No other hot lunches will be available on this day.

If you have placed an order and since discovered your child will not be at school on Tuesday, please notify the school by Monday so we can hold the order for it to be enjoyed upon their return.

Cancelling regular Lunch Orders

Cancelling lunch orders is as easy as ordering them!  If you know your child will be away due to illness/ isolation you can cancel via the QKR app by 9am on the day of your order.  Credit will remain in QKR until your next order.  Unfortunately, if we do not receive notification of your child being away before the food is prepared, the cost will have to remain.   Please follow the below steps to cancel a lunch order:

• Open QKR app, go to Whitefriars Catholic School, then Canteen,
• Tap on the day you wish to cancel your lunch order (the days with an order placed will be highlighted green),
• Tap on the red circle with a minus symbol inside,
• Select whether you wish to cancel all items, or individual items and press OK,
• The last screen will show you the amount refunded as a credit note

Hot Cross Buns at Recess - CLICK HERE

Easter Raffle - CLICK HERE

Hot Cross Bun packs - CLICK HERE

Umbrella Fundraiser - CLICK HERE

YMCA OSHC provides a safe, fun, and stimulating place for children before / after school hours as well as Vacation Care during school holidays.  Our Vacation Care program encourages children to be involved in a variety of fun and exciting activities, including art, craft, cooking, sport, dance and drama.  Children also go on excursions to exciting destinations.

April Holidays - Vacation Care Program - CLICK HERE